Ryan Ferrier Talks 'Sons Of Anarchy' #25, Charlie Hunnam's Jax Teller Final Issue! EXCLUSIVE

BOOM! Studios releases the final issue of the SAMCRO comic book series with Sons of Anarchy #25. In an exclusive interview with MStars News, writer Ryan Ferrier discusses the final ride of Jax Teller (memorably played Charlie Hunnam) and bringing back Clay Marrow (Ron Perlman) one last time.

In our previous reviews of issue #23 and the penultimate #24, Clay has come up with a deal that could compromise the loyalty of everyone around him. Reeling from the death of his wife, Opie Winston (Ryan Hurst) hits the road, searching for new meaning in his lonely life. Grieving over his heavy loss, Opie goes back to his old job at the lumberyard. Unfortunately, Opie can never stay on the straight and narrow as Jax and Clay argue over their vision of the club. 

Writer Ryan Ferrier discusses the final issue of Sons of Anarchy, bringing back Clay Morrow fot this story arc, and his thoughts on the potentially Mayans spinoff in development from SOA creator Kurt Sutter.  

MStars News: Tell me about bringing in Clay Morrow (Ron Perlman) for this final arc.

Ryan Ferrier: When we first planted seeds for this arc, the final story, we knew we wanted to revisit SAMCRO during the "Clay era" as he was a crucial element and character to the Sons universe. He reflects so many themes of the universe, such as loyalty, fatherhood, and morality, and twists them and turns them quite wickedly. Though at times he's done some distinctly bad things, you have to ask yourself, "Well, haven't they all?" 

At this point in the universe, taking place in the first few seasons of the show-this arc specifically between seasons one and two-there was a much more grey area with Clay. That budding, burning blood between him and Jax is something we wanted to explore again. We also couldn't have imagined another tragic figure like Opie to serve as the parallel story for that.

MS: Because Clay has been around since the first season and Perlman's voice is so distinctive, was it a challenge capturing the dialogue for the character?

RF: I think if it wasn't a challenge, we wouldn't be doing it right! I do feel lucky in that Ron Perlman's performance of Clay is so rich and distinct, that it gave me a good indicator for the character. We know things he probably would and wouldn't say, and how we would or wouldn't say them. 

It's the emotion and the drive behind Clay that is the real challenge, a wonderful one at that. Clay is a complex character, as all of SAMCRO are, and being able to channel them all has been an absolute thrill. I can't say enough about the art team of Matías Bergara (art), Paul Little (colors), and Ed Dukeshire (letters) for bringing them all to life in such an incredible way. 

MS: Tell me about Clay's deal with the IRA, which the subplot hints at political satire. 

RF: In this final arc, we're really only seeing the earliest genesis of their deal with the IRA, a relationship that has obviously put Jax and Clay at odds with each other-which also completely unfolds in terrifically violent ways in subsequent seasons of the show. 

So this arc acts almost like SAMCRO's audition to do business. There's a connection and relationship between the Irish and the Sons, but there's a wild card thrown into the mix with the ONH faction; a splinter of rogue IRA members, with a bad, bad history to both SAMCRO and the IRA. So not only does SAMCRO have to step up and take care of an IRA problem, but they themselves are in ONH's crosshairs.

For Jax, this is the sign of the beginning of the end; for Clay, this is a new potential to quench his thirst for power; for Chibs...well, the ghosts of the past don't always stay dead. We love this story arc because either way, something is going to turn out wrong for someone.

MS: On the TV show, Clay and Jax have this Hamlet-esque dynamic. Tell me how you wanted to look at the relationship between Clay and Jax in this story arc. 

RF: In this arc, we're really at the beginning of their violent dance with each other. This is the embers getting hot. Clay wants to take the club in a direction that Jax disagrees with; a direction he feels his father would strongly disagree with as well. Jax is also struggling with his own role in SAMCRO, as far as where he wants to be, and what he's done-a huge part of that is family and loyalty, specifically as it relates to Opie, who's on his own journey. 

In this arc, we really start to see the power struggle between Jax and Clay, but Clay has all the power. We also begin to see some of Clay's true colors as it relates to how they both perceive SAMCRO and the family itself.

MS: Is it a challenge to wrap everything up and come up with a satisfying conclusion for the final issue? 

RF: It's always a challenge, no matter the arc, but a great challenge. We don't see this arc as conclusive, in that it takes place early on in the show's universe. Still, we wanted this particular story to have some resonance and certainly pay tribute to the heart of the show-that's where Opie, a big fan favorite, and tragic character, really came into play. We really wanted to explore what family means to these people, and the lengths they endure to cling to it, if they even can. 

I admit, writing the final pages, and the final dialogue, did tug at my heartstrings, and we wanted the last moments to be impactful. It's a bittersweet ending, knowing that there's still more story that follows the last issue, in the rest of the series.

MS: Tell me what the final issue means to you.

RF: It was also incredibly bittersweet to write the final issue because the team that makes this series possible is so incredible. Working with Matías, Paul, Ed, as well as our amazing editors Dafna Pleban and Mary Gumport, was nothing short of a dream. We're all really so proud of what we've done, and to have had as much fun working together. And of course, this follows the artists and writers that came before I joined on with issue #18.

MS: I was an emotional wreck after the series finale of Sons of Anarchy. On a scale of 1 to 10, how will this final issue give me "the feels?"

RF: I've actually scientifically measured this issue, it will hit you in the feels with an earthquaking 11.4. If you're a fan of our beloved Opie, which I know most Sons fans hold him in their hearts, then this whole arc could require some tissues for the tears.

MS: Looking back on these issues, is there a character you wished you had tackled? Or is there an installment you're particularly proud of?

RF: With this new arc, we were all super excited to really dive into a good Opie tale-something which had been on my mind since we started working on Sons. I really do think we've been able to explore all the great characters of the universe, and that is in part due to such a rich ensemble of complex characters. 

My Scottish heritage gives me a soft-spot for Chibs, but it's really hard to pick a favorite. I feel like, with this arc ending, we've been able to really touch on everyone a little bit (and some a lot more). I am really proud of two of the original characters we've created, namely Dillon Munson and Rhys McDaid-the villains of the last two story arcs, respectively. Villains, especially in the world of Sons of Anarchy, are so much fun to write.

MS: With Kurt Sutter in talks about a Mayan series and a SAMCRO prequel, what is it about the mythology of Sons of Anarchy that you think makes it so versatile?

RF: First of all, I am so completely jazzed about a possible Mayans spin-off show. As you can tell from my first arc on Sons, I'm a huge fan of the Mayans, Alvarez in particular. I will take any chance to see Emilio Rivera's acting any day; he's phenomenal. 

I think what makes the mythology so versatile is that every single character is so rich and complex; they're all faced with such incredible odds and they all fit into their own microcosm that evolves into a bigger whole.

I love how the lines between good and bad are so blurred, and that the show finds ways to get us on their side, even if that side is a heavy shade of grey. Beyond that, it's just so fun. It weaves in everything I love about genre-fiction; there's action, there's crime; sometimes there's elements of classic westerns, sometimes there's elements of heist and gangster films. Sons of Anarchy really does use so many entertaining elements as its touchstones-it takes the best part of these as homage and gives them its own flavor thanks to it's superb and different cast of characters. 

MS: What other projects are you working on now?

RF: As always, I have quite a few plates spinning, all of which I'm way excited for. D4VE2, the second arc of my comic series titled D4VE, has just begun-that's published monthly through IDW, and is very different from Sons of Anarchy, but I love it. I've also got a new series starting early next year, which hasn't been announced yet, but I think (hope) it'll be big, big fun. 

Sons of Anarchy #25, the final issue, is now available in stores. 

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