LBCC: Lobdell Promises Radical Changes for "Superman," "Teen Titans" & "Red Hood"

[Nocturnus]

That might not be a bad strategy at this point. Just stop mentioning it in interviews and let the product speak for itself.

You are too kind bro. I actually meant they should talk and write less about her because someone will always find a reason to moan about her. If "passion" is what drives these constant bitchin from some "fans" then maybe it's time they lose some of it.

[davidgrantlloyd]

Just saying (again probably) after re-reading issues 0 and 13, I really like what I've read of Lobdell's take on Superman so far (and that includes how all the characters are being written btw) and I'm really looking forward to the upcoming issues, the stuff he was saying in the interview sounds really cool.

Pardon my ignorance, but, have we seen this Dr Veritas character before? I'm hoping to find out more of her backstory ...

[Sacred Knight]

One thing I think is worth keeping in mind when they talk about "radical" change, is that the reality is its hyperbole, meant as a headline grabber. Because I mean, you look at the things Lobdell says he's got planned, and what's the most "radical" change we're gonna see? From what I can tell, only real big difference he talks about is Clark becoming freelance with his investigative reporting using the internet and blogging as his tools. Its a change, yes, one I"m quite interested in seeing, but is it really radical? My opinion is that its not. Its meant to get you to click that link, really, little more. In his three issues thus far (yes three, I was mistaken when I said two earlier, whoops), its not like you don't know you're reading a Superman comic.

[kylesgirl]

As the member who was asked for the information and accused of being obsessed all without any attempt to engage with the actual information I was providing, I very much appreciate your support.

When DC Comics puts out a Power Couples list on their blog the day after the SM/WW announcement (i.e. before readers have read JL#12 and before SM/WW have even become a couple, which they still aren’t), and it's a list that places Superman and Diana at the top of the list, it’s even more clear their intent was to inflame fans. Keep in mind, couples like Green Arrow and Black Canary made the list when they separated Pre-Flashpoint and are no longer together in the New 52. Then I’m sure people would argue that the list was only for superheroes and not civilians like Lois. However, if a character and his damn battery can make the list, surely Superman and Lois Lane who have been a major DC couple for decades, and one of the few featured in multiple feature films and television shows, could've been included. Nope, just Superman and Wonder Woman for whom DC asks, “How could these two not be number one?” Um, how about the fact that they’re not a couple yet so technically no one knows if they’ll be a well written, well received, and earn any legacy even close to the other couples on the list, like Batman and Catwoman.

Then there’s the Match.com dating profiles the powers that be over at DC released to promote what Bryan Q. Miller – writer of BATGIRL and the SMALLVILLE show and comic series – calls the “bullship.” It’s curious DC would choose this approach, considering one of the architects and writers of the Superman and Wonder Woman hook up, Geoff Johns, may have been inspired by Clark and Lois on SMALLVILLE. In 2009, the series aired an episode called “Crossfire” in which Lois and Clark completed dating site profiles (seen here). What makes the episode unique is that Geoff Johns specifically commented on it:

My favorite element [of writing for Smallville] changes. The last few seasons, as soon as Lois and Clark are hanging out more and more, that dynamic, to me, is a lot of fun. There was an episode where Lois was reading for a newscast this season, and to me, that was one of the best episodes they’ve done, because the chemistry between those two is off the chart. So, it changes. That was a very interesting element to work with, and something that I really enjoyed” (Source).

To add insult to injury, the SMALLVILLE episode Johns loved, and which featured the kind of dating profiles DC used to promote Superman and Diana’s first kiss, was the episode that featured Lois and Clark’s first kiss. Sure, it could all be a coincidence, but with this crowd I doubt it.



“Take advantage” is a nice euphemism for DC’s incendiary and insulting PR strategy. And you and your SM/WW ilk continue to misrepresent the Clois fandom. That Clark and Lois aren’t together anymore currently is not what bothers us. We aren’t even bothered by Superman and Wonder Woman dating. What bothers us is the way it is promoted and championed by the company and fans of the relationship, because instead of just celebrating what is new and what they love respectively, they seem intent on dismissing and insulting Lois Lane and her relationship with Superman. Don’t you get it? Clark and Lois fans have been down this road before. In the Post-Crisis, Clark didn’t start out in a relationship with Lois and the same was true of L&C: TNAoS and SMALLVILLE. He dated other people, and so did she. What’s left is the question of who is a better mate for Superman. Thus, emotions run high and heated debates occur as a consequence of that question and not as a direct consequence of Clark and Diana getting together.



Your grasp of reality and reading comprehension continue to disappoint. Re-read my previous post, and hopefully you’ll see I wasn’t discussing the past in a way to make comparisons or to wallow in nostalgia, as you seem to be suggesting I was. What my post said was that DC Comics -- not Clois fans -- is harping on the past with the intent of being incendiary to Clois fans by using Lois and Clark’s past in its PR. The rest of my post only talks about the narrative as it exists in the DCnU. Finally, it is impossible for Lois and Clark fans to be upset about Clark’s feelings for Lois in the New 52 in the way you suggest (again with the ridiculous “worship” hyperbole), because Clark has been written to respect Lois as a journalist (e.g. ACTION #0, SUPERMAN #2) and to like and be attracted to her (e.g. SUPERMAN #3, SUPERMAN #13). You keep forgetting that the reason Clark and Lois aren’t together at the moment has nothing to do with any lack of feeling and attraction on Clark’s part. In fact, in the post of mine we’re discussing I talked about how it is Lois’ relationship with Jonathan that keeps being used as the obstacle causing Clark to feel the loneliness that drives him to Diana. Finally, much of what I’ve been criticizing in this thread has nothing to do with Lois and Clark as a couple and everything to do with how Lobdell undermined Lois Lane’s professional integrity by contradicting her characterization in one issue before his and how he tarnished Clark by having him abuse his powers to spy on Lois’ phone. Clearly you prefer to create in Clark and Lois fans some sort of straw man that you can disparage and dismiss more easily than the ones that exist in reality. [End Part 1 of 2]

Oh I grasp very well, I don't need to go on and on and on and disparage other posters and act as if I alone know it all. You don't as evidenced by many posters DISAGREEING with you. Rebutting all of them to say the same thing over and over does not make it so. Your opnion is your opinion. Period. It is not fact. I can say what I want to say it in a few lines. Tha damage you are afraid of his that fans may like him and WW together. That it's not Lois is the one and only. Lois could never be the one and only. Not in a million years. Not where story telling is concerned. That was DC feeding you school girl fantasy drivel, which you bought into hook,line and sinker. Go back into Superman history and the dude married different women. In many stories to come Lois will kick the bucket and Superman's future will be explored. He might sooon hook up with Big Barda in Beyond, you never know. The fact is Superman is not defined by Lois Lane at all. And its about time DC focus on him because this is the kind of nonsense they get from hurt fangirls who accuse writers of crazy things where shipping matters more than Superman himself.

[Zionite1]

For the last damn time, it is not about shipping. For Lois to be developed well as an individual she needs to be given quality page time. I’ll repeat: Lois should have better quality page time, not necessarily more quantity in page time. In all those issues Jimmy’s been in, for instance, he’s done virtually nothing that develops him as an individual. He apparently had bed bugs in his apartment for months and he hooked up with some random girl we’ll likely never learn anything about. He used to partner up with a tech oriented woman named Miko, and they helped Lois get good television news coverage without sacrificing safety or principles, but that’s about it. But that’s Jimmy Olsen, who should never be reduced to the same level as Lois Lane. Listen, just think about what the word “vital” means. There is a difference between existing and living. Lois may exist in those 13 issues, but what kind of dimensions of her character and her life were we really getting to see? It’s taken until now, for example, for the books to address how and why Lois and Jonathan got together and got serious. In other issues, Lois Lane’s secondary preoccupation, aside from worrying about Clark’s erratic behavior and defending Superman from her employee McCoy, was setting Clark up with her sister of all people. Everything she does and we see her doing has little to do with her. She is a glorified plot device who is desperately in need of richer development, which doesn’t need be done in lots of pages in lots of books. It just needs to be done.



Lois has been written inconsistently. Who she was in SUPERMAN 13 bares little resemblance to who she was in 1-12. She made a complete 180 with nothing accounting for the change. Bad writing happens when things are told more than shown and a change from A to B is not accounted for. The random appearance of Dr. Veritas and Cat Grant’s personality transplant are further examples of Lobdell’s mess of story. Like his Clark, Lobdell clearly is full of ideas and impulsiveness, so he just does what he wants without being careful about how he does it. It’s simply not good enough. The characters deserve better. [End Part 2 of 2]

Agree completely with the Bolded.I dont expect Lobdell to characterize Lois or jimmy any better though.His interview shows a didninterest in them.But im not that bothered since we have diggle coming on Action who really wants to do something with Lois instead of using her as an angst tool.

[nightrider]

You are too kind bro. I actually meant they should talk and write less about her because someone will always find a reason to moan about her. If "passion" is what drives these constant bitchin from some "fans" then maybe it's time they lose some of it.

I can deal with that. Full on sci-fi action like in Action #14 sounds good. Space adventures, time travel, travelling through dimensions all sound like viable options for a huge sci fi fare. All of it could happen without any supporting cast from the planet.

[burroughs]

That might not be a bad strategy at this point. Just stop mentioning it in interviews and let the product speak for itself.

If the 'product' is written by Scott Lobdell, it will not speak too much.

Come on DC... get Harras and his crew out of there! bring in some new blood!

[666MasterOfPuppets]

BUT I do have issues.First of all I dont like the fact Lobdell is taking measures to downplay the 2 most important members Superman supporing casts.Lois and Jimmy.Clark leaving the Dailyplanet,means a considerable less interraction with Lois which means lois role in the story is downsized.The same goes for Jimmy especially when you count in the fact he is no longer potrayed as Clarks bestie but a mooch,whos gonna be out of Clarks flat very soon.

I like that Lobdell is concious of not letting things revert to the old staus quo but hes going a bit too radical.
Not happy with the bad lois characterisations,epecially the fact that she did not leave with clark-same with Jimmy.How cool wld it be to see Jimmy,Lois,and Clark on the road as rogue reporters standing up for whats its right.Instead we got a mooch Jimmy and a louis thats part of the problem.

Anyways looking forward to Diggles run on Action comics,his interviews give away the fact hes a lois fan.So we are good there

I wouldn't say that he's actively trying to downsize Lois and Jimmy's roles in the new continuity. I mean, they barely appeared in the issue. We didn't get to see those two's reactions to Clark's speech. And who's to say that Lois isn't trying to change things from the inside, taking advantage of her new position? I'll just wait and see.

[666MasterOfPuppets]

You're trying to call out hypocrisy where it doesn't exist, calling out a poster for things that don't exist. I don't know, maybe you're projecting. Anyway, time to update the ignore list.

I did it a while ago. I won't bother reading that being's posts anymore.

[thepenguin]

Agree completely with the Bolded.I dont expect Lobdell to characterize Lois or jimmy any better though.His interview shows a didninterest in them.But im not that bothered since we have diggle coming on Action who really wants to do something with Lois instead of using her as an angst tool.

This would be true if the book was called Lois. The book is called Superman. Lois has had so much page time in Action and Superman MORE than when Byrne rebooted. Lobdell wrote one issue and we have 'character assasination'. These same people who love Lois so much termed it character assassination when they saw the preview of Superman #1 and it had Lois being very Lois...just she had a boyfriend. Their complaints reeks of hypocrisy and double standards, I'm afraid.

[Nocturnus]

I can deal with that. Full on sci-fi action like in Action #14 sounds good. Space adventures, time travel, travelling through dimensions all sound like viable options for a huge sci fi fare. All of it could happen without any supporting cast from the planet.

Yes exactly. And you don't hear after those stories, people in forums chanting the Lois mantra and making everyone's eyes and head bleed. The moment Lois is mentioned.. the skies darken and a swarm of complain - like a plague, fills the air. I don't want to sound like a total dick, but the Lois fandom, apparently, has become as ridiculous as religious fanaticism. And I want Supes nothing to do with her or her devotees.

[protege]

i went back and read the article- I'm intrigued by his plans for Solstice, but he'd better have a good explination for it. and did i read that right? jimmy knows Clark's secret?

[nightrider]

Yes exactly. And you don't hear after those stories, people in forums chanting the Lois mantra and making everyone's eyes and head bleed. The moment Lois is mentioned.. the skies darken and a swarm of complain - like a plague, fills the air. I don't want to sound like a total dick, but the Lois fandom, apparently, has become as ridiculous as religious fanaticism. And I want Supes nothing to do with her or her devotees.

Lois, no matter how great a character is simply a supporting character. Much like Alfred/Gordon is to Batman. At this point of time, I'm looking forward to developing other characters like Emil Hamilton, Steel, Cat Grant, Ron Trope even Bibbo. I think she would forever be an important part of Supes' life, but I don't want her and Jimmy to be the only supporting characters in Supes life being developed.

[DebkoX]

I wonder whether he actually will improve TT.

[Namtab]

Lois, no matter how great a character is simply a supporting character. Much like Alfred/Gordon is to Batman. At this point of time, I'm looking forward to developing other characters like Emil Hamilton, Steel, Cat Grant, Ron Trope even Bibbo. I think she would forever be an important part of Supes' life, but I don't want her and Jimmy to be the only supporting characters in Supes life being developed.

Very much this.

It's Superman's book; Lois, Jimmy, Perry, etc. exist to support Superman's/Clark's story.