Nick Roberts, former villainous POWER and now bit-part player in the drama of Detective Christian Walker and Deana Pilgrim lives spills on his past, the current state of POWERS affairs and what retired super-villians do in New Jersey...

Q: Our sources tell us you’re in contact with other retired super-villains.
Tell us, what’s an average get-together like?
We shoot the shit and talk about old times and talk about robberies and women and debauchery.

Q: For a man that once had aspirations to take over the world
what do you do for fun?
I still enjoy metal works, but I also like to make caskets for old friends.

Q: Nick, we’ve got to ask, you rock the eye-patch, why?
Cause I can't fuckin' see.

Q: Where and when “did it all go wrong”?
Besides that last question, when my Sifu ripped out my eye when I was eight. Thanks for reminding me.

Q: You’ve often fashioned various gadgets and armor for other super-villains,
did you ever get requests for items not fit to print in a family newspaper?
A dildo for Retrogirl. It was titanium springloaded alloy copper with a jelly sheild.

Q: You worked alone for the duration of your “career”. How come so many super-villains go it alone?
Cause we can only trust ourselves.

Q: The Joke – a fitting end for an over-rated has been, or a cruel and unusual fate?
I think he enjoyed it.

Q: What advice would you like to offer to those readers who have designs of tyranny, a predilection for megalomania and other nefarious desires?
Study all the great terrorists and pick up on their best parts... I mean traits.

Q: You got out of the game – after a long and prosperous run…why?
And why New Jersey?
I retired because it just couldn't get any worse, and in NJ there's enough weirdos to blend in. Also, my parole officer lives here.

Q: Do you fear the Wolfe?
Only on the full moon. He was a bit unpredicable even for a villian.

Q: What do you think about the younger generation of super-villains such as Bug?
These guys have to be more evil than me. We did it all baby.

Q: Side-kicks, valuable assets or just valuable ass?
Valuable ass. Ive been in prison a lot of times. Valuable ass.

Q: Ever cross swords with a Detective David Mack?
That bastard framed me. FRAMED ME!!

Q: Our president has made many questionable decisions, chief amongst those is the outlawing of POWERS. If, you suddenly found yourself standing on his desk as he begged for mercy, what might you say to the commander and chief?
Actually, I once had a device, though my parole means I no longer have it- that would allow me to be able to control his mind, and then I'd have fun. But I'm reformed, right?

Q: Tell us Nick, late in your career did you ever supplement or "enhance"
in order to give yourself greater staying-power?
Just say yes to drugs. Though not I, as I'm still on parole.

Q: Retro Girl 1 or Retro Girl 2 –
Who gets to feel the heat of Nick Roberts blow torch?
Retro Girl one. Before she died. In my fucking dreams.

Q: Some of your exploits have been chronicled in the funny books. What’s your take on these amusing and precious childhood diversions?
They don't reflect my soft side enough.

Q: Did you ever get caught monologue-ing?
What the fuck is that?

Q: Superman Returns debuts in theaters this summer, it’s the simple story of boy meets planet, boy get powers, boy meets girl, boy battles super-villain, boy saves planet, boy does not get girl because girl is hot for his alter-ego. Pitch us your tale…
Mommy and daddy keep telling me NO, I leave home early, go to the streets, rob, steal and if nessesarry do horrible things to survive, make lots of enemies and then keep them close as friends and then set them up and kill them, and send flowers to their funeral, what the fuck kind of fag question is this?

Q: You’ve been outted, we all know now that you’re Nick Roberts. However, you seemed to value your privacy, particularly your secret identity. Do you ever miss the days of fear and loathing?
I miss the old days, I got away with so much that people actually know about.

Q: Howard Stern or Rush Limbaugh?
Debella.

Q: What is a hero, without you?
Out of work.

Q: Some historians look upon you strictly as a B-Lister, your response?
For someone who failed at life, I was pretty good villian.
Then I'd find their address and fix their fucking car.

Q: As a super-villain you might snarl mid-town traffic for a few hours, or have a dust-up with Trip Hammer (if it was lucrative enough for him to suit-up), those were average days, but what really made you want to bring humanity to it's knees? Goodie two-shoes are all good on the outside, but inside, they're shit like me.

Q: When did you finally realize that enough-was-enough?
When I got arrested.


Free Association:
Give us your impressions as we offer you the following words or phrases.

Christian Walker – aka Diamond.
Pussy.

Beating of a lifetime.
I enjoyed it.

Grill. Bling. Shizzle.
Again, what the fuck are you talking about? I'm a genious dammit and I don't know what the hell your talking about...

Powers That Be.
They should have Negative Powers that be starring ME!

The Pulp.
Rip Off Artist

Codpiece.
Sidekick

The Nick Roberts character, whose most prominent POWERS appearance is in the Roleplay story arc, is based at least visually on Mike Oeming's uncle Larry. He currently lives in New Jersey and aside from being an eye-patch wearing arcwelder, he is obviously ghost writing POWERS.


Thanks to Mike Oeming for his continued support of P!, and to his uncle Larry for graciously answering all of our questions in character!