Ink and Honor - The Legacy of Superman feat. Phillip Kennedy Johnson

Derek and Frank sit down live in front of an audience at Cleveland Public Library with "Action Comics" and "Book of El" writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson to discuss the legacy of the Man of Steel during Cleveland's superhero homecoming celebration in July. Special thanks to Cleveland Public Library for inviting the longest-running Superman podcast - The House of El - to moderate the conversation!

• The episode was recorded live in front of an audience at the Cleveland Public Library in Cleveland, Ohio (the birthplace of Superman creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster).
• Occasion: The recording took place during Cleveland's "Superhero Homecoming" celebration in July 2025.

Discussion Topics

• The Legacy of the Man of Steel: As the title suggests, the central theme is the enduring legacy of Superman. Being in Cleveland, the conversation likely touches on the character's historical roots and his evolution over decades.
• Johnson's Superman Run: The discussion covers Johnson's significant contributions to the Superman mythos, specifically:
  • Action Comics: His previous run, which is famous for the "Warworld Saga," a widely praised storyline that redefined Superman's role as a gladiator and liberator.
  • The Book of El: Johnson discusses his then-current/upcoming project, Adventures of Superman: The Book of El. This series continues the story from his Action Comics run and Future State, focusing on the "Super-Family" (including the Super-Twins Osul and Otho), high-fantasy sci-fi elements, and Superman traveling to the future.
• Visualizing the Story: The hosts and guest discuss the visual storytelling aspects of these comics, likely referencing collaborators like artist Scott Godlewski.

Significance The episode serves as a "homecoming" conversation, linking the modern evolution of Superman (spearheaded by writers like Johnson) back to the character's origins in Cleveland. It acts as both a retrospective on Johnson's Warworld era and a look forward to the Book of El storyline.