Interviews
Exclusive Interview with Bryan Q. Miller on "Smallville: Season 11"
[Date: October 19, 2012]Writer Bryan Q. Miller talks to us about writing the "Smallville: Season 11" comic book.
The Superman Homepage would like to thank Brian for agreeing to do this interview, and for fitting it into his busy schedule.
Q: How did you get your start as a writer and how did that lead to writing for "Smallville"?Brian: Creative Writing minor in undergrad, then screenwriting in Grad school as a base. Lots of short stories as I was growing up. Went to grad school for feature writing, then became familiar with writing for television. Regarding making my way onto the show, I landed an internship while in grad school with Tollin/Robins productions (who produced "Smallville" & "Varisty Blues", among other things). I asked for placement on the show so I could see how a series worked first-hand. Did my time as an unpaid intern there for 2 seasons, then was asked to step up into an assistant role on the show. While working at the assistant desk, I applied and was accepted into the WB Writers' Workshop, which helped me to polish and primp and get ready to enter the workforce as a writer proper. There was an opening on the show for Season 8... and here we are!
Q: What are your principal, non-comic-book literary influences?
Brian: Anything with whimsy, for starters. Beyond that, "Hitchhiker's Guide" and "Cuckoo's Nest" were two books that had a major influence on how my creative brain works.
Q: If you weren't writing a Superman book, and having already written some Teen Titans and Batgirl, which other character or characters would you like to tackle? And why?
Brian: Fantastic Four. Doctor Strange. Young Justice. A Damian Wayne book. Zatanna.
Q: How much collaboration goes on between you and the artists in terms of story, breakdowns, etc.?
Brian: There's naturally lots of design work and back and forth on art in general, but as far as story goes, I try to give the artist as thorough a blueprint for the page as possible. Very detailed scripts. It's the TV writer in me - when an episode is being produced, you always walk through every inch of the script with every department to make sure the vision for the script is maintained.
Q: How well do you feel the book has succeeded in terms of staying true to how the show was written?
Brian: In spots, pretty true. In other spots, I can get a little lost in banter and chatter. Believe me, I ALWAYS have to cut a ton of off-point or irrelevant conversation before I turn in a script. So it's not as "me" as it COULD be. Process-wise, I absolutely still approach every story like we did on the show. I write the outline the same, and even write the scripts in the same way - then I rewrite them to fit comic format.
Q: We are, to be perfectly frank, a bit baffled by the Tess-Lex-consciousness storyline, in part because it has not (yet?) become much of a focus of the story overall. Have you done any particular research to inform this material?
Brian: Frankly, I'm not quite sure where I'd do research on fake-science, beyond drawing on rules and technologies previously presented in the show.
Q: The television show was deeply indebted specifically to the Donner Superman films. How indebted do you feel to previous incarnations of the character? Is there a particular stage in his history that you tend to gravitate to most?
Brian: I grew up on the Donner era, then the Animated Series. While staying as loyal as I can be to the progression to Clark from "Smallville", there will undoubtedly be nods to both [Richard] Donner and [Bruce] Timm in the comic.
Q: We've complained a bit in our reviews that the text labels identifying various characters seem not to be wholly consistent in their application, seeming to focus especially on Chloe and Oliver. How are the decisions made to include or not to include these labels in any given scene?
Brian: The challenge is the week-to-week vs. the monthly. We don't get to do 2 separate lettering passes for each format. Seeing as how not only every month, but every WEEK could be someone's first read, it's hard to not label as much as possible.
Q: Though we expect you can't answer this, we're going to ask it anyway: Is Season 12 on the eventual horizon?
Brian: I'm so steeped in the vast expanse of Season 11 that I can't even think about the horizon right now. We've got miles to go before we sleep.
Q: How would you sum up your vision of what "Smallville: Season 11" is all about, from a thematic perspective?
Brian: Growing up and finding a way to face the world with a smile on your face and a cape on your back. Realizing that, even though the weight of the world is on your shoulders, you're never as alone as you think.
Q: How important is the Lois and Clark relationship to the direction your stories are going to take?
Brian: Vital. Their relationship (as it became in the latter seasons of the series) is the heart and soul of the book.
Q: We all know the television show ended on a kind of coda that vaulted us ahead seven years, where we see Lois and Clark on the day that they will presumably actually get married. In that context, what was the thinking behind opening "Detective" with Lois and Clark in the Fortress, having just separated them at the end of "Guardian," which seemed geared to establish why it would have taken those additional seven years for them finally to come together?
Brian: My concern isn't the 7 year delay - it's the immediate season. Having them find a way to be together in the wake of Lex's subterfuge casts an interesting light on how Clark and Lana (when faced with similar villainy) handled their version of that dilemma. Says a lot about the nature of their relationship, as well as Clark and Lois' current relationship. If you really believe in something, you find a way to make it work. That's what Clark and Lois are doing here.
Q: The fight between Batman and Superman. Any plans to resolve this beyond the standard "fight then team up" trope - as in, at least to explain what was going on in Batman's head that he thought attacking Superman was necessary?
Brian: Not sure that it really needs further resolution. He intended to interrogate Bruno, but had two back-up plans in the event that Supes showed up. 1 - red sun projector (which he's been carrying around since Superman went public). 2 - Nightwing in the wings to grab Bruno in the event that Batman had to keep Superman busy. If Superman shows, Batman will keep him busy while Nightwing makes a play for Bruno. He knew he could never take him. As he says in the book, it's all about misdirection, about keeping Superman busy. Batman, in the end, however, underestimated both the Man of Steel's powers and, furthermore, his willingness to help.
This interview is Copyright © 2012 by Steven Younis. It is not to be reproduced in part or as a whole without the express permission of the author.
Interviews
Introduction
The Superman Homepage has had the pleasure of interviewing various Superman Comic Book creative people about their work.
Question and Answer Interviews:
- Interview with writer Marv Wolfman about Man and Superman: The Deluxe Edition (November 2019)
- Interview with artist Claudio Castellini about Man and Superman: The Deluxe Edition (November 2019)
- Interview with artist Joe Staton about working on Superman properties over the years (November 2019)
- Interview with Christopher Priest about the Superman vs. Deathstroke story in Deathstroke #8 (November 2016)
- Interview with Sterling Gates about the 'Adventures of Supergirl' digital-first comic book series (January 2016)
- Interview with J. Michael Straczynski about “Superman: Earth One - Vol. 3” - Writer J. Michael Straczynski talks to us about the third volume in the “Superman: Earth One” graphic novel series (February 2015)
- Interview with Jim Krueger - Writer Jim Krueger talks to us about his “The Dark Lantern” story in the “Adventures of Superman” comic book title (November 2013)
- “Smallville: Season 11” Interview with Bryan Q. Miller - Writer Bryan Q. Miller talks to us about his work on the “Smallville: Season 11” comic book title (October 2012)
- “Supergirl” Interview with Mahmud Asrar - Artist Mahmud Asrar talks to us about his work on the monthly “Supergirl” comic book title (July 2012)
- “Superman/Batman” Interview with Joshua Hale Fialkov - Joshua Hale Fialkov answers our questions about “The Secret” 3-part story in “Superman/Batman” #85-87 (July 2011)
- “Supergirl” Interview with Sterling Gates - Sterling Gates answers our questions about where Supergirl is headed post “War of the Supermen” (June 2010)
- “Supergirl” Interview with Sterling Gates & Jamal Igle - Adam Dechanel chats with the “Supergirl” comic book team about the Maid of Might (March 2010)
- Behind the Scenes of the Super Friends - Four part indepth look at the “Super Friends” comic book title with artists J. Bone and Stewart McKenny (February 2010)
- Interview with Landry Q Walker and Eric Jones - The writer and artist discuss Supergirl: Cosmic Adventures in the Eighth Grade (May 2009)
- Interview with Elliot S! Maggin - Legendary Superman writer and novelist discusses his career (January 2009)
- Interview with J. Bone - Artist discusses Super Friends comic book (November 2008)
- Interview with Mark Bagley (September 2008)
- Interview with J. Torres - Writer discusses Legion of Super Heroes in the 31st Century #18 (September 2008)
- Interview with Jake Black (May 2008)
- Interview with Cary Bates (June 2008)
- Interview with Jack Briglio - Writer discusses Legion of Super Heroes in the 31st Century #14 (May 2008)
- Interview with Ken Pontac - Writer discusses Justice League Unlimited #44 (May 2008)
- Interview with Karl Kerschl (April 2008)
- Interview with J. Torres - Writer discusses Legion of Super Heroes in the 31st Century #13 (April 2008)
- Interview with J. Torres - Writer discusses Legion of Super Heroes in the 31st Century #11 (February 2008)
- Interview with Fabian Nicieza - Writer on Superman comic books (June 2007)
- Interview with Danny Fingeroth - Writer of the book Superman on the Couch (May 2007)
- Interview with Jesse McCann - Writer on the Krypto The Superdog comic books (December 2006)
- Interview with Matt Haley - Artist on the Superman Returns comic book movie adaptation (November 2006)
- Interview with Ethan Van Sciver - Artist on Superman/Batman (September 2006)
- Interview with Mark Verheiden on taking over the writing duties on Superman/Batman (April 2006)
- Interview with Matt Idelson on taking over as Superman group editor (March 2006)
- Interview with Jeph Loeb on Sam and “Superman/Batman #26” (February 2006)
- Interview with Roger Stern (December 2005)
- Interview with Marv Wolfman (November 2005)
- Interview with Gail Simone (May 2005)
- Interview with Greg Rucka (April 2005)
- Interview with Brad Meltzer [Identity Crisis] (January 2005)
- Interview with Glenn Whitmore (November 2004)
- Interview with Jeph Loeb (September 2004)
- Interview with Karl Kerschl (September 2004)
- Interview with Ron Garney (September 2004)
- Interview with Greg Rucka and Matthew Clark (May 2004)
- Interview with Ed McGuinness (March 2004)
- Interview with Brad Meltzer [Identity Crisis] (March 2004)
- Interview with Mark Millar [Superman: Red Son] (March 2003)
- Interview with Min S. Ku (September 2001)
- Interview with Jeph Loeb (May 2001)
- Interview with Joe Casey (April 2001)
- Interview with Mike S. Miller (September 2000)
- Interview with Denis Rodier (August 2000)
- Interview with Grant Morrison (December 1999)
- Interview with Mark Millar [Part 2] (November 1999)
- Interview with Mark Millar [Part 1] (April 1999)
Interviews/Articles:
- “Superman vs. Terminator” - A Chat with Fight Promoter Alan Grant. (January 2000)
- Superman: The Dailies (1939-1940) Graphic Novel Review.
- The Rebirth of Superman (Part 1) - Superman is reborn... again.
- The Rebirth of Superman (Part 2) - Eddie Barganza on taking the character in a new direction.
- The Rebirth of Superman (Part 3) - Jeph Loeb discusses writing the Man of Steel.
- Lex Luthor For President - Forget Superman. An updated Luthor's new enemies are Gore and Bush.
- Superman: Last Son of Earth - Steve Gerbern Interview - The writer discusses flip-flopping the Man of Steel's origin. (August 2000)
Krypton Club Interviews:
When “Lois & Clark” started production in 1993, there was an obvious relationship between the comic book people and the Hollywood people.
A trade paperback “Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman”, was published, with Dean Cain and Teri Hatcher on the cover. It included reprints of comic book stories that were the inspiration for “Lois & Clark”, helping to define the characters. Comic's included are: The Story of the Century (Man of Steel miniseries #2), Tears for Titano (Superman Annual #1), Metropolis - 900 mi (in SUP #9), The Name Game (SUP #11), Lois Lane (in ACT #600), Headhunter (AOS #445), Homeless for the Holidays (AOS #462), The Limits of Power (AOS #466), and Survival (ACT #665).
A number of comic book writers and artists had roles as extras in the episode “I'm Looking Through You” (Season one, episode 4). Their presence was immortilized in the Sky Trading Card #34.
Craig Byrne, president of the online “Lois & Clark” fanclub The Krypton Club, carried out a series of interviews with comic book writers. The interviews are reprinted with permission of the Krypton Club.
- Interview with Roger Stern (June 1995)
- Interview with John Byrne (June 1995)
- Interview with Mike Carlin (July 1995)