Mary Jane

[DRA]

Author Judith O'Brien is best known for her romance novels, but she's taking on a different type of "love" in the upcoming Marvel Comics Young Adult novel, Mary Jane. This is Marvel's first foray into the realm of Young Adult fiction. The series showcases the Ultimate Spider-Man Mary Jane character. The novel features illustrations by Mike Mayhew.

THE PULSE: How familiar were you with comic books before you took on the character of Mary Jane Watson?

O'BRIEN: I must confess, not very familiar at all. Like lots of girls I only read the Archie comics, although I loved the movie versions of super hero characters.

THE PULSE: How did you get involved with this project for Marvel Comics?

O'BRIEN: This is actually a hoot - I was looking for a full time job in editorial. So I went online, saw that Marvel was looking for a story editor, and sent in my resume. Right away I got a response from Bill Jemas asking me to send in a writing sample. I had just finished a young adult time travel novel, and I sent him the first chapter. He called me in for an interview, and he said what they really wanted is to find a writer to work on a new project, something to get female readers interested in the stories. Within moments I was hooked!

THE PULSE: What interested you to want to write Mary Jane's story?

O'BRIEN: Really it was the other way around - Mary Jane picked me. It just seemed like such a logical fit, I was a romance and young adult writer. And poor Mary Jane has been a cardboard character for so long, it seemed only fair to give her a life, a story that is every bit as interesting as that Parker kids'.

THE PULSE: What kind of research into the character did you do?

O'BRIEN: I was given the basic Ultimate Spider-man plot, similar to the one used in the movie. But instead of the story being slanted towards Peter Parker, we switched the viewpoint to Mary Jane. From there the character sort of wrote herself. Oh, and for further research I looked at my own diary from when I was fifteen. Not only did I remember my own emotions back then, but I also learned that I had a major crush on Kevin Williams and that we made out behind a tombstone in the graveyard. Of that I am not proud.

THE PULSE: While you were researching Mary Jane, how did your ideas about the character develop?

O'BRIEN: This was a lot of fun, because in many ways Mary Jane was a blank slate. We knew she had to do certain things, be at certain places. Other than that it was like being on a summer tour and having free time after the museum trips. We could fill in what she was doing on her own, and those moments when Peter is off page, so to speak, really helped shape her character.

THE PULSE: How much like you is Mary Jane Watson? In what areas are you both polar opposites?

O'BRIEN: Mary Jane is a lot less conventional than I was at her age. She's from a broken home, she has real issues with her mother. My life was a lot more simple than hers, although I clearly had issues with graveyards and making out in inappropriate places. I also gave her a love of ballet, something I knew about since I took ballet lessons for more than a dozen years. The difference, however, is that I gave Mary Jane actual talent. That was a vicarious thrill for me. And I gave her an eating disorder, something I never had to deal with, but something I saw a lot in the more gifted dancers in my class.

THE PULSE: How similar to the Mary Jane of the movies is your book version?

O'BRIEN: My Mary Jane has the same spunk, if you will. But she's also deeper, much more complex than the film version. The reader is allowed to get into her head, to experience what she's living through. In that sense she is a much more realized, flesh-and-blood character.

THE PULSE: What do you think about Mike Mayhew's illustrations throughout the book?

O'BRIEN: I was totally blown away by those illustrations! They remind me of Norman Rockwell drawings, the expressions and gestures are just so real and unforced. There is not a false note. Yet every one is a work of art. They are incredible. And as a writer, it's nothing short of miraculous to see scenes you wrote, emotions you imagined, translated into such beautiful illustrations. Heck, I'd buy the book for the pictures alone!

[Nikus]

Bueno, si siguen bien las cosas con comics cono sur..puede que lo tengamos en nuestras manos algun dia...

[DRA]

[Insurrecto]

QUE BUENOS DIBUJOS!!!!


Por dios!!!!!

Eso si, seria interesante que tenga un minimo de movimiento, porque por ahora son solo lindas ilustraciones de tapa


Saludos.

Guy.

[Zoid]

Publicado por GuyWarrior
QUE BUENOS DIBUJOS!!!!
Por dios!!!!!
Eso si, seria interesante que tenga un minimo de movimiento, porque por ahora son solo lindas ilustraciones de tapa

estaba pensando lo mismo

[DRA]

El tema es que (creo) es una novela.
O sea, calculo que sera puro texto con algunas ilustraciones intercaladas.