Interview with Maria Lewis

Maria Lewis is a screenwriter, and also the author of MOCKINGBIR: STRIKE OUT, a Marvel Heroine Novel starring Bobbi Morse.

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Hi there, thank you so much for taking some time for me! Especially now, I know you’re quite busy at the moment – so I really appreciate it!

No, thank you! An absolute joy when anyone gives a shit about something I’ve made, so more than happy to make the time.

We’ll be talking about your Mockingbird novel, but first of all: You’re a screen writer, and while your novel has some S.T.R.I.K.E personnel in it, there is currently a strike going on with regards to the WGA. What are your experiences regarding fair payment in this industry, and especially as a women? Is equal pay hopefully looming around the next corner?

Firstly, I’m pro-Union regardless of the profession and support my peers in the WGA for their bravery in going on strike. What they’re asking for they not only deserve, but is well within the capacity to be delivered by networks and studios who are experiencing record profits and valuations that exceed billions, in the case of Apple, trillions.

I’m currently based in Australia and locally we come under the AWG here, but what’s really fascinating about the transparency of the WGA negotiations is many of the conditions they’re asking to be expelled and are considered as unethical are standard operating procedure here in the Australian screen industry, like the prevalence of mini-rooms. 

So as a screenwriter, myself and my colleagues are deeply invested in what happens with the WGA strike as there’s a saying that when America sneezes, Australia catches a cold. Frankly, I’m ready for the flu.

In that case, I hope anyone catches the flu – it’s high time for fair pay! (I’m not part of it, but I root for the WGA and their demands, thinking them to be only fair). But let’s leave the real world behind for a moment. I’ll admit I haven’t come across Mockingbird before with the sole exception of the TV series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Adrianne Padalecki is such a badass on the screen!). What were your experiences with this character beforehand?

Well, I LOVED Adrianne’s portrayal of Bobbi on S.H.I.E.L.D. and also Nick Blood’s performance as Lance Hunter, because I think part of the magic there was the back-and-forth between the two of them and the chemistry. They were magnetic scene partners! And I also had the benefit to tour with Adrianne on pop culture conventions during the show’s run, so was able to chat with her behind-the-scenes about the physicality of the character and how she viewed Bobbi … conversations I had no idea would become relevant 10 years down the line when I would have the opportunity to write this character for Marvel.

These were the things that were playing in the back of my mind as I revisited every appearance of Bobbi in the comics. I was very familiar with her proximity within the West Coast Avengers space, Secret Invasion and Spider-Man, but those first Astonishing Tales appearances alongside Ka-Zar were arcs that I wanted to be familiar with because Chelsea Cain’s Mockingbird run was fresh for me and a lot of female comic book fans of my generation, so it was about colouring in the full picture whether I could use it all or not.

I thought it’s a great idea to take one of the lesser known heroes, because they aren’t that much defined in the eyes of the audience. But how much leeway did you actually have with the character, and how much were you forced to keep consistency with the Marvel universe?

Thank you, but I can’t take credit for that idea as that was alllll Marvel and their genius angle for the Marvel Heroines ongoing series. I was a colossal fan of Marta Acosta’s The She-Hulk Diaries novel from a decade ago and always thought the literary space was a rich opportunity to spend a lengthy chunk of time with characters who don’t usually get so much real estate, especially when Marvel has such a huge toy box to delve into.

That’s why I spent so much time revisiting Bobbi’s history on the screen and page, because although I did have some breadth in terms of new areas I could take the character I wanted to pay homage to her origins, be faithful to them, appease the fans while also trying to tell a new story that was faithful to the core of what she represents.

I really like the fact that your heroine does not have actual super powers (I think she does have some advanced strength and healing, and a drop of super soldier serum in her). That means you had the chance to go deeper into spy thriller genre. (I think the genre is now techno thriller.) But be honest – would you have preferred more super powers, or more spycraft?

Honestly, no. Like Black Widow – another one of my favourite Marvel characters – I find the idea of a non-powered individual embedded amongst superhumans and demi-Gods really rich dramatic territory to mine. Bobbi is a genius, first and foremost, then she’s also a master martial artist and world class gymnast and just an all round dope hang. Often times when she’s part of an ensemble, there are louder and flashier characters who understandably draw the spotlight so one of the most exciting things to me about this project was the prospect to keep not just Bobbi front and centre but the incredible things she can do as well.

My elevator pitch for Mockingbird was Out Of Sight meets Mr and Mrs Smith, which both have some compelling action and mystery elements. Yet what makes them last in the pop culture discourse is the tête-à-tête between the two lead characters, which was my ambition here as well.

And what a spark you’ve created! That chemistry was nearly leaking out of my Kindle while reading it. 😄 As you’ve mentioned, this is a series with different authors shedding light on some Marvel heroines, but I would really like to see your Bobbi return in another installment – any chance?

Ask my bosses! That’s really up to Marvel, but also really up to the fans so if you enjoy this story or my spin on Bobbi and her world … be vocal about it! If folks enjoy Strike Out, then hopefully I’ll get to come back. But also, there are SO many amazing Marvel women, I’d love the chance to play with a few others as well like Tigra, Loa, Jubliee to rattle off a few.

I liked the way you used Oxford as a scenery, Radcliffe Camera and all that. What was the reason behind choosing Oxford?

Well, I think so much of Bobbi’s character persona and her relationships are tied to the West Coast – she’s a real Cali Girl – so I wanted the possibility to put her in a completely new geographic and social environment. She’s obviously the vessel for the reader, so it was in part about taking them on a journey too for a spot of literary tourism. For a tale that operates like a puzzle box, Oxford is an excellent arena because of the rich history and the unique present legacy. Pluuuus it put her in Lance’s backyard.

Lucky for us, she didn’t hide in that backyard. Alright, last but not least: I know that Bobbi and her girl friends like them some frozen margaritas, but what about you – what kind of cocktail or drink tickles your fancy?

There was this trick I stumbled into with my Supernatural Sisters Series, which followed different types of women as classic mythological monsters over the course of eight books. Each character had specific things they were into: food, drinks, music etc. And the readers of those novels were so engaged and sweet, that I would show up for signings and events for the books and people would come with treats I’d mentioned in the book. So for instance, with The Witch Who Courted it’s a queer love story that follows a medium and a witch teaming up for a vengeance mission in Boscastle, Cornwall, and these snack cakes you can get at UK supermarkets – Mr Kipling – are a recurring treat throughout the book. Still, to this day, I will arrive at events and people will have some ready to go and it’s a genius hack.

Longwinded way to answer your question, but just like Bobbi’s girl gang/Team Babes there’s few things I love more than a frozen marg especially during Australian summer. Also, any rum based cocktail really tickles my pickle.

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Thank you so much for your time! And in my humble opinion, rum based cocktails are great for hot days, so as an alternative to the frozen marg, I’m going to share one of my own recipes with you all – hope you like it!

Bogi Punk

• 4 cl dark rum
• 2 cl triple sec
• 4 cl grenadine syrup
• 2 cl lime juice
• Tonic water as filler

Take all ingredients (except tonic water) and shake them together in the mixer. Pour it over ice cubes in a Longdrink glass (or a fancy glass), and poor tonic water as a filler over it. Enjoy!