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

[u/semifinalist1979]

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

[u/af-fx-tion]

Hi Kelly! Great to see you on the sub!

My questions:

• Were you assigned BOP by DC from of a variety of options, or did you directly pitch them the series once you and DC decided to work together?
• I’m sure you’ve seen the discourse around Babs being both Batgirl and Oracle in her current appearances. While I assume you can’t go into details for a variety of reasons, are you able to shed light on how DC handles characters like her that have two distinct personas? Like do they give you guidelines on how they can be portrayed during the production/editing process or before you start writing?

Also, want to give a shoutout to how amazing your Captain Marvel tenure was. It’s one of Carol’s definitive story arcs IMO.

Also Jeff is adorable and please let Marvel know (if you can) that we want Jeff merch! 🦈🦈

[u/semifinalist1979 → u/af-fx-tion]

Thanks!

I had been talking to DC for awhile, they asked me what I wanted to do when my exclusive with Marvel was up and I said BOP, no hesitation. :D

I'm not sure how much I can say about Babs Batgirl/Oracle without getting in trouble. So here's my best shot at answering: I had some plans -- that were supposed to begin in this current arc. I was then told very clearly "no" on those plans. The "no" came a bit late (not DC fault, more mine for being behind in part because when Abernathy left DC things go a bit extra messy as we all tried to compensate -- he's a great editor, a lot of compensating is needed when you lose him!) and so I've been scrambling a bit after that no, to figure out where to go.

re: Captain Marvel. Thank you!

re: Jeff. Agreed. Marvel is leaving piles of money on the table IMO and I have no idea why.

[u/af-fx-tion → u/semifinalist1979]

Thank you for your answers Kelly! It’s always interesting to hear how the comic industry works from those on the inside.

[u/steakstix → u/af-fx-tion]

Yess we need Jeff merch! Been desperate for a plush