As a longtime fan of Marvel Comics, I can confidently say that “Power Man and the Extraordinary Women of Marvel” is shaping up to be one of the most exciting new series in the Marvel Universe. The creative team behind this title has truly outdone themselves with the introduction of Aeon the Knife, a villain who is as menacing as he is visually stunning.
In the hypothetical scenario, Luke Cage is already an imposing hero, but imagine him with the might of the strongest powers from the Marvel Universe at his disposal. Fans got a sneak peek into this in the 2023 end-of-the-year special Timeless, which showcased a Power Man hailing from a grim future, instigated by Luke’s former partner, Danny Rand. This special edition offered a glimpse of what Marvel Comics would offer over the subsequent year, and it even had Luke Cage and Danny Rand locking horns, all while demonstrating abilities borrowed from Hulk, Iron Fist, Sentry, Iron Man, and Moon Knight. The tale was so well-received that Marvel asked authors Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing to revisit this version of Luke Cage in a fresh Power Man series.
In an exclusive conversation, ComicBook chatted with writers Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing about their upcoming limited series titled “Power Man: Timeless“. Known collectively as the Hivemind, they shared insights into the origins of last year’s “Timeless“, their favorite Power Man abilities (Hulk, Sentry, Iron Fist), exploring the cosmic aspect in the Marvel Universe, their admiration for Luke Cage, and the introduction of a new antagonist, Aeon the Knife. We are also privileged to unveil five pages from “Power Man: Timeless” #1, a design blueprint for Aeon the Knife by artist Bernard Chang, as well as the cover and synopsis for the second issue.
The call for issue #2 of “Power Man: Timeless” states, “He’s unyielding, invincible, incorruptible, immortal. No being in our solar system has been as powerful as POWER MAN until now, but a newcomer has appeared. Who is AEON THE KNIFE and why has he come to the Milky Way? Can Power Man prevent him without unleashing the VOID? And if Luke chooses not to risk that, will the corrosive Venusian clouds claim his life instead?
Interviewer: Among all the Timeless issues we’ve received, the one featuring Luke Cage and Danny Rand stands out as the most captivating and heart-wrenching. Was this a story concept that you both came up with, or was it an idea previously established to have Luke and Danny clash?
Tom Breevort extended an invitation for us to brainstorm ideas for Marvel Comics’ upcoming year, with minimal constraints. Essentially, he suggested, “Imagine if you could create a unique character, like Cosmic Ghost Rider, by combining elements from various Marvel Universe characters. Our goal is to find a character who embodies different traits and personalities, thereby creating something fresh and exciting.
The situation presented an engaging dilemma for both Colin and me, as we found ourselves brainstorming and constructing approximately a dozen possible Marvel-esque character combinations.
Collin Kelly: Many of these stories resemble the classic Amalgam Comics, where it’s essentially about smashing things together, which can seem both interesting yet a bit nerdy, correct? However, our main goal isn’t just to manufacture action figures. While we all appreciate action figures, what we aim for is something that carries deep thematic and character significance, something that could endure over time.
After deliberating, we concluded that Luke Cage is an exceptionally strong character, particularly in “New Avengers” where he takes on a leading role. We saw immense potential in him and then it struck us, wasn’t he Power Man? This led us to consider ways to broaden the scope of his name and introduce the abilities of what we call ‘living weapons’. These entities require what Luke Cage provides: self-control, strength, and empathy. These are the qualities he can contribute. So, we pondered over which powers would best showcase his unique strength.
How can we expand the story of a character we cherish and created, who holds significant value for us, by offering an entirely fresh narrative? I liken this process to our approach with Bucky Barnes when we began working on that character, or to some extent how we tackled the Guardians when we joined their team. In essence, let’s explore something completely distinct from what has been done before.
Let’s delve into uncharted realms and discover the thrilling, bizarre, fascinating events hidden beneath. However, what’s truly essential is understanding the pain concealed beneath it. That’s why we pitted him against Danny in that tale. The story was deeply rooted in this climactic clash between two loyal comrades, both of whom were Marvel Portmans at heart.
In simpler terms, Moon Knight possesses a multitude of abilities – he’s got the power of Agamotto like Doctor Strange, has an Iron Man-like suit due to Stark Tech, and benefits from Eternals technology. Essentially, he combines all these traits. However, this combination is not a blessing but a curse; Moon Knight carries this burden and embraces the tragedy that comes with it.
Towards the end, he miraculously rescues the situation. He’s transported through time. The final image we get is him reappearing much like Dr. Manhattan, regenerating in space before entering our world again. We had grown fond of this character throughout the storyline and were eager to see more of him. This is similar to what was done with DC’s Duke Thomas in ‘Final Knight’, where he was brought back into ‘Outsiders’ and became popular enough for action figures and other merchandise. I thought it was exciting how this character developed and seemed so real. Our hope was that Luke would have a similar impact, but you never know what will resonate with readers. Fortunately, Marvel saw a lot of appreciation for Luke and Power Man, too.
They returned and posed the question, “Suppose you had five opportunities to make a significant impact with something fresh? That’s how we conceived Power Man: Timeless.
Of all the various power sets, which one were you most eager to see Luke demonstrate – The Void, Sentry, the gamma abilities of the Hulk, or the powers of the Immortal Iron Fist?
Collin Kelly expresses a shared enthusiasm for Dragon Ball Z, which they find particularly relevant as Luke Cage’s comic series often revolves around fighting. However, Luke Cage typically prefers not to fight, but when he is forced into such situations, he becomes formidable. In other words, if you grant him the power of the Hulk, that’s how he can break through asteroids – top-notch stuff!
I believe that viewers will find the core of this narrative lies in the struggle between Luke and the Void. This isn’t just about Sentry, it’s about Luke’s journey, grappling with both the power he possesses and the primal darkness he encounters. It’s not just visually stunning, but also thought-provoking and emotionally resonant. This is where we aim to capture your interest.
Jackson Lanzing: What sets them apart is each character possesses a central, powerful entity – for Iron Fist, it’s Shou-Lao the Dragon; for the Hulk, it’s the One Above All. These primal forces drive their power, but they lack human ethics and feelings. They are simply raw, natural energies. Al Ewing’s portrayal of the Hulk has been a significant influence on us, and we wanted to stay true to that in our storytelling. So expect to see the Hulk’s primal fury, something Luke is quite familiar with.
He’s actually pretty good at controlling the Hulk. The Hulk is maybe the thing he’s the most disciplined with. He doesn’t Hulk out the way that Banner does. He’s able to channel that strength into individual muscle groups, into individual places in his body so that he can achieve things in a more disciplined way. But the Sentry and the Void are different because the Sentry and the Void are not some big external conflict idea. The Void just exists inside of you. And the power of the Sentry, that power of a million exploding suns seems to also open up that part of you and expand that blind side that you have, to your own darkness, your own problems, your own fears, your own anger, and that can kind of festers.
In Power Man: Timeless, we don’t have Luke as the storyteller or a third-person narrator. Instead, the Void serves as our guide throughout the book. The Void is the one speaking, and as you progress through the story, you’ll begin to realize that this isn’t just a reader experience, but it’s also Luke’s internal dialogue. This is where Luke expresses his doubts, fears, anger, and the desire to break free.
Throughout his journey, Luke will consistently grapple with an underlying struggle. Despite confronting an immense adversary head-on, the true nemesis might lurk within his very soul.
In the initial edition, where is Power Man located? Is the storyline set immediately following his return from being sent back in time?
We resumed where we last found him, and he was gradually regaining strength, using the abilities of The Hulk.
Jackson Lanzing hints that the revelations about how Jackson interacts with Earth and what he encounters upon returning home will be unfolded in pages two and three. What Jackson finds will not match his expectations, as Luke hails from a bleak future where he believes Danny Rand’s downfall initiates the impending doom. However, for those who have followed Marvel comics recently, it’s common knowledge that Danny Rand has passed away. This story does not concern Luke’s past; instead, it delves into something entirely different. The main Marvel Universe operates on a separate timeline from Luke’s.
Upon returning and confronting his circumstances, he will swiftly realize that Earth has no room for him, given that Luke Cage is already established with a family, responsibilities, and serving as Mayor of New York. With so much going on in Luke’s life, it would be disruptive for Power Man to enter this world without causing chaos. Therefore, he chooses self-exile, venturing into our solar system in search of meaning. Unbeknownst to him, his purpose has already been marked and will find him directly through new allies and adversaries in the cosmos. What I’m most eager about in Power Man’s story is that, at least in the first two issues, he is one of the few main Marvel characters, while the rest of the cast are entirely new characters.
In the upcoming plot, you’ll encounter a fresh antagonist, conceptualized as a balance and response to a character created during the initial stages of Timeless. It was an intriguing notion that we toyed with at the time, and we thought it would be fun to explore in the future. Eventually, this character became part of the narrative. Additionally, elements from our personal explorations about the solar system and its functioning are woven into the storyline.
Collin Kelly: Celestial secrets that have been buried in the solar system for a million years. As well as some new allies. And by issue three we do have some truly excellent cameos as he continues to traverse the solar system.
Our solar system doesn’t just host Earth as the only inhabited planet or system with life.
What can you tell us about this new villain?
Jackson Lanzing introduces a new character named Aeon the Knife, who has arrived in our solar system with his own goals and no intention to explain himself. Instead, he’s focused on getting what he wants, which is the destruction of anything that can’t withstand him. Aeon represents the culmination of centuries of Inhumans’ predictions about creating the ultimate superpowered warrior, a being that nothing can defeat. Essentially, Aeon is like a knight and a blade, cutting through everything in his path.
He is something of a wandering samurai. He is in many ways the equal and opposite to Luke’s discipline and power.
Collin Kelly: As Luke can hold all things together, Aeon cuts all things apart.
Bernard Chang has introduced a fresh character for the Marvel Universe, Aeon. The sword he wields symbolizes his immense power, and any contact with it would result in disintegration. His suit serves as a protective barrier. In issue one, you’ll witness this sword expand to a size comparable to the moon, making it nearly invincible. No opponent stands a chance against it. When Aeon meets Luke or Power Man, he’ll realize that this isn’t a battle he can win through sheer strength alone. Instead, he’ll need considerable discipline, strength, and empathy to survive the encounter.
Collin Kelly: In passing, we talked about Bernard’s artwork, which is truly exceptional. A while ago, we had a chat with him to explore the fascinating prospects for this character. One of the unique aspects he’s incorporating is Aeon’s power to cut through pages themselves. This opens up an intriguing chance for us to move away from strict literalness and towards a more poetic and stylistic approach in the design and storytelling, something that many Marvel comics don’t often explore. However, we want to make it clear that Aeon’s power extends beyond physical objects, even reaching the ‘fourth wall’ to some extent.
As a devotee, I aim to unveil the cosmic, everlasting mysteries hidden within the Marvel universe, much like Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman did with Venom‘s King in Black. Our goal is to elevate this tale to a level that leaves readers craving more and makes our characters face an adversary worthy of their mettle, while also expanding the artistic horizons.
We can’t wait to discover the unique elements this character adds to the story and observe the responses they elicit from readers, as we’re thoroughly enjoying the process of crafting them.
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2024-12-12 23:40