Inter-Action
"Ask Matt" Fan Forum Archives
Here are Matt Idelson's answers to questions fans put to him in October-November 2010:
Matt's Answers
David Chapman (legend-chappers@hotmail.co.uk) asks:Hi Matt, now that you are becoming the new editor on SUPERMAN/BATMAN I was wondering if this means that now that book will be more closely tied to the other Superman books as opposed to the approach that was previously taken i.e. out of continuity stories that aren't connected to the two heroes individual titles? Thank you for taking your time to answer our fan related questions.
Matt: Hey, David! I don't want to give away the adjusted approach we'll be taking to the title just yet, but I think you'll find yourself a happy camper when we (loudly) declare our intentions for the title a little bit down the road. In the meantime, we'll be doing stories linked to past continuity (as far as placing the stories in time) for the next few months, beginning with #79's trip to the world of DC 1 Million. I don't mean to sound like one of those annoying hype machines, but the work on that issue by Chris Roberson and Jesus Merino is simply awesome.
Jeff (Email address withheld by request) asks:
Hey Matt, I know movie adaptations aren't your biggest sellers, but SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE and SUPERMAN II have never had comic adaptations before. They're probably the two finest Superman movies. IDW recently did Star Trek II, so it's possible. And why not have some proceeds go to the Christopher Reeve Foundation? Then you could collect all 4 in a trade paperback: THE CHRISTOPHER REEVE SUPERMAN MOVIES!
Matt: That, Jeff, is both an interesting and wonderful idea, and one that I will most definitely pass along to my slave drivers-er, bosses! Jokes aside, that's pretty terrific, and I hope it's something we can get the proverbial green light on. Well done, sir!
Rory Alex (findroryalex@gmail.com) asks:
Why has Superman been reduced to a single comic? We have Lex in ACTION COMICS, no MAN OF STEEL (or TOMORROW), ADVENTURES is gone, he isn't a part of even the JLA! Has DC run out of stories to tell or is the sales of Superman comics that bad that all we fans are left with is a Super"ForrestGump"man?
Matt: Actually, none of the above, Rory, though it's a more than fair question. We had originally intended to see Superman return to ACTION after the completion of the New Krypton stuff, but JMS' idea to take him across America made keeping him out of ACTION and JLA for the time being a worthwhile gamble. Having said that, Supes will indeed be returning to ACTION (and continuing to star in SUPERMAN) in the first quarter of next year, sometime.
Jeff Johnson (gjskier@hotmail.com) asks:
After a year of New Krypton, I hate that the story just wrapped and the reset button was pressed on all the books. Only Supergirl seems to even mention any past events. I understand it's moving on trying to bring in new readers to the books but it's like the past years' worth of stories didn't happen, and as a reader, I'd like some kind of follow-up to a war with a new planet full of 100,000 supermen. It's like getting Blackest Night and NOT following up with Brightest Day. Thanks for your time.
Matt: Interesting you feel that things have not been mentioned, Jeff, since the events of the war are the precipitating factor in Superman traveling the country, and it's a theme that's come up a couple of times. Having said that, you're right - we've downplayed it a bit, primarily because we sensed there might be some fatigue among the readers (and of course, wanting to make things easy to step into for new readers). Having said that, we definitely could have done a better job of finding some balance in the approach that would have made you and folks thinking along the same lines happier.
Kerry (Email address withheld by request) asks:
I'm a longtime fan of Superman, but a newcomer to the comics. Any chance of any stories (whether one-offs, mini-series or trades) which follow Superman's adventures early in his career after SECRET ORIGINS (i.e. Supe's first encounter with Brainiac)?
Matt: Well, nothing's been set up in that earlier period yet, Kerry (not counting a couple of Lex's adventures in between SECRET ORIGIN #2 and 3 in the upcoming ACTION ANNUAL), but it's a period of time ripe with story potential, and something I'd like to see us get back to.
Dave "AKalel" MacLean (akalel@hotmail.com) asks:
In regards to SMALLVILLE the comic. Any plans to do any other Smallville comics or collect those ones that came out into a Trade Paperback?
Matt: Hey, Dave. There aren't any plans to do more Smallville books as the show winds through its final season. The first six issues of the original comic, though, were indeed collected into a trade, though it's out of print by this point. Bet you could find it online, though. Sorry for the bad news.
Daniel Medina (Email address withheld by request) asks:
I haven't been keeping up with the Superman books since "Identity Crisis". Where should I start to get back into continuity? Thanks for you time.
Matt: That's a tough one to state with certainty, Daniel. Depends on what you're looking for. I think if you want to go the short route, you could check out the "War of the Supermen" collection, which then spins out into the current continuity of the titles, with Superman doing the trekking thing in SUPERMAN and Lex taking over as the lead in ACTION while Supergirl finds her way out of the pain of tragedy starting with SUPERGIRL #53. And as for Superboy, I'd recommend picking up SUPERBOY: THE BOY OF STEEL, which collects his arc from ADVENTURE COMICS and sets you up nicely for his just-launched new ongoing. If you want to go further back on the ol' continuity scale, write back and I can give you a more expansive list.
Michael (Email address withheld by request) asks:
Back in 2006 you said: "Lena Luthor is in foster care - though just what kind of "foster care" will come as a surprise to many. Look for her - and her dad - to appear in a special project next year that'll answer a lot of your questions." Now you say that she never was. What's going on?
Matt: Unfortunately, Michael, what's going on is that plans ended up changing, in this case around me, which led to our having to abandon those plans. Wish that wasn't the case, and of equal importance, hope that sort of thing doesn't happen again!
Steve asks:
In regards to digital comics, fans have emailed me saying they were thinking about changing over from printed comics to digital comics, but DC are only publishing back issues in digital format. Will we ever see new Superman comics released in both printed and digital formats at the same time?
Matt: I would say that's certainly the ultimate goal, Steve, though when we'll get to that point is something that remains to be seen. Rest assured, when the current material is available in digital form, you and everyone else will certainly be made aware.
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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