There’s a new Man of Steel in Metropolis, and he’s ready to take fans up, up and away! With the recent announcement of Starman writer James Robinson picking up full-time duties on Superman starting in June, Wizard Universe took a few minutes to chat with the fan-favorite scribe about his upcoming gig, his plans to tie the book together with Geoff Johns` Action Comics and headbutting the sh-- out of Wizard reporters! So James, it’s been a while since you’ve been in comics. Why did you come back now, and why Superman? Honestly, I have always wanted to work with Geoff Johns. He is one of the greatest comic book creators currently working. And as an old fossil, it’s just nice to be invited to be part of the party. What about Geoff made you want to work with him? Well, if you met him, he’s a genuinely good man that you just want to be around and want to be friends with. So, that’s it. He’s a good man. End of story. How did you get approached to work on the title? Geoff called me up and asked if I wanted to do it. And I jumped at the chance. In fact, if you want to be comic-booky about it, he’s Hal Jordon and I’m Oliver Queen. And that’s very close to the truth. So, I was thrilled to work with him and I am very excited about all the ideas we have. We have so many ideas and hopefully we’ll make Superman less of a putz and more of a book people want to read each month. I’ve been reading Geoff’s stuff in Action Comics, and I love the direction he’s taken the character. What sort of direction will you be taking on your book? Well, I’m wary to tell you. Only because Geoff has a lot of ideas and I’m very much allowing him to run the show. But I will say this: By the end of it, you will care about every major character in the Superman universe. You will care about Superman, you will care about Clark Kent, you will care about Lois, you will care about Jimmy Olsen. It’s going to be a great book when we’re done with it. Actually, that’s a bad thing to say because that means we’d be done and we’d be leaving it. You will love this book while we are writing it. And I honestly see myself on this book for two years. And so does Geoff. So, can we expect more consistency between Superman and Action Comics? More crossovers and such? Yes, you can. You definitely will. This is one of the things we’re excited about. In the past, it’s been broken up. No one cares about Superman broken up. You want consistency. Geoff and I will give you consistency. You will be happy every week a Superman book comes out. I guarantee, once we’re up and running, Superman and Action will be book you want to read. So, it’s kind of like the Batman and Detective Comics stories you did for One Year Later? No, it’s better than that. I would not be doing this if it were just a frolic. This means a lot to me. I want this to be a great piece of work for Geoff and me. Geoff Johns is a fantastic comic book writer. I really believe in him. And I think he and I together can really make Superman into a book...everyone considers this character as superpowered, super-this, super-that, but really boring and not interesting. We will make this character and Metropolis into something you care about. And I’m not somebody that speaks this way with idle threats or boasts—I really am having fun writing these books. So hopefully, you readers will have fun reading what I have done. You mentioned you can’t say too much, but is there anything about character you particularly like? Actually, I can’t say too much more. We have so many plans, that if I say anything, it will ruin it. This book will be fantastic. If you want any indication, Geoff’s run with the Legion of Super-Heroes—that is the smallest aspect of what is planned. Can you talk about any other possible projects you might do? Would you ever go back to Justice Society of America? I don’t need to. I think Geoff Johns is doing a fantastic job and he doesn’t need me to do it. I met Geoff years ago when he was a fan. It’s one of the times when you believe in somebody and they follow through and it’s everything you had hoped for. I’m so proud of him. He doesn’t need my help doing Justice Society. He is solid gold. You mentioned that you met Geoff before and you respect him as a writer. I know for me, I love how he makes each character unique and gives them their own voice. What about how he writes do you like? Yeah, he’s character-driven. I mean, we’re all talking about Justice Society, but let’s remember he did Flash. And he turned that into a fantastic book. I mean, you’re the comic guy, I’m not, who’s the guy who ran Keystone Prison? He was little bit of a Nazi, but he hated supervillains. I can’t believe I don’t think I know this. Oh, you have not been reading Geoff’s work. (EDITOR’S NOTE: Gregory Wolfe is the warden of Iron Heights Prison in Keystone.) Come on man, what are you doing to me? Anyway, my point is, (Geoff) is solid gold in terms of characters. Yet, he knows the world. He knows superheroes. He manages to take reality. Keystone is like Pittsburgh or Detroit—it’s a working-collar place. He manages to take reality, turn it something surreal, turn it into something imaginary, and yet brings it back and makes you believe in it. I enjoyed his run on Flash. I enjoyed his run on Justice Society. And the fact that I get to work with him on Superman and Action is just a big perk for me. I still can’t believe you got me on this Keystone thing. Well, I could quiz you on Starman, and you’d be completed screwed. Am I right on that? (Laughs) See, Starman is a series I’ve always wanted to read but never got a chance to. Kevin, you’re a cool young man. I know that. And you’re getting all nervous. Relax, guy. We’re having fun here. Don’t worry. But yeah, I just finished my introduction to the Starman Omnibus. We’re doing six of them. And all the letters pages and all the extra bits I wrote and added in will all be included. And I actually have to thank the editor for that, who has done a fantastic job of putting everything together. So, where can I read all this? And just because I can get very violent, where do you live? Because if I don’t like what you’ve written, I’m going to beat the sh-- out of you, you know that? (Laughs) I’m not joking. Well, I’m a black belt, so you should be careful. You are a black belt? Well, perfect for you. I can do a devastating headbutt though. (Laughs) Yeah, I’d need to watch out for that. You’re British, correct? Oh yeah. I am very British. I actually have fought black belts before. And I’m not afraid to take a kicking to give one. Not that I think this will come to that. Are you going to be at WonderCon? No, but I will be at New York. Oh. Actually, I just found out I’m going to be at New York. Yeah, I’m going to beat the sh-- out of you. Yeah. That’s when we can have our fight. Bring it on. I’m going to headbutt you all over the place. You’re just going to be aching. I’ll just be punching everyone. So you better say, “Hello” and do so quickly.
- James RobinsonWhat happened was that I had polyps on my vocal cords for about six years. I had them lasered off each time. But then I had a little twinge of a problem while I was doing Rising Sun (1993). I couldn`t get the timbre of my voice right. I couldn`t get the variation and enunciation as comfortable as I wanted. So I went back to the doctor and he suggested radiation. I went for six weeks and didn`t have any side effects or problems. Then I made the announcement that I had done radiation treatment. The publicists said not to do it, that it would set off an explosion. But I thought, "If you do radiation and it`s a success, why not speak about it?"
- Sean ConneryI get asked the question so often, I thought it best to make an announcement. I thought long and hard about it and if anything could have pulled me out of retirement it would have been an Indiana Jones film. I love working with Steven (Steven Spielberg) and George (George Lucas), and it goes without saying that it is an honor to have Harrison (Harrison Ford) as my son. But in the end, retirement is just too damned much fun. I, do however, have one bit of advice for Junior: Demand that the critters be digital, the cliffs be low, and for goodness sake keep that whip by your side at all times in case you need to escape from the stunt coordinator! This is a remarkable cast, and I can only say, "Break a leg, everyone". I`ll see you on May 22, 2008, at the theater!
- Sean Connery"I was a very confident child. I knew I wanted to be an actress from the age of 5. Madonna was my original muse -- around 5, I saw her perform on TV, and I realized that performing could be one`s vocation. Then, at 7 or 8, I realized that most actors don`t make a lot of money, and I amended my plan. But at 9, I seized my destiny. I made a formal announcement to my parents that I had to be true to my art. Money or no money, acting is my calling."
- Claire Danes(From a taped announcement concerning his having symptoms of Alzheimer`s disease): "For an actor, there is no greater loss than the loss of his audience. I can part the Red Sea, but I can`t part with you, which is why I won`t exclude you from this stage in my life. ... For now, I`m not changing anything. I`ll insist on work when I can; the doctors will insist on rest when I must. If you see a little less spring to my step, if your name fails to leap to my lips, you`ll know why. And if I tell you a funny story for the second time, please laugh anyway."
- Charlton HestonNo evidence of any Tyson Foods involvement in or concern about the USDA`s proposal to require safe handling labels predated that announcement,
- James Robertsononce he makes the announcement, it will pretty much put to rest most of the questions.
- James Ferguson(explaining why she chose to go public with her breast cancer diagnosis, and forestall any press leaks) I am making this announcement myself, to save enquiring minds ninety-five cents.
- Olivia Newton-JohnIt is absolutely certain that I will very shortly make an announcement,
- Robert NicholsWe continue to have serious dialogue with Notre Dame regarding a game next season, but at this time, there is no agreement in place. We hope to have an announcement regarding the situation soon, but final contracts have yet to be signed.
- Kevin AndersonPeople were still feeling positive after the announcement was made.
- Mark JonesToday we again express our exasperation and disappointment by De Beers` announcement that it will replace one white male managing director with another white male managing director,
- LuluI did lose my sight for a bit because I was crowded in. Everybody rushed on to the track. Then a couple of minutes later the announcement came.
- Roger BannisterI don`t love acting enough to give up my life. (after his big-screen retirement from Hollywood announcement; 1991)
- Charlie KorsmoToday`s spectrum announcement is great news for American consumers and the U.S. economy. President Bush`s committed focus on wireless as a catalyst for technology growth is paying dividends.
- Michael GallagherAfter examining the growth of the market and the status of the competition, we`ve decided to build a facility that is significant in both scope and quality. We intend to lead the currently underserved downtown gaming and entertainment market and today`s announcement reflects that commitment.
- Daniel LeeIt`s been all over the press, and schools are deciding to shut it down. We released a public announcement saying that we had some potential solutions that we were working with, and once we had something concrete we would start implementing it and approach schools.
- Shawn FanningTo me the biggest obstacle the drivers face, in my opinion -- especially assuming they stay where they are through the end of 2006, is keeping the morale of their team high, and getting those guys on their teams working as hard today as they did a week before the announcement,
- Stanton BarrettThey were left without a prom date following the Ameritrade announcement. This planned acquisition demonstrates that this company is a long-term contender in a rapidly consolidating industry.
- Robert HansenInterest in our Z800 3DVisor continues to grow as a result of our strong showing at the January Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, where the product was awarded the coveted Best of Innovations award for the display category. To capitalize on this interest we are expanding our distribution through the addition of several highly qualified direct partners. Today`s announcement covers the first seven.
- Susan JonesI heard the live the announcement on WJR this afternoon, and that was the first notice I or anyone at the University of Michigan had received about any of this. We were negotiating in good faith over the last few months, and we thought we had a deal. We wish WJR and Michigan State the best.
- Bill MartinHe is returning to the private sector. Any announcement about his replacement will be made in Washington.
- Dana SmithHis announcement to leave was a surprise because we were in the process of negotiations to retain him, as we were with Free.
- Stephen HillI got bitten by the free software bug in February of 1998 around the time of the Mozilla announcement.
- Akim MillingtonWith this announcement today, the Army has made it clear what we have known all along - that Fort Riley is truly the crown jewel of the United States Army.
- Alice GolemboCanada and Ontario are pleased to confirm today the announcement by the Office of the Governor of Michigan the elimination of eight alternatives within two corridors under consideration for a new border crossing between Ontario and Michigan,
- Andy StollI think we all felt a little bitter. When that announcement was made, every one of us had a pit in our stomach. Hopefully, the team used that as motivation throughout the summer. I know the coaching staff used it as motivation during the summer - that we didn`t want to be back in the (WNIT).
- Anita BarkerNo deal or announcement is imminent ...,
- Ann BrickAs soon as the result is known, there will be an immediate announcement.
- Ann RathDenver is signed, sealed and delivered to the league. Right now, we`re just waiting to get the team name and personnel in place. I`d say you`ll see an announcement no later than Nov. 1.
- Anthony PattersonUntil I see an announcement that they officially have a league, I`m not going to comment. The NLL throws some things out there. They talked about having a second indoor league, the NLL2, and they`ve talked about expanding to something like 29 teams. None of that has come to fruition.
- Anthony Patterson(At the announcement, Rahman came to the podium wearing a chef`s hat and holding a tray of food.) I just had some chicken Kiev prepared for him, because I am so happy he`s not chicken anymore, ... We`re finally getting in the ring. I`m glad he`s all healed up. I just hope and pray he doesn`t stub his toe or prick his finger before November 12th.
- Arda NazerianWe are confident of making a formal announcement on funding in the next three months along with a Memorandum of Understanding with one of the airframe manufacturers.
- Arlene S. HallPeople in communities in the north are losing their jobs and this announcement will be little comfort to them,
- Arthur BryanPrior to the 1 p.m. shotgun start there will be some campaign festivities, the announcement of our goal, and recognition of the people that give their time to make the Le Mars United Way successful.
- Arvind KumarI was surprised by the announcement that they (Merrill) were going to be that weak. Clearly, June is extremely weak.
- Ashleigh BraxtonWe place a 70 percent chance that an announcement will occur before or during
- Audrey EytonWe will move as rapidly as we can to have a Cabinet in place by the time of the inauguration, ... Expect the first announcement soon.
- Ayenew Alemenehvery concerned by OPM`s announcement tonight of a significant increase in health insurance premium costs.
- Barbara Gibson