DC Comics heroes are not any stranger to massive crossovers that usually see them hopping into different timelines and even different universes. Over the many years, marquee characters like Batman and Marvel Lady have wound up crossing paths with the likes of the Avengers, Ninja Turtles, and Epic Video games’ Fortnite. The latest of the bunch is Rooster Enamel’s anime sequence RWBY (pronounced “ruby”), which acquired an animated movie not that way back.
RWBY has progressively grown into its personal massive factor since its 2013 debut and the passing of its creator Monty Oum two years later. Although it’s older than Fortnite, it’s nonetheless “new” in that many audiences don’t but have the sequence on their radar. With the movie Justice League x RWBY: Tremendous Heroes and Huntsmen, Half One, which obtained a U.S. launch earlier this 12 months however simply got here out in Japan, a part of the purpose was to introduce the present to a brand new viewers by means of DC’s top-tier characters, and a multiverse story that sees the Justice League reimagined within the present’s science fantasy aesthetic.
io9 not too long ago talked with the movie’s author, Meghan Fitzmartin—whose earlier DC expertise contains constructing out Tim Drake’s bisexuality and his latest solo comic book—about bringing the very best of RWBY and the Justice League collectively, together with stepping into the present and her common fondness for crossovers and younger grownup heroes.
Justin Carter, io9: How’s it been rising right into a place the place you’ve gotten to discover these characters you’ve grown up with, just like the Batfamily and DC’s legacy YA heroes? Earlier than getting to write down the mainline Batfamily, did you ever take into account enjoying in a extra open area like an alternate universe?
Meghan Fitzmartin: It’s been a dream come true [laughs]. Having the ability to work with these characters who’ve meant the entire world to me my entire life is at all times the dream. Characters like Batman and Tim Drake find yourself being so impactful in our lives, and it’s why we get into telling tales within the first place.
I like enjoying in multiverses, and I’m very eager on the exploration of assorted story parts you are able to do when in that area. For me, the very best match is finally on a story-by-story foundation, and different elements of a personality may very well be utilized in a extra playful ingredient. However with Tim’s popping out, we very a lot wished it to be in the primary continuity. With that character’s previous [queer-coded] historical past, we wished to make certain there was no query of his identification.
io9: Multiverses are such a factor in Large Two comics, particularly these days. What multiverse tales have had an impact on you?
Fitzmartin: The primary time I ever learn a multiverse comedian was the Avengers/JLA comedian [from 2003], after which I’ve learn all of the Crises on varied Infinites. One of many issues that was extremely impactful for me was truly this TV present known as The Misplaced World, primarily based on the 1912 novel from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. It’s primarily all about multiverses, and I feel that grew to become the start line for my fascination with them.
io9: Is that love of multiverses what drew you to Justice League x RWBY?
Fitzmartin: I got here to the film from the RWBY aspect of issues, truly. The query with multiverses a number of the time is, “What have we not seen? What’s the attention-grabbing [or new] factor?” I used to be actually excited by the concept of seeing a extra anime model of the Justice League. There’s nothing new underneath the solar, however we get an opportunity to do one thing cool and attention-grabbing that’s this aspect of latest.
Earlier than the film, I didn’t know something about it, partially as a result of I knew that I’d be obsessive about it. With all the things I’d heard about it, I knew that I couldn’t let it devour me fairly but. Then in December 2020, my producer Jim Krieg reached out asking me if I knew something about RWBY, and I instructed him, “Give me two weeks, and I’ll know all the things about RWBY.” I used to be simply ready for the fitting time for somebody to inform me I wanted to realize it so I may correctly dive in and mainline it.
io9: This film got here out not lengthy after RWBY’s ninth season ended. Do you know what the writers had deliberate for season 9, and the way did that have an effect on the way you wrote the film in any respect?
Fitzmartin: I used to be conscious of some plans—I requested inquiries to [showrunner and writer] Kerry [Shawcross], simply so I knew the place the characters have been going. And it completely wasn’t as a result of I wished to find out about sure favourite characters [laughs]. Having the ability to pull from a number of stuff that the characters have been grappling with in quantity 9, we have been in a position to present clear proof of those emotions the characters have been having within the film. Whereas there’s hints for sure characters, it’s one thing you particularly see with Ruby. Lindsay [Jones] does job of portraying her, and that wrestle with management is so human and susceptible. Understanding what was coming in quantity 9, having the ability to play into it was actually enjoyable.
io9: Because you got here into RWBY so late within the present’s lifecycle, did you might have any particular targets with the film to usher in individuals who know the Justice League, however not RWBY?
Fitzmartin: Largely, it labored out in my favor that I used to be newer to the present’s lore. I may are available, have a look at the items that I didn’t know, and mess around with it. Working with [series writers] Kerry Shawcross and Eddy Rivas helped loads with that as nicely. Such as you stated, most people know Justice League, however they may not know RWBY. For me, having the ability to play in that world and be capable to invite JL followers like I used to be invited in was a part of the enjoyable. That present’s world was so enjoyable to discover, so I wished to attempt to specific that with this film.
Justice League x RWBY is impressed by a DC miniseries. After I do variations, the significance for me is discovering the twist on the story we haven’t seen earlier than. I’m not desirous about retelling a narrative again and again, and I don’t need to step on the unique creators’ toes. Comics and animation are two completely different mediums; I’ve the acute privilege of working in each. There’s issues that work in comics that don’t work in animation and vice-versa, so it’s much like multiverses. You’re in a position to play within the multiverses that absolutely match the story that you simply’re attempting to hit.
Justice League x RWBY: Tremendous Heroes and Huntsmen, Half One is offered now on Blu-ray/DVD and digital within the U.S.
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