Mosaic: Fathers and Sons

In life, Morris Sackett felt he could count on two things: his physical talents and his father. His exposure to Terrigen Mist in MOSAIC #1 robbed him of the second. Will the fallout from that event take the second away from him as well?

That question proves paramount in MOSAIC #5, the climax of the first act of Morris’s new life available February 22. We snagged writer Geoffrey Thorne in the midst of electrocuting an Inhuman cocoon to ask him all about it.

Marvel.com: How would you characterize father Mason’s role in son Morris’ life just prior to the latter’s Terrigen exposure?

Geoffrey Thorne: Mason handled everything in Morris’ life that wasn’t fun. Everything. Every business decision. Everything to do with the larger part of Morris’ fortune. Everything. He was his first coach, his only advisor and, for the most part, his only parent. Mason has been everything to Morris.

Marvel.com: How did Morris relate to and view his father over the years?

Geoffrey Thorne: Morris viewed his father as the only true thing or person in world.

Marvel.com: Given that Morris has now been “exposed” to the father-son dynamic Peter Parker experienced with Uncle Ben how, if at all, has this cast his relationship to his father in a different light?

Geoffrey Thorne: Nope. Morris perceives Uncle Ben—who he thinks is Spidey’s dad—as weak; just another grinder. He has no respect whatsoever for the big power—responsibility paradigm.

Marvel.com: What does the seeming loss of Morris from his life do to Mason? How does it affect his self-perception and/or social status?

Geoffrey Thorne: Sorry. Spoilers. But we…discuss…some of that in issue #5. Yes. We definitely discuss that.

Marvel.com: In issue #5 we see that Mason has evolved as a person as his son has grown. Without giving away any revelations, how would you say he has changed over the years?

Geoffrey Thorne: Mason was always a Big Picture guy. Now, with what’s happened to his son, that picture is huge. He sees the sky as absolutely not the limit for the Sackett family.

Mosaic #5 cover by Mike del Mundo

Marvel.com: There is an artistic device employed in #5 that points to changes in Morris’ self-perception and may indicate an increasing acceptance of his new life/lack of physical form. How have you and artist Khary Randolph collaborated to portray Morris’ evolution not just through his words but through the art?

Geoffrey Thorne: Khary and [inker] Emilio [Lopez] make Morris look the way he does. In the scripts I indicate certain things I’d like to see but the interpretation is their own. I don’t think I’ve given a single note to them on how he’s supposed to look behind what his actions in a given panel might be. I like to let the artist flex because, let’s face it, they’re far better artists than I am.

As I write him, Morris is getting a better handle on his powers at the same time they’re refining his look. I’d call it a happy coincidence.

Marvel.com: MOSAIC #5 leads to a big shift in the father-son dynamic. Again, keeping things on the level of tease, how big a change might that bring about in the lives of the characters? Can we expect a shift in the tone of the book as well?

Geoffrey Thorne: You can expect, after #5, Morris will have the beginnings of quite a different mindset about himself, his future, and what to do with his new powers. After #7, the view will be locked in.

Marvel.com: Finally, #5 does feel like a turning point in the book, an end of the initial storyline and the introduction of several elements that will define the series going forward. With an eye towards that future, can you offer a hint or two about where the next storyline might take Morris and/or how we might see him further adapt to his Mosaic form?

Geoffrey Thorne: We are in discussions about that right now. The entire first arc takes place over less than 72 hours after he emerges from the cocoon and is really showing Morris reacting to things. After #5, Morris encounters the other Inhumans. This will be the final pin in the map of the course he’s going to set for the near future. Regardless of the outcome of that meeting, Morris will be very much in his own driver’s seat, going forward.

And there’s still the Brand Corporation out there as well as the little matter of the people whose lives he’s already influenced as well as the question of Fife. What is the deal with him and Morris, anyway? Stay tuned.

MOSAIC wraps its initial arc with issue #5, available February 22!