Superior (comics)

Superior

Superior #1. Art by Leinil Francis Yu
Publication information
Publisher Icon Comics (Marvel Comics)
Format Limited series
Genre
Publication date December 2010 – March 2012
Number of issues 7
Main character(s) Superior / Simon Pooni
Creative team
Writer(s) Mark Millar
Penciller(s) Leinil Francis Yu
Inker(s) Gerry Alanguilan
Colorist(s) Clayton Cowles
Creator(s) Mark Millar
Leinil Francis Yu
Editor(s) John Barber

Superior is a creator-owned comic book series written by Mark Millar and illustrated by Leinil Francis Yu. It is published by Marvel Comics under the company's Icon imprint.

It is the story of Simon Pooni, a 12-year-old-boy who had it all going for him - plenty of friends at school, good looks and a promising basketball career. But that was when he could still move his legs. Now, he's living with multiple sclerosis, missing all the little things he used to take for granted, and escaping into the world of movies and comics with his best friend.

Synopsis

Simon Pooni, an angry, bitter 12-year-old boy suffering from multiple sclerosis, idolizes superheroes, particularly Superior, a Superman analogue. An alien monkey named Ormon appears at Simon's bedside, informing the boy that of all the people on Earth, he has been granted the honor of being bestowed a single magic wish. Simon is then transformed into Superior.

After playing the role of Superior for a week, he learns that Ormon is actually a demon incarnate, and he must sell his soul to the devil in order to remain as Superior. He is given 24 hours to decide, and is returned to his old body. The demon approaches an old bully of Simon, and offers him a similar wish, to become Superior's fictional nemesis, Abraxas; the only caveat is that he must pledge himself to Satan. Simon must then choose whether to become Superior again and save the planet from imminent destruction at the cost of his own soul.

To force Simon to choose, Abraxas begins destroying the city. Simon transforms into Superior and fights both Abraxas and Ormon. Although Superior defeats them in battle, Ormon gloats that he still has Simon's soul, until he realizes that Simon (as Superior) is immortal, and that his soul can never be collected. Ormon is dragged back to Hell as punishment for his failure, and Simon reverts to his mortal form. The world honors Superior as a fallen hero, thinking him killed in battle, and Simon returns to his former life, but now at peace with himself.

Promotion

Prior to the release of the series, a marketing campaign featuring a Wizard magazine cover and a series of prophetic teaser images – all of which evoked Millar's love for the Superman mythos were released.[1][2] Creator Mark Millar also gave comic stores across the world chance to earn a free full page advert in the books first issue by printing off and displaying promotional posters from his official website in their stores.[3] A charity auction was held to name the main character. The winner, Simon Pooni, chose his own name.[4]

World record

Writer Mark Millar signing a copy of the series' collected edition during an appearance at Midtown Comics on Manhattan.

In April 2011, Mark Millar, Leinil Francis Yu, Frank Quitely, Dave Gibbons, John Romita Jr, Paul Cornell, Andy Diggle, Jock, Duncan Fegrado, Sean Phillips and over fifty other comic book creators collaborated at the inaugural Kapow Comic Convention and used the Superior character to break two Guinness World Records - the fastest comic book ever produced and the biggest number of creators working on a single comic. The Superior World Record Special was written, penciled, inked and lettered in less than 12 hours and sold as a limited 10,000 copy book with all proceeds from its sales going to Yorkhill Sick Children's Hospital in Scotland.[5][6][7]

Film

Director Matthew Vaughn, who adapted Millar's other property, Kick-Ass, into the 2010 feature of the same name, holds the film rights to both Superior and Millar's other property, The Secret Service,[8] having acquired them in October 2011.[9][10]

In Kick-Ass 2 there is a poster of Superior in a flashback of Dave's childhood.

In April 2014 it was announced 20th Century Fox had picked up the rights to a feature film[11]

In January 2016, Variety reports that Fox hired Brandon and Phillip Murphy to write the film's script while Vaughn and Tarquin Pack will produced the film.[12]

Millar tweeted that he would like to see John Cena cast as Superior.[13]

References

  1. ↑ Melrose, Kevin (July 1, 2010). "A first look at Mark Millar and Leinil Francis Yu’s Superior!" Comic Book Resources
  2. ↑ CBR News Team (June 1, 2010). "Millar and Yu are Superior!"
  3. ↑ Butler, Tom (September 15, 2010). "Mark Millar Offers Superior Ad" IGN
  4. ↑ CBR News Team (September 10, 2010). "Superior Unveiled". Comic Book Resources.
  5. ↑ "Kapow! To Break Records". IGN. March 17, 2011. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Could This Be The Hottest Marvel Book Of The Year? Superior Kapow Special #1". Bleedingcool.com. November 23, 2011. Retrieved September 23, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Kapow! Guinness World Record Special (2011) #1". Marvel Comics. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
  8. ↑ Kit, Borys (October 20, 2011). "'X-Men' Director Matthew Vaughn Developing Mark Millar Comics 'The Secret Service,' 'Superior'". The Hollywood Reporter.
  9. ↑ Melrose, Kevin (October 5, 2011). "Matthew Vaughn Snags Superior". Spinoff Online.
  10. ↑ Fischer, Russ (October 5, 2011). "Matthew Vaughn Acquires Movie Rights To Mark Millar’s ‘Superior’". /Film.
  11. ↑ Fox Picks Up Mark Millar's 'Superior' Comic Book (Exclusive)
  12. ↑ McNary, Dave (January 6, 2016). "Movie Adaptation of Mark Millar Comic 'Superior' Finds Writers". Variety.
  13. ↑ Negroni, Jon (September 29, 2016). "Mark Millar Really Wants John Cena To Take On This Superhero Role". heroichollywood.com.

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