DC to REBOOT???

[Myasishchev]

Gail Simone, currently of Secret Six and Birds of Prey, and the just announced Firestorm posted her thoughts on this event as a creator and a fan.

Let me point out why I'm excited about this movement at DC. I also need to say that I am not an apologist, nor is DC even aware I am writing this. These are just my thoughts as both a writer for the company and as someone who dearly loves the DC Universe above all things including dogs and self-respect. You may completely disagree, but I think this is going to be one of the most exciting times in history to be reading comics. Yes, really.

Read More: http://www.comicsalliance.com/2011/06/03/gail-simone-sorry-im-late/#ixzz1OK22I94j

It's a great read to get a little perspective on the news.

"Just glad to be working" is a perspective, I guess.

Not to say I am not glad Gail Simone is working. She's one of the last creators I really respect. I probably will pick up Firestorm, at least long enough to determine whether the balance of words belongs to one of comic's most fun writers or an over-rendering penciller. (On the plus side, Yildiray Cinar is probably the best artist she's worked with since Nicola Scott--and in fairness I don't actually dislike Ethan van Sciver, but he has made himself Part of the Problem.)

Also, maybe I'm wrong, and Secret Six isn't being canned, and Simone really is delighted, but I'm betting not really.

Lest you think this is just an ad for the company that pays me, I assure you, it isn't. There were some painful decisions made, some I disagree with. Some YOU will probably disagree with. Every book is someone's favorite.

I suppose "virtually the only comic I bought" would be, per force, a "favorite," but that's semantics.

(I will also cop to finding an Azzarello-done Wonder Woman somewhat enticing. I liked what I've got of his run on Superman.)

 

[Admiral_Young]

The article I posted above sarcastically (I think) suggests that there was some kind of conspiracy involved regarding the decision to relaunch that Johns, DiDio, Lee and Grant Morrison attempted to stop and that the relaunch could have been decided above them, perhaps even Diane Nelson herself. Then Rich dismisses the notion at the end of the article.

 

[Professor Zoom]

You know... if they brought Ted Kord back... I would buy THAT Blue Beetle comic.

Come on, if they're bringing Bland Barry Allen back, why not Ted? At least he was interesting.

 

[Myasishchev]

The article I posted above sarcastically (I think) suggests that there was some kind of conspiracy involved regarding the decision to relaunch that Johns, DiDio, Lee and Grant Morrison attempted to stop and that the relaunch could have been decided above them, perhaps even Diane Nelson herself. Then Rich dismisses the notion at the end of the article.

I sort of like the idea (evil, faceless, corporate suits).

I'm not really prone to conspiracy theories. I mean, we all know Jim Lee faked the moon landing (the crosshatching on the Eagle is a dead giveaway), but other than that, Johnston could probably get someone to confirm this if it had any ounce of truth.

You know... if they brought Ted Kord back... I would buy THAT Blue Beetle comic.

Come on, if they're bringing Bland Barry Allen back, why not Ted? At least he was interesting.

I really thought this is where Giffen and deMatteis were going with Booster Gold at first. There were a bunch of adventures in the past with Booster and Beetle. And then there just... weren't. The book actually lost a lot of its steam when Ted was left back in the 90s. Booster is great, but without Beetle, it's like Mitchell without Webb. Mitchell without Webb is still pretty funny, but not, you know, very funny.

I still can't believe JLI isn't being handled by G and dM and also Kevin Maguire just pay him what he wants. I mean, Dan Jurgens? There's a creator who speaks to the youth of today.

Actually, what I've been reading a lot is that the creative teams so far announced are for the most part quite mediocre, not to mention the same bloody people who've been fucking things up for the past few years. And it's true. Tony Daniel and Philip Tan? J.T. Krul still on Green Arrow? If you didn't care before, why should you care now?

 

[Allyn Gibson]

I've long thought that the best thing Barry Allen ever did was die.

As an ideal, his memory inspired several others to try and carry on with his legacy. Maybe Wally didn't always succeed, maybe he didn't always live up to the ideal, but he tried to live up to Barry's memory.

As a person, though? Barry's blander than bland.

 

[shivkala]

I guess what's surprising me is how quickly I've come to accept this. I'm still hoping they leave the Bat titles alone as Batman Incorporated, Detective Comics, and Batgirl have quickly become three of my favorite DC titles. It seems my other favorite titles, the Green Lantern ones will be okay, too. While I haven't enjoyed "The New Guardians" arc, I am really enjoying "War of the Green Lanterns." I'm very excited for Green Lantern and Tomasi's return to Green Lantern Corps. The other two titles, time will tell.

 

[Myasishchev]

I've long thought that the best thing Barry Allen ever did was die.

As an ideal, his memory inspired several others to try and carry on with his legacy. Maybe Wally didn't always succeed, maybe he didn't always live up to the ideal, but he tried to live up to Barry's memory.

As a person, though? Barry's blander than bland.

Technically, I think the best thing Barry Allen did was switch genitals with the Mirror Master.

But dying was a really close second.

(You're of course correct about Wally West. I spoke at distressing length in the Flashpoint thread, providing irrefutable evidence that he is the greatest comic book character ever.)

 

[Admiral_Young]

I'm still holding out hope that Damian will survive. Morrison went to so much trouble trying to develop and evolve that character that it would be such a shame to lose him completely. I know there is still a bunch of Batman fans out there that hate the character but he's grown since he was first introduced in "Batman and Son". Having just re-read that trade it's astonishing to see how far he's come.

@Shiv'Kala...I feel much the same way you do I think. I'm not having a freak out about this as others are. It's weird, and feels sudden because of the announcement being broken early, but other than that for the most part I am fine with it.

 

[Myasishchev]

@Shiv'Kala...I feel much the same way you do I think. I'm not having a freak out about this as others are. It's weird, and feels sudden because of the announcement being broken early, but other than that for the most part I am fine with it.

But you have a really positive outlook, whereas I just hate almost everything.

Agreed about Damien: he was the best part of Morrison's Batman. I didn't like Morrison's Batman, no matter how hard I tried, but Damien was all right.

 

[scnj]

I hope Morrison's changes to the Batman mythos stick. I have to wonder if JLA Batman is Bruce Wayne and JLI Batman is Dick Grayson.

Incidentally, I'd love a new title featuring adult Damian as Batman. We saw a glimpse of it in Batman & Son and I think that would set up an interesting new take on Batman.

 

[Nerys Myk]

If Barry is bland and boring its because he was/is written that way. They could have given Barry the personality ( and stories) they gave Wally rather than kill him off. Green Arrow improved greatly when he got a personality.

 

[Admiral_Young]

^ ^It would appear that it's Dick in JLI. It looks like his Batman costume on the cover. You can tell from the design of the belt buckle.

 

[Professor Zoom]

I still can't believe JLI isn't being handled by G and dM and also Kevin Maguire just pay him what he wants. I mean, Dan Jurgens? There's a creator who speaks to the youth of today.

Giffen and DeMattis, that run on the JLI... damn, I still remember it, fond memories and I haven't read them in AGES. It was just damn fun.

I've long thought that the best thing Barry Allen ever did was die.

As an ideal, his memory inspired several others to try and carry on with his legacy. Maybe Wally didn't always succeed, maybe he didn't always live up to the ideal, but he tried to live up to Barry's memory.

As a person, though? Barry's blander than bland.

Barry was almost much more interesting when he was an ideal for Wally to strive for. Wally was just so damn compelling because he was flawed... not always the smartest in the room, used to be selfish, basically, a big heart with maybe not the biggest brain.

 

[sojourner]

Has there been any evidence that the reboot is keeping Barry? Might we not see Wally return as Flash?

 

[BillJ]

I still can't believe JLI isn't being handled by G and dM and also Kevin Maguire just pay him what he wants. I mean, Dan Jurgens? There's a creator who speaks to the youth of today.

I was really disappointed with the news of Jurgens handling JLI.

 

[Thestral]

Has there been any evidence that the reboot is keeping Barry? Might we not see Wally return as Flash?

I prefer Wally too, but there's no reason we can't have both right? I mean there's been two Flashes around for a long time, no reason we can't have three (Plus Kid Flash and whatever name Jesse Chambers' going by these days).

ETA: correct Jesse's name.

 

[Admiral_Young]

We will find out at the end of Flashpoint about the Flashes fate I'm guessing.

 

[Myasishchev]

Has there been any evidence that the reboot is keeping Barry? Might we not see Wally return as Flash?

I'd be willing to bet $5 that Wally is going to return as Kid Flash.

Makes me want to puke up a lung.

If Barry is bland and boring its because he was/is written that way. They could have given Barry the personality ( and stories) they gave Wally rather than kill him off. Green Arrow improved greatly when he got a personality.

For my money, Green Arrow improved greatly when he was 1)dead and 2)Connor Hawke.

Ollie Queen's alright, too, I guess. Of all my dad's superheroes who died, got replaced, and came back to completely eclipse his more interesting successor, he is probably the best.

 

[Professor Zoom]

Has there been any evidence that the reboot is keeping Barry? Might we not see Wally return as Flash?

I prefer Wally too, but there's no reason we can't have both right? I mean there's been two Flashes around for a long time, no reason we can't have three (Plus Kid Flash and whatever name Jesse Quick's going by these days).

Three Flashes if you count Jay... which you should.

How many we have, I guess depends on the reach of the reboot... how much of one...

I would like to think they'll keep Jay, I'm sure Barry will be the "current" Flash, the main character of the book. Would they get rid of Bart? De-age Wally? Which means getting rid of Linda--who is great. Of course, Wally with kids... meh, that's fine, let a reboot eat Wally's kids.

 

[Thestral]

Jay was the other one I was counting actually, JSA fan here. I was referring to the post-Crisis, pre-Barry's-back era.

I like Wally having a family, to be honest. It's something to further differentiate him from Barry even if it does make him seem "older." Hey, if this is a real reboot they could always make Barry the "younger" one with Jay as the elder statesman, Wally as the mostly-retired-but-still-around family man, and Barry as the "new" Flash.