Quitely ranks in my Top Five of current artist faves, so I'm pretty hyped for this even though I don't like depictions of Clark Kent as thick-as-a-brick (which Quitely appears to be doing):

As for Quitely's speed, it's touched on by Morrison himself in a recent interview. I'm posting a snippet since it's a relatively self-contained topic, but the link to the full interview follows it:

Offenberger: How far ahead do you have to work to make sure Frank can have 12 issues published monthly?

Morrison: Published monthly ? Oh hahahaha...

I’ve written three and a half issues and I’m in the middle of the Jimmy Olsen vs. Superman story for issue 4. I submitted the first script in August 2003. Frank started We3 in November 03 and poured so much heart and soul into it, Superman didn’t even get started until March 2005.

He’s finished one issue and started on a second and so far I have to say it’s a Superman fan’s dream come true – imagine Michelangelo drawing the Man of Steel instead of wasting his time with all that Sistine Chapel nonsense. Even if it doesn't get published monthly, who cares ? It's genius.

It's not like he ever wanted to draw American superhero comics anyway. It was me who talked him into it! He's a boho Glasgow Art School boy who gets big, prestigious commercial art gigs outside comics and he finds it impossible to work to comic book deadlines because they just don't suit his meticulous pace and never will. He has three kids and, quite rightly, he spends a lot of time with them and with his wife and family and friends when he's not behind his desk, so the way I see it, we Quitely fans should be thankful we get any goddamn comic books out of him at all. I'm the one who keeps goading him into doing this stuff when we all know he'll never do a monthly book. I reckon he'll manage bimonthly once he gets up to speed. What I can promise is that there will be no fill-ins or other artists working on All-Star Superman. It's me and Frank, to the glorious end.

Full interview: http://www.silverbulletcomicbooks.com/features/1126022396319 00.htm

So that's the story on his slowness. Doesn't excuse missing solicited deadlines, but it is interesting to know that (at least according to Morrison) Quitely's a bohemian type who's got to be talked into regular comic gigs.

Sidebar: anyone who brings up a lack of detail in his work needs to see a full issue drawn by him. He breaks out detail where appropriate, sometimes to nearly Geof Darrow levels, but also lets detail drop out where appropriate.

Anyhoo, while there's stuff I like and stuff I don't about the preview, the one part I absolutely loved was that opening page. It's such a gloriously concise recap of the Man of Steel's origin that it's almost a call to arms against the forces of decompression.

Dave

Offenberger: How far ahead do you have to work to make sure Frank can have 12 issues published monthly?

Morrison: Published monthly ? Oh hahahaha...

Even if it doesn't get published monthly, who cares ? It's genius.

It's not like he ever wanted to draw American superhero comics anyway

...so the way I see it, we Quitely fans should be thankful we get any goddamn comic books out of him at all.

ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!  BULLSHIT!!! This kind of response is so f*%king frustrating I can't believe it.  I also can't believe that a retailer is excited about this product even though the author acknowledges that he doesn't really care if it comes out on time or not.  Totally unacceptable and absolutely re-frickin'-diculous.  What good would it do for a retailer to push this "monthly product" knowing in advance that the talent doesn't really give a rats ass if they meet their commitment? Not that I needed another reason, but I certainly ain't picking up a Morrison book with that kind of piss poor, "enjoy what you get 'cause that's all that your getting" kind of bullshit attitude.

Is the "retailer" you're referring to me, Matt?

Because as one might guess, there are plenty of times my industry concerns conflict with my artistic interests. Industry-wise, yes, of course I'm not thrilled at the possibility of delays. On an artistic level, though, of course I'm excited about this book - I like Quitely and Morrison and they're covering one of the all-time great comic book characters! It's not like I'm going to suddenly start not liking them just because as a team they're not timely.

And I always enjoy Morrison's interviews. Guy does the whole "rock star" thing - very egocentric, but also quite brilliant at times - and while I can see why some would find it grating, I think he's the most interesting interview subject in the biz. Consistantly outrageous and entertaining.

Dave

The greatest crime is that this line of bullshit has created in the minds of many fans and retailers alike the notion that a book that ships on time is, by definition, inferior. No consideration is given to the fact that the people connected to the timely book might simply be working on a realistic schedule -- as I do. If the book isn't late, then it was not the subject of enough care and devotion. There was a time -- and it seems not all that long ago -- when I would have laughed out loud if someone had told me fans and retailers would ever be so stupid as to fall for that kind of crap.

More Sergio:

I had Mr. Aragones sign my copies of "Sergio Aragones Destroys DC" and "Segio Aragones Massacres Marvel"...on the Marvel one his doodles a Spider-Man head, on the DC one he doodled Batman!  They look great!

It's not like he ever wanted to draw American superhero comics anyway ...

He doesn't seem to be complaining about the income generated by producing American superhero comics, though...

QUOTE: If he's too damn good for comics then my money is probably not good enough either.

I think you're doing some mind-reading there. Guy's got a slow pace and doesn't have comics as his bread-and-butter job...hardly means he thinks he's too good for 'em.

And let's keep an eye to the final product, eh? It's a well-known fact that artist John Buscema had no love for the superhero genre, and I've ever read interviews where he's openly dismissive of it. But could that guy draw the Avengers or what?

Dave