Legion World Forums LEGION CLUBHOUSE The Legion of Super-Heroes Visionaries of Tomorrow first time post from chris batista

Thanks Outdoor Miner. I hope you dig my next issue which is all Steel. In his original armor to boot!

Hey Chris!

Any chance of you doing work on the rumored All-
Star Legion book?

That would be a great book to do. I would kill to do it but no one's mentioned it to me. A chance to do an 80's style Legion? It would be a daunting task but I would give 100% at all times. Ah well...you can't compete with George Perez. sigh....

Hmmm....doesn't that sound like confirmation that there'll [i[be[/i] an All-Star Legion book? If so, YAY!

Keep in mind I'm just confirming the George Perez rumor. It would definetly work due to the fact that he is universally loved by Legion fans. If I could pick an artist, I would pick Garcia Lopez. He did a Legion christmas story that still stands out to me. I love George as well, it's just that Garcia's work has had an undeniable impact on me. More than any other artist.

Chris, Garcia-Lopez is one of my all-time faves (as is Perez)! I'd love to see either of them, or you, on an ongoing Legion book, *especially* with something close to the 80's line-up!

Also, I thought the Captain Comet issue was awesome as well. Looking forward to the Steel one!

That's a helluva nice thing to say Cobalt Kid. Garcia lopez is most definetly my idol since his early Superman covers. It's nice to be included mong such heavyweights. I think the 80's lineup would be ideal with minor additions from all Legion eras ( Kent Shakespeare, Kid Quantum etc). I would make Monel the core of the Legion as Superboy is no longer an option. I don't feel that he's really had the spotlight he deserves as the oldest legionaire.

wow... Chris, more and more you make me wish you were DC's LSH guru!

I always felt that after Monel was reimagined, by the Bierbaums, as the seeder of the United Planets, he never got enough of the spotlight after that. It was an amazing addition to Legion history that really should have been at the forefront. In my last Legion story I begged the editor to let me do an update of Monel's original costume. I wish I got a chance to draw him more. I hope fans liked the update. I never liked the giant M on his chest, with the gold boots.

I was never wild about the M, but the side-stripes fit the 90s uniforms team motif. Your classic Mon costume was definitely a sight for sore eyes. The classic costume without the little silver age panties... I hope the current versino loses them in favor of the full red pants.

i sort of get what your saying about Mon's re-boot era costume Chris, but it was different from his first one which i thought was kinda bland after some 30 years or so, personally i
really liked his Valor 20th century costume from the 90's comic book series

I agree Monel should get the attnetion rather than Superboy. I loved in v4 when they made him the inspiration. It just fit...he's more cosmic, etc.

You know I always thought the classic Mon-El costume was the best but it looks a bit outdated in the current Legion. Barry has given us such good costumes with a more sci-fi feel I think Mon-El may need some adjustments. More a more military type look but the same costume...if that makes sense?

To keep this Batista related...I've always loved Garcia-Lopez though I admit I forgot about him. But his latest work on that Donna Troy mini blew me away. That reminded me he is one of the greats.

That was definetly my favevorite part of V4. Monel fits that inspirational role far too well. Not to mention the kind of maturity and guidance a thousand year old man can provide. My approach to redesigning his suit was to never stray too far from the source. I wanted a slight militiristic feeling with a bit of regality. I did like the name Valor quite a bit but felt he was written too blandly. He should be a bit of an enigma. Keep in mind that he was supposed to be even tougher than Superman.

Hey Chris! Happy New Year! Great to see you're still coming here answering all our questions.

Here's a weird one - are you a regular at a comic shop on 23rd and Broadway in NYC (opposite Madison Square)? I go there a lot and I occasionally see little signs saying things like "Buy this week's issue of 52 - its drawn by regular customer Chris Batista!" and stuff like that. Its a cute promo idea I think and its fun to know I may bump into you in there sometime.

I'm also interested in hearing your views on the JLA. I'm a big DC team fan and they were the first characters I was ever seriously invested in. What was it like working with Geoff Johns and Allan Heinberg on that recent Secret Society/Despero story? The sales on that arc were very good I recall. Did you feel like your profile got a huge jolt from it?

This longtime fan was also super-excited with the heroes and villains used in that arc and I loved your interpretations of them. Were they favourite characters of yours too or do you prefer members and villains from other eras? And how are you enjoying Meltzer's take on the team at the moment?

Any word on when the new series will be announced?

I am indeed a regular at Cosmic Comics and have been for many years. i have no doubt you've seen me there. Working with Geoff Johns and Alan Heinberg was definetly a highlight for me. Drawing the classic JLA was a blast. I'm a sucker for the classics and it did elevate my profile a bit. I loved drawing every character in it. My fave was Superman of course. I love Meltzer's take on the team. It's entirely character driven but artistically it's more suited to Rags Morales.
All I can say to you ERYK is that one of the miniseries will star someone who just came back from the dead. I unfortunatley am no longer attached due to a commitment on a Superman story. I can't wait to start.

For no longer being attached. (I'm hoping it's Animal Man. ) Can't wait to see the Superman story though.

Ahhh... and I was hoping for a Batista-drawn Booster Gold series...

Oh well! The Superman story sounds groovy as well!

So am I to infer this Superman project is not an ongoing gig, Chris? If not, is there something ongoing on the horizon? I hope so...I'd love to see your stuff regularly and on an open-ended project again!

I was actually going to do the Booster Gold mini. Who would have written in was unclear at the time.I would enjoyed drawing Booster but the Superman story came about and fell right into place with zero resistnce. I don't think any of the planned mini's go into production until all of 52 is completed. My editor asked if I had any Superman stories to tell and I did some thinking. I threw him my idea and he really dug it.I was really thrilled because I really, really loved the idea and would have been crushed if it did'nt fly. After being just a cog in the 52 machine, I really wanted to go apeshit on something I had real input on. I will be joined by my peeps Abnett and Lanning (we were supposed to do Nova together). We all love working together and share many of the same ideas. It will be a Superman Confidential story running 3 to 4 issues. It's a flashback to Superman's first encounter with the New Gods! It's a retelling of the first issue of Forever People, which guess starred Superman. Those old stories exist in a very nebulous continuity and featured the silver age Superman meeting Darkseid for the first time. We're combining it with a Jimmy Olsen story were Superman goes to New Genesis. We want to make more sense of these original tales and have them more in sync with modern age Superman. It won't just be a straight retelling. It will definetly have some new twists. I love the Fourth World characters and can't wait to play in King Kirby's sandbox. After we wrap that, we (DnA as well) are pitching a SciFi mini, featuring some of the 52 cast. We hope it'll get approved. I think you won't be disappointed if we get our way.

yes to scifi mini.
yes to superman confidential story.

Thanks for coming by Chris!

So do I.

Congrats on getting the Superman story approved. Given the hints DC has dropped in regards to the New Gods, this is the right time to revisit those stories. Best of luck with it.

Thanks for the support guys. It is indeed the right time to revisit these stories. With all the rebooting of Superman's origins, these stories don't make the most sense any more. There is no official first meeting anymore and we hope to change that. Besides, I'll be working with ABNETT and LANNING! Me am happy about that.

Oooh cool, New Gods! Always loved those character designs! I think I first discovered them with the 80s Super Powers cartoons - a bunch of those folks became action figures in the DC toy line. Can't wait to see it Chris!

It's great to see the New Gods back in the DC books. I'm really looking forward to your Superman Confidential books!