Hi, I'm Joshua Dysart...

[BugsySig]

5. The time for hints has not yet come!!

I'll take that as confirmation you will be writing Rai in 4001

[The Dirt Gang]

Welcome to the boards!

Since this is posted in the spoiler section, I have to question whether this is in fact Joshua Dysart. What's the spoiler?

[Joshua Dysart]

My daughter and I are great worshipers of Harbinger. My biggest question... How much influence do you feel from the original books? The stories are parallel-ish, but speaking only for me, the reverence to subject material, and great willingness to set a new path have been in perfect balance.

And if you are willing to be grilled by an eager twelve year old girl about how to break into writing, you have an eager interview ahead of you.

Hey Kevin!! I'd love to! I think it would be so much fun!! I thought we already sussed this out! Let's do it!

To your question. It's tough to say just how much of the original influenced me. The truth is, I never read Harbinger when it was coming out. I crash coursed it when Warren offered me the job, so it wasn't difficult to avoid the nostalgia trap. At the same time, there was some really great stuff in there. So all I did was take the bits that moved me and ran with them in whatever direction felt right. To my mind, there's just two things a creator doing a reboot should be true to: 1. The spirit of the story and its characters. 2. The original themes of the story. Everything else are just elements to be used or discarded as you see fit.

Thanks for the great words! Looking forward to being interviewed!!

[The Dirt Gang]

Quick question:

The Beatles, The Stones or Wu-Tang Clan?

[Dr. Solar]

I've got something I've been meaning to ask you for a while.

In Harbinger #2, when you introduced Kris, you said she was a Buzzcocks fan, and that she was hopelessly, confusingly in love with Peter.

Was the Buzzcocks mention meant to be an allusion to the song, "Ever Fallen In Love With Someone (You Shouldn't've Fallen In Love With)?"

[apainter]

Hi Joshua, welcome to the boards!

When I reread Harbinger 11, I was curious about something, and now I have the chance to ask you directly for the answer! What was Kris listening to in the car? All we know is that it's "good desert driving music", "gay", and not Pantera. Or, maybe to expand the question, what songs are on each character's favorite playlist? So far we have Nas (Pete), Buzzcocks (Kris) and Pantera and Megadeth (Torque). How about Harada? I imagine him liking jazz.

Feel free to answer in the form of a 4 part miniseries. ("Harbinger Renegades Road Trip: The Battle for the Car Sound System".)

Art

[bygranddesign]

1. I have rough arcs lined up for the foreseeable future. But when it comes to the details, I'm pretty last minute about that stuff.

2. I do think it's like Yin and Yang. The book needs both Harada and his sprawling corporate organization and The Renegades tiny human little group to achieve thematically what we are going for. But yes, from the beginning I set out to make Harada more sympathetic. I generally find villainy boring and tedious. To me it's so much more interesting that Harada has these extremely nobel goals, but is ultimately on a huge power trip. The first real slug line we came up with was, "Humanity will have a better future... or no future at all." That's Harada all over. He believes he is more important than anyone else. He believes his vision of the future is the only one possible. He is, through and through, a polemicist and antidemocratic in every way. Peter, on the other hand, is a total populous. It makes him uncomfortable to have power. He freely admits he doesn't know what the right course of action is, he lacks faith in himself almost to a fault. The Renegades vote before they leap to action (as you saw in issue #11). So that's what this book is about, these two competing ideologies. It's not about good versus evil. It's not about Campbell myth making. It's about democracy vs. dictatorship. And that struggle becomes much more fascinating when the dictator is depicted as a utopian and the democracy is fueled by flawed, addicted people.

3. It was done for two reasons. The first was to up the stakes on the universe and Peter's role in it and to really show why a man like Harada would take an interest in Peter. The other reason was to clue into the culture of mental illness and addiction that is such a huge part of the youth-in-America experience right now.

4. I'm not sure she'll ever be able to fully get over it. Though she has noticed Peter struggling to become a better person. And that's something.

Thank You. Love these responses ... Appreciate the time you put into answering them. What you said in your 2nd answer hits directly to what I love and enjoy about this comic. There are so many different layers to the storytelling from the struggles of kids just trying to grow up and be responsible and be greater then what they ever thought they could be ... to more lofty narratives including the horrors of war (especially when it concerns the innocent) and the flawed human condition which I think you explored brilliantly in Harbinger #0

Just two more quick questions ..for now
1) What writers, comics, books were the biggest influences on you growing up? (sorry if this was already asked)
2) Ax was one of my favorite villains from the original - just wondering what you thought about him as a character from the original and your thoughts about perhaps bringing a re-imagined Ax back into the universe..?

[lorddunlow]

Hi Joshua, welcome to the boards!

When I reread Harbinger 11, I was curious about something, and now I have the chance to ask you directly for the answer! What was Kris listening to in the car? All we know is that it's "good desert driving music", "gay", and not Pantera. Or, maybe to expand the question, what songs are on each character's favorite playlist? So far we have Nas (Pete), Buzzcocks (Kris) and Pantera and Megadeth (Torque). How about Harada? I imagine him liking jazz.

Feel free to answer in the form of a 4 part miniseries. ("Harbinger Renegades Road Trip: The Battle for the Car Sound System".)

Art

I agree. Please answer this one as completely as possible - I'm all for the 4 part series!

[cinlach@aol.com]

Howdy sir!

As a wise man named John Maclane once said, "welcome to the party pal!"

But seriously, glad you're here. Lots of good peeps hereabouts.

Hanging onto a dream since 1996 will bring a group of nerds together like you wouldn't believe...lol

[Zaphod]

Welcome to the boards, Josh.

At the risk of being buried under all the welcomes and inundating you with your new job, Official Valiant Comics Valiantfans.com Message Board "answer man" (admittedly it is a mouthful) I just have 2 questions I hope you'll take the time to answer:

1. How did you get into writing comics? Was it something you were interested in doing in your youth?

2. What would you recommend someone who is interested in getting into writing comic books do?

Finally I would just like to say until you decide to move on, you can most definitely, Make Mine Harbinger...there has to be something that has a better ring to it.

[Blood of Heroes]

Welcome Josh, looking forward to seeing you at SDCC again this year!

x2

[Paradigm38]

Hey, welcome! May your days at work be productive and fun. No boss ever told me that, but, there you go.

[Newton]

Thank you for taking the time to post on our board.

You are my favorite current comic writer and I love what you have done with Harbinger.

[swtor1091]

you got me into comics... for i had never read one until Harbinger #1. Joshua Dysart until Harbinger #200

Dude! Awesome!!

But 200 issues is like seventeen years... Let's scale those expectations back a bit.

Damn but i'll live as long as they pick a suitable replacement

[MoonChild]

Welcome to the board Josh, always assumed you were lurking around here somewhere! Always a pleasure conversing with you and catching your interviews. For us die-hards, your participation has far exceeded our expectations [as I'v said to you before but hey, it's so true]. Keep up the great work and welcome to the HIVE-MIND! P.S. Check out my music in my signature! I think you'll digg it since you can appreciate hip-hop.

[jedimarley]

How the heck do you pronounce your last name?

[Joshua Dysart]

First, thank you for the best character ever - the Bleeding Monk! He's so awesome!

Secondly, other than Harada , who's your favorite character to write?

Lastly (and most importantly), where do you stand on Canadians? As a fellow Josh, I hope you will join me in purging this board of evil Canadians such as MarkRoseHfx and Hawkeyeps.

Glad you like The Bleeding Monk. He's pretty special to me too.

Harada is a blast to write, but right now I really don't have a "favorite" character. I kind of love them all, and when I feel like one is being under-represented I freak out a little trying to figure out how shine the spotlight on that character more. I really am a character first, plot second kind of storyteller. Several characters have not gotten enough screen time for my taste. Of the core group I'm looking forward to fleshing Charlene out more.

As far as Canadians go, they are obviously the great evil of the Western world. Look at all the wars they've caused! Look at all the madness they've wrought through hundreds of years of colonialism. And what's with having all of those guns but hardly ever using them to kill other Canadians. Only to hunt with? What!? It's unAmerican I tell you! And they are part of the Americas so there's no real excuse.

[Scott M Davis]

As far as Canadians go, they are obviously the great evil of the Western world. Look at all the wars they've caused! Look at all the madness they've wrought through hundreds of years of colonialism. And what's with having all of those guns but hardly ever using them to kill other Canadians. Only to hunt with? What!? It's unAmerican I tell you! And they are part of the Americas so there's no real excuse.

We blew up The White House once, we can easily do it again..

[Joshua Dysart]

3. I am! I love a lot of music. I listen to music more than I watch TV and movies (and about the same amount as I read). Though that might change with all the Cartoon Network shows on NETFLIX right now. I listen to all kinds of music, but yeah, I love hip hop, and I love NAS. None of the Renegades are very representative of my believes or personality, but Peter's love of the man who's straight out of the dungeons of rap is one of the few places where we overlap.

My wife and I had several days off together last week. We have watched so many of these - almost the whole way through Justice League and Cow and Chicken. I love some Powerpuff Girls, Dexter's Lab and Johnny Bravo too. Ed, Edd and Eddy is going to make it into the mix eventually too.

I'm more into the adult swim stuff. Super excited to have Venture Brother, Boondocks and Squidbillies. I do really love Adventure Time. And Powerpuff Girls and Dexter's Lab too. As well as Metalocalypse.

[lorddunlow]

As far as Canadians go, they are obviously the great evil of the Western world. Look at all the wars they've caused! Look at all the madness they've wrought through hundreds of years of colonialism. And what's with having all of those guns but hardly ever using them to kill other Canadians. Only to hunt with? What!? It's unAmerican I tell you! And they are part of the Americas so there's no real excuse.

Ha! Take that Canadians (especially MarkRoseHFX)! Joshua Dysart has sided with me!

Wait... I'm picking up some sarcasm possibly...

Nah, he's siding with the Joshes. Come on Burrito Boy, we officially have us a posse!

[Tim]

3. I am! I love a lot of music. I listen to music more than I watch TV and movies (and about the same amount as I read). Though that might change with all the Cartoon Network shows on NETFLIX right now. I listen to all kinds of music, but yeah, I love hip hop, and I love NAS. None of the Renegades are very representative of my believes or personality, but Peter's love of the man who's straight out of the dungeons of rap is one of the few places where we overlap.

My wife and I had several days off together last week. We have watched so many of these - almost the whole way through Justice League and Cow and Chicken. I love some Powerpuff Girls, Dexter's Lab and Johnny Bravo too. Ed, Edd and Eddy is going to make it into the mix eventually too.

I'm more into the adult swim stuff. Super excited to have Venture Brother, Boondocks and Squidbillies. I do really love Adventure Time. And Powerpuff Girls and Dexter's Lab too. As well as Metalocalypse.

Too bad no Tim and Eric yet....

Ah, and hello, Josh!

Love Harbinger....definitely my favorite series running now. No real comic-related questons, but:

1. Are you going to be at Heroescon this year?

2. You down for some hard drinking and karaoke if so?

[Joshua Dysart]

... but having you be exclusive? What a coup. From a creator's point of view, that has to be both exciting and a relief. I'm not sure how I would feel about handing over my baby to someone else. BTW, Valiant never did explain how they got a hold of my teenage diary. That's the only possible explanation for why Kris reminds me so much of myself at that age, from the 'tude right down to the Buzzcocks (C'mon, who HASN'T flipped off a security camera?)

Hi Pixierosa!! So glad you have a personal connection to Kris!! I love it! About the exclusive. I really do want to build Harbinger, and that's what signing the exculsive is all about. Working on the rest of the Valiant U will be fun, and I'm sure once I get on another book I'll become emotionally invested in that too, but for now Harbinger is my main concern. As demanded by the exclusive I will be working on other books across the line, but I don't want to get spread too thin. I'm also, very, very hungry to get to some creator owned work and if I don't have enough space for that during this exclusivity period than that will decide how we move on when this period is over. But yeah, it's fun to be exclusive! I love the people at Valiant. So it's like being with friends and family.

[Joshua Dysart]

Please Make harbinger emblem patches we all want one? If you cant. pass it along to someone who can.
What movie did you see?

Hey Jason!

Patches aren't my department, sorry!

I went to go see the new Terrence Malick film, TO THE WONDER. I'm a big Malick fan, but this one didn't speak to me like his other work. I think he is the great romantic poet of cinema, creating the equivalent of baroque classical music in film. Generally, I love how his characters are so spiritually present in the moment. The way they walk into rooms and experience the liquid volume of the place religiously. His use of light and space and sound to create contextual dreams. But this time he did all that without attaching any real theme or purpose behind it. He seemed lost. Using his unique tools to tinker instead of the truly create.

There you go! That's my review in a nutshell!

[Burrito Boy]

As far as Canadians go, they are obviously the great evil of the Western world. Look at all the wars they've caused! Look at all the madness they've wrought through hundreds of years of colonialism. And what's with having all of those guns but hardly ever using them to kill other Canadians. Only to hunt with? What!? It's unAmerican I tell you! And they are part of the Americas so there's no real excuse.

Ha! Take that Canadians (especially MarkRoseHFX)! Joshua Dysart has sided with me!

Wait... I'm picking up some sarcasm possibly...

Nah, he's siding with the Joshes. Come on Burrito Boy, we officially have us a posse!

But I'm a Canuckophile.

Wait, I've got an idea! I'll be a double agent and infiltrate their ranks. They'll never suspect me.

[Joshua Dysart]

Who is Josh Dysart?
Just kidding, sir!
Questions:
1) What's a guy gotta do to get a character named after him.... other than Elveen?
2) Someone already mentioned Harby patches, but we need the Pete jacket too! Keep asking Dinesh!
3) Any plans for a Harby movie, and if so, would you be involved in writing? (I hope that one wasn't inappropriate. If so, just giv eme one of these : )

And yes, Harbinger continues to be my favorite book, not only in Valiant, but all of comics at the moment. Whatever your'e doing, don't change a thing!
Oh, and I still credit you with bringing me back into comics last summer.
Finally,
4) Will you be at the Los Angeles Times Parade of Books at USC this coming weekend?
Much respect.
-Jordan

Hey Jordan!

1. For starters they should never ask.
2. Out of my hands!
3. There are plans. But things are moving at a glacial pace. I would love to be involved, but there's no promises. The most important thing is to get the work translated to the screen. I'f I'm an impediment to that, I'll step back. If I'm an asset, I'll step forward.
4. I will! I will be there this Saturday!! Come see me!!

Much respect back, brother.