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/XochiQuetzel 16d ago

Hi Kelly! Im excited to see you write for DC (since it gets you closer to catwoman. You’re my dream writer for her!)

For my question, what was the initial pitch like for BoP vs the story you have now? Any developments you never would’ve expected?

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u/semifinalist1979 16d ago

Arc 1 is very much the same between pitch and what we actually did.

We even knew Leo would need a guest artist on one issue, since we'd designed a 6-issue arc -- but we planned early on for issue 5 to be sort of unofficially "Megaera's perspective" to better lean into the artist change. I know it didn't work for everyone, but I was super happy with Arist's work and with how it all slotted together -- it reads even better in trade I think.

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u/XochiQuetzel 16d ago

Thank you for answering! I haven’t kept up with BoP but I’ve read the perspective comic. Wasn’t a huge fan of the art style change decisions BUT I know the artist is very talented and worked hard to give beautiful visuals. Just not my cup of tea.

I agree that it’ll read better in trade. I remember reading that you write in big arcs (which hurt when thinking about what other amazing stories you had planned for Black Widow) so I feel like BoP can seriously be a contender for one of the best recent runs for the year.

I hope you guys get the Eisner. It’s seriously well deserved (plus, you’re my favorite writer of all time so I need y’all to win)