Inter-Action
"Ask Matt" Fan Forum Archives
Here are Matt Idelson's answers to questions fans put to him in March 2009:
Matt's Answers
Jen Smith (Email address withheld by request) asks:Hi, I've always loved Lois Lane. Lately it seems she's lost in the background. Any hope she'll star in a storyline which shows she's more than just Superman's wife?
Matt: Most definitely, Jen. She'll be appearing in a large way in ACTION (where Superman definitely won't be around), and she'll be receiving a very momentous visit from Kara in SUPERGIRL #42. And of course, don't forget her father is secretly alive, well and causing all sorts of trouble.
Brian Daugherty (Email address withheld by request) asks:
Matt, has there been any discussion in DC regarding the ongoing turmoil in the newspaper industry and how that would play out in the comics? Clark Kent coming to Metropolis to work as a reporter for a major newspaper has always been an integral part of the Superman mythos. But how do you portray that, long-term, in a world where newspapers as we know them are becoming extinct, or morphing into something very different from what we know?
Matt: That's a great question, Brian, and something that's definitely worth exploring whenever Superman decides to come back home. We touched on this very briefly in SUPERGIRL #34 of all places, with Perry's explanation of why Cat Grant was getting the front-page treatment. But definitely, we need to do more, a lot more, with this. You're absolutely right.
Keith (Email address withheld by request) asks:
When will "Superman: Secret Origins" be released? It seems that there hasn't been a release date announced yet for such a big project.
Matt: We'll be announcing the release date in a couple of months, Keith. And man, I wish you folks could see the work that's been done on the project - just extraordinary.
Jarrod Smith (dcfan30@yahoo.com) asks:
At what point, if any does, Superman and Supergirl's appearances in "Final Crisis" take place within the Superman story arcs of recent?
Matt: They occur prior to the February issues of SUPERMAN and ACTION and between the December and January issues of SUPERGIRL, Jarrod.
David (tarpey_david@hotmail.com) asks:
Hi Matt, a lot of heavy questions put to you so far. Mine is less to do with the comic series as it is to do with the writing. As a "lapsed" writer and former contributer to both marvel UK and Fleet's 2000AD, I was wondering how writers would approach editors such as yourself? I hope I'm not overstepping the mark by using this forum to ask.
Matt: Well I certainly don't mind, David. Since you've been published, you're way ahead of the game of most people trying to get a foot in the door of this place. You can simply mail or email me some samples of your work and we'll see what happens.
Scott (Email address withheld by request) asks:
Hi Matt! I recently picked up "Showcase Presents: Superman Family - Volume 2" and have been tickled pink with the Lois stories. I'm looking forward to the 3rd volume with more Lois, but now that my appetite has been whetted, I'd really love to have these in color. Is there a chance we might see color reprint collections of "Superman's Girlfriend Lois Lane" some day relatively soon?
Matt: I took the liberty of checking in with our friends in Collected Editions on this. Sadly, there aren't plans in the next year to collect said stories, but they definitely liked the idea, Scott!
Matt Stepp (Email address withheld by request) asks:
I'm confused. I know the Superman books, the DCU for that matter, has undergone a "reboot" of sorts. My question is, when does the old Superman continuity (the 1986 version) end and the new Superman continuity begin? I know you are using some stuff from the previous continuity but when does the new Superman emerge? I grew up with the previous continuity and even though I am enjoying the new one I'd like to know when it ended. Thanks
Matt: Unfortunately, I don't think it's that cut-and-dried, Matt. If it were, we wouldn't be incorporating elements from the John Byrne reboot of '86, or even elements that came before that historic run. I guess the safest answer I can give is that the new run begins with/following/both INFINITE CRISIS. Man, I'm just giving bad answers all around this month. Sorry!
Niddle (Email address withheld by request) asks:
Matt, in the last column, Mark G. Anderson asked about Superman's powers not being able to completely vanish if they're partly due to gravity/mass differences between Earth and Krypton. The muscular ones should still be there even under red sun radiation if the planet is Earth or Earth-sized. You said you didn't have an answer. Wasn't it recently said by yourself or someone else at DC that in current continuity his powers are totally solar-based, suggesting even Krypton was Earth-sized?
Matt: At the risk of betraying my near-utter ignorance of planetary science, Niddle, I'm not sure why Krypton would have had to have been Earth-sized just because Supes' powers are totally solar-based. Anyone have some bright ideas on how to bail me out of this one?
John (Jpfx75@verizon.net) asks:
What's going on with Lucy Lane? Why are you making her such an arrogant jerk, and trying to make her a clone of Sam Lane instead of the sweet girl we all know, and love, and totally taking the character, out of character, making someone we want to hate instead of a character we should be liking? Is she mind controlled or controlled in some way by General Lane? And speaking of Sam Lane, why kill everyone else's father and he gets to come back to life?
Matt: Ooh, sounds like you're not a fan of the good General, eh, John? Good! Yeah, he's a bad apple, and if anyone deserved to "stay dead," it's certainly him. Or is it? Like everyone else in the stories we're telling, Sam is textured with shades of gray, as we'll be seeing. As for Lucy, there's a very definable reason for her behavior, it has nothing to do with mind control, and it's something we'll be exploring. That's a promise.
Glen Sannem (GRSannem@yahoo.com) asks:
One of my favorite things about Greg Rucka's great run on Superman was the addition of Lupe, who took over the MCU. Will she return for the new run?
Matt: I asked Greg if he had any plans to bring Lupe back, Glen, and he answered in the negative. At least for the moment. But now that you've put the idea in his head, who knows?
Steve asks:
Matt there seems to be a lot of concern and negativity surrounding the idea that Superman won't be in his own books. What can you tell us to alleviate these concerns?
Matt: Only that the stories and casts put into place in both titles will continue to be there, interacting and guiding the adventures of Mon-El, Guardian, Steel, Flamebird and Nightwing. And equally important, the work that the creative teams are doing is truly, truly stellar! I really think this is going to work, and that when Clark makes his inevitable return to the titles, you're going to want to see more of those folks who are manning the ship for him right now. I'm really proud of how the books are turning out for March and onward. I won't tell you that you won't miss Supes during this period, since he's a once-in-a-lifetime character, but I think you'll like what we've got planned.
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