Interviews
Exclusive Interview with Jim Krueger on "The Dark Lantern"
[Date: November 28, 2013]By Steve Younis
Writer Jim Krueger talks to us about his "The Dark Lantern" 3-part story published in the "Adventures of Superman" comic book title.
The Superman Homepage would like to thank Jim for agreeing to do this interview, and for fitting it into his busy schedule.
Q: Your entry into the "Adventures of Superman" comic book title is "The Dark Lantern", what can you tell us about this 3-part story?A: Well, since the first part is out, I guess I can reveal the cliffhanger of part one. This is the story of a lost and alien Green Lantern who discovers the origins of Superman's original birth planet. He seeks out Superman for one reason, he wants Superman to kill him. The reason for this is simple. This Green Lantern, who is already suicidal and depressed, was the Green Lantern in charge of protecting Krypton. He's seeking out Superman and begging for Justice, and to an end to his own suffering. What happens after that is, of course, the rest of the story.
Q: How much input did you get to have with your artist Neil Edwards for this story?
A: Neil and I got a chance to email each other a lot, thanks to editor Alex Antone. Neil did such an amazing job. I even floated some of the pages to Alex Ross who, was blown away at just how good Neil is.
Q: To date, all the "Adventures of Superman" stories have shown Superman in his "classic" costume (with red trunks), do you know if that's something intentional, mandatory, or up to the individual writer/artist team?
A: I think the idea, especially because of how universal digital distribution is, is to do stories about Superman the way he's known best throughout the world and throughout the ages. It's more like the stories cater to the classic brand of Superman. Original Coke vs. New Coke. That sort of thing.
Q: Is this a story that Green Lantern fans will enjoy too? Or is the Lantern side of the story less important?
A: While this story speaks volumes to the character of Superman, it's really this new Green Lantern's story. This is a story of loss and redemption and just how heavy that Green Lantern ring can be to carry. It speaks to the power that comes from being inspired. A Green Lantern story, I think, is all about the force of will and heart. It's all about the power of want, and that's what this story is all about.
Q: Do you have any interest in writing further adventures of Superman in the future?
A: I would love to write more Superman. I have so many ideas. Including a "What Happens Next" to this story. And a way to approach Superman that we really have yet to see. One which embraces both the tragedy and hope inherent in his character and origins.
Q: Beyond this "Adventures of Superman" story, you collaborated with Alex Ross on a 12-issue "Justice" comic book series (2005-2007), can you talk us through your approach to Superman in that series? Was the Superman in "Justice" from a specific era? (i.e. Golden, Silver, or Bronze Age?)
A: The Superman I wrote in "Justice" is very similar to the Superman you see in "The Dark Lantern". If anything, the "Justice" Superman is sort of a mix between this Superman and that of the Christopher Reeve Superman (which I think is Alex's favorite movie and inspiration for much of what he does). It's the most universally known Man Of Steel.
Q: Any thoughts on how you would approach doing for Superman what you did for the Marvel Universe with Earth X, Universe X, and Paradise X, in that you addressed the eras of the Marvel Universe and made them one cohesive, though not canonical, whole?
A: Lots of ideas, and probably best saved for a chance to write Superman one day. But here's something. In my mind, Superman should form the Justice League. He may not be the only one who could, but he's the only one that should. And the primary reason is that he knows his limitations. We see him as limitless. But that's not how he sees himself. He only sees what he's not able to do. He knows he can't save every cry for help that he hears. And it breaks his heart. And because of this, the Justice League is constantly expanding (and, of course, there would be consequences for that).
Q: What else are you currently working on that Superman fans might enjoy checking out?
A: One is already available on Amazon though it will be in Comic Shops in the spring. It's called THE HIGH COST OF HAPPILY EVER AFTER. It begins like every Disney movie ends - the big wedding - and then it all goes to Hell. It's deeply tragic, heroic and romantic. Then, in 2014, there will be two new FOOT SOLDIERS trade paperbacks from IMAGE. For those who don't know Foot Soldiers, it's the story of three teenagers who rob the superhero graveyard and use the power they find there to fight against the oppressive rule of their world. And also in 2014, OUTRUNNER, another creator-owned project, about a guy who's been on the run for over 80 years. What he's running from and just who is out there and after him is something like Terminator meets the Walking Dead. It's really fun. There's more stuff than this, of course, including a creator-owned HORROR project involving all the classic monsters and drawn by one of my favorite artists, but I'm not allowed to announce those things yet.
This interview is Copyright © 2013 by Steven Younis. It is not to be reproduced in part or as a whole without the express permission of the author.
Interviews
Introduction
The Superman Homepage has had the pleasure of interviewing various Superman Comic Book creative people about their work.
Question and Answer Interviews:
- Interview with writer Marv Wolfman about Man and Superman: The Deluxe Edition (November 2019)
- Interview with artist Claudio Castellini about Man and Superman: The Deluxe Edition (November 2019)
- Interview with artist Joe Staton about working on Superman properties over the years (November 2019)
- Interview with Christopher Priest about the Superman vs. Deathstroke story in Deathstroke #8 (November 2016)
- Interview with Sterling Gates about the 'Adventures of Supergirl' digital-first comic book series (January 2016)
- Interview with J. Michael Straczynski about “Superman: Earth One - Vol. 3” - Writer J. Michael Straczynski talks to us about the third volume in the “Superman: Earth One” graphic novel series (February 2015)
- Interview with Jim Krueger - Writer Jim Krueger talks to us about his “The Dark Lantern” story in the “Adventures of Superman” comic book title (November 2013)
- “Smallville: Season 11” Interview with Bryan Q. Miller - Writer Bryan Q. Miller talks to us about his work on the “Smallville: Season 11” comic book title (October 2012)
- “Supergirl” Interview with Mahmud Asrar - Artist Mahmud Asrar talks to us about his work on the monthly “Supergirl” comic book title (July 2012)
- “Superman/Batman” Interview with Joshua Hale Fialkov - Joshua Hale Fialkov answers our questions about “The Secret” 3-part story in “Superman/Batman” #85-87 (July 2011)
- “Supergirl” Interview with Sterling Gates - Sterling Gates answers our questions about where Supergirl is headed post “War of the Supermen” (June 2010)
- “Supergirl” Interview with Sterling Gates & Jamal Igle - Adam Dechanel chats with the “Supergirl” comic book team about the Maid of Might (March 2010)
- Behind the Scenes of the Super Friends - Four part indepth look at the “Super Friends” comic book title with artists J. Bone and Stewart McKenny (February 2010)
- Interview with Landry Q Walker and Eric Jones - The writer and artist discuss Supergirl: Cosmic Adventures in the Eighth Grade (May 2009)
- Interview with Elliot S! Maggin - Legendary Superman writer and novelist discusses his career (January 2009)
- Interview with J. Bone - Artist discusses Super Friends comic book (November 2008)
- Interview with Mark Bagley (September 2008)
- Interview with J. Torres - Writer discusses Legion of Super Heroes in the 31st Century #18 (September 2008)
- Interview with Jake Black (May 2008)
- Interview with Cary Bates (June 2008)
- Interview with Jack Briglio - Writer discusses Legion of Super Heroes in the 31st Century #14 (May 2008)
- Interview with Ken Pontac - Writer discusses Justice League Unlimited #44 (May 2008)
- Interview with Karl Kerschl (April 2008)
- Interview with J. Torres - Writer discusses Legion of Super Heroes in the 31st Century #13 (April 2008)
- Interview with J. Torres - Writer discusses Legion of Super Heroes in the 31st Century #11 (February 2008)
- Interview with Fabian Nicieza - Writer on Superman comic books (June 2007)
- Interview with Danny Fingeroth - Writer of the book Superman on the Couch (May 2007)
- Interview with Jesse McCann - Writer on the Krypto The Superdog comic books (December 2006)
- Interview with Matt Haley - Artist on the Superman Returns comic book movie adaptation (November 2006)
- Interview with Ethan Van Sciver - Artist on Superman/Batman (September 2006)
- Interview with Mark Verheiden on taking over the writing duties on Superman/Batman (April 2006)
- Interview with Matt Idelson on taking over as Superman group editor (March 2006)
- Interview with Jeph Loeb on Sam and “Superman/Batman #26” (February 2006)
- Interview with Roger Stern (December 2005)
- Interview with Marv Wolfman (November 2005)
- Interview with Gail Simone (May 2005)
- Interview with Greg Rucka (April 2005)
- Interview with Brad Meltzer [Identity Crisis] (January 2005)
- Interview with Glenn Whitmore (November 2004)
- Interview with Jeph Loeb (September 2004)
- Interview with Karl Kerschl (September 2004)
- Interview with Ron Garney (September 2004)
- Interview with Greg Rucka and Matthew Clark (May 2004)
- Interview with Ed McGuinness (March 2004)
- Interview with Brad Meltzer [Identity Crisis] (March 2004)
- Interview with Mark Millar [Superman: Red Son] (March 2003)
- Interview with Min S. Ku (September 2001)
- Interview with Jeph Loeb (May 2001)
- Interview with Joe Casey (April 2001)
- Interview with Mike S. Miller (September 2000)
- Interview with Denis Rodier (August 2000)
- Interview with Grant Morrison (December 1999)
- Interview with Mark Millar [Part 2] (November 1999)
- Interview with Mark Millar [Part 1] (April 1999)
Interviews/Articles:
- “Superman vs. Terminator” - A Chat with Fight Promoter Alan Grant. (January 2000)
- Superman: The Dailies (1939-1940) Graphic Novel Review.
- The Rebirth of Superman (Part 1) - Superman is reborn... again.
- The Rebirth of Superman (Part 2) - Eddie Barganza on taking the character in a new direction.
- The Rebirth of Superman (Part 3) - Jeph Loeb discusses writing the Man of Steel.
- Lex Luthor For President - Forget Superman. An updated Luthor's new enemies are Gore and Bush.
- Superman: Last Son of Earth - Steve Gerbern Interview - The writer discusses flip-flopping the Man of Steel's origin. (August 2000)
Krypton Club Interviews:
When “Lois & Clark” started production in 1993, there was an obvious relationship between the comic book people and the Hollywood people.
A trade paperback “Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman”, was published, with Dean Cain and Teri Hatcher on the cover. It included reprints of comic book stories that were the inspiration for “Lois & Clark”, helping to define the characters. Comic's included are: The Story of the Century (Man of Steel miniseries #2), Tears for Titano (Superman Annual #1), Metropolis - 900 mi (in SUP #9), The Name Game (SUP #11), Lois Lane (in ACT #600), Headhunter (AOS #445), Homeless for the Holidays (AOS #462), The Limits of Power (AOS #466), and Survival (ACT #665).
A number of comic book writers and artists had roles as extras in the episode “I'm Looking Through You” (Season one, episode 4). Their presence was immortilized in the Sky Trading Card #34.
Craig Byrne, president of the online “Lois & Clark” fanclub The Krypton Club, carried out a series of interviews with comic book writers. The interviews are reprinted with permission of the Krypton Club.
- Interview with Roger Stern (June 1995)
- Interview with John Byrne (June 1995)
- Interview with Mike Carlin (July 1995)