Oklahoma writer Sterling Gates creates World’s Finest team-ups
World’s Finest #1, kicking off a miniseries teaming Superman and Batman family characters, is in stores today, written by Tulsa native Sterling Gates.
At DC Comics’ official “Source” blog, Gates is called a “writer to watch.”
“Gates has made a name for himself for his tight plotting and knack for strong and precise characterization,” blogger Alex Segura writes.
Meanwhile, at Newsarama, Vaneta Rogers has an extended Q&A with Gates about the series.
“The Batman universe is so full of change right now. So is the Superman universe,” Gates tells Newsarama. “Bruce Wayne is dead and Superman has left the planet Earth to be with his own people on New Krypton. The world is suddenly without its two greatest heroes. To me, that makes it a very exciting time for the DC Universe. You’re seeing new and different characters come to the forefront and stepping up to fill the void left with Superman and Batman gone.”
Gates talked to Nerdage back in September about the project:
“Each issue focuses on a different Batman-Universe hero and villain teaming up with a different Superman-Universe hero and villain,” Gates said. “So, you’re getting four great characters coming into conflict, and you just have to sit back and watch the fireworks.”
Gates said ” World’s Finest” also has some of his “all-time favorite villains.”
“Catwoman’s in there, Mr. Freeze, Penguin, Kryptonite Man, Toyman,” he said. “It’s gonna take all of these heroes working together to rein these supervillains in!”
- Matt Price
Whiteout writer Greg Rucka joins Oklahoma native Sterling Gates in Hunt for Reactron
LOS ANGELES — A U.S. Marshal investigating a murder at the bottom of the world is the premise of “Whiteout,” the graphic novel by Greg Rucka and Steve Lieber, which was adapted into a motion picture starring Kate Beckinsale.
The comic-book limited series “Whiteout” from Oni Press was a big success in late 1990s. The sequel, “Whiteout: Melt,” nabbed the Eisner Award for best limited series.
At the press conference for the film “Whiteout,” Rucka said it’s an honor to see his creation make the jump to the silver screen, as a lot of comic books and graphic novels never make that jump.
“I’m still in awed shock that it made it this far, honestly,” Rucka said. “Steve Lieber and I created a comic to tell the story we wanted to tell. … All you can really be is incredibly flattered that this idea that you created in one format, because that was the format that you were working in, is something that somebody wants to take the time and the effort to translate.”
This month, Rucka’s moving from the icy wasteland of “Whiteout” to the heated action of “The Hunt for Reactron.”
The four-part crossover between “Action Comics” and “Supergirl” follows the “Codename: Patriot” storyline and features Supergirl, Nightwing and Flamebird on the hunt for Reactron, the villain who killed Supergirl’s father, Zor-El.
Supergirl and Flamebird, best friends in childhood, have been at odds since Zor-El’s death. But both want 
the man who killed Zor-El brought to justice. This Nightwing isn’t Dick Grayson, but is Chris Kent, Superman’s adopted son.
Rucka is co-writing the crossover with “Supergirl” writer Sterling Gates, a University of Oklahoma graduate.
“Sterling is fantastic, he’s a great collaborator,” Rucka said at the “Whiteout” film junket. “I’m loving writing with Sterling. He and I are doing two issues of ‘Action’ (and) two issues of ‘Supergirl’ together.”
The crossover begins in Wednesday’s “Action Comics” 881 and continues in “Supergirl” 45, on sale Sept. 23. The story concludes in October’s issues of “Action Comics” and “Supergirl.”
- By Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman
NewsOK Comics Podcast: Ultimate Comics Spider-Man 2, Supergirl Annual 1, Torch 1
Things light up with Torch #1, and it’s the end of the world as we know it in Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #2. In Supergirl Annual 1, find out the origin of Superwoman and visit a day in the life of Linda Lang.
- Matt Price
NewsOK Comics Podcast: Supergirl 44, X-Men Legacy 227, Wolverine Weapon X 4 and Archie 600
Kyle Roberts and Matt Price discuss how you can’t always judge a comic book by its cover, as they review Supergirl 44, X-Men Legacy 227, Wolverine Weapon X 4 and Archie 600.
Expansive Sterling Gates interview at Newsarama
Oklahoma’s Sterling Gates gives an in-depth interview about his upcoming plans to Newsarama’s Vaneta Rogers. Superfans should go check it out, as more hints are revealed about what the Super-team writers are building to in the coming year.
Gates also lets some information slip about the upcoming “Supergirl Annual,” but reminds readers that sometimes it’s best if not everything is spelled out.
“You’ll see a lot of Lucy Lane’s back-story in Supergirl Annual #1, and some — and I said ‘some’ — of the questions about Superwoman’s origin will be answered there,” Gates tells Newsarama. “We won’t answer everything. I think it’s fun not to know everything about a character all at once. I mean, I was obsessed with Wolverine when I was a kid because his back story was this huge mystery, and it was great to just get little bits and pieces as I kept reading.”
- Matt Price
Superman books continue to build
Sterling Gates and Greg Rucka
SAN DIEGO — A group of all-stars held court on Superman at the Superman: Two Worlds panel at Comic-Con International: Geoff Johns, James Robinson, Ian Sattler, Matt Idleson, Francis Manapul, Tulsa-born Sterling Gates, Jamal Igle, James Robinson and Greg Rucka.
The upcoming Codename Patriot arc is part of the overall plan building into a major Superman storyline in 2010, said Robinson, who is writing “Superman,” currently starring Mon-El.
“General Lane has been a factor in these books, obviously, what we want to make him into is the supreme strategist,” Robinson said. “He has literally plans, and layers on top of these plans, which are all leading up to this event in 2010. We’ll see how it grows until eventually all the pieces come together and we’ll have an event that you’ll all love.”
OU graduate Sterling Gates will get his name on perhaps the most successful comic book of all time, Action Comics. He and Greg Rucka will co-write an Action-Supergirl crossover that will feature Kara at odds with her former best friend, Thara, who now wears the Flamebird costume.
Gates also talked about his new miniseries, World’s Finest, which will deal with the issue of Bruce Wayne being missing from Superman’s circle after Batman’s presumed death. Each issue of World’s Finest will pair a member of the Superman cast with a member of the Batman cast.
- Matt Price
Supergirl print available at Comic-Con
SAN DIEGO — Supergirl artist Jamal Igle has made a limited-edition print of Supergirl, available at booth 4301 at Comic-Con. Only 100 of these exist, so they probably won’t last the entire con.
Igle and Supergirl writer Sterling Gates, OU graduate, will talk about future plans for Supergirl at today’s Superman panel, 11:45 in room 6DE.
- Matt Price
Supergirl’s underwear has internet atwitter
One of the more surprising stories to catch the mainstream media interest is the story of Supergirl’s bike shorts, instituted after editor Matt Idelson decided he was tired of the Girl of Steel showing off her underwear when flying around. Jamal Igle talked about the decision with Newsarama, leading it to be picked up by NPR. Now, Robot 6 has a rundown of the various interested parties, including a few who are upset about not being able to look at the teen’s underpants anymore. (Image from Supergirl Comic Box Commentary, which Supergirl fans should bookmark.)
Tulsa-born writer and OU graduate Sterling Gates is the writer of Supergirl, and is one of the most successful active Oklahoma comic-book writers. His “Supergirl” has been an extremely well-done book that examines her character in an incisive way, while building up a supporting cast and a sense of mystery. It’s somewhat unfortunate that the press the book is getting is instead for the Girl of Steel’s choice of undergarment, rather than the outstanding work done by Igle and Gates. However, I applaud the creators for making the Supergirl book more suited for girls and women to enjoy.
- Matt Price
NewsOK Comics Podcast: Captain America 600, Young Allies Special 1, Supergirl 42, X-Men Origins Gambit
Kyle Roberts and Matt Price discuss Captain America #600, Young Allies Special #1, Supergirl #42 and X-Men Origins: Gambit.
Supergirl 42 preview at Newsarama
An early preview of “Supergirl” #42, by Tulsa native Sterling Gates and Jamal Igle, is available at Newsarama. General Lane deals with the death of Superwoman, and Supergirl must talk to Lois Lane about her sister’s death. “Supergirl” 42 goes on sale June 17.
- Matt Price
