KURT BUSIEK ON "THE THIRD KRYPTONIAN" AND MORE

**MattBrady** · 09-26-2007, 01:29 PM

by Michael C Lorah

In Action Comics #841-843, the “Back in Action” arc, an interstellar Auctioneer came to Earth and began stealing historical and unique pieces of Earth’s culture. Unfortunately for Earth’s protectors, super-powered beings were among the treasures the Auctioneer sought. Unfortunately for the Auctioneer, Superman was among his prizes, and after a quick rebellion and “negotiation,” all of Earth’s trophies and heroes were put back where they belonged.

The Auctioneer left one behind one very tantalizing statement however. On Earth, he found three members of the previously-thought-extinct Kryptonian race. Superman certainly is one. Supergirl is a second. And Kurt Busiek, co-writer of the “Back in Action” arc, confirmed that Power Girl, a Kryptonian survivor from a parallel universe, is apparently sufficiently different so as to not register as the Auctioneer’s third Kryptonian.

So, just who is the Third Kryptonian?

Or perhaps that should be the seventh Kryptonian, as shortly after the Auctioneer departed, Phantom Zone criminals General Zod, Ursa and Non made their presence felt in the “Last Son” arc in Action Comics. Though they are no longer around to plague Earth (or won’t be as soon as the forthcoming Action Comics Annual wraps that particular storyline), Zod and Ursa’s son has been left behind and become Superman’s foster son, Chris Kent.

Nevertheless, despite the recent spike in Earth’s Kryptonian population, there’s still one more survivor lurking, and if the last few have complicated the Man of Steel’s life, this one isn’t about to buck the trend.

Superman writer Kurt Busiek is about to make the big reveal, and we caught up with him for a few thoughts on survival, schedules and Superman’s next big discovery.

NRAMA: How far into planning your Superman run were you when you started to think about the Third Kryptonian?

Kurt Busiek: Not that far, really. The idea of another Kryptonian, hidden away on Earth and unsuspected, was something I conceived very early on. But it was just a vague idea -- and when the chance to do the "Back in Action" story fell into my lap, it just kinda naturally fell into place there and provided a sparkplug for so many other things we wanted to do that we jumped on the opportunity to plant the idea, and then went looking for the right place to pay it off. We thought we'd be getting to it sooner than this, I'll admit -- but I'm glad it's finally here, and I'm very happy with how it's coming out. Rick Leonardi has done a beautiful job.

NRAMA: Is s/he an established character? Something that was maybe in the back of your mind for a while?

KB: A mixture, really. I don't want to give too much away. There are connections to a character DC readers have seen before, but they're grace notes more than anything else. This is a new character -- one that, in some small ways, honors a character seen in the past (and longtime Super-fans will know exactly what I'm talking about when they see the last page of part 1) -- but a new character for all that.

NRAMA: How does the revelation of another survivor from his homeworld affect Superman’s emotional state?

KB: Good question, and one we'll definitely be exploring. The existence of Supergirl and Chris Kent has had a pretty strong effect on him, but this will be a very different kind of relationship, and will have different effects.

NRAMA: And how does the identity of the third Kryptonian impact the villain community?

KB: There's one villain, at least, who is absolutely enraged by it, and who is central to the story. But you'll be meeting him in the story itself.

As for other villains, well, time will have to tell.

NRAMA: This story is a three-issue arc, but how far-reaching will the implications of the arc be?

KB: Pretty far. The story stands on its own, but it's also a stepping stone to some very big stuff. There are major revelations about Kryptonian history in the story, and a big twist that will lead in to next spring's Action/Superman crossover. Plus, this won't be the last time the Third Kryptonian has a major part to play in Superman's life and adventures.

We've been building up to some big, big things coming in the Super-books (Supergirl as well as the Superman titles), and "The Third Kryptonian" is definitely a major building block in all that. There's a lot that comes out of this story and will affect things in the future.

NRAMA: You mention Rick Leonardi drawing this arc, and he’s a massively under-rated talent. Can you comment on the artists working on Superman going forward?

KB: We've had the good luck to have some very good artists working on the Superman books. Over in Action, we've had Adam Kubert, Pete Woods, Brad Walker, Eric Powell, Renato Guedes and the incoming Gary Frank, and in Superman, we've had Carlos Pacheco, Walter Simonson, Ed Barreto and more. And as Carlos wraps up his Superman commitment and heads back to Arrowsmith-land (where I'm eagerly awaiting him, having just waved goodbye from Metropolis; go figure), we have a couple of welcome talents stepping in to do arcs before our new regular guy begins. First Rick Leonardi, who drew the Jimmy Olsen origin tale in #665, is back for #668-670. Since this is a heavily science-fiction-oriented story, complete with tales of the Kryptonian Empire, space pirates and more, Rick's experience as a Star Wars artist comes into play as well as his long experience drawing superheroes, and his art on the whole project has come out great. We started on this months ago, so even with the schedule switch, he'd had the time to do it up right, without a lot of deadline pressure.

After that, we bring in Peter Vale, who drew the main story in #659, which was very well received by Superman fans. He's drawing a three-parter in #671-673, which introduces the all-new Insect Queen, and provides some important turning points for Lana Lang, Lexcorp, and Chris Kent as well.

After that, we'll be introducing our new regular artist. We know who it is, and we're confident readers will e happy, but we aren't ready to make the announcement yet.

NRAMA: After nearly two decades enforcing Superman as the LAST son of Krypton, we’ve seen a dramatic increase of surviving Kryptonians. Superman, Supergirl, Power Girl, K3, Chris Kent, the Phantom Zone criminals. Even Krypto! Why do you think we’re seeing such a population explosion now?

KB: The rules changed in the wake of Infinite Crisis. Those last couple of decades, what was being enforced wasn't that Superman was the "last son," but the last survivor, which isn't the same thing. The phrase "Last Son of Krypton" was popularized, after all, back when Supergirl, the Phantom Zone and Kandor all existed, so it clearly wasn't meant as "last survivor."

What it meant was that Superman was the last child to be born of Krypton to have survived -- everyone else was either older than him (like Zod), born somewhere else (like Supergirl) or dead. That had to be changed, of course, when Superman was no longer born on Krypton himself, but on Earth, from a birthing matrix, so "last son" kinda got retconned into "last survivor."

Post-Infinite Crisis, though, it's a new continuity, and one of the changes that's been made is that Superman was born on Krypton, though with some significant differences from his pre-Crisis history. And that means that "last son" has that original poetic meaning again.

All that said, the basic crux of the matter is that a whole lot of readers wanted to see things like a Kryptonian Zod -- none of the other Zods offered up over the years really caught on. And they welcomed a Kryptonian Supergirl. The "last survivor" idea had been interesting to explore for a while, but it's interesting to explore the other way, too, and after decades without it, there's a lot of rich story material there to play with.

NRAMA: So really, it’s just a cyclical part of Superman history?

KB: Could be. Though if so, it's a cycle of audience desire and editorial choice, of course. It doesn't just happen. There's a power to Superman as the last survivor, and there's a power to Superman as the center of a web of relationships and connections among a group of survivors. So there's an appeal in being able to explore both. John Byrne got to present a very different Superman from the Bronze Age one that had preceded him, and that gave him a lot to play with that was fresh and hadn't been explored in decades. But after 20 years of that, it's probably worth seeing what's worth playing with in the stuff that got set aside back then, and is now fresh and different by comparison.

NRAMA: Personally, I’ve never believed the argument that being the last of his people is part of Superman’s uniqueness, but I do like the tragedy of being the last Kryptonian (“my *choke* Kryptonian parents, Jor-El and Lara”). What do you think are some of the pros and cons of Superman as the Last Son versus Superman surrounded by a selection of survivors?

KB: I think I may have just answered that.

NRAMA: You did, but since it’s an email interview and you typed an answer… 

KB: But expanding on it a little -- with the survivors, who traditionally have been walled away for the most part, off in the Zone or in Kandor -- Kryptonian culture and history is alive, in a way that can serve stories. Superman's the ultimate immigrant, but an immigrant with a culture he can return to from time to time, can steep himself in. It's funny, but despite all those survivors, Superman felt more isolated, lonelier, in the Silver and Bronze Ages than he did when he was a sole survivor -- maybe because the existence of fragments of Kryptonian culture serves as a reminder of the loss, while a Superman who thinks of himself as a Kansan first and foremost doesn't have as much reason to miss what he's never known. In the post-Crisis run, Kryptonian elements often seemed almost like an intrusion, a source of threats rather than a culture Superman had lost.

So it's a matter of how you treat it, really. A Superman with a cousin and a dog and two small groups of survivors, both walled away from the main world, can seem more isolated than one who's actually alone and knows little about where he's from.

But certainly, the power of the "last survivor" is about being unique, a singular statement. And the power of the "last-but-not-only son" is that it provides for a rich cast of well-loved characters with strong connections to Superman, over and above the humans.

And it may well be simply that the "last survivor" has been what we had in recent decades, so Kryptonian heritage seems more exotic due to its long absence, but I see "sole survivor" as something that can be done through other characters than Superman. Zod, the Kara Zor-El Supergirl, characters like that...they're not so easily replaced.

NRAMA: Thinking of surviving Kryptonians, is Kandor a mini-Kryptonian city again?

KB: Not the last time we saw it, at least. But it's Kryptonian by the Legion's era, so go figure. Gotta be a story there, right?

NRAMA: I can see the wheels turning… Have Geoff Johns and you mapped out the evolving relationships between all the Kryptonian (and non-Kryptonian, Superman supporting) characters?

KBWe've talked about it a bunch, and mapped out the stuff that needs mapping out, but there's still plenty of room to explore things organically.

NRAMA: How have the artistic delays affected the stories you planned to tell? You actually introduced the third Kryptonian idea in Action #842, when you (with Fabian Nicieza and Pete Woods) filled for three issues in until Johns, Richard Donner and Adam Kubert were ready to start on that title. Since then, you’ve done several more Action Comics fill-ins, as well as several shorter arcs on Superman while regular artist Carlos Pacheco finished Camelot Falls. How much of your run has been planned, and how much seat-of-the-pants reacting (with fortuitous results or otherwise)?

KB: Any run is going to be a mixture of both, of course. In many ways, the delays have been frustrating beyond belief, because we've got all this stuff we want to do, and we haven't been able to get past our launch stories yet. That's maddening, at least as much for us as it is for the readers. But at the same time, it's created opportunities -- as you note, it did give me the chance to introduce the Auctioneer and plant the seed of the Third Kryptonian. It let me bring Krypto back into the mix, let us explore Superman's new history (in Action #850 and Superman #665), let me explore the Prankster in a way a lot of people seem to have liked...

So all in all, while it's insanely frustrating to have things progressing this slowly, I think we've been able to do a lot more than just fill gaps when the delays have hit. We've been able to use those holes to plant characters, ideas, create building blocks for what's coming. That makes it sting a little less, at least...

NRAMA: There’s about to be ANOTHER Kryptonian loosed in the DCU. How does the Kingdom Come Superman factor into this? Have you and Geoff discussed how, or if, this will be felt in the Superman titles?

KB: What's going on in Justice Society is a different story, and won't be a part of "The Third Kryptonian," at least not this three-parter that's about to debut. Whether the two threads will combine at some future point, well, we'll have to see about that...

NRAMA: Any final comments for the readers?

KB: I'm eager to see the story finally hit -- it's one thing to plan ahead, but with the delays, I've been itching to have this out, and to start the next stage of Superman's adventures and career. I can't wait to see how the readership reacts to it.

The Third Kryptonian is revealed in Superman #668-670, beginning in October.

NimbusV · 09-26-2007, 01:43 PM

As long as we don't get the Kryptonian Super Monkeys, everything is OK, though not crazy about the kid.

AngDawPac · 09-26-2007, 01:54 PM

Kurt,
Great interview. This story seems incredible and as much as I am frustrated with the delays, I am probably going to have to pick it up. I keep trying to take a stand and you keep knocking my legs out from under me with your stories!! GRRRR.

Thanks again for the earlier correspondence.

Tim

superhulkman · 09-26-2007, 01:58 PM

Maybe this is DC's way of having a brand new Superboy, there's a chance it could be another female, but we already have Supergirl and Power Girl, so I'm kinda hoping for a new Superboy so Superman will have someone to hang out with, fight alongside him and perhaps even with Batman, and then there's Robin as well. Sure ther'es Krypto and we know the saying, dog is man's best friend, but for so long Superman has had to live with thinking he was the sole survivor of the doom planet Krypton, the last son, maybe he won't have to be the last son anymore. It's anyone's guess from here, only DC and Kurt know the true story and we all have to wait and see. Can't wait!!!

Sluggo · 09-26-2007, 02:00 PM

I might have to give Busiek's run another chance starting with this story. Everything I've read so far has left me cold.

I was incredibly surprised by that. I thought Busiek + Pacheco would be gold, since Avengers Forever and Arrowsmith are two of my favorite comics, but it just didn't work out that way for me. His Superman and Clark seem so angry and impatient.

I admit I'm more of a fan of Superman being the only survivor of Krypton, but I'm also willing to give the other scenario a try.

dwf · 09-26-2007, 02:02 PM

Since Superman obviously isn't the lone survivor of Krypton, I would think he would scour the universe looking for any other overlooked survivors. This could work out to be a good story: Superman goes on a quest through space, tracking down leads on possible destinations of Kryptonian refugees. The extra Kryptonians on hand could watch over Earth and teach Chris Kent the ropes on super-heroing. Time could be split between Superman interacting with alien civilizations and the younger Super-folk learning to function as both a team and individual heroes. Go for it, Kurt!

Timberoo · 09-26-2007, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NimbusV

As long as we don't get the Kryptonian Super Monkeys, everything is OK, though not crazy about the kid.

Stop the hate on Beppo the Super Monkey.

Bananaman · 09-26-2007, 02:04 PM

For some reason I think the third kryptonian will be Maggie Sawyer-ish her from SCU

Scarlet Mage · 09-26-2007, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NimbusV

As long as we don't get the Kryptonian Super Monkeys, everything is OK, though not crazy about the kid.

Ooh! I want Kryptonian super monkeys! And a cat and a horse and what about a Kryptonian chameleon...

icelator · 09-26-2007, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NimbusV

As long as we don't get the Kryptonian Super Monkeys, everything is OK, though not crazy about the kid.

its not like we ever see him

Michael Heide · 09-26-2007, 02:10 PM

Quote:

As long as we don't get the Kryptonian Super Monkeys, everything is OK, though not crazy about the kid.

I like Chris Kent and hope that he's a lasting addition to the Superman-mythos long after Donner and Johns are gone. But the timing was a bit weak, introducing him so shortly after Conner Kent's demise. I think in many fans' eyes, he feels shoehorned in as the new Superboy (or at least he's set up to become him once the legal struggle is over). I'd love to see both characters next to each other.

About the interview:

Quote:

We've been building up to some big, big things coming in the Super-books (Supergirl as well as the Superman titles), and "The Third Kryptonian" is definitely a major building block in all that. There's a lot that comes out of this story and will affect things in the future.

Do I have to read Supergirl now?

Quote:

KB: I'm eager to see the story finally hit -- it's one thing to plan ahead, but with the delays, I've been itching to have this out, and to start the next stage of Superman's adventures and career. I can't wait to see how the readership reacts to it.

I'm itching to see it as well. I liked Camelot Falls (so far), but it went on far too long.
I remember an interview with Kurt Busiek, back when he was announced as the writer on Action Comics. He gave glimpses for future stories, and I remember that every single one of them sounded great. But so far, we've got Camelot Falls, more Camelot Falls, even more Camelot Falls, fill-in stories of quality ranging from (in my opinion) awesome (that solo Prankster issue was wonderful) to mediocre (I didn't like that Wonder Woman issue), and then, more Camelot Falls. I want to see the Third Kryptonian. I want to see the new Insect Queen. I want to see whatever has been trapped in Kurt's head for so long and desperately wants to get out.

kalorama · 09-26-2007, 02:11 PM

[quote]NRAMA: You mention Rick Leonardi drawing this arc, and he’s a massively under-rated talent.[quote]

And that's a massive understatement.

God-Man · 09-26-2007, 02:11 PM

Awesome Renato Guedes cover! The Dominators are back!

Rich L · 09-26-2007, 02:16 PM

Great interview and I'm looking forward to this storyline. That silhouette kind of makes me think of Superboy's leather jacket era (but female), while Kurt's reference to long time readers makes me wonder if this isn't a new version of Kristin Wells...

Anyway - a couple of issues back in #666, Superman asked Lois if he had ever killed - but he has, hasn't he? He executed the Phantom Zone criminals from Matrix's dimension back in the late 80s.

Or has that now been excised from history? If yes, how does that affect Matrix - and latterly the Linda Danvers Supergirl?

SpyGuy · 09-26-2007, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superhulkman

Maybe this is DC's way of having a brand new Superboy, there's a chance it could be another female, but we already have Supergirl and Power Girl.

If this picture is anything to go by, it's another female. Perhaps Superman has a never-before-revealed older sister...

Kevin T. Brown · 09-26-2007, 02:18 PM

Hmmm, why do I suspect the third Kryptonian is either Jor-El or Lara....?

Spade · 09-26-2007, 02:26 PM

I feel like all these survivors/alternate/parellel universe super people is getting a bit out of hand.

deri · 09-26-2007, 02:31 PM

That'd be weird, if it were Lara (what's her full name anyway? Lara Jor-El? She married into the house of El, what was her name before?) was able to escape too, and arrived recently, and, having been in stasis all that time, arrives physically younger than her kid. Would explain why she smokes.

Kristin Wells was Superwoman, wasn't she? Was she Kryptonian? I wonder what he name is, and what house she's from. I hope she doesnt become a villain, or not for too long if she tries to mate with Kal-El upon finding they're the only remaining adult-ish possibly nonrelated (If she doesn't end up being the kid of unknown brother to Jor and Zor, Wor-El as Kris Wor-El or something). But that'd be.. too Maxima-ish? Er, aside from the PZ people. And future Kandor...

This is exciting news though.

astronato · 09-26-2007, 02:33 PM

Quote:

this is a heavily science-fiction-oriented story, complete with tales of the Kryptonian Empire, space pirates and more

Lovely. I'm very interested in Krypton and it's history. And if I had any complaints about the Super books (and I dont really) is that I want more Superman sci fi or space opera type stories.

Kurt's Superman and Action stories have been terrific. I am a happy Superman reader. Superman, Action and Confidential are all very good.

I wish that Kurt, Geoff Johns and Richard Donner could take over the Supergirl book too.

ps - Looooooove the idea of Krypto living with Jimmy.

Crusader K · 09-26-2007, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich L

Great interview and I'm looking forward to this storyline. That silhouette kind of makes me think of Superboy's leather jacket era (but female), while Kurt's reference to long time readers makes me wonder if this isn't a new version of Kristin Wells...

Anyway - a couple of issues back in #666, Superman asked Lois if he had ever killed - but he has, hasn't he? He executed the Phantom Zone criminals from Matrix's dimension back in the late 80s.

Or has that now been excised from history? If yes, how does that affect Matrix - and latterly the Linda Danvers Supergirl?

As was explained to me in previous post, that storyline, lnfluential as it was and providing 2 years worth of stories, is now gone. I'm glad Kurt admitted that theres a new continuity finally. It just seems weird that the stories that I've followed since Byrne's revision may or may not really matter now. KInda reminds me of how older fans felt after the original Crisis in the 80's.

tfitz · 09-26-2007, 02:35 PM

"That had to be changed, of course, when Superman was no longer born on Krypton himself, but on Earth, from a birthing matrix, so "last son" kinda got retconned into "last survivor."
Wow. I never new that, for some time, Superman wasn't born on Krypton. WTH were they thinking?

**MattBrady** · 09-26-2007, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timberoo

Stop the hate on Beppo the Super Monkey.

he'd throw his feces through people. What a way to go out.

MattB

POWRSURG · 09-26-2007, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tfitz

"That had to be changed, of course, when Superman was no longer born on Krypton himself, but on Earth, from a birthing matrix, so "last son" kinda got retconned into "last survivor."
Wow. I never new that, for some time, Superman wasn't born on Krypton. WTH were they thinking?

Yeah, can someone please elaborate on this? I've honestly never heard that before. Does it have something to do with Birthright?

bcondray · 09-26-2007, 02:44 PM

I cannot wait to read this.

superhulkman · 09-26-2007, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpyGuy

If this picture is anything to go by, it's another female. Perhaps Superman has a never-before-revealed older sister...

The picture is nice of course but it isn't exactly a dead give away. If it's a female then that tells me that the only somewhat related male that Superman can talk and possibly hang out with or join forces is the Kingdom Come Superman, but somehow and someway when it comes to other Supermen, there's always a fight and for this new character, there shouldn't be, there should be peace and resolution between the two, but then again I know how comics are run, there has to be some kind of conflict, it never fails.