Comics Interview — Issue #120

Main Topics: Superman's "Death and Return" / Reign of the Supermen, Broadway musical revival of *It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman!*, humor magazine history (MAD and CRACKED), EC Comics war stories

Contents
  1. Roger Stern
  2. Jerry De Fuccio
  3. Gary Jackson
  4. "Up Front: DAK Takes the Kryptonite Gloves Off" (David Anthony Kraft)
interview Roger Stern
Interviewed by Mark Lucas
Roger Stern Writer, DC Comics (Freelance) Working on: *Action Comics* #687+ (Reign of the Supermen); Superman novelization (Bantam)
Stern, the senior Superman titles writer, discusses the "Reign of the Supermen" storyline in detail: four potential Supermen emerging after Clark Kent's apparent death, each representing different aspects of the original hero. He explores Lois Lane's dilemma knowing Clark's secret, the long-term narrative consequences of Superman's death, and the cultural impact on American consciousness. He also touches on the unresolved Hobgoblin mystery from his Spider-Man run and possible future projects.
interview Jerry De Fuccio
Interviewed by Bill Kieffer
Jerry De Fuccio Co-Editor, CRACKED / Globe Communications Working on: *CRACKED* magazine; transitioning to *Cartoonist Profiles*
De Fuccio, co-editor of CRACKED magazine and longtime MAD veteran, shares anecdotes from his decades in the industry: his EC Comics war-book days with Harvey Kurtzman, Wally Wood, and John Severin; celebrity encounters at MAD; and his thoughts on the decline of newspaper comic strips and the cluttered look of modern comics. He also discusses his plans to take over Cartoonist Profiles from the retiring Judd Hurd.
interview Gary Jackson
Interviewed by Dan Hagen
Gary Jackson Actor, Goodspeed Opera House Working on: *It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman!* revival (East Haddam, CT)
Jackson discusses his role as Superman/Clark Kent in the Goodspeed Opera House revival of the 1966 Broadway musical, directed by Stuart Ross. He describes the physical and technical demands of the flying harness and muscle suit, his character approach of playing Superman with self-aware humor rather than gravity, and why the revival is receiving stronger notices than the original Broadway run.
article "Up Front: DAK Takes the Kryptonite Gloves Off" (David Anthony Kraft)
The editor's personal essay reflecting on his lifelong relationship with Superman, from childhood to scripting World's Finest Comics, expressing hope that the "Death of Superman" event will lead to a genuinely revamped, readable Man of Steel.