DF Interview: Tim Seeley tells a lost story of a lost world in ‘Rogue: The Savage Land’

By Byron Brewer

The X-Man called Rogue has always been a survivor, but without her mutant powers, she'll need to prove it like never before! As the Savage Land turns toward war, Rogue will need all her skills to survive dinosaurs, mutates and the Master of Magnetism himself!

Writer Tim Seeley (Local Man) and artist Zulema Scotto Lavina tell a lost story of a lost world. And this lost story is in the heart of a time when I was living and breathing all things X! I caught up with my friend and the scribe of this tale, and here is what Tim had to say.

Byron Brewer: Tim, having lived through the X-Men from Giant-Size #1 and Only through well into the beginnings of  Adjectiveless X-Men, I know that no one stretched those octopus armload of subplots longer and better than Chris Claremont. Now we have a new X-record for the scribe as you pick up powerless Rogue’s trip to Ka-Zarville from back when to tell the full story. How did the notion to reignite this flaming saga in a limited series come about?

Tim Seeley: This was a Marvel idea! And I absolutely grew up on those books, so I was very familiar with that era of X-Men stories. My job was to use all those nuggets Chris left behind and tell a story that fits between them, giving readers something totally new.

Byron: For those unaware or unborn at the time, can you give us the big picture of what was happening with the X-world at the time?

Tim Seeley: The team was in Australia, about to blast off into space, and Jim Lee had just started drawing Uncanny, about to change the entire world.

Byron: The solicit says it and does not. For those readers in the dark, why was Rogue without her powers and what was the urgency for her to get to the Land of the Dinosaurs?

Tim Seeley: She ended up there by accident, as she had to escape the Reavers, and she stole Gateway's powers. Her powers were damaged by her trip through The Siege Perilous. You don't really need to know too much of this.

Byron: Without spoilers, can you discuss a bit about Maggie’s relationship with Rogue… at least what has been seen and hinted about it over the years? Nothing to spoil what’s coming in the limited series, but just for newbies as well as old-timers to realize what is happening in the Marvel Universe as opposed to anything in the Sony X-movies or in the popular X-Men animated adventures.

Tim Seeley: In our story, the two have just gotten to know each other. Whatever romantic plots would come later, our tale is about Rogue, how she survives the Savage Land, and her alliance with Ka-Zar and Magneto, who are drastically different guys, who don't like each other at all. My take on what draws Rogue and Magneto together, I think, will be very different than what's come before.

Byron: What can you tell us about the part – my favorite aspect – that Ka-Zar and Zabu (!) will play in this limited series?

Tim Seeley: Both are as important as Magneto!

Byron: I’m gonna love me some DINOSAURS! Hope that’s coming?

Tim Seeley: Not only will we have a lot of them, they'll be accurate up to recent scientific discoveries. I am a dino nerd!

Byron: Discuss your collaboration on this book with Marvel Art Atelier winner Zulema Scotto Lavina.

Tim Seeley: She and I did an Image/Arancia book together called Hexware. I actually recommended her for Rogue, and it timed out well with her winning the Talent Contest.

Byron: Tim, what other of your projects, inside or outside comics, can you tell readers about?

Tim Seeley: Working on Turtles of Grayskull, more X-Men work, Vigilante at DC, and I get to see the progress on the Revival TV show. So, I'm busy!

Dynamic Forces would like to thank Tim Seeley for taking time out of his busy schedule to answer our questions. Rogue: The Savage Land #1 from Marvel Comics is slated to be on sale January 15, 2025!

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