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"Ask Matt" Fan Forum Archives
Here are Matt Idelson's answers to questions fans put to him in November 2007:
Matt's Answers
Chris V. (Email address withheld by request) asks:I just want to say that I really enjoyed the Superman stories that have been coming out lately, and I want to apologize for yet another continuity question... but, I have to know, is the Matrix Supergirl really gone? Dan Didio said yes, Matrix is gone, but, Geoff Johns said no. So which is it?
Matt: Ahh, the Battle of the Titans! Or is it possible one of them is messing with you? Let's just say the question of the Matrix will be resolved--not necessarily in ACTION, but it will be addressed in the future.
Gregory McNeill (mcneill_35@yahoo.com) asks:
Ron Troupe, Lucy Lane, and Perry White's adopted son Keith haven't been seen in the Superman titles for a while. Any plans on their return? What I admire about the Dan Jurgens/Brett Breeding era is that it presented social issues without being preachy during their run. Any way to see them again?
Matt: Hey, Gregory! That's a good one. Ron has actually shown up a couple of times in SUPERMAN over the last year, and he gets no less than the headline in the Daily Planet when the ACTION ANNUAL comes out in February, but that's not really where you're coming from, is it. Look for plenty of Ron and Perry in both books in '08, though I suspect Lucy and Keith won't be popping up. It's not that we don't like them, but the plans that are brewing for ACTION post-the Legion arc and in SUPERMAN #675 and onwards are going to be quite filled to the brim with many things--including some social commentary.
Barry Freiman (Email address withheld by request) asks:
Is "Superman Confidential" telling stories in continuity? If so, why has it ended up telling the same "untold" post-infinite crisis tale about how Superman and Jimmy Olsen met twice in such a short time when there are so many untold post-IC tales to tell?
Matt: At the risk of sounding like a buck-passer, Barry, I couldn't really answer that for you. I actually don't have any involvement with that title at any point in its production, strange as that seems. I would suspect that having more than one editor on the book during its short run might have something to do with the duplication, anyway.
Aaron (stillinthefield@yahoo.com) asks:
Hey Matt, thanks for taking the time to answer these questions. I've noticed over the years there seems to be a close connection between Superman and Green Lantern, especially with Cyborg and Prime being so important to the Sinestro Corps arc. So my question is: Will there be a story told of the relationship between the Green Lantern Corps/Guardians of the Universe and Krypton? It just seems to me that a group calling themselves the Guardians of the Universe would be concerned with the destruction of an entire planet.
Matt: According to Geoff himself, that's not something he's planning to address anytime soon. Knowing Geoff the way I do, I'd say that's something he'll address someday!
Jeremy Schneider (kenobi0001@sbcglobal.net) asks:
Hey Matt, I was just thinking about what the future holds for Superman. This may or may not have been asked or answered before but what happens when Superman out lives the people he knows and loves. Will he ever out live Lois Lane? If he is immortal then he will surely out live everyone he loves.
Matt: Interestingly, Jeremy, there was a period in the Superman books that looked at the Superman of the far future, where he was under a new name and having to build a new life in futuristic Metropolis. Obviously, we can't consider those stories to be in continuity. Superman isn't actually immortal--he just ages much, much slower than us wee humans. And logic suggests that he would out live everyone he knows and loves (and those he hates, for that matter!). That's actually something that will be addressed to a degree in a hardcover we're currently in the starting stages of.
Wayne C. Brooks (brooks7507@comcast.net) asks:
Will we ever see the Clark Kent/Bill Henderson friendship again? During the entire run of classic THE ADVENTURES of SUPERMAN tv series some of the best Clark Kent character moments was when he and Police Inspector Bill Henderson were together. There was no question that Bill was Clark's BEST FRIEND (their rapport was always so natural). I always believed if there was one person one that Clark would trust with his secret (on the show) it would be Bill. Their friendship was real. Clark needs that friendship.
Matt: While it's always fun to bring in elements from other mediums, Bill Henderson won't be one of those we'll be seeing, Wayne. We really want to keep the focus in the upcoming year on folks like Perry, Lois, Jimmy, and of course Clark. And one or two other folks at the Planet who we'll be surprising you with.
Captain Kal (Email address withheld by request) asks:
Are Superman's enhanced senses and brain going to be part of the stories again? Those were introduced in "Up, Up and Away" as being greater than they were before Infinite Crisis. It's also implied that these are greater than the baseline powers of empowered Kryptonians so it might have been nice to see that shown in some form during the recent Third Kryptonian saga which was a perfect place to demonstrate it.
Matt: That's a good point about "The Third Kryptonian," oh Captain, my captain. While the enhanced brain and senses will make the occasional appearance, it's not something we'll be playing up too much, I don't think.
Justin (havok2nd2none@YAHOO.COM) asks:
Will we see Lex Luthor anytime soon, will he be the villian he once was?
Matt: Well, Justin, Lex is pretty busy these days in SALVATION RUN, and he's very much the villain there, that's for sure. So we won't be getting to see Lex in the Superman books for a bit, but you know that when you least expect it, he's going to butt in on the action. (And no, that wasn't a pun or clue!)
Kevin J. (Email address withheld by request) asks:
Hi, Matt. Keep up the good work. Recently in "Action Comics #858", Clark remembers meeting the Legion in his youth. Does he meet them after meeting Mon-El or before?
Matt: Good question, Kevin. Clark's meeting with Mon-El took place prior to his fateful run-in (of which we'll see a little more before too long) with the Legion.
Joel (Email address withheld by request) asks:
Hello, Matt. I wanted to know if Jesus Merino helped Carlos pencil the second part of Camelot Falls? I was wondering because: 1) The art looks different and 2) It looks similar to the cover in "Superman #669". Thanks a bunch.
Matt: Good eye, Joel! Jesus indeed went from his usual inking over Carlos to doing finishes. It seems Carlos was very busy working on his audition material for "American Idol". None of us had the guts to tell him he has to be American to enter, and by the time he figured it out for himself...
Thanks Matt! Merry Christmas to you and the crew at DC Comics.
Matt: Right back at you and your crew, Steve, and the excellent readers who make me feel loved, even when I don't deserve it!
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