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"Ask Eddie" Fan Forum Archives
Here are Eddie Berganza's answers to questions fans put to him in August-September 2002:
Eddie's Answers
August-September 2002
David Trenerry (dtrenerr@bigpond.net.au) asks:I have recently re-read "Superman: The Complete History" and on the last page there is a mention and rough art for a Barry Windsor-Smith oversize book titled "An Evening With Superman", any idea what the status for this is?
Eddie: No news on this one.
Sam Johnstone (andramus@useoz.com.au) asks this lengthy but throught-provoking question:
Something I was wondering about was the core of Superman's refusal to take life or to allow others to do so. On a handful of occasions in the comics when Superman has taken down vigilantes who kill they have argued that the death penalty exists and he has said that that is different. I wondered if Clark Kent got jury duty and helped convict a monster/mass-murderer and the jury was asked to decide on the death penalty what would he do? Superman usually tries to stay out of politics but when a life is at stake he can and will go up against entire nations yet he stands aside as convicted murderers are executed in his own country. Does he view these executions as acceptable because of due process of law or does he see no way he can prevent them? If Superman believes it is acceptable for a criminal to be executed after due process then what decision would he make if he was forced to choose? I think in many ways this would make for an interesting story particularly if Clark Kent was the only member of the jury against the death penalty. I think as a story this would be interesting because whatever decision he makes at the end of it he would have to re-examine his beliefs. If he cannot commit to the death penalty as a juror then he has to ask himself if he even agrees with the death penalty in his country and whether he should be doing more about it. If he does commit to the death penalty with his fellow jurors then he has to ask himself if Superman and Clark Kent's attitudes to killing are a little different. Perhaps as Superman he cannot and will not kill but as Clark Kent if the situation is right he might consider it. After thinking about this along these lines for ages I still don't really know what Clark Kent the juror would decide and to stop my mind going around in circles I would really like to know what decision he would make.
Eddie: You forget that in a very early story (SUPERMAN #22) Kal was judge, jury and executioner for the pocket universe version of Zod and his crew of Kryptonian baddies. It was from this act that he swore he would never take a life again. This applies to Clark as well, but you do bring up an interesting scenario for a "12 Angry Men" style story for Clark. Something for us to ponder. Thanks!
Lindsey Douglas (saudi_lindsey@yahoo.com) asks:
Why does it seem like Superman seldom uses his speed in the comic books other than to fly? Why doesn't he ever perform some of Flash's tricks like running on water or vibrating through walls?
Eddie: If you could fly, honestly, would you bother running anywhere? But Steve Seagle will be exploring the Man of Steel's powers and look to SUPERMAN #191 to get into Super-speed.
Mark Bailey (CptColumbo@aol.com) asks:
Are there any interesting "elseworld" senarios coming up?
Eddie: RED SON is the last of our big Elseworld titles coming up. Will be focusing more on in continuity projects for the future that expand on the myth.
Dave (meesterchips2@hotmail.com) wants to know:
Will the storyline with Pa Kent's failing memory or the Kents doing the General Store come to a head soon? It would be nice to see the Pa Kent situation explained.
Eddie: "Ending Battle" resolved that. It was a side-effect of Manchester Black's mind games.
Jeremy Jennings (fifronnie@aol.com) asks this interesting question:
If Superman's body is a solar battery and he absorbs the sun's energy to give him his powers... can he get a tan? Or is he forever stuck being pastey white?
Eddie: I wouldn't say he's pasty white, but because of his aura and his complete absorption of solar rays, it's doubtful we'll be seeing a Man of Bronze anytime soon.
Charles Copeland (fsgt_copeland@hotmail.com) asks:
Any chance of another cross over with Marvel? And not like the last time where it was them fighting against each other, but more like a team up? I'd like to see Superman team up with Spider-Man.
Eddie: "JLA/Avengers" should satisfy every DC/Marvel team-up ever for a while. That's all that's currently planned.
James Marno (moonus_beamus@hotmail.com) asks:
This might be an obvious one for some, but being new to buying Superman comics (but always having an interest in the character since I saw the movie when i was 3), I need to know, does he need to eat or drink AT ALL? Coz I think it would be odd if they said "Kryptonite is Superman's weekness... oh and hunger. Oh... thirst aswell. And while we are on the subject, can he ever drown?
Eddie: In the movie he didn't drown, even with Kryptonite around his neck, so not likely to happen easily because of his invulnerability. And the better his body gets at processing solar energy the less he needs of sustenance, except that Ma makes real good pie.
rc (caponetr@executiveboard.com) wants to know:
There has been a lot of speculation on various Web sites regarding Superman's vulnerability to Kryptonite, specifically, his susceptibility to "phony" forms of the stuff . . . such as GL-made K and telepathic K (a la the White Martians in Grant's first JL arc).
Here's the question: since GL does not actually make matter . . . but, rather, hardlight constructs . . . is the proven effect of GL-produced K on Superman psychosomatic, as is telepathic K? To preserve the integrity of the character . . . and to keep in line with the whole K "scarcity" idea of the post-Crisis years, I assumed it was so; but am coming to you for confirmation.
The Super team has gone above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that there is no *simple* way to defeat Superman (thus raising the bar on his vilains and his creative team) . . . thus, it would make sense that phony Kryptonite has only limited effects---which may be overcome by the hero given his strength of will.
Eddie: True, but the ring is able to create the wave length emitted by Kryptonite thus enabling it to breakdown the Man of Steel's cellular structure the way the real deal does. Can you guys tell I've been reading this new book coming out this Novemeber called THE SCIENCE OF SUPERMAN (from iBooks written by Mark Wolverton and edited by, no stranger to Superman, Roger Stern)?
Christopher Desgrottes (rankun86@hotmail.com) asks:
Considering on how popular the "Smallville" TV show character Chloe Sullivan is, is there a chance of seeing her in the current Superman comics continuity or perhaps as a possible friend to Kon El (who happens to be a resident of Smallville now)?
Eddie: We're keeping her unique to the show and the SMALLVILLE comic, although we love the character.
John-Paul Zito (Zitoman11@aol.com) wants to know:
What's the situation with Loeb and McGuiness' "Superman/Batman" comic series? When will we see the first issue?
Eddie: It's happening. When... well, we're getting prepped for it, so keep asking me, and I'll try to give you an update.
James Redington (j_redington@yahoo.com) asks:
With all the talk of the new Superman movie and the recent "news" on the internet, what is yor take on the whole mess that it seems to be? Does DC Comics have any input? What is your opinion on the whole situation?
Eddie: Rumors abound on the internet. Everyone should just let it all be a surprise. Wasn't SMALLVILLE a real nice one?
Luis A. Lazo asks:
Hey Eddie, I just got done watching the new episode of Smallville "Heat" where Clark first realizes he has got heat-vision. My question is, does Superman shoot laser beams or heat rays from his eyes?
Eddie: Both depending on the intensity of his gaze or, based on the TV-show continuity, how hot the girl he's looking at is. :)
Similarly, AJ (ajlizaso@hotmail.com) also asks about Superman's heat-vision:
Hi Eddie! First I want to thank you for answering all our questions. It's great that someone from the books themselves cares enough about the fans to do this.
My question is about Superman's heat vision. It seems to have gone through various changes and I'm kinda confused on exactly WHAT it is.
I've seen it described as kind of a psionic (mental) attack and recently it's been described as a waste product of Kryptonian physiology.
To complicate matters some artists show it as invisible and some show it as a traditional heat ray beam. Also some artists render it as a smooth beam others show that sometimes it has a fiery edge to it.
So I guess I have a 2 part question.
1. Is his heat vision now considered physical as opposed to a mind thing?
2. Does his heat vision ignite the air sometimes? Is that why sometimes it looks like fire? Is this controlled by how hot he makes his heat vision?
Eddie: 1. Both. It is a mental projection that is also manifested physically by the raw solar energy that Superman has absorbed during his time on Earth. Early on in his carear it was invisible, but as time has gone by and Superman has had time to store more energy is has become more fiery.
2. He now is also able to combine it with his other optic powers, which gives us different variations on how it's projected. My personal favorite is the short burst of X-ray and heat vision combined for "photon torpedo" blasts.
Regan Stemmers (regan.stemmers@fnbcorporate.co.za) asks:
What colour is Superman's blood?
Eddie: Red, unless there's kryptonite around. Then it goes icky green along with everything else.
Thanks Eddie!!
Eddie: Apologize to all for the long break between these sessions. I enjoy them a lot, but the fact that we have a new SUPERMAN team with writer Steve Seagle, penciller Scott McDaniel and inker Andy Owens that will be launched with a SUPERMAN 10¢ ADVENTURE has kept me busy. Not to mention the farewell of MAN OF STEEL and the ultimate showdown in SUPERMAN vs. DARKSEID, and there's ACTION #800 coming up too that has an amazing Drew Struzan cover (a personal dream of mine come true), plus the new METROPOLIS book with writer Chuck Austen and Danijel Zezelj that will focus on Jimmy Olsen and the terror that can be the tech of the city and the SMALLVILLE one-shot; it's been crazy, but we hope to make the New Year SUPER!!!!
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