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J. Michael Straczynski to write SUPERMAN and WONDER WOMAN, starting in July

Monday, March 8th, 2010

By Alex Segura

sm_cv700-copy

It’s go time, folks.

Starting in July with SUPERMAN #701 and WONDER WOMAN #601, superstar writer J. Michael Straczynski — a man who’s created layered and compelling characters and worlds on the big screen, on television and across the comic book spectrum — dives head-first into the DC Universe by taking the ongoing writing reins for two-thirds of the fabled DCU trinity.

We’ll have more details about who’ll be teaming with JMS on both titles — not to mention the exciting new directions he’ll be pointing our heroes toward — in the coming months. But today is about JMS and how he sees these great characters and what they stand for.

Later today we’ll be posting an essay from the writer, nailing in a few paragraphs what makes the Man of Steel and Wonder Woman such important parts of our cultural mythology. In my day-to-day here at DC, I see a lot of amazing things cross my desk. Images, new titles, plot directions, you name it. But this essay is something special. It had me rooting for these characters in a whole new way. It’s that good.

But before we get there, let’s touch base with JMS about this news. Take it away, sir:

“For as long as I’ve been doing conventions (starting in the early Cretaceous period, when it was just me and a handful of pterosaurs on a panel debating whether or not mammals with opposable thumbs were really necessary to the writing of quality comics, a point still hotly debated today), there has always been the same question from folks in the audience: “Is there any one character who is your dream character to write for?” The answer has always been the same: Superman. When I first came over to DC, that dream was realized in part by Dan DiDio’s gracious invitation to write the first of potentially many Superman original graphic novels. Now the dream has come fully true with the opportunity to write for the mainstream title, in a story that returns Superman to his roots in a way that will have the whole country talking about him in ways that we haven’t seen in a long time.

Similarly, the chance to write Wonder Woman — the nearest analogue to Superman in the DCU — is massively exciting. She’s a vital, powerful character, and we hope to bring a more contemporary sensibility to her character will retaining everything that makes her unique.

That DC is willing to jump-start these two runs in the pages of their respective anniversary issues is a great opportunity and a vote of confidence in what we have planned for these characters. I’m looking forward to this with more excitement than words can convey.

It’s gonna be a blast.”

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This entry was posted on Monday, March 8th, 2010 at 9:00 am and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

37 Responses to “J. Michael Straczynski to write SUPERMAN and WONDER WOMAN, starting in July”

  1. John Bierly says on March 8th, 2010 at 9:12 am :

    Great news. Loving his run on “The Brave and the Bold.” Just please don’t undo his marriage with Lois!

  2. kennypick says on March 8th, 2010 at 9:14 am :

    Very cool. JMS was my 2nd choice on Wonder Woman and totally deserves Superman. I can’t wait to see him get things right on both books!

  3. Speeding Bullets » Post Topic » J. Michael Straczynski to write Superman & Wonder Woman says on March 8th, 2010 at 9:18 am :

    [...] Click here for more at The Source [...]

  4. JMS Takes Over Superman and Wonder Woman « read/RANT! says on March 8th, 2010 at 9:29 am :

    [...] announced through The Source that J. Michael Straczynski would assume the writing chores for two of their flagship titles [...]

  5. CATRsChris says on March 8th, 2010 at 9:30 am :

    This is such sad news. Gail Simone was doing such an amazing job on Wonder Woman. It had been ages since the book was interesting and it was finally it.

    I guess we’ll have some more years of a Superman with boobs in this title.

  6. ryaztek says on March 8th, 2010 at 9:31 am :

    JMS on the Man of Steel and WW…AWESOME! I had him pegged in my mind for an AQUAMAN series and this is great news too.

  7. Gorbunov says on March 8th, 2010 at 9:31 am :

    Makes sense, all things considering. Now give him some hotass artists and strong marketing push and get two new top-ten selling titles.
    But isn’t JMS has problems with deadlines? At least the irregularity of Thor, Twelve and ASM makes me belive so. Hope 3 ongoings is not too much for him.

  8. » Blog Archive » Straczynski to write Superman and Wonder Woman says on March 8th, 2010 at 9:39 am :

    [...] http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2010/03/08/j-michael-straczynski-to-write-superman-and-wonder-woman-sta... [...]

  9. DC Universe: The Source » Blog Archive » J. Michael Straczynski to write SUPERMAN and WONDER WOMAN, starting in July : Tales from the Longbox says on March 8th, 2010 at 9:45 am :

    [...] DC Universe: The Source » Blog Archive » J. Michael Straczynski to write SUPERMAN and WONDER WOMAN… J. Michael Straczynski to write SUPERMAN and WONDER WOMAN, starting in July [...]

  10. Theozilla says on March 8th, 2010 at 9:47 am :

    Yes YEEESSSSS! This is great news! Sure Gail Simone had a great run but I am sure JMS can do a great one as well, and Superman can finally get the writer he deserves after Johns left Action Comics. If they can get Gary Frank to do interiors that would be great.

  11. dietel says on March 8th, 2010 at 9:48 am :

    I’ve never read a JMS comic, just heard that he’s amazing. I’m so excited he’s taking over two of my favorite characters. Can’t wait to see what cool new places we will go.

  12. thecoyotegospel says on March 8th, 2010 at 9:55 am :

    My first response was to jump in joy at Robinson’s impending departure from Superman. I really hope that this signals an end to thinly spread crossovers in the S-books. I think this will be a challenge for JMS and I hope he steps up to the plate.

    As for his Wonder Woman comment… It’s a little underwhelming. I am not a WW fan, so I wanted a little more from her new writer than declaring her the “nearest analogue to Superman in the DCU,” which just makes him sound a bit thoughtless about what makes her unique or interesting. I’ve gone from wanting to jump on at 600 to waiting to see how his first few issues get reviewed.

    It’s almost like JMS just got a really awesome Superman toy for Christmas and a pair of Superman socks, which he has to be thankful for too, even though he doesn’t think they’re as cool.

    Oh well, at least people can stop freaking out about Grant Morrison. I, for one, can’t wait to see how these two books play out.

  13. brightgirl says on March 8th, 2010 at 9:55 am :

    hey ryaztek, I thought the same thing too about Aquaman…You can read him written by JMS next week tho in Brave & Bold.

  14. Zawisza says on March 8th, 2010 at 10:07 am :

    I’m interested.

    I hope he’s able to keep B&B as well. That book has been fun again with him writing it.

  15. runnerx13 says on March 8th, 2010 at 10:17 am :

    Poor Gail, looks like my $2.99 will now be spend on Birds of Prey.

  16. zodcomplex says on March 8th, 2010 at 10:19 am :

    This is FANTASTIC news. JMS has been hitting it out of the park on Brave & the Bold. His Thor was absolutely brilliant. I could not be a happier Zod this morning than I am right now. Not even an army of seething ‘Rama trolls could bring me down. This is so awesome.

  17. deunen says on March 8th, 2010 at 10:25 am :

    I love getting hit in the face with some amazing left field news like this on a Monday morning. Brilliant move DC.

  18. majesticfool says on March 8th, 2010 at 10:52 am :

    THIS?… THIS RIGHT HERE? THIS IS GREAT NEWS!!!

    JMS is an amazingly great talent. Superman has been needing (begging) for a new fresh and intellingent direction for years now, and JMS is the man for the Job. If anyone can make Superman an exiting character to read again, is this man. He’s a flippin’ genius!!!

    Also, I was really sad to see Gail leave Wonder Woman, she was leaving behind a void that could not be filled by anyone… except for JMS. So you know i’m stoked for this!!!

    AND I also second the plead for an Aquaman series helmed by JMS.

    YAY!!! the DC universe is finally shaping up again!!! WOOT!!!

  19. majesticfool says on March 8th, 2010 at 10:54 am :

    Oh and PLEASE for the love of God, NO GARY FRANK!!! His Superman is a parody of Chris Reeve… and a BAD one at that!!!

  20. reaper2k says on March 8th, 2010 at 11:02 am :

    I have long believed that Superman needed a strong writer who could bring out the subtleties of his character and bring him back into the public consciousness. I think JMS is that person. I am looking forward to his new direction for this title.

    And while I will greatly miss Gail Simone on Wonder Woman, I am pleased she is relaunching Birds of Prey. I am sure JMS will handle Diana with similar genius, and keep alive the hero Gail has recreated over the past few years.

  21. suprdave71 says on March 8th, 2010 at 11:28 am :

    This is fantastic. And I’d love to keep Gary Frank on a Superman book.

  22. meisterlegion says on March 8th, 2010 at 11:28 am :

    WOW! What awsome news to start my Monday! JMS on SUPERMAN title and WONDER WOMAN too! Right after their anniversary issues to boot! Someone pinch me!

    I have such respect for Mr. Straczynski’s work. He’s such an incredible talent that I’ve just recently got turned on to from his work in BRAVE AND THE BOLD. I like that he can take such obscure characters that you wouldn’t think would be interesting at all and weave such an incredible inclusive tale - not an arc or over-reaching story, but a beginning and end tale all in one book. I’m so excited to have him after all these long story arcs the past 2-years. It will be nice to just read a good story in each of the titles.
    To me there is no one better suited to follow up Gail’s run in WONDER WOMAN than the talent of JMS.

    OH, and didn’t he also write SUPERMAN EARTH-ONE for this Fall’s release? So, you know he’s got his feet wet so to speak.

    I can’t wait! :)

  23. J. Michael Straczynsk to take over Wonder Woman, Superman « Between the Panels says on March 8th, 2010 at 11:52 am :

    [...] morning, DC’s The  Source blog reported that writer J. Michael Straczynsk will be taking over the Wonder Woman title with issue #601 and [...]

  24. Kooster says on March 8th, 2010 at 11:59 am :

    Hmm…I’m waiting to JMS’s Brave & the Bold issue with Wonder Woman to see how he writes my favorite Amazonian princess.

    I’m hoping that JMS will be at C2E2, where us fans and ask for more details, etc.

    Looking forward to seeing JMS’s essay on Wonder Woman.

    For Wonder Woman, I think it would be so cool if George Perez could return for the first story arc!

  25. querldox says on March 8th, 2010 at 12:42 pm :

    eh but how does this affect Supergirl?
    You know, that cover rubs me the wrong way, Superman as a character always seemed like the type of man to put his mother before anyone else. He’s so ‘aw shucks’ like that.

  26. stormtrec says on March 8th, 2010 at 12:57 pm :

    As a predominately Marvel reader I know that my comments may be met with a bit of scorn (OK . . . ALLOT of Scorn), but I wanted to state something. Other than the “Big Three,” there are few DC titles that I have really enjoyed; Teen Titans and Birds of Prey were two of them. If Gail is going to leave WW to re-launch BoP (thanks for that news reaper2K) then the heads of DC have not COMPLETELY lost their combined minds. So, while mine is still “mainly” Marvel, I wish the “Dominate Duo” well with their new direction and welcome Gail back to BoP!

  27. jonbrak1 says on March 8th, 2010 at 1:19 pm :

    His comment about Wonder Woman being bogged down in her own mythos is ridiculous. Her entire history has been a blank slate since the end of Infinite Crisis and One Year Later. He doesn’t need to strip down, he needs to build up. I’ve loved what Gail’s done solidifying WW’s present and I’m a little bummed she didn’t get to do the “Year One” story that still needs to be told; hopefully, JMS will be able to do that while building on what Gail’s already created.

  28. wildclaw says on March 8th, 2010 at 1:31 pm :

    I’m glad about this but I hope he respects what Gail Simone has done and builds on it. I would like to see Diana back at her day job with Sarge Steel as Diana Prince - was my only quibble with Gail. I don’t want to see George Perez back. its incredibly old fashion art for the direction the book has gone in the past four years. It needs Bernard Chang or someone who has a similar style to him and Aaron Lopresti. That has been beautiful. It would be jarring to depart back to the Vol 2 look which was there circa Rags Morales. It was a bit too Playboy for me

  29. badsoul says on March 8th, 2010 at 3:15 pm :

    oh happy day! :-)
    now this is truly magnificent!
    Love JMS on brave and the bold and cant wait to see him on Superman!

  30. albatross says on March 8th, 2010 at 6:22 pm :

    oh HELLLLLLLLLL YEAHHHH!!! Thanks DC!!!!! :)

  31. ichibanmitsuru says on March 9th, 2010 at 9:25 am :

    ugh, FAIL DC FAIL.

    Why?

    For many reasons I wont even mention because it would start a flame war (truth hurts old school fans).

    But just that Gail Simone has brought such good things to the character, and created the kind of wonder woman that is believable, intelligent, and wondrous. Plus it was nice to see Wonder Woman actually wrote by a woman.

    Droped from the pull both, hopefully I haven’t prepaid for any of Mr. French Gwen Stacey Daughter clone’s, Junk.

    Oh yeah and other his recent DC stuff has been Meh at best.

    Ugh I went and did it.

    “BOOOOOOOOOOOOOO-earns, they are saying booo-earns sir” Waylon Smithers

  32. Comicnews: Star-Autor Straczynski übernimmt Wonder Woman und Superman! « CRAYTONS COMIC-BLOG says on March 9th, 2010 at 11:37 am :

    [...] DC gestern auf ihrem eigenen Blog berichteten (hier) übernimmt einer der schillernsten Autoren der Comicwelt zwei der wichtigsten Comic-Serien von [...]

  33. Superman e Wonder Woman: arriva Straczynski! » DC Leaguers says on March 9th, 2010 at 12:46 pm :

    [...] dal blog DC The Source è in arrivo una notizia sensazionale:  Lo scrittore J. Michael Straczynski, a partire da luglio [...]

  34. Prime Time Geek » PTG Episode 99: Alice is Nutters says on March 10th, 2010 at 10:52 am :

    [...] about all the big recent news to come down the pipe this past week, including the announcement that J. Michael Strazcynski will be taking over writing duties on the main Superman and Wonder Woman titl…. Last year, it was all about Blackest Night. This year, it’s going to be about War of the [...]

  35. Halo Dc Comic - Halo Dc Comics - Halo Dc Comics - Female Superhero says on March 10th, 2010 at 4:53 pm :

    [...] DC Universe: The Source » Blog Archive » J. Michael Straczynski to … [...]

  36. Huntress - Huntress Dc - Huntress Dc - Female Superhero says on March 10th, 2010 at 4:55 pm :

    [...] DC Universe: The Source » Blog Archive » J. Michael Straczynski to … [...]

  37. DC Universe: The Source » Blog Archive » Unveiling JMS’ SUPERMAN artist says on March 19th, 2010 at 1:07 pm :

    [...] hit the ground running with some major news not long ago — announcing that JMS was not only writing SUPERMAN, but WONDER WOMAN as well. And earlier today we talked a bit about SAMARITAN X, JMS’ newly announced OGN. We promised more [...]

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