Superman Family News At NYCC 2022

I have never been able to attend the New York City Comic Con. It is a bucket list item for me.

The con occurred last weekend and one of the cool things to come out of it was a Superman panel teeing up all the things that are going to happen with the Superman books in the upcoming year.

Here is a link to the coverage over on the DC site:
https://www.dc.com/blog/2022/10/08/the-new-era-of-superman-starts-this-january

There was a lot to love in the news as discussed by the creators. Most of the upcoming plans sound fantastic. I'll touch on some of the news here but I recommend reading the entire blurb.

Let's start with Action Comics.

“My one-word mission statement for Action Comics in 2023 is ‘Super-Family,’ and I draw inspiration from the 100-page Giant ‘Superman Family issues,” said writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson. “We’re giving everyone in the House of El their own role and personal journey while still keeping Superman at the forefront, and tying all the Super-titles together in a way that’s reminiscent of the Triangle Era. I couldn’t be more excited to be part of this new era of Action Comics, and doing it alongside such a consummate artist as Rafa Sandoval and comics titan Dan Jurgens truly makes it a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

I was a kid when the Superman Family went to the dollar comic format and I loved it. So the idea of seeing something like it again is tremendous. I feel Johnson has had a great handle on the underpinnings of the Superman characters. His Supergirl is spot on. His take on Steel and Natasha is perfect. So I am glad he is taking charge in this way.

On Twitter Johnson said that the book will be 40 pages with three different stories. That is about as close to the classic Superman Family book you can get. I am hoping that eventually Supergirl will get some stories of her own. 

We know that the main story will be Superman dealing with Lex and Metallo.

Here are the other two stories in the book.

Then, in “Lois and Clark 2: Doom Rising,” Dan Jurgens and Lee Weeks return to tell the tale of young Jon Kent on the farm with his parents, learning about his abilities, coming of age… and battling the Doombreaker?!

And the final story in Action Comics features Power Girl’s return in part one of a three-part story by Leah Williams and Marguerite Sauvage spinning out of Lazarus Planet. Action Comics #1051 will be available at local comic shops on January 24, 2023.

Jurgens and Weeks did the Convergence Superman book and the Lois and Clark mini that came out of it. They say this will be the early days of Jon on the farm. Will this be pre-unification of the Convergence Superman with the New 52?

And a Power Girl relaunch? That's great. She has been lost a bit lately. I can't wait to see Sauvage's take on Karen. I don't know Leah Williams at all. 

The Superman book will also be relaunched.

“After the darkness of the last year in the DCU, there is no character better suited to lead DC into the light than Superman,” said Joshua Williamson. “It’s an understatement to say I’m honored to be writing DC’s flagship series. I’m very excited to take Clark Kent on a fun, pulp style adventure in Metropolis against his greatest villains. We’re also going to be introducing new concepts and new challenges for the Man of Steel and to be doing it with wonderful partners like Jamal Campbell and Nick Dragotta is a dream come true. Every page explodes with awesome energy. The Superman line that Tom, Phillip and I are putting together with DC is going to lead the way for an exciting 2023.”

The Superman title will be written by Joshua Williamson with art by Jamal Campbell. That sounds like a great creative team. I look forward to see what someone like Williamson, who clearly loves DC history, will do with Superman.   

The word 'pulp' struck me. I like that. 

And then Jon's book. 

“I couldn't be more excited for Jon Kent to headline the iconic Adventures of Superman,” said Tom Taylor. “It’s a real testament to the fantastic response of fans to Jon as Superman. This series is going to be one of the most action-packed books I’ve ever written and Jon is going to be tested more than ever before. While we can tell you the Superman of Earth-2, Val-Zod, and Jon’s nemesis, Ultraman, will be key characters in the early part of Adventures of Superman, what we’re going to reveal at the end of issue #2 will have everyone talking and issue #3 launches us in a direction that no one will see coming.”

I like the idea of Ultraman being a Jon villain. Certainly they have the back story. This small blurb has more action in it than all of the 'Son of Kal-El' book.  So hopefully we'll get some super-heroics. It is interesting that this is only a 6 issue miniseries. I don't know if Son of Superman was very well received so perhaps this is a way for Taylor to prove his salt or slowly recede from the Els. 

I will say again that I really love these new costume designs. I am digging the jacket look, reminiscent of the 5YL Legion or the jackets Avengers timeline. I really like Kara's look. And I can't wait to see how Otho and Osul will be brought into the fold. 

And is that a blue lightning Jon? Fascinating. That might explain the stylized S-shield.

I am excited. What did you all think?