r/DCcomics • u/cullenbunn Cullen Bunn • Aug 26 '15
AMA I am Cullen Bunn, writer of Sinestro, Green Lantern: The Lost Army, Aquaman, and Lobo. AMA
28
u/dcnewbie21 Aug 26 '15
How do you handle writing so many different characters at once? (Both in separate comics and in cases like The Lost Army where your cast is fairly big)
49
u/cullenbunn Aug 26 '15
I have story bibles for every series. This is where I note the guiding principles of the series and a leveling statement for what every character is about and where they are going. It helps me figure out the story arc for each player in the story. LOST ARMY is the absolute toughest, though, because EVERY Green Lantern shows up at some point.
3
u/dcnewbie21 Aug 26 '15
Good to know. I'm a big fan of your work on Sinestro, but haven't gotten a chance to pickup Lobo (since I read Trade Paperbacks mostly). What is it that you like about writing this new version of Lobo?
9
u/cullenbunn Aug 26 '15
Thanks for letting me be part of this, folks! Hope I got all the questions! If I didn't, it's only because I missed it. You can always follow me on twitter -- https://twitter.com/cullenbunn -- if you have more questions!
All the best,
CB
3
0
17
Aug 26 '15 edited Aug 26 '15
You've written for some of the biggest fan-favorite characters in both Marvel and DC, including Lobo, Sinestro, Venom, Magneto, Captain America, and Deadpool.
So my questions: who was the most intimidating as a writer to come to? Did you ever feel like "man, how do I top THAT?"
27
u/cullenbunn Aug 26 '15
It's not so much a character as much as following up legendary runs on a character. That's what is intimidating. I'm not gonna win when I have 4 issues to follow Brubaker on CAPTAIN AMERICA. Following Remender on VENOM was also tough. Following Geoff Johns with SINESTRO. That's where it gets intimidating.
5
Aug 26 '15
Of the three, which do you think was most intimidating?
(And FWIW, I prefer your Cap to Remender's, and your Lantern titles are the most interested I've been in GL in years.)
14
u/Crash_Recovery Aug 26 '15
Hi Cullen, thanks for 6th Gun.
When you're starting on a new book at DC, do you typically bring your own pitch, have a pitch from editorial made to you, or some combination of the two?
Examples welcome :)
28
u/cullenbunn Aug 26 '15
Thanks for the SIXTH GUN shout out!
With DC, it is usually a combination of the two.
The first thing I did for DC was SUPERMAN/BATMAN. I was simply asked to pitch some stories. I pitched four different stories, and "Sorcerer Kings" was chosen. There was a second story that was liked as well, but the series ended before that came along.
With SINESTRO, I was simply asked to pitch ideas for the book.
With LOBO, I pitched a couple of ideas. There were some guidelines for how they wanted the character portrayed.
With LOST ARMY, I was told that "all the green lanterns are gone from the DC universe" and then asked to tell their story... where they went... how they got there... etc. My editor wanted some characters to appear, like Relic and Krona. I wanted some... like Guy... and we just hashed it out.
With AQUAMAN, I was given a number of things that had to happen in the series... don't really want to go into specifics... and I had to come up with a pitch around that.
3
u/Crash_Recovery Aug 26 '15
Wow, awesome, thanks for the inside baseball.
Keep up the great work, and thanks again for the candidness and AMA.
1
12
u/Ultra-Q Aug 26 '15
SoOoOoo...Rise of the Seven Seas in Aquaman, you wouldn't happen to know anything about that would you?
25
10
u/questions575 Aug 26 '15
What are your favourite current comics to read?
20
u/cullenbunn Aug 26 '15
I've been reading a lot more in trades right now, and I'm a little backed up. Been reading UNCANNY AVENGERS and ALL NEW X-MEN. I love SOUTHERN BASTARDS. And I'm re-reading INVISIBLES in hardcover.
7
u/questions575 Aug 26 '15
Not a fan of DC then? haha
8
u/NomadPrime Aug 26 '15
If you're not joking/sarcastic: The rivalry only exists between fans, the creators of both Marvel and DC are often friends and fans of both worlds. Geoff Johns is one of DC's heads and I remember a recent interview where he said he'd love to do a Spiderman arc if given the opportunity to.
1
u/suss2it Aug 27 '15
Plus Bunn is writing a few books for Marvel right now too so he's obviously not biased.
17
Aug 26 '15 edited Aug 26 '15
How do you approach writing all of these different characters? I think you have about... 800 ongoings coming up? What would you say is the difference between how you get into the heads of Sinestro, John Stewart, Aquaman, Lobo, Magneto, etc?
Edit: Also, what's a character at DC that you would love to write?
19
u/cullenbunn Aug 26 '15
Not quite that many... and if I write just a few pages a day, I'm AOK.
For each of these characters, I try to define what makes them tick in just a few words. For Sinestro, for example, it is "pride and ego". Having that in mind makes it so much easier.
2
Aug 26 '15
Thanks for the response! I actually slipped in an extra question at the last second. I don't know if you saw it when you were typing.
7
u/kwasmand Aug 26 '15
Love your work in the GL universe! And i was really nervous initially when I heard the pitch for lost army, but its been very fun! How far out do you plan both titles, and do you and rob venditti ever meet to map out arcs, or is that a solo thing?
14
u/cullenbunn Aug 26 '15
Thank you!
I planned a 14 issue arc planned for Lost Army based on the publishing schedule I was given for the series. That's always a blessing and a curse. Going into the book, I knew it needed at least a year to tell the story the way I wanted. But you never know if sales are gonna warrant that many issues. Seems like people are digging it, though, so here's hoping!
10
u/cullenbunn Aug 26 '15
And Rob and I talk a little bit about the book, but this one was pretty much all on me.
2
7
u/Vadosi Aug 26 '15
I love what you are doing with John Stewart and Guy. I always thought that JS is most boring character from all GL, and what you did with him in Lost Army is awesome. Starting to like him :) Also love Aquaman.
Question: Where did You got idea for his "new" weapons?
8
u/cullenbunn Aug 26 '15
Did you read today's issue of Aquaman yet? That helps define some of his new powers a bit.
2
u/Vadosi Aug 26 '15
Not yet. I'm from EU and sadly i have to work :( But now I know what ill be reading after I get back to home :)
1
Aug 27 '15
It was a fantastic issue! I hope these new powers stick around for awhile because I think it gives him some diversity and can shake things up. Doubt they will, though.
I think the question, if I may be so bold, was more along the lines of what inspired YOU to come up with these new powers, not where did they come from in the story?
0
Aug 26 '15
21
u/cullenbunn Aug 26 '15
Hey there!
Well... DC came to me with the drastically different Lobo already in place. He had appeared in another book or three beforehand. My original pitch was the new Lobo and the old Lobo discovered they were brothers and went on adventures together around the galaxy... but they didn't go for that.
Ah, the Black Adam story is gonna be a big one. Sinestro is on Earth for that story, and the Corps is with him. There has to be something VERY important on Earth, don't you think? And I can't imagine that SOMEONE on Earth won't take notice of Sinestro's presence. It'll be a four issue arc I'm super excited about.
That's a tough one. John, Guy, and Arisia are all favorites of mine. Krona, though, he's fun.
12
Aug 26 '15
Well... DC came to me with the drastically different Lobo already in place. He had appeared in another book or three beforehand. My original pitch was the new Lobo and the old Lobo discovered they were brothers and went on adventures together around the galaxy... but they didn't go for that.
That's something I would want to read. After all the build up between the old Lobo and new Lobo appearing in a bunch of titles, I was hyped to see a Lobo vs Lobo fight that eventually turned into Lobos being Lobos. Reading the first issue just turned me off from the new character, because the conclusion to all that lead up is just old Lobo getting vaporized in the first page.
5
u/Warlach Aug 26 '15
You should give it another go, it's really become an interesting book and character.
3
6
u/natidawg Aug 26 '15
Oh man! I enjoyed Lobo, but now I'm lamenting the loss of "The Odd Couple" in space.
2
u/Jay_R_Kay Aug 26 '15
Yeah, not keeping the old Lobo is a bit of a shame. Maybe not as an odd couple, but they could occasionally collide with each other, like Wolverine and Sabretooth back in the day.
12
u/ThatDCguy69 Aug 26 '15
Hello Mr.Bunn,
Thank you for your wonderful service in writing Sinestro and contributing to the lantern lore.
I was wondering about your thoughts on the Blue Lanterns, it is my impression that a lot of what Sinestro does has a primary motivation related to hope: the hope of achieving an ordered universe through fear and control, and more recently the hope that his people will once again achieve greatness and prosperity even with the destroction of Old Kugar and now the establishment of New Kugar.
Would it be a stretch to assume that Sinestro, as a tactician, would see the value that Blue lanterns hold and form a pact with them as they have healing capabilities and the abilty to recharge his Lantern's rings if the need arises as it has in the most recent issues against Mongul, or decharge rings against those remaining corps that might seek to also take advantage from the Green Lantern's dissapearence?
What i am asking is basically will I ever see Saint Walker again :(
22
u/cullenbunn Aug 26 '15
Holy cow!
Have you been reading my scripts?
Look to SINESTRO 15 and beyond.
4
u/ThatDCguy69 Aug 26 '15
Thank you!! You just made my day.
Any advice on comic book writing for an aspiring individual?
5
u/ion_force Aug 26 '15
Cullen, you are hands down my favorite lantern writer. Sinestro and Green Lantern: Lost Army are two of my favorite pulls right now. I always look forward to seeing what you bring to the table. Outside of writing my favorite corner of DC comics I also thoroughly enjoy your Magneto, Wolf Moon, and anything else I can get my hands on. Anytime I see your name on a book I immediately purchase or put it on layaway at my LCS. I'm super excited to start Sixth Gun in the near future and can't wait for your X-men title coming about. Thank you for writing such great stories and for helping me form bonds of friendship over the common interest that is your writing. You inspire me in my own writings and I cannot thank you enough. Have a good day, Cullen!
9
5
u/ImNotRedBatman Aug 26 '15
Hey Cullen,
I know this is a DC subreddit, but I have to say, Magneto is an awesome Marvel book. What is it like working with the different editorial teams. I'm sure their both wonderful to work with, but are there any major differences?
You've been writing a bunch of books at once. How's the creative process for that? Do you find it easy to keep stories and character voices separate, or is it a bit less rigid. For example, do you ever have a story/idea that starts out planned for one character, doesn't play out the way you want, but can be repurposed for another? Any examples of that?
6
u/cullenbunn Aug 26 '15
Every editor is vastly different. Some are more involved than others. Some have lots of notes. Some have none. Some like to talk on the phone, some prefer e-mail. Some really make the story better, and some screw things up horribly (that's all in the distant past for me, though). Whenever I work with a new editor, it takes a bit of time to see how they like to work and how we will work well together.
I almost never repurpose stories for other characters. Sometimes, I guess. Most of the time, though, I feel like if you can swap a main character in a story, you've done something wrong. Villains, though, or other characters, sometimes they show up in books I didn't originally expect them.
So... yeah... there are a lot of lost stories out there.
5
Aug 26 '15
I love the way you handle anti-heroic characters. Magneto, Sinestro, Lobo, etc. And even though this is the DC subreddit, I wanted to ask, do you ever think that you'd do a Doctor Doom ongoing if given the opportunity? After Sinestro came out I thought you'd be a great fit for the character, and there was a great opportunity to do one with Doom and Valeria a year or so ago but that...well, that didn't go like I had hoped.
9
u/cullenbunn Aug 26 '15
I don't know how I could turn down a Dr. Doom series. He's such a cool character. And an ongoing with him would be so different than anything else on the shelves.
4
u/Hellstormer Aug 26 '15
I loved your Venom run! You had mentioned things you had planned for the future in the last issue. Could you elaborate more on your plans for Eddie Brock/Toxin and the symbiote war? Loved what you did with Eddie and the burgeoning dynamic between him and Flash.
Thanks for writing Moon Knight as well.
8
u/cullenbunn Aug 26 '15
The symbiote war was really Rick's thing. I would have gotten to it eventually, though. One story featured Flash, Eddie, Spidey (Doc Ock at the time) and Scorpion brawling over control of the symbiote, with it jumping back and forth between them. And I was planning on doing the Descent story, which would have called back to Circle of Four. It would have featured all the devils and demons in the Marvel U and wrapped up Venom's connection to the supernatural. I would have loved to do more with Mania.
2
u/Hellstormer Aug 26 '15
Thanks for answering. Mania was a huge loss after that book closed up shop. :(
4
u/Warlach Aug 26 '15
Hi Cullen! I'm one of the Mods here and first off, I'm really digging your current DC books - Aquaman's journey has me completely hooked, I'm loving seeing John Stewart in a squad leadership role and really shine in Lost Army, Sinestro has been wonderful and I'm really enjoying Lobo, despite my love for the original version of the character the new/current Lobo is a great addition to the DC Universe.
Now, questions!
-
You've got a lot on your plate with your current titles but if you had to pick one DC character/team you're not currently writing for - whether they have their own book at the moment or not - who would you pick?
-
Given his regenerative powers it seems likely to me that we haven't seen the last of older, fatter, biker Lobo - can you spill if there's any chance we'll see him again? :)
-
Finally, I ask this in each AMA: Back in the 80s DC hired Peter Sanderson to read everything DC had every published and take notes ahead of Crisis on Infinite Earths and Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe. I run a blog called Ask the DC Multiverse Historian and as you can see from this 12,000 word blog post on the complete history of Hawkman, including all his changing continuity from Golden Age to present day, I love the mythology and history of DC's wonderful, ever-changing multiverse. It's now been over 30 years since Peter completed his task so... can you put in a good word for me with DC to be the new Peter Sanderson? :P
Once again, love your work and thanks so much for stopping by!
9
u/cullenbunn Aug 26 '15
1 - I'd love to put together a supernatural team like Justice League Dark. If not them, Suicide Squad. Or (and I'm serious) Scare Tactics.
2 - There's always a chance, but it won;t be during my run with the character. At least, I don't thinks o.
3 - Ha! I don't know who that might be now. I'll see what I can do. ;)
1
u/Warlach Aug 26 '15
1 - I'd love to put together a supernatural team like Justice League Dark. If not them, Suicide Squad. Or (and I'm serious) Scare Tactics.
Holy hell, I would love to see you bring back Scare Tactics! For a nerd of obscure DC books that's honestly super exciting to hear. I mean, we're currently getting a Section 8 monthly book so it seems anything's possible - they could tour with Black Canary :P
2 - There's always a chance, but it won;t be during my run with the character. At least, I don't thinks o.
Ha, I'll stop waiting for him to pop up then :)
3 - Ha! I don't know who that might be now. I'll see what I can do. ;)
Honestly, best answer to this yet :)
3
Aug 26 '15
Let's not forget your mighty partner on the Hawkman post, pal. :P
1
u/Warlach Aug 26 '15
Hahah, yes, I should have mentioned you were a big help with that insane undertaking :)
4
u/MazInger-Z Aug 26 '15
Do you ever have nightmares about Geoff Johns kicking your door in and screaming at you in a weird way "WRONG" ?
5
3
u/charliechrist88 Aug 26 '15
Hi Cullen, love The Sixth Gun and Harrow County along with your work at DC! Do you have any new creator-owned projects in the pipeline?
6
u/cullenbunn Aug 26 '15
Thanks for asking. I have several creator-owned books in the works. The next one is BLOOD FEUD, a backwoods horror comedy from Oni Press. It is coming out in October, and it's gonna be a blast. It's got feuds (of course), undead frogs, folklore, demonic entities, and thousands of spiders. It's a "kissing cousin" to HARROW COUNTY, but very different in tone. If you want to look at the cover (and see an handy order form) here ya go: https://twitter.com/cullenbunn/status/635933406539321344
3
u/reece1495 Aug 26 '15
i dont have anything to ask as this is honestly the first time i have heard of you but after reading your responces just want to say you seem like a solid dude keep up the good work and good luck in the future !
7
u/cullenbunn Aug 26 '15
Well, thanks.
Now go read some of my books. :)
2
3
u/bhavbhav Aug 26 '15
Hi Cullen! Great to see you here doing this AMA!
I don't have questions for you, given the wonderfully thought out questions I am seeing in this thread. I just wanted to tell you I really like your name.
2
3
u/walterpinkman45 Aug 26 '15
Hey man, I'm loving Aquaman. I'm sure it was tough after Geoff Johns' run, but you're still doing great. Keep up the good work! My question is, what made you take on Aquaman? Is there nothing that really interests you about the different characters that you write?
9
u/cullenbunn Aug 26 '15
I think it was the idea of seeing Aquaman as a John Carter of Mars style character really drew me to the book. That and the grand, epic mythology and history that surrounds him.
2
u/AVengefulAlpaca Aug 26 '15
What are your all time favorite comic books?
3
u/cullenbunn Aug 26 '15
MICRONAUTS, ROM, DREADSTAR, UNCANNY X-MEN, PLANETARY, THE AUTHORITY... and a whole bunch more I'm forgetting.
2
u/cSpotRun Aug 26 '15
Are we going to get anymore Empty Man soon? Loved the 6-parter!
Also, do you ever see yourself writing an event series for the G/L universe or DCU overall?
5
u/cullenbunn Aug 26 '15
I dunno about EMPTY MAN. There's more story there... but I dunno if Boom wants it. Maybe I'll ask.
I plotted out a massive crossover with SINESTRO and LOST ARMY, but I don't know if it will happen.
2
u/lollow88 Aug 26 '15
first of all, wow great, great work on aquaman, i really liked the flow of the sory, the flashbacks really kept the suspense up and kept me interested
i was wondering about the mythological side of aquaman we are seeing now, are there plans to make him more of a magic themed charachter ? any upcoming teamups with wonder woman or shazam?
actually what do you think of aquaman's realtionship with other justice leaguers ?
8
u/cullenbunn Aug 26 '15
I don't know if I see him becoming a magic character. He's just dealing with a lot of magic right now.
One of the characters you mentioned will be guest starring in AQUAMAN soon.
As for the Justice League, I think the relationship would be a little tense, especially after all the trouble Atlantis has (and is) causing.
1
u/lollow88 Aug 26 '15
Ohhh boy!! I really hope it's shazam, I could see them having sort of a father son relationship, but wonder woman has been popping up everywhere so it's probably her... I'm so curious to see where this story ends up... Keep up the great work and thanks for the answers :D
2
Aug 26 '15
I just wanted to let you know I LOVE your run on Sinestro. So much that I've expanded my horizons to read outside of the DC brand. Your Venom is pretty darn good too!
3
2
u/i_crave_more_cowbell Aug 26 '15
What's going on with Dark Universe/Justice League Dark? I'd really like to see another book focusing on the supernatural aspects of the DCU, especially with Deadman, Swamp Thing and Constantine.
Also, I'm not telling you how to do your job or anything, but you should totally push for a Deadman solo book. It's what the fans want! Or at least it's what I want...
5
u/cullenbunn Aug 26 '15
I'll see what I can do.
I love-love-love the supernatural characters. They can be tough sells, though.
1
2
u/Zeth84 Aug 26 '15
Really looking forward to your Uncanny run.
Were there any characters you wanted but were unable to have? How different is the team to how you originally envisioned it?
Don't worry I won't ask for the 2 as of yet unrevealed team members ;)
6
u/cullenbunn Aug 26 '15
The two secret members have been revealed! Archangel and Mont St. Croix.
There were characters on other teams that I would have loved. Nightcrawler (although he wouldn't have worked on this team) and Magik. Rachel Grey was a forerunner for me, but in the end, I decided not to use her. She's a favorite of mine... but I decided I'd rather put her in a story that makes sense than to wedge her into this book right now.
2
u/ajroarlions Aug 26 '15
Thanks for putting in the hard work to create so many of the books we all love reading every week.
My only question:
What is your drink of choice?
7
u/cullenbunn Aug 26 '15
I'm a fan of margaritas. Anyone who follows my twitter feed knows that. But I've cut back on ordering them unless I think it's gonna be the greatest margarita ever. I like Old Fashioneds. I like bourbon on ice. I like beers that beer snobs sneer at.
2
u/mwriteword Aug 26 '15
Hi Cullen, I know we're on the DC Subreddit but I just want to tell you that I REALLY enjoyed your run on Moon Knight. It was a great way to close off an amazing series, but there was only one BIG problem with your run... it only ran for 5 issues!! But since this is an AMA, I will ask you a question:
Will you be returning to Moon Knight in the future? Are you hopeful? Is it already in the books? Are you allowed to say?
4
u/cullenbunn Aug 26 '15
I would be interested in Moon Knight, sure, but it's not in the cards right now.
2
u/grey-lantern Aug 26 '15
Hi! Honestly, I haven't read much of your work but I loved Night of the living Deadpool :)
If you could be a sandwich, what kind would you be?
7
u/cullenbunn Aug 26 '15
I'd be a Gerber. I've never had a Gerber... but I recently heard of them... and people seem to love them.
Night of the Living Deadpool is my personal favorite of my Deadpool stuff.
1
u/Ugly_Muse Aug 26 '15
His Deadpool 4 shots are the only pieces of his work that I've read. They're entertaining stories, and I'm now interested to see his other works. Helps he's here and answering questions :D
2
u/lpchaon Aug 26 '15
I've really been enjoying your GL: Lost Army book. I'm excited to learn more about the mysteries of how they got there, Krona and any repercussions their actions might have. I'm especially fascinated by the new Lantern Xrill-Vrex. Is it challenging writing a character like that who changes personalities?
3
u/cullenbunn Aug 26 '15
Yeah, Xrill-Vrek is a challenge from a number of perspectives, but she's one of my favorite new aspects of the story.
2
u/chakrablocker Aug 26 '15
If you could recruit a Marvel character to DC or vice versa who would you choose and why?
14
u/cullenbunn Aug 26 '15
Let's do a Thanos and Darkseid story, but only if they were tag team wrestlers in the early 80s.
2
u/LucidLunatic Aug 26 '15
Will we ever find out what Guy was up to between the end of Red Lanterns and the start of The Lost Army? Is this even the same Guy?
I'd also love to see how what's happening in Lost Army might affect the time stream, given that when Relic originally appeared, the rings were completely new to him, so he had no memory of these events.
2
u/cullenbunn Aug 27 '15
Definitely the same Guy. I don't know if I'll really explore much of the time between Red Lanterns and Lost Army, though. Maybe.
The impact of Lost Army on the time stream will be a big deal.
17
u/_AlphaZulu_ Aug 26 '15
Does anyone else at DC check out this subreddit or are they like, "lol at those noobs on that subreddit"?
17
Aug 26 '15
We have multiple creators who have done AMAs in the past, including Scott Snyder and Geoff Johns. We are not run by DC, but they are aware of us and the number of Redditors we can reach on a daily basis.
4
Aug 26 '15
Scott Snyder once came here to clarify a tweet and save his ass after he said something akin to "DC wouldn't know what to do with Batman without me."
2
u/DogmaBlade Aug 26 '15
Aquaman has become one of my most anticipated monthlies! Here's my question - do you by any chance know what is happening with the "Rise of the Seven Seas" arc/event alluded to at the end of Geoff Johns' run? Is that something that's still in the works to your knowledge/are you involved in any way?
5
u/cullenbunn Aug 26 '15
I know some of the details of it. It's coming.
I'm glad you're digging the book. I know a lot of people have been put off by the new direction.
1
1
1
u/TheOtherNewsonLAD Aug 26 '15
Hi Cullen, I'm a huge fan of lots of your books, not just the DC ones, and I'd love to know how you manage to split your focus between so many different books at once, and keep up such good quality?
Also, are there any stories you want to do or have wanted to write in the past that you weren't able to for whatever reasons?
Last thing, but Sinestro is my favourite DC villain, and one of my favourite characters of all time, and I just want to let you know that you write him perfectly! Keep up the awesome work!
10
u/cullenbunn Aug 26 '15
Thanks so much.
A lot of people ask how I manage so many books. Some people criticize me for doing so, as if they're gonna get something different if I'm only writing one. Here's a surprise: they're not.
I work A LOT of hours. I have two offices (one at home and one off-site) so that I can go to the off-site office (which is super drab and boring) if I find myself getting distracted.
I spend almost all my free time working... because this is a job I love and it took me so long to make the dream a reality. I'm making up for lost time.
10
u/cullenbunn Aug 26 '15
Ah.... stories I want to tell...
There are lots.
I pitched a magical themed event to DC a while back. It was big and crazy and (in my humble opinion) glorious. It featured all the artifacts of the DC universe and all the characters associated with those artifacts. I'd love to tell that story.
Character wise, Swamp Thing, Etrigan, Constantine, Blue Devil... those are favorites I'd like to tackle.
1
u/TheOtherNewsonLAD Aug 26 '15
Oh man, going off how well you write anti-heroes and villains, I'd love to see you take on a magical event with Constantine and Etrigan! DC's magic side needs more attention, and I really hope you get to take it on one day!
1
Aug 26 '15
Hello Mr Bunn, big fan of your work! How was writing Moon Knight? I love the character amd you done an incredible job working with him.
7
u/cullenbunn Aug 26 '15
Moon Knight was a lot of fun. I knew I only had 5 issues. I knew I wanted to do 5 one-and-done stories (which can be challenging). It was just a treat for me. The first thing I ever pitched Marvel was a Moon Knight story, so this was great.
1
Aug 26 '15
Holy shit you replied!! This is awesome :D all i xan say is thanks! You done an amazing job!
1
u/simplegodhead Aug 26 '15
Hi Cullen, really loving Sinestro and I can't wait for him to team up with Black Adam. Is Sinestro going to run into Hal Jordan any time soon? I'm doing to knew Sinestro's opinion on Hal's current status.
6
u/cullenbunn Aug 26 '15
It's possible, but probably not too soon. My plan for Sinestro ties him pretty heavily into the Green Lantern status quo to come. So you never know.
1
u/vadergeek Aug 26 '15
One thing I've always wondered, how does Magneto affect non-magnetic metals? Is it a side-power of his?
→ More replies (1)4
u/cullenbunn Aug 26 '15
I've always seen it as him using magnetic waves, almost like telekinesis. When his powers were limited, though, he didn't do much of that.
1
Aug 26 '15
Thanks so much for coming Cullen!
My question is, do you have anything you like to so when writing? Listening to music maybe? You have a massive amount of titles from.both DC and Marvel under your belt. I believe more than Charles Soule had. How do you manage it all? And finally, im a huge fan of space and space related phenomenon. Will we be seeing more areas of space and giant space battles?
6
u/cullenbunn Aug 26 '15
I think Charles still has me beat.
I sometimes listen to music, but I just as often forget to turn it on when I'm working.
I like to use a little kitchen timer to focus my time. I set the timer for 30 minutes and focus on one goal til it dings. Very effective.
→ More replies (1)
1
u/RamblingandRanting Aug 26 '15
No questions Mr. Bunn, but wanted to say I appreciate your work and thanks for doing the AMA!
4
1
u/Josh2blonde Aug 26 '15
I'm so excited for Black Adam's appearance in Sinestro! Two of my favorite not-so-heroes in the DCU, and two great tastes that taste great together.
I know many are a bit fatigued by the "rainbow patrol" in the Lantern universe, but not me! I'm curious if we'll see any of the other color corps in Sinestro or GL:LA anytime soon?
8
u/cullenbunn Aug 26 '15
Lots of other Lanterns will be appearing in SINESTRO, LOBO, and LOST ARMY (but how can that happen?).
→ More replies (1)
1
u/AhhBisto Aug 26 '15
Hey Cullen Bunn, your name is almost Currant Bun
I really like what you're doing with Green Lantern: Lost Army. I'm a fan of the GL Corps and Red Lanterns books and i'm happy to see that your book is an amalgamation of those, but i do miss seeing some of Kyle's old crew in New Guardians. Obviously Kyle is doing his thing in Omega Men, but is it possible we might see some of the Guardian gang in Lost Army? I think everyone would love to see Saint Walker again.
I really like all your work at the moment, just read today's Aquaman and it was fantastic.
9
1
u/Bournetocutmeat Aug 26 '15
As a writer and creator yourself, Have you ever been intimidated or excited to meet another writer/creator at a convention or elsewhere?
I'm also a avid collector of large format editions of comics I love, like your series Sixth Gun and the Gunslinger Editions. Is it safe to say we'll get your entire run in the Gunslinger format?
Love all your work. Keep kickin' ass.
6
u/cullenbunn Aug 26 '15
Hmmm. I don't know about intimidated. I have definitely gone full on fanboy. though. With Ray Bradbury, Joe Lansdale, Mike Mignola, and Michael Golden. There are some creators I've avoided meeting because I've heard they were awful... and I just don't want to sully my opinion of them. That said, I've met a few of those "awful" people and they were delightful.
→ More replies (1)
1
Aug 26 '15
Aquaman has been my favorite hero for years despite the bad rap he has. What has been your favorite part of writing him?
6
u/cullenbunn Aug 26 '15
Hmm. I guess I like the mythology that surrounds him the most.
→ More replies (1)
1
u/SC0TT1337 Aug 26 '15
Hey Cullen, I've always really dug your work, and I'm pumped to see you're answering questions! I love the Green Lantern universe, but I've noticed that Simon Baz isn't popping up all too often. Any plans for him to appear in Lost Army, Sinestro, or (what a twist this would be) one of your other books? Thanks man!
11
1
u/littleemp Aug 26 '15
I don't really have any insightful questions, just wanted to say that I am enjoying everything that you're putting out there right now (at least everything that I'm aware). Sinestro week is my favorite Comic book day every month.
-
Is bekka getting a bigger role in the near future? It seems like she hasn't gotten a lot of story time as of late. (I love her, soranik, and arkillo as support characters)
4
u/cullenbunn Aug 26 '15
It's tough with such a broad cast... especially considering it is Sinestro's book... but, yes, I have plans for her.
1
u/NobleHalcyon Aug 26 '15
I too am a fan of Sinestro, but I have growing concerns over Green Lantern.
First of all, what kind of an impact has the introduction of the emotional spectrum had on storytelling?
Also, in your opinion, do you think the Green Lantern Corps in of itself is a bad idea? It just seems to me that when you have thousands of characters facing a common enemy, the scalability is a huge issue. We've seen a Godlike being that can manipulate time and space, we've seen a character that has literally taken them to the source wall and threatened to remove their powers completely...it just seems as though the entirety of Green Lantern is becoming less and less viable from a storytelling perspective, especially considering the Deus Ex endings that Green Lantern has been marked by for years.
My final question is this: will we get the emissaries of the emotional spectrum back (Proselyte, Predator, Butcher, Adara, etc.) in some shape or form? I was far more interested in them than the Corps members themselves.
3
u/cullenbunn Aug 26 '15
Characters like the Green Lanterns (or really any ultra powerful character) definitely mean you have to have bigger and bigger threats. I think the thing that can make it work, though, is focusing on the character moments and the emotional elements.
I think you'll most likely see those emissaries again in the future.
1
u/Karisma_not_Karma Aug 26 '15
Hello Cullen, mister sir Bunn sir. A friend of mine wanted me to ask:
As an aspiring writer and artist, what did it take for you to get published with DC?
5
u/cullenbunn Aug 26 '15
It's different for everyone, but for me, I wrote a creator-owned book titled THE SIXTH GUN. An editor at DC saw it and contacted me via Twitter, asking if I'd be interested in doing some work for them. I think that's a good route: create something that is unique to you, get it into the hands of readers.
1
u/WW4O Aug 26 '15
Thanks for doing this! A friend of mine was at SDCC this year, and said that he told you that we call the upcoming Uncanny X-Men run Bunncanny X-Men, and he said you liked that. Just thought you might also enjoy knowing about LoBunn and AquaBunn.
No question, just a big fan who likes wordplay.
4
u/cullenbunn Aug 26 '15
I DO like the BUNNCANNY X-MEN title! I'm all for changing all titles to include my name!
→ More replies (2)
1
u/simsterguy Aug 26 '15
Hello Mr. Bunn, I'm a fan of your recent work. Especially with Magneto, My question for you is where was your main source of inspiration for your run on Magneto? to me it was a powerful piece of comics and a book I looked forward to reading every month
3
u/cullenbunn Aug 26 '15
I drew inspiration from detective novels, noir movies, and horror movies. That was the tone I wanted to set with the series. Of course, I also drew from some of the great Magneto stories throughout the ages, too!
→ More replies (1)
1
u/Fishman1319 Aug 26 '15
I for one am a huge fan of the current Aquaman. Will we be seeing any cameos of the others coming up? Are you using the futures end model for Arthur and Mera's relationship? I am currently subscribed to all of your books too! Keep up the good work!
3
u/cullenbunn Aug 26 '15
The Others may make an appearance after the Thule story wraps up. I haven't really thought of the Future's End model of their relationship when writing Aquaman and Mera.
→ More replies (1)
1
Aug 26 '15 edited Aug 30 '15
Hey Cullen, really glad you could be here. Love your stuff, in fact you were the reason I started to like the new Lobo. I didn't really have a question so...
How was your week?
4
u/cullenbunn Aug 26 '15
My week's been all right. Lots of stressful things going on... but all right for the most part. I'm working on some big plans, and had a meeting about said plans a couple of days ago.
→ More replies (1)
0
Aug 26 '15
8
u/cullenbunn Aug 26 '15
I would not focus on pitching stories to Marvel or DC (if working for them is a goal). Instead, I'd create something yourself. Find an artist, make it happen, self publish or find an indie publisher. Get that work into the hands of editors. That's really the best advice I can give.
On my website (www.cullenbunn.com) I have a lot of process posts and a lot of posts that break down how I broke in.
→ More replies (2)
1
Aug 26 '15
9
u/cullenbunn Aug 26 '15
John's a real stand up guy, loyal to a fault, trying to be a good leader, but he's not unrealistic. He makes mistakes. He has faults. He makes bad decisions. And he genuinely struggles with the tough decisions he has to make.
John's pretty much a straight shooter (unless he has to be otherwise for the sake of his team) and I feel like he'd be really challenged by someone cunning and deceitful and manipulative.
Hmmm... Sounds like someone he might have met recently.
→ More replies (2)
42
u/TheD3xus Aug 26 '15 edited Aug 29 '15
First, I've been loving Sinestro since it began. Beautiful writing and art by Dale Eaglesham and Brad Walker.
Second, are there future plans for Lobo to interact with the Sinestro Corps? Will he ever be a member, or more of an accomplice to Sinestro on the side?