Although I was introduced to Adam Glass through his fearless handling of Harley Quinn and King Shark in SUICIDE SQUAD, many know him for SUPERNATURAL episodes, like the recent “As Time Goes By”—widely seen as a new beginning for the still-popular television series. At the DC booth over Comic-Con weekend, Glass could hardly be found without two men by his side: Robbie Thompson, fellow writer for SUPERNATURAL, and Aidan, Glass’s enthusiastic son.|
Famous Monsters. I’m going to ask the predictable question first. Having written in both mediums, how does writing for comics differ from writing for television, and do you prefer one over the other?
Adam Glass. I think telling a good story is all that matters. The only difference is in the pacing. In some ways, comics and TV are very similar because you’re telling the story in a certain amount of time. An issue is like an episode. So when you’re doing a story arc, you give a little bit but stretch it out over the course of the book, just like you would on a TV show. I dig both a lot. I like both a lot.
Robbie Thompson. What he said!
FM. Fair enough. Any plans to return to comics any time soon?
RT. Yes, please!
AG. Only if it’s a Robdam comic.
RT. I would love to. I’ve only done a little bit in comics, but I’m trying to peer pressure him into it. I like reading his books.
FM. As do I! I thought your run on SUICIDE SQUAD was great.
AG. Thank you so much. I think I’m at that point in my life when I want to enjoy my kids as much as I can, and I would do a comic if it were a character that we loved! [to his son Aidan] If they came at me with Batman or Daredevil, it’d be hard to say no. But I’d have to love it.
FM. I remember we had a conversation once about dealing with fangirl anger over the whole Harley Quinn hooking up with Deadshot thing. As we all know, SUPERNATURAL fans are just as crazy!
AG. Crazy cool…
RT. Passionate! I say passionate. We don’t want them to come after us. [laughs]
FM. What’s your attitude in approaching storytelling, knowing that you’re taking on these characters that people are so invested in? It probably doesn’t scare you at all, does it?
RT. Personally, I think it’s inspiring. You want to write something that people care about. In the case of SUPERNATURAL, people just love the show. Sometimes you write something and you’re like, wow, they are definitely going to react… either positively or negatively… but their reaction to watching means they’re invested. I find it inspiring. It’s exciting.
AG. It just shows how much the fans care. If they care that much, be it positive or negative, the fact that they’re still reading or watching it means something. I agree with Robbie on that.
FM. Cool! So I have a note here. Someone I know is obsessed with SUPERNATURAL, and she told me to ask about the “Samulet”.
RT. [laughs] Excuse me! I think you mean the Robulet, because I am now in possession of it.
AG. He’s wearing it right now!
RT. I’m wearing it. I can’t show it to you for legal reasons. [laughs] … and for reasons.
FM. For reasons!
RT. We get a lot of tweets about bringing the Samulet back. And I personally would like to see the Samulet back. It means a lot to the brothers themselves. Whether or not we have anything actively in the works, well, we can’t give away any spoilers, but… we’ve talked about it, and that was this year.
Dean (Jensen Ackles) wearing the “Samulet”.
AG. Behind every symbol like that is a great story.
RT. So if we find a great story for the Samulet, then yes. Better known as the Robulet, of course. We will then make something happen. We’re aware of how much it means to people, and it means something to us, too. But it’s like what Adam said—we have to make it a story, otherwise it’s just a scene where one of them is like, “Oh hey, I found this. Moving on…” You want to make it worth the wait.
FM. Totally. SUPERNATURAL is coming up on its… ninth season? Super impressive!
AG. Yes! Especially after the first three or four years—Eric Kripke would say that every year they thought they were going to get cancelled. We don’t have a for-sure tenth season, but if I were a betting man, I would say yes. We have a good chance.
RT. There’s a very good shot.
FM. You have your core fanbase, now.
AG. Yep, it’s the fanbase. They show in the numbers. If we continue to get good ratings, I don’t see any reason to stop the show, personally. Even at the signings today, so many fans showed up. That’s what’s so awesome about doing SUPERNATURAL. I went to Singapore and did a signing there. To be part of something like this is really special. We’re trying to realize that in the moment while we’re living it, not later when we look back. We both feel very lucky. And now if they’ll just invite us to Supernatural conventions…
FM. [laughs] You’ve never been invited to conventions?
RT. No, we never have.
FM. I’m amazed that it’s big enough to actually have its own conventions.
RT. It’s crazy! They have a bunch of them, and they’re really amazing. We hear all about them on Twitter!
FM. Can you tease anything about the upcoming season BEFORE the panel happens?
AG. Anything to tease. Um… the brothers… will fight evil. Drive a hot car. And probably deal with demons and angels and monsters.
FM. That’s so shocking! I never would have expected that.
RT. There will be… supernatural elements. [laughs] That’s above my pay grade. I can’t give any spoilers.
FM. You guys here for the whole week? Just hanging out?
RT. I got here yesterday. I’m leaving tomorrow after the panel. It’s been great.
AG. I got here Thursday night. And it’s been great. Just been swimming and hanging out with this guy. [points to son Aidan again]
FM. [to Aidan] You having fun?
Aidan Glass. Yep!
FM. What’s been the most fun thing so far?
Aidan Glass. Well… coming here to Comic-Con and swimming at my hotel!
AG. There you have it.
RT. I don’t know why I didn’t do that today.
AG. Hey, Aidan. What’s the best show on TV?
Aidan Glass. SUPERNATURAL!
July 25, 2013 By Holly Interlandi