After the exciting Elsewhere in the DC Multiverse NYCC 2023 panel brought the return of Elseworlds yesterday, the Superman section of the DC universe is also excited to bring in a new look at the Man of Steel. The Metropolis All-Stars panel featured Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Rafa Sandoval, Joshua Williamson, Jadzia Axelrod, Joanne Starer, and Jason Aaron, as all gathered to talk about their love for Superman.
We didn’t learn too much about Action Comics at NYCC 2023. Writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson was wary of sharing spoilers from the upcoming issues. He did reveal that readers will see more of A-Town, Blue Earth, and even more Kryptonian lore through Kara.
Unafraid of spoilers, Joshua Williamson offered much more insight into Superman. The new villain, the Chain, possesses the powers of tactile telekinesis — something Williamson brought in as a means of explaining the origins of Superboy’s powers. There will be a massive fight between the Chain and Superman, leaving Superman with the realization that “the only option I have is to do what Lex did”.
Williamson also explained that this book is broken into short arcs — starting with horror, then romance, then action disaster in this current arc. In the future, he also promises a western arc that will feature Marilyn Moonlight, a classic Superman villain described as “a total badass”, and a two-page spread featuring Moonlight and Superman riding into the sunset.
DC Comics
Axelrod and Starer discussed Hawkgirl and Fire & Ice. Axelrod mostly discussed the Metropolis-style hot dog (French fries, chili, red cabbage sauerkraut, peaches, and potentially fried eggs), her joy at Galaxy joining Hawkgirl as a peer, and the importance of using this book as a vehicle to develop both Hawkgirl and Kendra Saunders.
Starer, meanwhile, praised the art of Fire & Ice and offered some insights into the tensions between the pair, likening it to a sitcom.
In terms of major announcements, DC is starting a new movement, called “Superman Superstars”, featuring superstar creatives joining the Action Comics imprint. This initiative will start in 2024, beginning with Jason Aaron — which was why he was on the panel in the first place — and John Timms. Their run will be called “I, Bizarro” (which was mistakenly titled “I, Brainiac” on the presentation slide). The run will last for three “oversized” issues and will feature a darker edge to Bizarro, who will have a new special power.
DC Comics
Joshua Williamson will also join the line, writing “House of Brainiac”, which will feature the Mark Waid-designed Brainiac Queen. The Queen is described as “very cool, and very scary, and very dangerous.” DC promises that “You’re gonna see a lot of her all year.”
With two massive shake-ups, DC will already be leaving NYCC 2023 with a completely reinvigorated line — and there are still two more days of announcements to go. Keep following, as more news is sure to come.
Join the AIPT Patreon
Want to take our relationship to the next level? Become a patron today to gain access to exclusive perks, such as:
- ❌ Remove all ads on the website
- 💬 Join our Discord community, where we chat about the latest news and releases from everything we cover on AIPT
- 📗 Access to our monthly book club
- 📦 Get a physical trade paperback shipped to you every month
- 💥 And more!
You must be logged in to post a comment.