2004 Comic Book News Archives
May 11, 2004: Chuck Austen Talks “Action Comics” and “JLA”
Newsarama sat down with "Action Comics" writer Chuck Austen to talk to him about his work on Superman and also his up-coming run on the JLA title. Here's an excerpt from the interview...
- Q: When it was announced and confirmed last year that you're taking over Action Comics, you told us that your version of Superman is going to be a nod to the original as envisioned by Siegel and Shuster, and that you too are a fan of the original, charming and funny Superman. Reflecting on that, and taking a look at the two-part short story that appeared in Action Comics #812-813 as well as your first full-issue of Action (#814), how do you think that the original vision has been translated, adapted and modernized for the new generation of Super-fans?
A: So far so good. I've been really pleased with the results, actually. Ivan [Reis] has done just an unbelievable job of translating the scripts into something far more than they were when I envisioned them. His expressions, his attention to detail -- it all just blows my mind. There are no words for how incredible each issue looks as it comes in. He and Marc Campos make a sensational team. Ivan gets all the Cary Grant charm I wanted across wonderfully, and makes Superman cool and intense without coming off as dippy and goofy. And Marc's inks take the pencils to another level, which says a lot because those pencils...
So I'm really, really pleased. I think there was a fear that I was going to turn Superman into a wisecracking Spider-Man, which is ironic because Spider-Man owes everything to the original Superman in terms of his alter ego's nebbish qualities, and his sense of humor when adventuring. Even working at a newspaper.
Some people will think I've gone too far I'm sure, in places, but I think it works. There's a precedent in Siegel and Shuster for every Superman action I've taken, so I feel well grounded in my choices. Eddie [Berganza] and Tom [Palmer Jr.] certainly think it works, and the reaction overall at DC has been wonderful. I was just up there last week and people kept stopping me in the halls and telling me how much they enjoyed the first two issues. They've been amazingly supportive on this, and I have to thank them for letting me give it a go. It's definitely different than how Superman's been seen in the recent past.
2004 Comic News
Listed below are all the Comic News items archived for 2004.- January 9, 2004: Three Different Supermen in 2004?
- January 10, 2004: Jim Lee Interviews Lee Bermejo
- January 10, 2004: Jim Lee Interviews Brian Azzarello
- January 12, 2004: Three Supermen Rumor False
- January 21, 2004: Art Adams Signs Exclusively to DC Comics
- January 21, 2004: Pre-Order CGC 9.8 NM/MT Grade Copies of First Jim Lee Drawn Superman
- January 23, 2004: Julie Schwartz in Hospital Again
- January 29, 2004: Price Rise for Superman Comics
- February 3, 2004: Superman/Batman vs Aliens/Predator
- February 3, 2004: Newsday Publishes History of Comics Article
- February 3, 2004: Alex Ross Interview
- February 4, 2004: Superman to Sport Painted Cover by Matt Wagner in May - (Updated with Images)
- February 8, 2004: Julie Schwartz Dies
- February 10, 2004: Comic Art Exhibition at Mizel Center for Arts and Culture
- February 11, 2004: Superman Comics Back to Press for Second Printing
- February 11, 2004: Milligan Talks “Kid Amazo”
- February 12, 2004: Jim Lee Talks Superman
- February 22, 2004: Sold Out “Godfall” Issues On Sale for $10!
- March 2, 2004: “Superman: Godfall” Continues to Sell Out at DC Comics
- March 3, 2004: Superman in Wizard #150
- March 7, 2004: Jeph Loeb Talks New Supergirl
- March 11, 2004: Mark Waid Says “Birthright” New Official Superman Origin
- March 16, 2004: Artist Ian Churchill Signs Exclusive Contract with DC Comics
- March 16, 2004: DC Staff and Talent Head West for Wizard World LA
- March 17, 2004: Ivan Reis Talks “Action Comics”
- March 18, 2004: Jeph Loeb Talks “Superman/Batman”
- March 18, 2004: DC Comics Rushes Sold-Out “Superman/Batman #8” Back to Press
- March 18, 2004: Kryptonian Translation of “Superman/Batman #8”
- March 21, 2004: DC Panel at Wizard World LA
- March 23, 2004: Chuck Austen Talks “Action Comics”
- March 24, 2004: Eddie Berganza Talks About Superman in 2004
- March 25, 2004: “Godfall” Continues to Sell Out at DC Comics
- March 26, 2004: Kurt Busiek Talks “Superman: Secret Identity”
- April 2, 2004: DC Unveils New Collected Editions
- April 5, 2004: DC and DF Present Signed Superman Comics for June
- April 11, 2004: Brian Azzarello Talks Superman
- April 13, 2004: “Superman/Batman #8” Second Printing Sells Out at DC Comics
- April 18, 2004: “Superman/Batman #8” is Diamond's Top-Selling Comic fo March!
- April 18, 2004: Stuart Immonen Talks “Superman: Secret Identity”
- April 19, 2004: Alex Sinclair Talks “Superman”
- April 20, 2004: Ivan Reis Signs Exclusive Deal with DC Comics
- April 21, 2004: Jim Lee and Michael Turner Take the Cover Challenge on “Superman/Batman #10” and “Superman #205” [Updated with images]
- April 22, 2004: DC Comics Rushes “Superman/Batman #8” Back to Press
- April 22, 2004: Jim Lee on “Superman” and Life Advice
- April 27, 2004: Gene Ha and Arthur Adams Talk Superman Covers
- May 11, 2004: Chuck Austen Talks “Action Comics” and “JLA”
- May 18, 2004: Dexter Vines Talks About Inking “Superman/Batman”
- May 26, 2004: Rags Morales Talks “Identity Crisis”
- June 8, 2004: Chuck Austen Talks “Action Comics”
- June 9, 2004: Comic Book Idol - Round 2
- June 15, 2004: DC Comics “Ask The Editors” Online Letter Columns
- June 21, 2004: Stan Lee Writes Superman for Julie Schwartz Tribute Issue
- July 8, 2004: Joe Casey Talks Superman
- July 9, 2004: Kim Howard Johnson Talks “Superman: True Brit”
- July 25, 2004: San Diego Comic Con Superman News
- July 28, 2004: Grant Morrison's Return to JLA
- August 16, 2004: “Superman/Batman” Panel at Wizard World Chicago
- August 31, 2004: Rick Veitch Answers Questions About “The Question”
- September 20, 2004: Greg Rucka Talks “Adventures of Superman”
- September 22, 2004: DC Sends “Identity Crisis #1” for Second Printing
- October 5, 2004: Comics Gaining Educational Reputation
- October 19, 2004: Scott McCloud Talks “Superman: Strength”
- October 19, 2004: DC Comics Pay Tribute to Christopher Reeve
- November 4, 2004: Rags Morales to Pencil Adventures of Superman #636
- November 11, 2004: David Goyer to Write “Superman/Batman”
- November 12, 2004: Superman Colorist Appearing at Comic Expo
- December 16, 2004: Chuck Austen Leaves “Action Comics”
- December 17, 2004: “Superman/Batman #13” Takes Top Spot on November Sales Chart
- December 17, 2004: Matthew Clark Talks About Drawing Superman
- December 20, 2004: Changes for Superman in 2005
- December 21, 2004: New Creative Team for “Superman” Comic
- December 21, 2004: “DC All-Stars” - DC's Answer to Marvel's Ultimate Line
- December 22, 2004: Grant Morrison Talks About “All-Star Superman”
- December 22, 2004: John Byrne in New Creative Team for “Action Comics”
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