By Bill Meneese and Matt McGloin • 4/10/09

Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, collectively known to fans as DnA, currently write Marvel’s latest blockbuster space epic War of Kings. In addition, the “dynamic duo” also pen the pages of War of Kings: Ascension, Guardians of the Galaxy and Nova.

DnA spoke exclusively with CosmicBookNews on a range of topics including Nova, Guardians of the Galaxy, Wendell Vaughn, the Silver Surfer and even the Dark Avengers!

CosmicBookNews: The upcoming Nova #25 and #26 are extra special issues for Nova fans since the first and longest lasting series ended with Issue #25. Will there be any kind of acknowledgement of this landmark accomplishment in Issue #26?

Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning: Well, issue 25 will be a huge and, we hope, satisfying conclusion to a major story line, with major repercussions, so it will be a proper event.

However, you'd better ask Marvel promotions if they're planning to hire a band or put up bunting and balloons.

CosmicBookNews: The fans have long speculated as to the nature of the Nova Force. Will you be delving into the nature of the Nova Force in Issue #25's confrontation with the Worldmind?

DnA: Yes.

Although not all questions will be answered, because there's more story to go. You don't explain cosmic mysteries all in one go.

CosmicBookNews: Once War of King’s is resolved, are there any plans to delve into any of the "lost years" in Nova history via flashbacks - such as his year long participation in the Second Xandar-Skrull War or the year that passed between the end of the Nova mini-series and the beginning of the Annihilation event?

DnA: At the moment, we've got lots of serious storylines to tackle, but there is every chance that elements of his past from those 'lost years' might come back to haunt him.

CosmicBookNews: The kiss with Dr. Necker in #23 got fans buzzing about Rich's love life. Will Rich be revisiting any former love interests (such as Gamora); or possibly getting a new love interest once War of King’s is resolved?

DnA: The kiss may have meant nothing.

However, Gamora is not the kind of girlfriend - or even friend with benefits - you want to two-time. Rich had better get his love life in order, or things will get very messy (and dangerous).

We have a love triangle issue planned that tackles this, and the triangle's not quite who you think.

CosmicBookNews: Since all of Xandar (including the population of deceased Xandarians) is stored within the Worldmind; and the last time we saw the Orienta Shard it was damaged but not completely destroyed; what prevents Rich from returning to Orienta and rebuilding Xandar per Worldmind's wishes - just like he did in "The Starlost Saga" after Nebula's attack?

DnA: Technically, nothing, we suppose. He has more urgent things to deal with up front, and there's no telling what state Orienta Shard is in now.

CosmicBookNews: Will Rich be paying the The Guardians of the Galaxy a visit anytime soon? Will he recognize Major Victory as a future version of his old friend Vance Astrovik?

DnA: This is entirely possible and we refuse to be drawn on the issue.

CosmicBookNews: [LAUGHS]

Rich and Ronan became close friends during Annihilation. In fact, Rich was made an Honorary Kree by Ronan. How will Rich react when he learns what the Shi'Ar did to Ronan and the Kree?

DnA: As a "space cop," Rich tries to stay neutral, but he's no fan of oppression.

The Shi'Ar are the aggressors, and he will act against them, because he's a little po'ed.

Good thing Ronan has that nice girl Crystal to look after him.

CosmicBookNews: Is Phyla-Vell the new Thanos? As Death's Avatar, will this place her at odds with Drax? Will Thanos himself be returning any time soon?

DnA: She's not quite the new Thanos, no, but she has been selected for a symbolic costume role by the game-players of creation, so watch this space.

[As for] Thanos, [he] is dead. D-E-A-D. Drax killed him. He's not coming back. He doesn't want to. He likes being dead.

CosmicBookNews: Will Peter Quill ever be regaining his original Starlord powers of flight, limited invulnerability and rapid healing?

DnA: That would sure help him out. He's much more of a Buck Rogers or a Han Solo these days than a costumed super hero.

I don't know where he'd get his powers back from, though. And isn't there another  Star-Lord somewhere? It would be cool to see ship again, we think.

CosmicBookNews: All the members of Infinity Watch except one are now appearing in Guardians of the Galaxy.

This begs the question: Will Pip the Troll be showing up in Guardians of the Galaxy any time soon?

DnA: Could any  book cope with Rocket, Cosmo and  Pip in its pages at the same time?

CosmicBookNews: Rich and Wendell Vaughn seem to make a good team, will Wendell continue to be a supporting character throughout future issues of Nova?

DnA: If his light essence survives the showdown in issue 25, he might.

CosmicBookNews: In recent pages of Nova, we saw what was mainly an Earth-based story arc, are there any plans to have the Guardians of the Galaxy visit Earth?

Would you consider doing a Guardians/Avengers cross over? If the Guardians every did clash with Osborn's Dark Avengers, what do you think would be the outcome?

Finally, which of the Guardians would be up to the task of taking down the Sentry?

DnA: That would be cool.

We'd love to take them to Earth, and we'd love to take them up against the Dark Avengers.

As for the Sentry, well, our money's on Rocket, because that's the kind of "What the heck?"  he can pull.

But the safe bet would be Adam Warlock because he's got that old cosmic magic, and that'd make him the biggest threat to Sentry.

CosmicBookNews: Regarding writing the "cosmic characters" who are arguably a lot more powerful than the earth based ones, some think it difficult to write about a character who is all-powerful. For instance, it has been said that the Silver Surfer is best as a supporting character or as a mini series - - do you think that being said is do to the perception that the Surfer is that sort of character, hence difficult to write?

DnA: There's a lot of truth in it, and the same does apply to many of the big cosmic guys. In the Surfer's case, we're trying to think outside the box right now, and we're constantly working on ways to make these "supercosmic" types accessible and "functional."

These are great characters, and we'd love to use as many of them as possible, but we don't want to bore the readers with non-stop supercosmic energy blast-fests.

CosmicBookNews: However, you have had success with major powerhouses such as Adam Warlock, Nova and even Wendell Vaughn. Granted, their powers were altered a bit, do you think the Surfer would need some sort of “revamping” to succeed?

DnA: Yeah, altered but not necessarily chopped or reduced.

Many cosmic characters have huge powers compared to Earth heroes simply to function in the hostilities and distances of space. You have to find a way of modulating and varying those effects, or a cosmic comic will read like it's at full volume all the time. No one wants that.

We've just had a really cool idea about the Surfer, though....

CosmicBookNews: Thank you for taking the time out to answer our questions.

It is greatly appreciated.

DnA: Thanks!

Discuss This Article in the CosmicBookNews.com Forums