Grant Morrison on Superman at SDCC '11: "Justice May Not Involve the Law"

Grant Morrison on Superman at SDCC '11: "Justice May Not Involve the Law"

Grant Morrison took the stage at Comic-Con and answered audience questions on a wide variety of subjects, including Batman, Inc., Dinosaurs vs. Aliens, Supergods and, of course, Superman. What follows is the portion on the Man of Steel.

By EdGross - Jul 22, 2011 04:07 AM EST
Filed Under: Superman
Source: Comic Book Resources

Comic Book Resources has the full report on the panel, but here's an excerpt on Superman:

"Which did Morrison like more: writing Batman or Superman? Morrison said while he goes back and forth, he was 'buzzed' to be writing Superman again. 'The capitalist millionaire seems to have a little less to say to us now than the champion of the oppressed,' laughed Morrison.

"Explaining that his Superman in Action Comics would be a more mischievous, 'anti-authoritarian' character, Morrison reveled that Clark Kent would become almost as big a name in Metropolis as Superman. 'He's a social reformer, and Clark Kent does as much work as Superman basically uprooting corruption and exposing corruption, so the two of them are working in tandem,' said Morrison. Elaborating that in his version Ma and Pa Kent are dead, Morrison told the audience his Superman will be more of a mischievous character. 'Justice may not involve the law in Superman's eyes,' added Morrison."

Additional information revealed includes that his plan is for a 16-issue run on Action, that although the comic initially takes place five years in the past, by issue #7 it will catch up to the current timeline, from which point stories will jump back and forth in time; and on why people prefer Batman over Superman, he muses that Batman is cool, sexy and has a lot of money, while Superman has a boss, works in an office and is "shackled" in that he has to represent the flag and patriotism.

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Denn1s
Denn1s - 7/22/2011, 4:40 AM
interesting
VictorHugo
VictorHugo - 7/22/2011, 4:53 AM
Aww, no superdickery this time around? hehehe
But this is exactly Jerry Siegel and Joe Shusters version, is this allowed?
Ichaos
Ichaos - 7/22/2011, 5:09 AM
@thegawddamnsuperguy. I am a bit confused at your joy. This means their dumping the golden age Superman as well. So if you dump the golden age and silver your dumping Superman entirely. Mischevious? What the hell is that? What does he go around pulling pranks? Joking like Spiderman? Clark Kent as a social reformer?? Any idiot in news knows a reporter does not become part of the story or worse THE story. Given that description I cant imagine how Clark Kent could possibly function as a reporter.

Seriously Superman is dead. I really doubt I would bother watching thr movie if they follow this drivel. If they want to make a completely different character thats fine BUT make a completely different character!!!!

Sounds very much they went from truth justice and the American way to mischevious anti ahtority rebel

Seriously fire the effing hippies at DC that are cramming a square shape of their own pot smoking "ideals" into the iconic character know as Superman.

@censorshipfreedom Times have changed to a point. But Storytelling hasnt changed a whole lot if any. I agree it screams gimmick and acts of desparation.
Ichaos
Ichaos - 7/22/2011, 5:18 AM
I do agree with the clumsy donner version being a departure. The George Reeves Clark Kent was a good rendition if not the best. I dont think the comics ever adopted the donner kent personna anyway so its a bit of a moot point. But still the new interpetation of Clark Kent sounds just as far off as the Donner Version. A reporter being part of the story ie a social reformer, is a reporter that is unprofessional to his occupation. exposes and such sure but social reformer?
Ichaos
Ichaos - 7/22/2011, 5:22 AM
@Boosted I dont think the original Superman idea was him being "mischevious" and "anti authoritarian" ie no respect for the law. That kind of makes him sound like a threat to mankind than its champion.
Mugwamp
Mugwamp - 7/22/2011, 5:26 AM
Justice doesn't involve the law? Anti authoritarian? Starting to sound more like Batman. We don't need Batman in a Superman costume. Always cool to play with the characters but don't start going all gritty with Supes, it just isn't his bag.

And Clark is usually quiet with his life because hiding his identity and making sure that he can be Superman any time he needs to be requires that Clark be mostly invisible. When you're in the public eye and a huge "social reformer" it's much more difficult to do your real work when everyone is watching you.
SHO1138
SHO1138 - 7/22/2011, 5:36 AM
@TheGODDAMNSUPERGUY

ThunderCougarFalconBird
ThunderCougarFalconBird - 7/22/2011, 5:40 AM
I'm not actually liking the sound of this. The Clark Kent idea is plain wrong! While I agree with what he says Clark will be doing (outing corruption, etc) he MUST keep a low profile and allow others to take the credit for his work. To thrust Clark into the public eye is ridiculous and wrong on so many levels.

As for Superman operating outside the law. It all depends on how far? At the end of the day, superheroes are vigilantes and all operate outside the law to do what they do. But if he starts operating with a disregard to the law and justice then you kill who Superman is.

I'm fed up with people trying to change this character to "fit into modern society". He fits as he is! The problem is people not taking the time to fully understand him. To change the publics perception of him you need to show them who he is! Not change him into what you think people want him to be!
SHO1138
SHO1138 - 7/22/2011, 5:49 AM
@ Kevberg

Without social reform there would still be Jim Crow and women would not be able to vote. It's a slippery slope but social reform does not always lead to socialism.
gangbuster
gangbuster - 7/22/2011, 5:52 AM
Ohhh so Superman becomes Batman and Batman becomes Tony Stark. Got it. What the crap! Just call the company Marvel!
Show4God1
Show4God1 - 7/22/2011, 5:53 AM
@Ron I totally agree! They are running a Character that is loved by millions and millions because of what he stands for! Why change him to fit the idea of what you think people want him to be, and keep him staying who he was. I was reading an article posted on here about CA:TFA, and how that they were returning to the patriotic roots, and how it was being so widley accepted and recieved because it got back to American roots.

You want Superman to be single? Fine.
You want Superman to focus on his Kryptonian roots? Fine.

But do go changing who he is to fit into your agenda and 'vision'.
SHO1138
SHO1138 - 7/22/2011, 5:57 AM
'He's a social reformer, and Clark Kent does as much work as Superman basically uprooting corruption and exposing corruption, so the two of them are working in tandem,' said Morrison

gangbuster
gangbuster - 7/22/2011, 6:06 AM
Superman seems to be having a Golemn moment "the likes us" THEY HATES US! Nice little earthlings
Shaman
Shaman - 7/22/2011, 6:07 AM
Ron- I'm in the same boat as you, ol' chap! Change is good. I'm normally a stickler for the source BUT Superman has already had many different incarnations and if they get closer to my favorite version of the character, which is Clark/Superman from "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman", which this sounds very close to, then i'm all for it. It's called "personality" and Superman in the books has lacked in that department for a long time. He didn't seem like a person to me, just an ideal. That's just not relatable at all, especially in our day and age. He can still be this awesome character, just more personality focused. It doesn't mean he'll do drive bys for kicks, he'll still uphold what he feels is right, but he won't be devoid of a sense of humor just because people think Superman shouldn't be a laughing matter.
VictorHugo
VictorHugo - 7/22/2011, 6:12 AM
So is SUPERMAN is now doing GREEN ARROW´S job, it´s up to Oliver to defeat Doomsday, Brainiac, Mongul, Imperiex and Darkseid with his special box glove arrows.
VictorHugo
VictorHugo - 7/22/2011, 6:12 AM
So is SUPERMAN is now doing GREEN ARROW´S job, it´s up to Oliver to defeat Doomsday, Brainiac, Mongul, Imperiex and Darkseid with his special box glove arrows.
Knightstalker
Knightstalker - 7/22/2011, 6:14 AM
@kevberg.....I couldn't have said it better myself. Somebody at DC needs to take a serious look at what this tool Grant Morrison is doing. What's going to happen now, is Superman going to fly over to Gotham and smite the capitalist pig with his socialist propaganda? I wonder if anyone realizes just how many jobs the "capitalist millionaire" creates for Gotham City. Maybe Superman's new "upgraded" costume will have the \S/ shield taken off and replace it with a hammer and sickle.
Shaman
Shaman - 7/22/2011, 6:23 AM
Sorry, i meant to add a "however", before my whole slew LOL No edit button is such a smart addition :P
SHO1138
SHO1138 - 7/22/2011, 6:30 AM
@ kevberg

LOL! Yeah, That statement unfairly paints Bruce Wayne as some New Yorker fat cat cartoon.

But I still don't think of this as some socialist agenda. Clark is the son of a poor mid west farmer; if anyone is going to be the champion of the oppressed it would be him.
Shaman
Shaman - 7/22/2011, 6:36 AM
MrEko- THANK YOU!!! Now, was that so hard to grasp? Morrisson never came out saying he would make Superman a socialist Zealot. Only this time, when he notices the government doing something he feels is wrong, he won't just say "aw shucks" and be on his merry way to go suck on the President's cock. He'll be a champion of the people he vowed to protect, as he should be, as he's been in the past, several times. Superman shouldn't be a simple Law Enforcement Officer with superpowers.
Shaman
Shaman - 7/22/2011, 6:40 AM
Oddly enough, he tried being a simple law enforcement officer with Superpowers in an episode of Lois & Clark, and it didn't work for him. It just wasn't who he was.
ClosetNerd
ClosetNerd - 7/22/2011, 6:41 AM
Sounds like they are turning Superman into a bleeding heart, tree hugging liberal. Joy.

The thing that makes Superman attractive to readers is his idealized perfefection. The Guy everyone wants to be. A champion.

Lets avoid having him handing out welfare checks and saving stray pets.

The best stories are the larger than life scenarios. Giving his all against impossible odds and never giving up.
ClosetNerd
ClosetNerd - 7/22/2011, 6:42 AM
And where the hell did the damn edit button go!!!??????
SHO1138
SHO1138 - 7/22/2011, 6:48 AM
MrEko is right about this being more true to Schuster and Siegels vision but kevberg is also right that it cant go to far left with social justice. I see Superman as the ultimate undecided voter. As Ron said he does not need to fit into modern society with his ideals.

Makes me wish they could steal the Captain America fish out of water aspect. To see Superman come into this world after being gone for fifty years and speak of social reform as he knows it.
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