>Let’s start with the big development of your initial issues: Richard Rider is back, but clearly there’s something wrong with him because of his time in the Cancerverse. Is having Rich back among the living sort of a “be careful what you wish for” situation?
Ramon Perez: Yeah, I would definitely say that’s right. He was stuck in the Cancerverse. He did this thing to save the universe and his friends, he was then trapped in there. Now, he’s in this vicious circle and wants to get out. That’s something we’ll explore more in issues #5-7.
Jeff Loveness: Exactly. Death is such an open door in comic books, but we want to show that resurrection isn’t always a gift, especially when it comes to the Cancerverse.
>One aspect of Rich that you seem to be examining is his sheer force of will, because as we saw in issue #3, it looks like he’s holding back something monstrous about himself.
Perez: Oh, yeah! This is a guy who’s done it all, and I think it’s through that force of will that he kept it together when he did things like sacrificing his life in the Cancerverse. That’s the staple of a true hero and a true warrior, so it’s something we’re exploring. It also sets a sort of precedent for Sam to look up to. He doesn’t have a father figure around, and Rich is a guy who’s willing to go all the way for the greater good even at his own peril.
Loveness: It’s a bit of a double-edged sword too. Rich is also a guy who HATES asking for help. With this older generation of tough guys, realizing that something is wrong is like acknowledging that you’re weak… or that you can’t cut it. It’s a vicious, poisonous personal cycle… and it’s going to blow up in Rich’s face. It never helps to bottle something up forever.