Over on his blog, Jim Shooter introduces the Cousin of Kal-El that we never got to meet: Super Lad. Created, according to Shooter, as a potential Legion of Super-Heroes character during Shooter’s recent return to the franchise as a back-up in case DC lost the rights to Superboy, the character would have been the noble teen hero the current Superboy never quite managed to be, if the initial pitch was to be believed:
What DC allows numbskull lightweights to do to THE hero icon, Superman and other Supers is somebody else’s call. However, if we are permitted–in fact, we were asked–to add a Super, Super Lad, to the pantheon–then I propose that we make him the noble-spirited young man he ought to be.
I see him as a genuine good guy. Someone who does the right thing, who has tremendous willpower and courage, who is smart and reasonable. Smart about using his powers, as he learns how. The nicest, best guy you ever met. NOBLE, in the best senses of the word. Not that he can’t make mistakes, not that he doesn’t have humanity–but he’s the best of humankind, one of the few survivors of his particular kind, determined, therefore, to give a good account of himself.
Shooter claims that the character was “taken away” from him when his relations with DC started to falter again, but I think we all know the truth: In one script, Super Lad saved a 31st century kitten from a tree and, well, we all know how these things work out…
June 23rd, 2011 at 11:17 am
Here’s my take on Jim Shooter’s design for Super Lad: http://on.fb.me/lHt34k
June 23rd, 2011 at 11:25 am
Bosch…you rock! That is a great job on that design…I don’t know if the story would have been any good, but I’d definitely buy the action figure.
June 23rd, 2011 at 11:38 am
He might’ve been a nice addition, but Conner’s still the Superboy I want to read. Wouldn’t hurt for the Legion to have their own, untied to present-day matters, though.
June 23rd, 2011 at 11:59 am
Maybe DC could have bought the Superman rip off the Sentry from Marvel since Sentry didn’t work out? I kid. Though Superlad doesn’t have that ring to it.
June 23rd, 2011 at 12:04 pm
Man, why do writers even have input in the design process. it’s not their thing. everyone thinks they can do it, but it takes a professional eye. Even pencillers shouldn’t be tasked with designs, their job is to tell a story, like a storyboard artist does for movies. Character designs should be done by full-time character designers, no one else.
No wonder superhero outfits look so lame half of the time.
June 23rd, 2011 at 12:42 pm
Actually, Bosch, I don’t believe the sketch has him wearing underwear over his pants. It looks like a stripe going down his leg instead. Good interpretation otherwise.
June 23rd, 2011 at 1:10 pm
Thanks, Superstickman. And Androo, thanks, and you may be right. I just leaned towards the original design and maybe took liberties with the sketch.
June 23rd, 2011 at 1:10 pm
Wait, Bosch Fawstin? The xenophobic “comic book artist” from that Nightrunner story on The Daily Show?
I’ve noticed you hitting the comment pages lately. Trying to drum up a little attention? I guess having over 1.5 million people laughing at you once just wasn’t enough.
June 23rd, 2011 at 1:34 pm
I suppose you and The Daily Show audience would’ve preferred me when I was still Muslim. Anyway, for those who may not know, I’m the cartoonist behind THE INFIDEL graphic novel, featuring PIGMAN, the jihadist’s worst nightmare. It’s the first comic book to take on this post 9/11 world head on. Check it out. http://bit.ly/hWeSEB
June 23rd, 2011 at 1:37 pm
“It’s the first comic book to take on this post 9/11 world head on”? Hate to be the one to tell you this, but 9/11 was almost ten years ago. You probably missed the boat on that one.
June 23rd, 2011 at 2:42 pm
It could be cool for Legion but the character description sounds really boring. Too goody goody and perfect. Conner is my preferred Superboy. I could see him evolving some as a character, but I love that he has flaws.
I hope the Conner I know and love is still around in the DCnU
June 23rd, 2011 at 3:42 pm
I like this idea, it makes more sense then trying to pigeonhole any present day Superboy into the future-set Legion.
June 23rd, 2011 at 4:36 pm
Ehh
i dont know if we actually needed him since you could have just done more with mon-el
June 26th, 2011 at 9:41 pm
Nice job, Bosch. It’s a shame super lad never had a chance against the wiles of dastardly DC.
June 27th, 2011 at 8:58 am
Thanks, nick.
June 27th, 2011 at 9:14 am
Love the illustration Bosch ! It woulda been cool to see something new like this in legion !
June 27th, 2011 at 9:18 am
Thanks, Freddyfred