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Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2024 20:56:56 GMT -5
Call me crazy; but, Mike Baron would have been an interesting choice for a Superman writer. He had a journalistic background, which would speak to developing that side of Clark Kent and he handled beings of immense power well, in Nexus and kept them interesting. I don't think DC would have given him the freedom to go where he might, though. That is largely the problem I see with several potential writers. Moore, I think would have done a fantastic job, if he was inclined, with the right artists in collaboration. And Baron could have brought Steve Rude along as well! Another really interesting choice, I love what folks are throwing out as possibilities. I still love Roy, but I think tonebone made a great point it may have been more a "steward" role (much as that might have been interesting as well). I'm leaning more towards Moore now myself. |
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Post by zaku on Mar 14, 2024 6:09:15 GMT -5
At this point the only thing that could really relaunch Superman was making a clean break with the past. Half measures were useless. For most readers, the Man of Steel was just a super scout who had acquired his greatest enemy due to a bout of early baldness. To me Superman being a "super scout" wasn't so much the problem, The little bit about SuperScout was more about the perception of the character than his actual characterization in the stories (sorry I didn't specify). I read quite a few books before its reboot and the impression it gave me was that he was always slightly bored, a little grumpy and sometimes a little whiney. Not very inspiring. The SuperScout was more the image conveyed by films and cartoons, which was what the vast majority of people knew. |
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Post by codystarbuck on Mar 14, 2024 11:23:48 GMT -5
I'd have loved to have seen Roy do an Earth-2 Superman series, following in the vein of the Fleischer cartoons and the Ultra-Humanite adventures he referenced, in All-Star Squadron.
The problem with Roy revamping something is that he was often too slavishly devoted to what came before. A reverence for the foundation of the character is good; but rehashing the same old thing doesn't update the character and that was the trap he fell into on All-Star Squadron and Infinity, Inc, in redoing old JSA stories, at the expense of the modern stories. DC wanted something that shook things up, even if it was more the illusion of change than actual change. Younger Roy might have done something with that; but, not Roy, at that stage.
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Post by Prince Hal on Mar 15, 2024 10:04:52 GMT -5
I'd have loved to have seen Roy do an Earth-2 Superman series, following in the vein of the Fleischer cartoons and the Ultra-Humanite adventures he referenced, in All-Star Squadron. The problem with Roy revamping something is that he was often too slavishly devoted to what came before. A reverence for the foundation of the character is good; but rehashing the same old thing doesn't update the character and that was the trap he fell into on All-Star Squadron and Infinity, Inc, in redoing old JSA stories, at the expense of the modern stories. DC wanted something that shook things up, even if it was more the illusion of change than actual change. Younger Roy might have done something with that; but, not Roy, at that stage. Roy the writer seemed to be writing for Roy the fan, who was plagued with a photographic memory. |
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Post by zaku on Mar 15, 2024 12:19:09 GMT -5
I'd have loved to have seen Roy do an Earth-2 Superman series, following in the vein of the Fleischer cartoons and the Ultra-Humanite adventures he referenced, in All-Star Squadron. The problem with Roy revamping something is that he was often too slavishly devoted to what came before. A reverence for the foundation of the character is good; but rehashing the same old thing doesn't update the character and that was the trap he fell into on All-Star Squadron and Infinity, Inc, in redoing old JSA stories, at the expense of the modern stories. DC wanted something that shook things up, even if it was more the illusion of change than actual change. Younger Roy might have done something with that; but, not Roy, at that stage. Didn't they do a Mr & Mrs Superman series? I read only a few stories but I just remember a sit-com tone... |
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Post by majestic on Mar 15, 2024 14:27:17 GMT -5
I'd have loved to have seen Roy do an Earth-2 Superman series, following in the vein of the Fleischer cartoons and the Ultra-Humanite adventures he referenced, in All-Star Squadron. The problem with Roy revamping something is that he was often too slavishly devoted to what came before. A reverence for the foundation of the character is good; but rehashing the same old thing doesn't update the character and that was the trap he fell into on All-Star Squadron and Infinity, Inc, in redoing old JSA stories, at the expense of the modern stories. DC wanted something that shook things up, even if it was more the illusion of change than actual change. Younger Roy might have done something with that; but, not Roy, at that stage. Didn't they do a Mr & Mrs Superman series? I read only a few stories but I just remember a sit-com tone... yes they were written by E Nelson Bridwell. |
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Post by Cei-U! on Mar 15, 2024 15:01:19 GMT -5
Didn't they do a Mr & Mrs Superman series? I read only a few stories but I just remember a sit-com tone... yes they were written by E Nelson Bridwell. Bridwell wrote the later episodes but the series' pilot (Action #484) and the first few installments were scripted by Cary Bates. See my CCF Guide to Earth-Two, Part Deux thread for more information about the Mr. & Mrs. Superman feature.
Cei-U! I summon the helpful hint!
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Post by majestic on Mar 15, 2024 15:24:19 GMT -5
yes they were written by E Nelson Bridwell. Bridwell wrote the later episodes but the series' pilot (Action #484) and the first few installments were scripted by Cary Bates. See my CCF Guide to Earth-Two, Part Deux thread for more information about the Mr. & Mrs. Superman feature.
Cei-U! I summon the helpful hint!
I have not read them in years but I do remember liking their light hearted tone. |
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Post by codystarbuck on Mar 15, 2024 20:32:30 GMT -5
Those were pretty good and the domestic situation proved that fans were okay with it.
I would have liked a 40s setting, with Roy handling the character with the power levels seen in the cartoons, where he has to struggle, a bit, with natural forces and scientifically powerful obstacles.
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Post by james on Mar 16, 2024 15:08:16 GMT -5
Ok what if Roger Stern had rebooted Superman? I know he worked on Death of Superman, but what if he started from the beginning?
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Post by Cei-U! on Mar 16, 2024 18:30:37 GMT -5
Ok what if Roger Stern had rebooted Superman? I know he worked on Death of Superman, but what if he started from the beginning? At the very least, we'd have gotten strong plotting, (reasonably) realistic characterizations, and readable dialogue.
Cei-U! Can you tell I kinda like Stern?
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Mar 16, 2024 19:22:58 GMT -5
As far as streamlining goes, I think Superman would have been fine with something like The Untold Legend of Superman, the Batman equivalent of which gave me the definitive version of the pre-crisis darknight detective.
Roy might have been very good at it, being quite serious about making obscure bits of comics continuity work together. I'm just not sure that he would have been the right choice to write the man of steel's adventures for an extended time.
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Post by Icctrombone on Mar 18, 2024 6:19:55 GMT -5
I can't speak to whether Roy Thomas would have been a better choice for Superman, but I'm relatively sure it was never going to happen. DC wanted a BIG name; even Marv Wolfman's name wasn't big enough. In 1986, the name "Roy Thomas" wasn't going to command that power. I'm surprised that you evoked the name of Roy Thomas. Don't get me wrong, he's one of my favorite all Time writers, but he was in his period of decline in the mid 80's. When he returned to Marvel, none of his books struck a cord with me. Now, if you wanted Alan Moore to relaunch Superman, I think he would have made an impact , paired with a top notch artist of course. |
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Post by tonebone on Mar 18, 2024 8:57:41 GMT -5
I can't speak to whether Roy Thomas would have been a better choice for Superman, but I'm relatively sure it was never going to happen. DC wanted a BIG name; even Marv Wolfman's name wasn't big enough. In 1986, the name "Roy Thomas" wasn't going to command that power. I'm surprised that you evoked the name of Roy Thomas. Don't get me wrong, he's one of my favorite all Time writers, but he was in his period of decline in the mid 80's. When he returned to Marvel, none of his books struck a cord with me. Now, if you wanted Alan Moore to relaunch Superman, I think he would have made an impact , paired with a top notch artist of course. That artist would now be known as "former friend and collaborator of Alan Moore". |
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Post by tonebone on Mar 18, 2024 8:59:03 GMT -5
By the way, they actually tried to do a mini-reboot of Superman in the 1983 with Marv Wolfman (who at the time was probably one of the hottest writer ad DC). And they changed a good chunk of the then-current status quo. For example: - Lois Lane and Superman broke up (from what I don't now, however they broke up
- Clark Kent and Lana Lang started dating (and having a relationship? Really when they talked about these things is was so ambiguous in the comics at the time...)
- Lex Luthor got his famous armor
- Braniac got his robotic appearance
- Vandal Savage became a Superman villain
As you can imagine this minireboot didn't set the world on fire. Probably the only thing that even the most avid comic readers remember from this period is Lex Luthor's new armor, and I think only thanks to the cartoons and toys.  At this point the only thing that could really relaunch Superman was making a clean break with the past. Half measures were useless. For most readers, the Man of Steel was just a super scout who had acquired his greatest enemy due to a bout of early baldness. Personally, I felt the robotic Brainiac was the most terrifying version of him ever done. |
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