Fear of Flight: Fred Van Lente Talks ‘Alpha Flight’ in Fear Itself

Writer Fred Van Lente on the return of Alpha Flight

Special to Daily P.O.P. By Gary M. Miller

Fear Itself, Marvel Comics’ summer event, is full of surprises, from the identities of some of those receiving magical hammers, to the extent of its many crossovers. One of the biggest shocks, however, is seeing John Byrne’s team of Canadian heroes, Alpha Flight, freshly resurrected and ready to face the public in a brand new, nine-issue limited series beginning this week with issue #0.1.

Written by Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente (Incredible Hercules) and drawn by Ben Oliver (Ultimate X-Men) and Dale Eaglesham (Incredible Hulks), this series will be a main focus of the “Fear Itself” event. Recently, I talked with co-writer Van Lente about the project, and he revealed some interesting details.

DAILY P.O.P.: First question: Whaa? Alpha Flight’s alive? How the heck did this happen?

FRED VAN LENTE: Chaos War happened. In return for the service in the climactic battle, Skyfather Hercules resurrected Guardian, Vindicator, Marrina and Shaman — and a few others, it seems. We don’t learn who everyone is until a few issues into the series.

DP: For those who don’t know, who are Alpha Flight, and what’s happening in their world as the series begins?

Cover to Alpha Flight #2

FVL: They are the folks I mentioned above, [and] along with Northstar, Aurora, Snowbird and Sasquatch (who never died in the first place) are the official super hero team of an entire nation–Canada, to be exact. When we first see them in the Point-One issue they are back and the beloved pride of their nation–but elections have consequences. Nations change.

What happens to a government-run super hero team when their government turns against them?

DP: Good question. What’s your exposure to Alpha Flight’s previous adventures? Any favorite characters among the bunch?

FVL: I’ve been a huge fan since the original series. Alpha Flight v1 #5, with the Puck cover, was one of the first comics I remember buying right off the spinner rack as a kid. At the moment I’m really enjoying writing Guardian and Marrina, two characters who need a personality infusion that Greg and I are doing our best to provide.

DP: How and why did you and Greg Pak get involved in this new miniseries?

FVL: They’re one of my favorite Marvel titles, particularly from when I was a kid, and I included members from everything from X-Men Noir to me and Greg’s first co-writing stint, Incredible Hercules. When we first started plotting Chaos War we realized that we had an opportunity to resurrect Alpha Flight and Marvel asked us if we wanted to helm the new series.

DP: What makes now the perfect time to bring back the team?

FVL: The events of “Fear Itself” have a worldwide impact and there’s no bigger example of that [than] in Alpha Flight. Whenever a global calamity happens, people are frightened, and those in power can exploit that power for their own ends. One of the major leaders of political parties in Canada is former Alpha Flight liaison Gary Cody. Mac and Heather Hudson, the husband-and-wife leaders of AF, think they can trust him — perhaps they me even underestimate him a bit. But when a Hammer Wielder attacks a major city, they soon learn how wrong they are…

DP: Gary Cody? Mac’s Department H buddy who got his brain fried after freeing Bedlam (in Alpha Flight #52)? You got some ‘splainin’ to do, Lucy!

FVL: Oh yes, we’re well aware of that. Almost seems like…well, like there’s something fishy going on with this Cody guy, huh?

DP: Speaking of older characters, where the heck is Puck–the one popular member of the ‘Flight not seen on the first covers?

FVL: Hmmm… Have you seen the variant cover to AF #2?

DP: I’m sure everyone will see it now! What’s different about this new series compared to the previous relaunches? (Seagle, Lobdell, Oeming)

FVL: For the first time since their creation in the pages of X-MEN, really, the original Alpha Flight is back and facing their greatest challenge, together, as a team. Nobody is dead, the team isn’t dispersed, so really this is a reboot that is going back to the original premise for the very first time.

DP: Alpha returned in Chaos War, an event you and Greg Pak spearheaded. They’re now in this miniseries which ties into Matt Fraction & Stuart Immonen’s Fear Itself. What are the challenges of fitting into the framework of (someone else’s) larger event, and advantages if any?

FVL: I think you look at opportunities to how that framework can best tell your story, and in Alpha Flight we’ve definitely been able to do that.

What this really is is a political thriller wrapped in an action-packed superhero adventure. It’s a complete deviation for me and Greg from Incredible Hercules and a brave new, unique start for Alpha Flight — not to mention a perfect jumping on point for no one who knows anything about the team.

DP: And that about wraps it up. Thanks for taking the time to talk with us, Fred!

ALPHA FLIGHT #0.1 is on sale Wednesday, May 18.

ALPHA FLIGHT #1 goes on sale Wednesday, June 8.

To find a comic book store near you, call 1-888-COMIC-BOOK or visit comicshoplocator.com.

Special preview of Alpha Flight #0.1, 1 and 2

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