Within recents months it has been established that the civilian code-named "Jen-Active" has had contact with numerous individuals at the LaJolla based Wildstorm Productions facility. It has also been established that both Wildstorm Productions and "Jen-Active" have covert agendas that undermine the sanctity and integrity of national security. As such, communications between the two entities is closely monitored. The following transmission between "JenActive" and "writer" Michael Heisler was intercepted and uploaded 01.13.99 at 02:27:44 EST.

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JA: First off, I'm glad you could make it to #wildstorm chat (I just wish I coulda stayed longer) and I like to thank you on behalf of all the mIRC guys for staying so long. Most guys hang there less than an hour. Overall, did you enjoy your visit?

MH: Yeah, it was fun. It was nice to be able to talk one-to-one with people that I've only previously "seen" on bulletin boards (or in Devious Intel e-mails, for that matter). I don't think I'd want to do it every week, but on the other hand, people would probably get tired of me if I showed up there that often anyway.

JA: During the chat you mentioned that one of the Deviants was going to die. Now I know you won't tell me who BUT given that it's an "alternate" kind of universe you could whack all the kids but then everything would be back to normal in the "normal" universe (like when Burnout, Rainmaker, Dane, etc. "died" in Gen13). Will this be the case or will they be honest to goodness dead?

Well, either way, my guess is that it's Freestyle, since it looks like she's the cause and, as a new character, nobody would really miss her...

MH: Someone will really die, and it won't be Freestyle. However, bear in mind that these are comics, and so when I say that someone will "really" die, it means practically nothing. But it will at least affect the storyline for some months to come.

JA: Was there something about Fairchild (or Frostbite) that made you think that, under different circumstances, the two would get together? I mean, Kat's been in over 40 issues of Gen and 20 of Bootleg and NEVER had a love interest let alone a lover. Why Leon?

MH: I wouldn't say "never" -- I thought James McArthur was intended to at least be an object of Kat's infatuation. Anyway, it's my extrapolation that the more intense circumstances under which DV8 has operated would have tended to bring them close. I also think that the alternate Leon is more open to relationships within the team because he's not preoccupied with being the leader.

JA: And while we're on Slipstream, did you check out the way Ivana was dressed in Gen13? She looked even skankier than Bliss. Did Frank/Arcudi do that on their own or did they consult you (or, at least, somebody that's actually read DV8)?

MH: John has always consulted me. I don't know what planet Gary lives on.

JA: With Arcudi leaving Gen13, would there be any interest on your part in taking over the helm?

MH: I haven't really thought about it, and that's the honest answer. What I liked most about John's term on the book was that we made the two books more similar in tone, and tried to keep in mind that both sets of kids have traveled in the same circles; it's the people they've followed that have changed their lives. I don't know if I could keep that counterbalance if I was writing both. I can say that I have zero interest in giving up DV8 in order to write GEN13, so any offer to write GEN would have to be in addition to what I'm already doing.

JA: If you were E.I.C., who would you tag for the scribe position on Gen?

MH: Joe Kelly. Kelley Puckett. Karl Kesel. These guys all write fun and lively stories without denigrating their characters, or talking down to their audience.

JA: What's the deal with the Gen13 Wired upcoming one-shot? How did it come about and what can we expect?

MH: Basically, Richard Bennett was looking to draw something, I was looking to take on some extra writing work, and BOOTLEG editor Jonathan Peterson was looking for a creative team to do an upcoming issue. It was great timing for all of us, but especially for me. Richard can work anywhere with anyone, and I'm glad I got the opportunity to do something with him. As followers of BOOTLEG know, those stories are set up to avoid affecting continuity, and mine is no different. It's a fun, kind of goofy story that probably won't change anyone's life, but will look very nice.

JA: With Kirby contributing to the DV8 Annual, should we expect to see any more of his work in the near future?

MH: I really have no idea what JJ is up to. I haven't spoken to him since before he started work on the Annual story. I do enjoy his work and hope to see more of it soon, and I definitely wouldn't mind working with him again.

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