Welcome, X-Fans, to another uncanny edition of X-Men Monday at AIPT!
Courtesy of Danny Lore’s Twitter
Before New Mutants celebrates its 40th anniversary (in September 21st’s New Mutants #30), writer Danny Lore will fill in for regular series writer Vita Ayala in New Mutants #29 (on sale September 7). What does Danny have in store for readers in this Warpath-Daken-starring one-shot issue? Read on for the details and much more!
AIPT: Welcome to X-Men Monday, Danny! Since this is your first time appearing in the column, could you share your first X-Men eXperience as a fan?
Danny: Honestly, non-comics media like the arcade games, movies, and animated TV shows have been a part of my life so long that I can’t remember when they entered it. I remember arguing over who would “get to be Rogue” with my sister (spoiler alert: I later realized that I wanted to be Gambit, but well, Rogue was with Gambit, and that was the same thing, right?) while playing games. I remember going to see the movies in theaters, and my dad jokingly doing a dramatic sigh while talking about “Halle” instead of referring to her by Storm (he was an Iron Man fan growing up).
First time I committed to the comics, however, was in high school. I was on a trip to London with my school and feeling really lost and out of place (because of the school, not the location, lmao). I came across a comic shop in the middle of town and asked about X-Men comics, including finding out the first appearance of Dark Phoenix. I bought a few Ultimate X-Men comics that day, and I remember opening the first issue and seeing Storm in that Knicks jersey for the first time. It was comfort, like a piece of home.
Courtesy of Marvel Comics
AIPT: So you’re writing New Mutants #29. How did this opportunity to fill in for an issue come about?
Danny: I was super lucky to have Sarah Brunstad, the New Mutants editor, approach me for an issue. I was already a big fan of the members of the team, and even more so a fan of this pretty gnarly writer named Vita Ayala, whose run had already made me cry a couple of times. Seriously, though, I consulted with Vita, Sarah, and Jordan D. White quite a bit while committing to a specific story. I’m a fan of the X-Office, but I didn’t want to take on an issue and then make everyone else’s life harder because I didn’t have the same command of the canon. As it turns out, I wasn’t as lost in the Wild Hunt as I thought I was!
AIPT: You mentioned regular New Mutants writer Vita Ayala — X-Fan Clone Gabby Gabby! was actually wondering if you and Vita bounced any ideas around when developing your story.
Danny: Sup GG!
Is it a day that ends in Y if I’m not bouncing ideas around with Vita? For this one, I constantly checked in. Even if Vita was just giving me the thumbs up, I didn’t want to have to go back to the drawing board a bunch of times because of some upcoming developments that I missed. Plus, I don’t believe in ignoring a resource, and Vita’s immersion in New Mutants and overall creative brilliance is a great one! More than anything else in the book, I gut checked Gabby a lot. With so much of Gabby’s presence being off-screen, I liked to track that her voice landed, and I didn’t contradict (or double up) on any development that was happening elsewhere.
Courtesy of Marvel Comics
AIPT: This issue promises to spotlight Warpath and Daken. What made you want to focus on James and Akihiro?
Danny: I’m a firm believer of asking for the wild, bucket list idea first, and having more rational ideas in case that doesn’t work. For me, Warpath and Daken at the center of a story are the bucket list choice! I’ve loved Daken since his days tormenting the Fantastic Four. Warpath is such an amazingly empathetic character who has evolved so much since his inception. I wanted to see what happened when I gave them a chance to be both badass and vulnerable together.
AIPT: X-Fan Rift asked, who are your favorite New Mutants characters and why.
Danny: Howdy Rift — I love all of them, but it’s not an exaggeration to say that Gabby and Warpath are my favorites, hands down. The reason I wanted to use them in this story is because I find them so compelling, and I couldn’t miss out on an opportunity like this!
Courtesy of Marvel Comics
AIPT: X-Fan Chance wanted to know what your favorite New Mutants story is.
Danny: Okay Chance, you can’t say I’m cheating if I say the current run of New Mutants, particularly the first Vita and Rod arc. What Rod does art wise is absolutely captivating and slithers under your skin, a perfect compliment to Vita’s writing. However, if I must pick another series, that 2003/2004 series is another favorite.
AIPT: X-Fan DeeBee said you’ve spent some time writing Blade (and his daughter). Are you a fan of the surprisingly many Dracula and vampire-themed X-Men stories?
Danny: DeeBee, the only thing I love more than Dracula and Vampire-themed marvel stories are werewolf stories! I have a HUGE soft spot for older horror comics, particularly Marvel horror. So any time I get to see that stuff in X-Men I squeal. And yes, that includes whichever story comes to mind that drives someone up the wall, because I ALSO love campy and messy tales.
AIPT: You also wrote Transformers: Shattered Glass. So, which Transformer do you think would be right at home among the New Mutants on Krakoa?
Danny: Well, I want to keep Evil!Ratchet as far from Krakoa as possible because that just seems best for everyone. I think that the good version of Soundwave would love to help the New Mutants train the young ones, and all versions of Megatron would be philosophically fascinated with Krakoa and want to debate about it.
Courtesy of Marvel Comics
AIPT: Speaking of your non-mutant work, if New Mutants readers really dig your issue, what other Danny Lore comics should they check out neXt?
Danny: I think that Shattered Glass plays with a lot of themes that we see in X-Men, about belonging and resistance and found family and defending those things. Champions is my go at a Marvel teen heist book, so if you like the youngins go there. Vita and I have Quarter Killer at Comixology, and right now I’ve got some werewolf-goodness in the form of Lunar Room over at Vault.
Courtesy of Vault Comics
AIPT: Finally, beyond New Mutants #29, X-Fan Grey Jeans was curious if we can eXpect any more X-stories from you in the future.
Danny: Grey Jeans, I would love to do more, and it would likely depend on whether or not people dig this writerly cameo ;)
AIPT: To be continued, I guess! But on that note, Danny, thanks for taking the time to swing by X-Men Monday! Remember, X-Fans, New Mutants #29 goes on sale September 7. And speaking of the not-too-distant future, here are a few eXclusive preview images from upcoming X-Men comics, courtesy of Jordan D. White.
Courtesy of Marvel Comics
Courtesy of Marvel Comics
Courtesy of Marvel Comics
Courtesy of Marvel Comics
Courtesy of Marvel Comics
Courtesy of Marvel Comics
In the neXt edition of X-Men Monday, writer Leah Williams returns to answer X-Fan questions about the highly anticipated X-Terminators! (If you haven’t already, be sure to read AIPT’s advance review.)
Courtesy of Marvel Comics
Until neXt time, X-Fans, stay eXceptional!
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