So what *is* Superman's definitive origin story now?

[Buried Alien]

The basic story never changes (baby Kal-El is rocketed to Earth from the dying planet Krypton by his parents, and arrives in the Midwest to be raised by the Kents, etc.), but the details have changed through several continuity shifts. As of now, what *is* the canon origin story of Superman? Is it the Silver Age version? The John Byrne MAN OF STEEL version? The Mark Waid BIRTHRIGHT version?

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[Sean Whitmore]

Perhaps it's a bit of a cop-out answer, but we really haven't seen enough of the New Earth back story to really say. There are elements of each version that have been (or will be) outright contradicted, such as the Superboy of the Silver Age, the slow power growth from Byrne's era, and the vegetarianism from "Birthright".

My take on it is simple. With everything up in the air like this, I assume that anything which hasn't been explicitly revealed happened the way it happened in my favorite version of the origin.

So Clark gew up on the farm hiding his powers (in between Smallville-type adventures with the Legion and Mon-El), played football as a senior, then left Kansas to travel the world, eventually meeting Lois while saving an experimental aircraft and then creating the identity of Superman. :)


SEAN

[Slaughter]

I think even Superman get confused sometimes...

[Ian J.N.]

The basic story never changes (baby Kal-El is rocketed to Earth from the dying planet Krypton by his parents, and arrives in the Midwest to be raised by the Kents, etc.), but the details have changed through several continuity shifts. As of now, what *is* the canon origin story of Superman? Is it the Silver Age version? The John Byrne MAN OF STEEL version? The Mark Waid BIRTHRIGHT version?
No to all three according to Action 850 (which is a great story, by the way).

Yeah, I think DC needs to be a bit more explicit on the Infinite Crisis continuity changes--Superman especially. This past issue of Superman threw me for a loop with that talk of "the real" Kandor. I assumed that was the real Kandor. Why assume it's the non-Kryptonian version when post-Crisis continuity no longer applies? Krypto isn't the Kryptonian approximation, but Kandor is?

That bit muddied an otherwise great story. I wasn't sure if Busiek was setting up the real deal Kandor or implying that there was a second, more mythical, Kryptonian city by that name. I have no problem with retcons, but for clarity's sake they should really be made explicit. Storyteller and audience need to operate from the same context.

What I'd like to see: An illustrated prose piece (in an annual or SF&O perhaps) where the Phantom Stranger explains the major continuity points that have been changed and provides an interesting, somewhat metatextual, literary analysis on the post-IC Superman. Hey, it doesn't take a miniseries.

[Joe Acro]

Given what we've learned so far, it's probably closer to the Silver Age version. He apparently had adventures as Superboy, or an appoximation. He had Krypto as a kid, a Krypto from the original Krypton. Mon-El's original origin is back in play, as is Brainiac's.

There may be details incorporated from other origins that we haven't learned yet, but I'm thinking it's definitely Silver Age-heavy.

[Buried Alien]

I wasn't a fan of Waid's BIRTHRIGHT telling of Superman's origin, but I'm surprised that it's been abandoned so soon. BIRTHRIGHT was less than a year old, I think, when INFINITE CRISIS wiped the slate clean again. Almost makes you wonder what the point of BIRTHRIGHT was.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[J. Robb]

I wasn't a fan of Waid's BIRTHRIGHT telling of Superman's origin, but I'm surprised that it's been abandoned so soon. BIRTHRIGHT was less than a year old, I think, when INFINITE CRISIS wiped the slate clean again. Almost makes you wonder what the point of BIRTHRIGHT was.
The reason "Birthright" failed is because most readers aren't interested in a new origin story. It's the same reason the Loeb/Kelly "Return to Krypton" story was unpopular, and eventually rescinded. Mucking with the past creates confusion and ends up hurting the stories in the present.

Unfortunately, DC hasn't learned their lesson yet. Every new creator on Superman wants to re-write the character and his history, and they're being allowed to.

[Sean Whitmore]

This past issue of Superman threw me for a loop with that talk of "the real" Kandor. I assumed that was the real Kandor. Why assume it's the non-Kryptonian version when post-Crisis continuity no longer applies?

There was a blink-and-you'll-miss-it bit in the Action Comics Annual that dealt with this.

And I don't know where you got the idea post-Crisis continuity doesn't apply to anything. Kents are still alive, no Superboy, etc.


SEAN

[NotSuper]

New Earth is a new continuity. It has some elements from the post-Crisis and pre-Crisis continuities, but it's not the same. The New Earth Superman has a rather vague origin now, but there are some things we know. I'll try to make a list.

1: Krypton is similar to the Donner version - This means crystals, white and dark robes, and all that.

2: Only one Zod - There is only one Zod in continuity (not counting the ones in the multiverse), the Kryptonian version recently introduced. All the others are now gone from continuity.

3: "Superboy" and the Legion - Kal had adventures as a teen and met the Legion. We're not sure if he wore a costume, though. He also met Mon-El.

4: Earlier powers - Kal developed all his powers (including flight) at a much younger age. He seems to have discovered his alien heritage earlier too.

5: Mild-mannered Clark - The current Clark is more mild-mannered than the post-Crisis version, and yet, he's not the same as the pre-Crisis version either. This Clark seems to be more alienated and non-confrontational. He's still a good reporter, though.

6: No football - Clark didn't play high school football, probably because his powers developed MUCH earlier and it would be unfair.

7: Luthor in Smallville - Lex was indeed in Smallville and a friend of Clark, but he didn't lose his hair there.

8: Younger Kents - The Kents are younger than their post-Crisis counterparts.

9: A Smarter Superman - Superman has recently developed a kind of super-intelligence. It's hinted that Superman was very intelligent even before this, though.

10: Two Kandors - Instead of one bottled city, there's two. One is made up of non-Kryptonian aliens and the other is a Kryptonian lunar colony that disappeared.

11: Phantom Zoners - Krypton sent their prisoners to the Phantom Zone.

12: Krypto is from Krypton - Krypto is now from the New Earth Krypton and not the faux Krypton from RTK. Also, Kal first met him as a boy.

13: Many Fortresses - Superman now has several Fortresses around the world.

14: Born on Krypton - Superman was born on Krypton, not Earth, making him an immigrant once again.

Hope this list helps.

[Sean Whitmore]

2: Only one Zod - There is only one Zod in continuity (not counting the ones in the multiverse), the Kryptonian version recently introduced. All the others are now gone from continuity.

6: No football - Clark didn't play high school football, probably because his powers developed MUCH earlier and it would be unfair.

7: Luthor in Smallville - Lex was indeed in Smallville and a friend of Clark, but he didn't lose his hair there.

Not sure how you can assume any of these for sure. You're probably right about the football, but we don't know that he never played. And it's been hinted that the Pocket Universe Zod will be the basis of a future story. As for Lex in Smallville, has that been mentioned since Birthright?


9: A Smarter Superman - Superman has recently developed a kind of super-intelligence. It's hinted that Superman was very intelligent even before this, though.

13: Many Fortresses - Superman now has several Fortresses around the world.

As for these, we saw them happen in the present day. They have less to do with New Earth than they do with just new stories.


SEAN

[Joe Rice]

http://tegneseriesiden.dk/images/all-star_superman_origin.jpg

[Mon-el]

As for Lex in Smallville, has that been mentioned since Birthright?

SEAN

Not that I read Countdown or anything, but it was in the Backup in the Villian Origin's for Lex Luthor in one of the Countdown's.

So it fits.

[Bored at 3:00AM]

My take on it is simple. With everything up in the air like this, I assume that anything which hasn't been explicitly revealed happened the way it happened in my favorite version of the origin.


Exactly.

In my version of Clark's origin, he's a mixture of a gangly teenager mixed with the best of Smallville, old school Superboy, LSH, Moore's Supreme and Donner's Christopher Reeves stuff.

[Ian J.N.]

And I don't know where you got the idea post-Crisis continuity doesn't apply to anything. Kents are still alive, no Superboy, etc.
I got it from here (http://www.supermanhomepage.com/comics/comics.php?topic=articles/continuity-bbr142):
And for those fans who have been trying to fit current continuity in with stories that happened prior to "Infinite Crisis" Kurt [Busiek] has this to say...

"Like the post-Crisis era, the new era that follows INFINITE CRISIS is a new era. As such, it isn't trying to fit snugly into the facts of the previous era. To use the 'house of cards' metaphor again, it isn't a matter of taking out a bunch of cards and slipping in another bunch, but preserving the same basic structure. In the wake of a continuity-revamping crisis, what you have is a new house. A brand new structure, not the old one with cards missing. It may have features that look like the old house, and features that don't, but that doesn't mean it's the old house with a facelift. It's a new house. It's full of some things familiar, some things unfamiliar, some things changed, some things new. And now we get to explore it and see what's there. You don't need to know everything that's in there going in. You didn't the first time you picked up a comic, after all. You can explore and learn and discover. It does mean that, yes, all that stuff you knew about the old era is now outdated information -- still true of the old era, and a valuable part of it in the "Man of Steel" trade paperbacks and all those back issues on my reference shelf -- but not something that necessarily fits into the new one."

So, while the DC Universe Post-IC might look like a continuation of the Post-Crisis era, it's not. It's a totally new continuity where things look similar but are different.

[NotSuper]

Yep. Post-Crisis is a thing of the past. This is New Earth. It has elements of the pre and post-Crisis eras, but it's not either of them--not completely.

As for Luthor in Smallville: The Origin of Lex Luthor (http://www.dccomics.com/heroes_and_villains/?hv=origin_stories/lex_luthor)

And as for one Zod, this was confirmed by Superman's editor. I can probably find it and link to it if anyone is interested.

[NotSuper]

The Eradicator seems to have a different back-story now too, but who knows what they is. All we know is that there was apparently more than one of them.

Also, it's unclear on which ship Hank Henshaw (before he became the Cyborg-Superman) used to escape from Earth. We know it was a Kryptonian ship but, oddly enough, it was not referred to as SUPERMAN'S ship. It's also visually similar to the old birthing matrix, but that could be deceiving. Maybe this the ship of a Superman from another Earth (maybe the world of The Nail?) or it could be an artifact from the old continuity, kind of like Power Girl's ship.

[Ironman2978]

New Earth is a new continuity. It has some elements from the post-Crisis and pre-Crisis continuities, but it's not the same. The New Earth Superman has a rather vague origin now, but there are some things we know. I'll try to make a list.

1: Krypton is similar to the Donner version - This means crystals, white and dark robes, and all that.

2: Only one Zod - There is only one Zod in continuity (not counting the ones in the multiverse), the Kryptonian version recently introduced. All the others are now gone from continuity.

3: "Superboy" and the Legion - Kal had adventures as a teen and met the Legion. We're not sure if he wore a costume, though. He also met Mon-El.

4: Earlier powers - Kal developed all his powers (including flight) at a much younger age. He seems to have discovered his alien heritage earlier too.

5: Mild-mannered Clark - The current Clark is more mild-mannered than the post-Crisis version, and yet, he's not the same as the pre-Crisis version either. This Clark seems to be more alienated and non-confrontational. He's still a good reporter, though.

6: No football - Clark didn't play high school football, probably because his powers developed MUCH earlier and it would be unfair.

7: Luthor in Smallville - Lex was indeed in Smallville and a friend of Clark, but he didn't lose his hair there.

8: Younger Kents - The Kents are younger than their post-Crisis counterparts.

9: A Smarter Superman - Superman has recently developed a kind of super-intelligence. It's hinted that Superman was very intelligent even before this, though.

10: Two Kandors - Instead of one bottled city, there's two. One is made up of non-Kryptonian aliens and the other is a Kryptonian lunar colony that disappeared.

11: Phantom Zoners - Krypton sent their prisoners to the Phantom Zone.

12: Krypto is from Krypton - Krypto is now from the New Earth Krypton and not the faux Krypton from RTK. Also, Kal first met him as a boy.

13: Many Fortresses - Superman now has several Fortresses around the world.

14: Born on Krypton - Superman was born on Krypton, not Earth, making him an immigrant once again.

Hope this list helps.

I think the origin featured in Superman#650, Adventures of Superman #649, Action Comics #836, The Last Days of Krypton novel, Superman Birthright, Smallville, Action Comics # 850, Action Comics Annual # 10,Action Comics Legion of Superhero saga and zod/ chris kent saga, the third kryptonian are combined to make a new one.

[Ironman2978]

Exactly.

In my version of Clark's origin, he's a mixture of a gangly teenager mixed with the best of Smallville, old school Superboy, LSH, Moore's Supreme and Donner's Christopher Reeves stuff.

My version of Clark's origin it is mixture of what happen in Smallville, Silver Age Superboy, LOSH animated series, Superman BirthRight, JB SupermanMan of Steel 6 part miniseries,Lois and Clark: the New Adventures of Superman, The Kirk Alyn and George Reeves Superman origin, Wizard DC Ultimate Superman, Superman For All Seasons,Kurt Buisek Superman Secret Identity, Superboy/Superman Prime's life, Ruby Spears SupermanFamily Album segments and Donner and Singer's Christopher Reeves/Brandon Routh Superman Childhood stuff and the origin featured in Superman#650, Adventures of Superman #649, Action Comics #836, The Last Days of Krypton novel, Superman Birthright, Smallville, Action Comics # 850, Action Comics Annual # 10,Action Comics Legion of Superhero saga and zod/ chris kent saga, the third kryptonian are combined to make a new one.

It's going to be fun.

[PatrickG]

I wasn't a fan of Waid's BIRTHRIGHT telling of Superman's origin, but I'm surprised that it's been abandoned so soon. BIRTHRIGHT was less than a year old, I think, when INFINITE CRISIS wiped the slate clean again. Almost makes you wonder what the point of BIRTHRIGHT was.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

They're borrowing some ideas from Birthright. (For instance, it appears Lex's profession is essentially millionaire astrobiologist turned politician turned criminal>) I believe Busiek said he'd be telling Lex's new origin soon and that he'd be influenced some by Birthright but that it wouldn't be the same.

I believe it was confirmed recently that Lex's biological father is Lionel Luthor with his mullet and beard, not the actor from Birthright or the slumlord jerk who died mysteriously and heavily insured from before.

And Superman's Kryptonian father is Kennee Ro-Gers. ;) (Though they backed off from the beard in the last flashback we saw.)

Oh. And essentially, they kept the Tolos Kandor under the idea that some inhabitants mistakenly believed they were Kryptonian (ie. Preus) and have indicated that there's a real Kandor that either will (or perhaps already has been) enlarged as the planet Rokyn. We saw Rokyn in LSH and it appears that Kurt will be (re)introducing it.

My money says the upcoming ACTION/SUPERMAN crossover is probably where we see the team-up between all versions of Brainiac that's been alluded to, the story of the Kandors and the big reveal of Rokyn.

(BTW, I always thought Rokyn was a cool concept that didn't get a fair shake being introduced so close to Crisis.)

[PatrickG]

The Eradicator seems to have a different back-story now too, but who knows what they is. All we know is that there was apparently more than one of them.

Also, it's unclear on which ship Hank Henshaw (before he became the Cyborg-Superman) used to escape from Earth. We know it was a Kryptonian ship but, oddly enough, it was not referred to as SUPERMAN'S ship. It's also visually similar to the old birthing matrix, but that could be deceiving. Maybe this the ship of a Superman from another Earth (maybe the world of The Nail?) or it could be an artifact from the old continuity, kind of like Power Girl's ship.

Or it could be another Kryptonian's ship altogether since we now know they used to be a warring space empire. (Well, at least the millitary was. The scientists put a stop to that.)

[PatrickG]

Also in the Lightning Saga, we clearly saw a teenaged Clark Kent in his Superman/boy costume assisting in the resurrection of Lightning Lad.

He didn't wear the costume any in the new Mon-El origin and they've carefully avoided the word "Superboy" but it would appear he was Superboy in the 31st century at least although he wasn't spotted enough in the modern era to be anything more than a midwestern urban legend.

[PretenderNX01]

I think one way they could blend the two would be for Clark to have been contacted by the Legion and for him to find out he would become Superman. So while adventuring with the Legion he wore his Superman costume as Superboy.

He wasn't seen as Superboy in our time because he new his first appearance was/would be as Superman. Kind of a time paradox thing but it works for me.

[botch]

The reason "Birthright" failed is because most readers aren't interested in a new origin story. It's the same reason the Loeb/Kelly "Return to Krypton" story was unpopular, and eventually rescinded. Mucking with the past creates confusion and ends up hurting the stories in the present.

Unfortunately, DC hasn't learned their lesson yet. Every new creator on Superman wants to re-write the character and his history, and they're being allowed to.

Birthright is actually getting a new reputation as a stand alone great comic and one of the best Superman stories. Alot of people hate dit just because it screwed continuity, now they realize that in of itself it is a great comic. plus the art is just orgasmic. And the ending is beautiful.

[Ironman2978]

I think one way they could blend the two would be for Clark to have been contacted by the Legion and for him to find out he would become Superman. So while adventuring with the Legion he wore his Superman costume as Superboy.

He wasn't seen as Superboy in our time because he new his first appearance was/would be as Superman. Kind of a time paradox thing but it works for me.

Maybe it will be like losh cartoon. when he arrives in the future he'll wear the costume and go by the name superman just like he'll "mysteriously" saving the day.I did love Superman Birthright why do people hate it just cause it's not in continuity.

[Captain Smith]

The problem I have with Clark knowing Lex in Smallville is that no plot device can stop a rational person from thinking that the second Lex saw Supes, he wouldn't say - Hey, Clark - love your red panties.

The show demonstrates how ridiculous the secret Identity would be to those who know Clark.

[botch]

The problem I have with Clark knowing Lex in Smallville is that no plot device can stop a rational person from thinking that the second Lex saw Supes, he wouldn't say - Hey, Clark - love your red panties.

The show demonstrates how ridiculous the secret Identity would be to those who know Clark.

That's why they are trying to come up with something different for his secret identity. Because it's not Real. in the smallville show, Clark wore glasses in one episode and Lex comes in and says "hey Clark, what's up". You know why? BECAUSE THAT'S HOW IT WOULD BE! I have another idea of the secret identity and it's perfect but I need DC to put it in stone.

[botch]

They're borrowing some ideas from Birthright. (For instance, it appears Lex's profession is essentially millionaire astrobiologist turned politician turned criminal>) I believe Busiek said he'd be telling Lex's new origin soon and that he'd be influenced some by Birthright but that it wouldn't be the same.

I believe it was confirmed recently that Lex's biological father is Lionel Luthor with his mullet and beard, not the actor from Birthright or the slumlord jerk who died mysteriously and heavily insured from before.

And Superman's Kryptonian father is Kennee Ro-Gers. ;) (Though they backed off from the beard in the last flashback we saw.)

Oh. And essentially, they kept the Tolos Kandor under the idea that some inhabitants mistakenly believed they were Kryptonian (ie. Preus) and have indicated that there's a real Kandor that either will (or perhaps already has been) enlarged as the planet Rokyn. We saw Rokyn in LSH and it appears that Kurt will be (re)introducing it.

My money says the upcoming ACTION/SUPERMAN crossover is probably where we see the team-up between all versions of Brainiac that's been alluded to, the story of the Kandors and the big reveal of Rokyn.

(BTW, I always thought Rokyn was a cool concept that didn't get a fair shake being introduced so close to Crisis.)

Busiek wants to bring alot of elements from Smallville(tv), I can't say I blame him, apart from Clark meeting heroes so early(he met virtually everyone before he became supes in the comics anyway, but I don't like it) it's virtually perfect. As long as the characterizations are there, especially that of Lex.

[Sean Whitmore]

Busiek wants to bring alot of elements from Smallville(tv), I can't say I blame him, apart from Clark meeting heroes so early(he met virtually everyone before he became supes in the comics anyway, but I don't like it) it's virtually perfect.

I think introducing Chloe is a good idea, but unless Lionel is going to be alive in the present day, I don't see the point.

Same with a past Lex/Clark friendship. It's a great idea to examine something like that as it's happening, but to just stick it in as back story raises more questions than it does story potential.

Or...I could be totally wrong.


SEAN

[Cam Man]

Ugh what a headache. How is anybody, like me, ever to get into Superman?

[Sean Whitmore]

Ugh what a headache. How is anybody, like me, ever to get into Superman?

http://www.dynamicforces.com/images/superman1.jpg


SEAN

[Joe Rice]

http://www.dynamicforces.com/images/superman1.jpg


SEAN

A-men. If there was ever an unpretentious, straight-up, good superhero story . . .

[lovefist911]

I want to know if Superman's "S" is an actual Kryptonian symbol/kanji, family crest, or just an "S". I get lost with that one. I thought it was a family crest for the House of El, then in 52 it's revealed that it's a kryptonian symbol that means "hope" and upside down means "resurection", then in Superman #' 669&670 the symbol is shown on flags by the Kryptonian Navy, now it's shown to represent all of Krypton.

So what's up with the "S"?

[Bored at 3:00AM]

The S Symbol was revamped as the El Family Chrest in the Donner movie. It was an ancient symbol etched on a legendary sword Pa Kent dreamed about in the Pre-Crisis comics. It was Pa Kent's invention Post-Crisis and it is now a Kryptonian symbol Post-Birthright.

[lovefist911]

What issue did Pe Kent dream about that sword?

[Ian J.N.]

The problem I have with Clark knowing Lex in Smallville is that no plot device can stop a rational person from thinking that the second Lex saw Supes, he wouldn't say - Hey, Clark - love your red panties.

The show demonstrates how ridiculous the secret Identity would be to those who know Clark.
In Action 850, we saw that young Clark did wear glasses (who knows, maybe he actually needed them), and according to Superman 656, "the super-boy" was little more than an urban legend. I don't think there's a problem.

[Ian J.N.]

Ugh what a headache. How is anybody, like me, ever to get into Superman?
You just pick up a book and read the story. It's the writer's job to provide you with the information you need to know. Kandor quibbles aside, the writers have been very good at doing that. I had never read the books before OYL (except for the whole Death of Superman saga back in the day), and I haven't had any difficulties.

And yes, All-Star Superman is very good, although I wouldn't call it "unpretentious."

[aukevin]

I really enjoyed the novel The Last Days of Krypton by Kevin J Anderson. After reading it, that is how I imagine the world of Krypton.

[Bored at 3:00AM]

I really enjoyed the novel The Last Days of Krypton by Kevin J Anderson. After reading it, that is how I imagine the world of Krypton.

Whose Krypton would you say its comparable to?

[nova64]

What issue did Pe Kent dream about that sword?

Superman Annual #10 (1984)

[aukevin]

Whose Krypton would you say its comparable to?
I think the book's intention was to be a new re-telling of Krypton's final days (roughly the last year and a half, maybe two years) but it has a new take on the characters while still keeping them true to what we've always known about them. Krypton in the novel by all appearances is a utopian society that has moved past warfare and crime, but the society is actually stagnant out of fear of change. The planet is governed by a council, similar to Superman The Movie, and this council has pretty much restricted any further development of technology in fear that a villain could use new technologies to take over the planet. These fears stem from Krypton's history of when Jax-Ur tried to control the planet. The planet is already vastly technologically advanced, but the Council prevents any more change. The novel has the big cities of Krypton, Kandor, Argo City, Kryptonopolis, etc. Some of the structures are the crystalline fortress of solitude buildings. The book just goes more into how Zod gains his power through his political position as well as explains the real reason behind Krypton's destruction. I don't think this version of Krypton's destruction has ever been told. An example of how some of the characters are retold is that Jor-El and Lara first meet, get married, and have Kal-El all within the final year and a half of Krypton's existance. I always pictured them as had being together a longer time before Krypton's end. But the core characteristics of them are the same.

[Sean Whitmore]

I really enjoyed the novel The Last Days of Krypton by Kevin J Anderson. After reading it, that is how I imagine the world of Krypton.

Cool. I've got that coming in through my library, and I can't wait.


SEAN

[The Batman]

Ugh what a headache. How is anybody, like me, ever to get into Superman?

By reading Superman stories and enjoying them, I imagine.

No offense, but I've never been able to understand the need to know each and every detail of a character before you can get into them. I've always been quite the opposite.

[dupersuper]

I agree it's not that much of an impediment to new readers; when I got started, I could follow the stories fine, and had fun digging through back-issues for the backstory. It's more a spit in the face to us folks who've followed the stories for the last 2 decades or so.

[PatrickG]

I think introducing Chloe is a good idea, but unless Lionel is going to be alive in the present day, I don't see the point.

Same with a past Lex/Clark friendship. It's a great idea to examine something like that as it's happening, but to just stick it in as back story raises more questions than it does story potential.

Or...I could be totally wrong.


SEAN

With Lionel, I think it works if he's alive in the present day (it'd be nice to have an anti-Pa Kent and I'd be excited to see where that would go as it would round out Lex's portrayal) but I also think it works if his death has some kind of impact on a modern story. (Maybe on an emotional level, sure, but I also think it would be interesting if there was a story there. Maybe Lionel gave HIS fortune to somebody other than Lex in his will, for instance and so in spite of Lex's wealth, Lex has got a side goal of stealing back the inheritance his father "cheated" him out of.)

Kurt is using some CONCEPTS from Smallville but I don't think his take will be a direct import.

Smallville is kindof in its own world at this point.

Clark helping people with his powers without a costume, Lex having a complicated father-son relationship and Chloe all seem like generally good ideas for Superman. But I doubt we'll be seeing the stuff where there are meteor freak charities, people working for Jor-El, etc.

[J. Robb]

I agree it's not that much of an impediment to new readers; when I got started, I could follow the stories fine, and had fun digging through back-issues for the backstory.
Man, buying back issues to learn all the background and history was one of my favourite parts about reading comics as a kid. That's my biggest problem with the constant "invalidating" of the past, you lose that fun. Finding the first appearance of General Zod isn't as cool when he's constantly "first appearing".

[Sean Whitmore]

Man, buying back issues to learn all the background and history was one of my favourite parts about reading comics as a kid. That's my biggest problem with the constant "invalidating" of the past, you lose that fun. Finding the first appearance of General Zod isn't as cool when he's constantly "first appearing".

I'm the same way, but I can definitely see how back-issue hunting wouldn't hold the same appeal for everyone that it does for me.


SEAN

[Super Buddies Forever]

For me, it's hard to get invested in any Superman story now because I know that in 20 years or less, none of this will matter because a new editorial team will come in and want to change Superman history to fit with how they saw it as kids.

With Man Of Steel, it was the first time it had been done and, in the wake of the first Crisis, made sense. With Birthright, it was irritating, especially since there was seemingly no reason for it. With New Earth, I just don't care anymore.

[lovefist911]

For me, it's hard to get invested in any Superman story now because I know that in 20 years or less, none of this will matter because a new editorial team will come in and want to change Superman history to fit with how they saw it as kids.

With Man Of Steel, it was the first time it had been done and, in the wake of the first Crisis, made sense. With Birthright, it was irritating, especially since there was seemingly no reason for it. With New Earth, I just don't care anymore.

i feel the same way with Birthright, even though it had to be told in order to make the origin more modern. That will always happen i guess.