RESPECT. Interview: ‘SOLARMAN’ Co-Writer & Artist Speak on the New Comic Book

I’m a huge fan of comic books. Always have been and probably will be till the end. Many may say that it’s nerdy or childish but I can care less. And I’m sure my comic book comrades can agree with me. Comic books is a way of temporarily escaping real life and just like others like to do that by reading books or watching a movie, I do that with a comic book. But it can’t be just any comic book. It has to be the right one! That’s why I took interest in SOLARMAN. SOLARMAN, last released in 1989 is making a comeback but with some major, awesome changes! The co-writer, Joseph Illidge, and artist, N. Steven Harris, sat down with RESPECT. to talk about the revamp of the comic, how it will inspire people and all the cool work behind recreating SOLARMAN.

Check out our interview with the two down below!

RESPECT.: What’s the evolution of ‘SOLARMAN’ and the backstory to it?

Joseph Illidge: SOLARMAN is the character created and owned by David Oliphant and Deborah Kalman. He was last published by Marvel Comics in 1989, and written by Stan Lee, co-creator of some of the most popular characters in the Marvel Comics Universe and Marvel Studios films.

Scout Comics is the new publisher of SOLARMAN. The owners have decided to make the character Black, in part so we can have a young Black male superhero and tackle some themes that speak to what young Black men are going through in America today.

With my past work championing diversity as an editor for DC Comics on their Batman line of books and as an editor for Milestone Media, Inc., the first Black-owned comic book company that published a line of superheroes of color with DC Comics starting in the Nineties, I was chosen to help revamp SOLARMAN as a modern superhero.

With co-writer, Brendan Deneen, the team includes: illustrator, N Steven Harris, who has worked on “Deadpool” and “Captain America” for Marvel, color artist Andrew Dalhouse, who has worked on “The Flash” for DC Comics, and letterer, Marshall Dillon, who’s probably worked for all of the major publishers.

We’re going all out on this.

RESPECT.: Where do you see yourself taking the story of ‘SOLARMAN’?

Joseph Illidge: The teenage Solarman is Ben Tucker, a young hacker living in Brooklyn’s East New York neighborhood. He’s likably arrogant, and he’s angry underneath that. Something happens in the first issue that makes Ben a fugitive, and by the time we get to the end, there will be aliens, police officers, government agents, and the truth behind Ben’s anger.

He’s going to become a hero, but it won’t make his life easier.

In terms of how far the story of SOLARMAN will go, I’m thrilled that Scout Comics & Entertainment has partnered with Debra Martin Chase (“The Nanny Diaries,” “Courage Under Fire”) to develop a movie franchise based on the character.

The chance that SOLARMAN could be on the big screen a few years after Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther” has me charged up.

RESPECT.: What do you want comic book readers to get from reading ‘SOLARMAN’?

Joseph Illidge: I want readers of comic books and new readers to get an adventure story with familiar elements and a few surprises, with a young Black male teenager. Basically, something they can’t find at most of the well known comic book publishers.

The fact that we have a diverse team of creators is on the book is great. Brooklyn’s my hometown, so being a Black man writing about a young Black superhero living in my hometown is great.

RESPECT.: How long have you been creating comic books?

Joseph Illidge: I’ve been in the comic book business for 23 years. During my time working on Batman, various story elements and characters from my editorial tenure have been seen in FOX’s “Gotham” and “The Dark Knight Rises” film directed by Christopher Nolan, and the Black Canary character seen in “Arrow.” I’ve written comics with DC Comics’ “Young Justice” characters, the Doctor Light character seen in “The Flash,” and “Static Shock,” Milestone’s teenage hero seen in the animated “Justice League.”

Working on SOLARMAN is part of a new phase in making a contribution to adding more diversity to comic books and pop culture.

RESPECT.: What makes ‘SOLARMAN’ unique?

Joseph Illidge: He’s a Black male teenage hero who wears a hoodie and lives in Brooklyn, and his book is co-written by a Black man. How many other comic books and publishers can claim the same?

RESPECT.: What are you working on next?

Joseph Illidge: A ton of projects, most of which are under wraps until official announcements.

Right now, SOLARMAN is my main focus.

I have a weekly column called “The Mission” about diversity in comic books and entertainment, which runs every Monday at 6:00 Eastern at Comic Book Resources, and I’ll be announcing a new online project in May, which will kick off after the release of Marvel Studios ‘Captain America: Civil War.’

RESPECT.: How do you come up with the characters? How they look on the pages?

N. Steven Harris: Well in this case, it wasn’t just me. At first, I took into account who the character is and her/his background. In this case, Ben Tucker, a bi-racial teen in Brooklyn NY., who is a loner. Joe and I gathered some pictures of real people and an actor or 2 who would fit the bill and I took it from there. Joe wanted Ben’s clothing to be fashionable, so he e-mailed some examples of clothing. This is pretty much how it went for all of the character designs. Total group effort. Well, until the drawing starts.

RESPECT.: How do you bring the words to life through the characters?

N. Steven Harris: I see an image in my mind’s eye and I sketch it out in thumbnails to see if it works. If it doesn’t work, I try it from another angle. I use reference to capture an authenticity that would be lacking if I tried to just make it up. So if I was doing a bathroom scene with a character, I would research bathrooms. Is it a swanky bathroom, understated bathroom, public, gas station, etc. Bringing characters to life is starting with the gestures and/or body language of the character which is dictated by the scene and scenario.

RESPECT.: How long does it usually take you to create a character from start to finish?

N. Steven Harris: It depends on the character and the collaboration. It involves taking in all the ideas and synthesizing all of it on the paper, then taking in all the feedback and make the necessary adjustments and tweaks. So it could take anywhere from a few hours to the entire day.

RESPECT.: What do you want readers to get from you art work in this comic book?

N. Steven Harris: This book may speak to a lot of people going through certain issues and I want them to feel something strong. I want them to react, hopefully, positively and constructively. I mean, in addition to some kick ass action, there is going to be some real stuff up in here that Joe and Brendan are writing. I just hope I can capture that feeling they are putting in the script.

RESPECT.: What are you working on next?

N. Steven Harris: Nothing. This is it. I am banking everything on this job! ☺ Joking!! I will be focusing on Ajala: A Series of Adventures, which is my co-creator owned book that I created with Robert Garrett. We are working to get the trade out in May, collecting all 4 books. We will be offering a hardcover version with a Larry Stroman cover for a crowd funding effort. Also, we have begun production on a special Ajala graphic novel and it will be hard hitting. During the summer, I may be working on a couple of projects that I can’t speak on right now. In May, lookout for a story I illustrated with John Jennings from Colonial Comics, published by Fulcrum Publishing. There will be a number of cons I will be doing as well, such as Kids Con (April 24), ECBACC (East Coast Black Age Comics Convention) (May 20, 21),

White Plains Comic Con (June 4), Florida Super Con (July 1-4), Onyx Con (August 19-20) M.E.C.C.A Con (Sept. 17) and New York Comic Con (Oct. 6-9). Bring on the spring and summer!!