How does it feel being one of the voices in the Marvel Universe? Who is the person behind the coming to life of the infamous anti-heroes in the cinematic universe? In this episode of Science of Superpowers, host Tonya Dawn Recla and guest Mackenzi Lee talk about how it feels to be one of the writers in Marvel. Mackenzi tells about her journey of how she entered Marvel as an anti-hero writer. She is the author of the books Loki: Where Mischief Lies, and Gamora and Nebula: Sister in Arms. Tune in as Tonya and Mackenzi bring you the mischief-makers and the dark side of Marvel Universe.
Tonya Dawn Recla:
Hello, everyone. And welcome back to The Science of Superpowers. I’m so delighted that you’re joining us again today. We have a great conversation today with Mackenzi Lee, who is a writer of voice in the Marvel universe, and her recent comic of Gamora and Nebula. And she’s written on Loki. And we’re going to talk with her today about what it’s like to be in that space and to be able to use that sort of a creative medium of expression and what that world is like. And you know with us here, the superpower universe, we love the Marvel theme, we love the superpower concepts because what it does is it allows us all to kind of tie into a common understanding that’s pervasive. A big thanks to Marvel and Disney and their marketing efforts, because it is so incredibly available now.
And so it’s a great construct in the personal development space to use as an overlay in terms of what it looks like to kind of grow through these archetypes and stuff, and those of you who know Stan Lee’s story and how some of those characters came to be. So it’s a wonderful opportunity for us to kind of tap into that hidden universe back there that has had such an amazing impact globally, which is exciting to see. So please join us in welcoming you to the show. Mackenzi Lee. Welcome, Mackenzi.
Mackenzi Lee:
Hi, thanks for having me.
Tonya Dawn Recla:
Well, we’re delighted to have you here. So we’re going to start with our first question. What are your superpowers and how are you using them for good?
Mackenzi Lee:
My primary superpower is that every time I sit down on an airplane, I immediately fall asleep and I sleep for pretty much the entire flight, which is an excellent superpower to have. And I just traveled on an airplane for the first time since the pandemic. And I was worried I might’ve gotten rusty, but nope. Sat down immediately, immediately passed out. So my superpowers are still very much intact.
But how I’ve been using them for good, I think it’s kind of a silly superpower, but it’s enabled me … it’s made me able to travel a ton, not this past year, obviously because we’ve all been staying at home. But before that, I was able to travel a ton to meet readers all over the world and to talk about my books and it pays to be able to show up in Australia, having slept for 15 hours on the flight with no jet lag. So it’s a little bit of a roundabout answer, but being able to sleep on every airplane I ever sit down on makes traveling a whole lot easier and makes it easier to meet and connect with readers all over the world.
Tonya Dawn Recla:
Oh, wow, perfect. Well, that’s a phenomenal tie-in. And you’re right, I don’t know that we would initially think about it in that way, but it’s important to consider that. We talk with so many people. I’ve done thousands of interviews since we got started here and a lot of folks are in the space of connecting with people and sharing their content, sharing their passions, and their dreams with people. And it does take a toll. There is this like, how do you keep up that pace and still get the rest? And so I don’t know that I would have thought about it that way but it’s rather brilliant. Good job. That’s a good superpower to hone there.
Mackenzi Lee:
Thank you. Thank you.
Tonya Dawn Recla:
Well, very cool. So your readership is all around your comics, correct? Is that pretty much your primary contribution literature-wise at this point, is through the comics?
Mackenzi Lee:
Well, so they’re not actually comics. They’re prose novels. So they’re novels about the Marvel characters but told not in a comics format, but in just like a novel format.
Tonya Dawn Recla:
Oh brilliant.
Mackenzi Lee:
Yeah. So I was a historical fiction writer before I worked for Marvel, so I have several series of … several series. I have a couple of nonfiction books out. I have a fiction series that’s coming to an end in November. So I’ve done a lot, but Marvel has definitely … it’s definitely a different level of exposure and experience.
Tonya Dawn Recla:
Wow. And who’s the target market of the books?
Mackenzi Lee:
Anyone who likes these characters. They’re about the characters when they’re younger people and they’re published by a young adult literature publisher, but it’s really only because the whole intention is to see them earlier in their timelines than most people know them, like in the movies and things like that. So it’s about them when they’re younger, they’re all sort of coming of age stories. But really they’re for any Marvel fan.
Tonya Dawn Recla:
That’s … So how did you get involved with this?
Mackenzi Lee:
Through a lot of luck and good timing. And then also years of behind-the-scenes hard work. So my most popular series is a book called … the first book is called The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue. And it came out in 20 … oh gosh, 2017 I think. And it just so happened that right as that book came out and was getting a lot of positive attention, the editor I started working with at Marvel had just gotten this pitch approved that she had gotten permission from the higher-ups to hire somebody to write a series about Marvel antiheroes as teenagers, and kind of do their coming of age stories with a historical bend.
And so she’d gotten the okay to hire a writer, and she just happened to be reading Gentleman’s Guide at the right moment and said, “This is the person I would like to write this series.” And so I got a very exciting email one day that just said, “Hypothetically, would you be interested in writing for Marvel?” And I said, “Boy, I hope this is not hypothetical because yes.”
Tonya Dawn Recla:
Oh, wow. Well, what a phenomenal journey. Well, we’re going to take a quick break here and we’ll talk more about that when we come back. Before we do, where can people go to find out more about you?
Mackenzi Lee:
I have a website which is mackenzilee.com. And I’m also on Instagram @themackenzilee. And the books are available wherever books are sold.
Tonya Dawn Recla:
Oh, very cool. Very cool. So folks, go check that out. Stay with us. We’re talking today with Mackenzi Lee and we’re talking all about being a voice in the Marvel universe. Such a great conversation. Stick with us folks. You’re not going to want to miss this. We’ll be right back.
To listen to the entire show click on the player above or go to the SuperPower Up! podcast on iTunes.
