Teaming up with Gail Simone and David Marquez is really special. Ask the creepy X-Men fans. Their creative chemistry brought a bold new energy to Marvel’s lineup of mutants. And now the same spark gets caught up in a different kind of conversation. Gale spins the interviewer and sits with her collaborators to dig into The Unchosen, the creator-owned debut.
We first spoke with David Marquez in September 2022 on an AIPT Comics podcast where unselected was still in its early stages. Still, the passion and ambition behind the project was clear. You can revisit this episode here.
Currently, the final order cutoff for issue #1 set of June 16th unselected and June 16th is the final order cutoff (month code is 0525IM311), so it’s the perfect time to catch up with Marquez, which means reflecting the book’s emotional roots, its film scope, and what it means to reach a superstar artist-to-writer-artist.
Discovered of family, faith and fantasy from outlier design secrets and naked X-Men, this interview is filled with warmth, insights and its signature Simone Marqueswit. Enjoy the ride comfort.
Discovered of family, faith and fantasy from outlier design secrets and naked X-Men, this interview is filled with warmth, insights and its signature Simone Marqueswit. Enjoy the ride comfort.
Notes from Gale:
Everyone, I’ve written a lot of comics. And as someone who can’t draw at all, it’s incredible to have a great artist create something amazing from my brain pan rub. That’s always a great feeling.
But sometimes you can work with the artist with just a click away. You can ask for stupid things because you know they can pull it off. You avoid the expo page because you know they nail it and make it unnecessary to many jibbar jabbers.
Sometimes you bump into the artist’s lottery and everything sings.
For me, it happened several times. Nicola Scott, Phil Noto, Walter Ziovani…it was an abundance that I am forever grateful for.
And now it’s this guy. The guy I work with every day and still sends fan letters, the guy who makes the X-Men so creepy.
I present to you all my brother and collaborator David Marquez. He comes out a new book, it shakes, and I found it fun to ask him some questions to both the creepy X-Men and the unselected.
enjoy!
Join the X-Men Dream team
Gail Simone: Okay, you know, I hope, I’m a stupid fan of your work where I’m creepy. I think you’ve brought so much muscle and magic and music to the table, I can’t even believe it.
But, oddly, I don’t know how you arrived in the book. Tell us how that process went, and was X-Men just what you wanted to draw (again?)
David Marquez: Ah, first of all, I can’t get away without giving such flattery back.
I have been a huge fan of your work for years and was thrilled to learn you are coming to write eeriely. You naturally grasp this personality, and the way you blend drama and humor into your story makes you very incredible (and long overdue) in this book.
And don’t think I’m not taking notes on how you make it all work 😉
But yeah, unselected is actually a big part of how I became creepy. I spent most of 2023 taking breaks from Big 2 pieces, writing and drawing my own.
And after that long break I knew it was time to come back. I used to end up in DC for a while, but I kept in touch with the people of Marvel. They mentioned upcoming X-Men renewals and I knew I had to be a part of it.
Uncanny was the first manga I fell in love with. I remember taking me to a comic shop as a kid and picking up a creepy X-Men #275. Claremont, Lee and Williams blew my mind away.
Then, through X-Men #1, Joe Mad Days, Grant Morrison New X-Men Run, and on… I’ve been a massive X-Men fan from the start.
Yes, drawing this book was a lifelong goal and my dream came true. I’ve started drawing characters I fell in love with as a child, and with you I’ll create a whole new branch of the outlier X-Men family tree.
Gale: I didn’t know this, it’s really cool! And I agree, writing these characters we both loved as children, and it’s something spec.
Courtesy Marvel Comics
Outlier design
Gale: Regarding outliers, I always tell people that people love their personality.
A lot of what they did is you… I remember giving them a total note about what they should look like and giving them back to these fully realized images!
So how did you approach the design of these characters, and do you have a favorite?
David: I love them, but I think Death Dream is my favorite. He says his creepy tranquility, and the most unsettling shit in just the right moment… he’s dark, creepy and adorable. And when I feel lazy, I can save time just by wrapping him in his robe.
Gale: I also love that little man of death. He kills in the story of the dark artery!
So, did you have a favorite story or scene you were sure you had nailed it?
Naked mutants and favorite moments
David: Ha, I don’t feel like I’m completely glued to the pages or scenes. Like many artists, I am always my worst critic, so I often see what I want to improve.
But how relaxed am I to someone who appears to be running the X-Men roster half the time naked? I never thought of myself as a beefcake artist, but sometimes I get into things.
lol:)
Gale: Greatly to Marcus’s frustration and the joy of many readers, you know how to draw a mutant without a brich, David.
Shirts and shoes are optional.
Courtesy Marvel Comics
Marvel Guest Star Fantasy Draft
Gale: Well, you can draw three Marvel guest stars in UXM. Who do you choose?
David: Well, we already put deadpool in, so that’s covered 🙂
My worst secret is that I have a shameless love for the Dark Hawk in this Unironic, but I don’t know how to do the job.
I’m also obsessed with capes and daggers. A wonderful design that begs for a new, compelling story.
That’s three, right?
Gale: Technically, I think there are four. Dark Hawk, huh?
David: Bonus: Namol is always half naked. He’ll fit in great things.
Gail: And thank you for the success of the book, David.
David: Hey, don’t put it all on me :). This book will not have been that successful because of your writing and the colours of Matt Wilson, as well as the lettering of Clayton Cowles and the entire editorial staff under Tom Brevort. It was a team effort through.
Gale: We agreed on the team, we were lucky!
Unselected Issue #2 Cover.
Courtesy David Marquez
Unselected: A long-standing vision has been realized
Gale: Regarding unselected.
I have to say, when an artist writes very well, it is very annoying. Stop that, David!
I’m kidding, man, I was happy with this book. I’ve noticed it so much, and my favorite is how much emotions and meanings are packed into a sparse dialogue. It is definitely one of my favorite readings.
So, how long did you have this idea with your skull?
David: Oh, thank you so much – that means a lot from you, especially. I respect you and your skills very much.
This story came to mind in some way before I invaded the comics. You know since the dinosaurs.
It’s certainly my first foray into writing and drawing my own, but it’s been cooking for a long time.
Aida and anti-selected
Gale: Without giving spoilers, please give me a version of the capsule summary about what the book is.
David: Certainly!
Aida, 13, lived a quiet, isolated life. She remembers nothing, and there is no magic. Nor do they want some of the wars between rival factions not longing to assert her.
But if the world is over, she has to decide who she trusts, who she really is and what she can do.
Gail: I quickly adored Issa’s POV character, Aida. So far, what has inspired her to be the center of this universe?
David: Ah, the story is all about her and her journey. There were so many stories about Golden Child/One type chosen. Harry Potter, Neo, Luke. It’s fun tropes and so on, but I wanted to explore a little more with characters whose roles don’t fit perfectly, beyond the stereotypes of reluctant heroes.
As to how it doesn’t fit, people need to read to find out.
Gail: Also, I’m just saying Vasha is bad.
David: Is that so??!
Magic, memory, meaning themes
Gale: Finally, what do you want to share in this book? Apart from being drawn and written by one of the best things in the business, do you think it makes it special?
David: I hope people come to action and art, but stay for the characters and ideas. Issue One is just a glimpse (hopefully exciting) of what’s going on. This story is emotionally and conceptually deeply personal.
It’s about faith, trust, betrayal. Anger and forgiveness. Bloody and discovered family. It is language and magic, a higher realm, a quest for the mundane world.
And find your place in a world that’s just finished.
Why should you read unselected?
Gale: This is me again, Gale, I promise, this is not just a hype. Unselected is beautifully portrayed, with a cinematic feeling and a real emotional punch. Even if my worst enemy created it, I love it. Unselected by David Marquez, check it out.
The final order cutoff is from the Comic Pictures on 6/16/25! The monthly code is 0525IM311
Thank you for reading, everyone!
