INTERVIEW: KATHRYN IMMONEN ON MARVEL’S X-MEN: PIXIE STRIKES BACK

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X-Men: Pixie Strikes Back

Kathryn Immonen has written such books as never As bad As you Think, Runaways, and Patsy Walker: Hellcat. This month she tells a story of one of Marvel’s mutants in X-Men: Pixie Strikes Back. Westfield’s Roger Ash recently contacted Immonen to learn a lot more about this book.

Westfield: What is there about Pixie that attracted you to this project?

Kathryn Immonen: To be honest, I was fortunate enough again to be asked to pitch something for Pixie. I know that Nick Lowe’s been keen to get a tiny going for her for a while and I’m thrilled to be on board. and while I’m being brutally honest… it took some time to warm up to the little darling. She appeared to be, by and large, a character with a dearth of conflict. She has this bothersome quality of being relentlessly up beat and even though she’s actually missing part of her soul, it didn’t seem to bother her particularly. but there is something enticing about how her mutant powers seem to crisscross the limits between mutant and magic and she also has this delightful tendency to just kind of, uh, snap her twig. Which I’m not convinced is entirely down to her being the caretaker of the soul dagger.

Westfield: What can you tell us about X-Men: Pixie Strikes Back? who are some of the characters involved and can you tell us anything about the story?

Immonen: The short answer is that it’s a girls’ night out gone terribly, horrifyingly wrong and that’s ‘wrong’ with a capital ‘OH MY GOD’. It centers around Pixie, X-23, Mercury, Hisako and Blindfold. I like them very much as a group of something a lot more than friends, a lot more like sisters… though rather a lot more Borgia than Bennet. The real questions we’re asking, and answering, revolve around just who are Pixie’s parents and, believe me, it goes a long way toward describing her powers and her behaviour. and while it’s hardly good news for Pixie, it is quite delicious.

Westfield: You’re working with artist Sara Pichelli on the book, who you also worked with on Runaways. What can you tell us about your collaboration and what you find she brings to the book?

Immonen: I couldn’t be happier or luckier than to have Sara on this book. I don’t honestly have a lot of contact with her but really, it’s kind of my preference. I like so much to be surprised. She did say that she was seeking to try some different things on this mini-series and, from all the pages I’ve seen so far, it just looks so fantastic. It still looks like Sara but really seems purpose developed for this project.

Westfield: It’s not that common to have a two women be the creators of mainstream comic starring a woman. Do you think that makes a difference – or a difference in this story – or does the gender of the character matter that much to you as a writer?

Immonen: What can I say. It’s a terrific time to be a female designer at Marvel. and while you’re ideal that the makeup of our team (and let’s not forget wonderful colorist Christina Strain) is uncommon, I think it’s the product of available talent not intent. In my experience, individual editors at marvel are ready and ready to champion creators and I am very grateful for the opportunities which have come my way. I’m not sure what difference, if any, gender makes on a generalized level. I can only speak for myself, but frankly, I find every character tough and challenging and terrific and infuriating.

Westfield: how much does this book tie-in with the rest of the X-Men books?

Immonen: It’s absolutely a part of what’s going on with continuity and impacts not only the girls but also particularly involves Emma, Nightcrawler, Psylocke…. uh, Rockslide and Anole.

Westfield: are there any other jobs you’re working on that you’d like to mention?

Immonen: Boy, would I! I can’t just yet but there are big, terrific plans coming up.

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X-Men: Pixie Strikes Back

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