SUPERMAN'S MOVIE TEAM MOVES TO COMICS

**MattBrady** · 03-13-2006, 05:21 PM

Think of them as Superman: The Missing Years….without Superman.

Stretching his director’s chair to reach across two mediums, Bryan Singer, along with Superman Returns screenwriters Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris will take steps into comics in June with the release of four Superman Returns specials, filling in events not covered by the movie, and, perhaps more importantly, bridge the years-long gap between Superman II and Superman Returns.

Got that? Right – after Superman II, Superman left earth (and apparently retconned Superman III and IV clean out of existence), and in the forthcoming Superman Returns, he…returns, making the new movie a direct sequel to the 1980 film starring Christopher Reeve.

The move of bringing screenwriters in to handle the comic adventures of the same character isn’t altogether new for DC – in 1989, Batman co-writer Sam Hamm wrote the three part “Blind Justice” arc in Detective Comics #598-#600. (Blade screenwriter David Goyer wrote the comic adaptation of the 1998 New Line film version of the Marvel character as well).

The four specials (which are scripted by other writers) are:

Superman Returns: Krypton To Earth

Story by Bryan Singer, Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris
Script by Jimmy Palmiotti & Justin Gray
Art by John Byrne
Cover by Adam Hughes

Produced in conjunction with Superman Returns director Bryan Singer and screenwriters Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris, four astonishing one-shots bridge the gap between Superman II and Superman Returns!

In the first, revisit the Man of Steel’s origins and see the first glimmers of what has transpired since he left the Earth at the end of Superman II!
On sale June 7 - 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US

Superman Returns: Ma Kent

Story by Bryan Singer, Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris
Script by Marc Andreyko
Art by Karl Kerschl
Cover by Adam Hughes

In this second special conceived by Bryan Singer and illustrated by Karl Kerschl (ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN), learn how the woman who raised the Man of Tomorrow has lived since her son’s disappearance!
On sale June 14 - 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US

Superman Returns: Lex Luthor

Story by Bryan Singer, Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris
Script by Jimmy Palmiotti & Justin Gray
Art by Rick Leonardi
Cover by Adam Hughes

Writers Jimmy Palmiotti & Justin Gray (MANHUNTER) is joined by artist Rick Leonardi (NIGHTWING) for a special focusing on Lex Luthor! In a world suddenly without a Superman, how does the Man of Steel’s greatest foe prove his genius?
On sale June 21 - 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US

Superman Returns: Lois Lane

Story by Bryan Singer, Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris
Script by Mark Andreyko
Art by Wellington Dias
Cover by Adam Hughes

Lois Lane is the focal point of this special illustrated by Wellington Dias (Touch). She loved Superman, and then he left, seemingly forever. Relive the romance and gain insight into what she’s been doing in the Man of Steel’s absence!
On sale June 28 - 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US

Click here for DC Comics' full June solicitations.

Update 03.14.06 8:00 am - posting on his messageboard, John Byrne said he has withdrawn from the project. The creator wrote: ":As of this morning, I am not. When Dan DiDio offered me the job, it was to be the first issue of a four part adaptation of the original Donner/Reeve movie. Apparently, it has morphed into something else entirely, so I have withdrawn from the project. "

Ignacio Alcuri · 03-13-2006, 06:05 PM

Gotta catch'em all!

Pupasweet · 03-13-2006, 06:06 PM

As I have said before, a bit concerned about this movie and now just a bit more so. Hard to believe the logic that Superman would have left Earth directly after defeating Zod and crew. I guess time will tell.

SeamusMcClernan · 03-13-2006, 06:14 PM

We all know SUPERMAN 3 took place - it was the premise to "Office Space!!!"

cookepuss · 03-13-2006, 06:17 PM

Any other Marvel fan feel as if Singer & Co just gave them the finger? IIRC, he's been postponing his long promised Ultimate X-Men stint for an eternity now - citing scheduling issues and so forth. It kinda irks me that DC fans get not one, but FOUR "Team Singer" storied Superman tales, even if they are scripted by others. X-Men fans get nothing. I'm beginning to think that this UXM run will never happen.

What bothers me about these one-shots themselves is that they shouldn't exist. If the movie can't logically bridge the gap then it shouldn't bill itself as a complete sequel. Moviegoers shouldn't be left wondering what the heck happened in that year long gap. Great for comic fans. Bad for the general population.

I'd gladly endure an extra half hour on screen or even have them trim back some of inevitable goofy filler scenes. This move with the one shots is almost the equivalent of saying, "Uhmmm... We ran WAY over budget and can't film these scenes." or "Gee, how are we going to do this on screen in the alotted run time?" or even "Marketing wants us to do WHAT?!? ... ... Oh, I get paid? I'm there!!!"

Well, I'm not. Can't do it on screen or in the current script? Get better writers. ARGH!!! I'm so frustrated and even mildly confused.

Zugernaut · 03-13-2006, 06:18 PM

DC finally involved in full-blown joint marketing with a movie of one of their properties?

Am I on some parallel Earth?

Zugernaut · 03-13-2006, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by cookepuss
Any other Marvel fan feel as if Singer & Co just gave them the finger? IIRC, he's been postponing his long promised Ultimate X-Men stint for an eternity now - citing scheduling issues and so forth. It kinda irks me that DC fans get not one, but FOUR "Team Singer" storied Superman tales, even if they are scripted by others. X-Men fans get nothing. I'm beginning to think that this UXM run will never happen.

What bothers me about these one-shots themselves is that they shouldn't exist. If the movie can't logically bridge the gap then it shouldn't bill itself as a complete sequel. Moviegoers shouldn't be left wondering what the heck happened in that year long gap. Great for comic fans. Bad for the general population.

I'd gladly endure an extra half hour on screen or even have them trim back some of inevitable goofy filler scenes. This move with the one shots is almost the equivalent of saying, "Uhmmm... We ran WAY over budget and can't film these scenes." or "Gee, how are we going to do this on screen in the alotted run time?" or even "Marketing wants us to do WHAT?!? ... ... Oh, I get paid? I'm there!!!" Well, I'm not. Can't do it on screen or in the current script? Get better writers. ARGH!!! I'm so frustrated and even mildly confused.

My God, people will bitch about absolutely anything.

Colonsus · 03-13-2006, 06:20 PM

Yo, Dawg, that Ma Kent special is gonna be off the HIZZLE!!!!

I can't WAIT to see what that old broad's been up to since Superman II.

Wait, what...?

WTF?!?!

Justice41 · 03-13-2006, 06:20 PM

Methinks Singer and co have finally realized they goofed and are trying to amend the screw up. I'm sure someone will try to explain this away as the same as what George Lucas did with The Clone Wars cartoons, but we all know The Star Wars flicks take place years apart.
It's a sorry move proving to me they are having second thoughts about the story choice. Maybe they can explain away that godawful costume as well.

Strike · 03-13-2006, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pupasweet
As I have said before, a bit concerned about this movie and now just a bit more so. Hard to believe the logic that Superman would have left Earth directly after defeating Zod and crew. I guess time will tell.

I don't know how the film will explain it, but I can easily concieve of a few reasons why he would.

He thought he was the last survivor of Krypton. Then he encountered three other survivors - all of whom were murderers. I can easily see how he would be troubled by this, and decide to go in search of other possible survivors of Krypton, even if it means leaving Earth.

Justice41 · 03-13-2006, 06:23 PM

That won't hold water either because he was taught everything about Krypton so he knows about the Phantom Zone. Nice try.

BlackDog · 03-13-2006, 06:25 PM

Yo, Dawg, that Ma Kent special is gonna be off the HIZZLE!!!!

LOL

ON a serious note though, this does look interesting.

Like it's done for 'Star Wars', we're gonna get some movie continuity written and illustrated for Superman.

s*p rules · 03-13-2006, 06:26 PM

Superman's LAST WORDS at the end of Superman II - as he is flying the American flag back to the white house and talking to the president - were something along the lines of (and I'm paraphrasing a bit) "I'm sorry I wasn't here, Mr. President, but it won't happen again!". So after promising the president that he wouldn't abandon the world again, he takes off for a few years???

Nice job, Singer.

And judging from the wizard article I thumbed through over the weekend, Kubert is adapting that horrible and ugly small 'S' shield and even-more-horrible-and-ugly 'S' shield belt for his take on Superman. Ugh. Has no one in editorial heard the fans bitching about that costume? Or do the fans don't matter, just the suits from WB?

Nevermind, I already know the answer to that.

SHABBAZZ · 03-13-2006, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Colonsus
Yo, Dawg, that Ma Kent special is gonna be off the HIZZLE!!!!

I can't WAIT to see what that old broad's been up to since Superman II.

Wait, what...?

WTF?!?!

See, now that's friggin' funny

Punchy · 03-13-2006, 06:28 PM

I'll get the trade.

LazarusMan · 03-13-2006, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Colonsus
Yo, Dawg, that Ma Kent special is gonna be off the HIZZLE!!!!

I can't WAIT to see what that old broad's been up to since Superman II.

Wait, what...?

WTF?!?!

Exactly what I was thinking. Why not Jimmy Olsen? Perry White? Why not make one about Richard Pryor's character and why he was written out of the movies?

From Krypton to Earth also scares me a bit. So Supes is going back to Krypton? But didn't it explode? Isn't it gone? WHY?

Oh, and the comment about Singer seemingly pissing on Marvel, that's a very true comment. That Ultimate X-Men story of his has been pushed back so many times it feels completely worthless now. Though, I have a feeling it would have been stupid anyways. Definitely not as good as Vaughan's run ended out being or as good as Bendis' did or the way that Kirkman's' is shaping up. Plus, it allowed Mr. Steve McNiven the opportunity to draw Civil War, so it's not all a bad thing.

LazarusMan · 03-13-2006, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by s*p rules
Superman's LAST WORDS at the end of Superman II - as he is flying the American flag back to the white house and talking to the president - were something along the lines of (and I'm paraphrasing a bit) "I'm sorry I wasn't here, Mr. President, but it won't happen again!". So after promising the president that he wouldn't abandon the world again, he takes off for a few years???

Nice job, Singer.

And judging from the wizard article I thumbed through over the weekend, Kubert is adapting that horrible and ugly small 'S' shield and even-more-horrible-and-ugly 'S' shield belt for his take on Superman. Ugh. Has no one in editorial heard the fans bitching about that costume? Or do the fans don't matter, just the suits from WB?

Nevermind, I already know the answer to that.

"Mr. President, it won't happen again, but only after 6 years have passed. Then it'll never happen again. Except of course, for all that time between my sequels and various money troubles when this movie pulls in a King Kong sized stinker. Then you can always follow me in my monthly comic adventures, as drawn by Adam Kubert once every 3 months. But maybe they'll create a special every other month comic featuring the adventures of geriatric super-mom Ma Kent."

Wow, good work DC. Really good work. I really hope this movie tanks.

simcha · 03-13-2006, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by s*p rules
Superman's LAST WORDS at the end of Superman II - as he is flying the American flag back to the white house and talking to the president - were something along the lines of (and I'm paraphrasing a bit) "I'm sorry I wasn't here, Mr. President, but it won't happen again!". So after promising the president that he wouldn't abandon the world again, he takes off for a few years???

Nice job, Singer.

And judging from the wizard article I thumbed through over the weekend, Kubert is adapting that horrible and ugly small 'S' shield and even-more-horrible-and-ugly 'S' shield belt for his take on Superman. Ugh. Has no one in editorial heard the fans bitching about that costume? Or do the fans don't matter, just the suits from WB?

Nevermind, I already know the answer to that.

So just because you say something means that your automatically going to do it? It's called lying, we all have done it, we all have gone back on our words. You think Superman hasn't?

Drew Melbourne · 03-13-2006, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LazarusMan
From Krypton to Earth also scares me a bit. So Supes is going back to Krypton? But didn't it explode? Isn't it gone? WHY?

You may not be aware of this, but Superman returned to Krypton in the comics as well. (SUPERMAN vol. 2 #18.)

Drew Melbourne · 03-13-2006, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by s*p rules
And judging from the wizard article I thumbed through over the weekend, Kubert is adapting that horrible and ugly small 'S' shield and even-more-horrible-and-ugly 'S' shield belt for his take on Superman. Ugh. Has no one in editorial heard the fans bitching about that costume? Or do the fans don't matter, just the suits from WB?

Nevermind, I already know the answer to that.

My favorite part of your post is where you insult the editors at DC Comics because you misread an issue of WIZARD.

Good job!

ManofTheAtom · 03-13-2006, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MattBrady
Superman Returns: Krypton To Earth

Story by Bryan Singer, Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris
Script by Jimmy Palmiotti & Justin Gray
Art by John Byrne
Cover by Adam Hughes

Produced in conjunction with Superman Returns director Bryan Singer and screenwriters Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris, four astonishing one-shots bridge the gap between Superman II and Superman Returns!

In the first, revisit the Man of Steel’s origins and see the first glimmers of what has transpired since he left the Earth at the end of Superman II!
On sale June 7 - 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US

Niiiice.

StevieCool · 03-13-2006, 07:00 PM

Wait, if spin-offs happen afterwards, then are these spin-ons?

OK, that's my only attempt at funny.

Here's my attempt at scary: Too bad Frank Cho isn't drawing the Ma Kent issue.

See, that's just plain crossing a line.

mrorangesoda · 03-13-2006, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SeamusMcClernan
We all know SUPERMAN 3 took place - it was the premise to "Office Space!!!"

Yes, but since the continuity waves...er, the uh power of myth...

I want my eight bucks back.

NeoXorn · 03-13-2006, 07:07 PM

So...When will "his"* UXM arc come out?

*Team Singer. "Team Singer"?... Sounds like a singing ninja squad.

SpottedNigel · 03-13-2006, 07:07 PM

First off, cool. Sounds like a neat idea as long as the important bits are still in the movie.

Second...So everyone is bitching that he hasnt started his UXM run, even though if he had even one issue late you would crucify him? Maybe he looked at Kevin Smith and his comics foray and said "Well, I wont do it THAT way...".

Just be happy that at some point he'll be writing a story in a book you like. Until then, read your ____ing comics as if you arnt a complete douchbag who bitches about the creation of said book and instead, read them for the story and structure for which this industry exists for.