A 40th anniversary interview… With dozens of first-rate comic-book movies having come and gone over the last four decades, there is still none greater than Superman: The Movie, which was released wide in U.S. theaters 40 years ago on Saturday — Dec. 15, 1978. Saying it had a profound impact on me would be an understatement and it’s still probably the film I have seen more than any other. So there was no way I was going to let this anniversary pass without something special. Enter Michael Eury’s RetroFan #3, published by TwoMorrows — featuring a cover interview with director Richard Donner himself. And guess what, Superfans: We’ve got an EXCLUSIVE excerpt for you. Donner spoke with writer Glenn Greenberg about, among other things, how he first viewed the Superman gig, his famed dedication to “verisimilitude,” his displeasure with the popular Extended Cut and the landmark film’s enduring legacy. Below you’ll find selected highlights but there’s much more in the full piece, so I strongly recommend picking up RetroFan #3, which is due out 12/19. (Plus, check out that Table of Contents to get a taste of all the other groovy features in the mag. Goofy Grape!) — By GLENN GREENBERG Glenn Greenberg: My first question is going to take you way back. I understand that you used to read Superman comics as a kid. Donner: Sure. Greenberg: What did you like about them? What was the appeal to you? Donner: It was just escapism. I mean, we were kids, we’d come home from school after playing in the yard or somewhere on the school grounds, and our reading material would be whatever the newest comic book was that came out. I don’t know if it’s going on today—today it’s TV instead. But it was a comic book and every page was a phenomenal one to turn, and you lived the fantasies, between Superman and—now you’re gonna make me think of the others and I can’t—I mean, hundreds of them. Dick Tracy, Shazam!—what was that, Captain Marvel? Greenberg: Yep! Donner: And Superman was one that stuck with me, but no more than any of the others. Until, of course, he came into my life again many, many years later. RF: Right. Now when he did come into your life again many, many years later, in your view, going into this...
VILLAINS TRIUMPHANT! The United Underworld has taken Riverdale — and Batman… What may very well be the last Batman ’66 comics crossover wraps up with Archie Meets Batman ’66 #6, by Jeff Parker, Michael Moreci, Dan Parent, J. Bone, Kelly Fitzpatrick and Jack Morelli. To catch you up, the Caped Crusader’s biggest villains have assumed control of Riverdale — with the Masked Manhunter their prisoner. So Archie, Robin, Batgirl and the gang have to plot their impossible rescue. The issue, from Archie Comics and DC, comes out 1/9 but the final order cutoff is Monday (12/17) — and we’ve got your EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK at a selection of unlettered pages, plus the book’s six covers, which debuted at 13th Dimension in October. (Click here.)...
VILLAINS TRIUMPHANT! The United Underworld has taken Riverdale — and Batman…
Things are coming to a head (pun intended) in Frank’s war on Hydra.
It was a hit from the start — and readers like Roy Thomas had strong opinions…
