How did you marry the characters history with what the show has already depicted?
It made Carole and I look at what fit in with what the TV show.
But we had artistic freedom to do other things and thats what was really nice about it.
Credit: DC Comics
CAROLE:Hearing it out loud, it makes you feel kind of tingly all over.
There were true nuggets of information we found during our research.
We found two nuggets, and we really took those nuggets and ran with them.
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And they play out in different ways across the arc of this book for sure.
What was your creative process like, given that this you had unique creative freedom?
John had a couple questions since when he started playing the character that he always had.
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When Im playing the part, I actually then tend to believe it myself.
And thats the same thing with comics, making it believable for the reader.
Hes an interesting character, but there was no other background like there was for other DC characters.
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This was completely brand new, so I was able to create it.
Theyre constantly a part of his storytelling and that was a conscious choice of mine with the directors.
Can we trust him?
Can we trust what we see?
Can we trust what we hear?
But that was the hardest part, trying to figure out how to get all these layers in.
Whats your working relationship like, given how much you collaborate with each other?
JOHN:We get drunk a lot!
And shell listen to it, and shell say You guys think youre funnier than you really are.
JOHN:Thats what its like when we collaborate!
I think thats the mark of letting your imagination be exercised.
And the silly moments sometimes lead to some of our best ideas.
You have to believe in it when youre writing.
Although we have fun and sometimes it seems joking, we totally believe.
It sounds silly, but when Im on set, Im Malcolm.
When Im reading the stuff thats being brought, I read it as Malcolm.
I dont read it as John.
And Ill get back to her and say, if you dont change it, I will kill you.
Because for me, the hardest thing sometimes is separating my little brother from this character.
But if Im going to get this character right, it really cant just be my brother.
What can you tease about this comic for fans who are excited about seeing more of your character?
And thats all Im going to say.
Arrow: The Dark Archeris available digitally from DC Comics Wednesday.
Future issues will be released bi-weekly.
