Fans of the mobile role-playing game Summoners War get to travel back in time to its early days in Skybound Entertainment and Image Comics' Summoners War: Legacy, a prequel comic penned by Justin Jordan and set 35 years before the events of the popular game.
CBR spoke to Jordan about joining the Summoners War franchise, the main characters in Summoners War: Legacy, the experience he gained world-building on DC's Green Lanterns, the status of the Luther Strode live-action movie and more.
CBR: How did you get recruited to work on the Summoners War franchise, and did your research involve lots of gaming time?
Justin Jordan: [Laughs] It surprisingly did not. I don't really game, which is weird, since I'm doing a surprising amount of work adapting games for comics. You'd think I'd take advantage of being able to play for work, but I am apparently very dumb.
I was brought on board by Skybound, who I've worked with a good bit, doing the Dead Body Road series and Reaver there. I've always had a good relationship with them, and I think they brought me on because I am good at worldbuilding and am pretty collaborative, so I was a pretty good fit for this.
My role here isn't just writing the comic -- I am part of the writers' group who worked out much of the mythology and greater stories for the Summoners War universe, which is super-helpful writing the comics since it's set a couple of decades before the current present time of the game.
Who are the main players/characters in Summoners War: Legacy?
There's Raiyeh Holder, who is a self-taught Summoner who desperately wanted a life of adventure. Which she gets, courtesy of Abuus Dein, one of the other main characters, an experienced Summoner who is kind of her Obi-Wan. A self-taught Summoner can be extremely dangerous both to themselves and others, so he has to try and teach Rai the right way to do things. This is proving... challenging.
They're accompanied by Tomas Dredger, a young and relatively inexperienced Proto. The Protos serve as bodyguards to the Summoners, making sure no one comes up and stabs them in the back, for instance, when they're concentrating on controlling their monsters.
And they don't get along super great, particularly Tomas and Rai, which is causing Abuus no end of trouble.
You've worked on big franchises like DC's Green Lanterns, while also world-building with your creator-owned comics like Luther Strode. Can you talk about how these past experiences helped you adapt the world of the video game to comics?
Absolutely. I've got a lot of experience finding stories in big, complex settings, which is super handy for adapting stuff from big franchises. But I am also good at waaaaay overthinking worlds, which is probably my secret sauce for stuff like this, since there's a whole bunch of stuff I know and don't have to tell the audience, but makes the world feel lived in.
Which of the many monsters that characters can summon has become your favorite? And do you think there is one that readers will latch onto?
Oh, the answer to both is Bernard. There's a reason he's on the cover.
Is there a character that fans should keep an eye on as the series continues?
I think the cult favorite is probably going to be Voss Ayers, who is pretty much the most tired and cynical man in the world.
Luca Claretti, Giovanna Niro and Deron Bennett are your collaborators on Summoners War: Legacy. A look at the preview pages shows the type of fantasy elements the series will deliver. Can you speak to what each individual has brought to the team?
They're a dream team. Luca is someone I wanted to work with even before the series, and it's great. He's been someone who understands what I mean, not just what I write, which always makes doing books a pleasure. It's the perfect fit for the book. Same with Gio, whose colors are just flawless. And Deron's letters have elevated the whole thing. I can't say enough good things about all of them, who make me look good at my job, which is nice.
It was announced last October that you and Tradd Moore are producing a live-action adaptation of Luther Strode. Are there any updates on the development that you would like to pass on to fans?
I'm still doing some revisions on the script, although it's pretty close and the tweaks are minor. We've been in talks with a director, so the project is moving along nicely. Which, sadly, is about all I can say publicly. But I'm happy.
Finally, what can you tease about future issues of Summoners War: Legacy?
Monsters, GIANT monsters, Katakana, monsters, betrayal. Oh and also monsters.
Summoners War: Legacy #1 by Justin Jordan, Luca Claretti, Giovanna Niro and Deron Bennett is on sale now from Image Comics.