VERHEIDEN TALKS SUPERMAN

[MattBrady]

(art by Jim Lee, not Ed Benes)

Following Brian Azzarello and Jim Lee’s twelve-part “For Tomorrow” story (and an issue of Judd Winick and Ian Churchill’s Shazam story), Superman really gets back to Smallville. Literally.

Following up on yesterday’s news of Adventures of Superman getting a new penciller in the person of Karl Kerscl in May, Superman gets a full creative team turnover, with Mark (Smallville) Verheiden coming on board as writer, with Ed (Birds of Prey) Benes joining the book as penciller.

For Verheiden, the Superman run, which begins with May’s #217 marks a return to an ongoing comics gig in almost a decade. Don’t worry too much about his chops though, as alluded to above, Verheiden comes to Superman after working as a co-executive producer on the WB’s Smallville television series, telling the story of a young Clark Kent, growing up and coming to terms with his powers and his destiny.

Click here for the full story.

[TheFoo]

Hmmm.... maybe, just maybe, I'll pick this us.

[csGuy]

Originally posted by MattBrady

Newsarama Note: For those keeping track with the scorecard, Ed Benes departure from Birds of Prey will be filled by Joe Bennett. Given his speed and issues already drawn, Bennett will serve as artist on both BoP and Hawkman for the foreseeable future.

Cliff Biggers contributed to this article

I'm glad this was mentioned. Bennet will be excellent on BoP

[Kevin T. Brown]

Well, this is indeed some very good news. I've always enjoyed Verheiden's work. Not 100% sure about Benes quite yet as I question his ability to do a monthly title.....

[jedifish]

Originally posted by MattBrady

Newsarama Note: For those keeping track with the scorecard, Ed Benes departure from Birds of Prey will be filled by Joe Bennett. Given his speed and issues already drawn, Bennett will serve as artist on both BoP and Hawkman for the foreseeable future.

Cliff Biggers contributed to this article

Mr. Bennett keeps moving up the food chain. I really liked this months Hawkman and loved the art. I hope we can get a year out of Bennett on Hawkman while he starts BOP.

As for Verheiden, I really enjoyed those old Aliens comics, so looks like its good news. I also enjoy Benes art, so also good news.

[J.C. Bakken]

Originally posted by jedifish
Mr. Bennett keeps moving up the food chain. I really liked this months Hawkman and loved the art. I hope we can get a year out of Bennett on Hawkman while he starts BOP.

As for Verheiden, I really enjoyed those old Aliens comics, so looks like its good news. I also enjoy Benes art, so also good news.

Yup, very good for Bennett who has been the goto fillin guy at Marvel for TOO long. The Crew and CaF has been his most steady work there, and now he'll get TWO series at DC? Damnit, he could be a friggin' Young Gun.

Superman, as a franchise, is finally starting to peak my interest to the point where im seriously thinking of adding him to my List.

I gues will get the third anouncement tomorrow?

[Mr Wesley]

This seems to imply that this will only be one arc instead of an ongoing. Can that be confirmed?

[kalorama]

The only part of the article i really cared about:

Originally posted by Matt Brady
Newsarama Note: For those keeping track with the scorecard, Ed Benes departure from Birds of Prey will be filled by Joe Bennett. Given his speed and issues already drawn, Bennett will serve as artist on both BoP and Hawkman for the foreseeable future.

I may have to start reading BoP again.

[Drax]

I could care less about anything Superman, but seeing that Ed Benes was leaving BoP was hard news to take. And while I'm not happy he's leaving, seeing that someone just as good will be taking his place is comforting.

[Von Raven]

I can't wait for this!

Azzarello's 12 issue run was 12 issues too long!

Among the dullest arc I've read in 2004...and his Batman arc prior to this was the second dullest.

[grphxkindaguy]

Originally posted by jedifish
Mr. Bennett keeps moving up the food chain. I really liked this months Hawkman and loved the art. I hope we can get a year out of Bennett on Hawkman while he starts BOP.

As for Verheiden, I really enjoyed those old Aliens comics, so looks like its good news. I also enjoy Benes art, so also good news.

Did Bennett draw The Crew? If so, I like his stuff as well, and look forward to his BOP work (though I'll miss Benes immensely).

I've enjoyed Verheiden's work on the ALIEN comics and his PHANTOM run was a lot of fun.

Unfortunately, I find Superman as interesting as watching paint dry, so I'll have to pass. Good luck either way, to the new team!!!

[Brian Langlois]

Originally posted by MattBrady

Verheiden’s time out of comics will also bring joy to fans who grind their teeth when they feel comics are being written for the eventual trade paperback collection.

“I'm so out of it I wasn't aware there was a concerted effort to ‘write for the trades,’” Verheiden said. “I can't write ‘decompressed’ for the life of me, if by that you mean a lot of big panels with not much story. I like comics that move and appreciate the importance of great, dynamic visuals, but at the same time I want to offer the reader enough meat to make the experience worth the cover price, regardless of whether we're talking about a monthly book or a down-the-line trade.

This is the best part of the whole interview. "Writing for the Trade" is great for people who read trades, but it is not so great for those of us reading issue to issue. I hope DC lets Verheiden do his thing the way he wants too. I hope this turns out to be a great run.

[Chip]

TERRIBLE NEWS! I will miss Ed on BoP a great deal. Bummer!

[Gail Simone]

Make no mistake, I adore Ed Benes, and I've been extremely fortunate to work with him. He kicks all kinds of ass and we'll miss him terribly.

But I couldn't be happier that if we have to make changes, we get Joe involved. Not only did he do what is probably our most popular issue ever (#68) but he's got amazing enthusiasm for the book and an incredible eye for what we're doing.

Sad for losing Ed, but very very happy the new guy is so perfect. And CONGRATULATIONS ON THE NEW GIG, ED!

Best wishes,

Gail

[aphterburn]

As long as Berganza stays on as editor, I won't buy any of the regular Superman titles. They're only going to continue their run of mediocrity complete with bandaids and temporary fixes (big names and constant creative reshuffling).

[meek?]

OH NO!!

Man... this is tough. Well, congrats all around for the new gigs. I'll definitely miss Benes' work on BoP. Now I'll have to keep buyin' Superman after Jim Lee leaves.

I'm glad the artist who's fillin' Ed Benes' shoes is decent enough for me to stay on Gail's book. I think a lil' piece o' me will die if I have to abandon a book from Gail Simone 'cause o' the artwork.

Peace...

[bcondray]

Originally posted by MattBrady
[Newsarama Note: For those keeping track with the scorecard, Ed Benes departure from Birds of Prey will be filled by Joe Bennett. Given his speed and issues already drawn, Bennett will serve as artist on both BoP and Hawkman for the foreseeable future.
[/b]

I'll miss Benes' awesome work on BoP...but Bennett is also fantastic. I can't wait. All 3 books are in great hands.

Gail writes so well that putting such great artist to work on her words...it's always wonderful to behold such great alchemy.

I have missed Verheiden's work...glad he's back.

[Starpilot]

Originally posted by aphterburn
As long as Berganza stays on as editor, I won't buy any of the regular Superman titles. They're only going to continue their run of mediocrity complete with bandaids and temporary fixes (big names and constant creative reshuffling).

Boy, they are dull, aren't they? I haven't read a good Superman comic in years. And I keep coming back every so often, hoping they'll be good. Every time I'm disappointed. Didn't DC just do a media push for Superman about 6-9 months ago, saying the time had come that they were going to make some changes? I even saw this get some television time, but nothing has really come of it. Just talk, I guess.

One question: is Benes pronounced "Ben-ez" or "Beans"?

[J.C. Bakken]

Originally posted by Gail Simone
He kicks all kinds of ass and we'll miss him terribly.
Best wishes,

Gail

That can not be a heathy job situation.

"Hey Ed, I love these pages."
"Oh yeah" *BAM*
"Ouch"

[Cousin Cory]

I never read Mark's Aliens stuff, but he was a member of CAPA-alpha back in the late '80s at the same time as I was, and I remember his writing there being quite good.

Also, I may be mis-remembering, but it seems to me he also wrote a Speedy arc in Action Comics Weekly that was pretty decent.

[Jed Saxon]

Argh. I really admire Benes's style but not even HE will get me to buy a book of the most boring superhero that is (unless Chuck Austen would've been attached ).

I'll miss Benes on BoP but Joe Bennett is a great replacement. Bennett is one of the most underrated artists (mainly because Marvel put him only onto second stringer titles, titles that were already cancelled or he was just the fill-in guy... )

[BriGuy]

This could be interesting. Verheiden's plans sound good, although I'm not sure how good a fit Benes is on Superman. But hey twice the Bennett is good enough news for me!

[kilroy]

yes yes yes I agree Berganaz has to be the wors thing to happen to the superman titles, even worse then superman Red/Blue. This is stupid not even a year and all these changes. How can one invest in the onoing books when they seem to be just miniseries. When all comics are about. Is bad guy arrives in to town does something wicked. Good guy shows up and fight begins. Good guy saves the day boring. I like to see characterd development. I want more for my three dollars then the same thing every issue. This is the only thing that annoys me about DC right now since Carlin took over it seems that this is the way they want to go and it sucks. The rich texture that books like Flash/Nightwing/Green Lantern have over the Big Guns is obvious. The writers stay for more then a one night stand.
And Gail, I love your writing on BOP. Im not too sure about Bennett as artist. One of the reason I love Benes was not because the women looked like pinups but because Babs looked like a sexy vibrant woman. I hate when artist feel the need to draw babas and give her such a hard manly look from her face to her hair being chopped short. And while I dont hate bennetts hawkman its not as good as I remember from that issue of xmen where Illyanna Rasputin died.
Let us begin the petition TO FIRE EDDIE BERGANZA

[JLAJRC]

Originally posted by Starpilot
Boy, they are dull, aren't they? I haven't read a good Superman comic in years. And I keep coming back every so often, hoping they'll be good. Every time I'm disappointed. Didn't DC just do a media push for Superman about 6-9 months ago, saying the time had come that they were going to make some changes? I even saw this get some television time, but nothing has really come of it. Just talk, I guess.

One question: is Benes pronounced "Ben-ez" or "Beans"?

That's going to change. Remember that Grant Morrison Superman announcement? Wizard just had an article stating that it's going to be a new title called "All-Star Superman" and is kinda like DC version of Marvel's Ultimate titles. Jim Lee is doing the same thing with "All-Star Batman."

Can't wait.

[paulski]

Disappointing. And here's why:

- Gail and Ed were making a serious mark on BoP. Serious. They did the near impossible - got sales on a well-established book to rise. And keep rising. And Ed's pencils were a major reason for that. I'm gonna miss him big time on this title. I've never been a huge Bennett fan but some of his more recent work looks okay. The only problem is that stretching him out over 2 books won't help the quality of his work. I don't care who you are and how fast you draw - it WILL become noticeable eventually.

- On the Superman side of things, I was hoping to drop the book after 'For Tomorrow' ends. It was gonna taking a big-name creator to keep me on board. Ed Benes nearly fits that bill. Nearly, but I'm really not certain. Now, instead of either a clean jumping-off point or staying on the book right through, it's gonna be one of those dreaded 'murky' periods for me where I'm not sure if I'll continue with the book from one month to the next. Hate 'em.

So yeah, I could have done without DC making these particular changes, especially on the BoP side.