DC Comics heroes are not any stranger to huge crossovers that always see them hopping into different timelines and even different universes. Over the many years, marquee characters like Batman and Surprise Girl have wound up crossing paths with the likes of the Avengers, Ninja Turtles, and Epic Video games’ Fortnite. The newest of the bunch is Rooster Tooth’s anime collection RWBY (pronounced “ruby”), which obtained an animated movie not that way back.
RWBY has progressively grown into its personal huge factor since its 2013 debut and the passing of its creator Monty Oum two years later. Although it’s older than Fortnite, it’s nonetheless “new” in that many audiences don’t but have the collection on their radar. With the movie Justice League x RWBY: Tremendous Heroes and Huntsmen, Half One, which received a U.S. launch earlier this 12 months however simply got here out in Japan, a part of the purpose was to introduce the present to a brand new viewers by the use of DC’s top-tier characters, and a multiverse story that sees the Justice League reimagined within the present’s science fantasy aesthetic.
io9 lately talked with the movie’s author, Meghan Fitzmartin—whose earlier DC expertise contains constructing out Tim Drake’s bisexuality and his current solo comic book—about bringing the very best of RWBY and the Justice League collectively, together with stepping into the present and her normal fondness for crossovers and younger grownup heroes.
Justin Carter, io9: How’s it been rising right into a place the place you’ve gotten to discover these characters you’ve grown up with, just like the Batfamily and DC’s legacy YA heroes? Earlier than getting to jot down the mainline Batfamily, did you ever take into account taking part in in a extra open area like an alternate universe?
Meghan Fitzmartin: It’s been a dream come true [laughs]. Having the ability to work with these characters who’ve meant the entire world to me my entire life is at all times the dream. Characters like Batman and Tim Drake find yourself being so impactful in our lives, and it’s why we get into telling tales within the first place.
I really like taking part in in multiverses, and I’m very eager on the exploration of assorted story components you are able to do when in that area. For me, the very best match is in the end on a story-by-story foundation, and different components of a personality may very well be utilized in a extra playful aspect. However with Tim’s popping out, we very a lot needed it to be in the principle continuity. With that character’s previous [queer-coded] historical past, we needed to make sure there was no query of his id.
io9: Multiverses are such a factor in Large Two comics, particularly these days. What multiverse tales have had an impact on you?
Fitzmartin: The primary time I ever learn a multiverse comedian was the Avengers/JLA comedian [from 2003], after which I’ve learn all of the Crises on numerous Infinites. One of many issues that was extremely impactful for me was really this TV present known as The Misplaced World, based mostly on the 1912 novel from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. It’s basically all about multiverses, and I believe that turned the place to begin for my fascination with them.
io9: Is that love of multiverses what drew you to Justice League x RWBY?
Fitzmartin: I got here to the film from the RWBY aspect of issues, really. The query with multiverses plenty of the time is, “What have we not seen? What’s the fascinating [or new] factor?” I used to be actually excited by the thought of seeing a extra anime model of the Justice League. There’s nothing new underneath the solar, however we get an opportunity to do one thing cool and fascinating that’s this aspect of latest.
Earlier than the film, I didn’t know something about it, partially as a result of I knew that I’d be obsessive about it. With the whole lot I’d heard about it, I knew that I couldn’t let it devour me fairly but. Then in December 2020, my producer Jim Krieg reached out asking me if I knew something about RWBY, and I informed him, “Give me two weeks, and I’ll know the whole lot about RWBY.” I used to be simply ready for the proper time for somebody to inform me I wanted to comprehend it so I may correctly dive in and mainline it.
io9: This film got here out not lengthy after RWBY’s ninth season ended. Do you know what the writers had deliberate for season 9, and the way did that have an effect on the way you wrote the film in any respect?
Fitzmartin: I used to be conscious of some plans—I requested inquiries to [showrunner and writer] Kerry [Shawcross], simply so I knew the place the characters had been going. And it completely wasn’t as a result of I needed to find out about sure favourite characters [laughs]. Having the ability to pull from plenty of stuff that the characters had been grappling with in quantity 9, we had been capable of present clear proof of those emotions the characters had been having within the film. Whereas there’s hints for sure characters, it’s one thing you particularly see with Ruby. Lindsay [Jones] does a great job of portraying her, and that wrestle with management is so human and weak. Understanding what was coming in quantity 9, with the ability to play into it was actually enjoyable.
io9: Because you got here into RWBY so late within the present’s lifecycle, did you’ve any particular objectives with the film to usher in individuals who know the Justice League, however not RWBY?
Fitzmartin: Largely, it labored out in my favor that I used to be newer to the present’s lore. I may are available in, take a look at the items that I didn’t know, and mess around with it. Working with [series writers] Kerry Shawcross and Eddy Rivas helped so much with that as nicely. Such as you stated, most folk know Justice League, however they won’t know RWBY. For me, with the ability to play in that world and have the ability to invite JL followers like I used to be invited in was a part of the enjoyable. That present’s world was so enjoyable to discover, so I needed to attempt to categorical that with this film.
Justice League x RWBY is impressed by a DC miniseries. Once I do variations, the significance for me is discovering the twist on the story we haven’t seen earlier than. I’m not concerned with retelling a narrative again and again, and I don’t need to step on the unique creators’ toes. Comics and animation are two totally different mediums; I’ve the acute privilege of working in each. There’s issues that work in comics that don’t work in animation and vice-versa, so it’s just like multiverses. You’re capable of play within the multiverses that absolutely match the story that you simply’re attempting to hit.
Justice League x RWBY: Tremendous Heroes and Huntsmen, Half One is offered now on Blu-ray/DVD and digital within the U.S.
Need extra io9 information? Take a look at when to anticipate the most recent Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s subsequent for the DC Universe on film and TV, and the whole lot it’s good to find out about the way forward for Doctor Who.
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