



Dan Jurgens is one of the most celebrated creators in the history of the comic book medium. Not only is he an insanely talented writer but an awesome artist as well.

He was apart of the collection of creators the worked on "The Death of Superman" storyline hat swept across the world and made headlines like no other comic book before or since.

He also created the fan favorite character Booster Gold, at DC, who is starring in the current HEROES IN CRISIS series.

When DC relaunched their comic book line, with the Rebirth initiative, Dan once again returned to chronicle the Man of Steel's adventures in ACTION COMICS.

He also relaunched BATMAN BEYOND, which he is still currently writing and has also taken over writing chores on NIGHTWING as well. Having made his mark with Superman, it will be interesting to see where he takes Batman Beyond and Nightwing in the future.

COMIC LOUNGE: What was the comic book that made you fall in love with comics?

DAN JURGENS: I don’t know that there’s any particular comic or comic series.

However, the Batman TV series was on when I was a kid and I fell in love with that before I ever even knew what comics were.

Later, I saw some of the neighbor kids sitting on their front stoop with a stack of comics. That was the first time I even saw them and I was immediately attracted to the idea that the same Batman I was seeing on TV was appearing in print. So, really, it was the TV show that pulled me in.

COMIC LOUNGE: When did you decide you wanted to make comics?

JURGENS: As I got older, I began to recognize the differences in art and writing styles.

Those differences made me realize that there were different people creating these things, and that’s what made me realize that maybe I could do the same. As I loved to write and draw, it seemed like a natural destination.

COMIC LOUNGE: You are not only an amazing artist but one of the best writers the medium has ever seen. Do you prefer one over the other?

JURGENS: I see it all as one job. I think of myself as a storyteller.

If I’m doing both, I see it as one continuing, evolving process. While drawing, I may change what I wrote, for example. It’s a cohesive process.

Granted, it’s different when I’m writing or drawing for someone else, but it’s still part of telling the story.

COMIC LOUNGE: You worked on, arguably, the biggest story in the history of comics "The Death of Superman". Did you or any of the other creators even fathom how big that story would become? Would you say that working on it was a highlight in your career?

JURGENS: Of course, it was definitely a highlight of my career.

There was no way we could have foreseen the incredible phenomenon it would become. Even now, it’s hard to explain to people who weren’t there what it was like.

It was great fun to be a part of.

Quite honestly, in terms of overall quality, I don’t think the Superman team has ever gotten the credit it deserves for it accomplished. Too many people snidely refer to it as a marketing stunt, which it never was.

All we wanted to do was tell a good story that said something about Superman’s importance to the world, and that’s exactly what we did.

COMIC LOUNGE: You also created Booster Gold over at DC. Where did you draw inspiration from when coming up with the character? Do you think you'll ever return to the character again?

JURGENS: The celebrity culture was starting to evolve around that time. Entertainment Tonight was a relatively new type of show. People was a relatively new type of magazine.

They elevated celebrities. Endorsement deals were also changing and that fueled my thoughts of turning some of that toward a superhero.

Will I return to Booster someday? Perhaps!

COMIC LOUNGE: You're currently working on BATMAN BEYOND and NIGHTWING ar DC. Your run on BATMAN BEYOND has been outstanding, what do you like most about writing Terry?

JURGENS: One of the great advantages we have is that we exist in a bit of a bubble. We’re both connected to and separate from DC Continuity and that’s a nice place to be.

The idea of a young man training to be Batman under the guidance of an older Bruce Wayne is compelling. The fact that it’s set in the future makes it even more fun.

COMIC LOUNGE: Can you talk a little bit about what's coming up in the book? Do you have any longterm plans?

JURGENS: Right now we’re trying to flex and move away from the established villains of Batman Beyond, which is why we went with a Joker story. Our next storyline features a new surprise while the story after that will definitely shake up the status quo a bit.

COMIC LOUNGE: You recently took over writing on NIGHTWING, can you tell is what we can expect from your run? How long are you planning on staying on the book?

JURGENS: People who’ve been reading NIGHTWING have certainly seen some changes of late, mostly as a result of him being shot in the head.

I’ll pick up on those threads and push Nightwing to where he’s going next. Life is a journey and his is one of the most interesting ones in comic history.

COMIC LOUNGE: Are there any other books you're working on that you can talk about?

JURGENS: I’m also writing (and drawing covers for) the TITANS GIANT title that is exclusive to Walmart. It’s a fun exercise and a great package. 100 pages for five bucks!

COMIC LOUNGE: What have been some of the high points of your career?

JURGENS: I’ve been fortunate to have quite a few highlights. Certainly, working with a variety of great creators is part of it. When I was just getting into the business, I got to work and learn from some of the field’s masters. Now I’m able to work with some incredible, emerging talents. Bridging that gulf of generations has been fun.

I’ve also been able to work on almost all the characters I’ve ever wanted to put my stamp on.

Certainly though, “Death of…” was a highlight, as is the ability to work on Superman at different points in my career. Writing and drawing characters of my own creation is always meaningful.

All in all, I’ve been amazingly fortunate.

COMIC LOUNGE: What does being a writer/artist mean to you?

JURGENS: As a creator, you want to have an audience. Being an effective writer/artist over a period of years means that you’ve been able to find that audience and give them something they enjoy. That’s a great feeling and one I never get tired of.

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