When you’re a Cyborg fan who’s ever dreamed of writing the character your self, you could have quite a bit in widespread with Morgan Hampton. After years of studying about Cyborg, he’ll quickly debut as the author of DC’s first Cyborg sequence in almost 5 years. If Hampton isn’t a reputation you recognize but, don’t fear, that’ll quickly change. Hampton was one of many members within the Milestone Initiative Expertise Growth Program, which opened the door to his first main DC undertaking. Partnering with veteran artist Tom Raney, Hampton’s upcoming Cyborg will discover new sides of Victor Stone because the Titan returns house to Detroit.
Cyborg gained’t be in shops till Could, however in order for you a preview of what you possibly can count on from Vic’s return, take a look at Hampton’s story within the just-released DC Energy: A Celebration. An anthology title that includes the work of over two dozen Black writers and artists telling tales about DC’s Black superheroes, it options the primary Cyborg story penned by Hampton, delivered to visible life Valentine De Landro and Marissa Louise.
Simply forward of its launch, we spoke with Hampton about his plans for Cyborg, and unsurprisingly, he had loads to say. In some methods, Hampton has been getting ready to put in writing this title since childhood. As he received able to verify it off his bucket listing, Hampton broke down how he plans to take Victor Stone into the 21st century, why he’s redefining Cyborg’s catchphrase and extra.
To begin with, because the information of your new Cyborg sequence dropped, you have gotten a number of responses on social media, including one from Cyborg himself—Doom Patrol’s Joivan Wade! How superior was that?
I used to be not anticipating that in any respect. That was actually cool. I received adopted by him too, which is very nice. So perhaps we’ll preserve chatting sooner or later. Possibly I must give him a duplicate of the ebook when it comes out. (Editor’s replace: Morgan did in fact give him a copy!)
I might love to listen to about your relationship with Victor Stone. How did you first meet him? What variations of him or tales about him actually spoke to you?
I really feel like lots of people my age—I am 29. I will be 30 in a few month—grew up watching the Teen Titans present. In order that was form of my introduction to the character. I resonated with him loads.
I’ve a bleeding dysfunction known as hemophilia, which is form of an invisible dysfunction, however it’s a bodily dysfunction. My bodily limitations have been restricted and proceed to be restricted to today. I believe seeing Victor having a form of bodily incapacity as properly was one thing I actually resonated with as a child and proceed to resonate with. I really feel like I can convey a voice of what that seems like internally to this character that we have not seen loads of nuance with. I form of need to discover what it seems like to simply be dealt a nasty set of playing cards in life, and the way do you reply when unhealthy issues have occurred to you which you can’t management?
Not solely are you launching this new Cyborg sequence, however the sequence goes to be a part of the Daybreak of DC rollout. It will increase its profile and convey loads of new eyeballs to the comedian. How thrilling is that?
It is loopy! It is also a little bit daunting, I am not going to lie, however I am very excited to return into DC at this new period. I am somebody who’s all the time been an advocate for uplifting loads of these characters which are form of within the background. Not simply with Cyborg, however it’s actually thrilling to see that this period is form of shifting in direction of them. Certain, there’s a little bit little bit of legacy, however giving extra of the highlight to a few of these characters that I believe followers have been form of craving for. It form of matches actually according to my philosophy on superheroes basically, so it is actually nice to return in similtaneously it.
I might love to listen to about your expertise with the Milestone Initiative Expertise Growth Program and the way it received you right here.
I simply can’t imagine I used to be part of that. It got here and went fairly quick, however it was a dream come true. I keep in mind once they first introduced that Milestone was coming again. I keep in mind considering I’ve received to be in there in some way. It was earlier than they introduced the Milestone Initiative. After which I believe a yr glided by, then they introduced that, and I am similar to, “I’ve to use.” I used to be in grad college on the time, actually busy, however I am similar to, “There isn’t any manner I can let this chance slip by.”
So I utilized, and fortunately, fortunately received in. It was undoubtedly a foundational second for me and one thing that I’ll keep in mind ceaselessly. I believe above all else, simply getting the entry and the sources was nice. The cohort of those that they selected with us I believe have been all actually nice and supportive of one another. I believe I’ve received 23 brothers and sisters with the Milestone Initiative the place we’re all form of launching our careers on the similar time, which is admittedly, actually dope.
You may have a Cyborg story that is within the new DC Energy anthology. It is actually good. Do you know that you’d be doing the Cyborg ongoing earlier than writing it?
I didn’t know till after. After the Milestone Initiative, I reached out to a bunch of editors to see if there have been any alternatives on the market and Marquis Draper fortunately gave me this chance to put in writing this story for DC Energy. This was again in August, and I did not know concerning the sequence till months later. I suppose he preferred what I did within the story, and I suppose once they have been internally excited about doing a Cyborg sequence, I used to be somebody he considered.
I am eternally grateful for that. I believe the themes and the tone that I discover on this story are some issues that may form of launch into the sequence as properly, which is admittedly cool.
Was your DC Energy story all the time going to be a Cyborg story? Or did you discuss totally different characters?
I pitched this story to Marquis final yr after I was interviewing for the Milestone Initiative. I keep in mind they requested us exterior of Milestone what characters we wish to write, and I went on this lengthy soliloquy about Cyborg and the way there’s loads of potential to discover him extra. Once I reached out to him over the summer season, he talked about that interview, and he was like, “Yeah, I believe I’ve a spot for you on this anthology. And I believe I would really like you to put in writing about Cyborg, like we talked about months in the past.”
I used to be like, “That is loopy.” As a result of in the intervening time, after we have been having that interview, I wasn’t considering of it as a pitch, I used to be speaking from the center, and I suppose that was one thing that he resonated with and he was capable of give me that chance.
The DC Energy story dives into the origin of “booyah” and the way the catchphrase has a deeper which means for Victor. You are already including layers to the character along with your first outing. How did you give you that strategy?
It was one thing that I believe I have been excited about for a pair years. I’ve heard lots of people take situation with that phrase, which I perceive, you recognize, as a Black character, utilizing form of a corny line like that. I believe lots of people have taken situation with what which may signify for a Black character.
I believe for each character, there must be a why for every part. I do like that he makes use of that phrase in very pivotal moments. It all the time brings loads of levity, however I needed to provide a which means for it for Victor, to form of recontextualize it and make it extra of a phrase that I believe individuals can be snug with transferring into the twenty first century. I needed to tie it to his mother, as a result of that is one thing that he’s all the time coping with. It was one thing that I simply needed so as to add to the character that I hadn’t seen finished earlier than and I hope it is one thing that resonates with individuals.
When your Cyborg sequence begins, what’s life like for Victor Stone? The place is his head at?
Titans is form of the place he turned Cyborg, so to talk. And now that they are the premier staff, I believe he is feeling loads of stress to be there for the individuals, for everybody who’s trying as much as him. With among the stuff I stated earlier about Cyborg being somebody who by no means actually had a alternative, I believe he is actually battling the facility of alternative at this level of his life, as a result of he does need to be Cyborg for the individuals, however he additionally desires to be Cyborg and Victor for himself. He is battling what that stability seems like when he has loads of renewed accountability.
That is going to return to a head when he comes house to Detroit due to a household emergency. He will need to navigate who he was, who he’s now and who he desires to be, and hopefully how he can mesh all these issues collectively.
What sort of a supporting forged will Victor have in Detroit? Outdated pals, new pals and acquainted faces stopping by?
Yeah, I believe it may be a little bit little bit of all of that. I’m going to have some new pals for positive, however as a result of this can be a ebook that is launching alongside Titans, I’ll attempt to implement a few of these characters as properly. However I do need to stress that that is Cyborg’s story. Individuals could be stopping by to speak, however that is one thing that Victor goes to need to do on his personal, as a result of I believe that is one thing that we have not seen with the character loads. Through the years he is been in loads of books, however he is all the time within the background. I really need this ebook to be about Cyborg getting the company that he is all the time deserved.
And with reference to challenges, what sort of threats will he be dealing with?
It is essential to me for a tech-based character to form of cope with a tech-based risk. I needed to convey Cyborg into the twenty first century and provides him issues that all of us cope with right now with these form of tyrannical tech firms dominated by idiots. I need to see how he can navigate that as somebody who’s youthful, as a result of I believe we have not actually seen that with him. And I believe the risk that he faces is one thing that we’re all going to have the ability to resonate with as a result of it is one thing that aggravates us to no finish in the actual world. However for Cyborg and the town of Detroit, that is one thing that is going to have dire penalties and he’ll need to step up.
I might additionally love to listen to about your working relationship with Tom Raney. What has that collaboration been like?
It’s within the very early phases, however it appears to be actually enjoyable thus far. I’ve by no means finished something of this magnitude but. I’ve finished loads of self-published work, which is loads totally different than this. I have not had the form of framework that working beneath this sort of factor offers you. Tom is an artist that appears to need loads of options. You recognize, each artist is a little bit bit totally different, however it’s enjoyable how collaborative it appears to be with him. I am going to give him some references, and he’ll be like, “No, you can provide me extra. You may inform me particularly the way you need it.” It is actually enjoyable.
Whereas breaking the Cyborg story for the DC Energy particular and plotting the continuing, you have needed to stay within the character’s head in a manner that you just in all probability by no means did as a reader. Have you ever discovered something new about Vic as you have been taking a look at him from a author’s perspective?
I truly assume it is a little bit bit the alternative. I’ve form of lived in his head a little bit bit over time as a result of I’ve all the time been somebody who was a champion for Victor. He is all the time round, however usually not doing a lot. I’ve all the time been excited about what his potential is and what he can do.
Whereas breaking the story for DC Energy and for this sequence, I discovered that we’re loads alike, and I believe we have now loads of the identical sensibilities. Going again to me having hemophilia, I grew up having loads of limitations on my physicality, however eager to play sports activities. Vic is a little bit reverse. He was capable of play sports activities after which had loads of bodily limitations on his physique. I believe we have form of met within the center. I discovered that Victor is unquestionably somebody who I might be pals with if he existed in the actual world.
In your thoughts how has Victor grown as a hero since his New Teen Titans debut in 1980?
Rather a lot, but additionally not loads. He is grown loads in different mediums, like I discussed the Teen Titans sequence and even among the stuff within the motion pictures. However I believe Cyborg has probably not been introduced into the twenty first century as a lot as he may very well be. And I do not know, I may very well be unsuitable, however I could be the primary millennial to put in writing a Cyborg sequence. Possibly not a Cyborg story, however perhaps a Cyborg sequence. I believe there’s loads of potential for him to develop into this technology and the technology under me, and be a hero that represents the longer term. Not simply together with his powerset, however due to who he’s and what he represents as only a Black man on the earth.
DC Energy: A Celebration #1, that includes “Booyah” by Morgan Hampton, Valentine De Landro and Marissa Louise, is now accessible in print and as a digital comedian ebook. Search for the primary situation of Cyborg by Morgan Hampton and Tom Raney on Could 16, 2023!
