"Rogue" series info from the writer

[retro_eidas]

Robert Rodi - writer of the upcoming "Rogue" series - has a new thread over at Comix X-Fan and is answering questions about "Rogue" and some of the other series he's done.

I admit I'm coming at this with a very moderate comics knowledge, but it does sound sort of interesting to me. I do know Rogue's past has been highly elusive for almost as long as she's existed, but then what the hell do I know from a good or bad comics story?

In regards to the visuals, devildoll posted the preview for "Rogue" here. It looks good... but what about the story?

For our purposes, all we know of Rogue's past is that she grew up in Caldecott County, Mississippi, and her mutant powers manifested themselves in early adolescence when she kissed her first boyfriend, Cody Roberts, absorbing so much of his life essence that he was left in a coma. Traumatized, she ran away from home, took the name Rogue, and was adopted by Mystique and Destiny.

We'll now get the full scoop on Rogue's parents -- who they were, and how they raised her. It's all very Southern Gothic. Think Tennessee Williams crossed with David Lynch. And a terrible family secret will be revealed that will alter the course of Rogue's life -- at least in her own series -- for some time to come.

Also, there'll be some troubles with Gambit, brought on by a big change he undergoes in X-Men, and fomented by a new character Rogue encounters in our first arc, who's unlike anyone she's ever met before.

Okay, that's enough p.r. for today. Haven't even had my coffee yet.

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No plans to feature Nightcrawler -- nor any other X-Men after the first issue (except occasionally Gambit). In general I'd like Rogue's book to follow the example set by Wolverine's: it's her book, for her solo adventures outside the world of the X-Men.

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There are no immediate plans to guest-star Mystique, though I wouldn't rule it out entirely. As for breaking up Rogue and Gambit ... what fun would that be, when I can keep them together and continue torturing them? (And not just me. Something happens in X-Men that throws a wrench in their love life. I just throw in another wrench. And a screwdriver. And a power saw. And an outboard motor.) **Note from me: I heard a rumor, no clue on it's validity, that there was going to be some major change coming for Gambit (in Uncanny I think?) that would drastically effect his place in the X-Men and relationship with Rogue. I assume this is what Rodi is referring to here. Perhaps my more learned comics friends can enlighten me?**

As for my familiarity with Rogue: I can remember reading her first appearance in Avengers Annual #10, and being intrigued by her then. So yes, we go way back.

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She'll be in costume in #1, but thereafter I'm adamant about having her in civvies. As I said earlier, Wolverine's book is my template. And Rogue will be operating very far outside the aegis of the X-Men, so the costume won't be appropriate anyway.

Plus, girlfriend looks good in couture!

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And some of the things Rogue has said about her early life are lies (being orphaned, for one thing), which she invented for many complex reasons.

To clarify: the early life we'll be examining involves Rogue's childhood, before her powers developed, before she ran away from home, and before she met Mystique.

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I won't be using "Ah" or "sugah" or anything like that -- those are perfectly acceptable shorthand for making Rogue stand out in a group book, but in her own series I don't think it's necessary, and might even be intrusive. Ditto Gambit -- we'll be mainstreaming his dialogue as well, trying just to keep a Cajun rhythm and an occasional phonetic spelling. **Note from me: Can I say I'm really interested in this? I was never big on all the southern euphemisms bounced between Rogue and Gambit in the few comics I've read them in. So I welcome the loss of the 'ah's and 'sugah's. Then again, as only a lukewarm comics fan, that might be sacreligious for me to say.**

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I like Rogue & Gambit's relationship fine, but at this point you have to ask: Where can it go? After they've had all these months of perfect bliss? Events in X-MEN are going to shake up their happiness; I'm going to shake it up even more. As to whether they'll break up -- that's not entirely up to me. But interesting times are a-comin'.

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The reason Rogue can't control her power, IMHO, is that it really isnt' a power per se -- it's a condition. When you touch a boiling tea kettle, can you "control" being burned by it?...Neither can Rogue control what happens when she touches another human being.

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I'm adamant about the no-costume policy. Wolverine doesn't wear one in his book, and Rogue won't either. And like Wolverine, Rogue is visually distinctive without a costume (thanks to that white streak in her hair).

Additionally, she'll be traveling around the south, going undercover to investigate certain things (can't tell you what -- it'd be a spoiler) and wearing a super-hero costume would be ridiculous in that context. It would also be misleading, because it's an X-Men costume and she'll be operating far outside the X-Men's sphere.

Personally, I think there's much more to Rogue than a costume, and that's where our focus will be. This will not be about Rogue's "day off." This will be about a very personal mission Rogue takes on, independent of the X-Men, which she pursues with a vengeance. It will carry her through her entire series, whether it lasts 10 or 100 issues. With luck, it will establish her as a solo star, like Wolverine; if not, then we'll still have some fun along the way.

I'm also deliberately striving for a different tone than MYSTIQUE or EMMA FROST because I don't want to duplicate those books; and if that means I edge away from super-heroism to a more gothic/supernatural approach, I'm aware that this won't please everyone. But it seems to me the way to go. The X-Franchise doesn't have a book in that genre, so I'm giving it one.

I was probably going to buy this in any case just for the pretty pictures, but the story itself doesn't sound too bad.