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After AlphaFlight.net first interviewed artist Scott Kolins, it was revealed that Omega Flight had been made a Mini-Series rather than the originally intended full series. We caught back up with Scott get his reactions on the announcement. Scott also discusses he new art-style.

AlphaFlight.net: HI Scott, Thanks for joining me. I've already spoken with both Mike Oeming and Andy Schmidt recently about the changes to Omega, I'm curious to see how you see things.

Since last time we spoke, it has been announced that Omega Flight will be released as a Mini-series, instead of the full length series that it was originally intended to be. How did you react to this news when you found out?

SCOTT: I was stunned. Couldn’t believe it. I now understand the thinking behind it – and many people at Marvel wanted me to personally understand that this had nothing to do with me or Mike and our abilities or Marvel’s faith in us. But still, that’ll knock the wind out of you. Mike’s made the comment a bunch of times –which I whole-heartily agree with, something like: being a real pro means being flexible and dodging/weaving through all the changes and demands of working for a big company like Marvel comics. Even with this public news – you guys only know about ½ of the crazy stuff that happens behinds the scenes (as it should be – don’t want to ruin all the magic). But above and beyond that – what really shows your professional status is to use that “setback” and make it work for the better. Somehow turn it around and create something even better despite whatever “problems” have arisen. I really dig Mike. He and I can crab about work or whatever with the best of them, but when all is said and done we both put everything we have into whatever we do. He had this other great line the other day: “We finish what we start and give it everything we’ve got because we’re men and that’s what men do.” Damn straight.

AlphaFlight.net: When we last spoke, you told me of some major changes that took place in the story in #2, slowing down you progress on that issue. Was the series going mini the changes you spoke of?

SCOTT: Yup, that was it, and it changed Mike’s story radically. He had more than a year’s worth of stuff worked out – which he then had to pick and chose what needed to be told right away.

AlphaFlight.net: Did you have to scrap any work you had already done because of the changes?

SCOTT: Not really, there was one character I worked up a design for that Mike wanted to use but when Andy Schmidt came on board (Mike Marts was the original editor of Omega Flight) he nixed – but that wasn’t because of the change from monthly to mini – that was just Andy’s editorial preference.

AlphaFlight.net: Both Andy Schmidt and Mike Omeing have answered this question for me, now it's your turn. Fans have already begun to express their desire for a regular series. The Fight For The Flight campaign was put together for a way for fans to organize and rally behind Omega Flight, and fans on message boards all over the net are making noise. Were you expecting such a sudden, vocal reaction to the solicitation's announcement?

SCOTT: Pretty much yeah. As a fan I would be upset too.

AlphaFlight.net: Do you feel that if sales are good enough, and fans show enough interest, Omega will be brought back?

SCOTT: Sure. Sales almost always rule.

AlphaFlight.net: If Marvel decided to give Omega Flight a full-length series, would you still be interested in being involved? Could what happened to the current series effect you passion for the title at all?

SCOTT: I love these characters, love Alpha Flight stuff in general, and really enjoy working with Mike and would always seriously consider being involved if it continued. If anything it changes my motivation while working on the book. Now I really want Omega to go over big and kick some major butt. But understand I can’t guarantee my continued involvement - the offer may come too late. I may have had to take other jobs fill my schedule. I gotta make a mortgage and put food on the table.

AlphaFlight.net: To date, have you been asked to do any promotional work for the title yet?

SCOTT: Just the teaser art that started this ball rolling – the silhouette shot (which, btw, was originally conceived by the lovely and talented Mike Oeming).

AlphaFlight.net: From what fans have seen of your work on the title so far, they are very excited. Statements have been made that you work has evolved to a new level. Do you feel that something extra is going into this book for you?

SCOTT: My Omega work has changed somewhat from my previous Marvel work, as I’m adding gray tones now. I got the idea while putting together some of the first Omega covers. Cover #3 (as yet unseen by the public) was the first to be approved and while working on it I had the idea to do it as a tonal piece. Smuding and gray tones all over – with no real traditional holding line. Brought me back to the Kubert days ( I was a Kubert student) and a few covers I’d done a while back for Malibu comics. Marvel flipped over it and asked if I could do the other covers that way – and if I was willing to do the interiors that way. It’s a lot more work, but it seemed like a good idea. The next thing I did was add tones to the Wrecking Crew 2 page spread from Omega Flight #1 – which you’ve now seen colored. That was kind of a test page. Very detailed, dark, and complex – lots of rain and light sources and everything. It worked and Marvel and I decided to move forward with this. Who knows? Maybe this’ll be my extra part that might help push this book over the top and get it changed back to monthly. That would be nice.

AlphaFlight.net: Great work on the Talisman Costume. Fans have said that they love the homage to Shaman with her parka.

SCOTT: Thanks, I really like her revised costume too – and her “normal” dress was helpful in figuring out her character. Lots of stories to tell there.

AlphaFlight.net: We've now seen your character sketches for Talisman, Arachne, US Agent, Beta Ray Bill and The Wrecking Crew. Did you have to draft many versions for any of these characters? Who was the toughest for you to nail down, and which are you the most pleased with in the end?

SCOTT: USAgent didn’t really change so he doesn’t count. I really like my Wrecking Crew – biggest muscle bound roid monsters I’ve ever drawn except the Hulk. Lots of fun. Arachne’s cool, and I have an underlying idea for the costume change but that won’t surface in the mini just yet. Beta Ray Bill turned out to be the toughest. I pretty much got him down when Andy challenged Mike and me with some different viewpoints of who Bill is and what he should look like. Mike and I then drew about 20 other versions of Bill – but none seemed quite right. We wanted to take him away from being a Thor clone – but the more we did he didn’t look like Bill either. Then I had the idea to change the color scheme on the first design I had (which is strongly based off of Walt Simonson’s original design). It had been the Blue and white old Simonson version of Bill – being like Thor’s brother. But Bill’s orange skin kinds always stuck out oddly with that scheme – so I altered the colors to compliment his skin tone. So now Bill’s color theme is brown and yellow. That seemed to please everyone. Talisman’s costume is the one I’m most proud of. I’ve read some complaints about how un-sensible the design is – but she’s not made for hand to hand fighting. She’s a magical powerhouse. I gave her the cape so she could be more moody and withdrawn at times but also I made her costume more revealing as I wanted some tribal feel and some, I dunno, some Indian virgin princess something. Sexy but yet somehow clean, beyond approach. And I like the bigger headpiece. No one said anything when I handed it in and I laughed talking with Mike –commenting that I’d put Stonehenge on her forehead.

AlphaFlight.net: Last time we spoke, you told me about a 19 page FIRELORD story you were working on. What else do you have coming up?

SCOTT: Again, because of the changes in Omega and now because of Marvel’s excitement over the tonal stuff, I’m helping out with parts of an Ultimate FF 3 issue arc (# 39, 40 & 41). The deadlines are really tight so I’ll be sharing the issues with Mark Brooks. Pasqual need to catch up after his stunning issues so far. I’ll have that underway and finally get back to Omega soon and see how far that ship goes. I’m sure Marvel will be releasing some of my Ultimate FF art soon.

AlphaFlight.net: Thanks for getting together with me again Scott. We're looking forward to seeing the final product!

SCOTT: You bet! Thank you, Ben.