A young black boy is killed by police.
There is no justice, and definitely no peace for his grieving mother, Dr. Jo Baker.
Dr. Baker is seeking vengeance too, furious at the world for the injustice done to her child.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: So this is a modern Frankenstein story literally.
One of the things that always stays with me is the end of the book.
While some people think the monster goes off and dies, theres nothing that actually says that clearly.
He just floats away…Thats right.
He just drifts off.
The other funny thing is, there are two different versions of the ending.
The one we know is Percy Shelleys ending.
He thought civilization should reject the monster.
Its a tiny change, but it makes so much difference.
This is set in the present day, but the monster lives.
He needs Victors approval so profoundly.
I felt like, okay, at that time I understand.
Mary Shelleys a genius and Im not going to question her.
Its the difference between a needy abandoned child and an angry abandoned child.
So whats the mindset of your version of the monster?Hes actually done with humanity.
Lets talk about Jo Baker.
Her son is killed by police.
Hes a young black boy and theres no justice for his mother after his death.
Are real incidents like this and the Black Lives Matter movement part of the inspiration forDestroyer?Absolutely.
The idea is, Dr. Baker was someone who, in many ways, was totally signed into society.
Shes a brilliant scientist.
She works at this point for the University of Montana, but shes worked for the government.
She has felt like, I finally have my chance to join.
This country is willing to accept me.
Members of the Chicago police department kill him, and no one is blamed.
And this turns her.
It flips a switch.
Its a theme Im interested in.
How close is a good, upstanding citizen to cracking?
And when do our sympathies change for that punch in of person?
Lets talk about the individual characters, starting with her son, Akai.
But in a way, it felt too on the nose, and maybe a little ghoulish.
Akai Gurley was another black man killed in New York.
I feel like his name and his story has been somewhat missed.
This was a small way to at least honor that.
What we see is a boy with a cybernetic shoulder and part of his chest and arm.
This is different than the old Frankenstein technology.
The autopsy includes a figure where they show all the places where the bullets hit.
On Akai, the android parts of him match that autopsy image.
Thats where Akai was shot, and what parts of his body needed to be replaced?Exactly.
I thought it would be a subtle touch.
Most people will look at it and think its just cool and cyborg-y.
But I wanted it to have that underlying layer of something with weight and history.
Lets talk about Dr. Bakers look.
Shes in a white coat with a bloody smock.
I see a littleBride of Frankensteinwhite in her hair.Yes!
Yes, I thought that was the best little nod.
Half Storm, half Bride of Frankenstein [Laughs].
The white streak isalwaysthe sign of being a little bit crazy.Thats right.
Its like, youve seen something.
You went past the threshold of the veil and you came back.
You have too much knowledge.
Dr. Baker and her husband used to work there.
He basically felt, Well, itskindof evil, but they pay well.
[Laughs] And I like making money!
Im an up-and-coming black man.Why dont I get my shot?
She chose the good side then.She chose the virtuous route and became a university-funded scientist.
He stayed with The Lab.
Neither of these things, neither of these ways of becoming upper middle class, protected their son.
The monster he looks worn out.
Hes got the Hulk ensemble.
Too much Doctor Manhattan!
[Laughs]
Now were getting intoYoung Frankensteinterritory!Thats right!
[Laughs]
Hes been alive for centuries.
Does he have extra-human abilities?Well, two things: He cant be killed.
And his rage and strength hes an unstoppable force.
You cant kill him, and hes willing to kill anyone.
It was Iggy Pop and Moses.
I think he did an amazing job of giving me both.
Are we worth it?Are we worth it!
That is actually the question of the entire comic.
Dr. Baker, in many ways, doesnt know.
The monster decides no.
Her revived son is still young enough that he thinks the answer is yes.
But shes still in the middle, trying to decide which side sways her.
If she sides with the monster, they could pull off mass destruction.
If she sides with the son, theyre going to have to fight the monster.
Destroyerdebuts in May from BOOM!
Studios and will have a six-issue arc.
For more news, follow@Breznican.
