DF Interview: Joe Casey introduces the all-new, all-violent Gang of Four as a new arc begins for ‘Blood Squad Seven’

By Byron Brewer

Enter: The Gang of Four! The next generation of evil has arrived – and they've got a score to settle with the new Blood Squad Seven! Can super-heroes exist without super-villains? And vice versa?

From Image Comics comes a new story arc in the fifth issue of Blood Squad Seven, written by Joe Casey with art by Paul Fry. I caught up to the busy scribe and discussed the coming new arc. Here’s what Joe told me.

Byron Brewer: Joe, 30 years ago Blood Squad Seven was, in its universe, America’s most popular superhero team – its members on TV, on magazine covers, in multi-million-dollar endorsement deals! By way of background for new readers, can you discuss THAT team and the new generation of modern-day heroes who have taken up the mantle of their predecessors?

Joe Casey: The original Blood Squad Seven were heroes for the MTV Generation. They were celebrity superpeople -- icons like Tachi, Blokhedd and Man Of War -- sponsored by the U.S. government to perform at home and abroad. They had a pretty good run through most of the 1990’s, but all fads must end and theirs did. But it’s been 30-plus years and everything old is new again.

Byron: Before we deep dive into a new story arc coming for Blood Squad Seven in its issue #5, please introduce readers to the current generation of heroes and maybe spotlight here a little about them and their powers. Who is the leader, etc. today?

Joe Casey: Well, the head of the program is Erika Richmond, the original Infiniti from those early 90’s comics. The team itself is comprised of Erika’s daughter, the new Infiniti… the armored Nightstriker… the super-soldier known colloquially as Ripcord 3.0… the telekinetic wild card (and son of an old BS7 villain), Alex Maxon… and the enigmatic Bete Noir, a legacy member from the mid-90’s. New characters for a new age.

Byron: Who are the Gang of Four? What does the coming of these villains mean for our heroes AND for the people and place they serve and protect?

Joe Casey: Just as the new Blood Squad Seven seeks to take up the mantle of the original team, so does the Gang of Four want to pick up where their predecessors left off, back in the day. It’s very much a generational rivalry, one in which the sins of the past come back to haunt the present.

Byron: Can you give fans an expanded elevator pitch for this story arc? A summation of what’s up with the Gang of Four? Can you hint at the “score” they have to settle with the new Squad, without spoilers?

Joe Casey: The time has come to publicly unveil the new team. The way they do it is typically splashy and sensational. It also makes them a perfect target for the new Gang of Four, who are looking to make a name for themselves.

Byron: Why is issue #5, publishing in December, a wonderful jump-on place for new readers?

Joe Casey: Personally, I think every issue is a good jumping-on point. That’s how these kinds of comics should work. I guess it’s kinda old school in that way. But for modern convenience, we’re putting out the first trade paperback, titled Vol. 1: Perilous Relaunch, in November.

Byron: Talk about the pulse-pounding pictures by Paul Fry, who has been knocking the art out of the park on this comic book series.

Joe Casey: Paul Fry started out amazing… and he just gets better with every issue. We’re having ourselves a pretty good time on this book, and I think you can see that in the work itself. At this point, I wouldn’t want to do this without him.

Byron: Joe, what other projects, inside or outside comics, can you tell our readers about?

Joe Casey: Here’s some breaking news: I’m launching a Substack newsletter where I’m going to crack open the archives on a lot of the stuff I’ve written over the course of my career. I’m gonna spill a lot of behind-the-scenes tea, as well. It’s free content twice a week for anyone who’s interested. Head over to https://thejoecasey.substack.com/ and subscribe today, willya?

Dynamic Forces would like to thank Joe Casey for taking time out of his busy schedule to answer our questions. Blood Squad Seven #5 from Image Comics is slated to be on sale December 18!

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