First Comics News: Why do you love writing?
Simon Furman: I loved reading first, well, any kind of storytelling. I was a voracious consumer of movies, TV, books, comics… and at a reasonably young age started writing and illustrating (badly) my own stories. I just had a BIG imagination, and it needed a lot of feeding. And when I started working ‘in’ comics, as a sub-editor on Scream!, it was too good an opportunity to miss. I got my first paid gig in 1984 and haven’t looked back since.
1st: What has been your most loved writing project so far?
Simon: TRANSFORMERS kind of defined my whole writing career. But other highlights would be co-creating Marvel Comics’ Death’s Head, writing Doctor Who stories, Robocop (for Marvel in the 90s), Terminator (for Dynamite in the noughties), and, of course, Return to Skull Island. I’m particularly proud of my self-published comics, To The Death and Five Points (and its soon-to-be-released sequel, The Gyre). I just put that extra dash of love into my own stuff.
1st: What is Skull Island like?
Simon: Not a place I’d want to visit. But as a backdrop for a series, it’s every writer’s dream. Who wouldn’t want a credit on a King Kong comic? I’ve had an absolute blast getting to play around in the Legendary Monsterverse and adding to it! And I’ve grown really attached to the characters stranded there. So much so, I hate myself for what I put them through with every issue. Charlie, Annie, Cap, Kaia… It’s so much fun being in their world. I never want it to end.
1st: Who or what is Yuggoth?
Simon: Yuggoth is our new big bad, a very different kind of Titan-level beast, who arises to fill the vacuum left by Kong at the beginning of Return. Kong’s none too happy at that, but – having fought the Kraken – he’s not best placed to stop this monumental and malign presence tightening its insidious grip on the island. Oh, and Kong and Yuggoth have history… which we get into in Escape.
1st: How would you describe Dog?
Simon: Slobbery.
Rich: Do you enjoy writing a giant monster book, and what about King Kong do you like?
Simon: I’m really trying to give the monsters as much character and ‘page-time’ as the human cast – I want it to be a book about both, rather than just a bunch of monster fights with terrified humans looking on. That means there have to be lines of communication between the stranded humans and Kong, and we need to feel the stakes. I intended to never go more than a few pages without seeing what Kong’s up to, because really, he IS Skull Island.
1st: Why is Charlie an important part of “Return to Skull Island”
Simon: He’s pivotal – and our narrator. We really experience Return/Escape through his eyes. Charlie isn’t your traditional hero – he’s most often out of his depth and knows it – but that just makes him more believable IMO.
1st: You have written a lot of Transformer comic books. Which character was your favorite and why?
Simon: Probably Grimlock, because he’s such a surly, grouchy character (no idea why I feel drawn to him!!!). He was also the first TF character I got to add some layers to, character-wise.
Rich: What is “Transformers Battersea Power Station” about?
Simon: We’ve got to create our own Titan Transformer, Powerplex, which actually transforms into Battersea Power Station. It’s an exclusive story that’s unfolding in-store in a series of poster-format comics. I’m having a real blast writing it.
1st: What did you find most challenging about “Transformers Battersea Power Station”
Simon: Rationalising how (and when) Battersea Power Station could have believably become a Transformer… without anyone noticing.
Rich: Could King Kong beat Optimus Prime in a one-on-one battle?
Simon: Don’t know, but it’s a tussle I’d love to see. Not sure who I’d want to win (or lose) though?
1st: Do you enjoy going to conventions?
Simon: Love getting out there and meeting the fans. Makes it all worthwhile to get face-to-face feedback.
Rich: Any words for the fans of your writing?
Simon: I was you (once), and if I can do it, anyone can!
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