Tales of the Parodyverse

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killer shrike
Fri Feb 25, 2005 at 02:56:09 pm EST
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Kicking Interview Week off two (or three, depending on your p.o.v.) days early: The Self Interview
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Q: OK, the boring stuff first: who are you, and what do you do?

A: I’m Mike Doiron, and I try to teach American History to middle schoolers.

Q: Where you at?

A: New Orleans, LA.

Q: How’s life treating you so far?

A: No complaints.

Q: Good. Moving on to the PVB related stuff. What brought you here?

A: I used to frequent Comicboards a lot, and heard about this place from the Avengers Message Board.

Q: Let’s talk about comics. How long have you been collecting?

A: Over 20 years.

Q: What’s your view on the medium?

A: I think the industry is in a pretty good place, Avengers not withstanding. I’m mostly a superhero guy, and there is a pretty wide variety of super books out there.

Q: What books have you recently enjoyed?

A: Astonishing X-Men, Jack Staff, Daredevil, She-Hulk, Runaways, Fables, Identity Crisis, and Concrete. I’m really looking forward to the new Superman books by Gail Simone and John Byrne and Grant Morrison and Frank Quietly.

Q: Favorite creators?

A: Byrne, Morrison, Roger Stern, Alan Davis, Kurt Busiek, and the late Mike Parobeck.

Q: Favorite characters?

A: I like the concept of the Avengers. Superman, though so few people write him the way I think he should be written. Colossus (favorite comic moment of 2004: the scene where a newly resurrected Peter runs through a phasing Kitty Pryde to beat down the bad guys). Black Panther, when written by Priest. Ozymandias, from Watchmen..

Q: How do you think Superman should be written?

A: As more of a loner, more of a genius. As less of a patsy to his counterpart Batman. Just once I’d like to see in a book Clark turn to Bruce and say, “You, know, I have plans for dealing with you too.” Actually, I would rather him just think it, because only a real dope admits to having plans for dealing with his team mates. That’s right, Batman, you’re a dope.

Q: Quite a grudge you got going there.

A: That’s not a question.

Q: *Ahem* Back to the Parodyverse, why did you start posting here?

A: I was really impressed by the quality of what I read and the general camaraderie between the posters, some of whom I recognized from Comicboards. And since it was a summer where I wasn’t working summer school or going to class myself I had the time to peruse the archives and actually write something I wouldn’t be embarrassed of.

Q: What do you like about the PVB?

A: I like the shared reality concept. I like the back and forth between creators. It reminds me a bit of old RPG campaigns I was part of where people had a character and played, but also took turns actually coming up with adventures. Every body did a part in shaping the world’s reality.

Q: What’s your take on the current state of the board?

A: The amount of participation ebbs and flows, obviously. Things were great around Christmas, with everybody writing stories about that played off of what was going on in “Untold Tales”. Before that, we had a period with lots of “Follies of Youth” stories being posted. Now, of course, we’re in a bit of a lull, but I’m hoping that’s because people are just away from their PCs and not because they haven’t given up on the place.

Q: Here’s hoping. Looking at yourself as a writer, what do you think are your strengths and weaknesses?

A: Strengths: I’m prolific. I spend more time writing than I should, honestly. Also, I think I’m good at taking other people’s characters or plots and using them without totally ruining the concept behind them. Weaknesses: I’m bad with detail. I don’t have the skill or patience to describe appearances or settings. Plus I tend to use a lot of the same clichés and conceits repeatedly. And my endings usually stink.

Q: Let’s discuss concepts. What are your characters’ niches?

A: Epitome is the Establishment. Not just some flunky doing the government’s dirty work, but the Man himself. I made him to be a counter for all the rebel types in the PVB: Fin Fang Foom, the Dark Knight, CrazySugarFreakBoy!, etcetera. Mr. Epitome is supposed to be sort of like Namor, sometimes he’s there to help, other times he’s an adversary.

Q: That’s why you had him quit the Lair Legion?

A: Yes. Having him on the Legion prompted some great story opportunities for me, and I loved how he was used in other people’s stories, but in the final analysis the way his arc is going to go he ultimately would have to leave the team.

Q: We’ll get back to his “arc” in a minute. What about Killer Shrike?

A: I wanted to post some humor stories, stuff that was shorter and written in the first person. Also I wanted to poke fun at Marvel a bit, so I chose to write about my namesake. He was the grumpy goofy villain type.

Q: And you killed him off why?

A: I ran out of ideas, really. I could have done a “Killer Shrike, Triumphant” plot where he uses his fortune to get back at the people who wronged him, but I thought his death and the hands of Scourge was appropriate.

Q: That’s a metatextual reference, isn’t it?

A: Maybe. And as for Alcheman, I’ll let him explain himself in his interview.

Q: I was actually hoping for a one on one with Mr. Epitome.

A: Yeah, like he’d answer any of your questions.

Q: OK, so you answer them for him. What’s Mr. Epitome’s “arc” going to be?

A: We’re sort of in the middle of the second act, now that he’s established himself as a character and I’ve gotten most of Dominic’s backstory out there. Next we get to see him assume command of the Conspiracy and try to change the world in his image. Then in the big finale we get to see some elements of the world react and try to take Epitome down.

Q: Including poster characters?

A: Let’s hope so. My biggest disappointment is that many of the creators of the anti-establishment characters (FFF, DK, G-eyed, Messenger) aren’t really posting anymore, so the overall story will lose some of its impact.

Q: What other disappointments do you have?

A: Again, relating to absent posters, I wanted to do some stories where Alcheman interacted with ManMan, because I think it would have offered some good opportunities. They fill a similar niche but have very different personalities and supporting casts. Also, it would have been fun to play with the Mr. Epitome/Hallie relationship more. I liked the idea of him being the Ralph Bellamy to Vizh’s Cary Grant. It was also a mistake to start my “Lair Legion Unlimited” story since I doubt it will ever be finished.

Q: Enough regrets, on to the positives. What PVB work are you most proud of?

A: The introduction of Glory, who I’m guessing is my most popular of all the characters I’ve made. Mr. Epitome #5, where he meets the Legion. The story where Epitome, DBS, and CSFB! team up to fight the Aryan Ideal and the Race Warriors (#14-19). The story where Killer Shrike is forced to work for Con Johnstantine. And the Hatman/Alcheman Tag Team I did with Jay.

Q: Favorite characters of others to write?

A: The Hooded Hood, because I like to write evil, condescending manipulative know-it-alls. Lisa Waltz, for the same reason. Yo, because he/she is both cute and wise. CSFB!, because I can relate to all of his hobbies. Fin Fang Foom, because he a Superman archetype. Hatman, because his powers are the best in the PVB. And Dancer, because she’s a peppy, funny contrast to most of my creations.

A: But really, I’ve had fun writing them all.

Q: What do you want to see in the PVB this year?

A: So much stuff. I want to see how Hatman’s quest for his Hatility Belt goes. More of Yukio and Al B. teaming up. Whatever the Baroness has planned for the world. Nitz and the Commission. Semi-Transparent Lad and his brother Jet Starscream getting reacquainted. Crisis. Hallie and her search for identity. The New Lair Legion. Donar, Goldeneyed, and Sorceress rejoining the Old Lair Legion. The Tenth Caphan story. The return of the Apostate. CSFB! versus the Word. More Underworld. More spiffy.

Q: That’s a lot to hope for.

A: Call me a cockeyed optimist.

Q: I’d rather call it a day.

A: It’s your call.

Q: ….

A: I told you I was bad with endings.
















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