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"Ask Matt" Fan Forum Archives
Here are Matt Idelson's answers to questions fans put to him in January/February 2012:
Matt's Answers
Scott Getz (Email address withheld by request) asks:This is really a bit of a 2 part question. It is established that the Death of Superman did happen post Flashpoint. Does the Cyborg Superman still exist in this universe? Is this version of Supergirl the only Supergirl to have existed Post Flashpoint, or did Matrix and others exist before Kara arrived in this world?
Matt: I shall answer your question in three parts, just to be contrary, Scott. Whether Cyborg Supes exists in the New 52 is a question we've been asked a lot here at DC, and it's one we fully intend to answer. Fact is, we even know what the answer is! We're planning to revisit the "Death of Superman" story sometime down the line, so you might get your answer there - or even sooner.
As for Supergirl, this is now the only version of Supergirl - Matrix or otherwise - that has ever existed in the current DCU. Although technically there still isn't one - nobody has actually called her "Supergirl" yet! How and when will she get that moniker? Check out SUPERGIRL #8 in April.
And while she might be the only Supergirl on the main DCU Earth, she's not the only Kara Zor-El. As you'll discover in WORLDS' FINEST #1 in May, the new Power Girl is actually the former Supergirl of Earth-2! Now wouldn't it be interesting to see the two Kara's meet?
Lemar Jones (jones.lemar@gmail.com) asks:
Matt, around my not reading any Superman related comics in the New 52, you asked me "What is it about this time that's different for you?" It comes down to not identifiying with this Clark Kent/Superman and thus walking away from 35 years of reading comics. I don't recognize this guy or what he's doing. I see him being a bully. I see a guy in JUSTICE LEAGUE #1 who beats you up first, smirks about it, and then asks questions. And in SUPERMAN #1 I see Clark EMO Kent. I don't know this guy! Put the trunks back on him. Put the yellow shield back on the cape. Take Ma and Pa back out of the grave. And put Lois and Clark back together as husband and wife, and maybe, just maybe I'll pick up another copy of something Superman related in print.
Matt: All fair things to want, Lemar, and I really can't argue with any of your sentiments. I'm not sure we've managed yet to fully present Clark the way we want to in the present ("EMO Kent"? Good Lord!), but he's going to be the driving focus of the book as we go forward. Hopefully, as he becomes clearer in his portrayal, you'll find some qualities you can relate to, both as Clark and Superman.
Jon M. Wilson (new52superman@gmail.com) asks:
Superboy has referred to his power as "tactile telekinesis", but it seems he has rarely actually touched things to manipulate them. How is "tactile" an accurate description of his power set, or was that a misnomer he used when not yet fully understanding his powers?
Matt: Superboy definitely doesn't understand the full depth and breadth of his powers yet - though unlike previous iterations, he absolutely can move objects with only his mind, so his skill set does extend to full-on telekinesis. But as you'll see in issue #7, the damage he can do when he touches something directly is significant - so 'tactile telekinesis' is an easy shorthand for how much his power grows when he has something to focus on. Though as you'll also see in issue #7, focus is not one of his strong suits.
David Cubbage (Email address withheld by request) asks:
As a long time Superman fan, I have enjoyed most of the new 52 thus far. However, it still annoys me that once again after a reality changing event, Superman got an almost complete reboot while Batman and Green Lantern got minor tweaks to their canon. My question is, why? Why can't the same balance of keeping established history intact WHILE telling good stories used with Batman be used with Superman? Don't you think three reboots in a decade is a bit too much?
Matt: Truthfully, David, I think we all had some trepidation about the New 52 project. Would it be rejected out of hand because we were rebooting? Was the scope of it so large, so total that it would turn off readers? Would such fundamental changes to specific characters drive fans away (like, for example, Lemar Jones)? We felt it was worth the risk, even though we don't want to disappoint any reader, and so far we're darn happy with how things have progressed, generally speaking. All I can say is that the scope of this reboot and the fact that it's truly permanent made it worth doing. If we were only doing, say, a reboot of Supes, I'd question the wisdom, but I think the totality and the level of commitment and resources that were required make this worth having done.
Mary (Email address withheld by request) asks:
Hi Matt. You've stated that the Death of Superman story is canon. However, arguably the heart and soul of the Death of Superman was the reality of what Clark's death did to those closest to him - namely Lois and the Kents. Lois and Clark's love story was paramount to that story in many ways. Without the Kents around and with Lois out of the loop...the story loses quite a bit of heart. It's disheartening to me that that story would still be canon without those elements. Did you consider that?
Matt: That is probably the best question of the month, Mary (no disrespect to anyone who wrote in!)! We absolutely did consider what you're saying, and yeah, without the heart and soul of a story, there's just a gimmick and no resonance for the characters or readers. Believe me, the way it stands in our minds, there is definitely heart and soul. That's all I can say on the matter - for now.
Dave "Akalel" MacLean (imasuperfan@hotmail.com) asks:
Two quick questions: Will the Super family have annuals thiis year (2012)? Are there plans for a new Superman/Batman title?
Matt: Hey, Dave! We'll be doing an ACTION Annual this year, but probably just keep it to that. Depending how this year's Annuals go, we'll certainly expand in 2013 if the demand is there. As for Supes/Bats, it's something we talk about from time to time, but this isn't the, uh, right time to do it.
David Chambers (Email address withheld by request) asks:
Hey Matt! Any chance of two volumes of Earth One being published this year?
Matt: Hey, David! It doesn't appear you'll get two volumes this year, unfortunately. There's some terrific stuff being produced for that line, and I'm dying to see it come out, just like you! OGN's take time, so we'll both just have to be patient.
Jon M. Wilson (new52superman@gmail.com) asks:
Continuity/timeline question, Matt. JUSTICE LEAGUE takes place five years ago. ACTION COMICS takes place six months before that, according to interviews I've read. And in ACTION COMICS, they say that Superman's been active for six months. So if Batman's been active for six years (per Tony Daniel), and Superman's been active for six years (per my math above), then is it possible Superman DID actually predate Batman, contrary to what I've been reading from the Bat-writers?
Matt: That's an excellent question, Jon, one I haven't gotten before. I wonder if that means most readers follow Batman or Superman but not both? Anyway, Batman was indeed active fighting crime prior to Superman's arrival and reveal in Metropolis. The difference was that Batman stayed in the shadows, a complete urban legend. No one really saw him, had pictures or whatnot, while when Superman basically announced his existence to the world after Batman had been in action for a while. That clear things up?
Bill (Email address withheld by request) asks:
In ACTION COMICS #5, Jor-El is looking for younger suns and a planet with lesser gravity than Krypton. Is Kal-El now powered by a combination of both, like the silver age Superman? Would he still have muscular powers on Earth if the sun turned red? Would a Kryptonian have even greater powers under a star hotter than yellow, such as a blue-white or white star?
Matt: My, you have an eye for detail, Bill! I'd prefer not to answer the question, but only because we plan to address that in a story late in 2012. Hope you can stand the wait!
Brian (brcarter27@gmail.com) asks:
If Superman's time spent as Superboy in Smallville no longer exists is there any changes to his time spent with the Legion of Supeheroes in the future?
Matt: A very logical question, Brian, one I've gotten asked a lot. As we saw in ACTION #5-6, young Clark indeed met the Legion in our New 52 at the same age he originally met them pre-New 52, the major difference being he wasn't costumed or doing the hero thing yet in this timeline. I'm not going to get into individual adventures and events since exploring the revised timeline is something we're only just getting started on, but he definitely met them and interacted, to be sure.
Niddle (Email address withheld by request) asks:
Can you tell us just how durable Superman is in the present day stories, with him wearing the armor? I can accept the idea of his younger self feeling bullet strikes to some extent (SMALLVILLE handled that well), but in the present day stories it troubles me that Superman, yes SUPERMAN, actually might NEED to wear armor. Just doesn't seem right. Just how durable is he under that stuff? And might that change down the road, his power-level increasing (like post-Crisis)?
Matt: Great question, Niddle! I don't want to give you all the answers, but the bottom line is that Supes needs the armor less now than when he first grabbed it, but he chooses to continue wearing it at least in part for, um, sentimental reasons.
Got a question you want to ask Matt? Then be sure to fill in the form on the main "Ask Matt" Fan Forum page.
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