DC Comics New 52...The Commercial

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Comic Rantings from Across the Pond

By Mark Frankland

Hello it’s time for another barely coherent rant about comics by that British guy.

Since I posted my last—some would say controversial—article. it appears that some rather big news has hit the comic book reading world. So consider this something of a rundown of my opinion on what has been going on in comics in the last few weeks, plus some other stuff that I just want to sound off about. I will try to keep it short and as filled with barely constrained bitterness as possible

Ultimate Spider-Man

******* called it. I knew the new Spiderman was going to be African-American. I just didn’t think it would be this guy. I figured it was going to be the Ultimate version of Ben Reilly, also African-American, and a dab hand at creating Spidermen. But I am apparently only partially omnipotent, so I was a little off.

Am I upset about the fact that we will now have a black Spiderman? Hell no! I’m not a moron.  In fact there are only two things that shock me about this change:

Jim Lee's Cover To Justice League Issue Three

Happy Monday....

I love this picture as it just fuels my excitement for everything that is going on.

BUT

I wish DC would make up its mind on whether or not to pants or de-pants Wonder Woman.

Chris Burnham’s Cover To StormWatch #1

Per DC Comics...here is the official cover to issue one of StormWatch.

The previous released image/cover was to keep the team's members a secret. But now, the secret is out of the closet. (see what I did there?)

I don't want to jump the gun here, but I think this book will be one of DC's New 52 bigger hits.

"Flashpoint" Last Week "Fear Itself" This Week....YAWN

Dear Marvel and DC....I love you guys but if you want my money give me something worth my time and $$$.

I really don't want to get into a lengthy review but this week Fear Itself 5 came out....nothing happened. Thor fought Hulk and Iron Man asked for Odin's keys to to the warehouse.

That's it.

This is what fans have issues with. Don't give me a long running "event" book unless each issue has something to say.

Flashpoint is another book. Most of issue four took place in a kitchen....A KITCHEN. And to make it worse...we already know what happens to the DCU.

DC if you are going to change just about EVERYTHING make each issue count.

Just saying.

DC The New 52: Supergirl Makes Her Debut In Cosplay

DC Comics New 52 Supergirl make her first appearance at a con.

How do you know a superhero is a hit with the fans? They dress up as them.

For better or worse.

This year at SDCC 2011...cosplayers proudly show off their suits.

All the classics where there, but only one of The New 52 heroes could be seen.

Not surprising it was Supergirl. She is definitely one of more popular characters for cosplayer to have fun with.

But I am kind of surprised we only saw Supergirl. Oh well, Dragon Con is only weeks away.

DC Shows Off Its New Book Logos

The world of the DC Universe is not the only thing changing. All of their books will have updated logos for their titles.

Check them out here. Via newsarama.com

On a side note, you can still find fans who are really upset about what is going on at DC Comics. A lot of comments and reactions from fans are still negative with people saying that sooner or later...everything will go back to what it was.

I think those fans are in for a rude awakening.  

SDCC '11: The Dark and The Edge Panel

I, Vampire interiors by Andrea Sorentino.

After DC announced their big September shakeup and the new titles that were a part of the New DC, I was struck most by the new talent that that has been hired to work on the less commercial books. I see these as the titles that might just hook new readers who might not be interested in the capes and the tights stuff.

At DC’s Dark and Edge panel we got to listen to DC’s next generation of writers talk about their goods—and the books sounded and looked good. Damn good. The panel included Scott Snyder (Swamp Thing), Jeff Lemire (Animal Man and Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E., Mike Costa (Blackhawks), Adam Glass (The Suicide Squad), Ivan Brandon (Men of War), Paul Cornell (Demon Knights and StormWatch), Kyle Higgins (Deathstroke), Moritat (All-Star Western) and Joshua Fialkov (I, Vampire).

Before I start, I was thrilled beyond words to listen to these writers speak about their work. DC has gotten a lot of hell for their decision to revamp their entire line of superhero comic books, but when I listen to these writers talk about how thrilled they are to work on these books, and the energy they all appear to have to tell good stories, I just want to shout to the negative comic book readers and say “Give. Them. A. Chance” (in actuality there would probably be an expletive in there somewhere).

SDCC '11: DC Comics' The New 52 Panel

Wonder Woman artwork by Chiang.

DC Comics co-publisher Dan DiDio and company opened today’s “The New 52” panel by opening a question up to the audience: “What are you are you worried about?” Fans shouted their concerns about the publisher’s upcoming linewide relaunch as a poor gentleman operating a boom mike ran around the filled auditorium so that they could be heard.

One reader expressed disappointment that the numbering was going to change on such long-running comics as Action Comics and Detective Comics. To that DiDio replied, “Numbers don’t matter if the sales aren’t there and the numbers end.”

DiDio was accompanied by  Executive Editor Eddie Berganza Editor-in-Chief Bob Harras and creators Paul Cornell, J.T. Krul, Paul Levits, Scott Lobdell, Freddie Williams II, Dan Jurgens and Cliff Chiang.

My Advice for the DC Relaunch: Make it Easy for New and Returning Readers

We’re just about a month away from DC’s relaunch of all of their superhero titles. The publisher is, in an unprecedented way, attempting to garner new readers though new approaches to storytelling and offering all of their books digitally on the same day they are released in the comic shops.

I’ve been listening to John Siuntres discuss how he thinks DC should approach grabbing new readers on his Word Balloon podcast. One of his main concerns is that new readers might find the idea of a story arc jarring—and that more self-contained stories will be what people expect when they buy a book. I agree and have come up with a few more suggestions on making DC Comics more accessible to new and returning readers:

DC Announces 'DC Comics: The New 52'

DC announced on their blog that they will release DC Comics: The New 52 a big-fat 1,216 page behemoth containing every one of their 52 #1 relaunch issues! This is a pretty sweet collectible featuring the majority of the title’s that DC is gambling will turn a whole a generation of new readers onto their goods.

At 1200 (+) pages, there probably won’t be a lot of room for extras, but that’s okay—it’s 1200 pages! It comes with a pretty reasonable price tag of $150. I think it would be fun to haul around to conventions to see how many of its creators you could get to sign it!

DC Comics: The New 52 drops (and makes a hell of an impact) on December 7^th.

Hey! His Spit Curl's Gone! And the Changes Don't End There for Superman.

Superman is going spit curl-less this September.



There’s been a lot of talk about the changes in store for Superman once DC relaunches its entire superhero line of comic books come September. But I just realized something: Big Blue’s spit curl is gone!

This makes me kind of happy. I’m racking my brain trying to think of the last time a spit curl on a man was in fashion. Maybe on a baby, but not on a man. And definitely not a Superman.

DC Comics: Justice Books Issue Two

All this week DC Comics has released its 2nd issues on their new titles.

Today we can see what the Justice books look like.

Check them all out here.

Get A Room

DC Comics New 52 Preview Book Comes Out Next Week--and its Free

Next week in your local comic shops, DC Comics will release a preview book of its new titles.

Included in the preview book will be the cover art for every book, some sketches and a full six page preview of Justice League issue one.

You will also be able to get your hands on this preview book at SDCC.

FUN FUN FUN

Bleeding Cool Presents The DC Comics New 52 Presentation

There appears to be plenty of room to criticize DC for their relaunch. It’s just a stunt you might say—DC is simply looking to make a quick buck.

But when I listen to the enthusiasm in the voices of Dan Didio (co-publisher), Jim Lee (co-publisher), Bob Harras (editor-in-chief), Eddie Berganza (executive editor), and Grant Morrison (writer), I quite literally get chills. There is a genuine earnestness to their approach that has sucked me in wholly. Will all the books be fantastic and ground-breaking? I don’t think so. But there certainly seems to be a great deal of passion going into the “New 52”, as it’s called.

52 brand new books are going to hit the shelves in a single month. Superman and Wonder Woman seem to be poised for big changes to their origins. Justice League is getting the guidance of two of DC’s most talented creators—Geoff Johns and Jim Lee. But the thing I am looking forward to the most is the smaller books by DC’s up and comers: Grifter by Nathan Edmondson, Frankenstein, Agent of SHADE and Animal Man by Jeff Lemire, and Blackhawks by Mike Costa.

When I read my books each week, the thing I need to feel is the passion to tell a story. It doesn’t have to be fresh or groundbreaking, I just want to get the sense that the creators wanted to share a good story. In everything I am hearing from DC, I’m inclined to believe that they are genuine in their desire to tell good stories.

I’m there.

SDCC '11: Fans To Protest DC at SDCC

Are you really really mad at DC Comics and their plans to start their books over with all new number one issues?

Are you ticked off that some of your favorite characters have new attire and tweaks to their history?

Well you are not alone.

Apparently, this year at San Diego's Comic Con, their will be a march to protest DC Comics.

There is a facebook page, that outlines the plans. You can find it here.

On the official FB page it reads,

Are you utterly baffled, disappointed and just ANGRY to see how DC ruins your favorite character's design and wipes decades of comic history out of the mainstream universe? Well, you're not alone!
And why not make some noise at the biggest pop-culture event this year, where creators, artists and writers appear in person - show them how fans - the fans of the classic characters, the (nevertheless slightly changing) designs, the character's history and personality - really feel about it!

San Diego Comic Con 2011: DC Original Characters Protest Walk!

Currently there are a 152 people ready to march. However, if you read most of the posted comments, no one seems to be taking this seriously.

The only marching I will be doing is on August 31, when I march into my comic book store to buy JL #1.

But that's me.

DC Doesn't Have to Draw the Line for Everything

In a few months DC is going to relaunch all off their superhero titles. I’m sure you may have heard.

It’s going to be a new universe—for the most part—with just about every character getting a tweak to their iconic looks and several getting origin makeovers (or is it make betters?). Grant Morrison is going to relaunch Superman in the pages of Action Comics and Geoff Johns is revisiting the Big Seven with the Justice League. Both inaugural titles are going to ship for $3.99—a dollar above DC’s current price tag of $2.99. Of course we’ll be getting more pages and more story, but I’m not certain if the price jump is only for the first issues of these. But I'd say this about the increase:

Keep it up.

I’m all for lower priced books, but DC has already proven that they are willing to keep prices low with appropriate cuts, but I don’t think the publisher necessarily needs to draw such a hard line in the sand. If there’s a story to tell—and the new DCU is a pretty damn big world to establish—then just keep the price tag up as long as Morrison and Johns need so that they may be allowed to create a deep, rich new history for this bold new world.

Marvel consumers have already proven that, if they like what they see, they are willing to shell out another buck for good stories with more pages. I just want to see that these writers aren’t restrained and forced to take more time than is necessary to tell big stories.

Also, I’ll pay another quarter for my DC books if it means that I don’t have to be interrupted by any future movie or fast food inserts.

Just sayin’.

What Consumers Should Know from the DC Retailer Roadshow

By Max Beckman

Yesterday DC Entertainment invited retailers to the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank, California,  for the first of five stops on their DC Comics Retailer Roadshow.  The purpose of this tour is to present all of their plans for the upcoming September relaunch, dubbed "The New 52", and take any and all questions and feedback we had on the initiative.

In attendance on DC's side were Co-Publishers Dan DiDio and Jim Lee, SVP of Sales Bob Wayne, Hank Kanalz (an executive in the digital branch), and John Rood (EVP of Sales, Marketing and Business Development).  President DC Entertainment Diane Nelson was also in attendance but did not take part in the presentation or Q&A herself (she's a pretty busy woman with Green Lantern opening that day and the final Harry Potter film right around the corner).  There were approximately 20 different stores in attendance—mostly from California, but there were also some long distance travelers (from Portland, Las Vegas, the Bay Area, and Arizona).

Justice League and Action Comics Most Anticipated New DC Book

CBR took a poll, asking fans what books from DC they are most likely to get.

The two highest were Justice League and Action Comics.

Justice League came in with 57.7% of the votes with Action Comics coming in 55.9%of the vote.

Both of these titles seemed like no brainers. And whether you are excited about DC Comics relaunch or not these titles would have been top sellers regardless, due to the creative teams.

See how the rest of the titles tallied here.

On an unrelated note...this is the book I am most looking forward to come September.

Oh yeah "this is going to be good"



Supreme Power # 4

The New DCU: The Next Generation of DC Writers

The new voices of DC Comics: Clockwise from top left: Nathan Edmondson, Jeff Lemire,
Kyle Higgins, Scott Snyder, Joshua Fialkov, Paul Cornell and Duane Swiercynski. 

Now that DC has announced all of their September relaunch titles, I thought this the perfect time to look not at the comic books, but the writers who seem poised to breathe some much needed fresh air into several beloved DC Comics’ properties. Some are relatively new to the game—while others are only new to DC—but these are the writers that I believe can help DC bring a more modern sensibility to the publisher’s line of books.