BlizzPlanet Walt Simonson Interview

[Warlock]

Yet another Walt Simonson interview, this time <A HREF="http://www.blizzplanet.com/content/730/">done by BlizzPlanet</a>. Most of these questions came from the community, so there are a few interesting tidbits here and there. Some questions are dodged or just not answerable (i.e. he doesn't know the future of the series after these 12 issues), but there is a lot of decent info there. So be sure to give it a read.

And remember, issue #1 hits comic shops (and I'm sure other places) on November 14th!

[Kerrah]

Boo-yah! My answer was chosen.

[Rowan Seven]

While I'm a bit leery at how the Blood Elf rogue will be portrayed (I'm somewhat tired of seeing elf women depicted as love interests/***ual objects since it's been done SO MANY times now), the comic series does look more promising than not right now and it should be interesting to see how Jaina Proudmoore is drawn (when was the last time we actually saw official artwork of her?). Learning that Magatha Grimtotem has a role (cameo?) in the comic has also piqued my curiosity.

[ARM3481]

it should be interesting to see how Jaina Proudmoore is drawn (when was the last time we actually saw official artwork of her?).

Hmm, unless I'm mistaken, the last time I can remember seeing any official art of Jaina was Blizz's Christmas wallpaper in which she's summoning an elemental from a nearby stein of ale next to Arthas' reanimated turkey.

So yeah, kind of a dirth of official artwork portraying her (was it just my copy, or was even the profile of Jaina in the RPG book conspicuously missing a portrait, with a big gap in the text where it should have been?)

[Kerrah]

Yeah, Jaina's only been pictured with her WC3 model and her WoW model.

[Kenzuki]

Hmm, unless I'm mistaken, the last time I can remember seeing any official art of Jaina was Blizz's Christmas wallpaper in which she's summoning an elemental from a nearby stein of ale next to Arthas' reanimated turkey.

So yeah, kind of a dirth of official artwork portraying her (was it just my copy, or was even the profile of Jaina in the RPG book conspicuously missing a portrait, with a big gap in the text where it should have been?)

They DID have a picture of her, just apparantly they were stupid and it didn't get in the book.

I have no problams with elven maidens being portrayed as such. Especially when he could have used a female ogre instead. Besides, deadly and sexy go oh so good together.

Wait.....what if they do the ugly dance and Varian ends up being married!? But then where is Anduin's mother!? Maybe she;s dead or ran off with some trash.

[Warlock]

Hmm, unless I'm mistaken, the last time I can remember seeing any official art of Jaina was Blizz's Christmas wallpaper in which she's summoning an elemental from a nearby stein of ale next to Arthas' reanimated turkey.

So yeah, kind of a dirth of official artwork portraying her (was it just my copy, or was even the profile of Jaina in the RPG book conspicuously missing a portrait, with a big gap in the text where it should have been?)

http://www.scrollsoflore.com/gallery/albums/wc_tcg/proudmoore.gif

[Zarnks]

If Reh'gars was part of the old Horde why isn't he an old man? :confused: Is he just very healthy looking?

[Zarnks]

They DID have a picture of her, just apparantly they were stupid and it didn't get in the book.

I have no problams with elven maidens being portrayed as such. Especially when he could have used a female ogre instead. Besides, deadly and sexy go oh so good together.

Wait.....what if they do the ugly dance and Varian ends up being married!? But then where is Anduin's mother!? Maybe she;s dead or ran off with some trash.

I would prefer the female ogre as the love interest. ;)

[Omacron]

Looks like someone hit Jaina with the ugly stick since WCIII.

[Kenzuki]

I would prefer the female ogre as the love interest. ;)

Ok take her.

*pulls Valeera over to him*

[Zarnks]

An ogress would be incredibly hilarious and non cliche.

[Kenzuki]

An ogress would be incredibly hilarious and non cliche.

What is wrong with cliches?

[Zarnks]

What is wrong with cliches?

It just kinds of repitive to see the same thing over and over again.

[Kenzuki]

It just kinds of repitive to see the same thing over and over again.

And your sick fetish with female ogres is better?

[Darkwind]

Is it me or did he practically confirm that the protagonist is Wrynn? The way he completely sidestepped the question on if he was the king and the dragon question, the fact that he said that there would be third party affiliation, and the fact that he said certain unresolved plot lines would be resolved. . .but not the ones mentioned.

I mean. . .that just screams "Yeah, he's the King" to me.

[Zarnks]

And your sick fetish with female ogres is better?

Come on a female ogre or dwarf with the king of Stormwind would be hilarious.

I feel sorry for the elf men. Humans are always stealing their women. :D

[Zarnks]

And your sick fetish with female ogres is better?

Come on a female ogre or dwarf with the king of Stormwind would be hilarious.

I feel sorry for the elf men. Humans are always stealing their women. :D

[Rowan Seven]

Is it me or did he practically confirm that the protagonist is Wrynn? The way he completely sidestepped the question on if he was the king and the dragon question, the fact that he said that there would be third party affiliation, and the fact that he said certain unresolved plot lines would be resolved. . .but not the ones mentioned.

I mean. . .that just screams "Yeah, he's the King" to me.

There's definitely grounds to make that assumption, though I still have a tiny doubt that says Blizzard and the comic team are misleading us so they can spring a huge surprise later. We'll just have to wait and see, though.

As for the Blood Elf rogue, we can't say the relationship she's going to have with the human protagonist will or will not be a cliche till we actually see it develop but we've seen - please pardon the coarse language - "hot elf chick falls for handsome human hero" in both "Day of the Dragon" and "Tides of Darkness" and, frankly, if it's going to be done again I'd like to see it presented differently which, considering the medium and target audience (male teenagers), I doubt it will be. It's getting to the point where I'm almost inclined to say that the REAL reason Blood Elves joined the Horde is because the BE women didn't like the new human male models and their flex emotes. ;)

To borrow Kenzuki's words, I don't have any problems with "deadly and sexy." However, if this "deadly and sexy" Blood Elf is, as a character, defined primarily as the human protagonist's possible love interest then I will probably be disappointed. I like characters that can stand on their own two feet, like Jaina Proudmoore to cite one example. Although her past relationship with Arthas is a prominent part of her identity as a character, it isn't the only and it isn't even the main part.

[FreeLancer]

I feel sorry for the elf men. Humans are always stealing their women. :D

Why do you think their so angsty and hating on the alliance now? Wouldn't you be pissed of and out for some revenge?

[Aldrius]

What is wrong with cliches?

They're boring and overused and take no creative thought whatsoever?

[Kenzuki]

They're boring and overused and take no creative thought whatsoever?

Aldrius, sweetheart I hate to break this to you but by the year 2007 pretty much everything in fantasy or writting in general has been overused. If it's done with style I actually like certain cliches. If you try too hard to be original it usually sucks :P

[Aldrius]

What the fuck are you talking about?

[Omacron]

What the fuck are you talking about?

I kind of have to agree with Kenz. Can you think of anything that fits in our idea of "fantasy" that isn't either fucking stupid or been used before?

[Aldrius]

That's not really the point, though.

[Kenzuki]

That's not really the point, though.

Then what is the point?

[Aldrius]

That cliches suck?

[Kenzuki]

That cliches suck?

I guess every idea sucks by now then. Cause everyone is copying everyone else.

[Aldrius]

That's not true at all, so no.

Maybe of fantasy but not of everything.

[Kenzuki]

That's not true at all, so no.

Maybe of fantasy but not of everything.

Ok, we're talking about fantasy here ok? That is what Warcraft is.

[Zarnks]

It's more of a Warcraft cliche then a fantasy cliche. Sylvanas is the only important high/blood female who hasn't married a human.

[Aldrius]

Ok, we're talking about fantasy here ok? That is what Warcraft is.

And WarCraft is actually pretty atypical as far as most fantasy I've seen and/or read. But I haven't read or watched much fantasy really outside of the typical stuff, Tolkein, the Narnia books, that sort of thing.


I'm more of a fan of the more realistic approaches to fiction. Not so much in the reality of what they characters are doing, but why and how they do it, and the rules of whatever it is they do...

Eh.

[Kenzuki]

Well Sylvanas DID seem to have a close relationship with Nathanos Marris....

You want a more realistic approach to fantasy? Ok, all the women stay home and watch the kids and cook. Cause in the middle ages except for a small minority that's all women did. There is your realism.

[Kerrah]

Blizzard tried to prevent clishes, so they made the Draeaeaenei.

If "being original" means that to them, I prefer the clishes.

[Aldrius]

You want a more realistic approach to fantasy? Ok, all the women stay home and watch the kids and cook. Cause in the middle ages except for a small minority that's all women did. There is your realism.

Did you even read what I said?


Blizzard tried to prevent clishes, so they made the Draeaeaenei.

If "being original" means that to them, I prefer the clishes.

No 'being original' means Thrall and the Forsaken.

[Zarnks]

Warcraft often avoids or puts a new twist on traditional fantasy cliches.

[Zarnks]

Blizzard tried to prevent clishes, so they made the Draeaeaenei.


The new Draenei are cliche. They are just a copy of either holier then thou paladin race in existance with the added bonus of owning spaceships.

[Omacron]

Blizzard tried to prevent clishes, so they made the Draeaeaenei.

If "being original" means that to them, I prefer the clishes.

Who are surprisingly similar to WH4k's Tau. It's like they are incapable of not ripping GW off.

[Kerrah]

either holier then thou paladin race in existance

Name one (that's not in Warcraft).

[Zarnks]

Name one (that's not in Warcraft).

They are basically an entire race of paladins and a protoss rip off big deal. I'd take the old draenei any day.

[FreeLancer]

Who are surprisingly similar to WH4k's Tau. It's like they are incapable of not ripping GW off.

Yeah, because they both have spaceships. Oh wait, that's the Naaru.

And they both have power armor. No, the Draenei just have armor.

They both use crystals. Well, not really the Tau so much.

And they both races have lost their homeworld to demons. No...still not true.

Well at least their both socialists who believe in the Holy Light and have Paladins right? Damn it!

Face it, about all the Draenei have in common with the Tau is...well, nothing! At least with the Protoss they have skin color!

[Mark_Romaneck]

They are basically an entire race of paladins and a protoss rip off big deal. I'd take the old draenei any day.

Me too, they had a "eat-this-forsaken" feel to them, that the alliance desperatly needs

[Kerrah]

They are basically an entire race of paladins and a protoss rip off big deal. I'd take the old draenei any day.

I'm not saying they're a good thing. I'm saying they ARE pretty original.

TOO original.

[Aldrius]

Face it, about all the Draenei have in common with the Tau is...well, nothing! At least with the Protoss they have skin color!

...The protoss have grey and off-white skin...

[Vicious]

...The protoss have grey and off-white skin...

Like the Draenei.

[Omacron]

The Tau are physiologically similar to the draenei with a distinct class system, like the draenei, and similar architecture.

[Aldrius]

Like the Draenei.

...the Draenei are blue... and purple...

[Kenzuki]

Don't get me started on the Forsaken. And the only original thing about Thrall is that he's a good orc. I've seen PLENTY of "slave turned gladiator turned king" characters before.

[Omacron]

...the Draenei are blue... and purple...

Have you seen a Tau without his armor? They are VERY similar to Broken.
http://uk.games-workshop.com/tau/aunshi/images/aunshi.gif



Plus, good undead = Frankenstein's creature. Modern Prometheus, anyone?

[Drz]

I've seen PLENTY of "slave turned gladiator turned king" characters before.

Sup Conan the Barbarian, anyone? :) I really think (thru samwise's cover arts) they will also make the king of stormwind (i forgot his name, not really important in this discussion anyhow, im tired :( ) look like the good ol' conan, heh. :P

But i think the draenei are abit original, atleast the Naaru spaceships that work thru arcane magic. :|

[Rowan Seven]

I think...I'm going to disagree with Aldrius. :raisedbro

In my opinion, clichés have their place and purposes. After all, clichés are clichés for a reason, and when used well they can evoke genuine emotions and reactions from people. While I tend to appreciate tales that twist, tweak, innovate, play against, etc. clichés, I also recognize the power that clichés possess and their usefulness for telling good stories. To cite one example, the videogame Skies of Arcadia's plot was one RPG cliché after another but because the game story was written intelligently and with respect for the characters the clichés worked and perhaps even synergized to create a moving, rousing game.

With that said, Blizzard has seemingly made a point of departing from traditional high fantasy with their Warcraft series and their creative team has spoken of keeping things "fresh." I know that the Warcraft universe is less original than some would claim and that clichés and archetypes play a vital, prominent role in the series, and I am fine with that because (at the moment, anyway) the main characters are distinct and fleshed out enough that they can stand on their own two feet, apart from the archetypes and clichés that can be applied to them. Vereesa and Alleria may fall into the "love interest for human lead" role, but there is more to both of their characters than their relationships with Rhonin and Turalyon, respectively.

Now, whether you like Mr. Knaak's writing and characters or not, to the best of my knowledge he has never referred to Vereesa as "hot and bothered" and said she thinks Rhonin is "hot." These remarks (with "human protagonist" replacing Rhonin) have been made regarding the comic book's Blood Elf rogue, though, and virtually everything that has been said about her that comes to mind in some way seems to relate to presenting her as some sort of "wild, dangerous, and sexy Blood Elf chick" and love interest who'll appeal to the teenage male audience. I am concerned that she will become identified by her _role_ rather than by her _character_, and that's why I've expressed unease over this. Whether this will happen or not I do not know and I'm willing to give the comic book team the benefit of the doubt, but the way the Blood Elf rogue has been talked about in official interviews and presentations so far does...irritate me to a certain extent.

[Aldrius]

Plus, good undead = Frankenstein's creature. Modern Prometheus, anyone?

If you want... really obscure literary connections I guess... I see few similarities between Frankenstein's monster and the Forsaken.

[Omacron]

If you want... really obscure literary connections I guess... I see few similarities between Frankenstein's monster and the Forsaken.

I'm saying Frankenstein's Creature is the first evidence of "good" undead, not counting spirits from folklore, in modern literature. "Good" corporeal undead have been around for centuries, is what I mean.

[Kenzuki]

I don't know if I'de classify Frankenstein's Monster as "Good" either considering he was you know a serial killer and all....

He was also not animated via Necromancy which is in itself a dark energy.