PANELS OF THE WEEK 9/14/16
ACTION COMICS: Who/What is Clark Kent?
Written by Dan ‘the Man’ Jurgens with art by Patrick Zircher.
Did Mystery Clark who showed up in Action 957 know new 52 Lois Lane? We never saw them meet on panel. We were promised new 52 Lois would be Superwoman. That lasted one issue and then she was dust. So is this a clone with neuro programming or is this the Real new 52 Superman without his powers?
The story Clark & Perry are talking about is last year’s DCYou storyline where Lois Lane was promoted as a betrayer of Superman’s dual identity. New 52’s last nuclear blast at the Superman mythology. And probably the reason for Rebirth.
Clark uses closing time as a distraction so he can enter GENETICRON. With a name like that it must have to do with genetics and time. Mystery CK seems to know new 52 Lois Lane pretty well.
I highly recommend BUYING Action Comics from 957 on. Put it on your pull list.
For history buffs, see if you can find this 4 part arc by Maggin & Bates in the classic section of your LCS. It begins with Superman v1 #296.
Clark may be depowered while wearing the glasses but he has all the confidence of a super man. He impresses Lois Lane & they have a dinner of beef bourguignon. That’s right, it was in this arc where Lois and Clark’s code word for whoopie started.
NEW SUPER-MAN Who is that wearing the S?
The Chinese Super-Man and his ‘Justice League’ counterparts are in as secret base under the sea.
Is this the real new 52 Superman? Or is this a red herring? We know Grant Morrison’s Action stories stayed in the first year of the new 52. The other #1’s jumped 5 years ahead. Dr. Omen in this story has dealt with genetics. Superwoman (not Lois) book mentioned Lex & Lena’s prisons were experimenting on villains. It just gets curiouser and curiouser.
WONDER WOMAN YEAR ONE: The Beauty of WonderTrev
Greg Rucka is writing Diana’s origins in this storyline drawn by Nicola Scott.
Looks like a lot of understanding to me on a whole lot of levels.
Did I mention the Amazons gave Steve his appendix back? Thanks, Nicola!
In Rucka’s other storyline, THE LIES, we see Diana and Steve in the present. The mystery of the mugshot is now solved in Wonder Woman #6. Trevor carries this picture with him through the heat of battle. Liam Sharp is responsible for the beauty of Diana and Steve in The Lies storyline.
Highly recommend you BUYING Wonder Woman. Both storylines and art are (insert most fabulous word you can think of).
TITAN COMICS: DOCTOR WHO THE THIRD DOCTOR: Bessie & Oh Shit!!! **SPOILERS**
Paul Cornell’s first issue came out this week. Jon Pertwee was my first Doctor Who. Still is. Some of you may be watching his son, Sean, as Alfred on GOTHAM. I also loved Pertwee’s car, Bessie.
There were actually a few “Oh Shits!” in this first issue. My son’s favorite Doctor showed up. But what made me squee the most —
Oh yea. THE Master. The REAL one. YES YES YES!!!
Highly recommend this series. Cornell has written some of the best Doctor Who television episodes. He is a master.
Hope everyone had a good comic book week. Hope there was something in some book that made you feel and wanting more.
This Saturday at 5pm EDT on talkshoe .Tej and I will be doing our G2FACTOR HARDCORE podcast. We do reviews of comic books and DC movie news. This week we’ll be doing Action Comics 963, Wonder Woman #6 with some other mentions. Our PSR this week will be Superwoman #2. A PSR is a Public Service Review for those people who won’t read the comic for their own mental health but want to know what’s going on. We supply that service.
Do You Feel Cheated by DC Entertainment?
Since September, 2011 many Superman fans have felt cheated. He’s not the guy about hope, champion of the oppressed or even about loving humanity. In fact, since the beginning of the new 52 era, there has been no love in the DCU at all.
In 1938, Action Comics #1 started a genre of global proportions. Portraying an alien with extraordinary powers, who had a human identity. Clark Kent/Superman (one and the same) was cast as a romantic hero from the start. It has served the character and his fans well for over 70 years.
Enter DC Entertainment and their treatment of the character & his mythology which is known in every HOUSEHOLD around the world.
In 1938, the cornerstone of what was to follow through 7 decades, we have the pursuit and challenge of a personal relationship. Clark Kent and Lois Lane. Beginning in 2012, we have DC Entertainment’s version of a personal relationship. Loneliness, fear and grief. Supers should be with supers according to one DCE insider, a former Wildstorm creator. Characters should be with their own kind? Segregation? Are DC superheroes now the X-men?
Apparently DC Entertainment is not familiar with Superman vs the Klu Klux Klan or even Superman and the Mole Men? Superman no longer loves humanity. He truly has no purpose in saving anyone. He’s only been allowed to save the Earth from huge superpowered villains. Never allowed to be Clark Kent, journalist, fighting evil using the power of the pen, his heart and his mind. Human readers are supposed to be complacent with a Superman/Clark who never takes on the evil of their everyday lives that they can relate to.
No inspiring readers to aspire. No cheering on the power of the individual. Superman is hogtied to his superfriends. Recently he’s acquired a power that will make him ‘human’ for 24 hours and he’s been using it to the extent that he needs Batman to rescue him (naked, no less) and have Alfred make him a new costume every single time. Dependency on the group. Powerless on his own.
Fans of the 70-plus relationship of Clark/Lois/Superman found another disconcerting aspect to the character under DC Entertainment’s watch.
In 1938 and in the decades that followed, Clark as Superman tells Lois Lane he means no harm. To humanity in general and her in particular.
In the new 52, Superman #27 written by Scott Lobdell, a former creator for Marvel and Wildstorm, shows Clark as Superman deciding to allow Parasite to extract the knowledge of his secret from Lois Lane’s brain. This was after she had saved him several times with her psionic powers. Not even the Silver Age of superdickery had Superman harming Lois Lane in this fashion.
Twelve issues later, Geoff Johns in Superman #38 lightswitched Clark telling Jimmy Olsen he was Superman. Never happened before in the entire 75-plus years of Superman’s existence.
So what if Lois did know but didn’t tell Clark she knew. It’s happened many times and for many years previously. In multimedia, not just comics.
DC Entertainment is not going to go there. They’re looking for new future readers this summer for their revamp of what used to be called the new 52. Earth Zero. (or as some fans call it, Earth Loser)
Divergence is the codename for this summer’s event. Superman will have a crossover between his books. Action (which Lois has not been allowed in by editorial since Greg Pak took over), Batman/Superman (which Lois has been featured), Superman/Wonder Woman (need I say that Lois won’t be gracing that book unless you count Diana wanting to be a reporter along side Clark) and Superman (the book Geoff Johns abandoned to concentrate on television where he obviously has more control).
On Free Comic Book Day, readers got an 8 page ‘preview’ of what was to come in June, 2015. Lois Lane has outed Clark Kent as Superman. How did she find out? Did she always know? If so, then why at this time did she decide to out him? And why make her to be perceived as the villain? I doubt any of these questions will be answered as the storytelling has been lacking since DCE took over. (This story is being written by newcomer Gene Luen Yang as his first fray into the breech known as DCE.)
“Truth”, the name of the crossover event says ” For Superman, there’s no holding back.” Back from what? He’s got a crewcut, t-shirt, jeans, workboots, no cape, nearly powerless and riding a motorcycle. And he’s on the run because his “best friend” (Lois, a relationship that was never adequately depicted for years) outed him.
Since September, 2011, Superman fans have had a 5 year gap in his new history, only lip service to a dual identity (like it’s a bad thing or used as a weapon against Lois), and no triangle for two at all.
So instead of continuing to cheat Superman readers, DC Entertainment is not holding back from ripping us off? Because basically since September, 2011, Superman has been in moniker only, not in character or mythology. No longer the romantic hero we all remember and have depicted in other multi-million dollar media.
I guess those former execs from Marvel and Wildstorm know more about DC heroes than their fans do, right? Or do they have Dr. Fate tied up somewhere telling them what the future readers want?
G2HARDCORE: CATCH UP ON THE DCU NEWS
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RENAISSANCE MAN NO MORE
When I was young I didn’t know what a Renaissance man was, but I knew what a Superman was/is/should be.
Superman to me was more than just a brawling alien who fought for Earth and its human inhabitants. Being the Last Son of Krypton allowed this being to possess all the knowledge of the known galaxies. What does such a man do with all those advantages? How can mere humans ever hope to relate to him? How can a reading audience ever trust him to never be corrupted? The answer is in his origins. He took on a human identity.
Superman 26: More Beginning of the End?
SPOILERS!!!
WARNING: SOME OF THE PICTURES MAY NOT BE CONDUCIVE TO GOOD MENTAL OR EYE HEALTH!
(Click on the pics if you need to enlarge them)
First let me state, IMO, Scott Lobdell needs to be immediately removed from writing Superman. I don’t think he understands females very well. Or perhaps it is editorial that doesn’t and he’s just getting the writer’s cred. There may have been sexual harassers or other despicables writing Superman previously, but Lobdell has been publicly outted and that is horrible for the character and bad for business. Readers, especially female readers, won’t be comfortable in purchasing any Superman story.
Slowy I turned & step by step, inch by inch . . .
**some spoilers ahead**
Could it be we are seeing the first glimmerings of the triangle for two?
At Baltimore Con in September, (thanks, Chris!) Dan Didio stated that after ‘a couple of bad stories’ then Lois Lane’s storyline will be built up (the ‘bad’ stories could be in the fauxmance book as that was the subject of discussion). Now at NYCC Didio has stated that although they wanted to explore the Superman and Wonder Woman relationship (fauxmance book) ‘for a bit’, there still is a contingent of Lois fans and that Lois Lane looks good as a title on a comic. This could occur within this next year.
Within the books we do have a few clues:
In the fauxmance book, (first issue out last week) we find that Clark still has secrecy issues as well as his infamous overprotectiveness. Apparently Diana is not Lois. She has tolerated Clark not making their relationship public, but is beginning to think he’s ashamed of it because he doesn’t want to shout it to the world. (Maybe not quite a guy in love.) Also Superman seems to want to take on all the ‘dangerous’ stuff first hand, but he’s in a relationship with Wonder Woman, someone who can take care of herself.
She’s fought along side him for 5 years now, but he’s acting like she’s ‘incapable’ of handling things now. It could all be a desire to protect her but that’s not what their relationship is about. They are together because they both are physically invulnerable and are fearful to love humans who aren’t.
Clark has been secretive with Lois as is the nature of his protectiveness of her. He doesn’t desire any of his loved ones to be put in peril because he is Superman as well as Clark Kent. In the past, the feisty Ms. Lane has bucked under the strain of this protection. She is a woman who can take care of herself and she makes no bones and doesn’t wait to tell Superman this. Lois is always Lois. There’s no holding back or ‘guessing’ why he does or doesn’t do something. Lois likes things open and honest.
Another note: Clark thinks Lois is amazing (in Superman) but thinks Diana is strange (fauxmance book). Clark is a writer and certainly could have found a complimentary adjective to use — exotic, mysterious, but no, Soule has him use the word strange . . . to Diana.
In the fauxmance book, Diana will teach Clark fighting technique which is a good foundation for their friendship. Clark is a brawler by nature and learning a few nuances of battle from a woman who is currently the God of War in her own book will not be a detriment. However, it is because she has been raised a warrior and has that mindset, this will clash with Clark’s moral core of giving second chances and preservation of life.
Last Spring, Scott Lobdell introduced a storyline where Superboy (Kon) was a clone of Clark and Lois’ future natural born son, Jon Lane Kent. Jon was kidnapped and raised by Harvest to destroy all the supers and metahumans in the 30th century. Harvest also was responsible for getting yet another set of Clark and Lois’ DNA (Clark’s during Action 2 perhaps and Lois’ in the present psi story?) and applying them to Jon’s to create Kon. Superboy 22 was to be a fight between Jon and Kon but that was skipped over until Teen Titans Annual #2 (out this month, October).
Apparently Kon is to be killed off in Superboy 25 and will have Jon continuing in that book. Marv Wolfman will be writing this story. So Lois Lane has a natural born son by Clark (from the future) who has been raised to kill supers and metas. Just conjecture, but according to Didio in a tweet by the intrepid Chris, Lois is going to be a big deal. Who finds out first? Clark that he and Lois have a son? Lois? Or does Jon find out and then the games begin?
At Baltimore Comic Con, Didio said in a conversation that ‘they’ pushed Lois down too far. Thus the necessary build up. Action and Superman orders have been falling and getting very close to the 40,000 below par mark. Superman of all characters should NEVER have such abysmal ‘sales’ ESPECIALLY during his 75th anniversary.
The psi war story has been in both Action and Superman comics after Diggle’s departure. No longer being written by Scott Lobdell but by Mike Johnson. Lois is out to save Superman, once again. She has powers now and does not hesitate to go to his rescue. In fact, fans have seen Lois Lane save Superman more times than he has saved her in the new 52. After a brief departure of Clark going to the newly ‘revived’ Krypton, then Lois will be back in Superman 26 with her psi powers only to be a ‘meal’ for Parasite. Which will probably bring her back to normal human power status. But it is Lois Lane, she does have extraoridinary powers in the face of vulnerability.
Lois has been featured in the first issues of Batman/Superman by Greg Pak. New 52 characters meet their counterparts on Earth 2 before they all ‘died’. Pak will be writing Action Comics beginning with issue 25. Despite the coordinating with the Batman Zero storyline with his first issue, he will then go into ‘present’ storylines. Pak has proven he ‘gets’ the triangle for two or as it has become known in modern terms . . . Clois.
Charles Soule may have Lois in his book as a supporting character. Right now, Cat is being featured as the one who may implode the romantic aspects of the fauxmance. Clark doesn’t want it public, but how ironic if it was exposed in his own blog that he shares with Cat. Soule does write a good story, but unfortunately it’s the wrong story to get my money. He hasn’t thrown Lois under the bus – and that will be my guideline as to whether or not he knows his stuff regarding the Superman mythology and what makes it so beloved and successful.
Will the fauxmance book catch up with this Lois build up? That’s a question only time will tell. Pak and Soule have tweeted they enjoy communicating about their shared universe.
In Action and Superman, Lois has psionic powers and is rescuing Superman. In Superboy and Superman, she is the mother of Jon Lane Kent and the double-mother of Connor ‘Kon’ Kent. In Batman/Superman, Earth 2 Lois was a drink of cool clear water after trekking through a desert.
And please don’t forget the comic that may have shown the powers that be the error of their ways . . .Superman Unchained. Scott Snyder has said Lois is the key and will be rescuing Superman (probably in more ways than one). She is featured on the cover of issue #5 in November.
While they are building up Lois, how can they help but give Clark Kent journalist a boost as well. Clark doesn’t seem very excited about this blogging thing without Lois Lane in his orbit. The blog he shares with Cat has been nothing but infotainment — something he accused Lois of when he found out she was moving in with Jonathan Carroll. At least Lois waited 4 years to do so and probably after waiting for Clark to make a move since their chemistry is unmistakable. Jonathan pursued her. Clark didn’t. After knowing Lois for five years and thinking she’s the most amazing woman he’s ever met, he kisses Diana out of fear and loneliness and starts dating his Justice League co-member.
This storyline has been very damaging to both the Superman and Wonder Woman individual mythologies. Pushing Lois down too far may now have DCE finding a way to unsink Superman in his books.
Scott Snyder, Bryan Q. Miller and the various creators in the Adventures of Superman books have kept the true Superman mythology alive and well. Kicking ass and taking names. Scott Snyder’s Superman Unchained, when it is published, has been the #1 DC comic for the month. Smallville Season 11 and Adventures of Superman are digital-firsts which not only sell electronic comics but also prints.
With the buildup of Lois Lane’s storyline, it means that the Superman mythology will FINALLY come to full blossom in the new 52. Clark Kent, Lois Lane and Superman. The Daily Planet, Krypton, and perhaps some Smallville locales could flesh out this iconic story. The one that fans for generations have adored and purchased.
We’re still in the middle of New York Comic Con and perhaps there will be more goodies for Superman fans everywhere.
PS: If DCE does the 5 year leap in September, 2014 and they’ve already established Lois Lane as a pillar of the Superman mythology – then I’m all for it. Still would like to see things develop. Have some foundation to build stories upon.
RAMBLE, RAMBLE, RAMBLE, RAMBLE, RAMBLE
(the title – think Steve Martin)
So it’s been a while . . .
Superman’s story still seems to be a jumble in the new 52. It’s never been constructed, more like chimps tossing caca against their cage & laughing hysterically at how clever they are.
Scott Snyder’s Superman Unchained is the exception but it’s not truly in new 52 continuity. It is very much the Superman mythology we know except Clark’s wearing Kryptonian armor (with a collar to look more majestic (Jim Lee is drawing)) and he’s blogging instead of being a reporter for the Daily Planet. This week we found out that Snyder may not be on the book very long. This was a story he wanted to tell if he only got the chance to tell one Superman story. We thank him for that. At least we have this story which totally GETS what Superman means to people, who he is as a character, and how he relates to Earth being an alien raised in Kansas.
Plus there’s the added bonus, Snyder has said he will not be addressing the fauxmance in his book. Thank you!
The timeline from what we’ve been privy to at this time – Superman Unchained #3 in August, skips September for Villains month, and then there will be six more issues, running from October to March. The Forever Evil DCE wide story arc runs during this time period also. Coincidence? Perhaps not. What do you follow with after the villains have taken over especially in superhero books? The heroes win. Forever is about six months in comic books.
Some real surprises this week from strange sources: Superman Annual #2 by Scott Lobdell and Injustice: Gods Amongst Us #30 by Tom Taylor. Lobdell wrote a solid story about Lois Lane investigating and the narration boxes were from her point of view. Yes, I’m waiting for you to digest that. Proof positive, he can actually write or he may have been influenced by Superman vet, artist and writer Dan Jurgens who gave us some stunning Superman and Lois scenes. Lois is dying (of course she is since DCE has only killed her off five time previously in their universe) and she is now involved in the Psi War arc besides being Jon and Kon’s mom. She is now one of the 20. Yea, Lobdell has a fascination with these number stories.
Taylor redeemed himself in I:GAU #30 by writing the Superman we all know and love. Unfortunately, fans are very well aware that both of these writers will go back to giving us the crap we refuse to buy because that’s what the DCE is all about.
Case in point: Didio said at the Boston Comic Con that he didn’t want to bring back fan favorite characters unless it’s done naturally. (Yea, light switch the freaking fauxmance and shove it down our throats, hypocrite.) This was an answer to a Stephanie Brown question. Yes, I hear the resounding, “ohhhhh” across the cognitive airwaves. So I guess Stephanie Brown is a mushroom now, cause she hasn’t seen the light of day for two years and the new 52 is basically shit – so yea, in order to have her grow naturally, somebody is going to have to go into a cave (obviously) and pluck her into existence!
BTW, if you’re ever in the presence of Dan Didio – just say the word ICON and see if he flinches. Make sure you say it as if you’re not calling him an icon. Because he’s not. He’s expendable. Icons are not expendable.
Recently I realized Action Comics has not mentioned the fauxmance even when Lobdell is writing it. I’m wondering if it ever will. After Lobdell’s run (23 & 24), Greg Pak takes over and he’s writing young new 52 Superman (the Bruce Springsteen blue jeaned guy). This happens while Lobdell takes Superman, Supergirl, and Superboy back to Krypton with H’El.
Lobdell has said he’s writing something that’s never been done before at any of the publishing houses. So my guess is – he’s going to write the Supers out of existence – it is Forever Evil after all. I say this because in a recent interview, he talked about using Parasite to suck the energy (psionic) out of Lois Lane (Superman Annual 2). Could part of Lobdell’s story be how the humans manage without their ‘saviors’ during Forever Evil? If we see how badass Lois Lane is without a Superman to save her, will the Silver Age be washed from people’s minds? Hope so. This super douchery the new 52 Superman has been doing is irritating as hell – especially in this day and age.
Plus, Lobdell is the one who made Lois Jon’s mother and Kon’s mother x 2. Superboy 22 was to have the boys duking it out, but that story was skipped (along with the solicit and cover). Justin Jordan walked away from Superboy so maybe he didn’t want to write a book that wasn’t about the character especially if the character was written out of existence?
Dallying in some wishful thinking here . . . so Lois (or her connection) may be the key to getting the Supers back. She has psionic powers now – and we do know that Harvest went back in time to get samples of Superman’s and Lois’ DNA for Jon (or was it Kon?) – what if he got the Lois sample during this time period? That would explain Kon’s psionic powers. In Superboy 22, Kon was supposed to feel a connection to Lois Lane, but we didn’t get to see that part of the story. Maybe saved for another time? Also, in one of the JL books, Superman has a hissy fit when he finds out Doctor Psycho was in Kahndaq – previously Doctor Psycho and Superboy had teamed up in his book.
The fauxmance book begins in October the same time as the Forever Evil arc starts. Coincidence? Nahhh. During SDCC this year, the romance was majorly down played and it was said it was going to be all action since apparently the power twins get cockblocked by the evil villains. Ahhh, poor babies. (bwahahahahahahahaha) BUT Tony Daniel apparently didn’t get the memo for the Boston Comic Con and he said they were ‘hot’ and ‘sexy’ – that’s the reason they’re together, right? That’s what the whole match (dot) com thing said – it was all about their eugenics and how they never would give a human a passing glance. Humans aren’t worthy. August 22nd, 2012 will be burned in my brain forever as the beginning of the viral perversion of Superman and his mythos. Way to celebrate the 75th anniversary, asswipes.
I still think it’s Didio’s way of knocking out the Superman and Wonder Woman mythologies so his precious Batman can reign supreme. Destroy the other parts of the Trinity and leave Batman to rule the DCU. Watch his master plan unfold, minions. (Maybe we should start calling him, Iconkiller)
So what will be happening in Action during Forever Evil, Pak (as I mentioned before) is returning to the early days of Superman in Metropolis. (At least one issue will be crossover for Batman Zero Year – Batman must infiltrate everything, don’t ya know) Could he be laying a foundation for the 4 to 5 year gap? Greg keeps hinting at exploring Superman’s relationship to one of his cast members. Wishful thinking again – what if it IS Lois? With Superman back in Krypton in the Superbooks, then exploring his connection to Lois just makes sense. Now, I know the fauxmance book starts just before this but that cannot last forever especially if they’re downplaying the hentai aspect. Is this when we see the buildup of Superman, Lois Lane, and the true mythology? Not expecting a damn thing because the DCE has ripped my heart out and stomped it too many times already – and that is not conducive for me spending money on them – I’m not a masochist or stupid.
I’m truly dreading this evilness taking over comic books (both off panel and on). Even Adventures of Superman (which you SHOULD be reading) gave us a preview of how evil works in AOS #15. It was a well constructed story. But I don’t like feeling that way after reading a comic book, especially a superhero comic book. Yes, HERO! Meaning good, defeating evil, etc. Great thing about AOS, lots of one shots in these weekly chapters. BUY IT!
Smallville Season 11 has always been an oasis for Superman fans. Superman done right. The only time we got an inkling of it being ‘damaged’ by the East Coast authority — Didio threw a tantrum about Bryan Q. Miller using Stephanie Brown (he wrote Batgirl with Stephanie previous to the new 52) – trashing Bryan in an interview when it was obvious West Coast had approved it. But Didio absolutely despises the character, poor little mushroom. So a hair color and name change later – we got Barbara Gordon – or as we fondly call her, StephBabs. She’s an icon! *snicker*
To continue, Bryan is currently writing an episode called OLYMPUS featuring Diana and Steve Trevor. If you want to read how a story stays true to both the Superman and the Wonder Woman mythologies, then this is the book for you. It’s a digital-first so it’s in weekly chapters. We even get Clark Kent reporting. *fans reader after they faint* Compilation prints come out 2nd week of the month now.
Some have suggested since Miller has a comic book and television show background, he should be writing a Wonder Woman television series. (But he can’t give up Smallville Season ## — THAT would be totally douche.)
So while the new 52 (except Unchained) goes to hell (H’El) literally, we still have Superman Unchained (except in September), Adventures of Superman, Smallville Season 11 – and we’ll keep an eye on Batman/Superman and Action Comics. But the fauxmance (that which shall not be named) book is ipecac to me. I see that shit and I puke! Not a masochist . . . or a bulimic.
Is there hope? Pockets of it, yes. Will we see a brighter future for Superman stories – time will tell. It’s all in the execution and whether or not the prevailing mindset remains in tearing down heroes’ mythologies, inner cores, and what has kept them popular for over seven decades. MAYBE March will be the turning point. But then it’s DCE/DC Comics – undermining icons since 2011, err. . . 2002.
A word regarding Brian Azzarello: Recently at Boston Con, he appeared not ‘happy’ about Didio presiding over the DCU panel. Brian, as you may recall, found out what DCE/Didio was going to do with Wonder Woman in the new 52. (Can you say arm appendage for Superman? – which makes him look douche, too.) What he heard made him realize it would destroy the character so on the spot he made a pitch for the Amazon. Superman does not appear in the Wonder Woman book – as Brian does not see that relationship (fauxmance) the same way DCE does. Didio obviously is very well aware of it since Brian pitched his idea & never included Superman. So why the smarmy cover-over at Boston Con? There was no subtext, Didio, Azzarello was pretty direct. He doesn’t like the fauxmance – and guess why, because he knows like Johns knows, what it does to the characters. That’s right, Didio, the characters – and it’s worse for the icons and their mythologies. Except Batman gets to keep everything, right? – and probably will after Didio is done with the rest of the Trinity.
So kudos to Azzarello! Stay just the way you are.
THE NEW 52 SUPERMAN IS A REMAKE
. . . and we all know those are usually not as good as the original.
***SOME STRONG LANGUAGE***
Remakes are done to re-interpret the original story for audiences. Usually in film because the studio execs don’t think audiences can grasp timeless themes or they think if it was successful once then it will be successful again. Making them money. But remakes unfortunately don’t have the emotional impact of first experience or impressions . . . any additional elements or tweaks to the original are usually bad ideas. How many good sequels have been made?
Superman fans have been told that Superman is too difficult to write or comprehend in today’s modern world by both the co-publishers. He’s just too positive, has faith and hope – and modern audiences just aren’t used to that or won’t accept that anymore. How can such a super-alien-being be humble about his great power and control? Shouldn’t he be a tyrant? A killer? A manipulator? A modern audience could understand that, right? They see it in their everyday lives.
Modern audiences whether it is in 1938 or in the 21st century have darkness in their everyday lives. The brilliance of Superman then and now (or should be) is that he is a light in the darkness. THE superhero who inspires us to aspire to be better and a force of good in a world of corruption and impending tyrannical control. In the new 52 he is incapable of that. He has been dulled down to being a battling alien – all the time. So much so is his alienation from humanity – he is dating another superbeing. And we human readers are supposed to relate to that.
An alien from outer space saving the world in 1938 was a phenomenal idea, but the amazing thing about this character was/is/should be is that he took on a human persona and related to humans very well including wanting to date Lois Lane, a female human with brains, Chutzpah, and the power of the pen to seek the truth and change hearts and minds. What human being couldn’t relate to that? (Excluding the execs at DC Entertainment, of course)
From the beginning, Kal-L (later El) was catapulted into space by his parents because they loved him so much, made the sacrifice, and sent him off in hopes he would live a full life. THAT story component makes people believe in hope and faith. In later years, the child was found by a ‘kindly couple’, the Kents. Jonathan and Martha couldn’t have children of their own, but finding that baby was answered faith and hope. They loved and raised him as their true son, giving him the moral core that is timeless.
Superman gives us hope and the faith for a better tomorrow . . . but not in the new 52. The world is dark and full of cynicism. We can see the power grabs and tyrannical control. Which is fine for Batman (created in 1939 despite what the DC Blog says) or Wonder Woman (created in 1940). But for Superman, it just doesn’t work – and the darkness is not just on the comic page – we see it in every interview given by DC Entertainment. Darkness never understands the light but knows it must be extinguished at all costs. And is that what DC Comics is doing to Superman – methodically extinguishing his light and relevance?
Superman had two sets of parents who loved him. In a dark world full of hopelessness, this cannot be tolerated. Ideals of light should be dismissed as anomalies and never considered to be inspirational. Therefore, classic Superman is not a character that ‘works’ for new readers (who apparently have been in a cave not knowing the 75 year old icon) or a 21st century readership.
Enter the Man of Steel film. Produced by Christopher Nolan and written by David S. Goyer. These two have made tons of money for the Warner Brothers film division with the Batman series of movies. Smart execs (yea, I know oxymoron) will just leave them alone to do their magic and to allow them to make tons of money. With their track record, it is easy to see how Nolan can tell WB to fuck off with any idiotic suggestions. He has that push back because of his success. Man of Steel by all accounts is classic Superman brought into the present – and has been predicted to be a megablockbuster with possible ‘more chapters.’ Nolan, Goyer and Zack Snyder, the director, seem to understand what Superman as a character means to the world. They live in the same world as DC Entertainment – and yet, they are making an origins movie that shows Superman as a light in the darkness. But will the success of the Man of Steel film affect the attitudes or mindsets regarding the character in the halls of DC Entertainment? That is a hope of Superman readers.
Diane Nelson, President of DC Entertainment, and her subordinates are also under the film division of Warner Brothers. Hints that corporate decisions were making storyline and character decisions started early on when George Perez was writing Superman. His first six books apparently will be the most successful of the new 52 Superman comic book as he had all the classic elements in his storytelling. Superman fighting not only a new monster in town, but also the corruption of PGN corporation under the guidance of Morgan Edge. Lois Lane was in that first issue (as she was in the first issues of Action 1938 & 2011 and Superman 1939) moving from an award winning reporter to a tv/new media producer. (A move that gave everyone pause since putting Lois behind a desk was like putting Baby in the corner – and we all know how that move is tolerated.) Even Clark Kent made an appearance and wrote an article in that first issue. Sadly, those days are gone in the new 52. Clark and Lois have been almost non-existent in the pages of new 52 Superman or Action. Perez left because of editorial and corporate interference. He wasn’t sure what they would use of his story in the end product.
Perez’s story is not an isolated one. Many creators have left because of the same interference. Green-lighted story arcs were changed at the last minute or completely abolished. Creators had to re-work without pay, etc. Freelancers seem to be suffering the most in this DC Entertainment (can’t get their shit together) debacle. Andy Diggle left Action after writing one issue, due to professional reasons. Whether that was because of his love for the Lois Lane character (as noted by Scott Lobdell in an interview) or because Andy Diggle is working on four other books – and any last minute revamping of a green-lighted story would not be possible with his workload. That is just surmising on my part. Don’t know that as a fact. BUT if DC Entertainment wants to be successful and get the best creative talents onto their superhero books especially SUPERMAN!, then they need to get their act together and take care of this interference problem. NOT JUST GIVE IT LIP SERVICE AND FALSE PROMISES AT A NORTH CAROLINA SUMMIT! That lie lasted 4 days. Wow!
Another recent departing was Joshua Hale Fialhov from both the Green Lantern Corps and Red Lantern books. TWO BOOKS! DC Entertainment wanted him to kill off John Stewart. After Fialhov walked off, then DCE said they would not kill off the character. Couldn’t say that BEFORE the creator of TWO BOOKS walked away? And what happened with Mike Johnson writing Supergirl? DCE had a phantom writer for the most recent issue. Did Johnson fall off the radar? Well, DCE did come out with that – no talkie on social media about why you’re off a book – or you’ll never work at DC Comics again!
Are the Katzenjammer Kids running DC Entertainment? Modern audience and new readers, look that up in the funny papers!
And by the way, what new readers? Did they show up on the second Nielsen survey we still don’t know anything about the statistics? Or is that just an old dusty talking point Jim Lee pulled out of his ass to explain how we don’t need to cling to classic Superman anymore?
The Superman mythology will be celebrating its 75th anniversary this June. DC Entertainment will be celebrating the 75th anniversary of Superman – BIG DIFERENCE. Clark Kent was also introduced in Action #1, 1938 and by some accounts by creators of some of the best Superman stories, he is how readers relate to Superman. He’s not been around much in the new 52, especially as a journalist. Also in Action #1, 1938 was Lois Lane. She will be celebrating her 75th year of existence – but apparently not by DC Entertainment. They have a ‘better idea’ for their new 52 Superman. Readers have not gotten to see five years of Superman/Clark’s life in the new 52 where Lois Lane was involved. They’ve skipped over that to tell their ‘edgy, gritty’ story of how Superman and Wonder Woman hooked up out of fear and loneliness and are likely to destroy the universe unless they can be stopped. To which most Superman fans say – let it blow the hell up!
Lois Lane will not be getting a variant cover for the first issue of the Superman Unchained book. (still a ridiculous title – what the fuck is he being unchained from???) Lex Luthor will be getting a variant cover to celebrate the anniversary despite the fact he hasn’t been existence for 75 years. Jim Lee said that they might consider putting Lois on a cover with Jimmy and Perry (both of which have not been in existence since Action #1, 1938). Really? The First Lady of Action Comics doesn’t get recognition of being a successful icon for 75 years? All because of some lame ass new 52 event that they hadn’t figured out the final timeline or participants for? This from the people who change entire story arcs at the last minute! LOIS LANE HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR 75 YEARS – GIVE HER SOME RESPECT AND RECOGNITION, DC ENTERTAINMENT!!!
Question: Would Diane Nelson have her executive title if there was never a Lois Lane in existence?
I don’t know about you, but I need some light in this darkness. Gimme my Superman! My Lois Lane! My Clark Kent! The one that gives us hope and inspires us to aspire to be better. The one who admires and loves the best of humanity in his eyes, Lois Lane.
DC Entertainment doesn’t believe there are good people in the world. Ones who fight the good fight every day. Who try and find some truth in a world full of lies and corruption. Who try to find some freedom and hope in a world rolling towards tyranny and even more wars. We exist! Don’t make our daily battle harder by taking our hero away. Give us some hope that the world is not hopeless against the darkness. Let Superman shine as the beacon of hope he’s always been – and maybe he’ll inspire new readers and make loyal readers buy even more books.
SUPERMAN IS A LOVE STORY
Here is the link to this piece of art. Click
In December, 2011, I wrote this on my tumblr blog. In honor of Valentine’s Day, I snatch it from my archives to present it once again. See if anything has changed or things have gotten worse for the greatest comic book love story.
I’ve been thinking about this for a while. It’s just a continuation of questions I’ve had in the last three years of reading comics involving Superman. If you’re not sure why, please check out therearecertainshadesoflimelight’s eloquent articulation regarding a great panel from Superman #700 and the events that preceded and followed it. Here
I don’t know what DC was thinking but I mentioned the lack of Clark Kent in the comics several times over the years on OSCK blog and in OSCK Magazine. (Maybe we should bring those back in a fight for our Superman — Operation Save Clark Kent is aptly named)
Did DC think we didn’t notice Clark and Lois were separated and Superman was not in Action or Superman comics for 2 to 3 years?
In an October Newsarama article, writer James Robinson confesses the World of New Krypton fiasco might have been better received if DC had not taken Superman out of his own books. Here
So let’s not blame the scanty, emotionless, boring storylines DC Comics chose for the Man of Steel, let’s blame the marriage. That is the stance and mindset DC (Didio & Lee) conveyed as their justification for the reboot. Superman has had a hard reboot. Let’s call it what it is.
New York Times interview, August 31, 2011:
“Its latest company-wide overhaul has been almost a year in the making, devised in October (2010) at an editorial retreat where staff members were trying to create a love triangle for Superman, who wed Lois Lane in 1996.
Once the team decided it did not have to be bound by this marital detail, “we started talking about a lot of crazy, what-if situations, and out of that openness came the idea of renumbering the entire line,” said Jim Lee, co-publisher of DC Comics and an illustrator of the new Justice League series.”
From Newsarama interview, July 18, 2011, just before the San Diego Comic Con:
“We wanted to have that sense of isolation that might come with being an alien among men,” DiDio said. “The two choices that were made, with both his parents being dead and not being married, isolated Clark a little bit more, so that he really had to do more exploration about mankind. There wasn’t that one strong human tether that he was bonding with and learning through.”
I guess DC did not learn their lesson from World of New Krypton. The reason Superman oriented book sales plummeted = the isolation of the being with superpowers from those he loved and held dear including his persona as a journalist for the Daily Planet.
So now we have a designer comic in Action Comics with Grant Morrison writing. It was Dan Didio who approached Morrison.
According to Morrison fans, don’t bother buying individual issues of his storylines as they won’t make sense until the end of the arc. (This has proven to be true since he’s somewhat formulaic in his style, no matter how ’intelligentsia quirky and anarchic.’) Morrison was brought on because of his sales numbers not his love of the character. Superman is squashed through Morrison’s sieve of scientific meta and counter culture leanings. The result is unrecognizable as the Man of Tomorrow.
So basically we’re supposed to wait for the trade paperbacks otherwise we won’t be able to appreciate the ‘genius’ of Morrison. How this will help the fledgling DCnU, I can’t fathom. But maybe that’s the point. It’s very apparent the character of Superman has not been loved for a long time by the DC hierarchy. Batman has more than two of his own books a month; in fact, in any one month he’s in a dozen books. Not so Superman.
Today’s DC is very short sighted when it comes to Superman. Why they want to damage the icon that made the company what it is today is baffling.
Superman is a love story. That’s one of the reasons Siegel and Shuster’s Action #1 of 1938 was relatable to a wide audience. Clark Kent aggressively chased Lois Lane as much as Superman pursued crime and injustice. This is the Golden Age Morrison supposedly extensively researched. Yet, we are not getting any love story in today’s Action Comics. Clark has no real love for Earth, Metropolis, the Daily Planet or Star, or Lois Lane. In fact, he has no loving spirit at all. It’s all rebellious bluster and impetuosity.
Superman is a character of great heart. He loves people, no matter what planet they’re from. His upbringing by the Kents was a foundational one, so much so it can be seen even without Jonathan and Martha’s presence. They nurtured his natural loving heart and keen mind. We are getting none of this regarding his character in Action Comics. We definitely see the isolation Didio spoke of in the Newsarama article – as if Superman had been hatched just before arriving in Metropolis.
In the Smallville Retrospective Season 10 commentary, Danny Fingeroth, longtime Group Editor of Marvel Comics’ Spider-Man line, short story writer in Superman 80 Page Giant #1 (1999) and author of Superman on the Couch: What Superheroes Really Tell Us about Ourselves and Our Society had this to say about the Clark/Lois/Superman iconic love story.
“In Smallville, Lois and he [Clark] have a real, romantic relationship in an era of fragmented families (when 50% of marriages end in divorce) the fantasy of having an actual romantic relationship that works is something that appeals to a viewership that comes from a fragmented society.
Whereas years ago, when everybody (whether they were happy or not) got married and stayed married, the fantasy of being free and single was the fantasy so that Superman would never commit.
The idea of Superman being, living happily ever after with someone now becomes a part of what people find appealing in the character.“
Listen up, DC. Fingeroth’s point is today’s comic readers NEED Superman to give them hope and something to aspire to. Young men (DC’s target audience) CAN relate to a story about loving someone more so than being genetically ‘raped’ and not knowing you have a young son who’s been trained by assassins. (Damian Wayne was introduced into continuity in 2006 by Grant Morrison’s Batman stories.)
Does DC need any other evidence of that point than Smallville’s two to three million (or more) a week ratings? What if only a percentage of those viewers bought Superman comic books? The sales numbers would be astronomical. DC’s Superman reboot attitude towards young Clark Kent and Superman is denying this character of his audience by ripping his heart and spirit from him. He does not have hope in his heart or a heart for people.
In other news, someone loved Siegel and Shuster’s Action #1 (1938) so much they paid $2.16 MILLION dollars to own an original. Will Action #1 (2011) ever see that distinction? Nope.
Clark’s love should be shown in the DCnU. His love of all beings, the Earth, Metropolis, and Daily Planet should be apparent in comic panels. And even more essential, readers need to see how he found the love of his life in Lois Lane.
Every incarnation of Superman has shown compassion and wit within its pages. New 52 Superman fans miss this A LOT. George Perez, a man who celebrates his own marriage on his fan page, had a burgeoning foundation of these elements in the Superman titled comic. He is leaving the book after issue six.
In this month’s Comic Shop News (free) featuring the cover of Superman #5 (by Perez), George states, “I was asked to do Superman based on stuff that I had done before; however, since it was a total relaunch, I didn’t recognize the character and feel as close to him as I had hoped I would, because it didn’t seem like my Superman.” (George Perez has experience with reboots. He was the artist on Marv Wolfman’s Crisis on Infinite Earths.)
Mr. Perez, we’re very happy you didn’t completely recognize the new 52 Superman because we didn’t either. Your book, Superman, is the only book keeping Superman the real deal, alive. It gives us hope, we’ll be seeing our Superman soon.
Dan Jurgens and Keith Giffen are picking up Superman with issue #7 and as loyal readers can tell you. They understand who Clark Kent is, who Superman is and why Lois Lane and their love is so very pertinent to this mythology.
Superman is a love story. And who doesn’t love those?
_________________
Recently a former Superman writer no longer with DC Comics said there was no mandate. But even from the casual observer, they realize there is a mandate to keep Clark/Superman and Lois apart in the new 52. It’s gone on for 18 months as orders for Action and Superman plummet month after month. Without the human component (Clark Kent & Lois Lane) in this iconic story, you are missing out on the dual identity and the triangle-for-two — the cornerstones of what made this mythology beloved and enduring. Not to mention SUCCESSFUL!
BABIES IN REFRIGERATORS. A STEP TOO FAR?
DC Entertainment has no shame. They have gone from killing women as a plot point, to now killing babies.
In Injustice: Gods Among Us, Superman finds out his wife, Lois Lane, is pregnant. They both want this child. Joker has other ideas. He’s in Metropolis, not Gotham City. Kryptonite is missing from STAR labs which only Batman knows about. Scarecrow has had some of his mind gases stolen. Guess who! Joker kidnaps Lois and puts a remote for an explosive device on her. Superman realizes he can’t see Lois. He implores Batman to help him. The Justice League is called in. Superman finds his wife with Joker and Harley Quinn on a submarine. Superman then sees Doomsday. Since Lois was unconscious for the surgery, there was no means for her to call out to her husband to let him know he was hallucinating. Superman takes pregnant DoomsdayLois into space and after Batman yells at him, he realizes he has just killed his wife and baby.
Joker mocks the pregnancy as the loss of Lois’ life blows up Metropolis killing millions. Superman becomes a tyrant.
This is a digital-first comic and a video game created by the Mortal Kombat people for DC Entertainment. The author of the comic has said this was the worst thing he has ever done to a character he has loved. Writers gotta eat.
This is not a one off, in fact, if fans had thought about the road DC Entertainment (organized in 2009) has gone down with Superman – this is the ultimate for them. He is definitely a battling alien. No human connections. And as a tyrant, he has to kill. No one rules over billions without some deaths along the way. That’s reality. And DC Entertainment is definitely going for reality with this game/comic – a bleak, nihilistic world where a beloved, once-morally-stellar hero is twisted into a killer.
Dan Didio and Jim Lee were officially made Co-Publishers of DC Entertainment on February 18, 2010 replacing Paul Levitz who was President & Publisher of DC Comics. Levitz stepped down from his post in September, 2009 to serve as the Contributing Editor and Overall Consultant for the newly formed DC Entertainment. Didio and Lee probably took on their publisher roles long before February, 2010. Later that year at a “writer’s retreat”, the new 52 was born but was not implemented until August 31, 2011.
Jim Lee was/is the Executive Creative Director for DC Universe Online. There was a video game called DCU Online Legends with an accompanying print bi-monthly comic. More about that later. Lee was integral in the development of Didio’s reboot of the DC Universe into the New 52. He designed Superman’s new Kryptonian armor sans red panties but with a collar. Lee is also the creator of Mister Majestic, a mockery of Superman created in the Wildstorm universe. Lee thought a powerful alien should not be held back by a moral core or relate to humans. Mister Majestic wears a collar – and Lee said the collar made Superman look more ‘majestic.’ The new 52 Superman has been alienated with no human connections. He is currently “dating” Wonder Woman after a HUGE promo of this lightswitched bullship in Justice League, written by Geoff Johns and drawn by Co-Publisher Lee. At the writers’ retreat of 2010, it was decided to put Superman in a love triangle – and then the ideas just flowed. (like piss, shit or vomit?)
Jim Lee, Dan Didio, Geoff Johns and Bob Harras probably gave the green light for Lois Lane and Superman’s baby to be killed, making him the ultimate battling alien and killer. Is it a step too far? Do they truly know Superman and what he means to generations of fans? Do they care? All evidence would say they don’t as they have systematically have been destroying Superman for years.
Clark Kent has been gone for years. No journalist (or blogger) stories. He’s barely on the page. It’s the battling alien all the way. From World of New Krypton (2009), Grounded, Flashpoint, and the new 52 – Superman no longer has the dual identity inner conflict or personhood. He has to battle every villain from every age and new ones to bide his time.
Lois Lane has suffered, too. With Clark’s human side absent, she has paid the consequences. Since Flashpoint (August, 2011) masterminded by Geoff Johns, Lois has been fridged five times.
In Flashpoint: Project Superman, Kal-El’s ship does not land in Smallville (meaning no Clark Kent), but Metropolis. Eventually a young Kal and Lois Lane meet. She leaves such an impression on him he seeks her out when he escapes his underground cell years later. Fans appreciated the ‘cliche’ line in this panel and not so much the clichéd statement in the other panel. True refrigeration.
“It takes a sacrifice to birth a hero” must be a mantra in the halls of DC Entertainment.
Superman Beyond (#0 issue in August, 2011, now a digital-first series) and Earth 2 (May, 2012) both had Lois’ death pre-story. In Superman Beyond, we assume she died of natural causes as Superman has gray hair. In Earth 2, she was killed by Darkseid. Also in James Robinson’s Earth 2 series, Superman dies in the first issue (maybe).
In the DCU Online: Legends comic book series, Lois also dies. It debuted on February 2, 2011, and was an expansion of the story of the DC Universe Online MMORPG video game. The series was written by the game’s story co-writer Marv Wolfman and Tony Bedard with Tom Taylor penning issues 16 and 17. Yes, the same Tom Taylor that is writing Injustice: Gods Among Us, but Lois died in issue 14 (August, 2011). Superman didn’t become a tyrant, he flew off in anger and grief to return later to help save the day. Marv Wolfman did give us a happy ending even though we never saw Lois on panel again. With the help of Luthor and the Justice League, they played a time reversal card to make it all better.
To show you how Superman’s story and the DC Universe has changed, I give you these panels. Lois and Superman have both been infected by Brainiac (with the help of Lex Luthor). Superman is unable to control his powers or his mind because of it. When kryptonite caged by his friends in the Justice League, Lois, Superman’s wife, gives them all a pep talk.
Those days are gone. Love is gone. Hope is gone. And with the latest incarnation of Superman in a video, the universe is a dark, gritty, bleak place where gamers play for hours.
Superman is no longer a light amongst the darkness – he’s been drug down to our level. Not a boy scout or a champion of the oppressed – but he makes a damn fine tyrant, don’t ya think?
At this time it is not known whether or not Wonder Woman will be Superman’s main squeeze as they rule the world. She’s taken sloppy seconds before in Kingdom Come and may not be his number one pick for a mate in the new 52 even though DC Entertainment is spending money hand over fist to make it so.
Let’s talk a little numbers, shall we? World of New Krypton when this battling alien with no human connections idea became prominent. Superman was not in Action Comics for two years and not in the Superman book for one year while this went on. DC Entertainment. March, 2009 had the highest amount of orders with 50,048; lowest amount of orders 32,407 with its last month, February, 2010. Next came Last Stand of New Krypton, three issues (February & March, 2010) with an average of 36,215 orders. Which lead into the War of the Supermen (remember there were 100,001 Kryptonians flying around), 4 issues with an average order of 44,669. The WONK series brought in a whopping [sarcasm] 39,667 per issue orders with its run.
Superman returned to his book with Superman #700. He also returned to his wife, Lois Lane after the big war. Orders were 67,571.
But then Superman decided to go on walkabout in his red undies. Not much Clark Kent until the quick cleanup at the end of the series before Flashpoint. Superman #701 (July, 2010) had 54,506 but Grounded finished with 35,919 orders. An average of 42, 956 over its run.
Superman finally returned to Action Comics continuity (after a 2 year absence) in #901, May, 2011 and ended in #904, August, 2011 with an average of 41,407 a month. By this time the new 52 was announced and the Kent marriage walked off together into the sunset.
Let’s go back to more current history. The new 52. Superman #1 and Action #1 were released in September, 2011. In October of that year, Action had 153, 855 orders and Superman with 94,233. Grant Morrison decided not to go into the present timeline after six issues and has extended his run through #18 of March, 2013. In December, 2012, Action had 61,298. The largest drop (60.16%) of orders over the time span. Morrison was touted as the big draw to the book, not Superman. The Superman book ended 2012 with 51,225, a drop of 45.64%.
The Superman Unbound animation which is being developed is based on Geoff Johns Brainiac (Action 864 through 870) series of 2008. Superman was in his tights mostly. Clark was not being a journalist, but he was the son of a farmer. Johns killed Jonathan Kent in this series. Alienation and Refrigeration! The Boyz of DC Entertainment. Then the following issue of Action #871 brought the New Krypton stories in Action for a year minus Superman/Clark/Kal-El and the next year was the Lex Luthor Action series. On Free Comic Book Day, we will receive part of the Brainiac story. The average orders for the Brainiac series were 50,169 per issue. Not as large as Morrison’s worst month of new 52 and only slightly worse than Superman’s December, 2012 numbers.
Let’s take a look at some numbers where Clark Kent was a journalist/reporter/blogger (as well as Superman). George Perez wrote the new 52 Superman in issues #1 thru #6. He left the book not knowing what editorial was going to keep of his story. DC Entertainment has problems with creators staying on. The new Superman book has had 4 writers on it so far. Issue #1 was not only the foundation of the present time Superman mythology but Clark wrote a story for Daily Planet – used via narration boxes. We have not seen that since. Average orders for Perez’s new 52 run (just counting #2 thru #6 since September 2011 was a fluke) were 76, 842. In his run, we saw the dual identity and the triangle for two. Not so much now.
Action Comics #1 published in the Spring of 1938, had Superman leaping around bringing a criminal to justice and exonerating an innocent from execution. As Clark Kent, he asked Lois Lane for a date, yet again and took her to a speak easy. A mobster interrupted their dance and while Clark remained mild mannered, he didn’t protect his oppressed dance partner. Never mind. Lois can handle herself. She slaps the mobster and gives Clark what for. Leaving in a cab, the mobster collides with it and kidnaps Lois. Superman appears to save the day and bring the bully to justice. He whisks Lois away into the Metropolis night. Clark Kent and Superman are one and the same. They cannot be dissected. He needs his whole story – and as we have seen under these people within DC Entertainment, as his numbers go down, fans won’t get their whole Superman back until they are gone. The current DC Entertainment’s vision of Superman is myopic and they don’t deal with his heart and spirit.
In 1938, the world was on the brink of yet another world war and in the middle of a financial depression. Superman was an inspiration to our ancestors. He showed them they could be their own Superman and save their world if they only take action. He righted wrongs. He stood up for the downtrodden. He was a man who could fly (eventually). He had a heart and a true love – a woman with Chutzpah, an analytical mind and a strong will, but with a good heart. They were loners and yet when together, they became a whole.
In 2013, the world is in and out of wars (mostly in) at the drop of a hat and we are in a worldwide financial crisis. Where is our Superman? Where is our hope that things can get better? Where is our inspiration that leads us to aspire? He’s alienated and can’t relate to humans. He has to fight aliens and psychotic villains. He’s not like us in any way. He’s powerful and majestic. He doesn’t assimilate and isn’t proud of his human upbringing. He’s an emotional coward. He lives in so many altered states, alternate worlds and alternate timelines – he doesn’t know who he truly is and neither do the people who read his books. So why bother spending money on them? Many have quit and are not likely to come back. Trust has been broken.
We NEED a Superman. A better Superman than we are being given by DC Entertainment.
We still haven’t seen what Andy Diggle will do in Action or rather what he’s allowed to do since his first Action issue has been moved to #19. Scott Snyder will be writing the Man of Steel book. He may have more freedom since he has had success with the Batman book (Didio’s fav character!). The Man of Steel movie appears in June, 2013.
But just imagine you’re a Superman fan. A beaten and battered Superman fan with a gun pointed at you, because it has been torture to see what the Boyz at DC Entertainment have done to the original superhero and his mythology.
Now imagine you’ve been told someone new is going to come into the room. Should you be excited (with a grain of hope) or do you expect the worst? Or do you become so numb, you just don’t care. Something you have loved has died and something inside of you has died, too.
Where is Superman?
Recently DC Entertainment saw fit to cancel Superman Family Adventures, a book for Everyone about Classic Superman. This monthly book of joy will no longer exist after April, 2013. DC Entertainment does not feel it necessary to build a fanbase of younger readers so they will keep on reading comics throughout their lives. Wise business sense?
In April, DC Entertainment has deemed their books ‘WTF certified’ – again younger readers needn’t bother.
In March, Kevin Sujihara will become the CEO of Warner Brothers Entertainment over movie, television, DC Comics, and other businesses. Since 2005, Tsujihara has been President of Warner Brother Home Entertainment which included home video, digital distribution, videogames, anti-piracy, and emerging technology operations. Paul Levitz, while President/Publisher of DC Comics worked with Kevin Tsujihara within the company. Mr. Tsuijihara would have been involved with Smallville DVDs (a moneymaker), Timm animations, digital distribution, and video games involving Superman.
He’s a new person in the room. He has power. Should Superman fans hope?
Or did all hope die with Lois and Clark’s baby . . . the most disgusting thing called entertainment many people have ever seen.
It takes a sacrifice to birth a hero – isn’t it about time the Boyz of DC Entertainment make a sacrifice of themselves (their control, their egos, their jobs)?
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