5.2 (or so) ABOUT 52 #40 WITH MICHAEL SIGLAIN

**MattBrady** · 02-09-2007, 05:21 PM

Ready…

FIGHT!

Oh, come on – this week’s 52 from DC was just the first of many climaxes that are going to be coming up in the series, and it was a slobberknocker. John Herny Irons vs. Lex Luthor – and that picture on the cover of Irons standing victorious?

Well, it’s not there just because it’s pretty. It also implies how things ended up. Well, minus the armor.

And left hand.

Anyway…on with our weekly Q&A with Editor Michael Siglain.

Newsarama: First off - the title, “Man Ain’t Nothing But a Man”...from the John Henry song, right?

Michael Siglain: Good eye. Yes, the title of this issue - Man Ain't Nothing But A Man” - comes from the song about John Henry, the famous African-American folk hero. His story--like John Henry Irons' story--is both an inspirational and moral one, about man verses technology. The title is taken from this quote, "A man, he ain't nothing but a man, Before I'd let that steam drill beat me down, Oh, I'd die with the hammer in my hand."

From the very beginning, the writers wanted the title of this issue to be a line from the song. Deciding upon which line would be the tricky part. At various times the issue was called "The Measure Of A Man," "Nothing But A Man," and "Got My Shoes From A Railroad Man." Story-wise, in the end, when everything is stripped away from Steel, and it's just him going up against a technologically-enhanced Luthor, John Henry "ain't nothing but a man" who’d "die with the hammer in [his] hand" before letting Luthor win.

NRAMA: Yeah – that works. Regarding Irons’ initial assault, at this point, does Mercy, Luhor's bodyguard, have brain damage? I mean - is there a hero who hasn't knocked her unconscious while trying to get to Luthor? Yet - she keeps going...

MS: Mercy's got a thick skull. Either that, or she's really a robot. Keep on reading, gang.

NRAMA: Large picture-wise, did Everyman "have" to die? It seems that when the murder is up close and personal, as his was of Jake, that they usually die, while someone like Luthor goes on and on and on...

MS: Are you suggesting that we kill off Lex Luthor? What purpose would the writers serve by killing him off? He's Superman's greatest adversary, and a major villain throughout the DCU. Plus, from a story standpoint, we've already seen him One Year Later, so he's safe.

NRAMA: Sure – Luthor’s safe, exactly, but someone like Everyman – his “crime” – killing Jake, and being a total sleeze was so up close and personal. It seems when villains are like that, they’re on the short track to…deathville.

MS: As for Everyman, there are some who would argue that he got just what was coming to him. He was a murderer who fell to his death. Of course, there are others who would argue that just because he was a cold-blooded killer doesn't mean that he deserved to die. That's a subjective argument. Dealer's choice on this one.

NRAMA: Oh, and for those who didn’t catch or understand it last week - Planet Lexor? You want to explain that to the kids?

MS: Many of you out there already got the wink and the smile to the Silver Age, but for those of you who didn’t, Planet Lexor refers to a planet that was named in honor of Luthor, where Lex is the hero and Superman is the villain. It’s a world where Superman has no powers, due to the fact that the planet revolves around a red sun. In Superman #164 by Edmond Hamilton and Curt Swan we get the first appearance of Lexor—though it isn’t officially named at the time—and, as in 52 week 40, we get to see Lex take down some with an “S” on his chest in a story that revolves around technology. But unlike week 40, in Superman #164 hero and villain work together to help save an entire planet. Plus, Lex and Superman take off their shirts and duke it out. Take a look:

NRAMA: Mmmm…back in the day when being barrel-chested and doughy was a sign of power and virility. Back to this fight - what happens after the fight? Does Luthor go to jail? Obviously, something happened in the time span between the fight and Day 5...so...thought as to where he went and how his lawyers could get him out?

MS: What happened to Luthor? Well, we'll be filling in the gaps in the weeks to come, though we've already seen the ultimate outcome in Superman #650. Of course, there are some very important bits of information that have yet to be revealed. Check back next week...

NRAMA: Okay – over to Kahndaq - four panels...four distinct scenes, and four horsemen...are we looking at the effects of Famine, War, Pestilence and Death?

MS: Yes, Kahndaq is feeling the effects of the Four Horsemen of the Apokolips. Famine, War, Pestilence and Death are spreading throughout the lands, and the monsters behind these plagues will be in Kahndaq soon enough. And trust me, their presence will be even more disastrous. As for Osiris, he still believes himself to be the cause of Kahndaq’s suffering, but will journeying to the Rock of Eternity help his situation, or push him over the edge?

NRAMA: A quick reader’s question - is Animal Man's story over?

MS: Throwing it back to week 37, are ya? Buddy Baker's story is far from over. We'll be seeing him a lot more between now and week 52. We can't end Buddy's story with him waking up with the aliens. What kind of ending would that be? Trust me, the writers have definite plans for Animal Man.

MS: All right, gang. Since Mr. Brady went easy on the questions this week (thanks, Matt!), I thought I'd take this time to answer and address a couple of your comments. Let's dive right in, shall we?

First and foremost we have the "Montoya Fights a Dragon" line that appeared on the cover scroll to week 40. I know what you're asking: "What happened?" "Where was Montoya?" "Where was the Dragon?" "Why, oh why, must you put wrong information on your cover?" Well, here's the deal: You will see Montoya fight a dragon...but it'll be in week 41. Why the error? 'Cause the covers are done earlier than the interiors, and we had to bump the scene to the following week so we could keep our focus on the massive John Henry/Luthor fight scene.

As for "Day 5" coming after "Day 6," all I can say to that is that time is still broken. Oh, wait. My predecessor already used that one, didn't he? All right. Fine. The fact of the matter is that we goofed. Plain and simple. As always, we will try our best to not let it happen again.

That being said, let's get on with it, and get to next week's goodness.

NRAMA: Nice act of contrition. Okay - over to you for the tease...let's hit it for #41...where does the story take place?

MS: Week 41 starts and ends in the far reaches of space, though we do stop off in Nanda Parbat to visit with an old friend. Check out the cover:

MS: Interesting group of people on that cover. Wonder who they all are... But let’s not dwell on icy images. Let’s take a peek at some interior art and check in on some of our characters. First up is two out of three of our lost in space heroes:

MS: Things don’t seem to be getting any easier for Adam Strange and Starfire. Let’s look in on Mr. Dibny:

MS: Looks like Ralph is making friends fast. Wonder what Montoya is doing...

MS: Guess Montoya really does fight a Dragon, in a manner of speaking. Stay tuned to see who she goes up against in the weeks to come. She just might fight a different dragon...if she can survive an encounter with the man in Black, that is (and I don’t mean Johnny Cash). And in the following weeks, the Horsemen turn up the heat, lightning strikes twice, and Fate lends a hand!

Hope you’ve all enjoyed this little Q&A. Before I go, let me leave you with this little ditty: “Put them under a microscope. I’ll bet you an audience with the man I came to see that they’re teleportation microcircuitry.” See you next week, gang. Beam me up, Scotty.

skeletorjr · 02-09-2007, 05:31 PM

If barrel-chested and doughy was still a sign of power, I'd be running the whole damn world

vbartilucci · 02-09-2007, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattBrady

MS: Yes, Kahndaq is feeling the effects of the Four Horsemen of the Apokolips. Famine, War, Pestilence and Death are spreading throughout the lands, and the monsters behind these plagues will be in Kahndaq soon enough. And trust me, their presence will be even more disastrous. As for Osiris, he still believes himself to be the cause of Kahndaq’s suffering, but will journeying to the Rock of Eternity help his situation, or push him over the edge?

I'm going to assume that was a clue, and not that Michael (or Matt) has forgotten how to spell "apocalypse".

If taken literally, this means that the Four Horsemen are NOT in Khandaq yet, which would seem to take Isis and Sobek off the hook.

I believe what's happeneing here is that the horsemen are goading Black Adam into action by methodically destroying all he has done in the last year. Which will just make his actions all the more tragic.

Of all the characters I fear will not survive 52, it's a tie between Ralph and Black Adam. Both are dealing with major issues, one on a personal level and one on a global level.

And oh my god, Ralph is going to summon Abgenazar(sp), Rath and Gast! This is becoming to seem more like a Felix Faust plot after all.

merrick2006 · 02-09-2007, 05:32 PM

Is that Wonder Woman on the cover (among the images)?

The Origin of Starfire? Now that I didn't expect.

**MattBrady** · 02-09-2007, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skeletorjr

If barrel-chested and doughy was still a sign of power, I'd be running the whole damn world

we would have to fight for it.

MattB

Kevenn · 02-09-2007, 05:33 PM

I see Wonder Woman/Diana Prince wearing a silver bracelet with a bird on that cover!!!!

FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

rwe1138 · 02-09-2007, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattBrady

MS: Yes, Kahndaq is feeling the effects of the Four Horsemen of the Apokolips. Famine, War, Pestilence and Death are spreading throughout the lands, and the monsters behind these plagues will be in Kahndaq soon enough. And trust me, their presence will be even more disastrous.

You know, after the Horsemen's debut I didn't expect their initail attack on Kahndaq to be so...quiet. I thought they'd just go after Black Adam with both guns blazing, so to speak. Interesting place for a slow burn.

And next week, MOGO!!!! Awsome!

Squashua · 02-09-2007, 05:34 PM

Reserving a post in case someone says something cool later on that I can copy here and pretend I said it. :-)

shady878 · 02-09-2007, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattBrady

Oh, come on – this week’s 52 from DC was just the first of many climaxes that are going to be coming up in the series, and it was a slobberknocker. John Herny Irons vs. Lex Luthor – and that picture on the cover of Irons standing victorious?
.

Oh Matt, have you been reading my posts?

Equinox · 02-09-2007, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skeletorjr

If barrel-chested and doughy was still a sign of power, I'd be running the whole damn world

As Matty B said, we've have to fight for it. And I'm guessing that many on the forum would join in as well

Nightravin · 02-09-2007, 05:40 PM

So will Montoya be the QUESTION or the ANSWER???

EMeadow · 02-09-2007, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vbartilucci

And oh my god, Ralph is going to summon Abgenazar(sp), Rath and Gast! This is becoming to seem more like a Felix Faust plot after all.

Yeah I saw the wheel coming of the chair and went "The Wheel?" Bring on The Bell and The Jar. Don't think they've been seen since JLA/Avengers.

**MattBrady** · 02-09-2007, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nightravin

So will Montoya be the QUESTION or the ANSWER???

reflecting the confusing atmosphere of our times, she'll be the mysterious "Yeahbuwhu?"

MattB

d0dg3r · 02-09-2007, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vbartilucci

I'm going to assume that was a clue, and not that Michael (or Matt) has forgotten how to spell "apocalypse".
.

Well, the Horsemen are from Apokolips -- I forget the specifics, but when they first appeared with the Oolong Island Mads a few weeks back, that was mentioned.

rwe1138 · 02-09-2007, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattBrady

reflecting the confusing atmosphere of our times, she'll be the mysterious "Yeahbuwhu?"

MattB

Joss should so get royalties if that ever happened.

mrbones · 02-09-2007, 05:51 PM

Steel is Da Man!!!

dmarvp · 02-09-2007, 05:52 PM

One Question that MBrady should have asked this week :

IS IT MEEEE ?

or did Steel changed his pants between the battle with Everyman and Luthor ?

Garth Rockett · 02-09-2007, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattBrady

MS: Guess Montoya really does fight a Dragon, in a manner of speaking. Stay tuned to see who she goes up against in the weeks to come. She just might fight a different dragon...if she can survive an encounter with the man in Black, that is (and I don’t mean Johnny Cash).

Ritchie Blackmore? COOL!

vbartilucci · 02-09-2007, 06:03 PM

There's enough threads going in this book that they'd better end a few early. If they try and have all these stories end in the last issue, each one will get about a page and a half, and it's gonna be a big mess. Ralph will probably end early, it looks like John Henry's is pretty much done here, and I think Renee's will be next. I don't see the Question (whoever it'll be) having much to do with WWIII.

Odds are the real climax of the book will be #50 (and in the WWIII tie-ins), and 51 and 52 (which comes out on 5/2, btw) will be cleanup.

I've had a ball, and if they do indeed plan another weekly series, I hope they remeber that the book should tell its own story, not just serve as a segue to What's Coming Next.

SSK17 · 02-09-2007, 06:04 PM

I was confused cause I thought steels armor was some super special type of nigh indestructible metal...yet...it gets crushed by a giant crab claw....

merrick2006 · 02-09-2007, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garth Rockett

Ritchie Blackmore? COOL!

Who's he anyway?

Lincoln Cole · 02-09-2007, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrbones

Steel is Da Man!!!

Yes, he is.

I haven't been reading 52, just following it online, but I hope they do something with Steel when all of this is over. Christopher Priest's run on STEEL is an all-time favorite, so a new ongoing would be great.

Looking to the DC panels at NYCC for any heads-up on this front.

-Linc

ShadowPsykie · 02-09-2007, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vbartilucci

I'm going to assume that was a clue, and not that Michael (or Matt) has forgotten how to spell "apocalypse".

If taken literally, this means that the Four Horsemen are NOT in Khandaq yet, which would seem to take Isis and Sobek off the hook.

I believe what's happeneing here is that the horsemen are goading Black Adam into action by methodically destroying all he has done in the last year. Which will just make his actions all the more tragic.

Of all the characters I fear will not survive 52, it's a tie between Ralph and Black Adam. Both are dealing with major issues, one on a personal level and one on a global level.

And oh my god, Ralph is going to summon Abgenazar(sp), Rath and Gast! This is becoming to seem more like a Felix Faust plot after all.

Summon what now with a who?

ShadowPsykie · 02-09-2007, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rwe1138

You know, after the Horsemen's debut I didn't expect their initail attack on Kahndaq to be so...quiet. I thought they'd just go after Black Adam with both guns blazing, so to speak. Interesting place for a slow burn.

And next week, MOGO!!!! Awsome!

heehee your's sig used to be my old sig

i still use it for the IMDB boards

khuxford · 02-09-2007, 06:11 PM

I'm a little frustrated with the covers being commissioned so far in advance that they don't gel with the interiors so much. For instance...Lex flying spoiled the fact that Lex would be getting powers in the next issue. The Question toe-tag cover spoiled that Vic would be dying (even if they stretched it out more than a little bit after). Now the Steel cover spoiled that he would emerge victorious...which is the first case that it has really hurt the impact of the story. So much of the tension is tossed aside when you announce the outcome on the cover.