Mark Millar is known for making some pretty bold claims on social media, but this might be his most audacious to date.
As Bleeding Cool first reported, it was back in 2022 that the Kick-Ass and Nemesis creator revealed plans to one day return to DC Comics for a new Superman story. It's been a long time since Millar wrote for the big two comic book publishers, so a mainstream return like that would be a huge deal.
Nothing appears to have happened since, though the Civil War scribe has found himself a very busy man thanks to a lucrative "Millarworld" partnership with Netflix (which, so far, has only led to the short-lived Jupiter's Legacy and the animated Super Crooks).
Now, Millar appears to have changed his mind about writing a Superman comic for DC. With the early version of the Man of Steel set to enter the public domain in 2033, it seems the writer plans to bide his time.
"I'd been thinking about writing a Superman story late summer," he said on X, "but Superman goes public domain in 9 years so I can write my stories in 5 years time & pay the best artists in the industry to draw them so it's all banked and ready for me to publish myself in 2033."
It's a good idea, but this Superman will still be quite different to the modern interpretation of the character. Millar also won't be alone in putting his own spin on the character, so his story is going to need to be something really special to stand out from countless knock-offs.
Of course, the writer might just be trying to negotiate in public with the powers that be at DC Comics!
DC Comics characters Superman and Lois Lane will enter the public domain in the early 2030s. Batman will follow in 2035, The Joker in 2036, and then Wonder Woman in 2037. The clock is ticking.
Ultimately, this could lead to a flood of unauthorised comics. Movie producers will also be able to put their own spin on these heroes, similar to how we see endless iterations of Dracula and Robin Hood on screen.
Initially, however, they’ll only be able to borrow certain characteristics; for example, when Superman debuted, he could only leap tall buildings in a single bound and was unable to fly.