WWC: Jonathan Hickman on Fury and his Warriors

This weekend at Wizard World Chicago, Marvel Comics announced the release of Secret Warriors written by Jonathan Hickman (The Nightly News, Pax Romana) and New/Mighty Avengers writer Brian Bendis. Due to start in January, the series will star Nick Fury and his newest recruits who made their first appearance in Mighty Avengers #13 individually, and collectively on the final page of Secret Invasion #3. Along with the artist on the title still being determined, it is also uncertain which members of Fury’s squad will even make it out of Secret Invasion alive.

Newsarama contacted series co-writer Jonathan Hickman to discuss the known particulars of this freshly-minted series.

Newsarama: Secret Warriors? Nick Fury? New team? This the group that shows up at the end of Secret Invasion #3, right?

Jonathan Hickman: Yes, and hopefully some of those guys will make it through to the regular series. We'll see.

NRAMA: Team books always seem to have some sort of circumstance or an overall reason for existing--can you give readers a mission statement of the Secret Warriors?

JH: In Mighty Avengers #13, Bendis wrote, "Every day for the rest of your lives you are going to make the world better than it was the day before" - that's a pretty good place to start. Might be a good idea to tack on "even if it cost you everything," but a good place to start regardless.

NRAMA: Will any familiar faces be mixing it up with this new batch of heroes?

JH: Sure

NRAMA: How clandestine of a group are the Secret Warriors? Will they be operating from "behind the scenes" of the Marvel Universe or is this title indicative of something more?

JH: Everyone's on board with this being a super-hero spy book, so this will be all about small moves with large consequences and big moves that change everything. Nick Fury's the oldest living spy in the history of the world, so, sure, clandestine is appropriate.

I'm actually not sure we're calling the group 'Secret Warriors' in the book or not - regardless, that doesn't just apply to the 'good guys' in the book - it applies to everyone involved - good or bad. They're all 'Secret Warriors.

NRAMA: How does your process change when you mix in a dance partner the likes of Bendis? How do two writers compromise while telling a singular story?

JH: We've agreed on most everything so far. I'm sure a fight over something will happen at some point and we'll probably both think we're right, but we're both professionals...it'll be fine. I'm just honored to be working with the guy.

NRAMA: With whispers of the Marvel landscape being drastically altered again from the results of Secret Invasion--can you talk to us about what kinds of threats the Secret Warriors will be facing?

JH: Sorry, can't do it. But I did get to read the scripts to Secret Invasion #7 and #8 the other day... good Lord, now that's an ending.

NRAMA: In five words or less, give readers something to make them camp outside of comic shops for this book.

JH: Wordiest superhero book ever.