X-RISING: You've been known in the past to be one of the hardest working writers in the business. What was it like writing seven titles?

NICIEZA: At the time I didn't dissect it, I just did it. It really was more a matter of wanting to do the titles because I had so many ideas for the characters involved. Most of the titles spun-off from the ones I was already doing, like X-FORCE begat CABLE and the DEADPOOL Limited Series, NEW WARRIORS begat the NIGHT THRASHER L.S. then the monthly and the NOVA monthly. NOMAD was a title I'd been trying to develop since I first started at Marvel, so when a Limited Series was green-lit as a monthly, I wasn't about to back away from it. I don't think the PLOTS suffered at the time, since I had distinct ideas for each of the titles, but in retrospect, the SCRIPT might have.



X-RISING: Could you ever see yourself doing it again?

NICIEZA: No.



X-RISING: Of all of the titles you have written, which one was your most favored and why?

NICIEZA: NEW WARRIORS, probably. I just think that the final printed product was consistently, month in and month out, what I wanted it to be from initial story conception. I had very good working relationships with my artists, Mark Bagley and then Darick Robertson and a contentious, spirited relationship with my editor Danny Fingeroth, which led to creative solutions which were almost always ultimately rewarding for the finished book.



X-RISING: What writers and artists, past and present, have you most enjoyed working with?

NICIEZA: Lots of them, to the point I hate naming names for fear of omitting someone. But I never avoid the question totally without at least mentioning Mark, Darick and Kevin Maguire, but that's not to slight so many others I worked with.



X-RISING: Are there any writers or artists that you would like to collaborate with one day?

NICIEZA: Too many to mention. As far as reunions go, I certainly would love the chance to work with Greg Capullo again. I thought he and I were getting really close to making X-FORCE something special when he understandably chose to work on SPAWN.



X-RISING: Are there any characters you haven't written, that you think you would enjoy writing someday?

NICIEZA: Easy answer. SUPERMAN. BATMAN. SUPERMAN. ROBIN. SUPERMAN. NIGHTWING. SUPERMAN. DR. STRANGE. SUPERMAN. FANTASTIC FOUR and did I mention SUPERMAN?



X-RISING: Recently, you took the position of Editor In Chief of Acclaim Comics' Valiant Heroes line. How was that different from what you were used to?

NICIEZA: Well, I also went from E-I-C to President/Publisher during my 2 plus years there! The E-I-C job was not anything I didn't expect. I was excited by the opportunity and I had a lot of fun doing it. The President job might have been a bit more than I was either capable of chewing or willing to. Budget spread sheets, worrying about checks, bills, petty cash, building insurance, etc. on top of the comics was a pretty hefty load, but also a wonderful learning experience.



X-RISING: Do you prefer the role of editor over that of writer?

NICIEZA: Apples and oranges. I didn't like being a line-editor very much because I lack the ability to focus on the kinds of niggly details the job entails. I did enjoy being an editor-in-chief because I'm just a megalomaniac at heart and love the idea of being all-powerful (he said jokingly!). Ultimately, writing is the most relaxing to me, but it is a very solitary day. Being an E-I-C or even an editor is more challenging and socially interactive.



X-RISING: In the past, you have handled things from Rogue and Gambit's whirlwind romance to Wolverine's adamantium loss to Cyclops and Phoenix's long-awaited wedding. Is there any other big event in comic-dom that you wish you had a hand in, or a greater hand in?

NICIEZA: Hmm? in hindsight, for purely selfish reasons, I might have liked to have been involved in Uncanny #350, just so that they wouldn't have screwed up Gambit's backstory so much by involving him in the Morlock Massacre! For the sheer thrill of being involved, I would have loved to have been part of the group responsible for the Superman/Doomsday and Superman Returns storylines. Currently, I'd love a crack at a NO MAN's LAND arc or story, since I have enjoyed that BATMAN storyline tremendously.



X-RISING: Your stint on X-Force ended abruptly. Is there anything you wished you had the chance to do before you were forced to leave?

NICIEZA: Keep writing the book! :-) I don't think the decision for me to leave was fair then and time hasn't changed my mind. That being said, I think John Moore is doing a nice job and it's great to see him working with practically the exact character line-up I would have been using by this time!



X-RISING: Currently, you're work in the industry is only the one title you write: Gambit. Anything you want to tell us? (Hint: shamelessly tease and/or plug any upcoming projects here)

NICIEZA: Well, I have a couple of DC projects which are in different stages of completion right now, but they prefer not to blab too many details too soon, so I'll keep mum. I'll just say one is a 6 issue Limited Series and the other is a 2 book Elseworlds DCU storyline. I also completed the plot for a one-shot that is part of a larger Marvel event story line later this fall that I was quite happy with. Again, mum's the word, but if it's well received, I could easily see the one-shot becoming a fun monthly title.



X-RISING: What allured you to the character of Gambit?

NICIEZA: It was a wonderful combination of Marvel asking right after I walked out the door from Acclaim with absolutely no guaranteed income staring me in the face and the fact that I have always like the character.



X-RISING: Has writing his series been fun so far?

NICIEZA: I've had a lot of fun. He's a great character with a really rich history. He can operate within the X-Universe and outside of it, there're stories to tell about his childhood, the Guild's history, heck, even the future! Steve and I have more ideas than we have room to do them in! You might notice by how much material we crammed into the first few issues! J We open things up a bit by issue #5, I promise! It's funny, I recently did a story line breakdown for the future of the title, like I always do, to make sure I'm preparing sub-plots, story hints, character development, etc. properly. I even surprised myself in realizing that just the stories I currently have in mind to do takes me well past issue #50 of the title!



X-RISING: Gambit vs. Deadpool. Who wins?

NICIEZA: Deadpool, `cause of the healing factor and the fact that Joe Kelly would make him say something so witty that Gambit would crumple in heaping mounds of laughter.



X-RISING: During your long-term run on X-Men, was getting along with Scott Lobdell's colorful wardrobe difficult?

NICIEZA: No, because his clothes always picked up the glare from my balding scalp really well. Practically gave him an angelic glow.



X-RISING: In your recent Wizard interview, you called yourself "sexy." Why tell yourself these things?

NICIEZA: Because no one else will.



X-RISING: Capricorns will always rule the Earth.

NICIEZA: Cool! Was there a vote I missed?

(NOTE: The views expressed regarding Capricorns are those of our interviewer, and do not necessarily reflect those of the rest of the staff)

Interview Conducted by Laney.