I'm just trying to catch up on some of the news and interviews that has come out recently in regards to the Superman titles.
First off, how could I have initially missed that the car numbers of the Metropolis' police force on the cover are 19 and 38? 1938, the year Action was released. I hate when I miss small things like that.
CBR: What about the development of his personality? In your first issue, which was a lot of fun, Superman is dangling villains from the ledge of buildings and, shall we say, getting his hands dirty in a number of different ways. Will we witness some sort of evolution in "Action Comics," in which Superman becomes the more iconic Superman of the past 30 or 40 years?
Morrison: Part of this first story arc shows how he goes from being an outlaw to the world's first superhero. It's very much about that and about the pressures that would be placed on you if you had this bright idea that you were going to change the world.
The idea that Superman is considered an outlaw at first is an apt one. I can't imagine he would be immediately accepted by everyone. But we already have a feeling that he is like a Robin Hood outlaw, beloved by the hurting general populace and hated by the corrupt. And the police probably are having a hard time distinguishing that now. What I do like is that it sounds like the transition to hero is just this first arc. I don't want to read years of Superman being hunted by cops. (Although that is semi-hinted at in Superman #1.)
CBR: During your run on "Batman," you really expanded the Dark Knight's mythos, introducing and re-introducing characters and locales from the past, present and future while interweaving an epic story between your title and the other Bat-books. Do you have similar plans for Superman in "Action Comics?"
Morrison: Well, I always have a long-term plan. But for now, we are doing six-issue arcs, major arcs, with some fill-in stories in between. No done-in-ones. This is more of long-term story, definitely.
It may turn into something much bigger. The overall villain already appeared in "Action Comics" #1. He's handling a lot of the stuff that will unfold during the entire first season of "Action Comics.'
My guess is that Morrison is such historian of comics that a lot of homages/references to the earliest Superman stories will happen in this flashback. We already have seen some.
And I am standing by my guess that the teetotaler unnamed guy with Glenmorgan is the 'overall villain'. Yes, we have seen General Lane, Mr. Glenmorgan, and Lex Luthor in this issue. But this quiet exit while holding Glenmorgan's tie seems suspicious. Could it be Mxyzptlk? (I already wonder if Clark's landlady Ms. Nxylx is from the 5th dimension.)
And then this bombshell on Newsarama:
Here is the link detailing George Perez short stay on Superman: http://www.newsarama.com/comics/george-perez-off-superman-110930.html
And here is a blurb:
The new creative team as of Superman #7 will be writer Keith Giffen and Dan Jurgens on layouts and/or pencils. Pérez may remain on the title as finisher/inker.
Now I am a Giffen fan. But this doesn't sound sit well. The creator they thought would usher in the 'new' Superman is off the book after 6 issues!! Shouldn't DC have had a longer view on the recreation of their signature character? I mean how long did Byrne stay on the book in some capacity when he was the guiding star? When creators pitched their ideas, didn't DC think that they should pick people who had a long term vision?
And the 'fresh' new Superman is being taken over by a long time comic guy and the man who was the mainstay on the book about 20 years ago? Does that sound innovative? Not that Perez is close to being a 'new' talent.
As always, good stories trump everything and I will be interested in seeing what Giffen and Jurgens have in store. But this seems wrong.
9 comments:
Anj wrote:
"Here is the link detailing George Perez short stay on Superman"
Well, that was fast.
"When creators pitched their ideas, didn't DC think that they should pick people who had a long term vision?"
That is assuming that DC thought everything through before forcing this DCnU upon us.
We'll see if Didio will be celebrating the DCnU in Hollywood six months or one year from now.
Gene
Keith Giffen intrigues me as a choice, I have a feeling he might be purely temporary but he's a capable plotter and has done strong work on Annihilation, Doom Patrol and '52' but I have no idea how he'll tackle a star book and arguably the company's biggest asset. I think he deserves a crack at this, he's been forked out to fringe books since he arrived at DC and his standing in the industry has earned him a shot at the bigtime like this. Good luck to him.
It does though make you wonder whether there's a plan for Superman at DC. Grant Morrison is certainly capable of taking the reigns and heading in a direction if given control but if the direction is handled purely by editorial (as it has been for quite some time now) then we might be seeing a repeat of the same old mistakes. There seems to be a real problem with the Editors taking charge of the writers and getting them to gel on the character, it's like they don't want to surrender control and content of Superman to some mere 'writer'.... *sigh*
I suspect George Perez was never going to stay longer than six issues, that DC just got him in as the launch name. Well, I'm good with Jurgens, and very good with Giffen, so aren't at all disappointed.
I find no problem whatsoever with Perez leaving. Look, I am a HUGE fan of his art. And I love what he did with the WW relaunch after CoIE. I also pretty much enjoyed Superman #1.
But honestly, things happen in any business. And in a business like monthly comics, I'm sure it's even crazier. If Perez needs to leave for whatever reason, then he does. I don't have a need to blame anyone for it, or anything like that.
Life isn't perfect.
As far as the new team of Giffen and Jurgens, I'm on board. They are both very talented, and I can't wait to see where the Superman book goes under their guidance.
Also, to be completely honest, for me Action Comics under Morrison is what will define the character of Superman for me.
I am a Giffen guy, so I am interested in seeing what he will do on the title.
But it just seems wrong that Perez is bowing out already, as if this relaunch wasn't planned long term.
And yes, I think Morrison's Action is going to be 'the' Superman book.
Well, without really knowing what the reasons are for his leaving, I don't feel comfortable commenting on it, frankly.
I think that there can still be an overall direction maintained, even if the ideas for the individual stories change with the creative team, though.
Anyhow, I guess we'll see.
Well, without really knowing what the reasons are for his leaving, I don't feel comfortable commenting on it, frankly.
This is a very good point. Of course if something in his life has taken him away from the book, I can only send him my well wishes.
But it just seems wrong that Perez is bowing out already, as if this relaunch wasn't planned long term
I agree with that, I wasn't all that surprised he'd leave early as he's always in demand and doesn't tend to stick around long on books these days due partly to his health, hence his preference for piecework in recent years rather than ongoing projects.
Looking at it realistically the launch is a curious affair as while Grant Morrison is Goldstar material you'd think for the 'modern' book they'd have got some equally high calibre creators and insist on an all action setpiece like seen in the Justice League. Instead it's all low key and compounded by a Superman who comes across a bit inaccessable.
I think after the last few years we deserve better and the editors should know better... it's really looking like they're afraid to have a strong, capable & motivated Superman.
Looking at it realistically the launch is a curious affair as while Grant Morrison is Goldstar material you'd think for the 'modern' book they'd have got some equally high calibre creators ...
Well, Giffen and Jurgens are "high calibre" enough for me. :)
Now, whether they will produce a quality book, that's another question. Heh.
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