Interview: Amy Chu on Dynamite’s Green Hornet

Green Hornet #1 Mike Choi Cover

Green Hornet #1 Mike Choi Cover


Amy Chu has written such comics as Poison Ivy: Cycle of Life and Death, KISS, Red Sonja, and many others. Now she turns her attention to the Green Hornet; specifically Kevin Smith’s modern version, for a new series from Dynamite. Westfield’s Roger Ash caught up with Chu to learn more about what’s in store.

Westfield: What is the appeal of the series for you?

Amy Chu: If you think about it, the Green Hornet was created 1936, three years before Batman. It was a HUGE success for years on radio and TV. Britt Reid has the wealth of Bruce Wayne, the cool car, the cool weapons — everything the Bat has. But what makes it really interesting as a writer are the layers- the Green Hornet’s public persona is a VILLAIN, basically an undercover HERO, in order to infiltrate the criminal underworld. I don’t know why every writer in comics wouldn’t want to write Green Hornet.

Green Hornet #1 Carli Ihde cover

Green Hornet #1 Carli Ihde cover


Westfield: The new Green Hornet is Kato’s daughter, Mulan. When creating this new version of the character, what did you keep from the original and what new elements did you bring in?

Chu: I don’t want to reveal too much this early, but I’m trying to keep the spirit of the prior series but also build off of the most recent Kevin Smith series. I want to bring some noir feel back to the stories. The movie was a bit slapstick for my personal taste, but I liked the martial arts. I’m bringing a lot more fighting! Okay, seriously, my priorities are to build out the characters more and introduce some new technology into the Green Hornet arsenal. Also, in the Green Hornet universe, there’s so much room to create new villains that hasn’t been fully exploited yet, am I right?

Green Hornet #1 Mike McKone cover

Green Hornet #1 Mike McKone cover


Westfield: What can you tell us about the story and who are some of the other characters involved?

Chu: This a story about generations and change. I think you can see from the previews, Britt Jr. is missing, possibly kidnapped, possibly dead, and it falls on Kato and Mulan to figure out the mystery of his disappearance, and at the same time what to do on the public front with the family business, and the Green Hornet legacy. The challenges facing the Daily Sentinel media empire also play a big role in the story. You’re going to see a lot of familiar characters, and some new ones…

Westfield: Even though there are changes to the character and in the setting, do you think this story will still appeal to long-time fans of Green Hornet?

Chu: It’s certainly important to me. I feel my job and challenge is to make current fans happy, but also bring in a whole new generation of fans. If I can’t win more Green Hornet fans with this run, I haven’t succeeded. I have the additional pressure of making a whole lot of relatives happy. The Green Hornet TV series was wildly popular in Hong Kong in the ’60s because of Bruce Lee as my parents like to remind me…

Green Hornet #1 CP Wilson III cover

Green Hornet #1 CP Wilson III cover


Westfield: You’re working with artist German Erramouspe on the series. What can you say about your collaboration?

Chu: German’s got this dark, edgy side to his art, but he’s really funny and fun to work with. Right now we are hashing out the details on the design of our supervillain and it’s a really great time.

Westfield: Any closing comments?

Chu: Just please put this on your pull list. If you liked my run on Red Sonja and Poison Ivy, you’re really going to enjoy this too!

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