2004 Merchandise & Miscellaneous News Archives
March 1, 2004: Roger Stern Talks Death and Life of Superman Novel
The Pulse website caught up with author Roger Stern to discuss with him the re-release of his novel "The Death and Life of Superman". Here's an excerpt from the interview...Q: It seems a daunting task to retell such a pivotal comics event in a novelized form. How did you get involved in writing The Death and Life of Superman?
A: That was all thanks to Mike Carlin. Early in 1993, Bantam Books approached DC about publishing a novelization of the big story we were then weaving through the Superman comics titles. At the time, Mike was the editor of the Superman titles, and he realized that it would take too long to bring in an outside writer, explain the whole story to him or her, and still produce the book in time. He needed an insider, someone who already knew the story, and I was one of his four core Superman writers. I was then writing ACTION COMICS, but I'd worked on numerous Superman titles and projects over the previous six years. So, Mike gave me a call and asked me to write the book.
And not knowing any better, I said yes. (Laughter)
Q: What is The Death and Life of Superman? For someone who maybe lived under a rock in 1993 or is too young to remember this initially happening, what's the significance of this story?
A: Well, Death and Life is primarily a prose adaptation of the stories that appeared in the Superman comics titles from the autumn of 1992 through the summer of 1993, though I also wrote additional material for the novel that never appeared in the comics.
The story unfolded in three parts: Superman died, sacrificing himself to stop a monster called Doomsday from destroying Metropolis. A big state funeral and worldwide mourning followed his death. And then, four new "Supermen" appeared, attempting to take our hero's place and raising the question: "Are any of these four the real Superman?" I don't think I'll be giving away too much if I reveal that eventually the real Superman made himself known. After all, he's alive and well and starring in at least four monthly comics these days, right?
Anyway, this all turned out to be a very big deal in what passes for the "real world," as well as in the world of comics. In the fall of '92, word of Superman's death made the evening news and appeared in all the major newspapers. Jay Leno mentioned it in his monologue. In fact, on the Tonight Show for New Year's Eve, December 31, 1992, Roseanne (then Roseanne Arnold, I believe) appeared in a taped segment claiming that her New Year's resolution was to hunt down Superman's killer "and make him pay for what he did."
My barber was asking me about Superman. The guys at the hardware store wanted to know more about the story. People who hadn't read a comic in years picked one up. People who'd never read a comic before picked one up. The Superman titles all sold millions of copies. Those comics were eventually collected in a series of trade paperbacks -- The Death of Superman, World Without a Superman, and The Return of Superman -- that have been kept in print ever since.
There was so much word of mouth on the story that someone at Bantam Books got a bright idea, and that led to my writing the novel.
Read the complete interview at the Pulse website.
2004 Merchandise & Miscellaneous News
Listed below are all the Merchandise & Miscellaneous News items archived for 2004.- January 8, 2004: Art Asylum to Create Justice League MiniMates
- January 11, 2004: Superman in Wizard #148
- January 27, 2004: Vote for Superman Lovemark
- January 29, 2004: Superman Homepage Featured at WB Website
- February 2, 2004: Superman News in Wizard #149
- February 15, 2004: Mattel Announces New Justice League Playset
- February 16, 2004: Best-Selling Superman Novel Returns in New Edition
- February 17, 2004: DC Direct Reveal New Superman Merchandise at Toy Fair 2004
- February 17, 2004: Justice League Trading Cards in Post Cereals
- February 26, 2004: DC Comics at Toy Fair 2004
- February 27, 2004: Signed DC Comics for April from Dynamic Forces
- March 1, 2004: Roger Stern Talks Death and Life of Superman Novel
- March 4, 2004: Announcing the New Superman Superstore!
- March 14, 2004: Superman Homepage Staff Shave Their Heads! See Photos!
- March 16, 2004: DC Offers New Daily Planet Interactive Screensaver
- March 29, 2004: American Express Launch Seinfeld/Superman Website
- April 11, 2004: Postopia Launch Justice League Interactive Website
- April 13, 2004: New DC Comics Trading Card Game
- April 19, 2004: Superman Mentioned in Kill Bill: Vol. 2 Movie
- April 22, 2004: 1940s Superman Sweater Sells for US$1,747.00
- April 24, 2004: Justice League Team Up with Hot Wheels and NASCAR in August
- May 2, 2004: Man Dies After Falling Off Superman Roller Coaster
- May 9, 2004: Six Flags to Modify Superman Roller Coaster
- May 10, 2004: TIME Magazine Says Superman Is Not Cool
- May 12, 2004: Seinfeld and Superman: Online Sequel
- May 17, 2004: Superman Fan Makes Custom Superman Guitar
- May 20, 2004: Seinfeld/Superman Second Webisode Hindsight Online
- May 23, 2004: BBC News Hour Interviews Superman Homepage
- May 27, 2004: Superman Bike Wins 1st Place at Daytona Beach Bike Week
- May 28, 2004: Win $1000 in Metropolis Illinois Superhero Costume Contest!
- May 28, 2004: Comic Book Idol Launches, Open Call for Submissions begins
- June 4, 2004: Superman Homepage ToyFan Giveaway Winner!
- June 7, 2004: Scott Cranford - Metropolis' Official Superman
- June 7, 2004: Kellogg's Australian Cartoon DVD Competition
- June 8, 2004: JAKKS Pacific to Produce Superman TV Game
- June 17, 2004: Roger Stern Superman Book Signing
- June 29, 2004: UDE Launches Superpowered Action Card Game
- July 5, 2004: Superman Fan & Collectors Convention of Hawaii
- July 18, 2004: Superman TV and Movie Props on Auction at Cooper Owen
- July 18, 2004: Justice League Jollibee Kids Meals Promotion in Philippines
- July 20, 2004: New Justice League Promotion at Jack in the Box Restaurants
- July 21, 2004: Man in Superman Costume Attacks Motorists
- July 23, 2004: Inkworks Announces Smallville Season 3 Premium Trading Cards
- August 9, 2004: Reminder - Superheroes on Television Symposium
- August 30, 2004: The Flash Beats Superman in Race
- September 22, 2004: DC Comics Goes to Court over Kryptonite
- September 23, 2004: Celebrity Appearances & Autograph Signings
- September 28, 2004: Tax Authorities not Kryptonite Defeat Superman
- October 12, 2004: Metropolis Illinois to Honor Christopher Reeve
- October 14, 2004: Superman Homepage mentioned in Australian Newspaper
- October 15, 2004: CapedWonder Christopher Reeve Tribute Wallpapers
- October 16, 2004: Hawaii Fans to Pay Tribute to Christopher Reeve
- October 20, 2004: Superman Homepage in East Bay Express
- November 1, 2004: Superman Homepage 10th Anniversary Celebrations!
- November 1, 2004: Superman Homepage Mentioned in Reeve Tribute Article
- November 1, 2004: Smallville Season 3 Trading Cards Competition Winners!
- November 5, 2004: Fan Made Superman Movie Teaser Trailer
- November 7, 2004: Tomorrow's Memoir Fan Film Obvious Tribute to Superman
- November 9, 2004: Cleveland Looking to Pay Tribute to Superman
- November 18, 2004: Muncie Symphony Orchestra to Perform 'Super' Concert
- November 19, 2004: Is Superman Too Super a Role Model?
- November 22, 2004: Fossil Releases New Superman Pop Art Watch
- November 24, 2004: A Look at the Smallville Season 3 Premium Trading Cards
- December 2, 2004: RetroVision CD-Rom Magazine #1
- December 12, 2004: Superman Voted Most Popular Superhero of All Time
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