Richard Donner writes Action Comics
July 17, 2006 - This fall, Superman's greatest ally and greatest enemy return. Richard Donner, the man who brought Superman to film, waited 25 years for his next team up with the Man of Steel. Donner returns to the character, writing Superman's adventures in Action Comics. Donner's former assistant and best-selling comic writer Geoff Johns (Infinite Crisis) will co-write the series.
Together, Donner and Johns pit Superman against an all-new General Zod. For his first comic book work, Donner will introduce the new General Zod into the DC universe, teamed with Ursa and Non, best recognized as villains from Donner's Superman films. Lex Luthor will also play a central role, just not in the way you'd expect.
This is Donner's first visit to Superman since being fired from production of Superman II. Creative and budgetary disputes led to producers firing Donner even though much of the movie was already filmed. Before filming this year's Superman Returns, director Bryan Singer sought Donner's approval for the updated picture, which references the first two movies.
Donner's first six-issue arc begins with October's Action Comics #844, drawn by superstar artist Adam Kubert (Ultimate X-Men) as his first regular work since signing an exclusive with DC Comics.
General Zod first appeared in Adventure Comics #283 in 1961 after escaping the Phantom Zone, a prison for criminals on Superman's home planet of Krypton. He and other criminals escaped to plague Superman. After DC rewrote its history so Superman would be the only survivor from Krypton, General Zod was deleted from continuity. Various versions have appeared, including the most recent in Brian Azzarello "For Tomorrow" storyline. Donner's version is completely new. Zod, Ursa and Non will likely not be the only Kryptonian criminals escaping the Phantom Zone.
Donner started directing in the 1950s, working on popular television shows including the Fugitive, Six Million Dollar Man and the Twilight Zone. His 1976 film, the Omen, began his film career later directing and producing hits such as the Lethal Weapon series and Goonies.
DC is expected to officially announce Donner's role with Action Comics at the San Diego Comic-Con later this week.
