Terry Moore On Ending the Big Lilith Conflict in Rachel Rising #24

The recently-released Rachel Rising #24 was a landmark title for series creator Terry Moore, in that it saw the comic's first major arc -- one that kicked off in the first issues of the series, and which explains the title character's resurrection from the dead -- resolved finally. There's more to come, though, including a look at who, exactly, put Rachel in that shallow grave...a mystery that took a back seat when it became clear that the one who resurrected her was a powerful and dangerous spiritual force that needed to be dealt with immediately. Moore joined ComicBook.com to talk about the issue itself -- and keep your eyes peeled later this week for a more in-depth discussion of the state of the title, its future and how the planned TV series based on Rachel Rising does or does not affect the book. This is, as always, a SPOILER-HEAVY conversation. If you haven't had a chance to read Rachel Rising #24 yet, head on over to comiXology, buy a copy and read along with us.

In the last little bit, Zoe's snark has evolved a bit into full-fledged comic relief a lot of the time. Going forward, is that a role you see her hanging onto or was it just circumstantial? Terry Moore: A bit circumstantial. I see Zoe as reacting to grave matters a little differently than normal people might. ComicBook.com: And you've told me before that the series' original mission statement -- that Rachel had to find out who killed her -- is something you still have to tackle. Is that on the agenda? Moore: Definitely. There are a couple of challenges facing the gang after Lilith, but Rachel will always want to find her killer. ComicBook.com: I'm glad we got Jet back, but James was a great foil for Zoe, and I enjoyed the Captain America-style pop culture ignorance. Did you just think those elements were impossible to sustain over time? Moore: Probably. After awhile you would expect the guy to do come catching up. You could catch up on the culture but it's unlikely you could change the morals and ethics of the culture James came from. The deep stuff would stick, so you'd be writing about more serious disparity. I can picture that, but it would have been focusing on a tangent I'm not that interested in.

ComicBook.com: That said, the "not the droids you're looking for" joke reminded me that pop culture is gaining some cache in the series. Is it just my imagination there's more references like that, or are you starting to tweak things a bit for future stories? Moore: I view lines like that as organic to the character from day one, it just takes awhile to hear them speak and reveal themselves in various situations. Just getting to know them over a dozen or so issues. ComicBook.com: I like the fact that Rachel acknowledges she isn't sure she's not a ghost. It's like an acknowledgment that Lilith has so consumed her that we still don't know a lot of what makes her tick. Moore: Exactly. It would be a mistake to define Rachel by Lilith's POV, since it's neither friendly nor forthcoming. So who is Rachel and what makes her tick? That is the series question. ComicBook.com: Do you know in your head what makes her different? Why Rachel can seemingly have the two spirits coexist in her body when others (notably James) can't? Moore: Yes, as I let those things play out in the story, I wonder if and when the reader picks up on the sub-story. It's something I've talked about before in my earlier books, revealing subtle stories beneath the main story. And not the usual way of subplots emerging parallel to the main, but in unmentioned, non-narrated fashion. It's there if you see it, invisible if you don't. Sometimes people don't see it until the 2nd or 3rd read. ComicBook.com: Leaving Aunt Johnny's story to fester for another issue leaves something pretty important from this first arc up in the air. Did you just not have space to close it out this month? Moore: I did run out of space, but it's okay because we laid out the procedure so well, I'm sure every reader could picture what would happen. I decided to focus on showing things you didn't know. Then when we get to the subject of Aunt Johnny in the next issue, I went with my own way of handling it again, but hopefully it works. You'll have to let me know.

ComicBook.com: We came back to Zoe's sister being a vessel for one of the witches, which is a beat I'd forgotten about. It just now occurs to me: is there a practical reason all the hosts had to be female? Obviously Zoe killed a few guys along the way too. Moore: Well, Zoe killed her sister—after Lilith's prompt. And Noah killed Natalie—after Lilith's prompt. Then Lilith had bodies for Mary Scott and Hannah. Along with Bryn Erin, those two were Lilith's students back in the witch days. That's the trio Lilith wanted to raise and help her with the plan. ComicBook.com: It's also interesting that the one possessing her is James's sister. Any particular reason for that, or did it just kind of work that way? Moore: It was one of those things where Bryn Erin developed feeling for the boy next door, James, and went to school with his sister. It was life in a small village. ComicBook.com: I think Jet's "what the hell?" is the best possible reaction in this issue. Moore: Thank you. I think that said volumes. ComicBook.com: "I told you that story so I could tell you this one" is a heck of a tagline for the next arc, considering that this story was a three-year epic. Moore: Time will tell.