May 31, 2016: Tomasi and Gleason Talk “Superman: Rebirth”

SupermanRebirth01-2ComicBookResources.com caught up with the creative team of writer Peter J. Tomasi and artist Patrick Gleason to discuss this week’s “Superman: Rebirth #1” and the “Superman” title moving forward, how the “Final Days of Superman” saga and “Rebirth” work together, and what it all means for comic book fans. Here’s part of the interview…

Do “Superman: Rebirth” #1 and “Superman” continue to follow this storyline or does “DC Universe: Rebirth” allow us to move past multiple Supermen and multiple timelines like pre-Flashpoint and the New 52?

Tomasi: “Superman: Rebirth” #1 is very different than the other “Rebirth” issues because we had the pre-52 Superman and the New 52 Superman co-existing at the same time. “Superman: Rebirth” #1 is a real bridge. It’s Pat’s and my mission from the first issue to make sure that we understand who this pre-52 Superman is. What makes him tick? Who is he? What are his hopes and dreams? We want to make it so we can easily translate and transition to “Superman” #1 so that readers are right there with us. If readers followed the [“Final Days of Superman”] eight-parter, they will have gotten a lot from it but they can also come right in at “Rebirth” and boom, acclimate to everything right away because I feel that it’s a very accessible issue that bridges right into the new series.

Gleason: We really wanted to make sure that anyone could pick up “Superman” #1 and read it. “Superman: Rebirth” is a bridge but in “Superman” #1, it will be very clear that this is Superman. There won’t be many questions that it’s him. There will be echoes of New 52 Superman and the world that Superman is now stepping into will remember him but it will be very clear that this is Superman.

Tomasi: The threads will dissipate slowly. We’re not going to keep hammering home that stuff. We want there to be a sense that we are turning the page and beginning a new era with new adventures and new problems that the pre-52 Superman will obviously have different perspectives on as we move forward.

Gleason: He’s going to have his hands full. There’s a lot and we’re going to hit the ground running. He’s really going to have to step up to a lot right at the beginning. We won’t be looking back. We’ll be looking forward.

Read the full interview at the CBR website.