Superman Reboot Writers Workshop

[NotFadeAway]

A combination of Superman For All Seasons, Superman: Birthright, and TAS is the way to go.

 

[afan]

never heard about this, whats it about?>

At Christmastime Superman, inspired by the realization that people are starving, even in Metropolis, decides to take on world hunger, but finds that despite his amazing powers he is in fact powerless against the intricacies of this foe. Instead he decides that the pen of Cark Kent may in fact be more powerful than the sword of Superman.

It's written by Dini and illustrated by Alex ross.

 

[SuperDaniel]

A combination of Superman For All Seasons, Superman: Birthright, and TAS is the way to go.

Bravo!!

 

[The Guard]

I wrote a script once that took elements from SEASONS, PEACE ON EARTH, BIRTHRIGHT, and MAN OF STEEL. Now THAT's the way to go.

 

[bunk]

So where is it?

 

[Webhead2006]

At Christmastime Superman, inspired by the realization that people are starving, even in Metropolis, decides to take on world hunger, but finds that despite his amazing powers he is in fact powerless against the intricacies of this foe. Instead he decides that the pen of Cark Kent may in fact be more powerful than the sword of Superman.

It's written by Dini and illustrated by Alex ross.

Thanks for filling me in, i was wondering what it was about when you guys started talking.

 

[Webhead2006]

A combination of Superman For All Seasons, Superman: Birthright, and TAS is the way to go.

That would probably apease fans. I dont know much on for all seasons, but if you took that, bryne reboot, birthright and TAS best elements would probably make a solid script.

 

[The Guard]

So where is it?

It was awful. Wrote it in like a week, and it didn't mesh together at all. Too much BIRTHRIGHT, not enough classic Superman. Combining those is the way to go, though.

 

[sf2]

i thought some of us here wanna do a superman movie.

 

[NotFadeAway]

That would probably apease fans. I dont know much on for all seasons, but if you took that, bryne reboot, birthright and TAS best elements would probably make a solid script.

Superman For All Seasons is perhaps my favorite Superman graphic novel of all time. I really recommend reading it when you get the chance. I see so many fanboys talking about wanting to see a Superman script by Geoff Johns or Mark Millar, I would like to see what Jeph Loeb could come up with.

TAS has always been my favorite incarnation of Superman in any media, with Birthright being my favorite origin although I do like Byrne's reboot as well.

 

[Showtime]

SFAS is my favorite along with Red Sun.

 

[Webhead2006]

Yea i more a marvel comics reader as some of you guys know but i have been curious to read some dc stuff like the new flash rebirth and all that. But yea i think taking the best elements out of stas/bryne reboot/ birthright/seasons would probably have the fans liking it. What are some other good supes stuff i should look into?

 

[NotFadeAway]

SFAS is my favorite along with Red Sun.

Red Sun was a great elseworld story. One of the finest.

 

[bunk]

It was awful. Wrote it in like a week, and it didn't mesh together at all. Too much BIRTHRIGHT, not enough classic Superman. Combining those is the way to go, though.

Ah, that sucks.

 

[NotFadeAway]

Yea i more a marvel comics reader as some of you guys know but i have been curious to read some dc stuff like the new flash rebirth and all that. But yea i think taking the best elements out of stas/bryne reboot/ birthright/seasons would probably have the fans liking it. What are some other good supes stuff i should look into?

I'm kinda getting upset with DC as we speak. I feel that Dido, Johns, and co. are trying to time travel back to the silver age instead of moving forward, and if I could qoute Rocky Balboa, life is about moving forward. I have recently got into soem Barry Allen and while I have a better appreciation for the character, I still love Wally West. And Superman: Secret Origin seems to me like its going to be Donner's Superman, retold once again, although that failed in the cinema. And it seems like there slowly taking Lex back in time as well. Birthright, in my opinion, is the origin I'd base a movie off of, with hints of the Byrne reboot, TAS, and FAS. I would open the film with Jor-El sending baby Kal off to Earth and establish Braniac as your main villian, and after the Kents find baby Kal-El, I'd spend a few scenes going back and forth between Clark overhearing Jonathan Kent saying he is worried about what Clark could become, to Clark in West Africa covering the conflict between the Ghuri and Turaaba clans, then back to the Tornado incident from For All Seasons, and then back to West Africa for the conclusion of those events.

For All Seasons is a must read, Red Sun is an amazing piece despite the negativity Mark Millar gets around here, The Death of Superman arc is fantastic and must become a full length movie one day, All-Star Superman by Grant Morrison, and while I pre-crisis crap, Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow is a great read. As far as origins go, like I've said, I'm partial to Birthright, and my favorite Superman incarnation in any form is The Animated Series.

As far as comic book writers getting a shot at writing the film script, I'd give it to Mark Waid, Jeph Loeb, or Grant Morrison over Mark Millar or Geoff Johns.

Also, read Lex Luthor: Man of Steel. Forgot about that one for a second, but it's one of my favorites and whoever is next in line to write the character of Lex Luthor for the big screen needs to sit down and read that.

 

[Webhead2006]

thanks for your thoughts on what i should look into. I might try locating them in the near future when i have some cash to spend. Tight on money right now, and only stick to the comics i like to read and have money to actually pick up.

 

[Superman2007]

I think audiences would find it too preachy.

 

[NotFadeAway]

I will say this. I've always wanted to see a fleshed out story about Superman after he has outlived all of his loved ones, after his parents have passed away, Lois/Jimmy/Perry have passed away, and Lex Luthor by God is on assisted living somehow. Listen, Millar has one thing right, Clark is going to live longer than anyone he loves. I want to see it. I've been obsessed with this idea since season one of Smallville when Clark see's himself at the graves of everyone has has loved because he lives forever.

Ok, as a disclaimer, I'm in no way saying this is the movie I want to see, I would like to see this as a graphic novel, a mini-series, or an animated series. I'm just bored and I figure that while this will probably get moved, most Superman fans frequent this board and again, its a sunday and I'm so bored I want to cry.

It could basically be Superman Beyond. or something like "The Man of Forever", which is my personal idea for a title. I would open the story in the year 2009, a world that has lived with Superman for 60 plus years. The Superman in my story would in fact be the Golden Age Superman, but without looking a day over 30, perhaps 35. I think it was a stretch for someone to say that Golden Age Superman was a "dark, bad ass", but he was more of a super powered John Wayne in tights type. I dug it. Maybe a bit of George Reeves in there as well. As a fan, I like Golden Age Superman and the George Reeves Superman more so than Silver Age Superman and the Chris Reeve Superman, although anyone who knows me knows I'm a post-crisis ****e.

Anyway, the world in my story would have been brought up with Superman as a larger than life figure post world war two and on. Superman would have been present through all the happenings of the 20th century. But, the cardinal rule he made for himself was that he wouldn't be a dictator, that while Superman would help save innocent lives and try and set an example for all of mankind to live by, but Superman would not get involved in disputes such as Vietnam, the Cold War, any civil wars, nor would Superman lend Kryptonian knowledge for space travel or anything scientific, that mankind had to do all that on there own. That was Superman's promise, he wouldn't help man get to the moon, although I'd show Superman shaking Neil Armstrong's hand on the moon. At some point, and because this in the developmental stages in my brain so I'm not sure if I want to make up an incident or go based off a real one, Superman breaks that cardinal rule, and well, gets involved. I'm toying with the idea of Lois being held hostage in the Iran Embassay hostage crisis as a reporter that was there beforehand, but I'm not certain. And at the point Superman breaks that Cardinal rule, it all kind of falls apart. Superman slowly but surely begins imposing his super will on different nations during different crisis, and in a way, the blue boyscout starts to be seen as the blue bully who won't bend with the times. Superman's viewpoints would remain old fashioned, very Rockwellian. And the world around him would continue and continue to go to the crapper, which would reflect the world we live in now, because in my opinion it has gone down the crapper. The ideals of our grandparents generation are all but gone, and Superman is from that era, the character was created in that era, thats the perfect conflict you see, some writers see it as a hinderance, I see it as a built in storyline for all future Superman stories.

Anyway, long story short, Superman steps away, as some of you probably figure. I'm going to say mid-1980's, but again, thats subject to change. Superman basically loses his faith in his ability to inspire and help, because in his eyes it hasn't worked, look how the world has turned out. And his personal life is all but over. The Kents would obviously be dead, and knowing he couldn't grow old with her, Superman would leave Lois, wanting her to be with a real man so she could have a real family and a real life, and after awhile Lois would have moved on, got married, had a daughter and a life. I'd show Superman visiting Lois on her deathbed, before she passed. Perry and Jimmy would be gone as well. Lex Luthor, on the other hand, would be alive to due advances LexCorp has made with modern medicine and he is filthy rich. I'm picturing a bald Tobin Bell on life support, looking up at Superman for the first time in decades and saying, "I've missed you". And last but not least, Clark Kent would be declared legally dead. Clark would only exist in Superman's mind, a person he can be on his spare time.

One of my storyline points would be the transition from pre-crisis to post-crisis, from Clark being a disguise and transforming into the real person. This Superman would have obviously started out with Clark as the disguise, and after stepping away and throughout my story, Clark would become the real person so that he could have a normal life, something he had been missing. Now, with Clark technically dead, some probably think that would be tricky, but it wouldn't. It would be more of an essence thing, I can picture him looking at a new friend and saying, "call me Clark". That kind of deal. Anyway, that would eliminate the dual identity storyline, with Superman being a public face once again and Clark being Clark with his friends.

Anyway, after stepping away, Superman/Clark would live at the Fortress of Solitude in Antartica, and although never appearing as Superman but one time, he would secretly travel the world, helpingsave innocent lives without letting it be known who was doing the saving. Clark could never turn away from his true calling, he would just go through a period without technically being the symbol that is Superman, and living in complete isolation, but not really brooding so don't worry. More of a lonely little alien who feels like a failure type deal, and you could consider that brooding, but it would depend on how it was written and I feel it could be done without coming across as brooding. Clark would, in a phantom manner, lease out the Kent farm to poor families in need. The one appearence Superman would have made would have been an out of costume appearence during 9/11, with super-hearing he would have detected what was going on and flew as fast as he could to stop everything, but he was too late and could only help save innocents from the burning buildings. It would be a move that earned both scorn and praise, for numerous reasons.

Obviously, Superman would return as a public figure in 2009, kicking off the story. So far, this all probably seems pretty grounded in realism, and it would be up until this point, but there would be a heavy fantasy/sci-fi/supernatural element when Superman came back, half of the reason for his return. I've come up with an idea for an original character, Nathan Sierra(tentative), a private investigator by day and a magic wielding, ass kicking vigalante by night, a man who has dedicated his life to helping others by all different means. Sierra's powers would pretty much be alot of telekinesis due to the magic elements. Sierra would do the impossible and track down the Man of Steel at the FOS, out of fear that the world was at it's turning, that evil of all shapes and forms was clawing it's way into the world and it was ready to take it, and the world needed it's greatest hero. More and more evil meta-humans would be popping up, and more demonic happenings and occurnences would be going on worldwide. And aside from that, Sierra wants Superman back, regardless. Sierra is a guy who knows the world needs an image of hope, that he blieved the world to be truly ready for the silver lining that Superman was and is. And Sierra would rightfully be upset that Superman, well, left in the first place. The backstory on Nate Sierra, and his sister Mia, is that as small children, they were both saved by Superman from a kidnapping, an incident that changed there lives forever, inspiring them to help other by any means necessary. In that way, Nate and Mia represent that Superman is the symbol of hope and peace, that he can and did inspire. Thats what would do it, thats what would send it over the edge and bring Superman back to public eye. I already see Superman, decked out in the altered Kell-El suit that I want with the blue shoulders and neck collar with a red cape, storming into the Daily Planet, approaching the desk of one Lacey Siegel(the daughter of Lois Lane), and telling her to issue the story about his return.

The supporting cast for the "Man of Forever". I've already covered Nathan Sierra, who runs his own private investigation office during the day and he works the streets at night wielding his magic based telekinesis powers, often using leads from his day job to fight both normal criminals and supernatural threats. Nathan is a hero, through and through, the kind of guy Clark would want to be if he weren't a super powered alien. This man lives to help others, and he will do anything to save a life. Nathan idolizes Superman, and tries to live his life as if he were infact, Superman. Mia Sierra is the sister of Nathan, a scientist that I would fashion as a cross between Lois Lane and Lana Lang. The strength of Lois, but that small, down home sweet feel of Lana. Mia would serve as the primary love interest for Superman/Clark. I'm invisioning a raven haired, olive skinned beauty. Lacey Siegel would be a main character, again, the daughter of Lois Lane and her husband, but never, ever a love interest for Superman. That would be creepy. Lacey would be a reporter, like her famous mother, but she would have alot of personal issues at the start. Alcholism, drug abuse, loneliness due to the death of both parents. Clark would take it as his mission to save Lacey personally, becoming a father figure, the kind of father he would have been. Another character would be Lucas Carlysle, the illigitamte son of Lex Luthor. You see, Lex Luthor being the sick bastard that he is, has planted his seed worldwide in search of the perfect heir, and this includes Lucas, who was raised for thirteen years by his white trash mother in downtowm Edge City, until Lex had finally seen enough potential, from afar, to take custody. Lucas is one of about ten children that Lex would have had, and that would create there own storylines. Lucas would hate Lex, hating him for the reason he was born, hating him for leaving him in the custody of a white trash mother who often brought around abusive boyfriends, and just not wanting to be like Lex in general. Lucas has a good heart, and wants to do good in the world as the future heir of LexCorp, but Lucas walks that dark line on a daily basis, willing to see the greater good, willing to take a life to save a life. In a way, I would channel Oliver Queen and the early seasons version of Smallville's Lex. But, unlike Smallville's Lex, you don't know how the story would end, theres that mystery, and Clark feels that if he can truly reach Lucas, thats amazing in itself. I have an idea for a fifth character, a male computer wizard/hacker who provide alot of comic relief, but it's a work in progress. A Kal Penn type. I would really establish the element of family here. Clark would never have gotten that with you know, Jimmy or Pete or Perry in his previous life, because he lead a dual life. And he lost several years with Lois because he led a double life. So being close to these new friends, that would be very important to Clark. I would show, as often as possible, little familia moments with everyone eating dinner together and discussing what was going on in there lives and being there for each other. That would be a major theme. And, the main setting would be Sierra's investigation office, a three level high rise apartment building, one for the office, one for Nate and Mia's living arrangements, and one for rent.

Ok, I'm going to dinner now, but I will write about my villian idea's later tonight. Hope you enjoyed this read so far.

 

[MadVillainy]

I'm sorry but after i read about Lois/Jimmy/Perry dying I stopped reading because it sounds like Millars idea and I hated that

 

[NotFadeAway]

I'm sorry but after i read about Lois/Jimmy/Perry dying I stopped reading because it sounds like Millars idea and I hated that

By not reading past that, you missed the part where I said that I in know way wanted this to be a movie, just an individual graphic novel mini-series or an animated series, even though In my dreams I can see it as a live action television series. And while I do not agree with what Mark Millar wants, I have always, always wanted to see Superman's life depicted after all of his loved ones are gone, because Superman is immortal. It's really not stressed enough that Supes isn't dying anytime soon, I think there is critically acclaimed gold for the guy who tackles that story and does it well one day. But, to each his own my friend. If any mod wants to move this, go for it, I understand. Now, without agreeing with Millar, I would show Clark freaking out about possibly being the omega man, but I would never actually show it.

Anyway, I'm back from dinner, and I'm picking up right where I left off. Villian ideas. Well, for one, as I said before, I would try my best to get a cross between realistic settings, social and political climates, world events, etc etc. The realistic side of things is where I'd feature Superman vs. social issues, not so much big bad villians. Superman's philosphy against the way of the world would be a big factor in my story. In the way that I'd show how Golden Age Superman has progressed and changed into Clark being the real person and Superman being the disguise, I'd bookend the story of Lex Luthor. In the same way I'm bringing evolving the Golden Age Superman into the 21st century Superman through storylines, I'd do the same with Lex. Once upon a time, in the early years, in this story Lex would have started out a borderline insane underground criminal who committed disgusting acts. The more and more delusional this Lex became, Luthor became that much more hungry for true power and fame, and with his natural intelligience, manipulates and swindles his way into having the necessary fortune to build LexCorp in Metropolis and then grow it through the annexation of smaller companies globally, computer companies, science labs, manufacturing plants, real estate(lol), everything. I've always like the idea that LexCorp should have holdings in virtually every aspect of life, I'd even have a section of LexCorp for the supernatural, magics, meta-humans. Lex would never be brought to face his crimes that he committed before he owned LexCorp, and Superman would always be disgusted that a man like Luthor can not only get away untouched, but have the ability to build himself into such a publically powerful figure regardless of his past. Thats kind of an idea about Superman vs. the way of the world, because that is the way this world works, in reality and fantasy.

But in terms other villian characters, I'd stick mostly with meta-human types, supernatural and magical based villians, space threats, that type of deal. As far as regular Superman villians go, I'd probably have already established that he fought Metallo and Bizzaro back in the day, LexCorp will have always been more advanced than whatever the time frame was in the real world. Now, with Lex having the connections that he does, incidents like Metallo would have been contained by Superman and covered up by the Government, to Supermans disdain. Of course, you can always bring back new and improved Metallo's and maybe a new Bizzaro clone, but thats last resort. I would however, save a villian like Eradicator for this time frame. Lobo would be saved for this time frame, obviously Darkseid would as well. I'd actually consider adding Lobo in as a regular over time, bring him in as a pure villian, then ease Lobo in as an anti-hero who helps out.

After that, I'm again saying I'd very much dive into fasntasy land with the villians in this universe, using demons such as Neron, a completely evil Etrigan, Klarion, if I could qoute Bruce Wayne in Batman Beyond, anything from Zombies to witch boys. I've always liked the idea of Superman fighting off against those types of villians. Part of the storyline I've crafted with Nathan Sierra seeking out Superman is because as a supernatural detective, he knows those threats are coming and only Superman can truly save humanity. As part of a grand backstory, those realms, universes, and quite literal hell is slowly but surely working it's way back onto Earth. In my story, Earth would have actually been ruled by demons and beings of pure evil before true civilization, with humanity in it's primitive stages being all but extinct. Luckily, Earth was visited by a race from another planet that had just begun such space exploration, low and behold, Kryptonians. Kryptonians who took pity on the poor humans, and used the powers of the yellow sun and there technology to defeat these evil demons, and banish them from Earth, atleast in this dimension. But as humanity slips further and further into darkness and decay, into figuritive hell, this allows these realms to become closer and closer to once again crossing over, so in a way, this ties into the other issues of Superman against social issues and political climate over on the realistic side of the story. Hell is literally crawling into the world because of humaities rotting collective soul, a people that our Superman is trying to inspire. And there is a built in hatred of Kryptonians by these villians already, and I like the idea that Kryptonians have been on Earth and had it's back way before Superman, that Krypton itself saw good in humanity, and other than than looking human and being superpowered, there were other reasons Jor-El sent Kal-El to Earth.

One of the first major storylines I'd have is between Lex Luthor and Neron. Right out of the gate, Lex is dying. I'd adapt the previous storyline between the two in my own words. Lex would eventually die, leaving Lucas in control of LexCorp, and if Clark can just keep him on the right path, that gives our hero and friends wonderful tools to help the world and fight the good fight. But perhaps Lucas will feel used, don't know.

Like I said, this is all just creative thinking on my part. I don't think this should be a movie.

 

[GreenKToo]

Sounds like a cross between Miracle monday, Kingdom come, and Red Son. Not bad.

 

[NotFadeAway]

Sounds like a cross between Miracle monday, Kingdom come, and Red Son. Not bad.

Thank You. Miracle Monday is, in my mind, one of the most underrated Superman stories out there. It's on my list of stories I'd like to see done for an animated film.

It's all a rough draft at the moment, everything is subject to change. Considering that this Superman has been around for sixty plus years, I'm not sure how I want to handle or explain other superheroes. I'm leaning toward masked heroes being a newer thing, that Superman fought the good fight alone for a long time.

I mentioned that I am creating a fifth main character, a computer whiz with hacking capabilities that could provide some comic relief, and that I'd consider keeping Lobo around as a main guy. Well, I'm also thinking about the possibility of adding Wally West to the group instead. I love the character of Wally West as much as I do Superman, and for some reason, I've always thought Clark and Wally could have a fun buddy routine. If I were to do this, I'd more than likely have Barry Allen as an established Flash, and while Wally would have his powers, he wouldn't be the Flash or Kid Flash at that point. I'd have Barry swing by with Wally and help out Superman and co. with a villian there up against, and Wally, who really wouldn't have his own place in the world, would want the chance to stick around and work side by side with Superman/Clark. I like creating my own character, so I'd probably still have my computer guy, so this would mean no regular Lobo.

 

[GreenKToo]

It would make an excellent book/graphic novel or even as 2 or 3 animated films.
Its no more out there than Red Son or Kingdom Come.

 

[NotFadeAway]

It would make an excellent book/graphic novel or even as 2 or 3 animated films.
Its no more out there than Red Son or Kingdom Come.

Thank You again.

I've already changed something up. Jimmy would not be dead now, but he would be the Editor and Chief of the Daily Planet.

Whenever I'm trying to come up with a story, I do try and picture what actors I would use. Coming with this Superman, I had Jim Caviezel in my head for the most part, although Eion Bailey was in my head at times, and if you want to go with a more Kingdom Come aged Superman, Paul Johansson would work, but I am thinking 30-35 in terms of appearence. I've began too only see David Boreanaz as Hal Jordan, so that wasn't there in my head anymore, but within the context of the story I would want to tell, Boreanaz would work well.

I've already mentioned a bald Tobin Bell as the old Lex Luthor.

For Wally West, I like Jonathan Murphy more and more for the role anyway, so thats in my mind. Emmanuelle Chriqui for the Mia character. Marc McClure could be the old Jimmy Olsen. And it's funny that I want Wally West in this, because the guy in mind for the Nate Sierra character is everyone's favorite choice for Barry Allen, which is Scott Porter. Lizzy Caplan is in my mind for Lacey, the daughter of Lois Lane. There an under the radar real life choice for Lois, btw. Kal Penn is my point of reference for my currently un-named funny computer guy character, so obviously, thats who I'm thinking of. As for Lucas Carlysle-Luthor, I have not a clue. In my head, I'm seeing Michael Rosenbaum honestly, because it's basically the same concept as Smallville's Lex, except this is the son of Lex who deosn't have a pre-determined end point.

 

[boog_spin]

i like the idea..i really like the idea of showing superman's mortality while not actually showing it...that in itself could be incredibly moving....

but i would personally prefer a 3 movie arc of superman....then in 20 years or so do a superman movie set 100 years in the future....superman has aged to some extent.....but everyone else is dead. and like yoyu said, he just might feel burned out or not needed...he loses faith, basically kingdom come.

i think get get 2-3 movies done NOW then revisit it in 15-20 years with the same actor....tidy the story up..

then reboot for my grandkids hhaa