The Returning: Exclusive Preview Pages and Interview with Jason Starr

Last month, BOOM! Studios announced The Returning, a new comic book series where people who have near-death experiences come back "changed." After checking out the first issue, I wanted Daily Dead readers to learn more about this series, so not only do we have a couple of preview pages, but an exclusive Q&A with Jason Starr, who tells us how this series came to be and where it's heading:

The Returning revolves around people who come back changed after near-death experiences or NDE's. What was the inspiration behind this concept and how long have you been developing this story?

Jason Starr: Andrea Mutti and I wanted to work together and we kicked around ideas for a long time and ultimately refined the idea for “The Returning.” Yes, it’s about NDE’s and people who come back changed, but ultimately it’s a much bigger story, with bigger themes. We knew it was high concept and could be very cool but it was matter of figuring out how exactly to tell the story and this took some time, and we also got some great input on this from the editorial staff at Boom. I’ve written many crime novels and comics, but this, in many ways, is a new direction for me, and that was what appealed to me most from a writing standpoint. I love mixing things up creatively, challenging myself, working in different genres. There’s a big mystery and thriller element to this story, but it also had a dystopian theme, which is something I haven’t done before, but have wanted to.

Have you done a good bit of research on people who experience NDE's? Have you found that there are instances where a near death experience drastically changes someone or drives them to murder?

Jason Starr: In general, I’m not into doing a lot of research for my writing. Some writers thrive on it, but for me I’m much more effective when I rely on my imagination. Of course if I have to include something very technical, I’ll do the research to make sure I get it right, but I like to keep this to a bare minimum. So the concept of “The Returning” isn’t based on research, but I’ve also been fascinated with NDE’s, and the many possible explanations. It’s a concept that, by definition, can go in many different directions, and has built in mystery and intrigue. I don’t know of a specific case when someone returned changed in the way we describe in this story, but with NDE’s anything is impossible.

The first issue of The Returning tells us that something is happening to those who come back, but it doesn't tell us when it started or offer an explanation to why it happens? Is this something you'll ever fully explain?

Jason Starr: Yep, everything will get explained…in time. As Beth learns about it, we learn about it.

Is the plan for The Returning to be a limited or ongoing series? At this point, how many issues do you have planned out?

Jason Starr: It’s a limited monthly series—4 issues. So these 4 issues will stand alone as a story, but we totally see this a story that could continue and/or go in other directions as an ongoing series.

The first issue focuses on Beth Turner, a teenager who we first see getting ready for her prom. Can you tell our readers about why you decided on Beth as the focal point of the story?

Jason Starr: This is a big, high concept story, and to tell it effectively in 4 issues we decided it would be best to narrow the point of view. I loved the idea of telling this sort of discovery story from the point of view of a teenager. Beth is at the point in her life when she’s undergoing a lot of change, self-discovery, and then her NDE takes her way over the top. While at first it might seem random that Beth is the focus, there is a big dramatic reason why it’s her—and why it can only be her—but this is part of the big reveal of the series and I won’t give it away.

Will Beth always be at the center of this story or will the focus switch to other characters in future arcs?

Jason Starr: Beth is the total focus of this mini-series. If it goes beyond 4 issues other characters will take center stage.

You're working with Andrea Mutti on this series and I think that his art style is a great match for this type of series. Can you talk about working together and your creative process? Has his concepts changed the way you're writing any of the stories/characters or the way you see this world?

Jason Starr: Andrea is a co-creator of the series, and he’s had a big vision for the story from the very beginning. He’s been excited about this project for a long time and has been sending me lots of character sketches, sometimes in the middle of the night. He is incredibly passionate about this book in particular, which is awesome. We also talked a lot about the big set pieces in the story, the action sequences. So this gave me a big head start. As I’m writing I already have a sense of how it’s going to look on the page. Vladimir Popov is an amazing colorist, we’re lucky to have him, and he’s done a great job enhancing Andrea’s art.

Can you give our readers a little tease of what they can expect from the next issues?

Jason Starr: There’s a lot more world building ahead. We found out more about the Changers, NDE’s, and the mysterious man who seems to be Beth’s only ally. There’s also a big murder mystery that’s a big focus of this story and a lot of twisted shit happens, but I won't give anything away!

"It’s the near future, and some people who have had Near-Death Experiences have come back "changed." They exhibit extreme behavioral changes, becoming increasingly paranoid and violent, and no one knows why. People who have had NDE's fall immediately under suspicion, and in some cases, are murdered by justice-seeking vigilantes. It is in this world where Beth, a quiet high school student with a bright future, will learn just how quickly friends and family will turn on her when she has the bad luck of surviving the worst night of her life...

THE RETURNING #1 arrives in comic shops on March 12th with a cover price of $3.99 under Diamond order code JAN140992."