DC Comics have announced “Future State: Superman: Worlds of War” writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson will take over the monthly Superman titles when they return in March. Johnson’s run will begin with ‘The Golden Age,’ a two-part story that will begin in “Superman” #29, and conclude in “Action Comics” #1029. Illustrated by Phil Hester and Eric Gapstur, the story sees Jonathan Kent returning from the 31st century, and aiding his father in a battle against the leviathans of the Breach — aliens that history records as being responsible for the death of Superman.
Johnson’s run will continue with artist Scott Godlewski on “Superman,” and Daniel Sampere on “Action Comics.” He stated, “The work I’m doing now with Phil Hester, Scott Godlewski, and Daniel Sampere is already some of my favorite of my career. All three are wizards on the page, and the massive event that we’re building up to in ‘Action Comics’ is a considerably bigger swing than I ever expected to get in comics. It’s no exaggeration to say it will change Superman’s status quo forever and have a lasting impact across the entire DC Universe.” It was also revealed he will reunite with “Future State: Superman: Worlds of War” artist Mikel Janín on another Superman project.
In the meantime, a back-up series, ‘Tales of Metropolis,’ will run in both titles. The “Superman” segments, penned by Sean Lewis (“DC Future State: Superman of Metropolis”) with art by Sami Basri (“Harley Quinn”) will star Jimmy Olsen; while the “Action Comics” back-ups, written by Becky Cloonan and Michael W. Conrad, with art by Michael Avon Oeming, will continue Cloonan, Conrad and Gleb Melnikov’s Midnighter story from “Future State: Superman: Worlds of War.”
Johnson commented, “I can’t begin to describe what an honor it is to be writing ‘Superman’ and ‘Action Comics,’ especially following one of my industry heroes, Brian Michael Bendis. One of my very earliest memories is the thrill I felt watching the Christopher Reeve Superman films for the first time. My goal for every issue will be to give readers that same physical reaction, and the same lofty aspirations that Superman inspires: the desire to be better than we are, and to do more than the world thinks we can do.” For more from the writer, check out a full interview at The Hollywood Reporter.
“Superman” #29 will be published March 9, and “Action Comics” #1029 will follow on March 24. Bendis’s Superman run wraps up this month, while the prelude to Johnson’s will take place in January and February’s “Worlds of War,” and “Future State: House of El.”
