Bring Back Superboy Conner Kent

[Jason1Kent]

Title says it all

[cpahl2000]

I agree, specially on Teen Titans where he is necessary, specially right now, that tittle is so boring and needs great characters.

[b4ustandsi]

looks like dc can use him again? from wiki:

Legal dispute
A March 23, 2006 court decision returned rights to the Superboy character to Jerry Siegel's heirs. The decision, issued six days before Superboy's death in Infinite Crisis #6 hit the shelves, states that the Siegels have owned 'Superboy' since November 17, 2004.[51]

Even though DC Comics does not own the rights to the "Superboy" name, Geoff Johns and Dan DiDio have stated that the decision to kill off the character had nothing to do with the court case, and that they could have just renamed the character.[citation needed] Following the conclusion of Infinite Crisis, Didio compared Superboy's death to Spock's death in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (who was subsequently resurrected), and also stated that he was "as dead as Blue Beetle".[52]

In the Teen Titans' Secret Origins, a back-up story in the weekly 52 series, an illustration of Superboy had to be changed to one of Wonder Girl because of the legal dispute.[53]

On the cover of Teen Titans #47, Match's insignia (a reverse version of Conner's) is obscured, and in Supergirl #18 (2007), Conner's "S" on his statue is covered. Almost all references to the character refer to him as "Conner".

Recently, it has appeared the legal status has been near dropped. As Superboy in his full-appearance appear in The Legion of Three Worlds #1. (2008)

[DonC]

Wikipedia is about the least reliable resource for things like this. Was he called Superboy in the Legion book?

Also, it should be noted, again, that Conner Kent/Kon-El is not part of the Superboy lawsuit. DC can continue to use him all they want. They just can't call him Superboy.

[Mat001]

Connor can be shown again, but he cannot be used as a character. Everytime Superboy-Prime went to call him Superboy, he was cut off from doing so. He can only be shown, not named Superboy. The reason being, it seems, is that his costume is not the Superman or the traditional Superboy one. Superboy-Prime can be listed as Superboy-Prime, but they must keep the name as that though Johns has managed to sneak around the Prime part twice. But he cannot appear in the original costume as well. DC cannot revive Kon-El yet until the matter is resolved.

[cpahl2000]

But DC can bring him back, not using Superboy´s name but as Conner or Kon-El is possible, nothing in this lawsuit (I think) doesn´t imply him, only classic Superboy. maybe with a new name would be possible to his return.

[Jason1Kent]

I want him flying again as Superboy, its who he is!

[DonC]

I want him flying again as Superboy, its who he is!


Are you familiar with the term "SOL?"

[Xybernauts]

Wikipedia is about the least reliable resource for things like this. Was he called Superboy in the Legion book?

Also, it should be noted, again, that Conner Kent/Kon-El is not part of the Superboy lawsuit. DC can continue to use him all they want. They just can't call him Superboy.

Truthfully, I never liked the name Superboy. What teenager wants to be referred to as a boy? Maybe they can call him Superteen instead. I actually think it sounds better then "boy". As part of the infinity crisis they should say his previous name was erased from reality and now all Superboy's are known as Superteen. So Superboy-prime would be Superteen-Prime. I wonder if there would be any legal issues preventing this?

Are you familiar with the term "SOL?"

Sh*t Outta Luck ?

[Ontir]

Conner should remain deceased, like Katma Tui and Gwen Stacey. Their deaths caused changes in other characters and to undo that would be a mistake. The fact that you want him back this much is proof of the importance of his passing.

DC can't use "Superboy." If they could, Shooter would have used him, and not created a "Superlad."

If, however, they chose to bring him back, he should be tied to Linda Danvers, and brought in as something like Ultra Man and Ultra Woman. They could even reveal that he was the inspiration for Jo Nah in the Legion.

[Xybernauts]

I really disgree with that senitment. Kon-El is too good of a character. He fits so well into the DCU and Teen Tians in general. Leaving him dead would be a big mistake. In a way Connor kinda fills the void Superman creates. Superman has so much potential, but only part of it can be explored. Using Kon-El allowed part of the void to be filled.

[The Scarlet Sapien]

Or... Dc could just let the spectacular but tragic death of a great but non-essential hero. stand. Right, Barry? Anyway Cadmus or Starr or Tim could cook up another clone. One half supes. The other half.... Batman?.... Joker?.... Lois?The possibilities are lengthy.

[heffison]

Conner should remain deceased, like Katma Tui and Gwen Stacey. Their deaths caused changes in other characters and to undo that would be a mistake. The fact that you want him back this much is proof of the importance of his passing.

DC can't use "Superboy." If they could, Shooter would have used him, and not created a "Superlad."



The changes in characters that followed Conner Kent's death amounted to a few issues of soap opera in Teen Titans and Robin updating his costume, which is apparently about to change again. Superman, glaringly, wasn't even fazed by the loss of his genetic son. At this point there is nothing to gain from keeping Kon-El dead, other than a potential Black Lantern. Granted, that might be worth it for now, but as soon as that story is done, DC needs for Conner to be back in action.

And yes, it appeared for a while the DC either couldn't, or felt it shouldn't, clearly present Conner as Superboy. We have seen evidence that the situation has improved, mostly in Lo3W, so there is reason to hope that a return is possible, DiDio willing.

That, I believe, is still the final sticking point. DiDio has joked and teased about other characters maybe possibly returning, but has been more terse in addressing Conner Kent. I'm guessing that he is putting his ego behind the decision to kill Conner, and to hell with anyone who disagrees. Not the best approach to running superhero comics, it seems to me, but then he has the job and I don't.

[heffison]

Or... Dc could just let the spectacular but tragic death of a great but non-essential hero. stand. Right, Barry? Anyway Cadmus or Starr or Tim could cook up another clone. One half supes. The other half.... Batman?.... Joker?.... Lois?The possibilities are lengthy.


They could, they could make all of those hybrids, and it would still be more fun to have Conner come back and have to deal with them. Possibly better: Conner Kent, having fought his way back from the realms of the dead, journeys to his father's home to find...Clark at a nearby park playing catch with Chris Kent. That might make the little brat worthwhile.

[Ontir]

Superman, glaringly, wasn't even fazed by the loss of his genetic son. At this point there is nothing to gain from keeping Kon-El dead, other than a potential Black Lantern. Granted, that might be worth it for now, but as soon as that story is done, DC needs for Conner to be back in action.

This is perhaps the most interesting part of the Conner story: Superman was at best ambivalent to him, while Luthor really cared for the boy.

And yes, it appeared for a while the DC either couldn't, or felt it shouldn't, clearly present Conner as Superboy. We have seen evidence that the situation has improved, mostly in Lo3W, so there is reason to hope that a return is possible, DiDio willing.

I'd need to see something a but more substantive on that. Shooter has said that they couldn't use Superboy, and that was quite recently, so he developed a Superlad they ended up shelving.

That, I believe, is still the final sticking point. DiDio has joked and teased about other characters maybe possibly returning, but has been more terse in addressing Conner Kent. I'm guessing that he is putting his ego behind the decision to kill Conner, and to hell with anyone who disagrees. Not the best approach to running superhero comics, it seems to me, but then he has the job and I don't.

If I were DiDio, I'd NEVER give a straight answer about any upcoming events. There's no way in hell I'd even think about doing it. You want to find out, buy the book! I think the sense of loss readers feel is meaningful. It means the writers did their jobs and to undo it is a really bad idea.

[AdamYJ]

You know, I kind of want Kon back and kind of don't.

I mean, I liked the old Kon-El. The swaggering, cocky, yet big-hearted kid who protected the state of Hawaii from the likes of Knockout and King Shark. That kid was a blast. I liked him from his outdated haircut down to his funky red boots.

The later version, though . . . :frown: . The plain-clothes Superboy who lived in Smallville, took care of Krypto and moped about his Luthor-drama. Ugh.

If we could get something like the old Kesel version back, I'd be all for it. If it's more of the Johns soap opera version, then no thanks.

[spidervenom]

don't worry he'll probaly be back as a black lantern.

[heffison]

TI'd need to see something a but more substantive on that. Shooter has said that they couldn't use Superboy, and that was quite recently, so he developed a Superlad they ended up shelving.

If I were DiDio, I'd NEVER give a straight answer about any upcoming events. There's no way in hell I'd even think about doing it. You want to find out, buy the book! I think the sense of loss readers feel is meaningful. It means the writers did their jobs and to undo it is a really bad idea.

I didn't mean to say that The Lawsuit was completely over, but something did change very recently, as DC went from obscuring the "S" on Conner and the reverse "S" on Match, and of course the Superlad thing you mentioned, to being able to show Conner (in a museum exhibit) with the "S" clearly visible, and now Match with his logo visible as well. We don't know if that is as far as they can go.

As to DiDio giving a straight answer that spoiled events, I wouldn't say that, but he has joked about other characters in a way he doesn't with Conner. Sure, something gets lost in the translation from convention appearance to report on the web, but it seems like his tone isn't the same.

I know some people like the death events to be permanent, to preserve that "sense of loss" you described, but frankly, I don't turn to superhero comics because I want to experience death and loss. That belongs in war stories, maybe horror stories. I still think the main purpose of superheroes is to triumph. Even over death.

[Jack Zodiac]

Action Comics #871. Kon-El might be back, maybe, in a way that gets around the lawsuit and the use of the Superboy title.

[AdamYJ]

I didn't mean to say that The Lawsuit was completely over, but something did change very recently, as DC went from obscuring the "S" on Conner and the reverse "S" on Match, and of course the Superlad thing you mentioned, to being able to show Conner (in a museum exhibit) with the "S" clearly visible, and now Match with his logo visible as well. We don't know if that is as far as they can go.

As to DiDio giving a straight answer that spoiled events, I wouldn't say that, but he has joked about other characters in a way he doesn't with Conner. Sure, something gets lost in the translation from convention appearance to report on the web, but it seems like his tone isn't the same.

I know some people like the death events to be permanent, to preserve that "sense of loss" you described, but frankly, I don't turn to superhero comics because I want to experience death and loss. That belongs in war stories, maybe horror stories. I still think the main purpose of superheroes is to triumph. Even over death.

They also referred to Kon directly as "Superboy" in the narration of the latest issue of Titans.

[The Lucky One]

You know, I kind of want Kon back and kind of don't.

I mean, I liked the old Kon-El. The swaggering, cocky, yet big-hearted kid who protected the state of Hawaii from the likes of Knockout and King Shark. That kid was a blast. I liked him from his outdated haircut down to his funky red boots.

The later version, though . . . :frown: . The plain-clothes Superboy who lived in Smallville, took care of Krypto and moped about his Luthor-drama. Ugh.

If we could get something like the old Kesel version back, I'd be all for it. If it's more of the Johns soap opera version, then no thanks.

Agreed. I thought Johns did some good things with the character (not the Luthor reveal), but I'd much rather have Kon-El back than Conner.

-D

[d newton]

The later version, though . . . . The plain-clothes Superboy who lived in Smallville, took care of Krypto and moped about his Luthor-drama. Ugh.
Show me which issues Conner moped about his Luthor-drama?

[Mat001]

Show me which issues Conner moped about his Luthor-drama?

Pretty much every issue of Teen Titans that he was in, as well as in the pages of Superman just before "Infinite Crisis". Not to mention Superman/Batman #7.

[d newton]

Pretty much every issue of Teen Titans that he was in, as well as in the pages of Superman just before "Infinite Crisis". Not to mention Superman/Batman 7.
I read all the TT issues, Superman 220 + S/B 7 and Conner never showed any angst about being part Lex Luthor in any of them.

[AdamYJ]

I read all the TT issues, Superman 220 + S/B 7 and Conner never showed any angst about being part Lex Luthor in any of them.

What comics were you reading? That's pretty much all he did from issue #1 of Teen Titans onward.

I liked it better when he was supposedly cloned from Cadmus director Paul Westfield. Not only did it turn into something of a non-issue, it was nice to have something in the Superman mythos that did not stem back to either Krypton or Luthor.

[d newton]

What comics were you reading? That's pretty much all he did from issue #1 of Teen Titans onward.
The ones where he didn't angst 24/7? :wink: Here's a quote from Superman/Batman 7 which proves my point:
"What's wrong with me?! You're the one who won't let go of it." - Superboy to Robin.

I liked it better when he was supposedly cloned from Cadmus director Paul Westfield. Not only did it turn into something of a non-issue, it was nice to have something in the Superman mythos that did not stem back to either Krypton or Luthor
Reread the conversation between Paul Westfield / Superman after the latter has dropped Dubbilex + Co off at Cadmus in Action 700 and you'll know why I dislike the former.

[joemagnum611]

The ones where he didn't angst 24/7? :wink: Here's a quote from Superman/Batman 7 which proves my point:
"What's wrong with me?! You're the one who won't let go of it." - Superboy to Robin.


Reread the conversation between Paul Westfield / Superman after the latter has dropped Dubbilex + Co off at Cadmus in Action 700 and you'll know why I dislike the former.

Then you are clearly reading the wrong issues. How about the isue of TT when Superman gave him Krypto? He was sitting in class thinking about how he was part Luthor and how he should kill everyone in his class. In that issue he as worried about how he should tell Clark about it.

[joemagnum611]

I like the idea of bringing him back. He was a good friend to Tim and you could how Bruce and Clark's relationship would have been if they were friends when they were kids. If they ever do bring him back and can't use the Superboy name maybe Mon'el can pass the Valor name down to him. If they do use SB then I hope they don't give him a lame ass costume again. I like the jeans and t-shirt look and I hope they don't forget about his Tactile Telekenisis again. It's like they wrote that out just so he could be more like Supes.

[d newton]

How about the isue of TT when Superman gave him Krypto? He was sitting in class thinking about how he was part Luthor and how he should kill everyone.
Just because he was thinking about doing it doesn't mean it actually happened in the issue! :wink:

[marshal99]

Yeah , bring him back as a brain eating zombie. :wink:

[joemagnum611]

Just because he was thinking about doing it doesn't mean it actually happened in the issue! :wink:

You're right we were talking about how all he did was agonize about how he was half Luthor after he found out.

[d newton]

Your defintion of "agonize" must be a lot different than the version I'm using.
:tongue:

[AdamYJ]

Your defintion of "agonize" must be a lot different than the version I'm using.
:tongue:

He was agonizing about it internally, but trying to not let on and play the tough guy in front of everyone else. It's actually a very Kon-El thing to do.

I think this is just a different view on the same material. I remember encountering something similar about Kon and Cassie's relationship. Someone kept saying that they shouldn't be together because Cassie hated Kon. I was like "since when?" And he said "Remember the baseball issue of YJ when she got upset because he kept trying to protect her? She totally hated him for it." I had seen it as Cassie being momentarily pissed at Kon. He saw it as outright hate. It was a different interpretation.

I don't like the retconned in Luthor origin because I just don't like Luthor. Well, he's okay, but way overused. I don't like it when his influence seeps past the two main Superman books. I also kind of miss the days when Superboy was kind of like the Peter Pan of the DCU. He was the cocky kid who lived in paradise and couldn't grow up. And also, just like no one ever asks "Who's Peter Pan's father?", Kon's parentage was a non-issue.

[Jeff O.]

Maybe they can call him Superteen instead. I actually think it sounds better then "boy". As part of the infinity crisis they should say his previous name was erased from reality and now all Superboy's are known as Superteen. So Superboy-prime would be Superteen-Prime. I wonder if there would be any legal issues preventing this?

Since the sixties, Archie Comics has occasionally featured Betty Cooper in a superhero guise called Superteen.

http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=221863&zoom=4 (http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=221863&zoom=4)


http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=221865&zoom=4 (http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=221865&zoom=4)


In the nineties, Archie published four issues about Superteen and her super pals entitled ARCHIE'S SUPER TEENS.

http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=238190&zoom=4 (http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=238190&zoom=4)


This might be enough for DC not to want to try to use the name of Superteen, itself -- outside of perhaps a gag in MAD MAGAZINE.

In the eighties, Hanna-Barbera once did a SCOOBY-DOO short where Shaggy gets hit on the head and thinks he is "Super Teen" (or "Super-Teen") -- in this case, a parody of (pre-Crisis) Superboy.


__________________

[Scott Taylor]

don't worry he'll probaly be back as a black lantern.

That would be super awesome, which leads me to believe that DC won't do it.

[Mat001]

And also, just like no one ever asks "Who's Peter Pan's father?", Kon's parentage was a non-issue.

It was for the fans who wanted to know who supplied the DNA, if it didn't come from Superman. A number of fans were sending letters in asking when it would be revealed. That's why the second Annual was dedicated to answering the question.

[Augusto]

DC is bringing back "Adventure Comics". Maybe there is where we'll see Conner's return....

http://www.smileyhut.com/silly/tumbleweed.gif (http://www.smileyhut.com)

[SuperTommyMan]

Superboy as a character is great in many ways, I really liked his character but too many characters have come back to life all of a sudden, no one really dies.

Even Barry Allen comes back and Supergirl. Supergirl is another character than the old one but its still getting a little too ridiculous. Maybe even the Martian Manhunter will come back one day.

I think the writers agreed since they brought Supergirl back in the picture, they should kick out someone else in the Superman family which I thought is a great move.

I just don't like how Superman wasn't more broken up over the death of Superboy back in Infinite Crisis. It should have affected Superman's mentality permanently of losing a son/younger brother-like figure. Much like when Jason Todd died and Batman couldn't let go of his death. (hated how they brought him back too).

What do you think?

[The Scarlet Sapien]

Quite Agree. John And Connor's deaths should bother Clark and Other Characters alot Characters should stay dead At Least half the time when they are killed. Otherwise its just a tired meaningless cynical joke.