EVANGELINE #3 for First Comics.

Had working in comics always been what you wanted to do for a career, or was it something that just fell in your lap?

I've wanted to do comics for a very long time. My mom tried to talk me out of it but an inner force made me stay with it.

How did you get the job on Legion of Super-Heroes?

I had done an Aquaman job for Mark Waid when he was an editor at DC when he offered me the Legion to color. For a moment I thought he was teasing. I didn't even think before saying "YES!" I remember fondly jumping up and down in the elevator when I left with the job.

You started out as the colorist on Legion, but now you are coloring and co-plotting both books. How did you work your way into that?

KC had several people interested in doing the Legion when Tom and Mary left. He asked me if I was possibly interested in trying to write the book with Immonen and Boyd. I submitted a proposal but never thought anything of it after hearing who else was up for the job. He surprised me by giving us the job.

Was the Legion of Super Heroes something that you had always wanted to work with? Are you a longtime Legion fan?

I've been a long time fan beginning with SUPERBOY AND THE LSH #203. After reading the death of a character, (which I didn't think they could actually do for real) I was hooked. I bought every back issue I could find. I find all the characters favorable but Invisible Kid and Triad are close to me.

What is your all-time favorite Legion story?

This answer changes all the time, but the SECRET ORIGINS story featuring Chemical King is really good.

Do you think that it helps both books fit together well by having the same colorist?

But of course. (would I dare answer this question any other way?)

People staying on the same books for a long time has become something of a rarity these days. Yet, almost the entire creative staff of the Legion books has been there since the "reboot" that happened with Zero Hour. What do you think accounts for this?

Everyone that works on these books is here because they really want to be here. With a large cast of characters you have to want to draw, write and color them all.

You have been with the Legion for a very long time. How long do you plan to work on the Legion books?

As long as I'm allowed. :)

What are some of the plotlines planned for the near future (or the far future, depending on how you look at it)?

Computo's return, more of Apparition's turmoil, a reunion of the entire team and returns of a few other villains that we haven't done yet. We've all been discussing things and next year promises to be even more exciting for the Legion.

Do you ever alter your plots because of reader response to certain events? For example, was Tinya brought back because of the overwhelming fan response, or was that planned all along?

Actually, Tinya was always planned to be brought back. I think generally everyone seems to have liked what we've done so far.

How far ahead do you have the Legion's adventures plotted out?

Right now not too far, Legionnaires #57 and Legion of SH #100. We'll [the writers] be getting together soon to plan out more for next year more.

What is involved in the plotting process?

We all input stuff. We generally all talk by phone since we all live far apart.

Are there plans to introduce any new characters or re-introduce any familiar faces soon?

Yes. (sorry, I'm not going to spoil any surprises.)

Are there any characters or older storylines that you have pushed for doing that didn't get done?

There are always several I want to do, but I know we'll eventually get around to them.

What is planned for the blockbuster Legion of Super Heroes #100?

Lots of stuff. The 20th century team will be getting ready to head home. Also, we have several guest writers and artists doing stories too.

How much longer is part of the Legion going to be stuck in the 20th century? Who else will they team up with? When they appear in someone else's book, do you have much contact with those creators, to make sure that the Legion is written correctly?

LSH #100 will be setting for the team to return home. JLA, TEEN TITANS and SUPERBOY have been talked about for appearances. Some may actually happen. We are always sent plots when the Legion is appearing in another book for our approval.

You have been on Legion of Super-Heroes since the beginning of the current title. In that time, what do you see as being successful in bringing in and keeping new fans?

ZERO HOUR. The new energy created by the change allowed us to make the books fresh and exciting again. (not that I'm putting down what happened in the past, but it was a lot of history to remember and keep accurate.)

What has been unsuccessful?

Probably the rush to keep adding characters to the team so that we never examined the current cast more before it grew again.

You worked on the comic when it had a darker tone. Do you like that, or the current, more innocent feel to the books?

The current feel. It's a mix of all the past elements while still being new.

The coloring in comics has improved in leaps and bounds over the past five years. How much has your job changed because of this?

It's a lot tougher and takes longer to do, but I like the outcome a lot more these days.

This is the first time that the Legion has had two regular monthly books ever. What do you feel is contributing to this success?

The fans. Of course now that they have two books even that's not enough for them. :)

To a comic book fan who has never read a Legion book, why should they pick up an issue of Legionnaires? (And what would be a good one for jumping on?)

Because of the large cast of characters there is bound to be one Legionnaire they can relate to and want to follow. That's how I got hooked. Legionnaires #57 might be the next good jumping on spot.

Alternately, for all of those diehard, dispossessed Legion fans who could not stay with the books when the revamp started, why should these people come back to the Legion and give it another shot?

Why not. It never hurts to try something again. I think they might like what we've done now that it's been a couple of years and we've proven that what we did with the change wasn't a bad thing.

And to all of those Legion fans who are current readers, what do they have to look forward to leading up to the big issue #100 of Legion of Super Heroes?

Leading up to #100 is Computo. I guarantee everyone will be talking about this story before it's over. Peyer and I are really cooking on this one.