SAM LOEB's SUPERMAN/BATMAN #26 ON SALE TODAY

**MattBrady** · 06-01-2006, 01:59 AM

Newsarama wants to take a few moments out of our usual news, previews, and interviews to remind our community that Superman/Batman #26 goes on sale in comic book shops today, Thursday, June 1st, as well as let them know about the special auction at this summer's WizardWorld: Chicago con where fans can bid on original artwork from the issue, benefitting the Sam Loeb College Scholarship Fund.

As most members of the comic book community probably know by now, the special issue honors Jeph Loeb's late son Sam, who died of cancer just about a year ago at age 17. Superman/Batman #26 is based on a Robin/Superboy story started by Sam Loeb, and completed and drawn by 26 of the some the biggest names in comics, including Arthur Adams, Joe Casey, John Cassaday, Joyce Chin, Ian Churchill, Allan Heinberg, Geoff Johns, Joe Kelly, Mike Kunkel, Jim Lee, Pat Lee, Rob Liefeld, Paul Levitz, Jeph Loeb, Joe Madureira, Jeff Matsuda, Ed McGuinness, Brad Meltzer, Carlos Pacheco, Duncan Rouleau, Tim Sale, Richard Starkings, Mike Turner, Brian K. Vaughan, Mark Verheiden, and Joss Whedon.

The issue will also feature two variant covers by Mike Turner, as well as a special back-up story written by Jeph Loeb and illustrated by Tim Sale.

Those interested in hearing more about the special event can check out our previous stories here, here, and here.

The auction, which will include ALL the artwork from the issue, will take place on August 5th at WizardWorld: Chicago and will be co-hosted by Jeph Loeb and Smallville's Lois Lane, Erica Durance, making her only con appearance especially for the auction.

A website showing all the artwork and providing more details about the auction can be visited at www.samloeb4.org/.

Fans who simply would like to make a donation to the fund can do so by sending a check or money order -- no matter how large or small -- to:

NORTH HOLLYWOOD HIGH/THE SAM LOEB COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP FUND
c/o Shannon Rotenberg, P.O. Box 49891, Los Angeles, CA 90049

Or for further information, contact the Fund via SAMLOEB4@AOL.COM.

We encourage Newsarama readers to show your support of the special issue and a valued member of our community by picking up copy or copies of the issue, participating in the auction, making a donation...

...or all of the above.

McAlice · 06-01-2006, 06:25 AM

Hopefully they'll be some left on the shelf on fri, I forgot to put it on my order

Kryptons_Sun · 06-01-2006, 06:33 AM

I'll gladly buy the other cover that does suck. Promoting this when it comes out. What a concept.

JohnLynch · 06-01-2006, 06:40 AM

At first I thought this was all just a ploy for a writer to get some money to put his kid through college. But what it actually is sounds pretty good

Also is this series a set in the DCU?

c_andrew_s · 06-01-2006, 07:14 AM

This is a great cause, and it is already added to my pull list

michaelman9 · 06-01-2006, 07:43 AM

I've been looking foward to this book for a long time and am planning on picking up a few to give away. I figure with this many artists and writers in one place it's a great way to peek interest.

ZAXILLA2 · 06-01-2006, 07:53 AM

What a great idea this is! I can't wait to get ahold of mine and to share it with others. All of that art work looks excellent and it will be great to read a good Kon-el / Robin story once again!

Moonbeam · 06-01-2006, 07:57 AM

I ordered 10 to give to friends and will also pick up three for me and my kids.

Can't wait to read it.

I miss Superboy.

And I WILL be at that auction on Aug. 5th and I WILL bid on that art! It's the day before my birthday, it's for Sam, and I deserve it. Sorry suckas! It's mine!

Swift · 06-01-2006, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnLynch

At first I thought this was all just a ploy for a writer to get some money to put his kid through college. But what it actually is sounds pretty good

Also is this series a set in the DCU?

!?

Do you even know what happened?

The writer of Superman/Batman, Jeph Loeb, lost his young and talented son Sam to cancer. Sam was also a writer, and would work with Jeph on many projects behind the scenes.

Sam spent his entire life around comic books. From his father's early days of writing to the time when Jeph became the greatest writer in comics in his developing period between his work at Awesome Entertainment and DC comics.

Basically, everybody in the business knows and loves Jeph, and if you know Jeph you knew Sam.

Sam passed on last June 17th and it sent shockwaves through the comic community. You could compare it hypothetically to if Babe Ruth had a son he was teaching how to play who was also pretty good, but then you found out he wouldn't be playing.

Anyway, this issue is for a great cause and if you have the money please buy more than one. Get one for a friend.

It's an easy way of being a part of something big that will help others in the future.

Cancer claims 1 in 10 of us. We need to look at it more seriously. The next time you're in line somewhere count the nine people in front or behind you. At least one of you will die from cancer unless a cure is found. That's very sobering, and it breaks my heart that many people care more about the exploits of Paris Hilton or their favorite tabloid trash television shows than such a serious matter.

Superman/Batman #26: Sam's Story is NOT the end. We have to all get involved to kill cancer before it kills us.

SpyGuy · 06-01-2006, 08:25 AM

Really looking forward to getting this issue tonight. With all the great talent behind this project, it should be stunning.

Cyphon · 06-01-2006, 08:32 AM

Having read it Wednesday, I can say not only does the all star jam work well, but Sam really came up with a fun story. It's moving, it's fun, it's exciting, and it seems like a great tribute.

JohnLynch · 06-01-2006, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swift

!?

Do you even know what happened?

Nope, didn't know. I'd heard about it mentioned in passing once before. I had a look at the website and then realised it must have been money to raise for getting needy kids into college (hence the name). So it's a charity for cancer?

Oh, and I'll get it if it's in my local area (buying comic books where I am aint easy).

P.S. I still am interested to hear if it's in the DCU or not. Is it a great cause? Sure. But I'd also like to know whether or not it's cannon as well

P.Bateman · 06-01-2006, 08:47 AM

First comic to make me cry like a little girl. The "Sam's Story" at the end is simply stunning.

Spaz_Monkey · 06-01-2006, 08:53 AM

Gonna buy one of each cover. Plus, one to read. This is one time where not only do I not mind buying the variant covers, but I encourage everyone to do so.

As fans, let's do what we can to raise money in Sam's name.

Tan K. · 06-01-2006, 08:56 AM

I went to sell a couple of comics yesterday, and to my suprise (and the shop's), UPS dropped off the shipment on Wednesday instead of Thursday.

Anyway, I picked this up, and as a previous post stated, it flows really well. Having so many writers partake in this and for it to not seem chaotic is impressive. I loved seeing all of the different artists' takes.

The story was good (and yes, it is in DCU continuity), but for me, it was more about the why this comic is out there and all of the creators who cared for a colleague and his family to lend a helping hand.

The main story was enjoyable, and in some ways, I realized that some DCU comics could use more of this style of dialogue just to give more character and depth to some of those characters that it would be suitable for.

The back up story was the clincher. J. Loeb/Sale did a very fine and heartfelt job.

phicks · 06-01-2006, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swift

Cancer claims 1 in 10 of us. We need to look at it more seriously. The next time you're in line somewhere count the nine people in front or behind you. At least one of you will die from cancer unless a cure is found.

The numbers are far worse than that. More like 3 out of 10 people in Western countries die from cancer.

Pick this book up, it's a good read.

BlueThunderArmy · 06-01-2006, 09:01 AM

I'll pick up at least one copy of this, perhaps more for friends.

PatrickG · 06-01-2006, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnLynch

Nope, didn't know. I'd heard about it mentioned in passing once before. I had a look at the website and then realised it must have been money to raise for getting needy kids into college (hence the name). So it's a charity for cancer?

Oh, and I'll get it if it's in my local area (buying comic books where I am aint easy).

P.S. I still am interested to hear if it's in the DCU or not. Is it a great cause? Sure. But I'd also like to know whether or not it's cannon as well

It is in the DCU. This issue is a goodbye to Superboy.

And the scholarship fund is not a cancer charity, as I understand it. It's a fund designed to send kids who go to Sam's high school to college. It's in memory of Sam...

I don't claim to know specifics but if this is typical of such scholarships, it probably looks for kids who are similar to Sam in some respect (ie. maybe kids who have shown excellence in writing).

The idea with these things, generally, is that someone has died and left a hole in their corner of the world. And these funds try to patch up that hole in some small way by rewarding people for doing some of what the deceased might have done.

There's a fund at my college in memory of a professor who died unexpectedly two years ago and it pays for a female student to study government in Egypt, I believe. Because the late professor studied Egypt and Arab culture and was, I believe, pretty vocal about getting women involved in that field.

AlejandroR3 · 06-01-2006, 09:20 AM

Whether its set in the DCU or in any alternate universe should be immaterial shouldn't it? I can't understand how we are more concerned on whether this comic is in goddamn continuity???

I say to those more concerned if this is set in the DCU shouldn't buy the damn book, because obviously you set your priorities differently than others.

Personally I've known what its about since the beginning and I will buy the comic.

Eison · 06-01-2006, 09:34 AM

I have been anxiously awaiting this coming out since it was first announced and I can't wait to get a copy in my hands at the end of my work day.

I pre-ordered a dozen copies split between the covers and already have most of them earmarked for someone. I wish it would set sales records and I hope it gets Sam's Scholarship Fund off to a good start.

JohnLynch · 06-01-2006, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlejandroR3

Whether its set in the DCU or in any alternate universe should be immaterial shouldn't it? I can't understand how we are more concerned on whether this comic is in goddamn continuity???

I say to those more concerned if this is set in the DCU shouldn't buy the damn book, because obviously you set your priorities differently than others.

Personally I've known what its about since the beginning and I will buy the comic.

So wait, someone who is going to buy it and also wants to know a particular detail about it, which won't affect whether or not they'll buy it, somehow cares more about that detail then the charity? Wow. That's some great logic you've got there.

And thanks Patrick. I didn't know those specific details about the charity, so thanks for explaining them

Tan K. · 06-01-2006, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlejandroR3

Whether its set in the DCU or in any alternate universe should be immaterial shouldn't it? I can't understand how we are more concerned on whether this comic is in goddamn continuity???

I say to those more concerned if this is set in the DCU shouldn't buy the damn book, because obviously you set your priorities differently than others.

Personally I've known what its about since the beginning and I will buy the comic.

Hey,

The purpose of this book is supposed to revolve around a positive piece of work. Please, let's not bring any negativity. Not everyone is going to be knowing everything about this or that, and people have questions. Let's just answer them and move on.

SpottedNigel · 06-01-2006, 10:36 AM

This is a great piece of work. No matter how hard you try and think otherwise, Superboy IS Sam while you read this issue. Seeing thefun him and Robin where having and knowing the conclusion to both Conner and Sams tales, it was actually quite an emotional read.

I cant read Sam's Story without tearing up a bit.

As for it being a comic and whether or not its cannon. Yes. Yes it is. As Sam and the 26 would want it. Its a Post IC comic with a Pre-IC Superman/Batman in continuity story (its a sequel of sorts to issue #7 with Pat Lee).

Go buy, and enjoy.

Brian Garside · 06-01-2006, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattBrady

Wow...didn't expect the banner I created to be showing up on Newsarama! Cool!

All New Comics issued a challenge to retailers back when this book was announced. We've pledged that we are donating ALL of our profits from the sale of Superman/Batman #26 to the Sam Loeb College Scholarship Fund.

We've ordered quite heavily on this book, but we're still only one store. Our contribution is a drop in the bucket compared to what could happen if the entire comic book retail community got on board. I know a lot of retailers read these posts, so I'm issuing the challenge again. Donate the profits to this one book to the cause and help build a lasting legacy for Jeph Loeb's son.

Order Superman/Batman #26 from All New Comics today and we will ship it anywhere in North America free of charge.

ComicHappy · 06-01-2006, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlejandroR3

Whether its set in the DCU or in any alternate universe should be immaterial shouldn't it? I can't understand how we are more concerned on whether this comic is in goddamn continuity???

I say to those more concerned if this is set in the DCU shouldn't buy the damn book, because obviously you set your priorities differently than others.

Personally I've known what its about since the beginning and I will buy the comic.

Calm down.
Buying this comic because you support the cause doesn't make you a better person than someone buying it/not buying it because of continuity concerns.