JEPH LOEB & THE GIRL FROM KRYPTON

[MattBrady]

The Superman family grows by one in August with the debut of Supergirl by Jeph Loeb and Ian Churchill. Prior to the start of her own series though, late May sees Superman/Batman #19, a stand-alone issue featuring Loeb and Churchill telling a Supergirl story that will set up the new series.

We sat down with Loeb to talk about the return of Supergirl, his view of Kara Zor-el’s place in the DCU, and her future among the heroes.

Newsarama: You handled it in Superman/Batman #8-#13 in “The Supergirl from Krypton,” but whose idea was it originally to bring back Supergirl, and specifically - and unabashedly - Kara Zor-El, Superman’s cousin from Krypton?

Jeph Loeb: It was the convergence of two trains heading on toward each other. I was working on the Superman monthly when Superman Group Editor Eddie "Extravaganza" Berganza and I were kicking around an Armageddon type story where this giant asteroid from Krypton was making its way toward Earth and somewhere out past Neptune Superman was beginning to feel it. We figured we could tie it into The Fall of Luthor since DC was very kind to let me both put Lex in the White House and figure out how to get him out. Eddie and I started giggling over the possibilities of there being something in the asteroid. Or someone in the asteroid -- neither of us daring to speak her name, but we both knew who were talking about...

Click here for the full interview.

[saiyanspider]

FIRST POST B!^(#

LOVE Churchill's art, his rendition of DC heroes is top notch!!!

KEEP HIM ON SUPERMAN, OR BATMAN!!!

[AllAboutMe]

yak! Ian Churchill. How, HOW is this guy drawing any book remotely high-profile is beyond me. Simply atrocious artist. Makes one almost forget the horrible display Michael Turner put on in that Superman/Batman arc...woof.

[cncoyle]

Originally posted by Jeph Loeb
Kara is fluent in Kryptonese and will periodically slip into that from time to time - have your Kryptonian translators ready, kids! - but she's now fluent in English and several other languages.

I like that little touch, but please include a "Kryptonian translator" within the book, perhaps in lieu of that awful Mole@DCU page.

[algertman]

I really hate that gold trim

but, I hope this is a good book

ALSO--This is a charecter that was dead/wiped from exsistence, only to be brought back

SPOILERS

This now makes her the third I think
Super Girl
Jason Todd
Goldeb Eagle, I think

part of the bigger picture? who knows

I just hope she meets Linda Danvers/Matrix somewhere along the way!

[cncoyle]

Originally posted by AllAboutMe
Makes one almost forget the horrible display Michael Turner put on in that Superman/Batman arc...woof.

Sorry, I don't think ANYTHING can burn Turner's horrid work from my mind.

[LunarDaydreamer]

You know i've never really been a fan of Ian's artwork and his name attached to this project was initially a turn off for me - but you can tell the lad's *really* been pushing himself.

Those are some great pages, dynamic layouts, subtle finishing ... I'm impressed.

It's always great to see an artist find themselves - and I wish, along with Jeph's great scripting, the very best of luck with the book.

And keep pushing the envelope - i'm watching!

Hoping this finds everyone happy & well, no matter their opinion

>Lunar.

[Pascal]

Matt, you missed the opportunity to ask him if Linda Danvers appears in the title?

[ParisCub]

Originally posted by cncoyle
Sorry, I don't think ANYTHING can burn Turner's horrid work from my mind.

I'm with you on that. Not only I thought the supergirl story in S/B wasn't very good, but Turner's art really put me off the whole project.

I like Churchill, but once again, this in an artist who has shown many times that he couldn't handle a monthly book. Hope he does better. :-(

[FIG]

The art does looks good, I'm all over this.

[jedifish]

I think the art looks great, and I'm a little more excited about checking out this series when it comes out after reading this interview.

[kcekada]

Although I didn't think Jeph's Supergirl arc was his best work, I'm anxiously anticipating his work on Supergirl. Except for Turner's cover on the finale of that arc, his art just didn't impress me. I think Churchill will do a better job.

[ColourMan]

Originally posted by Act of God
I just hope she meets Linda Danvers/Matrix somewhere along the way!

I would love it if Linda Danvers acted as Kara's "watcher" in this series.

Too bad they couldn't get Michael Turner on covers...he's my favourite artist and Kara is hot! He and Ian Churchill would be a great team.

[kimota94]

Spinning out of SUPERMAN/BATMAN, and considering who the artist is, who among us thinks SUPERGIRL will have anything resembling a monthly schedule? Here's hoping they've got a LOT of artwork in the can before # 1 ships...

[Michael P]

Originally posted by cncoyle
I like that little touch, but please include a "Kryptonian translator" within the book, perhaps in lieu of that awful Mole@DCU page.

Either that, or some fan with copious amounts of spare time, put one up online, like some guy did for Doop.

[Ben543250]

That girl has the longest midriff EVER! Christ. I thought it was just a Mike Turner thing, but I guess not.

[Bakema NL]

Originally posted by Ben543250
That girl has the longest midriff EVER! Christ. I thought it was just a Mike Turner thing, but I guess not.

It's a Kryptonian thing, the model figures they love, we earthlings seem to like the anorexia patients which the aliens don't understand.

Seriously now.......I will pick up this series without hesitating about it.

[hellboy666]

Here's hoping they reprint Superman/Batman #19 in the inevitable HC/TPB of the first issues of the ongoing series.

[Vogl]

Sacrilege!
I think Loeb wants to make her more powerful than Wonder Woman! (only a sales gimmick) I harshly protest.

Im also betting that Supergirl and Powergirl will have a serious rumble in the near future.

[Aaron]

Well, the article does skirt the issue (no surprise) of exactly what Linda Danvers' role in Superman's history is at this point. I think it's pretty much a given that she flat out never existed, but I wish someone would have the balls to just say that.

As for the short skirt thing, I think the point Loeb misses is that neither Jim Mooney or Ed Benes drew her in an overtly sexual manner. Michael Turner's images all evoke a flirty, pouty, bad-girl imagery that makes it a bit harder to take. I think that's why people take issue with the skirt now as opposed to before.

Aaron

[md62]

While I wasn't crazy about the Supergirl story in S/B I like the character enough (my 3rd daughter is named after her!) to get this book. I think Ian is a talented artist even though he has an "image" style to his art. I hope he has enough lead time to maintain a monthly schedule for 6 issues or have someone lined up to alternate storyarcs.

I know she will meet up with Powergirl & I really hope she meets up with Linda. I like the idea of Linda being a mentor of some type. I also hope we see Kara interacting with Lois - something that wasn't seen in S/B. I also think it would be cool if Kara does join the Teen Titans or the Outsiders for a short time. I think her having a crush on Nightwing would add to the interesting dynamic she has with Batman!

I hope this series is good because I miss reading Supergirl on a regular basis.

[qnetter]

It must be 1984 again. After all, everything good that came with the Byrne/Wolfman relaunch has now been completely undone. The Last Survivor of Krypton is now surrounded by kryps of all shapes and sizes again. Where's the uniqueness? Who are we doing this for -- people who Remember How It Used To Be? Clue-phone: we're all retirement-age now.

[Lex]

It was a good interview... though I didn't agree that Turner was the best artist for her introduction in Superman/Batman.

[Beetle Bomb]

I'm glad Kara is back as his cousin from Krypton. They now need to get rid of everyone else but Power Girl, (no disrespect to Peter David's work, which I liked). If they don't then in the year 2025 they'll be doing the Crisis On Infinite Earths Part 2. It's funny how DC decides to clear the air of certain characters, but then brings them back years later and plugs the whole toilet up again.

My question, to people who remember. I know the whole DC History and all that stuff, but I can't remember how they worked it out with a small group of characters. Specifically, who, if anyone, remembers that the Crisis actually happened. For instance, does Batman remember the first Kara and her death and does this play any part in his distrust of her now? (Yep, haven't read this current storyarc yet...) Did Harbinger remember? I assume she did, but why did she get killed off? What did ZERO HOUR clear up in regards to people's memory of the Crisis. I remember Waverider finding out about it in the Linear Men's databanks. And hey, while we're at it, somebody tell me what happened with the whole thing with Power Girl's baby that she was delivering during the ZERO HOUR thing. Never did catch up with that one.

Oh, and who else thought about Superman the Movie when they looked at that first preview panel for this article, all the way down to the dialogue. Makes sense since Jeph just mentioned the film and certain things he liked about it. J.L., if that's what it was, then that's a cool tip of the hat dude...

BB