The Failure of the Current Superboy book

[Superlad93]

Brainiac isn't organic at all in the new 52 so there's little to no way it's him, however idk about the "Brainiac girl" that could be possible. But it wouldn't explain much about Superboy or his powers because no in canon Brainiac has shown anything that looks like Superboy's powers.

I think Maxima is a good pick because we haven't heard or seen anything about her race in the new 52 just yet and it could "defy classification" because they haven't been encountered just yet.

But really I almost sure that it's just going to be a new character and a new race.....much less convoluted and messy that way.

[stephens2177]

God i hope its not a brand new character,from a brand new race,if your gonna add to the already iconic two daddies,they have to equal the same iconic level.

Maxima is good cause she has immense mental powers(and physical ones),and she opens the door for stories of SB going into space and alien races.

I guess i havent really paid much attention to action comics,more than just reading the issues once and done,but are you sure his "actual" form isnt organic in some way? I mean he had non organic forms and organic forms pre 52,it might be the same now too.also we know that there is a brainiac in the legion,so shouldnt there be one before that? Silva drew a brainiac girl,sure it could have just been for a continuation of adventure comics storyline,but it might have been for future stories too.

Ms martian and daemonites are still good choices too imo.

[C-Dot]

I agree with this and that's why the 90's Superboy was so good for the most part. Johns just made a mistake on his focus and derailed things for the character, but I think his concept was good for what it was and was a valid take on Superboy.

The "concept" went against everything that the creators and other creative teams did in regards to the character, what the character was supposed to be, personality, and development of that character that was established. It’s not "valid" as a continuation of that character just because he wrote a "Superboy". That's like saying Comet in Supergirl is a "valid" take of Comet the Super Horse. Different characters. Different concept. Both are horse based.

As for the people who don't like the Lex thing and feel as if Lex would never mix his DNA with Superman's out of xenophobic tendencies then I'd like to cite All-Star Superman. In the book Lex drinks a formula that turns him into the equivalent of Superman and to make matters even worse he didn't come up with the formula himself he stole it from Superman and recreated it. Lex's jealousy will always get the better of him and he's extremely jealous of Superman he would like nothing more than to be just like him alien or not. In the same book Lex works out his body and becomes an impressive specimen and he's on remark is "go on feel" as he shows Clark his bicep "it's easy to be strong when you just happen to have come from the planet krypton--this takes hard work"

Now at the end of the end of this story the fact that Lex not only steals the formula and uses it to gain that strength that he looked down on a few issues ago illustrates no real hard work on his part and is in fact taking the easy way out and contradicting everything he said before. Lex would have loved to have been born on krypton a world of like-minded super people, but he was born an earth man so he must fake superiority to hide his jealousy.

Now this Lex was not canon during Johns run or anything but many (myself included) see him as the end all be all to a Lex Luthor take and while he is xenophobic and all on the top he is actually very jealous and would like nothing more than to be Superman.

So him making a Superman in his own image and not out of the question if you look at it this way.......that's all I'm saying.

Lex taking a serum with some urge of "wanting to be Superman" and Lex resurrecting the dead nemesis that he wanted to stay dead with his own DNA is about as similar as peanut butter and super glue. Lex Luthor is sole control with no one but himself at the top. Not "the alien", not his "tools", but himself. A man with delusions of grandeur who believes he is the pinnacle and not some alien from some planet muscling in on his world and posing a threat to his dominance. He would not live vicariously through others when he seeks power for his own gain. He wanted to be seen as the benevolent hero...that's why he formed Team Luthor, had Supergirl, and tried to recruit Steel and Superboy. Lex wants the alien dead. Lex got paranoid when said alien seemed to return. And Lex stopped all attempts to clone said alien. That is NOT a man who wanted to clone Superman with his own DNA.

Superboy was not in Lex's "image" at all. Not in any way.

[Superlad93]

The "concept" went against everything that the creators and other creative teams did in regards to the character, what the character was supposed to be, personality, and development of that character that was established. It’s not "valid" as a continuation of that character just because he wrote a "Superboy". That's like saying Comet in Supergirl is a "valid" take of Comet the Super Horse. Different characters. Different concept. Both are horse based.



Lex taking a serum with some urge of "wanting to be Superman" and Lex resurrecting the dead nemesis that he wanted to stay dead with his own DNA is about as similar as peanut butter and super glue. Lex Luthor is sole control with no one but himself at the top. Not "the alien", not his "tools", but himself. A man with delusions of grandeur who believes he is the pinnacle and not some alien from some planet muscling in on his world and posing a threat to his dominance. He would not live vicariously through others when he seeks power for his own gain. He wanted to be seen as the benevolent hero...that's why he formed Team Luthor, had Supergirl, and tried to recruit Steel and Superboy. Lex wants the alien dead. Lex got paranoid when said alien seemed to return. And Lex stopped all attempts to clone said alien. That is NOT a man who wanted to clone Superman with his own DNA.

Superboy was not in Lex's "image" at all. Not in any way.

You know what man I gave my take on things and if you don't agree with them fine but it seems like you don't even wanna give my points the time of day. I get it you don't like what came after the 90's. But to say that Johns Superboy is not a valid take on the character is just wrong headed. It's like saying the silver age Superman is not a valid take on the character cuz he was dramatically different in the golden age or that the 80's Superman is not a valid take on Superman because he was so removed from the silver age (more human less powerful etc). It's a different take.

As for my Lex stuff: I stand by everything I said because the Lex's we are talking about are two different people so at the time you analyses would have been right but in the context of All-Star Superman (the definitive take for most) I can argue my point quite well.

Also when Lex took control of Superboy he did in fact make him 1) shave his head 2) put an "L" on his chest to signify his image. I already gave my explanation on why I think he still had him look like Superman (which seems pretty obvious if you ask me).

But really that's all I have to say on the subject.

[C-Dot]

I get what people are saying the reason that wouldn't be the case. After all, even if Luthor controlled Superman himself, people would still see him as the savior over Luthor. And Luthor wants to be the one everyone needs and depends on. Not his puppet.

Exactly

Lex already had a Supergirl that he could control, made clones of said Supergirl, had Team Luthor to fill the void Superman left, and not to mention all of his efforts in keeping his position of "top dog" in Metropolis.

All for his view of being the "savior" and the pinnacle....and no alien to challenge or threaten that.

[stephens2177]

Kesel was the original kon,and the best overall quality imo,he was the originater of the clone SB,and shoule be respected as such.

Johns SB was a revamp,with totally new revamped history to make it possible,but that doesnt mean he wasnt good,or valid.he brought a new look and feel to the character.

aslong as you see them as reboots or revamps,so history being wrong doesnt drive you crazy ,then it shouldnt bother you that there is more than one version of him,i personally love every version.of him,even if i have a perfect version of SB in my head that is a blend of them all,and that i would love to see on paper someday.

[net06]

I would be OK with them canceling Superboy and replacing it with a new "Steel" title.

[stephens2177]

I would be OK with them canceling Superboy and replacing it with a new "Steel" title.

Uh NO.superboy is in Superboy,Teen Titans,Legion Lost,the Ravagers,and now Superman and Supergirl,why would DC even remotely think of camcelling a profitable character.Steel had his own book,which i have every issue of,but was cancelled ,and he wasnt even a thought until he was in JLA,but SB had his own book (100) issues strong,a offshoot book Superboy and the Ravers,a team book Ypung Justice.not to mention he has been on smallville and young justice on the tv.oh i forgot Steel did have his movie with shaq.

The point is,we dont need to get rid of one to have the other,both running every month would be ideal.

[net06]

Uh NO.superboy is in Superboy,Teen Titans,Legion Lost,the Ravagers,and now Superman and Supergirl,why would DC even remotely think of cancelling a profitable character.Steel had his own book,which i have every issue of,but was cancelled ,and he wasn't even a thought until he was in JLA,but SB had his own book (100) issues strong,a offshoot book Superboy and the Ravers, a team book Young Justice.not to mention he has been on Smallville and young justice on the TV.oh i forgot Steel did have his movie with Shaq.

The point is,we don't need to get rid of one to have the other,both running every month would be ideal.

It's not the character they should cancel, just the solo title which I wouldn't assume is profitable right now given that before the H'el crossover it had fallen out of the top 100 selling books. Also ravagers and Legion Lost are like DC's worst selling titles.

[stephens2177]

It's not the character they should cancel, just the solo title which I wouldn't assume is profitable right now given that before the H'el crossover it had fallen out of the top 100 selling books. Also ravagers and Legion Lost are like DC's worst selling titles.

Legion lost is a knockoff legion book,and the ravagers is a knockoff teen titans book,i dont think anybody assumed those two would be super profitable,most assumed they wouldnt fly or not do well.superboys own book is not in the cancellation level,and top 100 means nothing when the pie is increasing,as in more comics be produced a month,even doubleshipped books a month,so that is nothing.

Even though im not a animal man fan i get the book now for the future version of Steel,when he is gone illdrop it,but you should be picking up action comics,because Steel has shown up there numerous times,if you need a Steel fix.