***EXCLUSIVE BRANDON JERWA INTERVIEW***

Phil Kost · **Posted:** Thu Aug 05, 2004 4:09 pm

Joe Reloaded.com (JR): Brandon, first I want to start off by thanking you for taking the time to answer some questions for us here at Joe Reloaded.com again.

Brandon Jerwa (BJ): Are you kidding? Thank YOU for giving a rat’s ass.

JR: Your first major story arc “Players and Pawns” has just ended, and to say that you set the Joe world on its ear is probably an understatement. Cobra Commander is in Joe custody, Hawk has been shot, the Baroness and Destro are back together and apparently married and you introduced Wraith. Was it your original intent to start out with this big of a bang or did things just work out this way?

BJ: My original pitch included Wraith (of course) and Hawk being taken down, plus many of the other elements, but the timeline was accelerated greatly in some cases. Wraith, for example, wasn’t due to appear until the mid-30s…but that’s the nature of the beast. Things get moved around, plots end up tying to each other in an unexpected way and you just let the story tell itself after a while.

JR: Around the different boards (Joe Reloaded.com included) there have been mixed emotions surrounding the events in this arc, is this what you were looking for? Or has this caught you by surprise?

BJ: I expected every reaction I’ve received. The one thing I’ve really had to learn is the art of reading what everyone has to say without letting it get to me at the same time. I know I can read my board, DD, Battle Lines and your own Reloaded forums, and I’ll usually see a well-thought out discussion about the book and people’s feelings about it. Certain *other* boards can be counted on to deliver rude comments and damnation from people who haven’t read an issue of the book since issue 20….so I take everything with a HUGE grain of salt, pay attention to trends in comments and recurring wants and needs expressed by the fan community, and let the rest roll downhill…

JR: Some people have said that the current stories have been too fast paced, how do you respond to that?

BJ: Things have been deliberately fast-paced and off center, and I know that’s not everyone’s cup of tea. You’ll find events will slow a little as the overall story progresses and the cast thins out a bit, which will happen quite soon. The way certain characters reposition themselves will be a little unexpected in some cases, but I think it’s all organic if you look at it the right way.

JR: While we are on the topic of fan reaction, your Master and Apprentice series is being well received by the fans, is there any plans for more mini-series by you in the future?

BJ: See my reply about MASTER II further on in this interview…but as for other projects, Andrew Swenson and I have been dogging Josh about Yearbooks for a while now, and I finally got him to say “yes” to that. I assume I’ll be working on that, plus we’re discussing various minis and one-shots to tie in with the next two big story arcs.

I’m also going to be undertaking a very special project that will make up part of the MASTER AND APPRENTICE I trade paperback. That’s going to be a very cool item if we continue with what DD has planned…something extremely unique and interesting.

I wish I was a big enough star to get a shot at the Aftermath Universe, but those are huge shoes to keep up with. Maybe someday…

JR: Master and Apprentice was extended out to a fourth issue, can you tell us why that was?

BJ: When I turned in the script for issue 3, I found myself feeling like there was more of this story hiding out in the shadow, so I e-mailed Josh and Mark Powers to make my case for a fourth issue. It was about the same time that the preorders were coming in for issue 1, and they were far beyond what we expected. The advance buzz on the book was strong, and Josh and Mark were, honestly, VERY happy with the story and willing to let me expand as I saw fit.. I was willing to let the door close at 3, but we all soon discovered that there really WAS more to say.

JR: Over the past few issues we have been introduced to Wraith, a merc that has been hired by Destro, where do you see him fitting into the future of the Joe universe?

BJ: Charlie’s a guy who doesn’t really care about the conflict on either side; this whole thing is just a paycheck to him. That being said, I’m not going to play the trite “tough guy out to make a buck thing” card…it’s overdone. He will grow into his role as a member of this sort of
would-be revolution, and perhaps he’ll even start to believe in it more than he ever thought he cared to.

I never imagined that Wraith would have such hype around him, and I’m really feeling that pressure to make him worthy of the advance groundswell! I have good things planned for him, but no one should worry that he’s going to dominate the book…that’s Snake-Eyes’ job, right?

(laughs maniacally)

JR: On the topic of Wraith, I just gotta ask.....Rubber Bullets? What was up with that?

BJ: Ah, yes. An unpopular decision for sure…but I had my reasons. The primary motivation behind that was simple: Destro has hired Wraith to bust out Scrappy and Bludd, and he KNOWS that will eventually get traced back to him; he uses Wraith for the job to slow down the bloodhounds. But if Wraith killed those Joes and was captured in the process, Destro’s deal would NEVER go through…he couldn’t afford the risk. Wraith’s reputation is solid, but he’s as yet unproven to Destro in service.

The second reason is really an underlying statement on Destro’s sense of honor in regards to the Joe team and their ongoing, often forced ‘love-hate’ relationship.

JR: Well, now that is cleared up. In the next couple issues it appears that both Hawk and Wraith will be spotlighted. Can you shed any light on the future of our beloved General and the direction the Joe team will be heading?

BJ: The Joes are so completely screwed right now. Dark times are ahead, and there isn’t much light at the end of the tunnel, at least not anytime soon. You think things are bad now? You don’t know ANYTHING about bad.

Hawk’s fate will be clear by the end of 33, but that doesn’t mean his story’s over by any stretch. Hawk’s legacy will be felt throughout the book for a long time.

As for Wraith…he’s got his part to play. As I said, he won’t dominate the book, but we will see more of him as we move along.

JR: Many fans are looking forward to the battle between Wraith and Snake-Eyes, but some are also hesitant after the short lived fight between Snake-Eyes and Sei Tin. What can you tell us about this developing story line?

BJ: The Snake-Eyes showdown was inevitable, and I frankly wanted to deliver on it pretty quickly. “Bad Moon Rising” will have some good old-fashioned ass-whippin’ going on…it has the best fight sequence Tim’s ever drawn, if you ask me.

Sei Tin may have been beaten quickly, but who knows? Maybe he’ll come looking for a rematch…

JR: At this point you and Tim Seeley (artist), have been working for a while together, have you two gotten that Vulcan mind meld going yet? Or are you guys still getting on the same sheet?

BJ: Tim and I communicate well for the most part, yes. Keep in mind we’ve only been in the same room twice!

JR: In recent weeks we have heard rumors revolving around the future for GI Joe comics, such as new books, the return of Frontline, etc. Is there anything about this that you can share with us?

BJ: Man, don’t even ask me that. The “new book” is a rumor inasmuch as there are no concrete plans. The return of “Front Line” just doesn’t seem likely, although I know Josh has a Dreadnok story he wants to tell…maybe he can do it that way. I’d personally like to see “Front Line” come back as a quarterly anthology series, maybe 48 pages or something, with guest writers.

“Reloaded” is not my department, so I won’t speak on that, but I do know that we’re planning some peripherals and maybe even some cross-over one-shots and minis for my book. Still working out the details on those, but “Master and Apprentice II” seems like it might get underway sooner rather than later….

JR: It was recently announced that Devil’s Due is looking at a sequel to the popular Master and Apprentice story. Can you tell us anything about that?

BJ: We’re still working out the details. I want it to take place at a certain time in the publishing schedule to tie it in with the events in the main book., and that requires a lot of coordination with everyone involved. They’ve got Stefano hard at work on his Aftermath book DEFEX, so I’m not sure if he’s going to be bale to do it or not. I certainly hope he does…we’ve really connected since starting the first MASTER series, and we both want to work together again soon.

Anyway, my story concerns Storm Shadow, and takes place in the present day with some flashbacks to the past. At this time, I have story elements planned to explain T’Jbang’s broken oath of silence and Dojo’s whereabouts, plus I’d love to have the Night Creepers involved.

The most important thing I can say about MASTER II is this: I have come up with what we’ve been calling “The Storm Shadow Solution”, and we all agree it’s the best thing to do with the character, and probably a satisfying decision for the MAJORITY of readers on EITHER side of the fence about Tommy. And you can take that to the bank.

JR: Well, I want to thank you for taking the time to sit with us and discuss your work. Is there anything you want to say in closing?

BJ: Thanks to all of you who support the book, and please…have patience and you’ll see where all of this is going, I promise. And support your Joe forums, folks!

JR: Outstanding, again thanks for your time. I look forward to the future.

BJ: Thanks, Phil!

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