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SAN DIEGO — Upgrades of old villains, revivals of past heroes, and an overall focus on character are key parts of the vision for upcoming Superman stories.

Writers Geoff Johns (”Action Comics”), James Robinson (”Superman”) and Tulsa’s Sterling Gates (”Supergirl”) took part in the “Superman: Man of Tomorrow” panel at Comic-Con International.  They were joined by “Supergirl” artist Jamal Igle, “Superman” artist Renato Guedes, and “Action Comics” fill-in artist Joe Prado.  Editor Matt Idelson moderated.

As part of October’s “New Krypton” crossover, 10,000 Kryptonians find themselves on Earth, which they believe should be New Krypton.  Superman disagrees.   The story is about Superman is still unique, even with thousands of Kryptonians now on Earth.

“It’s not about changing stuff so much as it is about explaining character,” Johns said.

And New Krypton is “just the tip of the iceberg” of what this Superman team has planned, Johns said.  Johns, Gates and Robinson have stories planned into 2010.  

Villains who may soon return to vex the Man of Steel?  Doomsday, who killed Superman in the 1994 best-selling comic “Superman” No. 75, is returning soon, Johns said.  Robinson has revived the Jack Kirby character Atlas in “Superman.”  And while not much was given besides a tease, Johns said to be on the lookout for Superwoman.

Gates’ “Supergirl” will feature villains Reactron and Silver Banshee.  Cat Grant, a gossip/celebrity reporter at the Daily Planet, will become a J. Jonah Jameson-like foil to Supergirl.  But it won’t all be bad news for Supergirl — she gains a confidant in Lana Lang, Gates said.

While they’re using plenty of old characters, Johns said they’re meant to be readable by anyone with a passing familiarity with the Man of Steel.

“Our goal is to make these books extremely accessible,” he said.

– Matt Price

Writer Geoff Johns talked to Comic Book Resources about the upcoming “New Krypton” crossover that will work its way through “Action Comics,” “Superman” and “Supergirl” this fall.   Johns had effusive praise for University of Oklahoma graduate Sterling Gates, the new writer of “Supergirl.”

“Sterling’s first issue of ‘Supergirl’ is the best issue of ‘Supergirl’ I have ever read. I think he’s got a great take on the character and a great energy for the character,” said Johns. “James and I really believe in him. [Editors] Matt [Idelson] and Nachie [Castro] really believe in him and [artist] Jamal Igle is turning in some amazing pages on that book. ‘Supergirl’ is going to be a book to watch.”

Gates was born and raised in Tulsa and graduated from OU in 2005.

– Matt Price

Just announced at Wizard World Chicago is the new creative team on DC’s “Supergirl” title.   Writer Sterling Gates, who grew up in Tulsa and graduated from the University of Oklahoma, joins artist Jamal Igle as the creative team on “Supergirl,” starting with issue #34.  

Nerdage asked Gates a few quick questions about his plans for the Girl of Steel.

Matt Price: What’s your take on Supergirl?
Sterling Gates: Supergirl is one of the strongest girls on the planet Earth. One day, she’s going to grow up to be one of the greatest heroes the world has ever known. In the meantime, however, she’s got a lot of learning to do.

Life is hard for Kara Zor-El. She’s an immigrant who was put in suspended animation and sent to Earth by her parents in order to escape Krypton’s destruction. Now that she’s here, she’s found herself living in her cousin Superman’s shadow. That’s a
LOT for a teenage girl to deal with and wrap her head around, to live in constant comparison to someone who is, or who comes off as, perfect. So she’s tried everything she can think of to try and separate herself out from just being “Superman’s cousin,” and it’s not worked out too well, so far.

And that’s more or less where we pick up in Supergirl #34. My goal for that book is to build Kara into a better hero, and hopefully when I leave, she’ll be one step closer towards being the hero we all want her to be.

MP: What are your favorite “Supergirl” comics?
SG: Y’know, I was a big fan of the Carmine Infantino-Paul Kupperberg “Daring New Adventures of Supergirl” comics in the mid-80’s. I loved loved loved Supergirl the movie when I was a kid, and I read that comic book adaptation they did so many times the staples fell out. I’m also a big fan of the Jeph Loeb-Michael Turner story in Superman/Batman that introduced this version of Kara Zor-El.

And I’d obviously be lying if I didn’t say the “Death of Supergirl” issue of Crisis on Infinite Earths wasn’t one of the greatest Supergirl stories of all time. I get all misty just thinking about it.