An Interview with Mark Waid

Writer Mark Waid's extended run on Fanastic Four with artist Mike Weiringo is about to come to an end. Next up for the creative duo is a new Spider-Man title, where they'll no doubt leave their mark on yet another of Marvel Comics' characters. Despite his schedule and a case of strep throat, Waid sat down with TNI's Damien Wood for a short chat...

Damien (TNI): You're just coming off of your run on Fantastic Four. Was it a more "natural" departure than the last time you were expected to leave?

Mark Waid: HA! In that it was our idea, yeah. This is the longest run [Mike] Wieringo has ever had on anything, and while he's still having a good time, he felt it was time to leave while we were on a high note--and I'm not interested in doing the book without him.

TNI: Did you get to tell all of the stories you set out with?

MW: Y'know, I really did, I think. I would like to have done more with Sue and her background, but I honestly could feel myself running out of stories.

TNI: After what's been a pretty long run, does anything in particular stand out as a favorite moment or arc?

MW: The whole finale to the 'Hereafter' arc is something I'm quite proud of--again, thanks in large part to Ringo.

TNI: Word has it that up next for you is a run on a Spider-Man title, once again working with Mike Weiringo. What can you tell us or tease us with about that?

MW: Would that I could, but we're still hammering out ideas and concepts. Still, Mike was born to draw Spidey.

TNI: You had a pretty specific take on the Fantastic Four that made it stand out. What is it about your take on Spider-Man that will set that apart from others?

MW: I think it'll be a little more fun. Not to take anything away from the excellent work done by the other guys, but--brighter, more fun.

TNI: And back to working with Ringo again. Is it safe to say he's a favored partner in crime of yours? What is it that creates the synergy between the two of you?

MW: If only we knew. It's not that we're the same age, it's not that we went to the same college (albeit at different times, so we didn't cross paths), it's not that we have the same initials... it's that we just seem to share some sort of common POV on the world and speak each others' language. It's a great partnership.

TNI: What else is there on the horizon for you after your Fantastic Four run reaches its conclusion?

MW: HUNTER-KILLER continues strong and Silvestri is outdoing himself there. Also upcoming is THE WORLD-FAMOUS SPIDER-MAN, a five-issue mini-series this summer by myself and Tom Peyer and drawn by Salvador Larocca, a 'House of M' tie-in.

TNI: You haven't gone and signed an exclusive contract when we weren't looking, have you? It DOES seem to be the popular thing to do now, after all.

MW: Not yet. Not to dis them, but remember, the last time I signed one (for CrossGen), it spelled doom all around... so I'm hesitant.

TNI: What are your thoughts on the exclusive game? Benefits aside, does it hinder or open opportunities?

MW: Both, but that's the tradeoff you have to make. In years previous, not signing an exclusive never kept me from doing anything I wanted to do, anyway--but those rules have changed at both major houses lately, and now the top-flight assignments are rarer for those not locked into exclusives, so that's to be factored in as I plan my future.

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Damien Wood writes things. Sometimes he even writes things well. As a member of TNI's staff, he brings you spiffy things like this. As a glutton for punishment, he can be contacted here.