USA Today announced that DC Comics will relaunch all of its titles in September with new number 1 issues and a completely new universe. This means two things:
1) The end of Flashpoint will be huge.
2) Anything can happen and chances are, none of the C-list characters are safe.
I don’t like to get caught up in the rumor hype, but as a comic fan, I just can’t seem to avoid any of it. Bleeding Cool has reported that Superman is going to be quite a bit younger and that leads one to wonder if that means there will be no more Connor Kent, or even if Superman will be married to Lois Lane and if Superman is so fundamentally changed, then what about other heroes like all of the events that have gone on in the Green Lantern titles, or what about Batman Inc.?
It can be easy to ask tons of questions, but until we know more (perhaps on June 11 when Geoff Johns and Jim Lee are supposed to have a big announcement . . . and I have no idea how it could be bigger than the entire line being relaunched), there is no point in asking these questions. We just have to sit back, enjoy Flashpoint, and be ready for September.
So, instead of continuing with speculations, allow me to establish the official Popgun Chaos stance on the issue of the reboot because if I don’t write about it now, I’ll have to write about it on facebook and on message boards over and over and it is just easier to post a link to myself.
The status quo in comics MUST change in order for it to survive. If that change is to bring characters back to a purer version of their core concept, then so be it; comics must make waves in order to generate controversy to get media attention to get new readers.
I can hear you now and allow me to address your comments before you make them.
“But they are changing everything!” – Without change, comics become stale. Characters in comics really shouldn’t age, so the only way to craft fresh takes on characters is to change things up. Also, how do you know it won’t be for the better? Which brings me to your next problem.
“But ______ might be written out of continuity!” – While there might be some legitimate worry that characters like Tim Drake, Connor Kent, Wally West, Cassandra Cain, Stephanie Brown or any number of other characters might disappear in the reboot, we have to understand that the reboot won’t erase comics from the past. If you like a particular character, you can always go back and reread their comics again. Just because it isn’t in continuity any more doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist in the real world. If a character is deleted in the reboot, that’s okay because that’s progress. But, again, we don’t know who will be around after the reboot, so let’s not get too upset just yet and even after it does happen, please calmly let it go.
“I’m going to stop reading comics!” – No you’re not, so stop making empty threats. And if this reboot stops you from reading comics, so be it, but I hope you’ll realize that wasn’t DC’s intentions. I’ve already noted in the Saving Comics Project about how tough sales have been lately, and the reboot was done in hopes of generating sales and getting people in at the ground floor and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.
“But they are forgetting all of their older fans!” – By crafting new stories using characters older fans know and love? That’s a ridiculous argument.
Enough of this though and let’s discuss the advantages of the reboot:
1) Starting place for new readers. Working at a comic book store, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had customers ask where they need to start when getting into comic books. Now, I can point to fresh new #1 issues to get people interested. While continuity is a beautiful thing, sometimes being too bogged down in it can cause readers to become overwhelmed. As much as I have loved Morrison’s Batman run it has caused a massive outpouring of Bat books. The entire Bat-line has gotten a bit out of control and scaling it back in the interest of creating a more focused look at the character would be a great thing.
2) DCU is on the same page – While titles in the DCU may be relaunched on their own or start in a new direction, a line-wide reboot means that the entire universe can move with a set agenda. There is a feeling of freshness and a sense that everyone is on the same page. I can remember how amazing Infinite Crisis was with continuity and how events in one book reflected in other titles. With the reboot, there is a chance that the line can interact in meaningful ways once again.
3) Generating buzz – Remember how exciting it was when the Ultimate line was announced? Fresh looks at Spider-man and the X-men were something that everyone looked forward to and it generated sales.
Now, imagine that excitement across the entire DC Universe.
4) Day and Date Digital – We’re finally leaping into the 21st century with digital comics the day they come out. It’s really exciting to behold even though I won’t be taking advantage of it.
5) Jim Lee and Geoff Johns on JLA – There really is no bigger comic announcement than this. Lee is one of the best artists of all time (also one of the worst about deadlines, but let’s just look at this news with day-glow glasses, whattaya say?), and Geoff is just the right man to reinvigorate DC’s most popular superteam.
I’m sure there are plenty of people who are upset about the reboot and the message boards are surely filled with angry nerds who would rather dump on something that they can only speculate on rather than wait for it to come out and then decide whether they like it or not.
Please fanpeople (note that I am being all-inclusive), I implore you to just shut up this once and realize that something must be done to save the industry we love. This change won’t ultimately stop you from reading comics, so stop pretending it will and embrace the change because it could bring in new readers and isn’t that what you want?
Of course you want new readers because if you didn’t, you wouldn’t be trying to get all of your non-comic reading friends to read comics and you wouldn’t troll around the graphic novel section at Barnes and Noble trying to hook unsuspecting bystanders with your favorite book.
Please realize that complaining about trying to make comics more accessible does nothing but hurt comics. By persisting this stereotype that we’re all nerds who hate change, we do nothing to promote how beautiful and amazing this medium is.
Let this reboot change our thinking. Let it make us better than we were before. DC is changing and let’s change the way we are fans along with it. Let’s throw away our reactionary fanaticism and just enjoy comics for once.
p.s. If Kyle Rayner is written out of continuity, I won’t read comics ever again.
p.p.s. That was just a joke.
To heck with continuity. Just good stories by good writers and good artists and inkers and colorists. The marketplace will decide. I, for one, am GEEKED for this. Let’s roll the dice.
I agree! I can’t wait!
Howard Johnson is right! Now is not the time to panic!
The time to panic is when we find out that Rise of Arsenal is still in continuity and that Judd Winick is writing Green Arrow.
I hope Rise of Arsenal is still in continuity for two reasons:
1) Remember, it won a Prism award for accurate portrayal of drug addiction. :/
2) I want other characters to give Roy Harper crap for swinging around a dead cat.
I’m VERY excited about the relaunch, and while I’m sure there will be things I don’t like about it, I’m equally sure there are things about it that will just freakin’ ROCK!
Having said that, I always hate it when people say “stop speculating!” I understand you mean “stop whining,” but please just say that. Speculating generates buzz, which generates interest. Hell, Tom Brevoort said that when people whine about a storyline, they see sales go up, because buzz was generated! And one of my favorite things about continuity-based stories (which includes some series of books, a few good TV shows, and most comic books) IS the speculating! I try not to whine, but I do love to see what the writers have planned for my favorite characters. In some cases, that’s a nervous kind of speculation (I’m worried about my favorite characters – Hawk & Dove – because I know I’m one of the few people who really loves them…), but most of the time it’s a more excited kind of speculation (I wonder what the 52 titles will be – note how they said they’re starting 52 titles with #1′s, they didn’t say anything about cancelling ALL of their titles, so I’m betting Action Comics and Detective Comics stay at their current numbering sequence – and here’s hoping for a Hawk & Dove title! … What? I can hope!
)
Anyway, my point is just that I ENJOY speculating, and seeing what everyone else thinks might be coming down the pipe. But aside from that one gripe, great letter!
I apologize for misspeaking about speculation. What I specifically mean is complaints about characters being written out of continuity before we are sure they are gone. For instance, we don’t know that Tim Drake WON’T be Robin, so there is no point in speculating and complaining that he isn’t.
In terms of speculation, I’m excited for Morrison’s Superman. All-Star Superman is the greatest comic ever written and I really can’t wait for this.
Yeah, it’s a semantic argument, and I feel anal-retentive bringing it up, but it DOES bother me when people talk about having a problem with speculating when they’re really upset with all the whining. I agree with the point you made, though. There’s a right way and a wrong way to do it:
Wrong Way: I r quiting comics if Robin isn’t Tim Drake.
Right Way: I wonder who Robin will be. I hope it’s Tim Drake – I love that character and would hate to see him retconned out… Maybe they can let Dick Grayson go back to Nightwing – that’d let Tim be Robin again! (I mean, we’re all assuming Bruce is gonna be the only Bats, right?)
Promotes conversation, says what you’re trying to get across and hopeful for, and isn’t rude or obnoxious. But that’s just my opinion. Yours may vary.
A couple re-torts and agreements
“3) Generating buzz – Remember how exciting it was when the Ultimate line was announced?” – Yes, but I don’t know of a single one of my friends reading an Ulimate book since “Ultimatum”
“4) Day and Date Digital – We’re finally leaping into the 21st century with digital comics the day they come out. It’s really exciting to behold even though I won’t be taking advantage of it.” – Agreed. I sit in front of a computer for 9-10 hours a day at work. I would rather read a comic book away from glowing screens. I think it works for some people, but “some people like cucumbers better pickled” to lift a quote. For the industry I think this is GREAT. But, I also look forward to people telling me why I’m wrong for still liking paper right now.
As for me. I am cautious. I want to hear more about this, but honestly I’m waiting to make a judgement. I gave the Ultimate’s one trade then went to read it, but my biggest fear with re-boots is that creators try to cram in as many characters as possible because THEY want to re-imagine each character so instead of say “Character Z” being introduced over 12 issues of teases and “why is he important?” He is thrown in issue six as a bad ass. There is no six-issue arc focusing on just “Character T” because the writer has a cool concept. Reboots are often rushed and create a very stale feeling after about 40 issues. Look at the Ultimate line. Other than Spiderman (and the character designs being incorporated into media) I have not heard a single good thing about it in years. Which is not to say that their isn’t any good work going on there, there just isn’t any buzz.
Fair point about the Ultimate Universe not being as prominent as it once was, but it had great sales for a number of years before it fell apart and it fell apart for a number of reasons the biggest of which being that after it lost its initial shock, Marvel no longer cared to promote it the way they once did. Of course, Marvel is looking to revitalize the Ultimate Universe, and in a few months they are relaunching titles, and I really look forward to it.
I have a few articles over the Ultimate universe coming up in the following weeks, so be sure to check them out if you like. The current Millar Ultimates comics are interesting.
Even if this reboot loses its steam in a few years and sales return to what they once were, this spike of sales is just what the industry needs.
“But, I also look forward to people telling me why I’m wrong for still liking paper right now.” – DC has stated that they don’t want to replace paper comics, but they want to capitalize on a new market and also gets comics to people who don’t have access to a comic book store. Before I went to college, the nearest comic book store was 30 miles away. Yes, I made the trek every couple of weeks to get my comics, but if I had the digital option then, I might have purchased a few online to get me through.
Thanks for your thoughts and thanks for stopping by my site! I hope you come by more often and comment.
I didn’t mean DC telling me I’m wrong, I meant the people who read comics digitally. I’ve had a few give me flak about it already, haha.
Heh. Sorry for the misunderstanding. I’ve heard a lot of people take the stance of “digital comics are a horrible idea” and while I’m not a fan of how it may impact retailers, I think it’s ultimately a good thing.
I agree with you, though.
I haven’t read the Ultimate line since before Ultimatum, but I do gotta say: putting Nick Spencer and Jonathan Hickman (along with Brian Michael Bendis, but he’s not a change to the creative line-up) in charge of the line has got me excited about it again.
Nope, sorry, ain’t buying it.
If the biggest problem nowadays is new fans being afraid to jump on-board, then the solution isn’t to reboot everything across the board…
But to write more self-contained issues less dependent on continuity, that can weave whatever happened in the past into the narrative (or at least a “note from editor”).
I have an Action Comics issue from 1985, just before the big Crisis reboot of the character, where he encounters a Popeye pastiche named Captain Strong, and Captain Strong’s whole deal as well as past encounters between the two heroes are nicely explained through both narrative and editor notes.
It’s not exactly rocket science.
You don’t have to buy it, but working at a comic book store has shown me that there are plenty of people willing to get into comics, but without a place to start, they are overwhelmed. For instance, if people want to get into Green Lantern, where should they start? It would be easy to say the beginning of Geoff Johns run, but even that isn’t a proper starting place.
The problem that many prospective readers have with comics is that they don’t understand that it is a different kind of literacy. Comics aren’t meant to be read at the beginning because many have been around for decades. Each story is supposed to be a gateway to past stories and future stories. We as comic book fans get this, but new readers don’t understand it, so the only way to get new readers is to start things over so retailers can say, “This is the beginning. This is where you can start.”
Here is an article I wrote about comic literacy if you’re interested http://www.popgunchaos.com/2011/05/04/a-letter-to-the-prospective-comic-reader/
I do agree, however, that more self-contained stories would be excellent, but they still must overcome that damned number on the cover of a comic.
I started reading DC Comics as a precocious, almost-five-year-old in 1965. There was always a stack waiting on the magazine rack when Grandpa would take me to the barbershop. Since crew cuts were de rigeur in parochial schools at the time, haircuts were monthly, and I was always able to keep current with Legion continuity and the 12-cent adventures of the JLA, Green Lantern (at this writing, 16 days and counting…), and the Flash.
I continued reading comics (almost exclusively DC) my entire life, and owned a comics shop for a time. I even phoned in a 50-cent contribution to the contract that was put out on the life of Jason Todd (“900 numbers? How quaint.”). I provide my four-color credentials because I hope they will lend weight to the opinions I am about to express, since I’ve been on both sides of the cash register. Allons-y.
I’m not happy about the DC relaunch, but I fear it may be a necessary evil if the industry is to survive and draw in new readers. I just hope it doesn’t turn out to be the final nail in the coffin of the local retailer, who may have to focus more on action figures, statuary, and other licensed genre merchandise, as more and more people get their comics digitally and are spending less in the stores. I suspect “same-day release” will be more harmful to the retailer than the glut of embossed-chromium-variant covers was in the ’90s.
Restarting more than 50 titles with new #1 issues is a bit irritating to me as a long-time reader, especially in light of the recent campaign to return “Wonder Woman” to its original numbering. Also, I figured if I could hang on just 10 more years, I would live long enough to see Action #1000. Well, not if you start over at #1, I wont.
As to canon… well, I survived the hoo-ha surrounding Diana Prince’s white pants suit, Crisis on Infinite Earths, Baxter paper, John Byrne’s Superman revamp, Zero Hour, 52, and wondering how many hands Aquaman has during any given week. I’ll survive this, too, but don’t be surprised if I take this golden opportunity to scale back my comics budget a bit.
Between concepts like Damian Wayne, the Emotional Spectrum, and Batman, Inc., DC’s been putting out some seriously terrific canon of late. (Though, I wish they’d kept New Krypton around a bit longer to explore THAT deep well of story material.) Now, the post-Flashpoint DCU puts all of this great continuity at risk. Of course, there will be doubters.
My gripe is this: If you de-age Bruce Wayne, for example, what happens to the Dick/Damian team in “Batman and Robin”? I suppose we fear relegating any scrapped concepts or characters to the occasional graphic novel, holiday anthology, or special one-shot will lead to we old-schoolers feeling deprived of continuity in which we’ve invested so much time and money, not to mention brand loyalty. Hell, I still miss the Kara Zor-El who bought the farm in “Crisis…” #7, and as someone who’s been able to recite the Green Lantern oath for almost 50 years (and surely dropped five figures into DC’s till), I think I’ve earned a modicum of respect from the publishers of my favorite books.
I’ll go with the flow, Johnny DC, but tread carefully. My wallet gets a vote now, more than ever before. I’ll likely follow my favorite writers wherever they lead the denizens of the DCU, but be forewarned. If your cascade of #1s don’t capture my imagination, sales numbers on the #2 issues each will be one less. In fact, I’ll be outta here faster than a certain somebody’s Palin-like half-stab at Wonder Woman and Superman.
My two cents.
” I suspect “same-day release” will be more harmful to the retailer than the glut of embossed-chromium-variant covers was in the ’90s.” – I worry about that as well and I wish I had the answers, but I don’t. Comic book stores really can’t survive on their own, but that has been the case for a number of years now. My local comic store sells video games and movies mostly, and comics are sort of an added service.
“If you de-age Bruce Wayne, for example, what happens to the Dick/Damian team in “Batman and Robin”? – As much as I LOVED Dick/Damian, the title just isn’t what it was now that Morrison has left. I enjoyed the Tomasi/Gleason run, and Winick has been okay, but the magic is gone. It was never meant to last, but we should enjoy it while it lasted.
I think the main problem we as comic readers have is that we cling to this sense of permanence in titles because comics have been around for so long. Therefore, when something is taken away, we assume it has been taken away too soon, because we are under the presumption that concepts and stories must last for years rather than for a fleeting time.
I have a fondness for the Dick/Damian team because I’ve been buying two copies since issue #1. It’s one of the books I’ve been using to introduce the DCU to my teenaged nephew. I’ll miss it if it goes.
Hey, waitaminnit!!! What am I doin’, talkin’ to you? It’s Wednesday, dammit. I’ve gotta go hit the comics shop!!!
3×2(9YZ)4A!!!
Be sure to come back for my Flashpoint Friday discussion! I’ll be buying all the titles and I want to know what others think!
Damn. Guess I will be now! Oh, well…it’s only money.
I honestly think Action Comics and Detective Comics aren’t going to change their numbering. They said they’re relaunching 52 titles. They haven’t said which ones are being discontinued. Action Comics and Detective Comics are pretty much the only two titles that have a badge of honor for how long they’ve gone for. I don’t see them changing the numbering on those two titles…
Honestly, the only thing that bothers me is the idea that neither Action nor Detective will be allowed to reach issue #1000 in roughly 8 years. That is (would have been?) a milestone that would almost certainly never be duplicated. Even if they pull back and re-institute the numbering, you wouldn’t have a nice continuous run.
But that’s just me, I guess. As to decided to stop reading… well, actually, my reading pretty much dropped off a few months ago when they killed Professor Stein (seriously, I didn’t even bother to read the last couple of issues of Brightest Day, as originally intended), so you can see where my priorities lie. DC isn’t trying to cater to me, anyway.
You don’t seriously think DC will avoid a publishing opportunity like that, do you? Of course they will still celebrate the 1,000 issues.
I can see it now: DC making a huge announcement about the 1,000 issues. Yahoo news running a story about it. Internet commentators complaining about it for some reason. CNN running a story about it online and people complaining that CNN should be covering President Matt Damon’s trip to war torn Australia instead.
Trust me, DC won’t miss an opportunity to make money off of 1,000.
I mentioned this above, but I’ll restate it here: DC said they’re relaunching 52 titles. They said nothing about which ones they’re discontinuing – they never said their whole line-up was being dropped for the 52 titles. I honestly believe that at LEAST Action Comics and Detective Comics will remain with the current numbering sequence… (not sure I’d put money on any other title, but I would on those two!)
I am excited by this news. As someone who’s been buying comics since 1976, I have always found DC’s universe to be troubling. I couldn’t figure out the multiple Earths as a youngling; then, they swept that away with “Crisis.” It was a pretty book to look at, but it was dense and the characters just didn’t appeal to me in the way, say “The Great Darkness Saga” seemed to work for me even though I knew none of the characters. To this day, I’m not sure if I could tell you why, but I have some vague notion it’s because I don’t care about the DC icons.
I didn’t read the “big three” until, for Batman, when Gene Colan penciled a tale about Bats being bitten by a vampire in “Detective Comics,” for Superman until the Byrne reboot, and for Wonder Woman until Deodato penciled her book and when Artemis briefly replaced her. I dabbled in other books, Walord being the most prominent, because it was self-contained and easy to follow. I didn’t get into Green Lantern until Hal was possessed by Parallax and Marz introduced Kyle. Even after all those great stories, I only picked up DC books sporadically, sticking to the Mutants and the Wall-Crawler at the so-called “House of Ideas.”
Lately, I’ve been a better than fair-weather friend to DC, religiously following the Bat Family and a few other titles (“Power Girl” – yes, I’ll admit that one – is one of them…perhaps that throws my “good taste” into question), namely “Green Lantern.” I am one of the few who likes the Straczynski remake of Wonder Woman, though his Superman was more boring than, well, Superman Returns. I picked up the All-Star books (wish they’d do more Batman because yes, I did like the G*ddamn Batman). I read Aquaman when Peter David was on it. Loved it. Hated it afterwards. I was a huge fan of the Morrison/Waid runs on JLA, though the book is toxic right now.
Why write this? To give my next statement some perspective. I think DC’s heroes are just a bit dull. Too powerful. Too knowledgeable. Too self-assured. Too heroic. I need them to be a bit more…real. Not in the sense of the grim and gritty crapola from the 90′s (thanks, Miller, for that, ya rat bastard). I want them to make mistakes. I want to see them learn. I want them relevant somehow to ME. That’s why I read them…for escape. For entertainment. When’s the last time you read a comic and felt anything? I want to feel for my heroes. I don’t want them so powerful that they’re no longer connected…more specifically…that I can no longer connect, to them.
The reboot could mean I get my wish. I don’t want DC “Marvelized.” Trust me…they have their problems (I’m sorry, but if Deadpool is a best seller, you’re hitting the bottom of the barrel…I loathe “self-aware” titles). I am holding my head up, smiling, and hoping that this reboot means more sales, accessible characters, and, well, fun, energetic stories devoid of the pitfall inherent in 70 plus years of wading through continuity (or, in this case, is is only the continuity since 1986? Aw…who cares! They’ll be new again!)
I’ve been waiting all day for you to weigh in, Michael. Thanks so much and spread the word!
I wrote the letter twice, Cody, wondering what to say. I know…silly, right? I took the time to read all the letters you’ve received, and your thoughtful responses. I am now anxiously looking forward to this.
Now, as to the naysayers…I shall relay this in geekspeak, a language I know all too well.
Do you like Star Trek? I do. I love the kitschy Kirk series, the innovative Archer series, the stoic Picard run. The movies are great fun (well, I never did like that one about the whales, but let’s stay focused here…)
Now, how about the movie? The NEW movie? Y’see, it changed everything. By my estimation, only “Star Trek: Enterprise” exists in this continuity now. When Vulcan was destroyed, everything changed.
Does that mean the stories I’ve loved for years don’t exist? That’s just…asinine. And short-sighted. It simply means that we can now explore the characters we have grown to love in a new way. They now have breathing room to do new, unexpected things. Does this make Kirk less heroic? No (though I’d like to see him actually win a fistfight in the sequel).
Our DC isn’t looking to cheapen the stories in the past. I mean, did you love them? Okay…tough word for a fanboy…try this: Did you, at least for a time, marginally like them? Good! Read them again! Enjoy! Guess what…you get a new, perhaps more fresh, and more dangerous, exciting DCU!
Cool. And they didn’t even have to blow up Apokolips to do it. (Ow…wait…did they do that already? Doesn’t matter! It’s all new!)
I never thought of the reboot in terms of Star Trek, but you bring up a great point and I’m in love with New Trek!
I for one think this is great. It is a chance to change ‘icons’ into more accessible characters. This excites me about the possibilities of Superman (who I love to hate, and desperately want to love) and Wonder Woman (who is hard to look at and take seriously) and Power Girl (who on sight discouraged me from buying an issue for my 6 y/o daughter because of the excessive cleavage). So here here for DC doing the right thing. I will give them credit for doing the whole line also. Marvel has done this with individual characters such Thor most recently (new armor looks so cool) and Captain America (Steve Rogers is coming back to the uni boi!). And remember Marvel versus Onslaught and Heroes Reborn? This is series stuff that DC is doing and I give them credit. Looking forward to a smarter, edgier and clever, Superman.
Uh oh…the reboot has large ramifications for Bat-Fans:
http://www.bleedingcool.com/2011/06/01/dc-relaunch-batgirl-1-and-nightwing-1/
I would love to see Babs in the cape and cowl again. Of course, lots of speculation here that this is a recovered Babs, not pre “Killing Joke” Babs.
Isn’t speculation fun?
I disagree with just about everything you have said. But good try anyway. The idea of Changing the look and feel of a character that is larger then the medium that created him which is Superman is wrong on every level. Through every reboot from Swan, O’Neal, Byron,Waid, to Johns. Superman has always looked pretty much the same and stayed try to they Character that people have loved since before any of us were even born.
I won’t be a part of killing a character that means more to me personally and is so dear to my heart.
Just to add I have no problem with a reboot but when you change the look and feel of Superman I’m out and so will many other true Superman fans. Id rather have the character go into obscurity then changed in the way DC plans on doing.
You’re funny. I like you.
“I won’t be a part of killing a character that means more to me personally and is so dear to my heart.” – I’m not sure if you’re serious, but I am assuming that you’re not. If you are though, may God have mercy on your soul.
Just saw your post on Didio’s facebook. I had no idea that you were actually serious.
“Id rather have the character go into obscurity then changed in the way DC plans on doing.” – And what are DC’s plans exactly? His costume will be redesigned and they’re discussing Lois and Clark no longer being married, but do either of these things alter or destroy what fundamentally makes up Superman? Not really. In fact, breaking up the marriage might make Lois Lane a stronger character or at least give her something to do in the comics again.
So you’re honestly saying that you’d rather NEVER read Superman comics ever again rather than read the DC reboot that you know NOTHING about? Wow.
Listen, I can see that you care about Superman, but you know what? He’s not alive. He’s not real.
You scare me, sir and the Luthor screen name fits you perfectly because you and people like you are the enemy of comics.
Do you know if digital comics will be available to non-US readers on the release day as well? I live 350km from my nearest comic shop so I only really get there for the occasional trades splurge. I would definitely be buying digital on release day as long as it’s portable! I haven’t bought floppies in ages because of my geographic issues, but I would love to!
Sorry, I can’t help myself, Cody…
Here’s an interesting list: http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2011/06/02/the-new-justice/
Ten new #1′s! Some surprises to be sure, both in writer/artist combos and titles.
I, for one, am excited about the new Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and JLA. I’m sure you, and your wife, are excited about Flash.
I have to say that Firestorm intrigues me, too…
“1) Starting place for new readers. Working at a comic book store, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had customers ask where they need to start when getting into comic books. Now, I can point to fresh new #1 issues to get people interested.”
For a month, three months tops? It’s nice to be optimistic about the reboot, but in the long run will it make that much difference? It is exciting, but as a long time buyer, it’s also extremely disheartening, because will I be able to afford 52 new #1′s in one month? Of course not, and the sad thing is, I REALLY want to. By the time word of mouth gets around about one book or the other, it’ll probably be too late to catch up. So yeah, it is somewhat of a bummer. Also, I’ve never bought the “renumbering brings more new readers than usual” argument. All the people I know (myself included) were introduced to comics by a random issue. Part of the excitement is SEEING all these characters, wondering who they are, which, if you really have a genuine interest in getting into comics, will make you want to seek their respective series out. My introduction was an issue of Silver Surfer, where he teams with Captain Marvel to fight a horde of skeletons. Yes, awesome. Did I know what was going on? No, but was I intrigued, and immediately wanting more? Very much, and I could have cared less about what number it was when I first picked it up. I recently sold a Northlanders trade, all because of one panel that was so striking that he had to buy it. I truly believe it’s CONTENT, and anything else is minimal when it comes to hooking someone who is genuinely interested.
I just read a John Jackson Miller article (can’t find the link now) where he compares the sales figures of renumbered/not renumbered titles, and, as usual, the first issue sells great, second not so much, and on, but the differences were not that great when it came to a long-numbered title.
Also, I’m wondering if there is a real difference between a new reader seeing an issue 6 as opposed to an issue number 57, and how many new readers pay attention to issue numbers.
“Let this reboot change our thinking. Let it make us better than we were before. DC is changing and let’s change the way we are fans along with it. Let’s throw away our reactionary fanaticism and just enjoy comics for once.”
I agree that many, many comic book readers are ready to complain at the drop of a C character’s corpse. But I think you need to take into consideration that a lot of long time readers are weary of this kind of thing, along the lines of the Event Fatigue you’ve touched on. You bring up the Ultimate Universe (which someone already mentioned how that’s turned out, so I won’t go into it) and it’s the same thing. I love Johns, have been a big supporter since Stars and Stripes, and will continue to be. But DC has announced (after very recently saying the opposite) that Flashpoint will be the conclusion of John’s time with the Flash, which makes me sad. Given the recent time and effort put into Rebirth, can’t you see why this is disappointing? Unless DC backtracks, there will be a new team on Flash. Also, no Gail Simone on Birds of Prey. There’s a certain aspect of loyalty to certain creators there that you’re not addressing. As of now, I’m close to being evicted, two months behind on my rent. Guess what I spent my only ten dollars on a few weeks ago? Flashpoint #1. And it was pretty cool.
I love comics. I’ve been buying them since 1995. I buy them to read. I’ve never had a moment where I considered selling them down the line. I plan to give them to a child that will appreciate them someday. I’ve written over ten proposals, and continue to submit them. The reboot doesn’t break my heart; I know that eventually this will turn into a Ultimate situation, where half the 52 books will be canceled, only to be replaced with more, until they reboot the whole shebang again. It doesn’t break my heart, but the cycle does make me weary. I know there will be some good to come out of this; there always is. But that doesn’t mean some of us can’t worry about how it’s going to go down. I feel I have earned that right, to be concerned.
Bravo. Great thoughts and well put! I am complete agreement with you, and am disappointed that more people aren’t….
Im probably the only one who thinks, “Welcome to the 90′s” and shudders whenever I hear about Jim Lee.
Don’t be silly. This is NOT Heros Reborn… is it? Naw. Guess we’ll know if Rob L. gets a book.
I didn’t think “welcome to the 90′s” until I saw that Valiant comics was coming back.
Have very fond memories of the Valiant line. The books had coupons and if I remember correctly it took 9 comicbook center-folds to show an explosion done by Barry Windsor-Smith. Also, took a chance, and bought 3 of every book and did very nicely selling the collection in my 4th attempt to break my comics habit. Didn’t work.
My dad still believes that X-O Manoward is the greatest comic book series ever written. Ever.
Dad’s got taste.
Off topic: The “Apes” trailer will be out Friday with the X-Men movie.
My only real fear is that i hate most of Jim lee’s costume designs.
As long as they bring back Vic Sage, I’m A-OK with this.
Montoya is cool and all, but. . .
I think the “renumbering brings more new readers than usual” mindset reveals a bigger problem–a desire to recapture the speculator nonsense seen in the 1990s. There is also the too many buckets problem TSR ran into. Slavicsek explained it like this: “it’s raining money outside and you want to catch as much of it as you can. You can either make a really big bucket or waste your time and attention by creating a lot really small buckets — either way, you’re never going to make more rain.”
52 titles is clearly too many buckets and who wants to go through a repeat of Marvel’s New Universe of the 1980s where after 12 issues half of the titles were gone? No one that who.
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