Posted in: Comics, DC Comics, Superman | Tagged: Comics, dc, dc comics, dc infinite, dc omniverse, march 2021, omniverse, phillip kennedy johnson, superman

Phillip Kennedy Johnson, the New Writer of Superman and Action Comics

Published Wed, 16 Dec 2020 12:09:00 -0600

by Rich Johnston

Last updated Thu, 17 Dec 2020 12:15:45 -0600

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Bleeding Cool told you that, replacing Brian Bendis and Superman and Action Comics would be another singular writer, and so it has come to pass. That creator, no, not Mark Waid, is Phillip Kennedy Johnson.

When he's not writing comics (and sometimes when he is) Phillip Kennedy Johnson is a Sergeant First Class in the United States Army, and regularly tours the continental United States with The U.S. Army Field Band and the Federal Brass of Washington, DC. He is a teacher, a musician and now the ongoing writer of Superman comic books for DC Comics.

It looks like he will be setting up a new Superman event for DC Comics during the summer, and we have the first official word that some Future State stories will be continuing with a Midnighter back-up strip by Becky Cloonan, Michael W. Conrad and Michael Avon Oeming.

Phillip Kennedy Johnson, the New Writer of Superman and Action Comics — Credit: DC Comics

Writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson (The Last God, Future State: Superman: Worlds of War) flies from DC's Future State event in January and February back to the present DCU in March to join artists Phil Hester and Eric Gapstur for a two-part story that spans both Superman and Action Comics!

"I can't begin to describe what an honor it is to be writing Superman and Action Comics," said Johnson, "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."

In "The Golden Age" part one on March 9 (Superman #29), Jonathan Kent is back from the 31^st Century and fighting cosmic threats alongside his legendary father. But when an interdimensional breach opens near Earth, Jon recognizes the creatures that emerge: the cosmic leviathans that the Legion of Superheroes credit with the DEATH OF SUPERMAN!

And in the new backup series "Tales of Metropolis" story in the same issue, writer Sean Lewis (DC Future State: Superman of Metropolis) and artist Sami Basri (Harley Quinn) follow Jimmy Olsen on a quest to meet of some of the city's more colorful denizens, beginning with Bibbo Bibbowski!

Then in "The Golden Age" part two on March 24 (Action Comics #1029), as Superboy desperately tries to save Superman's life from the leviathans of the Breach, Superman discovers the Breach's shocking origins. But with his powers mysteriously fading, he is utterly outmatched. Can Superboy change the course of history and save his father's life? Don't miss this prelude to DC's MASSIVE Superman event!

Credit: DC Comics

Plus, in another all-new backup "Tale of Metropolis" story, writers Becky Cloonan and Michael W. Conrad (Future State: Immortal Wonder Woman) join forces with Michael Avon Oeming to continue the Midnighter story that Cloonan and Conrad started in DC Future State. But is the DC Universe ready for Trojan Industries?

In the months following "The Golden Age" two-part crossover, Phillip Kennedy Johnson will continue writing both Superman and Action Comics with artists Scott Godlewski (on Superman) and Daniel Sampere (on Action Comics) before reuniting with Future State: Superman: Worlds of War co-creator Mikel Janín on a special Superman project—still to be announced!

"The work I'm doing now with Phil Hester, Scott Godlewski, and Daniel Sampere is already some of my favorite of my career," continued Johnson. "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. The already iconic Future State: Superman: Worlds of War artwork that you've seen from Mikel Janín in recent months is just the tip of the iceberg of what he and I have planned together. Stay tuned, you will NOT want to miss what's coming."