Superman Through the Ages! Forum

Geoff Johns and Richard Donner are rumored to be the new writers on Action Comics.

http://www.comicbookresources.com/columns/?column=13

Right below THAT is a blur about my two chiefs: Paul Kupperberg and main man Jeff Rovin!

Richard Donner?? The Richard Donner?

This is actually pretty disappointing, the Dick Donner news. Let me explain.

Adam Kubert had said that the guy who would take over writing ACTION COMICS would be someone that would absolutely blow our minds, who had an association with Superman in days past.

I was desperately holding out for a possible return of Elliot S! Maggin or Cary Bates. Heck, he said "blow our minds," which meant it could even be someone like Alan Brennert (oh hell yeah) and possibly one of the various Alan Moores.

But the guy that did THE GOONIES? Give me Brennert or Maggin or give me DEATH!

And I'm sorry to see Paul Kupperberg go. He was to DC what Bill Mantlo was to Marvel; a fill-in writer that was absolutely inspired but never got the respect that their talent and professionalism had them deserve.

Paul Kupperberg never received that one single opportunity to demonstrate his incredible genius with original concepts the way Mantlo did with his MICRONAUTS, arguably one of the greatest Marvel comics ever written, or his CHAMPIONS (possibly the most fondly remembered superteam ever - Marvel's sitting on a gold mine and they don't even KNOW).

Hear of Superman the Movie much? I say give him a shot. At least he isn't likely to have Superman decapitating someone in a shockvalue splatterfest. Unless Johns coaches him to do so.

Granted the guy has never written comics before and the industry does seem to have this thing where anybody who's been in Hollywood is somehow automatically good for comics regardless of how well they actually fit the material they are given. But in Donners case the guy has a love and familiarity with Superman that puts him head and shoulders above guys like Wedon and Strazynski.

Hey, don't get me wrong, the guy's got the touch alright. LETHAL WEAPON may be the greatest action movie ever made.

However, directing and writing are two different skills, and the fact that he can do one does not necessarily mean he can do the other.



Again with the Johns diss. You know, people that slam Johns for having no respect for comics history need to have a nice, hearty bowl of shut-the-hell-up.

Geoff Johns was the guy that killed off that leather jacket and tattoo wearing wank we've had since ZERO HOUR, and gave us a REAL Doctor Fate, and did so in a manner consistent with what we know of the Hall family, namely, their tendency for reincarnation. He was the one that did the impossible and restored to the DC universe the muddled to hell Hawkman; not as a different character with the same name the way Morrison had to, but as the original character that simultaneously drew on Golden Age and Silver Age Hawkmen, keeping both in play. He was the one that restored the original Doom Patrol to DC after Byrne's reboot, saying that the appearance of the Byrne Patrol was a "flux" caused by Alex Luthor (and the existence of the original patrol is still in canon). Best of all, Geoff Johns was the one that restored Hal Jordan to his proper place as Green Lantern, one of the greatest characters in comics history, after decades of absence.

It was Geoff Johns that used such great classic foes as Sinestro, Kobra, Abracadabra, Hector Hammond, Per Degaton, and others, keeping them in their original costumes and with their original motivations. His SUPERMAN/BATMAN story made Kamandi a possible future again and did not involve Kamandi becoming Tommy Tomorrow or some other such nonsense. He brought back, too, the original Legion of Super-Villains. It was his idea to give Power Girl back her Earth-2 origin. It was he that in INFINITE CRISIS, gave us back Earth-2, and yes, Earth-2 is here to stay.

The list just goes on and on.



Well, above Straczynski, anyway.

I have to weigh in with Julian on this one.  Just because Kevin Smith can write comics and direct movies* doesn't mean everyone can do it.  Is this going to be the new trend, like actors trying to sing and singers trying to act?  What has that gotten us but a world full of David Hasselhoffs and Jessica Simpsons?  

If they announced Donner on a Superman film I'd be excited.  If they announced Maggin on a Superman comic, I'd be excited.  But until Donner proves himself as a comic book writer, he's on the same level for me as any new writer DC drags in off the street...an unknown quantity who's going to have to earn my respect.

Hey, everybody: Dean Cain on pencils!  Margot Kidder as colorist!  Painted covers by Jack Larson!  Yippee!




* I should add "allegedly", as I've yet to read his comics OR watch his movies.

You know what, you're right on those accounts. But if anything, it actually makes alot of the stuff he does more frustrating and not less. DC in general seems to extend an open hand then slap the face. For every Hal Jordan return or talk by one of the main DC crew about pulling away from grim n' grit there's stuff like E2 Superman being put in a villanous role and Superboy Prime being written out of character and gratuitous gore. For every time you have someone like Mark Waid say "Batman is a dick and we've been told we can change that" we've got DiDio going on record has viewing the DC Universe as too likeable and defending a DCU saturated in darkness as "drama". I've often heard people say that it feels like there are two Geoff Johns, and I think I would have to agree. DC in general just seems either bipolar or totally BSing.

Looking at some of the extended previews and especially the attitude of DiDio I really don't see how the future is gonna be anything more than business as usual.


Getting back to Donner writing, the point about him being a director is totally valid. But to direct, you do need a strong sense of storytelling. That's why I said "give him a shot". I didn't say "Hand the title over to him." I figure trying him out one Superman story couldn't hurt.

Some Superman sketches Adam Kubert did right after DC signed him to do Action:

(http://usuarios.lycos.es/supermanreturns/adamk.jpg)

While the final product won't have such a heavy resemblance to Brandon Routh, elements of Routh's Superman costume will be used in Kubert's run. Which makes sense, given how often the Fleischer and Timm versions of the suit are used as variants by different artists.

As for Donner and Johns...I know it's just a rumor at the moment, but if it's true, bring it on.

 
Awe come on. Sloth loves Chunk  :lol:


Remember DD writing AC is a rumour and not fact. Lets take a wait and see approach.  8)

Hey, is anyone dissing THE GOONIES here? Not me - if I insult the Goonies in a dream, slap me when I wake up.

Granted, it IS just a rumor, and a pretty crazy one at that; Donner writing a comic book when he could be directing movies that are seen by billions? Has his star fallen that low? I hope it's not true for Dickie's sake.

Plus, I'm still holding out for Maggin or Brennert.

Julian, you're thinking from a Superman Throgh the Ages site perspective. The outside world don't care for Elliot S! Maggin, and Richard Donner, however, is the guy who made the world believe a man can fly in Superman The Movie.

It's true that comics fans often get excited about things that wouldn't excite non-comics fans. Remember when Kevin Smith took over writing Daredevil and it made it to the page of USA Today, but I distinctly remember it not being talked about at my store as much as something like Morrison's Justice League?

On the other hand, Kubert was talking to people that read comics, not to wire press agents, so an assumption of someone like Brennert or Maggin is not impossible.

(As much as I hope it would be Cary Bates, he's right now living on the coast and in a high-paying animation gig, as I understand it.)

And the reverse is also true, which is why they picked Donner.

DC needs to attract people who don't normally read comics, so they're dropping names the "man on the street" might know.  With all due respect to Dick Donner's possible story-telling skills (we'll see, won't we?), in the end this all boils down to stunt casting, and no more.  

What's interesting is that DC and Marvel can pull writers from any old place and the fan reaction varies from "cool!" to "let's wait and see."  Whereas you can bet your sweet bippy if they said Dick Donner would be DRAWING Superman, everyone would scream, "But he's not an artist!!!!"

Here we see another way the Marvelization of DC, and the industry as a whole, has shaped things.  Comic books are now about the art, period.  Stick whomever you like in there to write the things, just give us pretty pictures to look at.

See, I think saying that it's all about the pretty pictures is true if you're talking about the early 90's, Image etc.

If anything now what we are seeing is that the pendulum has simply swung to the other silly extreme where writers are the darlings and their name recongition alone qualifies them for any project regardless of wether they really fit. Especially if they are writers from tv, the editors won't say no to them about anything. We don't have editors, we have fluffers for the talent.  Which is why Strazynski can be allowed to wizz Spider-Mans legend down his leg and corrupt the memory of Gwen Stacy.

This is a name I didn't expect for!
Has he written comics before?

Sorry to break off of topic but...perhaps they do know, Julian.

GIANT-SIZE HULK #1
Written by PETER DAVID & GREG PAK
Penciled by JUAN SANTA CRUZ & AARON LOPRESTI
Cover by RYAN SOOK
What is the untold story of the battle between one of the strangest superhero teams in the Marvel Universe and the engine of destruction known as the Incredible Hulk? See ol' Purple Pants go toe-to-toe with Angel, Ice-Man, Ghost Rider, The Black Widow and Hercules in a story that holds a key to Post-PLANET HULK events! By legendary Hulk scribe Peter David and Juan Santacruz.
PLUS! A PLANET HULK INTERLUDE! Bruce Banner makes his first appearance on Planet Sakaar - and battles the Hulk for his body and soul! What secret is the Hulk hiding? What terrible truth does Banner reveal? And who will triumph in this ultimate showdown? By Greg Pak and Aaron Lopresti.
Also: Re-presenting the outstanding INCREDIBLE HULK: THE END by Peter David and Dale Keown.
96 PGS./Rated T+ ...$4.99

http://www.newsarama.com/imagepop.htm?imageURL=http://www.newsarama.com/JoeFridays/JF41art/GIANT_SIZED_Hulkcopy.jpg

Huh! Now THIS I'm getting. Peter David has many flaws, but lack of respect for history is not among them, and he's said many times about his love for Bill Mantlo and Mantlo's work.

And it would be GREAT to see Hercules and the Hulk scrap again; it was exciting to see it all the way back in CHAMPIONS #16.

Wrong again! Ever hear of Tales from the Crypt much?  :D

Don't get too worked up about this, whether you love the idea or you hate it. Most likely Donner will be acting more as a sounding board and "consultant" while Geoff Johns does most of the plotting and all of the dialogue. Donner and Johns are friends, going back to Johns' time as his assistant. Now the roles are reversed and Donner will be assisting Johns.

I suspect it goes something like this; Donner agrees to lend his name as "co-writer" to give the Superman books a boost of media attention and buzz. (Donner is NOT a household name, although most of his best films ARE, so it's debatable how much attention this will really draw outside the comics fan world, but still...) Then he has various conversations with Johns, batting ideas back and forth, offering some suggestions for what might make a good story and how to structure the scripts for dramatic impact. From this, Johns writes up the scripts and maybe e-mails them to Donner for his opinion. It's not as if Donner will be having sole authorial responsibility dumped on him while he's reduced to working for peanuts as a comics writer.

Context much? I meant in regards to Superman, Richard wouldn't pull those kind of cheap gore stunts. But I guess Johns could always talk him into it.

Ever hear the word 'much' a little too much?

So, who would you rather have teamed up with Action -- Donner, or Kurt Busiek?  What if you were really hoping for Tom Mankiewicz if they were gonna get anyone from the Superman movie?  :)

It has now been confirmed.

IGN Story (http://comics.ign.com/articles/719/719224p1.html)

The IGN story was taken down long before I could read it but I found that a poster named Shamon copy-pasted this on another message board...whether it's the same IGN story, I don't know...if someone could confirm, perhaps?


Richard Donner writes Action Comics

July 17, 2006 - This fall, Superman's greatest ally and greatest enemy return. Richard Donner, the man who brought Superman to film, waited 25 years for his next team up with the Man of Steel. Donner returns to the character, writing Superman's adventures in Action Comics. Donner's former assistant and best-selling comic writer Geoff Johns (Infinite Crisis) will co-write the series.


Together, Donner and Johns pit Superman against an all-new General Zod. For his first comic book work, Donner will introduce the new General Zod into the DC universe, teamed with Ursa and Non, best recognized as villains from Donner's Superman films. Lex Luthor will also play a central role, just not in the way you'd expect.

This is Donner's first visit to Superman since being fired from production of Superman II. Creative and budgetary disputes led to producers firing Donner even though much of the movie was already filmed. Before filming this year's Superman Returns, director Bryan Singer sought Donner's approval for the updated picture, which references the first two movies.

Donner's first six-issue arc begins with October's Action Comics #844, drawn by superstar artist Adam Kubert (Ultimate X-Men) as his first regular work since signing an exclusive with DC Comics.

General Zod first appeared in Adventure Comics #283 in 1961 after escaping the Phantom Zone, a prison for criminals on Superman's home planet of Krypton. He and other criminals escaped to plague Superman. After DC rewrote its history so Superman would be the only survivor from Krypton, General Zod was deleted from continuity. Various versions have appeared, including the most recent in Brian Azzarello "For Tomorrow" storyline. Donner's version is completely new. Zod, Ursa and Non will likely not be the only Kryptonian criminals escaping the Phantom Zone.

Donner started directing in the 1950s, working on popular television shows including the Fugitive, Six Million Dollar Man and the Twilight Zone. His 1976 film, the Omen, began his film career later directing and producing hits such as the Lethal Weapon series and Goonies.

DC is expected to officially announce Donner's role with Action Comics at the San Diego Comic-Con later this week.

Same article.