Trying to Do Better: Dwayne McDuffie and Justice League Unlimited (#5 in a comics series)

One of the more regrettable events that happened in the comics world this year was the passing of Dwayne McDuffie. I've borrowed the following bio from the author's website.

Dwayne McDuffie is best known as the co-founder and creator of Milestone Media. He is a Story Editor on the KIDS WB's Emmy Award-winning animated series STATIC SHOCK, which he co-created. He is also a Producer and Story Editor on Cartoon Network's JUSTICE LEAGUE. He is Editor-In-Chief of Milestone Media's award-winning line of comic books, managing an editorial operation which boasted the best on-time delivery record in the industry for nearly four years running and has also worked as an editor for Marvel Comics and Harvey Entertainment. As a writer, Dwayne has created or co-created more than a dozen series, including DAMAGE CONTROL, DEATHLOK II, ICON, STATIC, XOMBI, THE ROAD TO HELL and HARDWARE. He has written stories for dozens of other comics, including, SPIDER-MAN, BATMAN: LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT, THE TICK, CAPTAIN MARVEL, AVENGERS SPOTLIGHT, BACK TO THE FUTURE, HELLRAISER, ULTRAMAN, (The Artist Formerly Known As) PRINCE and X-O MANOWAR.

Dwayne won the 2003 HUMANITAS PRIZE for "Jimmy," a STATIC SHOCK script about gun violence in schools. He has been nominated for two EMMY AWARDS for the TV series STATIC SHOCK, a WRITERS GUILD AWARD for the TV series JUSTICE LEAGUE and three EISNER AWARDS for his work in comic books. His comic book work has won eleven PARENTS' CHOICE AWARDS, six "Best Editor" awards, and a GOLDEN APPLE AWARD for his "use of popular art to promote and enhance human dignity."

Dwayne was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan and attended The Roeper School. Before entering comics, he studied in undergraduate and graduate programs at The University of Michigan, then attended film school at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. He also co-hosted a radio comedy program, while moonlighting pseudonymously as a freelance writer for stand-up comedians and late-night television comedy programs. He has written scripts for an animated feature, episodes of BEN 10: ALIEN FORCE, STATIC SHOCK!, JUSTICE LEAGUE, WHAT'S NEW, SCOOBY-DOO? and TEEN TITANS.

There's so much to talk about regarding Dwayne McDuffie's comics career, and how he impacted racism in comics. The most experience I've had personally with McDuffie's creativity is Cartoon Network's Justice League.

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Notably, there were two significant things that Justice League did right. John Stewart as the Green Lantern was on the first string team of heroes. Stewart's portrayal could was cold and officious initially, but was multi-dimensional and satisfying over the course of the series. Stewart became the Green Lantern for a generation of television watching children, and I think he's a much better, more responsible Lantern than ever Hal Jordan was.

Secondly, Thanagarian culture was represented as Hispanic. When Hawkgirl was hunted down at the end of Season 2 in the 3-episode sequence Star Crossed, the voice actor roster has an impressive Hispanic (Latin) cast.

What this represents is that the core team of the cartoon has complex portrayals of minority characters. Which is like real life. That's cool.

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Next, I'd like to talk about the Milestone Universe and McDuffie's historical contribution to social change through Static Shock.

Mirrored from Writer Tamago.

Are Your Characters, You Know, You?

A thought-provoking post from my friend Miranda Suri over at Comedy or Tragedy?

So. Do I base my characters on myself? Do I base characters on people I know?

Yes and no.

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Let's start with the self. Many characters have started as me, but they have become someone else pretty damned fast. The character that has resembled me most in recent years has actually ended up back in the casting room. She was CUT from her story because she was a secondary character who just wasn't needed in the main thrust.

I will admit that aspects of myself often end up in characters. Abigail Rath is the sort of know-it-all kid I was, only she's a know-it-all kid on steroids. Stephanus Galt has the same sort of parenting issues, and the painful shyness that goes with them, although his withdrawal is more angry than mine.

I can see myself in some of my characters, but they certainly are not me.

And other people? Well, again, the situation is similar. Some characters I pattern on versions of people I know. They may start as more like the people I know, but become more what the story demands they become. I can often find a piece of a friend in them.

Milo Hamwich is currently a lot like my friend Mark. Astrid is currently a lot like my friend Lisa. The Widow is less like my mother than she was. Errol is less like Bryon than he once was, but there's still a lot of him in there. I expect these characters will only be based on the people I know in the end, but there will be recognizable bits.

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I have written about absolute strangers. No one in O-Taga-San or Turtle of the Earth is based on anyone. So, it can be done.

How about you? Where do you find yourself pulling the influences from your characters from?

Catherine

Mirrored from Writer Tamago.