Deadpool creatorRob Liefeldhas an idea for aSupermanstory, and he plans on making it a reality once the rights to the legendary character hit the public domain in 2034. Liefeld just made acontentious exit from Marvel Comicsafter decades of on/off collaboration, and while fans likely shouldn’t expect to find him working for DC anytime soon, a Superman story isn’t entirely off the table.
Liefeld appeared as the guest on “Millar Time,” fellow comic book author Mark Millar’s podcast, where both of them teased the idea of doingSupermanstories outside the banner of DC Comics a decade from now.
“You just gotta stay alive, Mark,” Liefeld said, explaining thatthe prospect of this future story has become almost mantra-like for him: “every day I go, ‘I have to stay alive to do my Superman.”For those who might be unfamiliar with Rob Liefeld, it is safe to say the author and artist is completely serious.
Legendary Comic Creator Rob Liefeld Says He’s Already Working On A Public Domain Superman Story
“I’ve Already Drawn Pages,” Liefeld Told Mark Millar
Rob Liefeld is equally iconic and infamousin the comic book industry; his creative style is both controversial and influential, and on top of that, he is one of comics’ most fascinating personalities. Further, if there is any creator who can manifest a story after decades of holding onto an idea, it is Liefeld. That is why the prospect of a public domainSupermanstory from the creator should have the comic book world on the edge of its collective seats.
Liefeld floated the idea during his appearance on Mark Millar’s “Millar Time” podcast, during a wide-ranging and insightful conversation that covered their combined sixty-plus years of experience in comics. Actually, Millar brought up the idea of a public domainSupermanstory first, prompting Rob Liefeld to reveal he’s had one in mind for awhile now. Their exchange, from the episode, went like this:
Millar: “I could do the Superman story. Then I thought, ‘Superman is public domain in 9 years, right?'”
Liefeld: “That’s what I’m thinking! You just gotta stay alive, Mark. Every day I go, ‘I have to stay alive to do my Superman.’ I love when people are like, ‘But you can’t do this, and this.’ No, I have his first story. I’ve already drawn pages in mine. Okay, he can’t fly he can leap. He’s gonna have that cool ‘S’ [logo]. I got it! You’re like me. We’re good! I’ll be fine. It’s going to be great.”
In other words, as faras Liefeld is concerned, it is a matter of when, not if, he gets to write and draw a Superman story.
Liefeld’s Public Domain Superman Would Be Distinct From The Modern DC Comics Character
If Anyone Can Make It Happen, Liefeld Can
As Rob Liefeld noted,the version of Supermanthat will be available in the public domain starting in 2034 is not exactly the same character as thecontemporary Man of Steel, as published by DC Comics. “He can’t fly, but he can leap,” Liefeld pointed out, offering just one example of how the character evolved over the years, and how his take on the hero would draw from the original source material. However, beyond that,Liefeld would have free rein to bring his signature style, both narratively and artistically, to the character.
A no-holds-barred public domain Superman from Rob Liefeld sounds like a once-in-a-generation project that, for better or worse, for fans and critics of the author alike, would be a must-read spectacle.
Of course, nine years is a long time, especially in comics, and it is possible that, in the meantime, DC might offer Rob Liefeld the opportunity to work on a sanctionedSupermanstory. However, most comic book readers would agree that the possibility of a no-holds-barred public domainSupermanfromRob Liefeldsounds like a once-in-a-generation project that, for better or worse, for fans and critics of the author alike, would be a must-read spectacle for all comic book fans.
