Welcome, X-fans, to another incredible edition of X-Men on Monday at AIPT!
Helverin is back because you asked for it. And so does his co-creator and longtime Wolverine screenwriter, Benjamin Percy.
In case you missed the news, the all-new ongoing Helverine series will begin on December 18, 2024. It follows the recently concluded mini-series of the same name. Helvarin, the recently resurrected Akihiro, embarks on a hellish new adventure as he grapples with the demon Bugraghoul who is possessing him. I spoke to Ben to find out more about what happens next for this deadly odd couple. Let’s see what he has to say.
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AIPT: Welcome to X-Men Monday, Ben! When we last spoke toward the end of the First Krakoa era, you said that Wolverine was your “favorite character in comics.” But having been writing Akihiro for a while, what do you think about Logan’s son?
Ben Percy: It’s a bit of a rant, but I’ve been writing Wolverine since 2017. There was a podcast series. Main line series. X force. Events (Weapon of Vengeance, The Life and Death of Wolverine, Predator vs. Wolverine, etc.). Deadpool/Wolverine is currently in the pipeline. And of course, Helverine also started out as Logan and then branched out into Akihiro’s story.
I would say my approach to Wolverine is very eclectic as I study and explore him from many different angles and eras. His family, the Wolverine family, is a central part of his identity. So it feels like a natural extension of the work I’ve been doing to spend quality time with my son.
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AIPT: Can you tell us a little bit about how Hellverine went from being a miniseries to what it is now? Was that always planned, or was it a result of reader enthusiasm and demand?
Ben: It was really a joy and a surprise to see this character in action. I was writing Wolverine and I was also writing Ghost Rider, and it was inevitable that they would converge. They are great in their own right. They are better together. A peanut butter and jelly situation.
The concept of Wolverine with a flaming skull and fiery claws was something that really excited me (for nerdy reasons, obviously). Jeff Shaw and I co-created the storyline design/concept for “Weapons of Vengeance”…and we thought that was it. Just a fun heavy metal moment. But instead… it went completely off the rails.
People started looking for that first problem. Marvel Legends has released a Helverine toy. I was asked to create a mini-series. The miniseries sold well enough that I was then asked to do a work in progress. It feels like a Cosmic Ghost Rider moment in terms of energy, trajectory. Thank you to all the fans and retailers. This is amazing. Hopefully, Helverine becomes a colorful part of Marvel canon in the years to come.
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I am partnering with artist Raffaele Ienco on this piece. Although he heavily criticized Darth Vader, he does a great job of bringing the character to life and bringing an atmosphere of horror to the page. Some of the art you see in your inbox is so amazing (and creepy) that it takes your breath away.
AIPT: This week’s first X-Fan question comes from Will Foote, who wanted to know if it was difficult to balance the Wolverine and Ghost Rider brands in the Helverine story. Do you find yourself drawing more from some myths than others?
Ben: It’s a difficult balancing act — and Mark Basso (my editor) and I have talked about this many times. We don’t want Helverine to feel like just another Ghost Rider. So we created special features to differentiate him in small ways (like he’s a demon with a very specific aesthetic and purpose) and big ways (like tying the character to the mutant side of Marvel horror). I made an effort.
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AIPT: X fan MonsieurOverlord asked how Akihiro plans to balance all aspects of his character, given his complicated history (villain-turned-anti-hero).
Ben: This series is all about moral complexity, and Helverlyn is the definition of an antihero. We delve deep into Akihiro’s history of pain and how it prepared him for the present (for better or worse).
AIPT: X-Fan Angelo said that one of the things Akihiro hates (fears?) the most is being controlled, considering Akihiro has been controlled most of his life. So, since Angelo is possessed by a demon, I was wondering if I could see how his mental state negatively affects his healing powers, just like his depression weakened his healing powers in the past. Ta. Angelo believes that this is a very unique aspect of Akihiro and that it makes him different from other Sniktofams.
Ben: It’s a difficult situation because he only lives because of the devil. This is a codependent relationship, which is initially seen as a curse, but can also be perceived as a terrible gift. His control is very much on his mind, especially when he realizes there is a larger conspiracy (perpetrated by Mephisto) that he may be involved in.
AIPT: X-fans were very interested in Akihiro’s love life. X-fans Kasi, Michael, Phil, Saturn, Sean, and Will Foote all wanted to know more about whether they’d be able to see the Northern Lights or their relationship status after the “Sabertooth War.”
Ben: The Northern Lights will definitely appear. So do others.
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AIPT: X-Fan Kashi wanted to know if Akihiro could talk to anyone in the family other than Logan.
Ben: Now that Akihiro is in a non-stop race with hellish conspiracies spread all over the world, he doesn’t have much free time or even a strong sense of self. But once his situation stabilizes, yes, I think it’s right to bring in his extended family. Now he fears for himself and his chances, so if he seeks them out, they will be in danger.
AIPT: Sam from X-Fan asked if there’s any chance the Project Hellfire team will return to the ongoing series.
Ben: Not right away, but yes, they’ll be back.
AIPT: Beyond Hellverine, you and artist Joshua Casala are preparing a new Deadpool/Wolverine series. What can fans of past Wolverine films expect from this series, and is there anything you’re doing differently in the post-Krakoa world?
Ben: Deadpool/Wolverine has the mayhem and energy of an ’80s nonstop action movie. It’s also a reckoning between past, present, and future, as it pays homage to and reinvents a very famous X-Men storyline. Josh is absolutely doing it (because of course he is). This feels similar to the big, wild swings we did in X Lives and Deaths of Wolverine.
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AIPT: Finally, since it’s Halloween week, what other works by Ben Percy would you recommend to readers craving more horror on their spooky seasonal reading diet?
Ben: I would say to everyone, go read some of my novels or short stories. Red Moon is an epic werewolf novel. Darknet is a kind of technological horror (influenced by William Gibson). The Dead Lands is a work of dark fantasy with plenty of scary moments. Suicide Woods is a collection of horror and mystery stories. Happy Halloween everyone!
AIPT: Happy Halloween — and thanks for stopping by Monday for X-Men!
Remember, X-fans. Hellverine #1 will be released on December 18, 2024. With over a month left until release, why not check out some preview pages from artist Raffaele Ienco and color artist Bryan Valenza for this week’s X-Men Monday exclusive?
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Provided by Marvel Comics
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Yes, it was indeed Doctor Strange!
Next up on X-Men Monday: Writer Ashley Allen returns to talk about the upcoming Magik series.
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Until next time, have a special time, X-fans!
