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While Jon Kent serves as Superman on Earth within the trendy DC Universe, his father has been bringing hope to the beaten-down planet of Warworld. What has adopted has been a uniquely pulp-inspired journey for the Man of Steel, forcing Clark Kent to take up a sword and defend in his wrestle to raise up the peoples of Warworld in rebel towards Mongul. The story arc, which concludes with Superman: Warworld Apocalypse #1, has been constructing to an enormous epic battle for the potential destiny of extra than simply Warworld, and it doesn’t disappoint.
Ahead of the storyline coming to an in depth, Superman: Warworld Apocalypse author Phillip Kennedy Johnson sat down with AnimeFillerLists to debate the arc. He defined how the Warworld epic has advanced throughout the course of the storyline, which characters from the expansive forged stunned him essentially the most, and the way the Warworld arc highlights the final word thematic significance of the Man of Steel.
AnimeFillerLists: The Warworld arc has been rooted in loads of fantasy/sci-fi — stuff like John Carter from Mars and Flash Gordon, versus the extra conventional superhero tropes. What has excited you essentially the most about bringing Superman to this type of setting?
Phillip Kennedy Johnson: I LOVE seeing all of the over-the-top pulp imagery of different beloved tales within the context of Superman. The John Carter and He-Man-inspired costumes, the Mad Max and Dune-inspired method to the villains and monsters, and the becoming a member of of cosmic magic and Fourth World expertise. We don’t typically see Superman in this sort of pulpy context, however along with his interplanetary origins and lengthy historical past of preventing injustice on different worlds, there’s no purpose we shouldn’t.
I feel the time we’ve spent humanizing the character in Metropolis, exploring the forged and [the] internal workings of the Daily Planet, in addition to Grant Morrison’s Superman and the Authority — which noticed a considerably depowered Superman and the creation of a brand new crew — [all] set Superman up nicely for a larger-than-life cosmic pulp journey. Something like “The Warworld Saga” made all of the sense on this planet for Superman’s subsequent chapter.
Mongul works so nicely on this story, a real counter to the Man of Tomorrow’s innate optimism with unyielding and single-minded brutality. Why was Mongul the suitable character for the story you wished to inform?
As I understand Superman, because the “Champion of the Oppressed,” I feel Mongul is his most excellent antithesis. Redefining Warworld as a cage for the displaced populations of 1000’s of worlds and Mongul as their slaver makes him completely diametrically against Superman. He’s the proper endpoint of a complete tradition and perception system constructed across the idea of dominance, whereas Superman is the proper expression of compassion and humility. I used to be extremely excited to point out a extra sophisticated Mongul in that mild and to see him and Superman conflict, not simply bodily however ideologically.
It’s not simply Superman on the coronary heart of this story, however the prolonged Superman household on Earth and the allies on Warworld — which character would you say has stunned you essentially the most throughout the course of the collection?
I’d wish to say Midnighter, besides that wasn’t actually a shock. I’ve been dying to point out Midnighter’s “shadow mission” since earlier than the Authority even acquired to Warworld. I cherished the concept of Superman occurring a clear-eyed “Truth and Justice” mission to alter hearts and minds by the thousands and thousands, whereas Midnighter’s concurrently bringing collectively the rebel from the shadows, killing dudes left and proper in alleyways with out Superman’s speedy data. I like that concept, and I LOVE writing Midnighter, perhaps greater than anybody else on the crew.
I feel the characters who’ve stunned me essentially the most, although, are Orphan and Darling. I discover their backstory actually tragic and fascinating, and though I had by no means deliberate on them changing into allies to Superman and the Authority, in the long run, that’s what made sense. I acquired fairly connected to them. I actually hope we get the prospect to discover their future in Action Comics. I like the concept of them dwelling within the Fortress of Solitude for some time, taking part in a task much like Harold’s in ’90s Batman comics.
An enormous thread of the storyline has been that everybody is important– from Superman and Mongul to obscure heroes and former villains to common residents and slaves. Why was that so vital to delve into these sorts of themes with this story?
The straightforward reply is as a result of it’s Superman’s core perception and a theme that you just’ll hopefully see expressed in each concern of Superman I ever write. I feel it’s vital to see that aspect of Superman in each concern. I even make it the unstated subtext of most of his dialogue, anytime it is sensible to take action.
The purpose it’s much more vital within the Warworld Saga is that he’s making an attempt to free individuals who have been screaming for his head when he acquired there, individuals he by no means needed to see face-to-face if he had simply minded his personal enterprise. Warworld is likely one of the most troublesome, most long-game duties he’s ever undertaken, one that might by no means have been price it if he didn’t really feel right down to his bones that folks with out households, with out properties, with out names, individuals who hate him, and so forth. matter simply as a lot because the individuals he loves most.
Superman simply desirous to get residence to his household is such a superbly down-to-earth motivation for Clark on this arc. Why is it vital to see Superman weak, particularly on this type of method?
With so many gigantic, epic science fiction ideas in play within the Warworld Saga, Superman having a household that he’s making an attempt to get again to might be essentially the most relatable ingredient of the story. It’s what anybody can be feeling in his state of affairs. As centered as he’s on the job he got down to do, the factor he can’t cease fascinated with is holding his promise to his spouse and son, his promise that he’ll all the time come again.
His love for his household, and his underlying sense of loss at his misplaced years with Jon, can be what helps him join with the Phaelosian children Otho-Ra and Osul-Ra. When he first meets them, as he’s falling unconscious from the beating he’s simply acquired, he’s forgotten that Jon is an grownup now, and Osul-Ra reminds him of Jon.
Even after Superman’s absolutely aware and recovering, having two almost-Kryptonian children round who’re roughly the age that Jon was presupposed to be makes his parental aspect kick into overdrive, they usually turned uncommonly shut over the course of the Warworld Saga. That all grows out of Superman’s longing to see his household once more, and I stay up for seeing the place these relationships go in Superman: Kal-El Returns and past.
Was this all the time the ending you had in thoughts for the collection, or have been there different paths this story might need finally gone down?
The broad strokes ended up precisely the place I deliberate it to go, however there have been a couple of surprises alongside the best way. One character I wrote with the specific intent of killing ended up surviving, and one other character I supposed to stay is useless now. But for essentially the most half, the whole lot ended up precisely because it was presupposed to, and the Warworld Saga units us up nicely for our plans in 2023.
What do you hope readers take away from the conclusion of this run?
Since Superman represents the easiest of humanity, writing him carries a type of accountability that I attempt to keep in mind and respect. The Superman that I see in my thoughts’s eye is one who evokes me in a method that’s troublesome to specific. I hope the Warworld Saga helps set up a transparent and constant voice for him, that it helps readers see the Superman that I see, and that he evokes others the identical method.
Underneath the epic mythology and science fiction imagery, the Warworld Saga is a narrative about human trafficking and the hazards of hero worship, a minimum of from my perspective. But I’ve been moved to listen to from followers who’ve taken different optimistic messages from it, messages I didn’t essentially intend however which might be completely legitimate. What I’m making an attempt to say is that I hope readers take one thing from it that’s significant to them and that they discover transferring or inspirational.
Superman: Warworld Apocalypse #1 by Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Brandon Peterson, and Will Conrad is now out there from DC Comics.
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