VIEWS FROM THE LONGBOX

Kudos and congratulations on the upcoming JSA podcast. I, for one, will be looking forward to the first episode and, of course, following from there. As for the rest, I’m in total agree that, at bottom, comics ought to be fun (yes, the other dreaded F-word), and if/when they aren’t, there’s inevitably a problem somewhere along the creative and editorial chain. Either way, Superman (and many other characters) have survived utterly dismal periods in their publishing histories, and I’m confident that Big Blue will find his way, whatever creators (or fans) might do in the meantime. Let me say, too, that Scott is absolutely right about the Legion. It may currently be “cool” to cynically dismiss the idea of optimism about the future, but the Legion historically thrived on it — and, truthfully, isn’t quite the Legion when it lacks that positive, even inspiring, quality. Most everything else in life is dismal and difficult enough; our comics don’t need to fall into that trap in the name of “maturity” or “realism” or whatever other buzzword we’re obsessed with this year.

I actually find myself agreeing with most of what the two of you bring up. I too find myself not being excited with most of the comics out there right now, especially the Superman books. However, I am very much liking the Secret Origins book.
Having said that though, I think one of my big problems with the Superman books today is mostly behind the scenes. See, from what I have gathered from reading the “Ask Matt” columns on the Superman Homepage is that the plans for the whole New Krypton story were put together by Kurt and Geoff while they were on the books, then James replaced Kurt, Sterling was brought in, and then Geoff left and in comes Greg. So basically, most of this story has been written by 3 guys who were basically told (I’m guessing) that “this is what we were planning, this is what is going to happen, do it.” I can only imagine working like that will hinder the story. Especially since Sterling’s first issue of Supergirl worked so well compared to the others that have been stuck in this crossover.
Also, I wonder if some of the delay with Secret Origins has been the court case. Its pretty obvious since the beginning that Clark being Superboy was being brought back in some form. However, with the court case going on, particularly involving the rights to Superboy, I would think that it would have been difficult to release it at that time.

I’ve listened to the first hour-plus of this one, and color me astonished! As someone who has never been much of a Superman fan (but who does like the Legion, thus making me pretty much your opposite on that score), I was shocked to learn that you are not enjoying the current Johns run of Superman comics. I’ve been buying them in hardcover as soon as they come out, and I loved the Brainiac and Legion storylines in particular.

Of course, not being a Superman reader (since about 1979) before Johns came aboard, it’s not surprising that I would be oblivious to the ongoing/continuity issues that bother you and your guest, Michael. Those things go right past me, leaving me to just enjoy the Geoff Johnsian goodness of Brainiac and of the Legion. Wooo!

Then again, I think of how people who didn’t know me might think I’d be loving the current Avengers comics, given their unprecedented level of popularity and visibility and “big-name” writer. And yet, as of course you know, I *despise* virtually everything Bendis has done so far to my team and comic(s)… even as new readers (who know little about the Avengers) come aboard in droves and have no objections. (I give you the iFanboy hosts as examples– they never read Avengers until Bendis came aboard, which is about when I dived off!) So I suppose I feel your pain, just in a different set of comics.

Great episode. Couldn’t agree more with pretty much everything you guys said. As primarily a Marvel reader, it’s good to hear that DC is afflicted with the same problems. Well not GOOD to hear, but at least Marvel isn’t the only one writing for the trades, changing characters to suit stories and writer temperaments and generally caring more about snagging new readers over keeping the customers they already have. Heck, at least DC makes a Crisis out of it and renames their Earth.

I just finished listening to the “Catharsis” episode this afternoon. Although I am just a few years younger than you, Michael, I started collecting the Superman books at roughly the same time. I bought them off and on until the Death, Funeral, and Return, and then I was hooked. I did stop buying for a few years right after I got married and went to grad school. I’ve jumped back in to the DC Universe in the last two years and I have to join the two of you and say… “Wow, things have changed… and not necessarily for the better.” I had been enjoying New Krypton up until the last 3-4 months, but now I’m not sure where this is going.

Now I’m afraid for the future of Superman and Batman even more. I happened to be looking around the ‘net for any news on Superman and Batman in 2010 and came across the announcement for the Superman: Earth One and Batman: Earth One “ongoing graphic novel” series that will be released in 2010. I love (sarcastically) the comment about how this allows the writers and artists not to be tied down by decades of continuity, or however it was put.

I can’t always make it to the comic shop, and as you and Scott mentioned several times, 3-4-even 5 dollars each is getting ridiculous for these books. If they’re taking this in the direction of “ongoing graphic novels,” then forget it. I’ll be a Superman fan until the day I die, but it doesn’t have to be “their” Superman. I think I’m going to be following your route and poking around the 50 cent boxes a little bit more, or re-reading the years of Superman stories I already own.