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"Ask Matt" Fan Forum Archives
Here are Matt Idelson's answers to questions fans put to him in May 2009:
Matt's Answers
Pardeep Singh (Email address withheld by request) asks:This is a 2 part question about Superman's senses. I know he's super fast, more so then anyone else (with the exception of top-tier speed-force users), but how does he, for example, catch bullets. Since Superman has the most advanced eyes in the DCU, I kinda assumed it was some kind of speed vision (which would explain his fast reactions). And has Superman got a form of echolocation? He has such powerful hearing, he should be able to "see" with his hears (like Daredevil). Could you confirm these?
Matt: Man, you've got one heck of a creative mind there Pardeep! Basically, Supes has incredibly fast reflexes, but it's not like time moves slower than him as a result (like in "The Matrix"). Same thing with his hearing - it's obviously a gazillion times better than yours or mine, but it doesn't translate into "seeing" what he's hearing. He might hear a gunshot from a mile away or whatever, but he then thinks "I hear a gunshot" as opposed to "seeing" it.
Bryan Dempsey (Email address withheld by request) asks:
Matt, thanks for your time, here's something I've wanted to read for more than 10 years... In "Superman: The Complete History" by Les Daniels they mention a graphic novel by Barry Windsor-Smith titled "An Evening With Superman." It's described as a love story and an account of Superman's first meeting with Lois. Is this buried in a vault somewhere? Any chance this could ever see the light of day? I know it probably doesn't fit current continuity but I would love to read it.
Matt: I know of this legendary story of which you speak, Bryan. It's traveled a long, winding road to where it is now, and I'm not sure when it might find its way back. I, too, would love to read this.
Dave "AKalel" MacLean (akalel@hotmail.com) asks:
Hi Matt. I'm a long time Superfan and I find this monthly Q&A brings back fond memories of the old letter columns that unfortunately are no longer part of comic books. Anyway it is my understanding that the bulk of "Secret Origin" will be Clark's/Supe's early years, but will any of it take place in "present day" or the future? Keep up the good work/job.
Matt: You have no idea how much I miss the days of the letter columns, Dave, first as a reader and now as an editor. Good times. Anyway, like the title implies, most of "Secret Origin" will be devoted to reestablishing Kal's origin. As for whether any of it will take place in the present or future, I can only say "yes" to one of those scenarios and "no" to the other. Heh.
Carey Lester (track13d@yahoo.com) asks:
First I would like to say thank you for taking the time to read and answer the loyal fans for Superman, you have been doing great work. I was just wondering why the house of El symbol keeps changing? You all had a great design that both Mr. Roux, and Mr. Woods used, in "Action Comics Annual #11" and the regular "Action Comics", respectively. Why after introducing this, with great support from fans that think the S coming from Krypton is hokey, did you all start using the S design again?
Matt: Sharp eye there, Carey (darn you)! Without getting into the reasons why, that older El symbol kind of slipped by me, frankly. I know it's a favorite of a lot of you, just as the "S" design is equally beloved by many others. To be certain, we went back and forth on this a lot, and basically the "S" design won out.
Richard Hicks (brickhicks@hotmail.com) asks:
Hey Matt. The question I would like answered is about my favourite (yes I'm Canadian) villain Kenny Braverman, aka Conduit. Will he rear his kryptonite powered body back during "Blackest Night", or at anytime in the future?
Matt: If Conduit were going to show up in "Blackest Night", Richard, do you really think I would risk my life and just tell you? I mean, we barely even know each other, man. You want Geoff coming after me with a ball hammer? Dude!
Chris (Email address withheld by request) asks:
In the new issue of "Supergirl", we learned that Lucy Lane was Superwoman. Are we going to find out more about her change in attitude as we continue along? She went from a sweet girl to a hard nosed murderer. Also is Lucy's marriage to Ron Troupe and them having a son still in continuity or has that been retconned out?
Matt: We will most definitely be getting into what led Lucy down the path to her ultimate fate, Chris. Look for September's SUPERGIRL ANNUAL #1 to answer a great many questions (though not all - case in point, we won't be getting into the Troupe family stuff just yet, but we've got a reason for it).
Mike (Email address withheld by request) asks:
Hey Matt, I actually have two questions for you. On the cover of SUPERMAN: WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON #2 it says 2 (of 15). On the DC Comics website it is listed as 2 (of 12). I have not read anything anywhere about adding more parts to this. Has DC added 3 more parts and not really said anything about them yet, or was this is a printing mistake. Also, Superman will be showing up in a issue of Flash Rebirth, Batman & JLA. Do these take place before WONK or during? Thank you.
Matt: Hey, Mike! The "12 versus 15" thing is something you can chalk up to being just one of those bumps that come along every now and then. To say anything more would be a disservice to the part of you that likes to be surprised. As for Superman's appearances outside of the Super-books, they indeed take place during WONK.
Brad L. Wooldridge (Email address withheld by request) asks:
Why did DC virtually do nothing to commemorate last year, the 70th Anniversary of Superman's first appearance in 1938? Seventy years seems like an important milestone, and I believe Superman's seventieth birthday should have been celebrated.
Matt: We're saving our pennies for his 75th, Brad. And what a blowout that will be!
John (Jpfx75@verizon.net) asks:
Hi, I was wondering with Batman's death how will that affect the "Superman/Batman" title, since most, if not all of the stories take place in the present tense for the most part?
Matt: How firmly SUPES/BATS fits into continuity has been an evolving thing, John. It really doesn't fit that well into the continuity of either character, but it's not it's own, lonely beast clambering over the tundra, either. It just sort of depends on a given story arc. Given that flexibility, you'll continue to see Kal and Bruce there.
Juan Ricardo Lopez (Email address withheld by request) asks:
Hi Matt, thanks for your time. My only question is when are we going to see the "Secret Origin" story from Geoff and Gary on the newsstands? I check dccomics.com web page for some updates but no word on this project. Please let us know.
Matt: Thanks for being so patient with us, Juan. We're very close to announcing the release date for the first issue, so you just have to hang in there a little bit longer.
Jason (Email address withheld by request) asks:
Will "Adventure Comics" be part of the "triangles?" Also, when trade paperback collections are released for the current comics, will they go by the triangles, or the individualized stories (ex. "Who is Superwoman?" or "Action Comics", etc.)?
Matt: Good questions, Jason! ADVENTURE will be flying triangle-free in the early going, since everyone involved with the title felt that it should get the chance to establish itself before getting involved with the madness of the other titles. Having said that, it will be getting involved with the madness of the other titles a little bit down the road, no question. As for the collections, the triangles won't be playing a role there, except in cases like the August books, where the titles cross over.
Steve asks:
Matt what can you tell us about Superman's involvement in the up-coming "Wednesday Comics" series?
Matt: Not a whole lot, Steve, 'cause I'm not the editor and therefore it's not my baby to proudly show off. But since you're always patient with me, I went and spoke with Mark Chiarello, a.k.a. The Editor of WEDNESDAY COMICS, and he said "It's just a great, great story. John Arcudi wrote just an amazing story, and Lee Bermejo's art is unbelievable. It's got all the elements you'd want in a Superman story: it's got Ma and Pa, Superman kicking alien butt, and even Batman shows up! And best of all, for all the action and craziness, it's got a really, really heartfelt story at the center of it." How's THAT for service?
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