What new non-comic / non-live-action-film Superman project should be done next?

[daBronzeBomma]

Superman remains the Super-Hero Multi-Media Champion, despite not being DC's #1 priority for the last 25 years or so.

And regardless of how you view MAN OF STEEL, it's good to have Superman back on the big screen again.

Besides, his live-action feature film line, what would be the next multi-media project in which you would like to see Superman succeed?

For me, it's an easy choice.

A GOSH-DARN FREAKIN' GOOD NEW VIDEO GAME!!!!

Not only has Superman currently not have a good video game resume, he has the WORST Superhero video game resume by a country mile! No other character (let alone superhero) would be given this many chances at video games, fail, and then keep getting more chances, only to fail again and again.

I want a GOOD Superman video game more than I want any other type of non-comic endeavor for Superman. More than a new solo animated show, more than a new Broadway musical/play, more than a new solo toy line, more than a new solo live-action television show, more than anything else.

What about you?

[The Red Monk]

I'd like a new animated TV show. Superman is seriously long overdue for one.

And preferably make it isolated from the wider DCU. I just want Superman and his mythos, unmarred by Batman, or Wonder Woman, or the JLA or anyone else. Well, I suppose, except for the Legion of Super-Heroes.

A good video game wouldn't hurt, though that would be challenging.

[Jon Clark]

The problem with a video game is how hard it is to be Superman using a controller of any kind. His range of powers and the intensity of them can't be properly handled by hitting a series of buttons. Give it a few years until we get more advanced controllers to handle flight, heat vision, etc; combined with physical movement.

I went with the animated series, but preferably some sort of non-standard twist. Keep it off Cartoon Network under any circumstances. Maybe an animated counterpart to the digital-first comics. Have it weekly or daily (shorter) episodes available online for a subscription rate and every few months release the material as DVDs.

[misslane]

I want an animated show in the mold of the retired digital Adventures of Superman comic -- a show that could tell a Silver Age story one week and a Golden Age story the next. Live action adaptations are great, too, but I feel like there have been plenty recently. It feels like the right time for a cartoon.

[Ascended]

Honestly, any of these would be a welcome sight. But I voted for the video game because I think it would reach more people and get more attention over a longer period of time.

Granted, it would have to be a *good* game. Superman doesnt lend himself well to video games and what a well received, well designed Superman game would entail I have no idea. But that's why Im not a game designer. But I do know how much attention Batman has gotten due to the Arkham series, and if Superman could get that sort of acclaim over the course of several games/years....it'd do a lot more for the character than another cartoon series or toy line.

[The World]

Honestly, any of these would be a welcome sight. But I voted for the video game because I think it would reach more people and get more attention over a longer period of time.

Granted, it would have to be a *good* game. Superman doesnt lend himself well to video games and what a well received, well designed Superman game would entail I have no idea. But that's why Im not a game designer. But I do know how much attention Batman has gotten due to the Arkham series, and if Superman could get that sort of acclaim over the course of several games/years....it'd do a lot more for the character than another cartoon series or toy line.

A Superman game is feasible it just needs a Japanese touch rather than an American/European one. Bayonetta always makes me think of the possibilities of a Superman game that actually captures the sort of scope you would expect from a Superman game.

[Superlad93]

I want an animated show in the mold of the retired digital Adventures of Superman comic -- a show that could tell a Silver Age story one week and a Golden Age story the next. Live action adaptations are great, too, but I feel like there have been plenty recently. It feels like the right time for a cartoon.

This right here. I've toyed with the idea of an Adventures of Superman-like animated show and I think it's one of the best ways to celebrate the character. Good thinking!

[Sacred Knight]

I'd love a show like this too. No continuity, just stand alone episodes where all time periods are game. That'd be glorious.

[666MasterOfPuppets]

Agree on the videogame. If makers really put their minds into it, they could be able to make it. I have some ideas that could work (I don't see why it has to be a tough task). The Superman Returns game took a few steps in the right direction, but ultimately failed.

Also, a new animated series. I'd like to see an anime, a la X-Men. What do you guys think?

[666MasterOfPuppets]

For boss fights this would be almost ideal, but I don't think a Superman game should be a hack and slash beat em up (even a good one) like Bayonetta or DMC.

Agreed. It wouldn't look good if Superman had to hit a measly robot (or street thug) with anything more than a move of his little finger. It has to be an action-adventure/exploration combo.

[UltraWoman]

I'm surprised you didn't have a (non-graphic) novel as an option. I definitely would love to have a good romance novel in that vein (don't expect it to happen ANYTIME soon given the choice to pair the two supers rather than playing with the contrast in a different way).

I would also go for second period-style Superman novel or Sci-fi Fantasy novel but I love the "triangle of two" trope in romance novels.

[Dr. Cheesesteak]

Video game, hands down. A cartoon would be nice, but a video game would probably reach a wider demographic and possibly bring in more revenue.

WB has 2 subsidiary dev teams that make solid-to-excellent action games - Rocksteady and Monolith. Currently Rocksteady is seen as the superior, but if the new Middle-earth game by Monolith lives up to its hype (it's expected to be really good), I'd be happy w/ either one.

[DochaDocha]

I would love to see a great Superman video game. I'd also love to see a great cartoon series. However, I don't have tremendous faith either one would be done to my liking, so I'm going to ask for a less-ambitious animated movie. We won't get one in 2014, and so far none is planned for 2015, so no fair telling me, "You fool, we've already had a ton of them lately."

[Cypher]

I would kill for a good toy-line.

When a toy's sculpture is good enough is considered a work of art. Just look at the magnificent Spawn line, even Marvel Legends figures are sculpted excellently.

An animated series would be my next preference, considering this is a visual medium thats drawn, I'd prefer this next. However writers havent shown they know what to do with him more than they did a few years ago.

With a video game, you just play it once and its over, so I wouldnt be too interested in that. With a figure you can adore its beauty every time you see it, and an animated series will provide you with endless amounts of entertainment.


Also a novel would be great as said by Ultrawoman. Novel's are generally written more competently when compared to comics.

[daBronzeBomma]

I'm surprised you didn't have a (non-graphic) novel as an option. I definitely would love to have a good romance novel in that vein (don't expect it to happen ANYTIME soon given the choice to pair the two supers rather than playing with the contrast in a different way).

I would also go for second period-style Superman novel or Sci-fi Fantasy novel but I love the "triangle of two" trope in romance novels.

Hadn't thought of that, honestly. Made me want to do some digging on the subject.


Superman does have some established literary presence already, although most of it would never be confused with good science-fiction.


Here's the list of what I found so far in chronological order (full title, author, page count, publishing date, type):


01. THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN, written by George Lowther, 228 pages, 1942 (original story)


02. LAST SON OF KRYPTON, written by Elliot S! Maggin, 238 pages, 1978 (original story, official tie-in to SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE film)


03. MIRACLE MONDAY, written by Elliot S! Maggin, 205 pages, 1981 (original story, official tie-in to SUPERMAN II film)


04. SUPERMAN III, written by William Kotzwinkle, 221 pages, 1983 (official novelization to SUPERMAN III film)


05. SUPERMAN IV: THE QUEST FOR PEACE, written by B.B. Hiller, 144 pages, 1987 (official novelization to SUPERMAN IV: THE QUEST FOR PEACE film)


06. THE DEATH AND LIFE OF SUPERMAN, written by Roger Stern, 418 pages, 1993 (official novelization to DEATH OF SUPERMAN/REIGN OF THE SUPERMEN comic books)


07. DOOMSDAY AND BEYOND, written by Louise Simonson, 190 pages, 1993 (official novelization with interior artwork to DEATH OF SUPERMAN comic books)


08. THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN, edited by Martin H. Greenberg, 360 pages, 1993 (anthology of original short stories by various authors)


09. LOIS & CLARK: HEAT WAVE, written by Michael Jan Friedman, 124 pages, 1996 (official tie-in to LOIS & CLARK tv show)


10. LOIS & CLARK: EXILE, written by Michael Jan Friedman, 150 pages, 1996 (official tie-in to LOIS & CLARK tv show)


11. LOIS & CLARK: DEADLY GAMES, written by Michael Jan Friedman, 132 pages, 1996 (official tie-in to LOIS & CLARK tv show)


12. LOIS & CLARK: A SUPERMAN NOVEL, written by C.J. Cherryh, 288 pages, 1996 (official tie-in to LOIS & CLARK tv show)


13. SMALLVILLE: ARRIVAL, written by Michael Teitelbaum, 180 pages, 2002 (official novelization of pilot episode of SMALLVILLE tv show, young adult line #1)


14. SMALLVILLE: SEE NO EVIL, written by Cherie Bennett, 180 pages, 2002 (young adult line #2, official tie-in to SMALLVILLE tv show)


15. SMALLVILLE: FLIGHT, written by Cherie Bennett, 192 pages, 2002 (young adult line #3, official tie-in to SMALLVILLE tv show)


16. SMALLVILLE: ANIMAL RAGE, written by David & Bobbi Weiss, 176 pages, 2003 (young adult line #4, official tie-in to SMALLVILLE tv show)


17. SMALLVILLE: SPEED, written by Cherie Bennett & Jeff Gottesfeld, 208 pages, 2003 (young adult line #5, official tie-in to SMALLVILLE tv show)


18. SMALLVILLE: BURIED SECRETS, written by Suzan Colon, 208 pages, 2003 (young adult line #6, official tie-in to SMALLVILLE tv show)


19. SMALLVILLE: RUNAWAY, written by Suzan Colon, 208 pages, 2003 (young adult line #7, official tie-in to SMALLVILLE tv show)


20. SMALLVILLE: GREED, written by Cherie Bennett, 176 pages, 2003 (young adult line #8, official tie-in to SMALLVILLE tv show)


21. SMALLVILLE: TEMPTATIONS, written by Suzan Colon, 192 pages, 2004 (young adult line #9, official tie-in to SMALLVILLE tv show)


22. SMALLVILLE: SPARKS, written by Cherie Bennett & Jeff Gottesfeld, 176 pages, 2004 (young adult line #10, official tie-in to SMALLVILLE tv show)


23. SMALLVILLE: STRANGE VISITORS, written by Roger Stern, 285 pages, 2002 (Warner line #1, official tie-in to SMALLVILLE tv show)


24. SMALLVILLE: DRAGON, written by Alan Grant, 256 pages, 2002 (Warner line #2, official tie-in to SMALLVILLE tv show)


25. SMALLVILLE: HAUNTINGS, written by Nancy Holder, 288 pages, 2003 (Warner line #3, official tie-in to SMALLVILLE tv show)


26. SMALLVILLE: WHODUNIT, written by Dean Wesley Smith, 240 pages, 2003 (Warner line #4, official tie-in to SMALLVILLE tv show)


27. SMALLVILLE: SHADOWS, written by Diane G. Gallagher, 272 pages, 2003 (Warner line #5, official tie-in to SMALLVILLE tv show)


28. SMALLVILLE: SILENCE, written by Nancy Holder, 320 pages, 2003 (Warner line #6, official tie-in to SMALLVILLE tv show)


29. SMALLVILLE: CURSE, written by Alan Grant, 288 pages, 2004 (Warner line #7, official tie-in to SMALLVILLE tv show)


30. SMALLVILLE: CITY, written by Devin Grayson, 272 pages, 2004 (Warner line #8, official tie-in to SMALLVILLE tv show)


31. IT'S SUPERMAN!, written by Tom DeHaven, 432 pages, 2005 (original story)


32. SUPERMAN RETURNS, written by Marv Wolfman, 344 pages , 2006 (official novelization of the SUPERMAN RETURNS film)


33. THE LAST DAYS OF KRYPTON, written by Kevin J. Anderson, 496 pages, 2007 (original story)


34. ENEMIES & ALLIES (co-starring Batman), written by Kevin J. Anderson, 336 pages, 2009 (original story)


35. MAN OF STEEL, written by Greg Cox, 320 pages, 2013 (official novelization to MAN OF STEEL film)


Wow, so by my count, throughout Superman's 76 years and counting publishing history, Clark has starred in 35 different novels to date! That's A LOT more than I would have thought.

Granted, a majority of them come with various asterisks:

18 of those 35 novels were SMALLVILLE tie-ins (though TWO separate lines no less!),

another 4 of those were LOIS & CLARK tie-ins,

another 4 were straight novelizations of movies,

another 1 co-starred Batman,

another 2 were novelizations of the exact same storyline from the comics,

another 1 was an anthology of short stories (one co-starring Wonder Woman, another co-starring Batman)

and another one barely featured Kal-El at all except as a small infant.

That's 31 of 35 novel that are somewhat compromised in terms of being original, independent full-length solo stories.

That leaves us with 4 novels that can stand on their own as original, independent full-length solo stories of Superman:

THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN (1942), LAST SON OF KRYPTON (1978), MIRACLE MONDAY (1981) and IT'S SUPERMAN (2005).

And it should be pointed out again that LSoK and MM were released as tie-ins to S:TM and SII and each contained pages of actual photos from their respective movie.


In conclusion, yes, I would very much like to see a new, wholly original, independent, full-length solo Superman novel that is NOT a tie-in to any pre-existing incarnation of the character. One that could stand on its own as a great science-fiction novel.

But who should write it? So many possible choices for established science-fiction authors out there. Surely one of them "gets" Superman in a new way ...