2001 Comic Book News Archives

March 1, 2001: Berganza on Superman

The Hero, the Challenges, the Return of the Suicide Squad, and Krypto!

Author: Mike Sangiacomo

Is there still a place for a true hero in comics?

Every time Eddie Berganza, editor of the Superman line, thinks about a tougher, meaner Superman, he slaps himself in the face.

"Heroes used to be what we aspire to," he said. "But they have taken away the mythic value of the hero. Today, instead of a hero being what we aspire to be, he's what we are.

"Superman is more than that, he's better than that," Berganza said. "And we think people will love him for it."

The anti-heroes like "The Authority," "Planetary" and almost anything from Image Comics are examples of the new anti-hero. The characters are basically good, but rarely shirk from killing or maiming their foes, something Superman would not do. Superman is the guy who can do just about anything he wants, but chooses to do the right thing.

Berganza drew the line in the sand with Action Comics #775 that featured a meeting of Superman and a group of vicious heroes called, The Elite, which bear a strong resemblance to the Wildstorm Comics team, The Authority.

"The Elite's solution to a problem is 'Let's blow 'em up,' something in which Superman does not believe," Berganza said. "The purpose of this issue was to have Superman ask himself if he is outdated. This issue shows he is not."



2001 Comic News

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