2015 Comic Book News Archives

November 4, 2015: Francis Manapul Unveils 'Different' Superman in "Darkseid War"

Darkseid War - Superman In this week's "Justice League: Darkseid War - Superman" comic book, writer/artist Francil Manapul delivers a story about an apathetic Superman who wants pie...

    This is a little different version of Superman. I was trying to come up with descriptors for this Superman - dismissive, egotistical, disinterested - but how would you describe him? It's not a dark Superman, because he's still fighting against the bad guys. What descriptor do you use for this Superman?

    Manapul: I think the story revolves around apathy.

    That's the word!

    Manapul: That's more or less where we find Superman when we get to this story. There's this longing for something worthy, something that will make him feel accomplished as the most powerful being in the universe. That's where the conflictarises when he arrives on Earth as our issue opens. He fights an alien, and he doesn't even want to finish the job. Of course, it comes back to bite him.

    The inaction of Superman, and his apathy, is what makes him different in this issue, from who we know Superman to be - a guy that will always do the right thing. In this issue, when the alien isn't enough of a challenge, Superman is more interested in eating apple pie.

    Yeah, you mentioned the pie last week when we talked. There's something about just sitting and eating pie that sounds apathetic.

    Manapul: Yeah. And not to get too meta, but there's a lot that the pie represents. To me, Superman is as American as apple pie. And here he is completely different - emotionally different, physically different - and there's something from his past that was a real touchstone to him as a character, and it was this pie.

    Of course, Jimmy has to play the hero and point out that Superman isn't really wanting pie. It's what it symbolizes.

    I know from talking to you in the past that you really try to think through what you can relate to about what's going on with the characters you write. Was there anything you could relate to with this apathetic Superman?

    Manapul: Yeah, definitely. With Superman, a lot of people says they have a tough time relating to him because he's so powerful.

    It's also one of the things I had to think about with Lex Luthor [for the upcoming Justice League: Darkseid War - Superman issue]. He doesn't understand Superman at all.

    So one of the things I had to hone in on for this issue with Superman was, what would you feel as this omnipotent being that will probably live forever? And one of the things I realized was, gods probably get lonely too. I think that's where this story really opened up for me. Here is Superman, the most powerful being around, and yet he can be lonely. His desire to go back to Earth and get pie was never about the pie.

Read the entire interview at the Newsarama website.

"Justice League: Darkseid War - Superman #1" is on sale today. Download it for your Kindle and/or iBooks now.



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