Like so many other children of the '70s and '80s, Geoff Johns grew up watching "Superfriends" cartoons and collecting comic books and action figures. The difference between Johns and 99.9 percent of the rest of this generation? He now writes stories about the same characters he loved as a child.
Johns, in Muncie for a signing at Alter Ego Comics on McGalliard Road, is serious as he talks about bringing his childhood heroes to life, saying "I can work on characters I really care about. I really love these characters, so it's fun to play in it. It's like a different world."
This world begins for Johns every morning around 8 a.m., as he rolls out of his bed and into his office at 9 a.m., an office he shares with fellow comic book writer and "Smallville" television producer Jeph Loeb. For the next couple hours, he speaks on the telephone with DC Comics editors in New York, and then at 11 a.m. the magic begins as he starts to write... and write... and write adventures of characters such as "The Flash" until 7 p.m.
Spending at least 11 hours a day writing comic books might seem like a lot of work, and it is -- Johns is writing monthly ongoing titles "The Flash," "Green Lantern," "JSA" and "Teen Titans," along with other selected special projects, such as the seven-issue "Infinite Crisis."
"I can usually do 'Flash' in two or three days because I've written him for five years. 'Green Lantern' takes at least a week and a half, 'Crisis' is taking about three or four weeks an issue."
When writing, Johns said he writes to his artists' strengths -- for example, some artists work better with six or seven panels per page, while others prefer three panels per page. If John's artist on a particular issue is especially adept at drawing fight scenes, then the writer will be sure to supply the script with plenty of brawlin'. Thanks to artists and imagination, comics are "an art form, a form of entertainment you can't get anywhere else."
Growing up, Johns always looked forward to Wednesdays, when new comic books hit the stands. His passion rings true with other comic book fans.
"When I was a kid, my whole goal was if I could make it to Wednesday, it was a good week...comics made me look forward to the week."
Comics are more than just having fun, Johns said, agreeing with Alter Ego co-owner Jason Pierce that comic book readers learn vocabulary and "in comic books you see things you don't see anywhere else."
While Johns is a longtime comic book reader, he didn't enter the world of capes and cowls as a writer right away. Johns aspired to be a filmmaker during his time at Michigan State University and then found employment working in Los Angeles for Richard Donner ("Superman" director). While in the City of Angels, Johns met some DC Comics people, and next thing he knew, he was writing about folks who wear tights.
However, comic books are about more than superheroes, Johns points out. For example, there are western comics and romance comics. However, the "JSA" writer appears content for now sticking with superheroes and loves making promotional appearances at stores such as Alter Ego Comics because "if we can get people aware of this comic book store, if we can get people to come in and check it out, that's what I'm here for.
"Our job is to make these characters survive forever. My job is to make people go, 'wow, Hourman's cool.'"
Write to Gerry at
gappel@bsu.edu
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
