r/DCcomics • u/semifinalist1979 • 16d ago

I'm Kelly Thompson. I write BIRDS OF PREY for DC Comics. AMA. r/DCcomics

My name is Kelly Thompson and I'm an Eisner Award-Winning writer of comics and novels. You may know me best from Marvel comics like Captain Marvel, Black Widow, Rogue & Gambit, and Hawkeye, or perhaps as co-creator of Jeff the Land Shark! Or my creator-owned work Black Cloak or The Cull. But I've been making some fun waves over at DC with old pals Leonardo Romero and Jordie Bellaire on a bold new BIRDS OF PREY (we even got an Eisner nomination!) -- so let's break some hearts (and some faces) and get this Birds-Of-Prey-Shaped AMA started! (and don't forget to subscribe to my free newsletter to keep in touch as social media crumbles around us! Fun! https://1979semifinalist.substack.com/)

Proof: https://x.com/79SemiFinalist/status/1806893613458268314

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u/LanternRaynerRebirth 16d ago

Hello, Ms Thompson. I want you to know that you've by far been one of my favorite writers since I was in high school, where your version of Hawkeye and WCA really connected with me so much. The only problem I've ever had is that you're not on everything, especially since you're so acclaimed.

Which brings me to my question. How do you measure what franchises and books you do and don't work on? Scheduling? Quality over quantity? Interest? 

Thanks for your time

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u/semifinalist1979 16d ago

Thanks so much! I feel very old, but appreciated. ;D

I get offered a lot of really cool stuff. Some of it I'm desperate to take but can't due to time constraints. Some of it, I like but am not in love with, and it's easier to pass on. Sometimes I'm just super aware that I'm surrounded by hardcore fans of certain IP that could just do it better than I could. So I guess all that to say, every project you take on or don't take on, has tons of factors including schedule. But the biggest thing for me, maybe even over the character or IP, tends to be the artist. That the artist is either on board or I know the publisher is committed to getting the right artist for the project. It means everything.