Comics writer Mark Russell talks his latest projects (at Marvel, DC, and Ahoy) & we analyze Black Hammer/Justice League

NEWS

• DC Announces new distribution model 
  • Batman #93 shipping in June
• Marvel continues to announce no new books on Mondays
• Diamond targets mid-May to start regular shipping
• San Diego Comic Con cancelled
• New Vault series Giga announced
• BOOM! and Netflix kissing in a tree, K.I.S.S…..
• TODD McFARLANE Calls for Unity, Crossovers, DIGITAL To Combat Coronavirus Comics Downturn
• New Writer/Artist Takes Over IDW's SONIC THE HEDGEHOG - But Without Saying When
• Jim Lee is on day 19 drawing 60 sketches for 60 days
• Ed Brubaker, Marcos Martin, and Muntsa Vicente release new post-YA horror series released on Wednesday

AIPT BOOKCLUB: Black Hammer/Justice League: Hammer of Justice! By Jeff Lemire and Michael Walsh (released in collected format April 8)

The Story So Far: 
What Works: 
What Doesn’t: 
Favorite Artistic Moment: 
Favorite Narrative Moment: 
Where We Think This is Going:

Segment: Interview with Mark Russell Billionaire Island, Captain America: Marvels Snapshot #1, Flintstones, Wonder Twins, and Second Coming.

1. I was incredibly excited to read Captain America Marvel Spotlight this month, hopefully we get it sooner or later, can you talk a bit about how that project got off the ground with Kurt Busiek curating? 
2. Since we can’t actually see the book can you talk a bit about what RAMÓN PÉREZ is doing with the art? What is your relationship like on the project?
3. How are things going with comics currently on hold, are you working on anything, or is it pencils down right now?
4. Mark, I simply loved your DC Year of the Villain one-shots, they always seemed to go a subvert the idea that many of the one-shots brought and took a different course like with Harley Quinn being a commentary on award shows, how Riddler didn’t get powered up by Lex, and Sinestro’s story feeling like an incredible sci-fi story not needing the even itself to work. When developing these three wildly different stories did you pitch all 3, were there any that weren’t picked up?
5. It seems like every day we’re learning about the US government enriching the rich, helping them with back channel bills and what not, which makes Billionaire Island even more important and poignant. Issue #1 is out, can you tell us a little bit about that series’ creation and whether or not the current pandemic is inspiring the series to change as you script future issues?
6. You’ve written across pretty much every facet of the comics industry including for the big two, the indies, etc. How does your process differ when writing for established properties versus indie? Do you prefer one over the other? 
7. What did you want to be when you were little?
8. You’ve probably been asked this a thousand times but...Flintstones was an inspiration of a series. Would you ever want to take on another property and put your spin on it in a 12 issue series?
9. What one artist that you haven’t worked before do you most want to work with?

OFF TOPIC TOP SHELF: Mark Russell: Stoicism