Lee’s favorite part of the project so far: Doomsday. who is the massive bone studded villain who ”killed” Superman in the 90s. Sure, Superman recovered, but Jim professed that he felt he was cheating a bit by getting to draw someone of Doomsday’s caliber.
“Normally, as an artist, you have to spend a lot of issues of buildup before you get to draw something as cool as him, but I just got to start with him,” Lee said. With his giant size and unusual anatomy, Lee got to draw him exactly how he saw him in his mind’s eye.
Wolfman arrives
A fairly tall guy in his early 60s with a pronounced smile, Marv Wolfman is a groundbreaking comic writer and was just announced as the main writer for DC Universe Online.
Rendering backgrounds and details city scapes is something new in the world of comics
Wolfman is a former editor of Marvel Comics and was the writer for the landmark “Crisis on Infinite Earths” series, which changed the DC universe forever.
Lee and Wolfman each explained that they are trying to get across being “iconic” in the game.
“Character symbols need to act like flags, declaring you to everyone else,” Wolfman said.
On the subject of iconic imagery, Lee talked about choosing which costumes to choose when so many characters have several familiar looks. Using Batman as an example, he said that he used what stood out to him most. “I always draw Batman like Frank Miller’s Dark Knight. I don’t know why, but that’s how I draw him.” It’s easy to see the influence in the game.
Lee, with Wolfman interjecting his words of wisdom, explained that a lot of the designs ended up being composite designs.
“I would just Google a character, and try to find out what makes that character,” Lee said. “On the Scarecrow, it’s always about that creepy mask and hat. He’s tall and thin, but it’s all about that mask. It’s what defines him.”
Double effect
The DC universe molds the video game, but the video game is also having its own effect on the DC universe. A Lee-designed game character, the Trickster, has already been implemented into the comic book world — before anyone ever sees him on a computer screen.
Both comics icons hope for comics-games crossover appeal
Artist and writer alike talked about their hopes for crossover appeal. Both expressed sincere hope to bring comic readers into gaming and gamers into their local comic book store.
Wolfman said he wants to create “real connections between video games and comics.”
Both also want the game to be a big hit, but they were not just talking about dollars and cents. Let’s face it, no one gets into comics just to make money.
“I just love to draw and bring these characters to life,” Lee said.
“Comic books have such great stories, and with this game we can bring them right to the people playing,” echoed Wolfman.
We met up with Wolfman later that day and asked what his favorite character to write was. Without hesitation, his face dropped to a wise look.
“Superman.”
Good to know that some things never change.
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