DC Working On a New Superman
By Krystal Clark
Will we ever get a modern day Superman movie that doesn’t receive scorn from die hard fans? At this moment it’s hard to tell, but DC Comics have decided to revamp their comic line by releasing the graphic novels Earth One, that will show Superman in a new light.
The Earth One series will tell the reworked origin stories of Superman and Batman, and are scheduled for release next year. Both will feature the characters in present day and have been modernized for new audiences. Superman: Earth One, is written by sci-fi scribe J. Michael Straczynski and illustrated by Shane Davis. Straczynski recently spoke to AICN about taking on this new version of the Man of Steel.
“This is probably one of the most often told and retold stories in comics history, so you have to be careful to preserve what’s established while trying to find areas where you can bring a fresh approach. In the case of Superman, you take all those elements that work, and infuse them with a modern sensibility, how it would be written today, this minute, if it had just been created for the first time.”
So with a new look and a new writer could a new Superman film be in the future? Comic books will never reach their former glory in the commercial market, but if Earth One is a hit by today’s standards a movie might not be far behind.
Here’s the basic premise of Earth One:
Clark comes to Metropolis in his 21st year to decide what he really wants to do. And this is someone who can be anyone, do anything. If he keeps his background secret, as he’s done for the preceding 21 years, he can be the best athlete the world has ever known, he could be the next Stephen Hawking, could take away the golf crown from Tiger Woods, create patents that could earn billions. He can finally step out of the shadows and into the light.
So Clark won’t be the shy guy that we’re all used to seeing on TV and in the movies. It doesn’t sound like he grows up on a farm or even needs to sport glasses. This is a drastic shift from the original storyline that could be a hit or miss with fans. What do you think?
What do you think of Superman: Earth One? Do you like the changes they’ve made?
Thursday, December 10, 2009 7:26PM
WOW, Superman in the very beginning was a cool concept, alien comes to earth, gets powers from the sun, cool!
Then Came the parallel between Supes & Jesus, the one that a few comics fans subscribe to including Singer who put it in Returns, gimme a break, he is an alien, not the Messiah, talk about cheesey!
Now "Earth One", How about this, why not just start writing good stories that aren't designed to trick the comic buyer into thinking "its the gotta have, next best thing to sliced bread, only to feel cheated whenthe story concludes massive crossover", how about that? This goes for Marvel too!
Friday, December 11, 2009 8:09AM
how bout some darksied or braniac?
Friday, December 11, 2009 3:56PM
I would like to see Michael Clark Dunken as Doomsday!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009 7:09AM
The fans have been bitterly disappointed in the films so far for good reason. They keep coming back to a comical Lex Luthor … since when, in the books, has Luthor been camp? Never. This is not the DC character but aanother, distinct one that Hollywood invented. The Luthor of "Superman Returns" was a bit more like it, closer to the devious, intricate schemer he has become in the books, but stiill bit a shallow facsimile. Superman the fiilm character suffers also – from the same lack of respect fot the intelligence of the audience. If we had that, we would have compelling films, not the lame plot formulas and characterization that the studios think we want. I never cared for the silly Chris Reeves Superman, obviously. That was a very wrong turn. And I think the studio heads realize that now. The next film should be a reboot, and this may be the development that turns Superman's film fortunes around. I only hope that kryptonite is used sparingly ….