In a year when blockbusters were in short supply, Netflix The old guard made a massive impression, introducing the immortal warriors from Greg Rucka and Leandro Fernandez’s comic series to millions of people around the world. These characters have seen the world go through seismic changes, from the fall of the ancient empires to the Crusades to the modern digital age. The old guard: stories through time, a new six-issue anthology miniseries due out in April, explores its expansive history through a starry list of comic book talent.
“I was next to Greg and Leo from the start than we thought The old guard It would be just under five issues, ”says the editor and writer Alejandro Arbona, who, together with the artist Kano, plays a story that takes place in 19th century Paris. “Next, we knew that any problem would swell up in the number of pages and we were going to do a sequel and a three-source, and it became a movie. We have all become very attached to the Immortals of Greg and Leo and they have generated so much affection from us and the readers that we just couldn’t get enough. ”
Rucka’s network is deeply rooted in the industry after decades, and he sees Stories through time as a celebration with writers and artists, he admires a feeling shared by the participants. “I love Greg,” says writer Brian Michael Bendis, who reunites with his Powers Staff, Michael Avon Oeming and Taki Soma. “I love his worlds. His writing. His mind. I’ve seen him build these amazing worlds with kind hearted envy. And now, even for a few pages, to be a tiny part of one is a great honor. “
The concept of immortality opens philosophical doors for writers Stories through timethat draw different meanings from the cast’s endless battles. “Much has been said about the coverage [The Old Guard] a superhero story, but what are they doing? “Says the writer Robert Mackenzie. “They don’t die until they finally do. Well, that goes for all of us. Instead of living or dying, I see it as a story about aging – and how old age turns all of our lives into history, even if we are still living it. ”
Mackenzie’s story with co-author Dave Walker and artist Justin Greenwood takes readers to a monumental moment in the late 1960s: the moon landing. “It is a time of profound change and conflict,” says Dave Walker. “The Chicago Seven, Stonewall, Vietnam, Woodstock, Manson and of course the space race seem like a great lens for those world-weary characters who must feel like they’ve seen it all.”
“The world of The old guardEspecially when we look at it through the specific lens of this type of anthology, we all have the opportunity to tell stories of these more than human characters throughout human history, ”says writer Matt Fraction. “If what has passed is a prologue, then every story about where we come from is ultimately a story about where we’re going. And I think these characters radiate out from a core of humanism: if dying doesn’t matter, then all that matters is how we live. “
“The characters, because they are immortal (and thus go through many belief cycles), are not tied to ‘normal’ human problems (sexuality, nationalism, and to some extent racist bigotry) while still being deeply anchored in an empathic own moral code” says Vita Ayala, author of today’s robbery story with artist Nicola Scott.
From Japan in the 13th century to the old west and after the First World War in Berlin, Stories through time Activities across different time periods, settings and genres of storytelling. Writer Kelly Sue DeConnick who works with her Bitch planet Staff member Valentine De Landro took the opportunity to deviate from the 1970s-influenced work on her previous book. “Val mentioned Kurosawa and we very quickly chose Japan in the 13th century. I think it took about 10 seconds for both of us to hear an audible moan, knowing we had a lot of research to do. “
“I’ve always been a sucker for a good western,” says writer Eric Trautmann of his collaboration with artist Rick Burchett. “There’s the mythology of everything, but with characters like the heroes of The old guard – a kind of permanent outsider – and in retrospect we can tweak and twist this myth a little. ”
“Germany between the wars was a pulsating time for queer culture,” says the writer Andrew Wheeler, who accompanies the lovers Nicky and Joe with the artist Jacopo Camagni through Berlin after the First World War. “Our story takes place in the twilight of this time, when the rise of fascism sweeps away the few institutions, supports and freedoms that queer people had created for themselves. There is never a time for queer people when victories don’t feel fragile. “
For the artists who are working on it Stories through timeThe dynamic between oversized action and intimate character work is a huge draw. “The old guard is kind of a book that reminds me of how special comics can be, ”says Justin Greenwood. “The story has existed for many centuries, fluctuating between massive explosions and violent violence, but never misses the little moments that remind us of what it means to be human.”
“The privilege of watching their relationships change and evolve over the centuries opens up several interesting avenues on a narrative level,” says Jacopo Camagni. “It’s not as common as we might think.”
“Don’t get me wrong, I still like the capes, but sometimes it’s just as rewarding to draw the mundane looking people doing cool exploits,” says artist Matthew Clark, who co-led the American Civil War with writer David F. Walker concerns.
“The characters are kind of guardian angels of humanity, and they advance the work of justice and try to save humanity from itself,” says Kano. “Superheroes’ work is usually pretty bad, fighting local crime or super villains without engaging in social conspiracies. And that hardly makes a difference. “
Other creators on Stories through time These include Jason Aaron, Steve Lieber and Horacio Altuna. All new voices bring their own perspectives The old guard Impact on Rucka and Fernandez’s approach to the world they built.
“I’m always a little stunned when people come and want to play with our toys, to be honest,” says Rucka, who reunited with Fernandez for stories in the first and last issue of the anthology. “And it helps me with my own writing. Getting down on a lead with a character or an idea is easy – when someone comes to visit from the outside, so to speak, it opens up a new perspective and makes me rethink my own assumptions and conclusions about those characters. “
“It’s amazing and a nice exercise to see other minds grasp, understand, and even suggest something about what we’ve done from scratch,” says Leandro Fernandez. “This opens up a new way of understanding how these characters can be seen from different eyes. Suddenly they have a life, their own voice. ”