I am W. Maxwell Prince, writer of The Deadman, Superman The Kryptonite Spectrum (and Ice Cream Man). AMA!

[u/Key-Help8998]

My name is W. Maxwell Prince and I try to write comics. I don’t always succeed. But sometimes.

Today, someone in a car tried to run into me on my bike. Hence the bloody hand.

Ask me anything—just not that one thing.

Proof: https://www.instagram.com/p/DZCxSLFRGIW/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

[u/SevenSulivin]

So what inspired you to want to write Deadman? Beyond the normal “People need money” reason.

Do you have any other DC characters you’d be interested in having a spin with?

Do you have any thoughts on obscure DC superhero team The Super Young Team?

[u/ISmokeRock1776]

Thanks a ton for being here, Ice Cream Man is a book that carries a lot of weight for me as an addict. Is there any inside baseball behind its release schedule, or is it just simply something that’s gotten harder to write?

On the DC front, it’s always surprising to see creators working on such classic indies make the move to Big 2 work. What drew you to DC specifically?

Hope you’re doing well, and thank you for the several issues of Ice Cream Man that have done more for me than several therapists.

[u/Key-Help8998 → u/ISmokeRock1776]

Ok I see now. Sorry, I was replying incorrectly!

[u/Kevdaw7]

How did you get into writing comics? And what’s your favorite comic book run?

[u/FrostFireFive]

Thank you for coming out to answer questions.

When it comes to Deadman there's such a theatricality to him. But people often forget those old Silver Age stories had a lot of spirituality and philosophy on what life and the afterlife is in a very silver age way. How do you update those concepts for the modern day in a way that resonates with modern readers?

[u/tapsilogic]

You're probably asked this a bazillion times but - Sundae Edition vol. 3. Is it still on the table? If not, would you consider crowdfunding or some other avenues to make it happen?

[u/Blitzhelios]

Thanks for being here and doing this your work on ice cream man and kryptonite spectrum have been some of the best works in recent years and feel like they are against the norm.
On the front of ice cream man and kryptonite spectrum the stories were very one and done in issues which feels alot rarer now in comics is there any reason you prefer to do that style or is it because it feels right.

Im wondering when it comes to Deadman and his more odd history what weirder aspects are you pulling from and what Deadman books are you using for inspiration if any.

Thank you for taking the time to do this and the upcoming deadman book as someone who hasn't been the most excited for alot of next level books this made me instantly excited.

[u/Fun_Development_4543]

Did you ever think you would write Superman? Did you have the vague idea of The Kryptonite Spectrum in a document somewhere or were you asked to do a Superman book and had to figure something out?

I'm writing comics myself and I have a few things that are dream pitches and I feel a millions miles away from ever getting to use them!

[u/[deleted]]

[u/MC2400]

Thanks for doing this! I love when creators reach out.

You've written for several existing characters over the years. Boston Brand clearly drew you in. If you were to give someone a brief guide or insight on how to write Deadman, what would you tell them? What is your philosophy behind writing him?

Secondly, as a reader are there any black DC characters you would love to get an ongoing?

Thank you for your time! ❤️

[u/Lunar_Leo_]

I (like many) looove Ice Cream Man. I have the first 2 Sundae editions as that's my favourite way to collect.

I've heard various things about vol 3 - delays, possible cancellation due to funding. Will it ever be released? Or is my only chance to read any beyond vol2 to buy tpb's half way through the volumes? This would make me sad :(

[u/FlowerRoomLord]

Thanks for doing this! I found out your work last year (Ice Cream Man and Superman: The Kryptonite Spectrum) and enjoyed it. ICM in particular was a bleak yet oddly refreshing experience.

Why was Deadman the character you next wanted to write out of everyone available in the DCU for the Next Level initiative?

Is there personal history there with this character that had him on your writer's bucket list or did you just have an idea that was neatly timed alongside Next Level?

Outside of prior Deadman stories, are there any other comics (at DC or outside) or novels or movies (and anything else) that have shaped your approach to writing this comic?

(PS Martin Morazzo's covers are insane and I'm really looking forward to his work on this)

[u/Blacknite45]

You seem to be best suited tackling very Grim topics and exploring them in a eccentric sort of manner like in ice cream man for example, did dc give you any hardline "dude we can't publish this, what the fuck" or were they pretty hands off ?

Also is  ice cream man still being adapted? Is there anyone specific you'd want to play Rick?

[u/5fingersonafoot]

Loved reading The Kryptonite Spectrum, it led me to Ice Cream Man which I’ve been picking up monthly!

Now that you’ve gotten to write Superman and Deadman, are there any characters that you would want to work with?

[u/Kaleociraptor]

Hey chief! I discovered your work all the way back with Marvel Zombie in 2018 I think? And I've been hooked on Ice Cream Man for years. Hell, I've even emailed you to praise your work and send you comics I've written like a freak

Anyways I'm just curious on the process for your upcoming Archie reboot! How did it come to be? Did you seek it out or were you sought out? Is it tonally similar to anything you've read from the company, or other publishers, before, and how do you get into the headspace to write something like that?

(I'm sorry for the multipart question, I've been thinking about it daily since last year)

[u/Mortuary_Guy]

Basically I want to know when we can expect more issues of Ice Cream Man. But now thinking about it, are there any comics, movies, or tv shows that you enjoy growing up that helped inspire the idea for Ice Cream Man?

[u/GryffindorBrickKid]

Hi! Thanks for doing this AMA! I love your work on Deadman, but I want to know are there any other characters you would want to have an opportunity to write for in the distant future?

[u/chknsdntclp]

Can’t wait to pick up Deadman #1 Wednesday. I was curious if there was anything new that could be said about the Screen Gems adaptation of Ice Cream Man?

[u/Nuclear_eggo_waffle]

If you could write for any hero you haven't written for yet, who would you pick?

[u/stepfordcuckoo]

Big Fan and think Ice Cream Man is easily the best comic (and deck of cards based narrative), on the shelves in a very very long time.

Questions for you:

1. Kryptonite Spectrum was very funny, with Batman in particular being a source of much humour while still being true to the character. Will Deadman be similar in tone or should we be expecting something different in scope & tone?

2. I’m sure plenty will enquire about ice cream man sundae editions vols 3&4… if rumours of them being financially hard to justify are true would you ever consider a kickstarter type thing to test the water? As long as shipping to uk is available I promise i would help to get it funded!!!

Good luck with the launch of Deadman, looking forward to reading it.

[u/wigoquestionmark]

Hi Mr. Prince, love your work a lot! I was wondering:

a) if you have another anthology miniseries, in the same vein as Swan Songs or Haha, lined up at any point in the future? Martín Morazzo's artwork is sublime, of course, but I'd love to see you work with other artists too!

b) are there any Marvel characters you'd like to approach in a similar manner to Superman or Deadman? I saw you've otherwise only got one story at Marvel and I'm curious if that's a lack of interest or of opportunity.

Thank you so much for doing this!

[u/Young_Pat_Fox]

First off, big fan. Love ICM since I started reading it during the pandemic, really liked Kryptonite Spectrum as it was coming out and preordered every issue after I picked up #1 at my LCS on a whim about two weeks after it released - did not regret it, easily one of my favorite Superman stories of the last decade or so.
I hold your work in very high regard and find it to be both consistent and excellent, but I know a lot of creatives tend to be intensely self critical. Are there any things you’ve put out that stick out to you as something you wish you’d done differently/better with hindsight? Even something small, like individual lines of dialogue or a single scene in a book. How do you balance wanting to improve/acknowledging swings and misses as a writer while still having the confidence to keep putting out projects?
Thanks a ton for doing this, always super cool to see one of these.

[u/GN0K]

Is there anything we as fans can do to get an ICM Book 3 hardcover? Otherwise love all the work you do and am excited to see where you take Deadman!

[u/bigger-barda]

Were there any other occupations you considered for Deadman besides a custodian? Or maybe have him moonlight haha. We still haven’t seen the watchtower’s janitor workforce yet.

[u/batfan08]

As someone who adored The Kryptonite Spectrum, do you have any plans to continue that story? It was such a wonderfully eccentric, silver age coded book that really blew my mind with how it played with form. You are creative as hell. If not, any other characters in the DC stable you’d like to take a crack at after Deadman?