I never planned on doing Superman, John Romita Jr. confessed to me over the phone.

Well, not exactly.

I preferred a different throw in of character, Romita said.

The two have a lot in common and strike up a friendship, but Ulysses isnt all he seems.

Over the course of the story, Superman discovers a new power and ends up with a new costume.

It wasnt planned that way, he assured me.

Geoffs ideas were great and concrete, and they did expand as we worked together.

You might be right in a certain way, but it wasnt planned to happen that way.

Still, its tough to look at a character like Ulysses and not think of Bronze Age Marvel characters.

His distinctive design, his existential musings, his apparent innocence.

There was never an intention to even accidentally come across [like Marvel].

He describes the design of Ulysses as a collaborative process, too.

I was walking near Penn Station and I saw a gigantic biker with a very long platinum ponytail.

I remember Geoff mentioning that he didnt want a cape for Ulysses because it was too close to Superman.

It was a team effort, as long as its okay with everybody its okay with me.

Two things grabbed headlines withThe Men of Tomorrow.

Superman discovered a new power, one the required him to get a new costume.

Its immensely destructive, but leaves him powerless for 24 hours.

I know people have problems with changing Supermans costume, but its a slight alteration.

I wouldnt take any credit for redesigning the costume.

So I dont mind being a good team player.

Of course, the fan reaction is never exactly quiet.

Superman purists hate my guts, he jokes.

The good thing about me is I have large amounts of both sides of the coin.

Some of it is constructive criticism, some of it is pure hatred.

Its kinda like being a politician.

But pay attention to the guys who dont like you, because some of it is constructive.

Ive done that in the past and Ill continue to do that.

I asked him if working for DC was different than working for Marvel.

The process was the same.

Its the job I love, and Im loving every minute of it.

I loved his style…but it wasnt a concerted effort to emulate anybody.

All of my good friends, we dont sit around and say Wow, I think youre great.

Thats the way that people who love each other talk to each other in my neighborhood.

Of course, I got a lot of crap for that from some of the purists.

Oh, this isnt Marvel, this is DC!

You cant handle characters like that over at DC!

Fine, Ill shut my mouth!

That issue did lead to one amusing moment, where Bruce Waynes musical tastes are alluded to.

Nothing but the blues, Bruce Wayne says in response.

I had to know.

If Batman is listening to the blues, what song is on his ringtone?

Its the first line fromMuddy Waters Hoochie-Coochie Man,Romita told me.

Legal said, we cant do it.

But if Batman had a musical preference, for a guy like that it would be the blues.