Next week Superboy is getting the spotlight in his own brand new ongoing series. Brought to us by critically acclaimed writer Jeff Lemire, and up and coming artist Pier Gallo, Superboy is looking to be a really fun book that I’m really excited for. We have a look at 6 pages from the first issue at the bottom of this page, but first I recently had the opportunity to ask writer Jeff Lemire some questions about his upcoming run on the series and here’s what he had to say:
Androidika: Did DC approach you to write Superboy or did you approach them?
Jeff Lemire: I was working with DC on The Atom and Geoff John suggested that I might be a good for for the character. So, I wrote up a one page pitch and sent it off to Matt Idelson the Super-editor. It really did seem like a natural fit for me considering my past work, and my obvious love of telling rural stories.
Androidika: What is it about Superboy that you like?
Jeff Lemire: I love that he is a teenager who never had the chance to be a boy. He was born, fully formed in a test tube and missed out on any kind of childhood. And now he’s trying to go back to Smallville and find that sense of family and community he never had, but being Superboy keeps getting in the way.
Androidika: In the preview pages for issue one we see The Phantom Stranger. And Poison Ivy will be in issue two according to the solicit. I normally wouldn’t think of these characters as characters that would appear in a Superboy comic. Are we going to see more of Superboy interacting with a broader range of characters in the DC Universe?
Jeff Lemire: Well, it no secret that I love DC’s stable of magical characters. And The Phantom Stranger it such a great and, I think, underused character. He fits perfectly with the story I want to tell over my first year on the book which is rather strange and a bit dark. I plan on having Conner face his worst nightmares and have them embodied by some creepy new characters.
As for Ivy, I thought it was fun to use a villain that wouldn’t normally appear in the book. But in a thematic sense you’ll see that she too fits right in with a lot of the things I have planned. After those two characters though, it will mostly be a bunch of new villains and heroes joining Conner with the occasional appearance by some of the Titans.
Androidika: Will Superboy be getting his own supporting cast or rogues gallery?
Jeff Lemire: Yes and yes. The two great characters Geoff created in his Adventure run, (Simon Valentine the boy genius destined to either be Conner’s greatest friend or greatest enemy, and Lori Luthor, Lex’s niece) will be regular cast members and a big part of the book. And. I’m creating some other new characters that will be regular cast members including a new teen super hero called Psionic Lad.
Androidika: Will we see Connor Kent have a personal life in Smallville outside of being Superboy or just going to school?
Jeff Lemire: Yes. His relationship to ma Kent will be a key part of the book, as will his responsibilities in maintaining the Kent Farm. We will also see Conner get a part-time job in town. I really want to create a well-rounded sense of community for him. It will be the villains and super-elements that keep interrupting and threatening this sense of community.
Androidika: How far ahead do you have planned for the book? And are you looking at staying on long term?
Jeff Lemire: I have 13 issues plotted and have written 6 so far. I plan on seeing how I feel after that, but I would like to really stick around and do a nice two year run with Conner. As long as the fans respond well enough so that Matt Idelson doesn’t kick me off!
Androidika: And lastly, are there any teases you can give us to whet our appetites for this series?
Jeff Lemire: Hmmm….well I would love to reveal something new. Let me think…there’s The Superboy/Kid Flash race in issue 5. There is a new love interest for Krypto in issue 7. And another of DC’s mystical characters will appear in Issue 12. I can’t say who, but this character used to have his or her own monthly book when I was a kid.
I just wanted to say thank you to Mr Lemire for taking the time to talk to us about Superboy.
And finally DC’s blog, The Source, had this blurb about Superboy to go along with the preview pages:
And now, SUPERBOY #1
Writer Jeff Lemire and artist Pier Gallo step into Smallville next Wednesday with the launch of SUPERBOY #1, which launches the hero into a new, ongoing series. And, wow, is that Rafael Albuquerque cover a beauty or what?
But this is a Smallville you’ve never seen – one that even Superman doesn’t know about. What are the mysteries surrounding the town and beneath the surface, and what do they hold in store for Superboy? Only one way to find out. Check out some pages from the first issue below, stay tuned to The Source for more from Jeff Lemire on the series and pick up SUPERBOY #1, which goes on sale 11/3.
