Like Pete Sampras in the 1996 U.S. Open against Alex Corretja, I fought off illness and exhaustion to bring you this week’s NewsOK Comics Podcast with Kyle Roberts. We talk about the excellent week DC Comics had, with new issues of Supergirl, Adventure Comics and Flash Rebirth, and about Spider-Man’s trip into the Gauntlet with Amazing Spider-Man 612. Check it out.

- Matt Price

Tulsa-born writer Sterling Gates is joined by two Supergirl superstars for “Supergirl” No. 50.  Artwork from the late Michael Turner will be the cover of “Supergirl” No. 50.  A back-up story will be written by “Supergirl” actress Helen Slater and Jake Black. 

As revealed in the Superman family solicitations at Newsarama.com, the issue is set for release on Feb. 17 and will run 56 pages for $4.99.   Joshua Middleton, the series’ regular artist, will provide a 1-in-10 variant cover for the issue.

It’s the second “Supergirl” news featuring Slater in recent weeks. The actress also provided the introduction to “Supergirl: Who Is Superwoman?,” the collection of “Supergirl” issues by Gates and artist Jamal Igle released this week.

- Matt Price

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Kyle Roberts and Matt Price review some of this week’s comics, including Supergirl 41, Wolverine: Weapon X 2, Batman Battle for the Cowl 3 and Captain America 50.
Below, see an image gallery from “Wolverine: Weapon X” 2, written by Jason Aaron with art by Ron Garney.

Superman Secret Files 2009 #1

The next Super-crossover rocks the “Superman” titles in August, as a shooting threatens to ratchet up the tension between Earth and New Krypton.  Greg Rucka, James Robinson and Sterling Gates bring “World of New Krypton,” “Action Comics,” “Superman” and “Supergirl” into the four-part story “Codename: Patriot.”   The “Superman Secret Files” will serve as a primer to “Codename: Patriot.”

“It kicks off the next phase in our overarching Super-story,” Gates said. “It’s the next phase of General Lane’s plan. It’s going to have some long-standing repercussions not only for Superman, but for Lois Lane, Supergirl, Jimmy Olsen, and General Zod,” Gates said.

“Codename: Patriot” has personal repercussions for Superman as well, who follows the suspected shooter to Earth.

“It also marks the first time Superman has returned to Earth since he left six months ago, and there are some people out there who will not be happy to see the Man of Steel come back,” said Gates, who is a University of Oklahoma graduate.

The storyline also offers some reunions for Supergirl.

“While Superman’s being reunited with his friends and family, Supergirl is reunited with her childhood friend, Thara Ak-Var,” Gates said. Thara Ak-Var has been living on Earth and operating as the Kryptonian hero Flamebird.

But that reunion may not play out how readers expect, Gates said.

The crossover begins in “Superman: World of New Krypton” No. 6, on sale August 5, and continues in “Action Comics” #880, “Supergirl” #44, and concludes in “Superman” #691.

– Matt Price

Check out a preview of “Supergirl” #41, written by OU graduate Sterling Gates, at Newsarama.   If you haven’t read issue 40 yet, this will spoil that issue’s revelation. “Supergirl” 41 goes on sale May 20.  After last issue’s revelation of the identity of Superwoman, this issue features a confrontation between the two super-females.

– Matt Price

“I graduated from OU in 2005 with a degree in art, with a specialization in film and television production,”  (Gates) said. “I wanted to be a television writer.”

“I made some terrible short films in college that I pray never see the light of day,” Gates laughed. “We watched them one night a few weeks ago, my girlfriend and I. I was so pretentious, like trying to make these artsy, intense deep films, and I had no idea what I was talking about.”

Full article found here.

– Matt Price

- Matt Price

This “Superman: World of New Krypton” trailer debuted at WonderCon in San Francisco over the weekend.

- Matt Price

Happy birthday from Nerdage to Oklahoma’s Sterling Gates, current writer of “Supergirl.”

The mystery deepens in “Who is Superwoman?” part 2 in “Supergirl” 38, and Norman Osborn takes his Avengers on their first mission in “Dark Avengers” 2, as Kyle Roberts and Matt Price discuss this week’s comic-book highlights.

Comic Book Resources reports on the Superman panel from New York Comic-Con, which included Greg Rucka, James Robinson, Geoff Johns and Tulsa’s Sterling Gates.

Rucka and Robinson were recently announced as the writers of “Superman: World of New Krypton,” replacing Andrew Kreisberg.

What’s going on with Superman in general?

“This is the midway point of the overall Superman plan,” Rucka told the gathered fans.

And Gates shared some specifics about the upcoming “Supergirl” storyline:

“We’re going to do some interesting stuff with New Kyrpton and with Supergirl’s mother and with people in Metropolis,” Gates said. “The secret identity of Linda Lang is not going away, it’s going to be big and we’re going to do some good stuff with it.”

See the full panel report (warning: some language) at Comic Book Resources.

– Matt Price

Ten suspects are run down in total — feel free to share your guesses here!

– Matt Price

WORD BALLOONS

Supergirl is sent after her father’s murderer in “Supergirl” No. 37, shipping Wednesday from DC Comics.

Writer Sterling Gates, a University of Oklahoma graduate, says “Supergirl” will deal with some of the fallout from the “New Krypton” story arc, which ended this week in “Action Comics.”

“Supergirl’s mother, Alura, sends her on a mission to collect the villain Reactron from Earth,” Gates said. “Reactron was responsible for the death of Supergirl’s father.”

The villain Reactron was originally a 1980s villain that the “Superman” family of writers revamped.

“Reactron has a piece of Gold Kryptonite in his chest, making him far more lethal to Kryptonians,” Gates said. As currently written, the Gold-K temporarily removes a Kryptonian’s powers.

But a mysterious character stands in the way of Supergirl’s mission. Superwoman, a masked character wearing Superman’s symbol, doesn’t want Supergirl to succeed. This first part of “Who Is Superwoman?” will provide more clues to the character’s mystery.

Also written by Gates, is “Faces of Evil: Prometheus,” released on Wednesday. This story aims to revamp the villain Prometheus into a top-line DC antagonist.

“Prometheus isn’t your typical DC villain,” Gates said. “He’s intense, and dark, and terrible. He finds himself incredibly funny, even though to us, he’s sadistic. Because of how dreadful a personality he is, I found him incredibly difficult to write. Too dark a guy for me to write all the time.”

Gates recently signed an exclusive contract with DC Comics, meaning for the foreseeable future, all of Gates’ comic-book writing will be done for that publisher.

“I’m pretty wrapped up in Supergirl stuff right now,” Gates said. “We’ve got some giant plans for the character, as well as for the Superman Universe in general, and they keep getting bigger and bigger.”

- by Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman

Newsarama named Supergirl a character to watch in 2009, and named Sterling Gates, who writes the series, as one of its creators to watch in 2009 as well.  Gates is a University of Oklahoma graduate who grew up in Tulsa.  Check the links for the full lists, which include characters like Wolverine and Batman and creators including Jason Aaron.

– Matt Price

For an advance look at “Supergirl” 36, shipping Wednesday from DC Comics, take a look at Newsarama, which has the first five pages posted.  “Supergirl” is written by Tulsa-raised Sterling Gates, a University of Oklahoma graduate.  The artist is Jamal Igle.

– Matt Price

Sterling is one of the rising stars here at DC. You always get the question of where are the new writers coming from, and who are the talents we’re looking to grow, and Sterling is definitely one of them. We just put him under an exclusive contract as well, because we have a lot of belief and faith in his abilities. He’s done a great job with Supergirl – he’s been able to take what’s been going on in the Superman books and bring that level of focus and depth to Supergirl and I feel as if he’s really solidified the direction of that series. The great part also in New Krypton, we’ve had the introduction of Supergirl’s parents in Kandor – that really helps to build a strong supporting cast for that series, and Sterling has a great handle on what to do with that book. He’s the writer for the future of Supergirl. 

Lots more in the link about New Krypton, and more of DC Comics’ plans for 2009.

– Matt Price