I'm more worried about new52 Superman dying and being replaced by SuperDad than I would be about him dying and not being replaced, or being replaced by Lex Luthor (Although Luthor is going to try) or something. The reason being is, is that if he weren't replaced, or was replaced by someone else who wasn't Clark Kent, we'd kind of "know", he was coming back, because they aren't going to do 5 years of Lex Luthor as Superman or whatever. SuperDad is Pre-Flashpoint Superman/Kal-El/Clark Kent. It's entirely possible that they'll just keep him indefinitely, because to a casual fan, especially with people in the universe getting some of their pre-Flashpoint memories back, he may be just as legit to a casual fan, or even a diehard fan who didn't like new52, as the new52 Superman who I really like.
Of course, there were major issues with Pre-Flashpoint Superman's characterization for the last few years leading up to Flashpoint, he's being written as kind of a jerk who's relatively indifferent to the fate of the universe in Lois and Clark and in the last couple issues of this weekly Superman line-wide Last Days of Superman crossover, many fans both old and new may dislike the 10 year old crimefighting son being a major co-star with equal story time, and he basically not only replaces the personality and the open possibilities of the new52 Superman with a different persona and a closed storyline, he also isn't going to remember of have experienced many of the adventures, storylines, and relationships of the new52, and as someone who started reading the books during that time and have them as most of my collection, that really bothers me.
I'd much rather new52 Superman just get some of the pre-Flashpoint memories like it sounds like most of the other major DC comics characters are getting. Remembering some of the old adventurers of your predecessor and relationships and stuff can almost be a plus. But being replaced by a much older guy with a super-kid and a different personality who doesn't remember most of the comics I have? Not pleased. I really don't like 10 year olds as superheroes either, which doesn't help my acceptance level any.
I think new52 Superman is getting the worse shake in this whole Rebirth deal from what I've been reading so far. They just figure no one cares about him. I remember when they announced SuperDad taking over Action Comics in a live stream from WonderCon, they didn't address new52 Superman at all, and then in a presentation where they talked to writers of all the big series, they just showed a picture of a generic Superman for the Superman title, announced the author, and moved on, without bringing the author on stage, leading us to believe that might be new52 Superman's title. Then it eventually came out that it wasn't. And it's extremely grating that from editorial to the writers to whomever at DC Comics, everyone is just like shrugging. There's no acknowledgement at all that new52 Superman is some people's favorite character, and that he matters.
We have SuperDad, and they are going to a Chinese Super-Man and a Superwoman, and all this other stuff- and they can't do one book continuing the adventures of the guy who's been the Superman the last five years. Heck, maybe they could have just had him not regain his powers after the Truth arc, get fed up with that situation and some people turning on him on earth, and had him wind up a Green Lantern patrolling a different sector, see the universe, get powers from the ring. I would have bought that book. He didn't have to just be killed off. |