Bendis On Superman
The Road to 1000 And Beyond
by Phil Perich for the Capes and Lunatics Blog
A few months ago we got the news that long time Marvel Comics writer Brian Michael Bendis would be leaving Marvel for competitor DC Comics with no details at the time. And just recently DC Comics announced Bendis would write a back up story for the upcoming Action Comics issue #1000 with art by Jim Lee. And then the big announcement hit today: Bendis would take over and shake up Superman’s world after Action Comics #1000. While a shock to some fans, change and evolution has always been a part of the Superman mythos.
Strange Visitor
Superman first appeared in Action Comics #1 (June 1938) created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster. Action started as an anthology book until fan demand turned it into a Superman-centric book. The character was originally portrayed as a strong man who didn’t possess many of the familiar powers we associate with Superman today. Superman traveled by taking fantastic leaps before gaining the power of flight in Action Comics #13 (June 1939). Action Comics #1 began what is known as the Golden Age of Comics.
Man of Steel
In 1985-1986, DC Comics published one of the comic industry’s first and most impactful line-wide crossovers, Crisis on Infinite Earths. DC used this story to clean up much of it’s convoluted continuity, multiple Earths and multiple versions of familiar characters. DC took this opportunity to reboot many classic characters and give them more modern origin stories.
Superman was rebooted after Crisis in the six issue Man of Steel miniseries by John Byrne who then also wrote Superman’s ongoing present day adventures in the pages of Action Comics and the rebooted Superman issue #1. Byrne changed many of the classic story points and characters that had existed for decades. Not only did Clark Kent’s parents survive into the present, but Superman also became the sole survivor of Krypton. Supergirl was reintroduced as an artificially created shapeshifting being from a pocket universe named Matrix.
New 52 and the Return of Lois and Clark
Superman’s story continued unaltered for decades following the Man of Steel miniseries, meeting old allies again for the first time like Batman and Wonder Woman. Superman would also go on journeys like he never had before, getting engaged and eventually marrying Lois Lane, dying at the hands of the monster Doomsday, returning and even a year with altered, electrical powers.
Then in 2011 DC once again altered their entire line of books with the New 52 event. Once again Superman was a single man/orphan who considered himself more of an outsider than ever before. Many fans were turned off by this version and DC reacted. In the 2015 Convergence event, DC showcased many different characters from different points in their publishing history, including Lois and Clark from the pre-New 52 universe. At the end of the event, we see Clark, Lois and their newborn baby Jon travel back in time to arrive years earlier in the New 52 timeline. While New 52 Superman operated as the world’s premiere hero, Clark operated from the shadows to protect his family until he had to step up after the death of New 52 Superman.
Rebirth and Reborn
Clark Kent would try to go back to his old life, put on the blue suit and be Superman again. But the world’s heroes and population didn’t fully trust this “new” Superman who replaced the one they were familiar with. It wasn’t until the Superman Reborn storyline where the universe was realigned (with the help of Mister Mxyzptlk) so Clark and Lois became the only Clark and Lois from this universe and no one remembered anything else.
The DC Rebirth event would see most heroes return to more classic versions. Superman would find a new partner in his son Jon, the new Superboy and another take on his classic costume.
Action Comics #1000, Bendis and Another Man of Steel
Another classic element that returned with the DC Rebirth event was the original numbering of Action Comics. Issue #957 was the first Action to return with the original numbering. And just in time for Superman’s 80th anniversary, Action Comics #1000 goes on sale on April 18, 2018. Along with the announcement of Brian Michael Bendis’s contribution to the issue, it was also announced that the most classic and well known version of Superman’s costume will return with the underwear on the outside and everything else.
And along with the regular oversized version of the issue, DC Comics is also releasing a hardcover special companion book titled Action Comics #1000: 80 Years of Superman that will feature past covers, essays, and short stories including a previously unpublished story by Superman’s creators, Siegel and Shuster.
And then today we got the BIG announcement of what Brian Michael Bendis’s first major work for DC Comics would be. After Action Comics #1000 Bendis will write a six issue weekly miniseries titled Man of Steel before taking over as writer for Action Comics and Superman. Action will continue with issue #1001 while Superman is once again rebooted to a new issue #1.
Bendis has said for years he has had a story in mind for Superman, now we get to see it. What do YOU think? Should one man have creative control of all of Superman’s solo adventures, even a man as talented as Brian Michael Bendis? Do we need yet another Superman issue #1? Let me know!
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