Membership Drive: A Champions Sketchbook

Mark Waid and Humberto Ramos plan on bringing back a much-loved and classic team book tradition with January 17’s CHAMPIONS #16: the membership drive! In the wake of their less-than-excellent meeting with the Avengers in the last arc, the group wants to redouble their efforts to make the world a better place and they need more heroic bodies on the squad to do that.

The CHAMPIONS creative team promises to expand the line-up and continue working towards that goal. Of course, that will mean more killer costumes to work with on the page, but Ramos proves, of course, up the challenge. We talked with the artist about the new influx of characters, the continued development of Red Locust, and his collaborative relationship with Waid!

Marvel.com: The Champions clearly just had a wild time during their adventure with the Avengers. Has that altered how they appear moving forward in this series?

Humberto Ramos: I think so. Every single situation in the Champions Universe will eventually have a consequence in their future actions.

Marvel.com: Membership drives were a hallmark of team books for years. How was it reviving that tradition with the Champions?

Humberto Ramos: The Champions brand is a legacy to take seriously as it is for me in every single Marvel character I get to work with, but the new take and expectations Mark Waid planted in this new group brought heart and hope back to the Marvel U.

Marvel.com: What kind of challenges does bringing all of those characters into one book—or on one cover like that of #16–offer?

Humberto Ramos: The new team looks awesome, right? I am as excited as everyone else to [see] how Moon Girl, Spider-Gwen or the Falcon’s personalities will shock our kids’ world.

Marvel.com: How has it been developing Red Locust and the legacy around her since her first appearance in CHAMPIONS #9?

Humberto Ramos: It’s always exciting to create new characters and I got a little pride to know our girl Fernanda has a Mexican heritage. With Red Locust I have a great opportunity to show at least a glance of how beautiful my country is. I can’t [help] but thank the team for allowing me to do so.

Marvel.com: You and Mark had worked together previously, but have also been shepherding this team along since the beginning. How do you think your collaborative relationship has evolved in that time?

Humberto Ramos: For me it’s exactly the same feeling I had back in time with [our first work together]. The only difference for me is now I’m more aware of the colossal creator Mark is for this industry. Back in those days, I was naive and had no idea, but now I gladly know.

Mark Waid and Humberto Ramos continuing building the legacy of this team with CHAMPIONS #16 on January 17.