SLUGFEST - INSIDE THE EPIC, 50 YEAR BATTLE BETWEEN MARVEL & DC

Throughout the years there have been many different climactic battles. To name but a few this includes such notable skirmishes as David verses Goliath, Muhammad Ali verses George Foreman, and lets not forget Donald Trump verses his own hairstyle. But, more importantly than that, none has been so brazen than the battle between Marvel and DC Comics. Thankfully my mate Reed Tucker has been able to capture this in book form, and now he's more than willing to tell you all about it. So Reed, it's now over to you, pal.


Reed Tucker On Amazon


1) Tell us a little bit about yourself, Reed?   I'm a journalist living in New York City, and for the last ten years, I've covered entertainment for the New York Post. I'm a big fan of superhero movies and some comic books -- though I don't read Marvel or DC superhero comics. I much prefer Saga, The Walking Dead, Criminal, and other indie books.

2) What inspired you to create, ‘Slugfest: Inside the Epic, 50-Year Battle between Marvel and DC’?   I really like college basketball and previously wrote a book about the rivalry between Duke and the University of North Carolina (my alma mater). I like rivalries because they're inherently interesting. The conflict is baked right in.

I've been aware of the Marvel / DC divide since I was a child. Growing up in the 1970s and '80s, kids were always having arguments about which group of superheroes was the best. God knows how many hours and brain cells have been expended over the decades pondering whether Thor could beat up Superman.

The idea for Slugfest really crystalized a few years ago when DC threatened to release Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice on the same day as Captain America: Civil War. It was pretty clear from the fan reaction that the Marvel vs. DC rivalry was very much alive and well. 

3) In your own words how would you describe this book?   It's a fun, breezy account of the Marvel-DC rivalry told via interviews with those who worked in the comic book and movie industries. For more than 50 years, Marvel and DC have been pretty much the only players in the superhero business and they've been locked in a fierce battle for dollars and the hearts and minds of fans. At times the feud has gotten ugly, with both companies publicly sniping at each other, borrowing ideas, and stealing employees. Now with superhero movies such big business, the rivalry, if anything, has ramped up. I try to cover the whole history of the rivalry, from its beginnings in the early 1960s to the present day, when a movie starring a talking raccoon can earn nearly three quarters of a billion dollars.

4) What song do you think would best represent this book and why?   "Why Can't We Be Friends" by War, because the industry has always been and remains somewhat small and insular, the people who work in it are often friends. Over the years, there's been a lot of crossover between the two companies, with employees moving back and forth. So the rivalry is one that's really driven by the corporate level and the need to compete in the marketplace, as opposed to the rank-and-file level. 

5) If you could get a celebrity – either living or dead – to promote your wares, who would you choose, and why would you want to choose this particular person?   It would have to be the legendary Marvel artist, Jack Kirby, who co-created much of the Marvel universe back in the 1960s. He has never really gotten the recognition he deserves, in part, because he died in 1994 before superheroes took over pop culture, and because his longtime writer and editor, Stan Lee, is still alive and far more publicity-friendly than Jack ever was. Kirby is a real lynchpin of the DC vs. Marvel story, and I wish I could have interviewed him. If he'd given his stamp of approval to my book, I'd know I did a good job. 

6) During your time in this field, what is the one thing that has kept you in good stead?   Learning to interview people. It's a skill not only to ask the right questions but also to get people to speak to you in the first place. I think over my career I've learned a lot in both areas. I'm very aware that if the people I interviewed for Slugfest had not been so generous, there would be no book. I try not to lose sight of that.

7) If you had a personal motto, what would it be?   Write what you'd personally be interested in reading.

And on that note, I'd like to thank Reed for telling us about his new book, 'Slugfest: Inside the Epic, 50-Year Battle between Marvel and DC', before directing you towards his twitter and Amazon pages. And while you're at it, don't forget to pick up a copy via the Little Brown Book Group online store. It's available in trade paperback from the 21st of September, 2017, and it's priced at £14.99.