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A version of this article ran in Friday’s The Oklahoman:

By Matthew Price
Assistant Features Editor

WORD BALLOONS

A popular author aims to save the birthplace of Superman.  Brad Meltzer, whose new novel, “Book of Lies,” focuses in part on the death of Jerry Siegel’s father, is spearheading an effort to save the house where Superman was created.
In 1934, Siegel, 19, lived in Cleveland, Ohio, when he dreamed up the idea of a man from another planet with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men. Siegel, with his friend Joe Shuster, created Superman, now one of the most regognizable fictional characters of all time.
Meltzer’s charity, Ordinary People Change the World, is running auctions to raise $50,000 to repair the house.
Among the items up for auction — a T-shirt signed by Jerry Siegel, a walk-on role on the TV show “Heroes,” and original art from dozens of top comic-book creators.
Tulsa-born writer Sterling Gates, now the writer of “Supergirl,” shared his thoughts on preserving part of Superman’s history.
“That house is an important keystone in our modern mythology, and it should be kept and preserved as an historical site, ” Gates told The Oklahoman. “I mean, if the house where Elvis was born is kept up with, then the house where Kal-El was born should be kept up with, too.”
T-shirts, messenger bags and more designed by artist Chip Kidd are being sold to benefit the Cleveland-based Siegel and Shuster Society.
The house has been occupied since 1983 by Hattie and Jefferson Gray, who have agreed to give the Siegel and Shuster Society first rights to buy the house when they decide to sell,
according to the Associated Press.
Meltzer visited the house when researching his novel.
He decided that the historic location should be preserved, which led to the creation of the Siegel and Shuster Society.
To see a video of the house, bid on auction items, buy an item or make a donation, visit http://www.ordinarypeoplechangetheworld.com/.

Possibly unfortunate news for those who, like me, loved “Superman Returns”: The studio plans to reboot the “Superman” franchise, according to the Wall Street Journal (and seen on Newsarama.)

“‘Superman’ didn’t quite work as a film in the way that we wanted it to,” Warner Bros. Pictures Group President Jeff Robinov told the Wall Street Journal. “It didn’t position the character the way he needed to be positioned.” “Had ‘Superman’ worked in 2006, we would have had a movie for Christmas of this year or 2009,” he adds.

“But now the plan is just to reintroduce Superman without regard to a Batman and Superman movie at all.”

Does this mean Brandon Routh is out? Bryan Singer is done? The article doesn’t make that clear, but it’s certainly a possibility.

For those who loved the Richard Donner film (films if you count II as essentially Donner), then “Superman Returns” returned to that world and wrapped those films up admirably. 

I’m a huge “Superman” fan, so I’m likely in line for whatever WB tries to do.  But you don’t have to go far to find out how much Warner’s didn’t understand the Man of Steel in the not-so-distant past.  As I said when I reviewed the excellent book “Hollywood vs. Superman”:

The abortive “Superman Reborn” of the 1990s, to have starred Nicolas Cage and been directed by Tim Burton, has fueled screenwriter Kevin Smith’s college tours for years, but Rossen finds even more dirt on the plagued production. In addition, the dozens of unusual casting ideas for various Superman projects will have even casual fans scratching their heads — Ashton Kutcher and Neil Diamond were considered as possible Men of Steel; Tim Allen came very close to becoming Lex Luthor.

These are not the ideas of people who get why Superman is important. Let’s hope the people making the decision for the next film respect and love the character as much as the creators of “Superman Returns.”

– Matt Price

Trinity #6

So, after liking “52″ a lot, and giving up on “Countdown” partway into it, I was hopeful about DC’s third weekly series, “Trinity,” to be written by Kurt Busiek (”Astro City”) and drawn by Mark Bagley (”Ultimate Spider-Man”). Back up stories were to be handled by Fabian Nicieza (”New Warriors”) with rotating artists.

I read the first three issues of “Trinity” and thought they were acceptable superhero fare, but nothing worth getting extremely excited about. It felt more, to me, like a lower-tier Busiek project; readable, engaging, but not a must-buy.

But, my wife, Annette, kept reading them, and last night she had a stack of issues 6-11 on the coffee table, so I figured, why not give them another shot? I haven’t read issues 4 or 5, but I picked up fine jumping in at issue 6, and in fact, felt like these issues were more like what I had expected out of issues 1-3.

The main storyline features some examination of what the “Trinity” of Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman mean, with relevance to the story, of course. Bagley seems to be getting more familiar with drawing the DC characters, as well, or I’m getting more used to his interpretations of them.

And, in the back-up story, you get Scott McDaniel drawing a Hawkman that’s smart and aggressive; reminiscent of the Geoff Johns run a few years back. Issue 6 hooked me on reading more, and I plowed through issues 7 through 11. Krona and the Cosmic Egg — last seen, by me, anyway, in “JLA-Avengers,” looks to play a key role in “Trinity.” Given how much a fan of “JLA-Avengers” I was, I’m glad to see some of those plot threads followed up on.

While there’s a lot going on, and a lot of references to DC Universe history, it’s done in a way that’s not intimidating, and the reader always is given enough to follow the story. Nicieza is creating great dialogue and characterization, particularly of the Bat-characters. Nightwing fans who enjoyed his series drawn by Scott McDaniel are in for a treat, as McDaniel draws quite a bit of Nightwing in the “Trinity” back-ups.

So, if you weren’t sold on the initial few issues of “Trinity,” but you have an affinity for any of these characters, or Busiek or Nicieza’s previous work, I’d say, give it another shot. The series is still in the first quarter, and I’m intrigued by the mysteries Busiek and Nicieza are putting into play.

– Matt Price

Newsarama has revealed the Alex Ross painting that will serve as the covers for parts 2-4 parts 2, 4 and 5 of the “New Krypton” storyline in Superman #681, Action Comics #871 and Supergirl #35.

“Supergirl” #35 is written by Tulsa’s Sterling Gates.  James Robinson is the writer of “Superman,” and Geoff Johns writes “Action Comics.”

- Matt Price

Uncivil Society has a look at one of the exhibits in the trademark case involving Superman.  These documents, containing correspondence between editorial and the “Superman” creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, have such a negative tone that it becomes far easier to understand the negative feelings and lawsuits on the part of Siegel and Shuster.

There’s a lot of information about specifics in the Uncivil Society post, and I’d encourage anybody interested in the “Superman” copyright case to read the entire pdf.   I’m not sure exactly what the legal ramifications of the enclosed documentation are, but it certainly more fully shows the negative, condescending way Siegel was treated by the DC authorities at the time.

– Matt Price

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

SAN DIEGO — Artist Jim Lee’s deft and muscular take on the DC Comics Universe is at the heart of Sony Online Entertainment’s “DC Universe Online.”

Lee topped comic-book sales charts with his interpretations of Batman and Superman.  Those interpretations come to 3-D life in “Universe,” as Lee served as the project’s executive creative director.

In “Universe,” which is being developed for the personal computer and the PlayStation 3, gamers will create a character that can then interact with the world of DC comic books online. 

“We’re literally opening the door and letting you walk right into the world of the DC Universe,” said Debby Sue Wolfcale, senior brand manager for SOE. 

The well-known characters like Superman, Batman and Green Lantern will fight alongside or against characters created by players.

“These characters have an intensity and power all their own,” Wolfcale said. “(’DC Universe Online’ will) bring that same intensity and musculature … to the player characters.”

In addition to characters, location will be a key component of the game.  Locations planned include Metropolis, Gotham City and the Bat Cave.

“We want to make location like another character,” Wolfcale said. “You get as excited to be going into the Bat Cave as you get seeing Batman.”

– 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

Tulsa-born writer Sterling Gates, the new writer of “Supergirl,” is one of three writers for the “New Krypton Special,” kicking off a Superman event featuring 100,000 Kryptonians.   The 48-page issue is on sale Oct. 22, with a cover price of $3.99.   Gates is a 2005 University of Oklahoma graduate. 

More information, from Newsarama:

Written by Geoff Johns, James Robinson and Sterling Gates
Art by Gary Frank & Jon Sibal, Renato Guedes & Wilson Magalháes, and Pete Woods
Cover by Gary Frank
Variant cover by Renato Guedes & Wilson Magalháes
A “Sightings” issue! “New Krypton” Part 1 of 9! The entire Superman franchise writing team joins forces, with art by Pete Woods and others, to formally launch the Superman event years in the making! While the current threat of Brainiac may have been forestalled in ACTION COMICS #870, the repercussions will be felt for a long, long time. Superman’s greatest victory has lead to his happiest day – and his saddest. Gains are balanced by losses while Superman has to figure out what to do with 100,000 Kryptonians! Hold on to your capes as this story leads directly into SUPERMAN #681.
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. For every 10 copies of the Standard Edition (with a cover by Gary Frank), retailers may order one copy of the Variant Edition (with a cover by Renato Guedes & Wilson Magalháes). Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale october 22 • 48 pg, FC, $3.99 US