What direction should the Superman books go in?

[thepenguin]

Superman is way underused in Justice League. I don't know if it's intentional, but since his first apperance and fight (in issues 1-2), he's barely done anything. Johns is either waiting for some huge moment / storyline with Supes, or if he's not, he's really gotta use him more and give him some kind of role on the team.

Action Comics is perfect. I would change nothing about that title.


The Superman title feels irrelevant and lacks direction. That's the one they need to fix. They need to quit it with the out of date 80s / 90s creatives and put a new voice on there. Fialkov was rumored to be writing the Action Comics backups so he is probably interested in the Superman universe to some degree, I would just have him write the book. The art is pretty nice but feels a bit too 80s / 90s so I'd get a new artist to match. Fialkov & CAFU would probably be great.

This.

Superman title needs younger blood. Like Snyder on Batman or Johns on GL and Aquaman. I don't want to sound ageist but these guys (Perez, Jurgens) whose work was mainly in the 80ties and 90ties come across way too outdated and they cannot connect with the new ,younger Superman. Grant has done that and although Johns barely has him saying much, he is ten times better in JL 1-6 in what he did do than all the boring talk in his title. The Superman book is really boring because it is recycling the same plot we all know that has hit us in cartoons, comics and movies for years and why should I bother to read it? The Lois/ love triangle is boring and redundant and the whole book feels dated. Sorry, DC has to come better for its flagship character. People are willing to give the new Superman a chance and DC can't even get two titles with him to mesh. When I read the Superman title I left it with the feeling we going to get the same old drivel, no matter what they are telling us.The covers have been so mediocre too.This title really needs an overhaul.

[manofsteel1979]

This.

Superman title needs younger blood. Like Snyder on Batman or Johns on GL and Aquaman. I don't want to sound ageist but these guys (Perez, Jurgens) whose work was mainly in the 80ties and 90ties come across way too outdated and they cannot connect with the new ,younger Superman. Grant has done that and although Johns barely has him saying much, he is ten times better in JL 1-6 in what he did do than all the boring talk in his title. The Superman book is really boring because it is recycling the same plot we all know that has hit us in cartoons, comics and movies for years and why should I bother to read it? The Lois/ love triangle is boring and redundant and the whole book feels dated. Sorry, DC has to come better for its flagship character. People are willing to give the new Superman a chance and DC can't even get two titles with him to mesh. When I read the Superman title I left it with the feeling we going to get the same old drivel, no matter what they are telling us.The covers have been so mediocre too.This title really needs an overhaul.

I think there are two reasons for this...

1)The DCnU Superman is the "Grant Morrison Show". It's becoming more and more apparent that while Matt Idelson's name might be on the masthead as Editor, Morrison is the person controlling the Superman franchise, at least as far as Superman himself. If any major change or alteration to the mythos occurs, it's going to be in whatever Superman book Morrison writes. It is the same situation with Morrisons early BATMAN run. BATMAN was where everything was happening, while DETECTIVE treaded water with solid, but not groundbreaking, traditional stories by Paul Dini, someone known for doing an "old school" Batman via the 90's animated series. Sound a bit familiar?

2) By that same token, it's to try and give the older readers who prefer the older Pre-Flashpoint Superman stuff something familiar. With four Superman books (counting Superboy and Supergirl) depicting new versions and origins of the characters that populate the Superman franchise, they are attempting to please the old time readers by doing a Superman book set in the new 52 universe that has a familiar vibe to it, and feels more traditional.


It's similar to the situation with John Byrne and Marv Wolfman in the 1986 revamp. Byrne's two books (SUPERMAN and ACTION) were where the big picture and the template were laid. Wolfman's ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN had to work within that framework, but delt with a more classic neo golden age street level vibe that felt very different and not as radical as what Byrne was doing. Eventually Wolfman left and Byrne got all three books, from which the weekly format of the Superbooks telling an ongoing story in the 90's sprang from.

As an long time reader, I like the fact there is at least one Superman book that feels classic. Don't get me wrong, I am enjoying what is being done in ACTION, but I also like reading a good, old fashioned Superman comic every once in awhile. I think having two separate approaches gives the character diversity and allows the character to grow WITHOUT sacrificing his roots and what makes him the icon he is.

Yeah, SUPERMAN is more traditional....and that's how it should be! Let Grant go crazy in ACTION and not feel restricted by what goes on in the other book.

[Desaad]

The thing is, I don't even need Superman to have 'younger blood', although I certainly wouldn't mind it.

I want Superman to have forward thinking blood, so to speak. In that regard, there is no one better than Giffen besides Morrison. Hickman is basically a newer version of Giffen.

Jurgens and editorial are clearly weighing him down. I can only imagine how much better Superman 7 would have been without all the interference, if we had just gotten a pure Giffen written (and dare I dream it, pencilled??) story.

[Lexrules]

The thing is, I don't even need Superman to have 'younger blood', although I certainly wouldn't mind it.

I want Superman to have forward thinking blood, so to speak. In that regard, there is no one better than Giffen besides Morrison. Hickman is basically a newer version of Giffen.

Jurgens and editorial are clearly weighing him down. I can only imagine how much better Superman 7 would have been without all the interference, if we had just gotten a pure Giffen written (and dare I dream it, pencilled??) story.

Jurgens is there to make it better and he has. I know I am picking Superman back up because he is writing Superman again and the only reason I am back. DC actually did something right for the first time in over 3 years if you ask me.

[Desaad]

Well, different strokes as I said.

Jurgens is one of the most unremarkable, unambitious, creatively empty writers currently working in comics, for me. His plotting, dialog, everything is excruciatingly predictable (again, for me).

Obviously he has his fans, but I ain't one of 'em.

[hellacre]

I agree the Superman title has been woefully boring. It is what it is. Average. Predictable and forgettable. If this is what they are writing to keep fans stuck in the past happy, then it's really not for many of us who were willing to come to the title and expect something modern and a little more sophisticated. It is 2012 for goodness sakes. Superman is stuck in a time warp despite wearing a new suit. Jurgens being there to stop Giffen from pushing the envelope is not the way any writer should have to write.

It's a damn shame. This title should be up there with Batman Aquaman, Wonder Woman, Flash, and all the others that have been getting great reviews and good word of mouth.

[Lexrules]

I agree the Superman title has been woefully boring. It is what it is. Average. Predictable and forgettable. If this is what they are writing to keep fans stuck in the past happy, then it's really not for many of us who were willing to come to the title and expect something modern and a little more sophisticated. It is 2012 for goodness sakes. Superman is stuck in a time warp despite wearing a new suit. Jurgens being there to stop Giffen from pushing the envelope is not the way any writer should have to write.

It's a damn shame. This title should be up there with Batman Aquaman, Wonder Woman, Flash, and all the others that have been getting great reviews and good word of mouth.

What are you looking for then. Superman throwing a human through a wall, Or using his Heat Vision to melt the brain of one of his enemies. What does Modern and more sophisticated mean anyway. SUPERMAN IS SUPERMAN. Please tell me what you want to see from Superman that is not out of character.

[El Sombrero]

What are you looking for then. Superman throwing a human through a wall, Or using his Heat Vision to melt the brain of one of his enemies. What does Modern and more sophisticated mean anyway. SUPERMAN IS SUPERMAN. Please tell me what you want to see from Superman that is not out of character.

Interesting concepts, not the same old s***

[Lexrules]

Interesting concepts, not the same old s***

Like what though. You tell me what could be new you could add to Superman besides making him a killer. You need to stay within the borders given to him. As much as you want to reboot or remake the Story Superman must always act like Superman should act.

[El Sombrero]

Like what though. You tell me what could be new you could add to Superman besides making him a killer. You need to stay within the borders given to him. As much as you want to reboot or remake the Story Superman must always act like Superman should act.

Hey, everything in Action Comics is money. All-Star Superman. Superman Beyond (Final Crisis). That type stuff. Morrison is the only guy who does decent Superman stuff IMO.

[Lexrules]

Hey, everything in Action Comics is money. All-Star Superman. Superman Beyond (Final Crisis). That type stuff. Morrison is the only guy who does decent Superman stuff IMO.

What so different what Jurgens is doing compared to Morrison. They are both writing the same character in the same timeline. I understand you like Morrison's work and that is cool. He is a good writer just not my type of writer as he thinks way to much and tries to be to clever for his own good and ours IMO. I prefer someone like Jurgens or Ordway or Johns when it comes to writing Superman. A more simple straight story. Neither are wrong just different likes. I think it is a good idea to give everyone what they want. Morrison will give those who like his style what they want on Action and Jurgens will give the other fans what they want on Superman. I think it works out good.

[Alia_Sin]

I just wish they didn't reboot action comics. I liked the way things were heading before the New 52 for Superman. Don't get me wrong, the New 52 is awesome for most of the titles, but before the New 52 Superman was getting so good. I loved the battle with brainiac and I felt Action Comics were heading the right direction and some of the best Superman stories were being written. And then they scrapped it all and started to retell his origin and all that. Superman and Action Comics, unlike other titles, just feels forced by the writers to try something different when I felt it was fine before

[Lexrules]

I just wish they didn't reboot action comics. I liked the way things were heading before the New 52 for Superman. Don't get me wrong, the New 52 is awesome for most of the titles, but before the New 52 Superman was getting so good. I loved the battle with brainiac and I felt Action Comics were heading the right direction and some of the best Superman stories were being written. And then they scrapped it all and started to retell his origin and all that. Superman and Action Comics, unlike other titles, just feels forced by the writers to try something different when I felt it was fine before

It was going great but DC stretched Johns to thin instead of just saying Look, this is were you are needed most so you write this book and that's it. He was doing 5 books at the time if I remember correctly.

[hellacre]

What are you looking for then. Superman throwing a human through a wall, Or using his Heat Vision to melt the brain of one of his enemies. What does Modern and more sophisticated mean anyway. SUPERMAN IS SUPERMAN. Please tell me what you want to see from Superman that is not out of character.

No one as is asking for that. Seriously, where in god's name do you get that I want Superman toss a human in a wall? If that is how you interpret what I said, we are on totally different wavelengths. What you want from from Superman is not what I am looking for and that is clear why you are very happy with the very retro,old fashioned way way of writing which some like to call "classic". I think we all know full well this title does not have not stellar writing. We would know if it did. It would be on the critics' radar and raved about.

The over exposition is an annoyance, the villains have not been compelling, the supporting cast all quite dull too.The only thing I do like is that Jimmy is going to be an equal but all else seem rather redundant.

As a buyer, wanting better is not a crime. Wanting Superman up there as an admired title is what we all want. It is a reboot and it should have been much better than it has been. If it flagged a year down the line, I would say fine. But if you can't get momentum and excitement going from a #1...what does one expect when a creative team changed abruptly after a bad start and the next writer already seem weighed down by editorial? But if you like it, well least some people getting something out of it. I may just stick with Action depending on how the next 2 issues go.

[Desaad]

Like what though. You tell me what could be new you could add to Superman besides making him a killer. You need to stay within the borders given to him. As much as you want to reboot or remake the Story Superman must always act like Superman should act.

Is this a serious post?