Interviews
Exclusive Jeph Loeb Interview
[Date: February 17, 2006]
Jeph Loeb on Sam and Superman/Batman #26
Q: What can you tell us about the story for "Superman/Batman #26"?Jeph: There are two stories about "Superman/Batman #26". One is what it is about and the other is what happened afterwards in the real world. I'll deal with the first one here and the rest will follow.
"Superman/Batman #26" is a stand alone issue about Superboy and Robin. In the middle of Infinite Crisis, these two have a story that is told about their lives and their friendship. It is, in only a small way, a sequel to "Superman/Batman #7" which also starred Superboy and Robin. It's a great big, very fun action adventure story with a very emotional core. I'm quite proud of what my son accomplished.
Q: How did this story come about?
Jeph: Again, two versions. Eddie Berganza (Superman/Batman's Editor) had asked Sam, largely on the strength of Sam's first published work in "Tales of the Vampire #5" from Dark Horse, to write Issue 26. Since the story was about two teenage superheroes, Eddie thought Sam, being 17, would have his own unique spin. When you read the story you will see how right Eddie was/is.
The second version is the aftermath of Sam's death which saddens me to no end, but how the comic book community rallied around -- all of whom are Sam's friends -- to finish the issue. It began at the funeral where many of The 26 asked what they could do for Sam.
We all knew about "Superman/Batman #26" and it was there that Dan Didio and Eddie Berganza approved us moving forward with the crew that was quickly being assembled.
These were all Sam's friends. He had his own relationship that was separate from mine with each of these astonishingly talented folks. Who are The 26?
- Arthur Adams
- Joe Casey
- John Cassaday
- Joyce Chin
- Ian Churchill
- Allan Heinberg
- Geoff Johns
- Joe Kelly
- Mike Kunkel
- Jim Lee
- Pat Lee
- Rob Liefeld
- Paul Levitz
- Jeph Loeb ;)
- Joe Madureira
- Jeff Matsuda
- Ed McGuinness
- Brad Meltzer
- Carlos Pacheco
- Duncan Rouleau
- Tim Sale
- Richard Starkings
- Mike Turner
- Brian K. Vaughan
- Mark Verheiden
- Joss Whedon
The Sam Loeb College Scholarship Fund was set up in September 2005. It awards one student each year who attend Sam's High School, North Hollywood High Gifted Magnet Program. The student best exemplifies Sam's qualities both as a student and as a person -- in other words, brilliant with a sense of humor.
Q: What is Sam's contribution to the story?
Jeph: Sam wrote the story. That is to say, he wrote the plot for the entire issue.
There are some smatterings of dialogue all of which we will keep. He worked long and hard with Eddie to get it approved and then Pat Lee was going to draw it when Sam died. In an effort to make the issue something that was worthy of his memory, Pat graciously became one of The 26.
Eddie, Geoff Johns and I have taken Sam's plot and divided it up into sections for the various artists. Since Sam's story was episodic in nature, it's actually easier than it sounds. But don't get me wrong. This could turn out to be a gigantic mess and Sam would find that hilarious.
Q: What are the other writers and artists contributing to the story?
Jeph: The 26 have been given the assignments of completing the book.
The artists for the most part each have one page to do, while the writers will have 1-3 depending on schedule. With a group this large we know the final product will be both exciting and somewhat disjointed and we all believe that Sam would find that very funny.
Q: Now that you've signed an exclusive with Marvel Comics, were they amenable to your contribution to this story?
Jeph: For me, this was an exclusion from the beginning. What was truly remarkable, however, was that both Dan Buckley and Joe Quesada didn't even BLINK when I asked if I could get exclusions for Joe Madureira and John Cassaday (maybe their two biggest guns) to help out. They just said, "Go and do it." But, that's what Marvel is all about.
Marvel is also doing a very special something that I can't talk about right now but it will be quite huge for The Fund. Sam had an amazing impact on everyone he met.
Q: Is this your final work for DC?
Jeph: It wasn't intended so, but it turns out to be. And final is such a finality! I'm not retiring. My deal with Marvel is two years. Maybe I'll be back!
Q: The "Smallville" team dedicated an episode to Sam, and now DC has this tribute to your son -- why do you think your son clearly touched the lives of your peers so deeply?
Jeph: And an Episode of Robot Chicken on the Cartoon network and... and... and...
You're asking me what made my son special, I don't know if that's something I can put into words. Anyone who met him just felt it. He was meant to change the world and taken WAY WAY WAY too soon -- so the ripple is what is changing the world. That, and I think everyone was astonished at how he could "find the funny" in any situation -- even if HE was the funny.
I miss him so terribly...
Q: Will the "Superman for all Seasons" back-up tie into the original "Superman for all Seasons" miniseries?
Jeph: Yes. Like Prom Night that was in Tim Sale's SOLO book and the two page When Clark Met Bruce that's in Public Enemies, these are all stories from that era and done in that style. The color is brilliant.
This is a very personal story that I wrote about Clark's friendship with a boy named Sam who gets cancer in the Junior Year at Smallville High. Paul Levitz wrote me the most amazing note after Sam died and suggested that I try to use what had happened to create something -- anything.
Ten days after Sam died, I wrote "Sam's Story." Tim Sale illustrated it perfectly. Richard Starkings lettered it perfectly. We're going to have the entire story online at www.newsarama.com very soon. I'm very proud of the work.
Q: Is there a thematic connection between Sam's story and the "Superman for all Seasons" back-up?
Jeph: Yes. Although it won't be apparent at first. That's all I can say about it now.
Q: Again, sorry for your loss. I'm happy to see the great number of creators rallying around you on this issue.
Jeph: THANK YOU. If you want to know more about The Sam Loeb College Scholarship Fund or if you want to make a donation, please send an email to SamLoeb4@aol.com. Someone will contact you asap.
Thanks again,
Jeph
This interview is Copyright © 2006 by Steven Younis. It is not to be reproduced in part or as a whole without the express permission of the author.
Interviews
Introduction
The Superman Homepage has had the pleasure of interviewing various Superman Comic Book creative people about their work.
Question and Answer Interviews:
- Interview with writer Marv Wolfman about Man and Superman: The Deluxe Edition (November 2019)
- Interview with artist Claudio Castellini about Man and Superman: The Deluxe Edition (November 2019)
- Interview with artist Joe Staton about working on Superman properties over the years (November 2019)
- Interview with Christopher Priest about the Superman vs. Deathstroke story in Deathstroke #8 (November 2016)
- Interview with Sterling Gates about the 'Adventures of Supergirl' digital-first comic book series (January 2016)
- Interview with J. Michael Straczynski about Superman: Earth One - Vol. 3 - Writer J. Michael Straczynski talks to us about the third volume in the Superman: Earth One graphic novel series (February 2015)
- Interview with Jim Krueger - Writer Jim Krueger talks to us about his The Dark Lantern story in the Adventures of Superman comic book title (November 2013)
- Smallville: Season 11 Interview with Bryan Q. Miller - Writer Bryan Q. Miller talks to us about his work on the Smallville: Season 11 comic book title (October 2012)
- Supergirl Interview with Mahmud Asrar - Artist Mahmud Asrar talks to us about his work on the monthly Supergirl comic book title (July 2012)
- Superman/Batman Interview with Joshua Hale Fialkov - Joshua Hale Fialkov answers our questions about The Secret 3-part story in Superman/Batman #85-87 (July 2011)
- Supergirl Interview with Sterling Gates - Sterling Gates answers our questions about where Supergirl is headed post War of the Supermen (June 2010)
- Supergirl Interview with Sterling Gates & Jamal Igle - Adam Dechanel chats with the Supergirl comic book team about the Maid of Might (March 2010)
- Behind the Scenes of the Super Friends - Four part indepth look at the Super Friends comic book title with artists J. Bone and Stewart McKenny (February 2010)
- Interview with Landry Q Walker and Eric Jones - The writer and artist discuss Supergirl: Cosmic Adventures in the Eighth Grade (May 2009)
- Interview with Elliot S! Maggin - Legendary Superman writer and novelist discusses his career (January 2009)
- Interview with J. Bone - Artist discusses Super Friends comic book (November 2008)
- Interview with Mark Bagley (September 2008)
- Interview with J. Torres - Writer discusses Legion of Super Heroes in the 31st Century #18 (September 2008)
- Interview with Jake Black (May 2008)
- Interview with Cary Bates (June 2008)
- Interview with Jack Briglio - Writer discusses Legion of Super Heroes in the 31st Century #14 (May 2008)
- Interview with Ken Pontac - Writer discusses Justice League Unlimited #44 (May 2008)
- Interview with Karl Kerschl (April 2008)
- Interview with J. Torres - Writer discusses Legion of Super Heroes in the 31st Century #13 (April 2008)
- Interview with J. Torres - Writer discusses Legion of Super Heroes in the 31st Century #11 (February 2008)
- Interview with Fabian Nicieza - Writer on Superman comic books (June 2007)
- Interview with Danny Fingeroth - Writer of the book Superman on the Couch (May 2007)
- Interview with Jesse McCann - Writer on the Krypto The Superdog comic books (December 2006)
- Interview with Matt Haley - Artist on the Superman Returns comic book movie adaptation (November 2006)
- Interview with Ethan Van Sciver - Artist on Superman/Batman (September 2006)
- Interview with Mark Verheiden on taking over the writing duties on Superman/Batman (April 2006)
- Interview with Matt Idelson on taking over as Superman group editor (March 2006)
- Interview with Jeph Loeb on Sam and Superman/Batman #26 (February 2006)
- Interview with Roger Stern (December 2005)
- Interview with Marv Wolfman (November 2005)
- Interview with Gail Simone (May 2005)
- Interview with Greg Rucka (April 2005)
- Interview with Brad Meltzer [Identity Crisis] (January 2005)
- Interview with Glenn Whitmore (November 2004)
- Interview with Jeph Loeb (September 2004)
- Interview with Karl Kerschl (September 2004)
- Interview with Ron Garney (September 2004)
- Interview with Greg Rucka and Matthew Clark (May 2004)
- Interview with Ed McGuinness (March 2004)
- Interview with Brad Meltzer [Identity Crisis] (March 2004)
- Interview with Mark Millar [Superman: Red Son] (March 2003)
- Interview with Min S. Ku (September 2001)
- Interview with Jeph Loeb (May 2001)
- Interview with Joe Casey (April 2001)
- Interview with Mike S. Miller (September 2000)
- Interview with Denis Rodier (August 2000)
- Interview with Grant Morrison (December 1999)
- Interview with Mark Millar [Part 2] (November 1999)
- Interview with Mark Millar [Part 1] (April 1999)
Interviews/Articles:
- Superman vs. Terminator - A Chat with Fight Promoter Alan Grant. (January 2000)
- Superman: The Dailies (1939-1940) Graphic Novel Review.
- The Rebirth of Superman (Part 1) - Superman is reborn... again.
- The Rebirth of Superman (Part 2) - Eddie Barganza on taking the character in a new direction.
- The Rebirth of Superman (Part 3) - Jeph Loeb discusses writing the Man of Steel.
- Lex Luthor For President - Forget Superman. An updated Luthor's new enemies are Gore and Bush.
- Superman: Last Son of Earth - Steve Gerbern Interview - The writer discusses flip-flopping the Man of Steel's origin. (August 2000)
Krypton Club Interviews:
When Lois & Clark started production in 1993, there was an obvious relationship between the comic book people and the Hollywood people.
A trade paperback Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, was published, with Dean Cain and Teri Hatcher on the cover. It included reprints of comic book stories that were the inspiration for Lois & Clark, helping to define the characters. Comic's included are: The Story of the Century (Man of Steel miniseries #2), Tears for Titano (Superman Annual #1), Metropolis - 900 mi (in SUP #9), The Name Game (SUP #11), Lois Lane (in ACT #600), Headhunter (AOS #445), Homeless for the Holidays (AOS #462), The Limits of Power (AOS #466), and Survival (ACT #665).
A number of comic book writers and artists had roles as extras in the episode I'm Looking Through You (Season one, episode 4). Their presence was immortilized in the Sky Trading Card #34.
Craig Byrne, president of the online Lois & Clark fanclub The Krypton Club, carried out a series of interviews with comic book writers. The interviews are reprinted with permission of the Krypton Club.
- Interview with Roger Stern (June 1995)
- Interview with John Byrne (June 1995)
- Interview with Mike Carlin (July 1995)