JMS writing Superman *&* Wonder Woman

[Jan]

Accordign to The Source

Starting in July with SUPERMAN #701 and WONDER WOMAN #601, superstar writer J. Michael Straczynski ù a man whoÆs created layered and compelling characters and worlds on the big screen, on television and across the comic book spectrum ù dives head-first into the DC Universe by taking the ongoing writing reins for two-thirds of the fabled DCU trinity.

JMS says:

ôFor as long as IÆve been doing conventions (starting in the early Cretaceous period, when it was just me and a handful of pterosaurs on a panel debating whether or not mammals with opposable thumbs were really necessary to the writing of quality comics, a point still hotly debated today), there has always been the same question from folks in the audience: ôIs there any one character who is your dream character to write for?ö The answer has always been the same: Superman. When I first came over to DC, that dream was realized in part by Dan DiDioÆs gracious invitation to write the first of potentially many Superman original graphic novels. Now the dream has come fully true with the opportunity to write for the mainstream title, in a story that returns Superman to his roots in a way that will have the whole country talking about him in ways that we havenÆt seen in a long time.

Similarly, the chance to write Wonder Woman ù the nearest analogue to Superman in the DCU ù is massively exciting. SheÆs a vital, powerful character, and we hope to bring a more contemporary sensibility to her character will retaining everything that makes her unique.

That DC is willing to jump-start these two runs in the pages of their respective anniversary issues is a great opportunity and a vote of confidence in what we have planned for these characters. IÆm looking forward to this with more excitement than words can convey.

ItÆs gonna be a blast.ö

I'm thrilled. I tried reading WW not too long ago and it just wasn't doing anything for me. Glad to be able to give it a try again.

Jan

[vakie]

Wow, so in addition to the graphic novel project, it's the ongoing Superman book as well. Amazing news.

[SmileOfTheShadow]

This is absolutely wonderful news. I've been waiting for JMS to get on Superman since I can remember, and I was just talking with Jan about Wonder Woman and how with the mythology and all that it could really benefit from JMS' writing similar to how Thor did before Marvel did what Marvel does.

I've always been a hardcore Marvel reader and never really ventured much into DC other than occasionally with Batman and The Flash. But for some reason the universe felt much more like a monolith that wasn't allowed to change as much as Marvel.

However, in recent years, Marvel's editorial decisions have been such bad ones it really makes me wonder whether their titles are worth reading.

In any event, Marvel didn't know what they had in JMS' writing, and it appears to me that DC does.

[sftv]

Wow!

Definitely surprising to see Joe get both Superman and Wonder Woman. Superman's recent run with New Krypton and essentially having both Action and Superman star supporting characters while Superman appears mainly in a mini-series (World of New Krytpon) has not been a big success. It will definitely be interesting to see how Joe puts his own stamp on both of them while trying to work in the status quo of both characters.

[Jan]

The promised essay from JMS is up now.

Jan

[frulad]

Great news? Or greatest news?

[SmileOfTheShadow]

Great news? Or greatest news?

Greatest news would be "We have a theatrical release date for The Memory of Shadows which has secretly been under production for the last year and a half."

[Jan]

No, greatest news would be a new weekly TV show written entirely by JMS with *no* restrictions on what he could write.

Jan

[Spoo Junky]

Greatest news would be "We have a theatrical release date for The Memory of Shadows which has secretly been under production for the last year and a half."

I'd go with that

[Jan]

Funny thing, though. With this news, there's only one comic I used to read as a kid (back when comics were $.12 each) that JMS hasn't written yet - Metal Men.

Jan

[SmileOfTheShadow]

Funny thing, though. With this news, there's only one comic I used to read as a kid (back when comics were $.12 each) that JMS hasn't written yet - Metal Men.

Jan

I don't think they print that one anymore. I in fact don't even know what that is o.o

Only ones he hasn't written that I read as a kid are Batman/Captain America

Though I guess he did a batman brave and the bold

[Jan]

I don't think they print that one anymore. I in fact don't even know what that is o.o

Really? Yeah, it actually came back a year or two ago but it was really convoluted and I dropped it.

Only ones he hasn't written that I read as a kid are Batman/Captain America

Though I guess he did a batman brave and the bold

I'd read Batman sometimes but only if there wasn't one of the others available. Never got into Captain America but I think maybe it wasn't available. The dime store where I bought my comics was big on Archie and little kid comics like Richie Rich and only a few of the superhero comics. And sometimes I'd have to make hard decisions since I only got a quarter a week for allowance.

Jan

[frulad]

Metal Men appeared as a back up feature in the first six issues of the new volume of Doom Patrol. There was a really good Metal Men mini-series a couple of years back by Duncan Rouleau. It has been collected into a trade edition. Amazon has it for 12 bucks. Recommended.

[Dan Dassow]

Huffington Post
Bryan Young
Posted: March 8, 2010 11:26 PM
Superman's Other Powers and Straczynski's Inventive Pen

DC Comics announced early in the week that J. Michael Straczynski (the mastermind behind Babylon 5 and one of the best runs of The Amazing Spider-Man and Thor in recent memory) will be taking over writing duties on Superman and Wonder Woman comics in July. He's taking over for them on issue #701 and #601, respectively and he's been brought in to commemorate that landmark.

When they announced the news, they posted an essay about the Man of Steel by Straczynski (you can read it here) that has had me thinking a lot about Superman. ...

I suppose my broader point is that if Straczynski can shed that much light on the character and change my perspective of him with one essay, I can't wait to see what he'll do with an extended run of him in the comics.

Trust that I'll be adding this to my hold with all the hope and optimism that Superman embodies.

[SmileOfTheShadow]

That sums it up exactly Dan!