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.