DC Comics: Rebirth

[Kai "the spy"]

Well, that's a helpful sentiment.

Of course, they'll drop. Sales for print issues are on a downward trend basically since the mid-1940s, and sales always drop significantly from first to second issue, and so on. The question is, how significant will the drop be.

Short-term, at least, Rebirth brought a rise in sales for DC. The question now is, will sales level out without as big a drop as after the last renumbering.

It may also be that a significant drop in sales would first be blamed on the number of twice-monthlies, and DC would revert most books back to a monthly schedule, before considering a creative change or outright canceling a book.

 

[Kai "the spy"]

This is interesting:

CBR| DC Reinvents Classic Hero as Young Black Man in "Vigilante: Southland"

Sounds promising in and of itself, but it's also a great idea for DC to bring back the concept of limited series to test the interest in a character, instead of launching an ongoing series that'll just be canceled after a couple of issues without resolving the plot. I also think this is a format to re-visit characters who can't hold their own ongoing title.

 

[kirk55555]

This is interesting:

CBR| DC Reinvents Classic Hero as Young Black Man in "Vigilante: Southland"

Sounds promising in and of itself, but it's also a great idea for DC to bring back the concept of limited series to test the interest in a character, instead of launching an ongoing series that'll just be canceled after a couple of issues without resolving the plot. I also think this is a format to re-visit characters who can't hold their own ongoing title.

Yeah, they used to do mini series like that a lot. I don't know why it went out of favor, except that maybe they thought that they should print more books with the potential to make them money for years? To be fair, DC has done this over the last few years (like the generally terrible Freedom Force character relaunches from Jimmy Palmiotti), but it would be nice to see more of it from both of the big companies.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Freedom Force? Do you mean the Freedom Fighters?

 

[JD]

The Vigilante does sound like it could be interesting. I like the idea of doing miniseries to introduce new characters, I think sometimes they get carried away trying to turn everything into a big multiyear ongoing.

 

[Kai "the spy"]

The thing is, I'd be more likely to pick up a limited series than commiting to an ongoing title. Like this Vigilante series, I'm almost certain I'll pick it up. Were it an ongoing title, I almost certainly wouldn't.

 

[Nerys Myk]

The Vigilante does sound like it could be interesting. I like the idea of doing miniseries to introduce new characters, I think sometimes they get carried away trying to turn everything into a big multiyear ongoing.

The used to tryout characters in books like Showcase and the Brave and the Bold. The JLA, Green Lantern, Flash, Hawkman and the Atom got started that way.

 

[kirk55555]

Freedom Force? Do you mean the Freedom Fighters?

Ugh. Yeah, I meant Freedom Fighters

 

[Kai "the spy"]

Looks like Rebirth (and "Civil War II" over at Marvel) was an even bigger hit than initially assumed. According to Diamond, DC sold almost twice as many issues in June as in the average month, and Direct Market sales were the highest in 20 years. That's since the mid-90s!

CBR| Rebirth, "Civil War II" Result in Highest Direct Market Sales Numbers in 20 Years

 

[Nerys Myk]

Ugh. Yeah, I meant Freedom Fighters

That was a fun issue, The FF vs "The Invaders". And it had a counter part at Marvel

 

[kirk55555]

That was a fun issue, The FF vs "The Invaders". And it had a counter part at Marvel

That's pretty cool. I actually have the Invaders Classic: Complete Collection Volume 1, which has that issue. I never knew it was connected to or a reference to anything.

 

[Nerys Myk]

That's pretty cool. I actually have the Invaders Classic: Complete Collection Volume 1, which has that issue. I never knew it was connected to or a reference to anything.

Yeah, it was one of those unofficial crossover things that guys at DC and Marvel would do from time to time.

 

[sojourner]

More like "friendly poking fun" than crossover.

 

[kirk55555]

So, New Superman #1

Spoiler: New Superman #1

This was not good. So, a teenage bully who spends the first few pages of narration talking himself up and bragging about bullying another kid gets super powers. Honestly, about 4 pages into this one I was pretty irritaited, and it didn't let up. This honestly felt like a average New 52 character. I don't know what they're trying to do here. He's so annoying and such an ass that even if the point is to make him "grow" into a good person, I think it will be an almost impossible change, at least when it comes to changing a reader's impression of the character. Its like how "Shazam" was just a terrible, unworthy hero when he started, and even if they've k9ind of toned him down (a bit), he's never really recovered.

Overall, this was a big disappointment. I won't be reading any more of it.

 

[Kai "the spy"]

This is interesting:

CBR| DC Reinvents Classic Hero as Young Black Man in "Vigilante: Southland"

Sounds promising in and of itself, but it's also a great idea for DC to bring back the concept of limited series to test the interest in a character, instead of launching an ongoing series that'll just be canceled after a couple of issues without resolving the plot. I also think this is a format to re-visit characters who can't hold their own ongoing title.

So, this will not stay the only mini-series revisiting a classic DC character coming this fall. October sees the launch of "Hawkman & Adam Strange: Out of Time", a six-issue mini-series written by Marc Andreyko, with Art by Aaron Lopresti. Weirdly enough, the synopsis makes a mystery out of the identity of the villain, but the cover art released with it kinda gives it away.

CBR| New Hawkman & Adam Strange Series Serves Up an Intergalactic Team-Up

And there's a new 3-issue prestige format mini-series starring Deadman coming in October, too.

CBR| "Deadman: Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love" Tells Gothic Romance Tale in Prestige Format

I'm definitely in for the Hawkman/Adam Strange book, but I'm undecided over the Deadman one. Gotta review my budget over that one.

 

[TRON JA307020]

I've been reading the Silver and Bronze Age JLA. I'm up to the "Detroit League Era". The title of the arc that introduced them was called Rebirth!

Now I'm afraid

Vibe had a kickass costume back then. Look how cool he looks taking on a biker with those yellow genie pants.

 

[Guy Gardener]

Those are hammer pants 6 years before MC Hammer.

F###er has a time machine.

 

[kirk55555]

So, this will not stay the only mini-series revisiting a classic DC character coming this fall. October sees the launch of "Hawkman & Adam Strange: Out of Time", a six-issue mini-series written by Marc Andreyko, with Art by Aaron Lopresti. Weirdly enough, the synopsis makes a mystery out of the identity of the villain, but the cover art released with it kinda gives it away.

CBR| New Hawkman & Adam Strange Series Serves Up an Intergalactic Team-Up

And there's a new 3-issue prestige format mini-series starring Deadman coming in October, too.

CBR| "Deadman: Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love" Tells Gothic Romance Tale in Prestige Format

I'm definitely in for the Hawkman/Adam Strange book, but I'm undecided over the Deadman one. Gotta review my budget over that one.

You know, the pre-reboot Hawkman stuff got a lot of flak for having a messed up continuity, but I find the New 52 version much more confusing. He goes by the name Carter Hall, but he's actually Katar Hol (the Thanagarian hawkman), but he doesn't remember his origins? Also, Nth metal is evil or alive and/or liquid metal? The "Savage hawkman" series was one of the worst of a generally terrible crop of comics when the New 52 started, so I never got much info about this Hawkman. I think Hawkman later showed up in that terrible Justice League United book, but I dropped that after two issues. As for Adam strange, the New 52 versions of him and Alanna also suck, but not quite to "Savage" Hawkman's level.

Still, I'll try out the mini. As long as its not being written by the JLU author, it might be decent. Deadman I'll probably pass on, since I don't like romance stories.

 

[theenglish]

I really liked the first arc of the JLU book and wish the team had stuck together. It was great seeing the real Legion back in action.

I love the idea of introducing mini-series for characters who might not be able to sustain a monthly comic. Hawkman is one of my favorite characters and it was too bad that his introduction to the new 52 was so poorly written.

Those as hammer pants 6 years before MC Hammer.

F###er has a time machine.

How do you know MC Hammer wasn't inspired by Vibe?

 

[Saga]

that Deadman mini looks heavily influenced by Dark Shadows, which is awesome. i hope we get more horror books from DC.