WINterview: Dan Jurgens!

We recently spotted Dan Jurgens cutting a rug, backstage at Dancing With The Stars, and here’s what happened:

Q:  What is your favorite thing about the comicbook industry today?
A:  Probably the incredibly enthusiastic fan base. Conventions seem to get bigger and more exciting every year.

Q:  What is it like for you, coming home to the Superman title again?
A: It’s always fun to draw Superman. He’s a very special character and I enjoy trying to convey the sense of majesty he carries

Q:  Tell us a funny Keith Giffen story?
A: Any conversation with Keith is bound to be funny. His mind leaps from one idea to the next faster than anyone I know.

Q:  How would you explain the Superman character, in your own words, for someone who might not have ever heard of the Superman character before?
A: Superman is a man of great integrity and sound judgment.

Q:  Which three, of the many comicbook writers who have come before you, have you enjoyed the most?
A: Oh, man. That changes from day to day. There have been so many it would be hard to nail down, especially since I enjoy different qualities and talents that are represented among them.

Q:  Which of Superman’s many powers would you very much like to have yourself, if you could choose one?
A: Flight, no question. That’s probably the most common power people aspire to.

Q:  What’s one thing about Dan Jurgens which might surprise most people?
A:  Hmm… probably that, at the end of the day, there’s a normal life to be lived? I somehow think fans assume a lot of artists retreat to a cave filled with toys and video games when they’re done for the day. Not quite the case. For me, I like to get away from comics.

Q:  What is your favorite thing about the Justice League International?
A: It’s an eclectic bunch. The best thing about them is the mix of different personalities.

Q:  If the Booster Gold character wasn’t a superhero, what line of work do you think he’d be best suited for?
A: He’d probably go back to being an athlete, most likely trying to catch on with a NFL team. Or… he’d be on some kind of reality show!

Q:  Which Hollywood actor would give the best portrayal of you, in the film “The Dan Jurgens Story”?
A: Gyaah! Hard to say… especially depending on the age I’m supposed to be for the flick!

Q:  What is your all-time favorite comicbook storyline that you’ve written, and why?
A: I’ve always been very partial to the single issue, quiet moment types of stories I did with Superman. The “Metropolis Mailbag” types of things. They tend to be harder to come up with and say something a bit different about the character.  My run on THOR, which took the character in some different directions, was fun as well.

Q:  What is your all-time favorite comicbook storyline that someone else wrote, and why?
A: There are a lot– so many so that it’d be hard to narrow it down. But I might have to pick the Archie Goodwin/Walt Simonson MANHUNTER stuff. It was an incredible visual treat and it had one of the best conclusions in comics.

Q:  What’s your favorite thing that DC Comics did so far this year (2012)?
A: The overall continuation of the New 52 effort. It was a bold jump forward and everyone’s working hard to continue that.

Q:  What do you suppose ever really became of Krypto the SuperDog?
A: That’s a tale waiting to be told!

Q:  Settle a bet for us?  Who is the cutest female brunette in DC Comics?
A: There’s a debate? Lois, hands down.

Q:  What hasn’t happened in the comicbook industry yet, that you’d really like to see happen?
A: Broad based newsstand sales, so we can reach a wider audience beyond those who have access to a comic shop. Maybe digital will become the answer to that.

Q:  What is the best piece of advice anyone that ever gave to you in the comicbook business?
A: “Meet your deadlines, do good work and be nice to work with. If you always deliver on two of those three standards, you’ll always have work.”

Q:  What is your favorite way to enjoy a pizza pie?
A: With a nice, cold beer in a bar with my choice of sports on the big screen.

Q:  You find a lamp.  Out pops a genie.  He grants you three wishes.  What do you wish for?
A: Health for me and my family, happiness and the ability to do any project I want.

Q:  What is your favorite film from the black-and-white film era?
A: That waivers… I bounce around a bit depending on my mood. Most recent would be THE THIRD MAN, which has incredible scenes shot in Vienna.

Q:  What is your favorite film from the color film era?
A: That changes as well. I might cite ALL THE PRESIDENT’S MEN, which can be used as an incredible tool in learning how to tell a story in comics because they actually made Washington, DC a character in the movie. We always knew the government loomed over us all.

Q:  If we gave you $19,000.00 in cash, what would you do with it?
A:  $19,000.00? You can’t spare another thousand to come up with an even $20,000.00?  I’d probably take a trip.

Q:  What’s coming up soon, that Dan Jurgens fans can look forward to this year?
A: Whew! Just trying to get the current issue of Superman done is enough for me!