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HEROES: So you've just taken over as EIC at 2099 Underground?
DoomScribe: I am now the head honcho, the big kahuna, lord, master, chief executioner.
H: What plans do you have for the 2099UG?
DS: My primary goal is to make available some of the best, most creative, most original fan fiction stories available anywhere on the Net. The job of EIC isn't so much a General as it is a Shepherd. The Flock is going to do whatever the flock it wants . . . I'm just here to make sure they all go in the same direction and don't get turned into lamb chopsalong the way.
H: What initially attracted you to Marvel's 2099 series?
DS: Marvel 2099 was first and foremost an interesting take on the Marvel Universe, in that it was part of the regular Marvel Universe, but it was all new. I love science fiction, and the futuristic setting was also very cool, and very well thought out. And finally, because Doom was there. . . well, let's just say I had a vested interest in making sure that Doom was represented well.
H: How did you get involved with 2099 UG and fan fiction in general?
DS: I stumbled upon the 2099 message board over on AOL in March of '96, only to find out that the 2099 titles were headed for cancellation, and Joey Cavalieri (Marvel 2099 EIC), had been fired. So my introduction to the group was kinda depressing in a sense, like I was coming in on the tail end of it. The people on the boards were great though. There was this great sense of camaraderie, and they were an interesting group of intelligent thinkers who were all really ticked off that Joey Cavalieri had been treated the way he had and that Marvel was abandoning the books. All of the 2099 books started to go downhill really fast after that, and we started talking on the boards about making a fanzine with our own stories and art based on the 2099 Universe. I started writing for the 2099 UG with a Doom story, a limited series that was sort of in between regular issues. At the time, another writer was tentatively going to be writing the Doom title. Nothing ever really came of his work. By the time I'd finished "The Beckoning" story line of Doom 2099 UG, the group was well on its way and the rest was history. My Doom story was fairly well received, and no one else was going to take on Doom 2099 UG, and since I'm fairly well qualified to pen the great Lord Doom, the title was mine!
H: Do you write any other fan fiction?
DS: No. The 2099 UG and writing on Doom pretty much keeps me busy. My Doom stories have been described as mini-novels unto themselves.
H: Do you have any advice to anyone potential fanfic writers out there?
DS: The thing people don't often realize, is that the idea portion of stories is very exciting and even intoxicating in a way. But the actual writing down of stories in a cohesive and entertaining manner, is hard work. Writing is real work, and just saying, "I have this great idea . . ." isn't going to cut it. You have to be able to write it as well. As an editor and as a fan fiction group, we want you to write that story, but you have to write it yourself, and put in the sweat. No one is going to take your great idea and do it for you, because they have ideas of their own that they want to write. To be a good writer, you have to have certain skills but you also have to have a dedication to your craft. I believe that everyone can acquire these skills, and that with practice and work, that they can be a good writer. And a writer of fanfic is only going to improve upon his/her skills, because we have a forum that encourages writing and also allows for the writer to have their work judged and appreciated by a group of their peers. And once a writer meets these challenges of crafting stories, and learns what it takes and what they have to do to create interesting and entertaining stories, then the whole thing opens up. They could become a good writer in any forum they want to pursue, be it comic books or any other venue.
H: Can anyone submit ideas to the 2099 UG?
DS: I'm actively looking for new writers (and new readers) for the 2099 UG! We have a new forum, in 2099 TALES, where the continuity is going to be a lot looser, and this is a really great place for new writers, writers from other groups, and old writers as well to test the waters!Along with 2099 Unlimited, and 2099 What if . . ? , 2099 TALES will be a great place to try out one or two issue stories and really get jazzed about writing for the greatest fan fic group out there! Any writer wanting to jump on boardneeds to check out our submission guidelines, which are available on the website at http://members.xoom.com/Ghostworks
H: How is 2099 UG different to other fanfic groups out there?
DS: We were one of, if not the, First comic book fan fiction groups on the 'Net, starting back in '96 and still going strong. We have a very dedicated core group of members (many of whom try to leave, but keep coming back time and time again!), and people who are committed to keeping the world of 2099 alive, despite Marvel's attempts to derail it. And with the future as our canvas, the possibilities for stories are truly endless.
H: What's coming soon from 2099 UG? Any hints?
DS: There's a new one shot coming out from our former EIC, the esteemed Jason C. Smith, which will reorganize the political and social structure of the United States and their megacorps in 2099 entitled 2099: Tomorrow Anew. This one shot will have repercussions throughout all of the 2099 books, with one-shots from each of the main titles that will shake up the status quo, yet bring us closer together. Also great ideas are coming out with a new AVENGERS 2099 title, and continuing stories in Spider-Man, Thor, Nomad, Hulk, Union and Tales of the Chicago Reserve! Just to mention a few.
H: What's the best thing about 2099 UG?
DS: I think the best thing about 2099 UG, is that we have something to offer just about everyone. We have superheroes, horror, X-men, biggreen monsters, political intrigue, even a little romance. It's a very diverse offering, and whereas it's a challenge as an editor to hold the group together, it's exciting as a reader to have so much quality work to choose from. There's no one storyline out there that I can say is right for everyone, but I'm certain that there is something that is right for you!
H: Thank you very much DoomScribe.
DS: You're welcome! The Future . . . is ours!
For more information and everything connected to the 2099 Underground, check out their website: http://members.xoom.com/Ghostworks
