JIM LEE/BRIAN AZARELLO ON SUPERMAN, MARCH 2004

[MattBrady]

In an interview at WizardUniverse.com, Jim Lee has ended one round of speculation, reporting that he will team with writer Brian Azzarello on DC’s Superman, beginning in March of 2004. Newsarama has also learned that writers Greg Rucka and Chuck Austen are on tap for the other two Super-titles beginning in 2004. Grant Morrison, Art Adams, Matthew Clark and Bill Willgham are other creators being named for Superman projects in the coming year, making 2004 apparently, "the year of Superman," despite claims by DC editorial that 2003 was to be the Kryptonian's "year."

In regards to landing the Superman gig, Lee told Wizard Universe:

“I’ve always wanted to work with Brian Azzarello, and it originally started out as a sort of miniseries that wouldn’t necessarily focus on Superman. But then it evolved like, ‘Hey, if we’re doing a project that involves Superman, why are we skirting around the bush? Let’s do Superman.’ And I think there might have been some feeling that Brian wouldn’t be receptive to doing Superman, that we’d have to go from the angle of a villain or some other character to do a Superman project. But he was gung-ho for doing Superman. So it became a run on Superman. And I always feel like if you’re going to do a run, you should do at least six, nine issues. And it just worked out for my schedule that it would be easier to do these 12 with Brian, rather than doing a mini with Brian and then possibly doing a run on the regular title down the line. Bottom line, I wanted to do a long run on Superman in the future, and then I had this other project with Brian that involved Superman, so why do six issues of this with Brian and then come back and do 12 more issues of Superman? Because when you say “in the future,” this would probably be after Batman, so you’re talking about two or three years later. It just made more sense for me to consolidate and say, Brian, let’s do Superman, let’s do 12 issues, and let’s do it now. This is a whole different kind of beast because it’s sort of an overhaul of the whole Superman line, so there are a lot more moving parts, a lot more people involved, so it’s a little more chaotic. But fun chaotic! It’s exciting. You get a sense that big things are going to come out of it.”

For the full interview, click here.

[tralfaz]

HOLY FUCKIN SHIT!!!!!!!

Jim Lee still has to land gigs?

[Rich Johnston]

For more speculation see today's Lying In The Gutters on new teams for Superman, Batman, the rest of the DC line and how Marvel are coping.

[Grendel Prime]

Wow... I never thought I'd buy a Superman book, but there is no way I'm gonna miss this. I mean... Wow.

I'm as giddy as Rich Johnston at a self-promotion symposium.

[Rich Johnston]

Originally posted by Grendel Prime
Wow... I never thought I'd buy a Superman book, but there is no way I'm gonna miss this. I mean... Wow.

I'm as giddy as Rich Johnston at a self-promotion symposium.

And that's giddy!

Now, how would you cope with a Morrison/Adams title?

[Michael Eidson]

Guess I'll be buying Superman for the first time ever.

Keep up the great talent-gathering, DC.

[ajrobles51]

Where's MOTA?

Has he seen this yet?

I don't know what he'll think, but I think this is great news for the Superman books. Looking at the caliber of talent that DC is disseminating throughout the Superman titles I find myself very hopeful that they will get this character back on his feet.

Hopefully they will deliver.

Let the hype begin!

[jclem3]

Everyone hear that sound?

Its DC flexing its considerable muscle. I think Supes will be hitting #1 on the sales chart soon.

Jim Lee is really cementing his place as one of the greatest pencillers of all-time. I can't wait for this to come out.

Yes, I'm giddy........

[Kerouac]

Man, this is great news. The current team on Superman has...left something to be desired. And, even sadder, it's the best book of the three core titles.

Anyway, here's hoping that DC keeps the kickass announcements rolling out at the Chicago con.

Matt

[Gregg Cummings]

Joe Casey is going to be replaced by Chuck Austen yet again. Wow. . .

[GenXMaverick]

Originally posted by Rich Johnston
And that's giddy! Now, how would you cope with a Morrison/Adams title?

Given that your article on this subject which I read first this morning has Art Adams only doing 5 issues a year, not very well. If Adam Kubert does indeed do the majority of the stories, then it's really more Kubert's gig with a five issue stint by Adams. However, if it was 6 issues Adams, then 6 issues Kubert, then it's far more equitable and Adams has equal bragging rights. That isn't the case if Kubert is doing the lion's share of the work--if so, then it should be Kubert getting noted as the lead and not the other way around.

As for Jim Lee on Superman, well, yeah, actually that is pretty cool...but I'm bummed that after Risso's run we won't get Loeb & Lee doing another run on Batman. I was very much looking forward to getting 18 issues of that dynamic duo on the book, but once "Hush" is over, that's the end of that. And while I'm sure there are people here psyched about it, I'm really disappointed DC has decided to give us an ongoing Batman and Robin monthly; no interest in not only yet another Batbook (is DC trying to outdo Marvel and their endless X-books?) but also it seems so redundant with Bruce & Tim already in their own books and in team books as well.

Bottom line is that I'll most likely buy it, mostly because of a love for Superman and his finally getting a powerful monthly creative team. Very, very eager to hear who the artist is on Greg Rucka's Superbook. I buy everything else Rucka writes (and he's the only writer I can say that about) because in my opinion the man can do no wrong. Love Austen, too, but whether I buy it will depend on how strong the artist he gets is.

All-in-all, "it's a good thing" (though I'm still bummed Jim Lee won't be returning on Batman, dammit---grrrr!)

[csGuy]

This is great news! Being teamed up with Jim Lee will give Brian Azzarello so much more exposure/attention. Azzarello and Rucka will rock on Supes but Austen leaves me very cold; he's never written anything that I've enjoyed.

[leopaz]

DOES THAT MEAN LEE IS NOT GOING BACK FOR THE SIX ISSUE RUN DC PROMISED AFTER AZARRELLO'S E RISSO'S RUN IS OVER?

[Kreuzader]

Now if only DC would confirm the Morrison being on one of the Superman books rumor before WizardWorld Chicago

[gOgIver]

Originally posted by leopaz
DOES THAT MEAN LEE IS NOT GOING BACK FOR THE SIX ISSUE RUN DC PROMISED AFTER AZARRELLO'S E RISSO'S RUN IS OVER?

Sounds like it. So after the AZZ/Risso run is over and Lee takes on Superman it would seem that Batman and Superman will likely switch places on the sales charts, eh?

[csGuy]

DOES THAT MEAN LEE IS NOT GOING BACK TO BATMAN FOR THE SIX ISSUE RUN DC PROMISED AFTER AZARRELLO'S E RISSO'S RUN IS OVER?

Sounds to me like its getting delayed for a bit.

[GenXMaverick]

Now, if only DC could convince Jim Lee & Scott Williams to draw a Geoff Johns-penned X-Men/Teen Titans sequel after JLA/Avengers is over...!

Hey, Marvel had their turn with Claremont & Simonson. DC still needs to take their shot! Besides, X-T2 was supposed to be the follow-up to JLA/Avengers anyway, y'know? Ah, well, maybe someday.....

[gOgIver]

I just got Wizard Zero in my morning post! Can't wait to read the Batman and USM stories.

[Jason Seaver]

It's about time DC put the big guns on Superman. With Smallville reminding a whole bunch of people how much they like the core characters, it seems like the perfect time to give the comics a real push, and DC doesn't seem to be doing half measures.

The other writers are pretty interesting, too - I'm not a big fan of Austen's, but I did enjoy his fill-in work on one of the Super-books last year and Superman: Metropolis has been darn good. And I don't know what Rucka will bring to Action, but can't wait to find out. Morrison & Adams/Kubert has some really good potential, too.

[ctsmith83]

Originally posted by Gregg Cummings
Joe Casey is going to be replaced by Chuck Austen yet again. Wow. . .

I'm excited about the possiblities of the other creators, but Chuck Austen? Chuck Austen?

[saiyanspider]

This sounds like some good news, but they better put the ACTION in action comics

[GenXMaverick]

Originally posted by csGuy
Sounds to me like its getting delayed for a bit.

Nope. Loeb & Lee are now officially off Batman. That's all she wrote. Well, until Batman and Robin. Oh yeah, there's a couple heroes who ya don't see much of: Batman & Robin. Yawn. For that they're taking Loeb & Lee off Batman? Sheesh.

Like Rich Johnston said, is this DC's new creative solution to flagging sales? Just put Jim Lee on every DC title for a quick run, then yank him to the next book? Here's a better idea: give some other underemployed artists a shot. I love Jim Lee, but rotating him from book to book is only a quick fix--not a real solution to getting long-term creative teams.

[leopaz]

Originally posted by ctsmith83
I'm excited about the possiblities of the other creators, but Chuck Austen? Chuck Austen?

GUYS, I WASN´T ABLE TO FOLLOW PROPERLY AUSTEN'S WORK IN UNCANNY....
IS IS AS BAD AS PEOPLE SAY?
I JUST REMEMBER ICEMAN WAS TOO ARROGANT AND OUT OF CHARACTER....
WHAT ARE HIS MISTAKES, ANYWAY???

[Aaron Weisbrod]

*ahem*



That is all.

Speechless,
Aaron Weisbrod

[Skinshark]

This reminds me of those not-too-distant days when JOHN BYRNE was hired to put his midas touch on books.

=s=