Page 42 - Star Wars Insider (Special Edition 2019)

COMICS: ROGUE ONE

“
BODHI IS THE NEW CONVERT,
CASSIAN IS THE DEVOUT,
AND JYN IS THE LAPSED BELIEVER.

”

different perspective, so they’re Which of the characters from the that happens in the movie. For
not exactly the same as they are movie were you most drawn to? me, this particular scene was

in the film. I think those moments Bodhi Rook is probably my really important because it’s
are going to be most exciting for favorite to write for. He’s the one when the story takes off . If
the readers. character whose life probably Bodhi had chosen another path,
would have been OK if he’d done everything would have turned
How do you set about writing nothing, but he chose to rebel. All out diff erently.
each issue? of the events of the movie hinge
I generally start with page-by- on his bravery, so that choice and How are you enjoying working
page breakdowns of the story, the repercussions he faces are with artist Emilio Laiso?
followed by scripting out really fascinating to me. Emilio is doing some really cool
everything panel-by-panel, Collectively, the trio of Bodhi, things with his layouts! The way
which is generally referred to as Cassian, and Jyn is interesting to he arranges images on the page
“full script.” With Rogue One, me, too. Bodhi is the new convert, to impact the flow of the

I’m pulling from a bunch of Cassian is the devout, and Jyn is storytelling is a strength of his,

different sources—the fi lm, the the lapsed believer. They’re all and I’m glad he’s bringing that
novelization, scenes and ideas coming together from diff erent strength in this series.
that didn’t make it into the fi lm, perspectives and have to get In terms of action beats I try
and the background material over all their huge ideological to give Emilio as much leeway
in Rogue One: The Ultimate differences to accomplish one as possible. For almost any scene

Visual Dictionary. goal. In the comic, I’m able to I come up with, the artist usually
In fact, one of my favorite parts show more about how they knows how to draw it better than
of the job was to read the James make the decisions they do. I can tell them.

Luceno prequel novel, Star Wars: So much of the film is from I relate comics to poetry,
Catalyst. It does such a great job Jyn’s perspective, it’s not always where you have to decide where
of laying out the foundation for possible for it to show how each line ends, and what it
Galen, Krennic, and Lyra, and Cassian feels or what Bodhi is means to have the line ending at
made me want to incorporate thinking. I get to delve a little that moment. In comics you have
more of their backgrounds into deeper into some of those to work out what’s on each page,
the comic. moments and focus on what is where it ends, and what you’re
behind some of their choices. focusing on for the next page.
Which of your additions to the You get to fill things out that

story are you most proud of? Can you hint at what some you don’t necessarily get to do
There’s a line Galen has when he’s of those moments are? while screenwriting, for example,
talking to Bodhi. He’s describing A moment I was really excited because when you write a
how the Empire likes citizens who to write occurs in the fi rst issue, screenplay it’s up to the director
don’t make trouble, and he says when Bodhi makes his decision how long a moment lasts. With a
“I was a good man for too long.” to defect and deliver Galen’s comic, it’s just you and the artist,
Of all the lines I’ve written so far, message. If you think about it, so you have a lot more control
that one is probably my favorite. Bodhi’s at the heart of everything over the pacing and feel.

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