DC Comics has received mixed reviews of late on its classic super-hero line that was rebooted wholesale in 2011 with its “New 52”. That core comics line, that boasts icons like Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, the Justice League, the Suicide Squad and more, is set to undergo a Rebirth later this year.
However, despite an initial bump in market share when the New 52 launched, DC Comics has steadily declined over the years in this metric. While Marvel Comics continues to dominate market share much of its success has been built on perpetual series relaunches with new #1’s every year to two years, making its more popular series bi-weekly, events that include ancillary mini-series, but most importantly the addition of now Disney-owned (Marvel’s parent company) Star Wars. Marvel has a riches of properrtis to mine from now from classic Disney properties, Star Wars, Pixar, whatever intellectual property (IP) Disney now owns.
The comic book market share metric, in Marvel and DC Comics terms, are no longer measures of the success of their core super-hero comic book lines, but of all the comics they produce as both companies diversify their comic book lines.
DC Comics parent company Warner Bros seems to have finally unshackled DC Comics, but allowing DC Entertainment more access to their vast library of IP. Today it was announced that DC Comics is launching several comics from their Hanna-Barbera Action Heroes line starting in May 2016 with the industry’s top writers and artists. Books inlcude:
- Scooby Apocalypse, featuring contemporary takes on Scooby Doo and the gang with art by DC Comics co-publisher Jim Lee;
- Future Quest, a Jonny Quest centric series, that appears to open with several Hanna-Barbera characters in tow including Space Ghost;
- Wacky Raceland; and
- The Flintstones with artist-writer Amanda Connor.
More here. Once the creative teams are more clearly announced, we’ll let you know. Art for the various series follow.
Look for more comics based on Cartoon Network, the CW’s and other carrier’s DC TV, plus DC’s movie continuity to come.
