If you're a comic book junkie, chances are you've heard of a new comic that is making waves called "CHEW". Funny enough, this creative comic comes straight from Champions Online writer John Layman.

If you're a comic book junkie, chances are you've heard of a new comic that is making waves called "CHEW". The comic is about a cannibalistic man who gets psychic impressions of what he eats, and uses that power to solve murders. Funny enough, this creative comic comes straight from John Layman who has also been hard at work writing for Champions Online. I'll just say it now -- I want the ability to eat villains for clues in Champions Online!

We had the opportunity to catch up with John in between working on his two projects. "It's like having two full time jobs, and I don't really recommend it" said John during the interview. While can certainly understand his position, we're hoping his big vacation isn't planned until after the game launches later this year.

ZAM: Hey John. Thanks for taking a break from all your writing to talk to us about Champions Online, among other things!

John Layman: Happy to do so!

ZAM: Throughout your comic career, you've covered a ton of genres – from heroes, to horror, to everything in-between. Will we see a wide range of genres in the Champions Online storyline? Can we expect a zombie outbreak or two?

John: Yeah, I enjoy the freedom of not being locked into one genre. That's something I enjoy about Champions, too. The universe is vast enough there are a lot of different types of stories and bad guys, so if I want to write something supernatural themed storyline, I can, or if I am in the mood for industrial espionage or crime fiction—or even wacky humor, I can. The Champions Universe has it all -- including zombies!

ZAM: What are some of the similarities and differences between writing comics and writing for an MMO? It seems like a daunting task that must require a lot of collaboration.

John: There are only similarities in a lot of the topes and conventions of a superheroic universe. Superheroes and supervillains tend to do the same sort of stuff whether it is in games or comics, but the approach to writing it is much different. Collaboration exists in both forms, but it is a bigger collaboration in a game. In a comic is it just the writer and the artist, and possibly a colorist, letterer and editor. In a game you are working with literally dozen of different talents, all working to achieve the same goal of making a great game, but there are many more components. Still, at the end of the day, there is a similar thrill to seeing a level or mission you wrote come to life, just like seeing a finished page of a comic book you wrote, or a printed copy of a current issue.

ZAM: In a similar vein, you've written for other games, such as Metroid: Hunters for the Nintendo DS. Did that prepare you at all for MMO writing?

John: I've written about a half dozen video games. Probably the one that helped the most was writing the Marvel Trading Card video game, because I was making a story out of a complete universe of superheroes. Sorta what I ended up doing on Champions, but Champions is on a much, much larger scale.

ZAM: Were you a fan of the Champions pen-and-paper RPG before you started to work on this project?

John: Yes, I had played in middle school and high school, and got back into it when I was first out of college, way back in the early 90s. One of my first jobs out of college was a night-shift x-ray librarian at a hospital in San Diego. All I really had to do was stay away at night and be around for doctors in case some old fogey broke their leg in the middle of the night. So I spent a lot of time in those wee late hours making Champions character after character.

ZAM: Every adaptation generally needs to make some changes from its source material to work in a different medium. How much will Champions Online take from the RPG universe, and how much will be brand new?

John: We try to be accurate whenever we can, or with whatever makes sense. That being said, we have the freedom to update things, or go a different direction. We always try to respect the universe, but at the same time, expand and make it more interesting, whenever it feels right to do so.

ZAM: You were originally working on Marvel Universe Online for Cryptic before it was canceled. Even though the Champions franchise has been around for almost 30 years, the setting and characters may not be as familiar to gamers as Marvel heroes. Does that change your writing style in any way, and are you excited to bring these characters to life for a new audience?

John: I think it gave me a little more freedom. Champions is all about letting people create their own heroes, and even the universe as written has a lot of flexibility and latitude to put your own stamp on it. The "rules" are a little more established and there is less wiggle room in a universe like Marvel.

ZAM: Character customization is strongly emphasized in Champions. How do you focus on balance when writing missions if each player's going to have completely different power sets?

John: That was a bit of a learning curve, and the truth is, it's not always something that is a top priority. Obviously, you don't want to make missions where a flying character and swoop in and do something in a minute that takes a non-flying character ten. But mostly I concentrate on stories, and a lot of the balance issues are worked out by mission and combat designers.

ZAM: The game's set to launch in September, but I'm sure you already have a ton of ideas for updates and expansions. Can you give us any insight into what direction the storyline will be heading in the future?

John: I don't know that I am allowed to, other than I am hard at work writing it, even as I take time to do this interview. And it is the craziest, most epic storyline yet. Oh... and I'm getting to kill lots of established characters -- that's always fun.

ZAM: Even while working on Champions, you've still found time to write "Chew," your newest comic that's already sold out its first and second issues. How do you balance working on an MMO and a comic?

John: Is not easy. It's like having two full time jobs, and I don't really recommend it. Honestly, I never expected the book to be received as it has. I didn't think a book about cannibals and the bird flu would have enough of an audience to go beyond the first storyline, but it's doing really well, so it definitely an ongoing at this point. I also, perhaps naively, timed the book to come out when I thought the game out be out. But MMO delays are not out of the ordinary, as I've since learned.

ZAM: So what's next in your career? Any upcoming comics or projects you can tell us about?

John: CHEW is ongoing, and monthly. Or at least, monthly with a short break between five issue story arcs. Right now my only priority is getting out Champions and CHEW and getting readership numbers on CHEW stable to it can continue. I can't imagine taking on any more comic book or video game projects at the moment, but, then again, you never know what the future will bring.

ZAM: Thanks for your time John, best of luck to you in the future!

John: Sure!

Andrew "Tamat" Beegle
Editor-in-Chief
ZAM.com

Darryl "Togikagi" Gangloff
News Reporter
ZAM.com