JEPH LOEB TALKS ABOUT SUPERGIRL'S RETURN

[MattBrady]

As the cover of today’s Wizard #148 shows, and DC has confirmed for Newsarama, Supergirl is coming back to the DCU in the pages of Superman/Batman, specifically, the arc illustrated by Mike Turner. We chatted with Loeb for more.

From the outset, Loeb explained that Supergirl’s return wasn’t any one creator or editor’s wish or push, but that the pieces all came together at the right time, and things just seemed to click.

”What's the expression? There is no ‘I’ in ‘team,’ but there is in ‘dick,’” Loeb joked. “We all played a role because we all care so much about this girl. This was a story I wanted to tell but we needed the perfect artist. Mike was/is that perfect artist. He has the right blend of being able to do action, drama, emotion and oh, and he happens to draw the most beautiful women in the galaxy. He had never done work for DC, much less real straight ahead Superhero/Supervillain work, but he dug right into it. Eddie [Berganza, Superman/Batman editor] and Dan Didio went to work making Mike's deal while Mike and I talked about the best way to tell this story, in the most exciting visual manner possible and with a great deal of heart. But, at the end of the day, it was Eddie and Dan who urged us to bring this character into the DCU and we're very happy with the result.”

And yes, Loeb is fully aware that the Superman readership and Supergirl fanbase have seen their far share of Supergirls recently, between the Matrix/Linda Lee version of the cancelled series to the more recent Cir-L of Steve Seagle and Scott McDaniel’s Superman run. So – is this one just another tease for those who’ve wanted a full-bore return of Superman’s cousin from his home world?

“Ah, that would be telling,” Loeb said. “Let's just leave it at Superman believes she is the real deal -- and Batman will have to be convinced. Not unlike the readers!

“Alright, alright – I’ll tell you – between us, she’s actually the Riddler,” Loeb got out before chuckling. “Okay, seriously, over the six issues we'll be exploring who this girl is and what role she'll play in the DCU. Suffice the say the storyline is called: ‘The Supergirl from Krypton.’ We'll see where that takes us.”

As Loeb sees it, the addition of a Supergirl, well, this Supergirl allows for a return to the fore of a side of Superman that will give him a little more something in common with Batman.

“Eddie and I got to talking about Superman's role in the DCU and while he's an inspiration to practically every hero, he maintains a bond with Superboy and hardly any others in the superhero teen set,” the writer said. “Look at Batman. A character who can't have a relationship with a woman that doesn't blow up and yet, he's something of a father figure to Robin, Nightwing, Oracle, Batgirl, Spoiler, Huntress, etc. And here is Superman, who has been married and in love with the same woman for years and really isn't looking after anyone else other than his dog. Father, big brother, cousin -- we'll see where it all leads him and more importantly, where it leads her. She's going to have a big say in this relationship as well.”

As for why now for Supergirl’s return? That’s an easy one for Loeb. “A good character is a good character is a good character. Dan and Eddie are looking to energize the DCU with as much great material as they can and Supergirl is just the beginning of 2004. There is so much exciting stuff on its way!”

And yes, Loeb knows, but has a caution for those who would be quick to condemn or point out what they see as the “obvious” explanation. “This story is obviously going to be swirling in controversy. All we ask is that you read the entire story before you've decided you have it all figured out. Because, unless you are Loeb, Turner, Berganza, or Didio -- you don't!

”Happy Holidays everyone!”

[J.D. Lombardi]

Wow...no one has commented!?!?! lol Don't I feel special!

I was a big follower early on of PAD's Supergirl series, had the first 40 or so issues and when the other Supergirl surfaced recently, combined with the on-going's cancellation...I felt well, that DC was giving David the shaft.

I'm gonna trust in DC to do this right (finally) and Jeph to give us a "proper" explanation of all these Supergirls. That art of course, is stupendous! Turner is very smart for going to DC to do some work before fully opening his company. I'm sure the benefits will be very good for him and Aspen.

I collect Superman/Batman so I'm totally stoked for this storyline!

[KentL]

Originally posted by MattBrady
“Alright, alright – I’ll tell you – between us, she’s actually the Riddler,” Loeb got out before chuckling.

No, no! It's Clayface!

KentL

[Kryptokid]

hmm looks like DC is in for a big 2004. Let's hope that all the hype over the new Supergirl and new creative teams on the Super-titles actually pays off. Looking forward to it.

[Chris]

Wow...

She looks like a combination of Linda's last costume and the original Supergirl costume.

My only problem with this, is that for at least 12 years, we've had the same Supergirl. Basically... (I know Matrix and Linda are separate, I read the entire Supergirl series, and loved every second of it) Now, we have a total of FOUR Supergirls within a year or so of each other. Linda, Young Kara, Cir-El, and this one. Five if you count Linda's "guardian spirit" as the original pre-Crisis Supergirl in our reality.

Hopefully some continuity bits will be dealt with, or at the very least, not ignored. PAD had a nice long run with the character, and I'd hate to see it all get swept under the rug.

This is going to be the first time since Superman #123 that I'm picking up Superman.



Chris


edit: Yes, I know it's Superman/Batman, but still...

[swol]

Yet another Supergirl comes out of the woodwork.

How many does that make?
Kara-El (The original)
Power Girl (Really the Supergirl of Earth 2 retconned in)
Matrix/Linda Lee
The Supergirl showing up at the end of the last Supergirl series.
Cir-L
Not counting the various Lois or Lana turn into a Super-girl/woman for a day stories.
Now this one.

Does anybody else think that the writers realized that killing Kara was a bad idea? A good story, but a bad idea.

Maybe, since they seem to be re-booting Superman again, they can reverse the "He is absolutely last survivor of Krypton" edict that has been in place since Byrne's reboot.

Personally, I always liked the Kara version.
Never got around to picking up the last Supergirl series so I can't speak to that.
The Cir-L character just irritates me for some reason that I can't place.

Maybe we'll have a revised Kara version again now. I hope it works. They pulled it off with returning Hawkman with his screwed up history so why not Kara?

Funny how the Silver age was looked down upon and retconned to death a few years ago and now it's all coming back.

I'll be waiting to see how it all works out.

[AnimalMan#1-26]

Okay, so since the Crisis we have had...

The Original Kara Zor-El as a ghost (excellent Deadman story in a book called Christmas with the Superheroes a ways back and more recently the guardian spirit thing in PAD's supergirl.)

Power Girl, now retconned to be a descendant of Arion's

Matrix Supergirl

Matrix/Linda Supergirl

Martix/Linda/Earthangel Supergirl

Linda-less Supergirl

Earthangel/Matrix-less Supergirl

Kara Zor-El from Many Happy Returns (who is NOT Supergirl of Earth 1, btw--otherwise, why is Kyle Ranier appearing in a wedding scene that ostensibly takes place before the Crisis?)

Cir-El

and...

???????

Perhaps this is just a little bit of overkill... Frankly, I dont know why DC so desparately wants to replace PAD's version, who is a dynamic and popular character.

More importantly-- when are we going to see a the post-Crisis relaunch of Superwoman? Now there was a neat character!!

[WebHobbit]

I know this will be an unpopular view point but this will be the first Turner stuff I haven't bought in years! Love Turner, love Lee but just don't care a thing for Superman or Supergirl. Never could stand 'em!

But you DC fans are in for a treat, so enjoy!

[Fazhoul]

Oh Christ, I soooo don't think that this is a good idea. Let's confuse new readers even more. Not to mention some of us veteran readers. And I don't really care for the new costume either. (Man, I'm a grouchy bastard today. ) And Jeph Loeb is wrong. Michael Turner doesn't draw the most beautiful women in the universe. Ed Benes does.

[Pascal]

Originally posted by AnimalMan#1-26
Frankly, I dont know why DC so desparately wants to replace PAD's version, who is a dynamic and popular character.

Agreed.

That's all I'm going to comment on this.



Pascal
...who will always miss Linda

[Planit]

NRAMA: Alright - the first arc's story in a thumbnail -Luthor blames Superman for the Kryptonite asteroid heading for earth Is Luthor…nuts? He has zero evidence of something fairly outlandish, and he thinks he can mobilize the country to support….oh…wait…why Mr. Loeb, are you making a rather oblique political commentary?

Okay, so the above quote is from a different interview w/Loeb -- sue me (or Marvel -- most folks do). There was no "reply" button with the other Loeb story, so....

I've no problem with political commentary, and I don't believe I'm being obtuse when I say the above quote makes no sense...nor does the story in Superman/Batman.

Yes, Bush created a reason to go to war. Bush and his old warhorses are a bunch of asses. No doubt. But, the excuse was a strong one (especially if it had turned out NOT to be a complete fabrication): bad man has big weapons -- let's get 'im.

However, Prez Luthor's statement that Superman is an enemy b/c of an incoming asteroid is completely nonsensical. It's not commenting on anything -- there is no real world parallel. Had Luthor said "Superman has powers which he is not sharing with the world at large that could put us all in danger," and he fabricated some kind of evidence to show Capt. Atom & the team (and the world), that woulda been perfect -- a parallel to Bush's declaration and to the ridiculous U.N. presentation.

Conversely, had George W. said "Saddam tried to have my dad killed -- he might one day have yours killed, so we better stop 'im!" THEN the story as Loeb wrote it would've been a pretty good parallel.

Otherwise, I just don't see it. And it seems like a pretty flimsy plot point on which to hinge an entire story. Mr. Loeb's generally much better than that.

...I feel much better having aired that.

[Pascal]

Originally posted by WebHobbit
I know this will be an unpopular view point but this will be the first Turner stuff I haven't bought in years! Love Turner, love Lee but just don't care a thing for Superman or Supergirl. Never could stand 'em!

But you DC fans are in for a treat, so enjoy!

WebHobbit - You should really try out the Supergirl series by PAD. It's so different and a smart read. Even Superman/Supergirl-haters could love this.

And I met quite a few who -after I borrowed them issues - later fell in love with the character.

[Barry]

Fanboys, grease up them palms...

Brittany Spears IS Supergirl!

[KentL]

Originally posted by Fazhoul
And Jeph Loeb is wrong. Michael Turner doesn't draw the most beautiful women in the universe. Ed Benes does.

Nope. Sorry. You're both wrong. Frank Cho does.

My thoughts on this are that I'm already enjoying this series, so this is just another reason for me to continue buying it. I didn't follow PAD's Supergirl or the more recent Cir-El storyline, so I doubt I'll be too confused here. Loeb is pretty good at explaining things, too, I think. While this wasn't a character that I was lobbying for for a return, I am curious to see where they go with it.

Also, I have to say that I really love the rotating artist thing they have going on here. While I'm a big fan of McGuinness, I would never pass up an opportunity to see guys like Carlos Pacheco and Pat Lee doing these characters. Now if they could just get George Perez to do an arc.

KentL

[MikeD]

It's been said before and I will second the opinion: the best post-Crisis version of Supergirl was the one from the Dini/Timm Superman animated series, where Kara was from Krypton's neighboring planet, Argo.

That said, I hope Loeb, Turner, et al can pull this off successfully and I wish them luck.

[Pascal]

Linda is Lee, the "Fallen Angel" character. For me at least.

So I guess that this new Supergirl will be a new one indeed. If there will be a new series I doubt that PAD would write this. It's just not his Supergirl.

[Kevin T. Brown]

Originally posted by KentL
No, no! It's Clayface!

KentL

Oh, Hush!

Originally posted by swol

Does anybody else think that the writers realized that killing Kara was a bad idea? A good story, but a bad idea.

And actually Paul Levitz wanted to bring her back right after Crisis in the Legion of Super-Heroes book he was writing at the time. He apparently had a story all worked out and a viable reason for her return from the "dead". He was overruled then. I look at this as his way of finally getting what he's wanted after all this time. Like him or hate him, Levitz is probably one of the biggest Kara fans at DC.

[Pascal]

Originally posted by Kevin T. Brown
And actually Paul Levitz wanted to bring her back right after Crisis in the Legion of Super-Heroes book he was writing at the time. He apparently had a story all worked out and a viable reason for her return from the "dead". He was overruled then. I look at this as his way of finally getting what he's wanted after all this time. Like him or hate him, Levitz is probably one of the biggest Kara fans at DC.

Then why didn't he allow Kara to stay in the previous volume for more than 6 issues?

[Jimmy_Helter]

Oh Christ, I soooo don't think that this is a good idea. Let's confuse new readers even more. Not to mention some of us veteran readers.

How is it going to confuse these hypothetical NEW readers exactly? (Putting aside that new readers and comic books really should not be in the same sentence unless there is a question mark at the end...)

[United Comics]

Yes, Supergirl is a very popular character. But when the kryptonite asteroid started coming to Earth, my first thought was "Argo City?".

Looks like I may be right...let's see where it goes from here. I'm not so worried with the other Supergirls/women, I'm sure they can peacefully co-exist (hey, maybe they'll form a team...).

[gOgIver]

Having read the 8 page preview in Wizard I can this is really good stuff. Best Batman since Jim Lee left. It's awesome! And what I saw of the Supergirl arrival works for me.

[Johnny Triangles]

Originally posted by Planit
Okay, so the above quote is from a different interview w/Loeb -- sue me (or Marvel -- most folks do). There was no "reply" button with the other Loeb story, so....

I've no problem with political commentary, and I don't believe I'm being obtuse when I say the above quote makes no sense...nor does the story in Superman/Batman.

Yes, Bush created a reason to go to war. Bush and his old warhorses are a bunch of asses. No doubt. But, the excuse was a strong one (especially if it had turned out NOT to be a complete fabrication): bad man has big weapons -- let's get 'im.

However, Prez Luthor's statement that Superman is an enemy b/c of an incoming asteroid is completely nonsensical. It's not commenting on anything -- there is no real world parallel. Had Luthor said "Superman has powers which he is not sharing with the world at large that could put us all in danger," and he fabricated some kind of evidence to show Capt. Atom & the team (and the world), that woulda been perfect -- a parallel to Bush's declaration and to the ridiculous U.N. presentation.

Conversely, had George W. said "Saddam tried to have my dad killed -- he might one day have yours killed, so we better stop 'im!" THEN the story as Loeb wrote it would've been a pretty good parallel.

Otherwise, I just don't see it. And it seems like a pretty flimsy plot point on which to hinge an entire story. Mr. Loeb's generally much better than that.

...I feel much better having aired that.

I feel the EXACT same way. I noticed that about the interview also, but I didn't bother mentioning it because whenever I mention gaping holes in logic in a DC story in general, or a Jeph Loeb story in particular (Hush is full of them), fans jump all over me with lame rationalizations. Too many comic fans take anything a fan-favorite writer throw at them without taking a second to question or challenge it. The parallel Loeb was trying to draw was amateurish and poorly executed. Glad to know that someone else out there is using their brains.

[Pascal]

Originally posted by United Comics
I'm sure they can peacefully co-exist (hey, maybe they'll form a team...).

Peter David planned something like this, if the series had continued.

Or he would have changed the status quo (new town, new supporting characters, etc) to get new readers on board.

[LFKittsteiner]

Is it just me, or does she look a little like Paris Hilton?

...maybe she comes from the Silver Age Krypton from the "Return To Krypton" I/II storylines? Did that Krypton blow up or what?

LFKO.

[mpg]

I think they should have about a dozen supergirls.

how about a league of supergirls monthly? only written by turner, though, just to piss ya off