Firestorm's Dan Jurgens Talks the Return of a Classic Villain

Warning: There are spoilers ahead. Before reading on, you should buy a copy of The Fury of Firestorm the Nuclear Man #18 and read along with us. Yesterday's release of The Fury of Firestorm the Nuclear Man #18 set Firestorm up against Multiplex. Though he's only been seen briefly in the New 52 (he was fighting Green Arrow on a page of Justice League, but it was just background action), the character appeared way back in the first Firestorm solo comic in 1978. With a new attitude and a new secret identity (though only by a letter), Multiplex was responsible for the big twist at the end of last month's issue--but why? Read on... ComicBook.com: I don't think you've written an established villain yet in the New 52. I mean, you did Helspont in Superman but given his total lack of a connection to the hero it hardly counts. Is it a hard sell? It seems like a lot of fans just want to read the thousandth Joker story. Dan Jurgens: Hmm... hadn't really thought of things that way. I do think there is a constant struggle between the idea of doing something new and bringing a previous character back. In short, like all things, I think you need to find a balance. A good mix works best. I've always felt that Firestorm has some very worthwhile villains, many that are worth a bit of a makeover for today, while also adhering the parameters that made them work in the first place. Multiplex certain fits that. ComicBook.com: Obviously Multiplex is a character who's been around before, but not in this form. What's so appealing, you think, about having a villain with that ability? Superman had Riot back when I was reading those titles consistently. Jurgens: I'd say that the title of the story, "Problems Multiplied", says it all. Multiplex becomes one of those villains that can complicate his foe's life in short order. Plus, the fusion/fission aspect of it is rather unique to Firestorm. ComicBook.com: I like the use of the logo for his name in that first sequence. It feels like a throwback in all the right ways, which is kind of how Firestorm should feel. Jurgens: It's another one of those devices that is unique to comics. I think it kind of adds to the book.

ComicBook.com: I love that flame-headed panel layout. You seem to be experimenting with stuff like that a bit more in this book than you did on Superman or GA. Is that just a question of what suits each title? Jurgens: I'd say it has more to do with the fact that I have a little more control here. Of the three books, this is the only one that I was sole writer and penciler on, for the most part. Too bad the pages didn't appear side-by-side... that would've been a cool effect. Though I knew they wouldn't. ComicBook.com: Speaking of GA, you're back to drawing Ollie's company! Was the choice to set it here related to Ollie being on the JLA? I've heard rumblings that Firestorm could end up there. Jurgens: Back when we were just starting GA, the general idea was that the various Queen Companies would be prevalent throughout the DCU. We talked of the "Q" logo showing up in a lot of different places and that being THE tech supplier in the DCU. For example, the JLI's jet clearly came from Queen. Unfortunately, things didn't play out that way, for a lot of different reasons, I suppose. ComicBook.com: Is there a hierarchy to the Multiplex duplicates? As in, does one of the take charge?

Jurgens: I view it as the original, singular body being the controlling body. However, there are a lot of different wrinkles I would have liked to explore within that context. ComicBook.com: Besides Killer Frost, any hints as to who those villains might be? Jurgens: Sorry-- NO! You'll have to wait until #19 ComicBook.com: Is Dalton Black a name change from Danton? If so, why? Jurgens: I like "Dalton" better. Simple as that. ComicBook.com: Is Bloodbath the name of somebody--maybe those sinister, shadowy figures? Jurgens: Clever. Another way of asking me who they are? I'll not succumb to your methods. ComicBook.com: The old "you want power? I'll give you power!" ploy works well with a character like Firestorm, no? I mean, in order to be a threat to him you have to essentially have energy powers, so that's got to be his go-to move as he starts figure out how things work. Jurgens: For Ronnie, yes. For Jason, no. That's an aspect of the character I want to continue to play around with. For Ronnie, everything is as simple as, "I'll hit you harder. I blast you with more power." Jason's techniques are more subtle, insightful and likely to expand the scope of what Firestorm can do. But Ronnie is the "driver" and his way tends to win out.