It’s been an interesting few months in the land of all things Superman. Full on creative shufflings include JMS taking over Superman, and at one point, Marc Guggenheim was set to take over Action Comics. See, back in December we knew that come June, Guggenheim would be the ongoing writer of Action Comics. I personally was not looking forward to it that much, and was wondering why Johns couldn’t write it, but hey, personal problem.
Anyway, Guggenheim was going to start in June.
Fast forward to the second week of April, though, and Guggenheim is off the book in favor of Paul Cornell.
Huhwha?
“I’m proud and honored to be taking on such a historic title,” Cornell says. “It’s particularly great to begin by featuring Lex Luthor, who’s always been one of my favorite characters. So many legendary creators have written this title in the past that I’m giddy and frankly terrified at the prospect of following in their footsteps.”
Well, that’s cool, Cornell likes his new job and wants to write about Lex. I can dig that. But where’s the Guggs?
Superman Group Editor Matt Idelson explains:
“I’m very bummed to be missing out on this chance to work with Marc who I think would have kicked some serious butt on Action,” he says. “The story he pitched began to evolve into something quite different, something Marc knew would be great, but he had concerns about whether he was the man to write this tale. Rather than do a disservice to the book, the readers and himself, Marc decided to step away from Action, and we both know that sometime in the future, we’ll be collaborating on Superman for sure.
“With Guggs out of the picture, there was only one person to turn to, one writer who could bring this book to those Guggian heights while still making it his own—Paul Cornell. Shockingly, he accepted the challenge. In the short time we’ve been working together, his enthusiasm has blown me away!”
Apparently Guggs will be writing something else in the future, but in the meantime, he’s the first writer I can recall to ever get one of the biggest name books in comics, get announced as the ongoing writer, come up with a pitch, and then completely lose their nerve and pass their plot to a different writer. Guggenheim writes TV, decent TV, and he’s definitely not the kind of person I see getting cold feet without a reason. For him to back down means that he really does know what’s best for the book.
And in the meantime, we get this!
ACTION COMICS #891
On sale JULY 28 • 40 pg, FC $3.99 US
Written by PAUL CORNELL • Art by PETE WOODS
Cover by DAVID FINCH & joe weems
When Lex Luthor finally regained control of LexCorp, he thought he had everything he wanted. But in BLACKEST NIGHT, he briefly became an Orange Lantern and got a taste of true power. Now he’ll do anything – anything – to get that power back. Buckle in for a greatest hits tour of the DCU’s most wanted as Lex Luthor begins an epic quest for power, all brought to you by new ongoing writer Paul Cornell (Dr. Who, Captain Britain and MI-13) and artist Pete Woods (WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON), with covers by David Finch (BRIGHTEST DAY, Ultimatum)!
Lex has his company and he wants power rings? How AWESOME is that?!?!
Gold Standard Awesome