Westfield: Each issue of Fallen Son features a different lead character and they're also each drawn by a different artist. Who are drawing the issues and who are the featured characters? Was the artist chosen based on who the lead is in each issue?

Jeph Loeb: Marvel has put together an amazing roster of talent for these stories. We worked together to put teams who would best suit not only the lead character (because other heroes will be guest starring), but could tell the heart of the story as well. One writer (me) and five artists. It's kind of delightful really and hits home with the way I like to tell stories.

So we have Leinil Yu featuring Wolverine in #1; Ed McGuinness featuring The Mighty Avengers and The New Avengers in #2; John Romita Jr. & Klaus Janson featuring Captain America in #3; Dave Finch featuring Spider-Man in #4 and...

... I'm not allowed to talk about #5... yet!

Westfield: What challenges did the rotating lead and artists present for you?

Loeb: Like any story I am telling, I try and create toward an artist's strengths. I would not tell the same story with Leinil that I would with McGuinness - even having different characters. And given the emotional bend to each tale, it really helps that there will be different artistic "voices" to inspire me!

Westfield: Do the issues stand on their own or is this all one big story?

Loeb: They are each separate stories, but it has a natural progression. Give the A+ level of talent working on this - I hope the readers will want to read all five - it's going to be sweet!

Westfield: The description for the first issue, which features Wolverine, says the story begins with the death, or apparent death, of a prominent Marvel character. What more can you say about the story in the series?

Loeb: Again, I can't go into specifics about the who and the how, but it is a story about Grief. JMS (in his own brilliant way) suggested that we break the story into the "Five Stages" that many people believe one experiences in dealing with the death of a loved one. Denial (Wolverine): Anger (Avengers); Bargaining (Cap); Depression (Spidey) and Acceptance (??? :))

And since I think most of the readers out in Marveldom know that I have recent experience with this process - and very much wish I never had - (Editor's note: tragically, Jeph lost his 17 year old son Sam last year to cancer - Sam was beloved by the comic book community and his loss is still felt strongly among their friends) - when we decided this was a story that had to be told, I talked to Dan Buckley and Joe Quesada and said I had to tell it. They agreed.

Westfield: Are there any other projects you're working on that you'd like to mention?

Loeb: Well, now that 2007 is finally here, there's a whole bunch of stuff that has been on the burner cooking and will be ready to flavor! By the time you read this, we'll be wrapping up Onslaught Reborn with Rob Liefeld - which in its own way will cross into elements of Civil War and Fallen Son (!) - and Wolverine with Simone Bianchi telling the biggest, fattest ol' fight with Sabretooth and Wolverine!

Then... as the year progresses... all I can say is Ultimates. Joe Mad. It's wild!

Westfield: Any closing comments?

Loeb: Just that I really appreciate Marvel encouraging me to tell these stories. When I heard about the incidents that bring about the end of Civil War and the tremendous ripple effect it has on the Marvel U, I very much wanted to be a part of that. I think most folks know that I will always be a fan first and a writer second, so being able to tell this story is something that as a reader I would want to see. I hope everybody out there in Marveldom agrees!