BY JENNIFER M. CONTINO
Before the first issue of Vigilante saw print, Marv Wolfman gave us some teasers about this new incarnation of the classic character. Now, we've got even more information from the scribe about the man behind the mask, his involvement in DC's Faces of Evil, some other DCU notables who might be making the scene in this series and writing "older" for today's audience.

THE PULSE: In September when we talked about your return to Vigilante you mentioned, "now that comics can be written older instead of just for kids, I'm really excited about getting to do those kinds of stories." Having read most of your work since The New Teen Titans, I'd say you never really were writing to kids; so what do you mean by saying you can "write older"?

MARV WOLFMAN: Although the themes in Titans were older, the writing was straight forward so it could be understood by younger readers. There's a way to write where you make sure every T is crossed and every I is dotted so the youngest readers can still follow a complex story. I leave a lot more open in Vigilante knowing I don't have to explain everything and the readers can figure it out from what is there. Also, once we're past the crossover stories, we'll be dealing more with crime stories that can get a lot grimmer than the Titans stories did. Relationships are handled differently. Events can be stronger. This isn't XXX rated or Vertigo rated but we don't have to 100% make it kid friendly.

THE PULSE: The second issue of Vigilante is a "Faces of Evil" crossover issue, did you know about this a long time ago or did you find out later and have to finagle a few things around?

WOLFMAN: I found out just before I wrote it. Fortunately I didn't have to take anything out as I was able to use the Faces of Evil sections to tell what I had wanted to tell anyway. The story is about him in prison where he confronts what he was as well as what he is. Because Vig's background is still a secret I can't say exactly what kind of face of evil he has but his past is very clearly dark, something we will continue to explore in the next several issues. The story strongly ties into the crossover while allowing me to continue my story.


THE PULSE: What jail does Vig find himself in? There are a lot of different ones that house supervillains in the DCU ....

WOLFMAN: Stryker's Prison in New York.

THE PULSE: Out of all the jail houses around, why Stryker's Prison?

WOLFMAN: 1: It was in NY. And 2: It houses super-villains, so we were able to use Electrocutioner. And 3: It's where the person Vigilante needs to find (not Electrocutioner) is imprisoned.



THE PULSE: We've seen other heroes (and policemen/women/beautiful detectives working for Charlie) undercover behind bars, how is what you're doing here different from that formula of "good guy goes to jail, good guy discovers secret, good guy gets sprung from the joint"?

WOLFMAN: Because the person who is Vigilante was in prison himself for five years for crimes he did commit, his reaction to being sent there again is very different form someone who is merely undercover.


THE PULSE: Usually those good guys who wind up behind bars have a person in place to get them out, but Vigilante is kind of a loner. Has he thought that far ahead about the what to do next? Who is he working with here?

WOLFMAN: That would be telling. Sorry.


THE PULSE: Why did you want to make one of his confidants J.J. Davis? What does that add to the mythos here?

WOLFMAN: I had several reasons for including JJ. 1: He was the original Vigilante's tech and weapon guy and 2: Nightwing used him in the issues I wrote. So, since he had already been introduced long before I knew there'd be a new Vigilante, it made sense to move him over since although this Vigilante is not Adrian Chase there is a connection to him.


THE PULSE: Who are some of the people he encounters behind bars?


WOLFMAN: The Electrocutioner who I created many years ago and was brought back into the DCU more recently by others.


THE PULSE: Why did you want there to be such a mystery around his identity?

WOLFMAN: Originally I pitched the book so not even the reader would know who he was for awhile, but because of the crossovers that wasn't possible. But then I realized how I could make that work anyway. So in issue #1 we learn who Vigilante is, but honestly we don't. I want the reader to know that we don't know everything about this character up front. You have to spend some time rooting him out as you do with many people you meet. They seem like one person when you meet them but the more you know them the more you see other sides to them. So Vigilante is someone who has served time and has a very troubled past, but we don't learn what it is, except through hints, for awhile. I won't keep it secret forever or even a very long time; if the book sells, we'll learn who he is sooner than later. But I wanted to peel the layers away rather than cutting through it from day 1.


THE PULSE: There's a lot of speculation that this Vigilante might be Jason Todd or one of the male Team Titans members. What's the craziest rumor you've heard about who's under the mask?

WOLFMAN: I actually don't pay attention to rumors or read about them, so I had no idea Jason was considered. But I can tell you it's not Jason. That wasn't even a thought.


THE PULSE: The Vigilante seems like an idea character to have roam the DCU canvas. What other places do you plan on having him visit during his first few arcs -- after he gets out of jail, that is ...?

WOLFMAN: The Jail scenario is just one issue. I know it's something that could have been longer, but because of how he gets into jail what happened there affects him for issues afterward. In short, the FBI starts to figure out who he is based on who was brought to the jail that week. Once the FBI gets its claws into him things start to go to hell for Vig as they intend to stop whatever his plans are.


THE PULSE: What do you enjoy the most about working on this comic at this point in time?


WOLFMAN: I'm enjoying writing it differently than I do other books. I'm also loving the idea of a regular series, no matter how long it lasts. I was hired for Nightwing to do four issues then four more than four more, etc. So I couldn't do any long range planning. Here I am and that's what I love to do more than anything. I love building on stories and taking them in different directions which you can only do right if you plant the clues earlier then slowly exploit them.


THE PULSE: When we last spoke, you hadn't had the chance to see any of Rick Leonardi's artwork yet. I'm guessing you have now. What do you think about the way he's bringing your tale to life?

WOLFMAN: Rick's work on issue #1 is incredible and from what I've seen on issue #2 it gets better.


THE PULSE: What other projects are you working on?

WOLFMAN: As always, stuff I can't talk about. Wish I could.



Vigilante issue # 1 is due in stores this month.