INTERVIEW: Darcie Little Badger welcomes readers to ‘Strangelands’
Image: Courtesy of Humanoids / Provided by Superfan Promotions with permission.
Here’s perhaps the coolest comic concept of the year: Two superheroes need to stay close to each other otherwise the world will be destroyed. That means Elakshi Land and Adam Land, characters in the new Strangelands comic book, are going to being spend a lot of time together; if they split, humanity will have to pay a dear price.
In the H1 universe, which launched issue #1 of Strangelands today, July 10, the two protagonists are unable to touch each other, but circumstances dictate they need to be inseparable.
The original story comes courtesy of co-writers Magdalene Visaggio and Darcie Little Badger. Their vision is brought to artistic life by Guillermo Sanna, with cover art by Mike McKone.
Recently Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with Badger about Strangelands, which comes to fans thanks to the shared H1 universe and Humanoids. Badger is an accomplished writer whose debut young-adult novel, Elatsoe, comes out in fall 2020. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
How did the idea for Strangelands come to be?
The architects of the H1 universe, Kwanza Osajyefo, Yanick Paquette and Carla Speed McNeil, created the Strangelands concept: two dancers named Adam and Elakshi Land (no relation), bound together but unable to touch without devastating consequences, are pursued across the globe. It was basically pitched to me as Moonlighting with superpowers. I jumped at the chance to write for a series like that!
What is it like to work with co-writer Magdalene Visaggio? How do you split the work?
Unlike Adam and Elakshi, who are often like oil and water, Magdalene and I consistently work well together! Not only is she a genuinely excellent person, she’s an exceptional storyteller. Mags often surprises me with new ways to envision interactions or scenes. Like, she’ll write a line of dialogue or suggest a change that is perfect for the comic but didn’t occur to me. It’s one of the most rewarding parts of cowriting.
That said, cowriting can be a long process. Here’s how a typical issue of Strangelands is written: First, before every four-issue arc, Mags and I have a brainstorming session. We discuss ideas via video chat and ultimately write an outline together. After we receive editor and architect feedback, the drafting begins. A baby draft doesn’t resemble a script; rather, it’s a summary of each page. Mags and I bounce the summary back and forth, making changes when needed. Then, either she or I will write the full script (we take turns). Once again, we pass the script back and forth until we’re both happy with the end product. Our editors, Fabrice Sapolsky and Mark Waid, read the draft and provide feedback. Mags and I incorporate that feedback into a final script. It works!
What do you think the comic says about human relationships and connections?
Elakshi and Adam’s relationship with each other is the driving force of Strangelands. Unsurprisingly, it’s complex. They’re bound together by their powers, with personalities that sync in some ways but clash in others. And I think this type of dynamic, where two people are both incredible and terrible together, is common. So are their responses: Elakshi and Adam are struggling to stay alive, to stay together, to make things work, and it’s frustrating. They can’t get too close (or things go kablooey), and they can’t get too far apart (or things also go kablooey). Take out the super powers, and they could be any pair of people in a difficult and maybe even dysfunctional relationship.
What were some of your comic influences as a child?
I was so into Archie Comics as a kid. They sold double digests in the local grocery store, and I bought all the Jughead and Betty and Veronica titles; that’s where my allowance went. You better believe I was excited when the Flagship relaunch happened in 2014. Aside from that, I read everything Batman, wanted to be Zatanna and was the Martian Manhunter’s biggest fan. It reached the point that my mother had to use ebay to find Martian Manhunter toys for my birthday because they were too obscure for the toy store. Then, I hit the teenage years, and my interests veered way more goth, but that’s a subject for another question.
How many adventures do you see Adam Land and Elakshi Land having? Do you envision this being an ongoing series that can continue for years?
Oh, definitely! Adam and Elakshi’s journey is just beginning. Right now, they have very little agency over their lives. They’re in the thick of a cat-and-mouse chase, scrambling to survive. However, as they learn more about the world (and themselves), their story has great potential to expand beyond the urgency of the chase into something, er, stranger. Combine that with Adam and Elakshi’s actively evolving relationship, and Strangelands is the kind of series well-suited for lots of adventures.
What’s it like to create and work for Humanoids and H1?
I’m really excited to be part of the Humanoids team. It’s been a positive experience at every stage. As a writer, I’ve been given broad creative freedom, my input respected. Frankly, the cultivation of diverse perspectives is part of what makes the H1 shared superhero universe so complex and entertaining.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Strangelands, co-written by Magdalene Visaggio and Darcie Little Badger, released issue #1 Wednesday, July 10. The H1 comic comes courtesy of Humanoids. Click here for more information.
