Johns on the 'New Krypton' storyline

Over on the CBR website there is an interview with Geoff Johns talking about the big Superman crossover event happening the in fall called 'New Krypton'. The opening issue is Superman:The New Krypton, a one-shot on sale in late October and whose cover is shown at the top of the post. The issue is written by all three super-title authors: Johns, Robinson, and Gates. Internal art is by Pete Woods, Gary Frank, and Renato Guedes.

The 9 part story will also cross-over all three Super titles: Superman, Action Comics, and Supergirl. Below is the link to the Johns interview.

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=17359

The article is light on facts about the storyline, although it is hinted at that the bottle city of Kandor and it's 100,000 Kryptonian inhabitants will survive the current Brainiac arc. The article again does highlight how intergrated the Supergirl title will be. While I have covered this before, I am fairly giddy about the attention Kara is getting in the news and think it should be covered here. Here are some of the Supergirl-centric quotes.

Johns told CBR News, "The story grows out of my 'Brainiac' arc in 'Action' and the 'Atlas' arc James has going in 'Superman.' But to put it simply, when those stories end there are 100,000 Kryptonians left on Earth going: 'This must be New Krypton, how wonderful.' And the story builds from there.
"It's obviously a very personal story for Superman, and Supergirl gets caught up in the action pretty quick."

This storyline is probably when the numeric triangles on the covers will appear so people buying the arc will know what order to read the issues. Supergirl gets involved 'pretty quick' which leads me to believe Supergirl 35, Gates' second issue will be in the storyline. I wonder just how involved she will be. Will Gates' story riffs (Cat Grant/Silver Banshee) be able to be progressed in these cross-over issues? Or will the New Krypton story dominate completely? I like having Kara enmeshed in the super-titles. But I hope she doesn't play second fiddle to Superman in her own title.

I think about this Peter David issue as an example. While Supergirl 20 was a cross-over issue in the Superman storyline Millenium Giants, it still advanced the ongoing plot lines of the Supergirl title itself.

Back in the interview, Johns talks more about Sterling Gates. He says emphatically that Gates is a huge Supergirl fan, which is great news. When he was first announced at Hero-Con, Gates said he was at the con buying old issues of the Daring New Adventures of Supergirl, a sign he is a fan. Johns then continues.

"Sterling's first issue of 'Supergirl' is the best issue of 'Supergirl' I have ever read. I think he's got a great take on the character and a great energy for the character," said Johns. "James and I really believe in him. [Editors] Matt [Idelson] and Nachie [Castro] really believe in him and [artist] Jamal Igle is turning in some amazing pages on that book. 'Supergirl' is going to be a book to watch. "And Supergirl is a character that James and I are already integrating into our books, 'Action' and 'Superman.' She is very important to Superman and we want her to be as prevalent and prominent in the Superman mythology as Robin is to Batman. She is not always going to team up with Superman but she has a very important part in his life and his world. And a lot of things are going to come out of her book that will be pretty big for the world of Superman and the other 100,000 Kryptonians."

Supergirl 34 is the best issue of Supergirl Johns has ever read?! This is probably hyperbole but I guess it is a nice compliment. I don't know if it can ever live up to that hype for me, especially since I loved the David run. Still, sounds promising.

I also both like and dislike the reference to Robin. I like it because Robin is a well-respected and well-represented character in the DCU. I dislike it because Robin is a side-kick and Supergirl should not have the sidekick 'feel' to her.

Still we have seen that Supergirl will be a big part of Johns' title (already seen) and Robinson's title (she is appearing next month's issue, cover below).

As for the New Krypton storyline itself, I am greatly looking forward to it. It looks like it will streamline the history of Krypton a bit. The Frank cover of the special shows 2 distinct Kryptonian architecture types, both of which have been valid in the past. But I don't know which one is valid now.

Here is the Alex Ross cover for Superman 681, one of the early issues of the New Krypton story arc.

Notice that there are a bunch of Kryptonian-garbed people flying around. I can make out a Silver Age Jor-El, someone in a Byrne-like outfit, someone in a Donner/Brando style outfit, and some I don't recognize at all (fully admitting I didn't read super-titles outside Supergirl from 2001-2007). Hopefully we will get one true and current Krypton for the current DCU that everyone can build on.

My guess is that the 100,000 Kryptonians are 'stuck' in the city much like they were in the Silver Age. That sets the table for me to review this issue sometime in the fall.

The bottom line is I am stoked for the new team and thrilled that Kara is going to be an important figure in the DCU soon.