Morrison Interview And Perez Off The Book

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.

Then, there is a great interview with Grant Morrison about his approach to Action Comics over on Comic Book Resources. Here is the link: http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=34638

As always, the entire interview is worth reading. Much of it is some retreading of information, that this is a younger Superman who might be a bit more fiery. But a couple of things stood out.

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.