[Note From Frolic: Our resident YA expert Aurora Dominguez got the opportunity to interview author Minh Le and ask him five(ish) questions. Minh’s graphic novel ‘Green Lantern: Legacy‘ is out now!]
Aurora: How was it creating a middle grade series featuring super heroes?
Minh Le: It was great because superhero origin stories lend themselves so naturally to a young audience. So much of growing up is learning about your innate powers and trying to find your place in the world. Superhero stories are an exaggerated version of that coming-of-age story, but the underlying emotions are the same. I think younger readers are drawn to these stories because, with or without superpowers, all children are in the midst of their own origin stories.
What inspired your story?
Green Lantern is a character who has a green power ring that is drawn to an individual’s strength of will… so when I was thinking of an idea for a story I realized that I actually knew someone who fit that description: my grandmother. She always wore a jade ring and is one of the heroes in our family story (trust me, you would not want to mess with her). So once that image appeared to me, the story about a young boy who follows his grandmother’s footsteps as a Green Lantern started to fall into place and then totally came to life through Andie Tong’s incredible artwork.
What can graphic novel lovers expect from the read?
My hope is that this will feel like a fun and heartwarming twist that still stays true to the essence of the Green Lantern that readers know and love. I wanted to create a new storyline that fit into the rich backstory that already existed within the Green Lantern universe, something that could appeal to readers who are new to Green Lantern as well as those who are familiar with the character’s history.
If you had one super power, what would it be?
I would love the ability to multiply myself so I could be in more than one place at a time. “The Multiplier” doesn’t sound particularly intimidating, but it would definitely come in handy.
What is next for you in the comic and graphic novel world?
That remains to be seen… for now it’s such a dream to get to write for DC Comics, I’m just hoping no one wakes me up anytime soon.
Click here to get your copy of Green Lantern: Legacy!
