Dan Jurgens-writer of Marvel's THOR, co-storyteller (with Andy Kubert) of  CAPTAIN AMERICA, writer of DC's AQUAMAN and several other current and upcoming   projects-kindly agreed to take time for a quick Q&A. I want to thank Tom   Brevoort for helping me get in contact with Dan and most importantly thank Dan   (obviously) for taking the time out of his voluminous workload for the   interview.  On another note, I'd like to invite folks to e-mail CBEM (or me at   [email protected]) if there are any creators you'd like to see interviewed  in upcoming issues. Or, hey, if you're a creator that wants to be interviewed  you can e-mail your request as well, at least that way we'll find you pretty  easily.-Thanks, Tim O'Shea


CBEM: Is there any particular run of Captain America that influences how you  write the title?

JURGENS: No, it's probably more of a situation where I have an impression of Cap   based on a variety of attitudes put forth by different writers.  I take it all   into account and formulate my own approach from there.

CBEM: Given that you're directing both Thor's and Cap's solo adventures, while  they are both (until Avengers 25) active Avengers, have there been certain  plotlines in either books that you wanted to do, but were unable to, due to  Avengers continuity demands?

JURGENS: Not a one.  I've had a great time and have managed to do everything I   want.

CBEM: Is it easier writing the three titles you have right now vs. the   challenges/limitations inherent with trying to write one Superman book that had   to be in synch with two or three other Superman titles at the same time?

JURGENS: I don't know if "easy" is the right word.  I enjoy doing the books I do  now, just as I enjoyed doing Superman even though it was a totally different   type of exercise in writing.  There are different positives to find with both   approaches. 

CBEM: With the solid utilization of Nick Fury in your first three issues of CAP,  any interest in writing Nick if he could ever get a solo book again?

JURGENS: Yes.  I love Nick and the whole concept of an organization like   S.H.I.E.L.D. as I'm a big on super spy stories.

CBEM: Readers were treated to a Jurgens' Cap pinup in issue #27, and I know  Jerry Ordway will be pitching in to give Andy Kubert a rest on issue #31, any  chance you'll be doing art chores or covers on an upcoming issue? (I ask this  totally realizing you've already got a full plate.)

JURGENS: You're right.  My plate is generally full but somewhere down the road   I'd love to do an issue of Cap.

CBEM: What is the writing relationship like between you and Andy on CAP, since  you share storytelling credits. Does he help plot it out while you flesh out the   dialogue? Or as an artist, do you thumbnail sketch some of what you'd like to   see in a certain scene? For example, who gets the credit for the breathtaking   shield toss that freed Falcon in issue 27 (the balance and pacing of art and   dialogue was phenomenal on those two pages). I gotta give you extra points for   making a reference to the circumstances around the death of Mr. Barnes without   the obligatory flashback scene of  "BUCKY,NOOOOOOOooooooo!!!!!"

JURGENS: I write a fairly detailed plot for Andy and tend to break it down even  more in some of the more crucial scenes, though I don't sketch it out.  Andy's  such a brilliant storyteller that he runs with whatever I give him and elevates  it to a higher level.

CBEM: With the departure of John Romita Jr. from THOR, has a permanent  replacement been named? If not, Lee Weeks, who filled in for issue 15 would be  great. Will Klaus Jansen be staying with the book?

JURGENS: We have a replacement for John in place but aren't ready to announce it   yet.  Stay tuned, as I guarantee you'll be happy!

CBEM: In THOR #9, John Buscema graced the pages with a fill-in issue (inked by   Ordway). What was it like to work with such an industry legend? Any chance he'll   return for a fill-in?

JURGENS: I'd sure love to see it, but Big John doesn't work that frequently  these days.  But any time he wants to come back, I'd gladly plot him a story as  it's a thrill to work with him!

CBEM: Any interest in resurrecting the "Tales of Asgard" back-up stories?

JURGENS: We've kicked the idea around from time to time, and may one day get to   it.  It's a tough call because, while we like those stories, we'd also hate to   shorten the main Thor story.

CBEM: Do you have any use for Beta Ray Bill, or do you think Walter Simonson did  all that could be said with that character? On another note, call me nostalgic,  but does Donald Blake exist any longer in your view of any future Thor  continuity?

JURGENS: Don Blake has probably run his course because so, so much has been done   with him.  As for Beta Ray Bill, I like him, Tom likes him, the readers like him  so...

CBEM: Having been recently reminded of the great relationship between Hercules  and Thor-with the former's return to the AVENGERS pages-any chance of Herc  guesting in Thor (a return visit, given his appearance in issues 6 and 7 of  THOR) in the near term?

JURGENS: Yeah, it's time to get Herc back on stage again.  I see he and Thor as   brothers of sorts, and I like the interplay between them as much as I like the   interplay between Cap and Nick, who I also see as brothers.

CBEM: How hard do you find it to write the Asgardian dialogue? Do you utilize   certain reference works?

JURGENS: I'm still finding my way with it.  Tom and I refer to it as"Stanese",  for some liberties must be taken to make it work as a comic.  In truth, it's a  heckuva lotta fun to write because Thor can be SO pompous.

CBEM: Which do you enjoy writing more, Thor's Midgard-bound adventures or his   otherworldly/Asgardian exploits?

JURGENS: Neither.  It's the mix that works for me.  A couple of issues on earth   where Thor stands out that then bounces to Asgard mode creates a dynamic that is   most enjoyable.

CBEM: Any plans to write an issue highlighting just the Warriors Three?

JURGENS: Yes, though my favorite would be a Volstagg issue, concentrating on his   solo adventure at a Sunday morning buffet brunch! 

CBEM: You've previously gone on record as saying that you plan to have Aquaman   interacting more in the DC Universe as well as redefining Aquaman's role in the   JLA (the latter goal made obvious by the closing page of issue 65). Is the   latter something that you've discussed with Mark Waid, or do you plan to only   address his JLA interaction within his own title (I know that can work just as   well as evidenced by Ostrander's use of the JLA in MARTIAN MANHUNTER). Are there   any other DCU heroes that will be appearing in the immediate future?

JURGENS: Aquaman is hard to gauge at the moment.  Though I'm very happy with the   book, DC doesn't seem to be very happy with it.  We'll have to see.

CBEM: I've also read that you hope to treat Aquaman as a family book. Where does   Mera fit in this albeit dysfunctional "family"?

JURGENS: As far as I'm concerned, she's queen of Atlantis.  I like Mera a great   deal and see Atlantis as enduring and magical to the DCU as Asgard is to Marvel.   It should have almost a fairy tale sense to it...and idea that it will outlast  anything.  DC doesn't seem to agree with this so I haven't been able to push it  as far as I wanted.  As for the royal family aspect, I've always thought that as a society, we  obviously take great interest in Britain's royal family.  Mix aspects of that in  with super heroics and a fairy tale kingdom and we should have a great  springboard for adventures.

CBEM: Is Arthur going to rule with an "iron hand" forever or do you hope to   somehow have him regenerate a normal hand? 

JURGENS: Stay tuned! 

CBEM: It's not everyday that a writer foreshadows plot developments that run  through two generations. How much of AQUAMAN do you actually have plotted out  from the current issue to the point where Garth and his granddaughter, Donna,  are dining on the beach. In other words, left to your own devices, how many  issues could you go?

JURGENS: It's been so much fun to write that I'd like very much to carry it on  as long as possible.  However, I also get the sense that would be pushing it way   too far so I'll be stopping in when this particular story is told.  One problem  is that it tips the hand about the future to a great extent, and DC is very   nervous about that.

CBEM: Do you plan on using any of the new villains Peter David introduced into  the series, such as Kordax or Demon Gate? In terms of the classic Aquaman  villains, how soon before Ocean Master or Black Manta? (Thanks for these villain questions goes to Laura Gjovaag, owner of The Unofficial Aquaman Website  [http://www.eskimo.com/~tegan/aqua/index.html])

JURGENS: No.  I'll stick with the classics and create some new ones as well.    This is no criticism of what Peter did, but I have the sense it's time to turn   to some different approaches.

CBEM: Are there any other upcoming projects that you'd like to mention?

JURGENS: We have a very special Thor project in the works that's sure to get   everyone buzzing!  We'll let you know more as plans come together!

CBEM: Is the working title for the "special Thor project:" THOR: RAGNAROK AND BEYOND? (which was briefly teased in the January 24, 2000,  YOUR MAN @ MARVEL column at http://www.marvel.com/news/yourman/yourman.html)

JURGENS: Gulp!  Didn't know they were already talking about it! Yes, that's the   title.