DC OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE ON SUPERMAN RETURNS PREQUELS

[MattBrady]

Press Release

DC Comics, the largest English language publisher of comic books worldwide, and Warner Bros. Pictures announced today that Superman Returns director Bryan Singer and Superman Returns screenwriters Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris are providing the plots to four comic book prequels to Superman Returns. The four forty-page comic book prequels will be published by DC Comics throughout the month of June and will bridge the gap between the first Superman film and Superman Returns, which premieres in theatres on June 30, 2006.

About SUPERMAN RETURNS:
Following a mysterious absence of several years, the Man of Steel comes back to Earth in the epic action-adventure Superman Returns, a soaring new chapter in the saga of one of the world’s most beloved superheroes. While an old enemy plots to render him powerless once and for all, Superman (Brandon Routh) faces the heartbreaking realization that the woman he loves, Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth), has moved on with her life. Or has she? Superman’s bittersweet return challenges him to bridge the distance between them while finding a place in a society that has learned to survive without him. In an attempt to protect the world he loves from cataclysmic destruction, Superman embarks on an epic journey of redemption that takes him from the depths of the ocean to the far reaches of outer space.

About the SUPERMAN RETURNS prequels:

SUPERMAN RETURNS: KRYPTON TO EARTH
Story by Bryan Singer & Michael Dougherty & Dan Harris
Script by Jimmy Palmiotti & Justin Gray
Cover by Adam Hughes
In the first of the four prequels, fans will revisit the Man of Steel’s origins and witness how the world has been transformed in Superman’s absence.
On sale June 7 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US

SUPERMAN RETURNS: MA KENT
Story by Bryan Singer & Michael Dougherty & Dan Harris
Script by Marc Andreyko
Art by Karl Kerschl
Cover by Adam Hughes
The second special conceived by Bryan Singer and illustrated by Karl Kerschl spotlights the life of the woman who raised the Man of Tomorrow—and explores how she survived a world without Superman.
On sale June 14 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US

SUPERMAN RETURNS: LEX LUTHOR
Story by Bryan Singer & Michael Dougherty & Dan Harris
Script by Jimmy Palmiotti & Justin Gray
Art by Rick Leonardi
Cover by Adam Hughes
Lex Luthor always dreamed of a world without a Superman. How will Superman’s arch-nemesis react when he finally gets what he’s wanted for so many years?
On sale June 21 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US

SUPERMAN RETURNS: LOIS LANE
Story by Bryan Singer & Michael Dougherty & Dan Harris
Script by Mark Andreyko
Art by Wellington Dias
Cover by Adam Hughes
Lois Lane has loved… and lost… the Man of Steel. How will this intrepid reporter rebound from Superman’s absence?
On sale June 28 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US

Newsarama Note: This information corrects DC's earlier solicitation information, which Newarama reported on Monday.

[greencapt]

And the official 'mystery artist' for 'Krypton To Earth' will be??? The world may never know.

[BrotherI]

Nice seeing Marc do these. Manhunter ain't bad.

[blankpoint]

I think that's going to be Liefeld's special mystery project with DC.

[sequart]

Originally posted by blankpoint
I think that's going to be Liefeld's special mystery project with DC.

That would be a major coup for him. These boards would light up like a Christmas tree.

[ZAXILLA2]

I normally wouldn't buy a 'movie adaptation' or anything of the like, but DC has got me with these. just like everything else DC. hook. line. and sinker.

[stvnhthr]

Originally posted by greencapt
And the official 'mystery artist' for 'Krypton To Earth' will be??? The world may never know.

John Byrne is the artist on Krypton to Earth. They must have forgotten to print it in the press release.

[Switch]

Maybe KRYPTON TO EARTH will be just the script, visuals free. Or just a few choice storyboard grabs from RETURNS.

[Switch]

stvnhthr John Byrne is the artist on Krypton to Earth. They must have forgotten to print it in the press release.

Byrne pulled out.

[greencapt]

After Byrne left I thought they'd at least wait until they had signed someone before they re-released the info.

Liefeld? That hurts me in SO many ways.

[stvnhthr]

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. "

-Bummer, that was the one I wanted to see the most.

[stvnhthr]

I hope they give it to Ed Benes, he has the speed and the talent to get it done.

[Jor-L]

I'd love to see Tony Harris or Stephen Sadowski do this book. I think either artist would do a great job and bring just the right qualities (though each artist could bring such a different feeling) to this book.

[cactusmaac]

I hope it's Dan Jurgens taking over for Byrne.

[MattBrady]

while I can appreciate the dedication and energy (but the motive escapes me) a handful of you have in wanting to bash John Byrne and Rob Liefeld at every turn, knock it off.

If Byrne and Liefeld have so offended you that you feel the need to bash them in every thread, or bring them up, just to see them bashed, do this board a favor and start a blog to vent your spleen.

Any further posts bashing Byrne or Liefeld will be deleted.

MattB

[Kolimar]

Interesting

[algertman]

Originally posted by Switch
Byrne pulled out.

I always thought he wanted kids?

[MattBrady]

Originally posted by algertman
I always thought he wanted kids?

enjoy your three day vacation.

MattB

[Kolimar]

Originally posted by MattBrady
enjoy your three day vacation.

MattB

Matt, I'm not a Byrne-basher and you can easily see that from every single post I have here about Byrne and his art, and iirc, neither is Algertman. His joke was just that: a joke.

[Ryan Twombly]

Actual Question Not Involving Byrne or Liefeld:


So, are they saying now that none of the other movies happened after Superman '78, or just that Superman Returns takes place at some point in the series, and leaving it vague. I see absolutely no point to any of that, personally. I'd rather think of SR in the same way I think of Batman Begins -- as completely unreleated to the 80s/90s movies.

[pifpog]

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. "

There seems to be some sort of weird communication issue here. Either Byrne found out that he wasn't adapting the movie this week and withdrew from the project, DC knew he wasn't involved but accidentally put his name on the initial press release anyways, or something else is happening.

Can't remember the last time I saw a solicitation for a high profile project like this and you didn't know half the creative team.

[pifpog]

Originally posted by Ryan Twombly
Actual Question Not Involving Byrne or Liefeld:


So, are they saying now that none of the other movies happened after Superman '78, or just that Superman Returns takes place at some point in the series, and leaving it vague. I see absolutely no point to any of that, personally. I'd rather think of SR in the same way I think of Batman Begins -- as completely unreleated to the 80s/90s movies.

My understanding is they are treating Superman 1 and 2 as some sort of dream-like prequel. So they won't reaccount his origin but won't be stuck to those movies either (thereby avoiding the obvious problem of the ending of Superman 2, where he promises to always be around even though according to Superman Returns he takes off soon afterwards).

[greencapt]

I just want the movie to be respectful of the source material (in any incarnation)... and have a good story with good actors. Is that too much to ask? I hope not.

[Erikcrusade]

Originally posted by MattBrady
while I can appreciate the dedication and energy (but the motive escapes me) a handful of you have in wanting to bash John Byrne and Rob Liefeld at every turn, knock it off.

If Byrne and Liefeld have so offended you that you feel the need to bash them in every thread, or bring them up, just to see them bashed, do this board a favor and start a blog to vent your spleen.

Any further posts bashing Byrne or Liefeld will be deleted.

MattB

Wow....that was wholly unfair. I didn't intend my post to be a bashing. I was more poking fun at the point the person made before me on him on this project.

I don't see how pointing out how late he tends to be on a book is bashing him. It's simply stating the facts.

And as far as my post goes, it was entirely playful in nature. I think anytime anyone makes things personal or mean-spirited, then that's certainly uncalled for. But I didn't see any of these posts really as that.

It just seems to me that this was a little rash, although I understand you jumping on board before things get out of hand. I'm just not sure I agree with the points you made about the nature of our posts on this subject.

[Kolimar]

Originally posted by pifpog
There seems to be some sort of weird communication issue here. Either Byrne found out that he wasn't adapting the movie this week and withdrew from the project, DC knew he wasn't involved but accidentally put his name on the initial press release anyways, or something else is happening.

Can't remember the last time I saw a solicitation for a high profile project like this and you didn't know half the creative team.

The faulty communication thing is possible but more on the side of Byrne not knowing exactly what the project was about from the beginning. Or like he said, DC or Synger just changed the project from what it was originally. I don't think we'll ever find out for sure.