Bruce Jones is having a big month at DC and this column just extends that run. He’s got two articles devoted to him this week, plus the like 8 last week makes him the most written about person this month. Even moreso than Mr. Johns! Shocking, no?
Besides Jones though, we’ve got all the Crisis tie-in issues (for now at least), an editorial shakeup, and some preview Justice pages. But the big news, for me anyway is that Batman Begins is a scant day away. Sweetness, no?
Also, this column marks the second installment of my “Welcome to the Revamping” feature. And this time we take on an even more obscure character than Gunfire”¦believe it or not.
And now”¦News? Yes”¦NEWS!
Crisis Will Consume All
With the DCU miniseries DAY OF VENGEANCE, THE OMAC PROJECT, RANN-THANAGAR WAR and VILLAINS UNITED racing toward the explosive INFINITE CRISIS, DC Comics reveals more issues of its ongoing monthly series tying into each miniseries. The issues will feature cover blurbs reflecting which miniseries they tie into.
Watch for announcements of more tie-ins to the four miniseries (including RANN-THANAGAR WAR) in the coming weeks.
The tie-in issues are listed below. Don ‘ t get caught short!
Get swept in a tidal wave of tie-ins at the beach I call Newsarama
Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the world of red skies. What do I speak of? Well, for those of you buying comics during the first Crisis, often times a book would be billed as a tie-in to Crisis. However, when one bought and read said book, it turned out that its tie-in-ness (another new world!) amounted to some reference like, “hey, the skies are red”¦weird, huh?” and that was about it. The best part of this is that DiDio referenced that very phenomenon a few weeks back and proclaimed that there was no need to worry about that happening with Infinite Crisis.
People of the court, I present to you Nightwing #109. The only villain to appear in its pages is Black Mask. He, of course, has only appeared in two panels at the most of Villains United in the first 2 issues of that title. No one else who appeared in that title appears here. There is no reference to the events of Villains United. So, what’s the connection, right? No clue.
It is possible that next issue (also, apparently a Villains United crossover) will clear up that mystery but the fact will still remain that 109 had nothing in the least to do with it.
On the other hand, the sold-out JSA#73 mentioned elsewhere in this column, is an excellent example of a tie-in that actually ties in. It is practically Day of Vengeance chapter 1 ½. Hopefully they will lean more towards the latter than the former so completists aren’t taken for too disappointing a ride.
I would also call attention to DC “forgetting” to announce these tie-ins until after the first round had already shipped and, in some cases, sold out. I know it only amounts to about 4 or 5 books effected, but I would have liked to see a DC that was on the ball enough to tell us the fans of these tie-ins before we saw the bug on the cover the day they hit stands. I’m no completist and I got the tie-in issues of the books I buy anyway with ease, so I am not personally ruffled in the bit. However, as a comic fan I am part of community and I’d hate to think of completists or fans of the now sold out tie-in books who missed their chance to scoop one up because DC was late with this announcement.
Infinite Editorial Crisis
The changes coming to the DC Universe following Infinite Crisis won’t be limited just to the characters. DC Executive Editor Dan DiDio has confirmed for Newsarama that, following the seven-issue Infinite Crisis miniseries, DC editorial will see a significant change as well.
In a brief chat with Newsarama Friday morning, DiDio initially explained some of the rationale behind the upcoming “One Year Later”¦” jump all the DCU titles will experience coming out of Infinite Crisis between February and March of 2006.
Join the birthday party already in progress at Newsarama because everyone enjoys a good game of musical chairs.
I rarely if ever can identify a title as a ______ edited endeavor. On occasion, I have noticed a change: Carlin’s JLA (everyone has a one JLA title in ‘em and thus we need no ongoing creative team approach), O’Neill’s handling of the Bat titles (I started Batman books during his time, so I will always associate him with Batman), Schreck on Green Arrow (more because he roped Kevin Smith into writing it and benched the title for the two years it took Smith to write enough scripts for them to feel confident in starting up the new volume). Overall, however, it is rare that an editor makes an impression on me. I suspect being a good editor is a lot like being a good CIA man. You do your job well, no one gets hurt and nobody knows that you were ever there.
All of this being said, it’ll be interesting to see if I can identify any changes in the titles I read if they are better of this editorial flipflop.
Jones Brings You the New Vigilance
He’s not the Western one, nor is he the one whose origins were rooted in the New Teen Titans. This time, the Vigilante is all new at DC.
Not quite as long time coming as Warlord, Bruce Jones and Ben Olive’s Vigilante six issue miniseries kicking off in September from DC can trace its lineage back a couple of years at least. Originally announced as part of the “Superstorm” initiative on August of 2003, Vigilante was one of the three Wildstorm-produced titles associated with Superman that were due to launch around the time of Brian Azzarello and Jim Lee’s Superman run. Originally, the series was to have been written by Micah Wright, with Carlos D’Anada on pencils, but”¦well, things change.
Keep those eyes open and attentive at Newsarama
Yes, yes, this is an ALL-NEW, ALL-DIFFERENT Vigilante, for those of you who were wondering. No Cowboy, no 80’s conservative gun wielder for you people. This is starting to be Jones stock in trade, soft reboots (Hulk, Warlord) or ground up re-imaginings (Vigilante, Deadman). No judgment call there, just an observation. I let the rest of fandom make the judgment call.
As far as the article goes, we know it’s going to dark. And that the protagonist will be a messed fella who takes the law into his own hands. That’s”¦about it. No reference to whether or not it will maintain Wright’s anti-corporate criminal spin (from the original proposal, way back when) but my best guess is “no.” From what Jones is saying here, he drew up a whole new proposal for the series and since I am guessing the corporate focus was Wright’s own personal approach rather than a company edict, I am guessing that it is the baby going out with the bathwater. I think that’s a shame, but then, I’m biased. I love me some corporate criminals getting their comeuppance. Course, in real life, I’d be thrilled with them going to trial and jail, I could do without them getting shot.
Anyhoo, of all the Jones’ projects announced at the Con, this is the front runner for me. If I pick any of them up, it’ll be this one.
Have Big A$$ Axe, Will Travel
Announced at DC’s DCU panel at WizardWorld Philadelphia this past weekend, Travis Morgan, aka, Warlord is finally coming off of the reserves team onto active duty courtesy of Bruce Jones, Bart Sears, and a new ongoing series.
Originally, the first Warlord series lasted 133 issues, from 1976 to 1988, its popularity due in large part both to the genre’s success at the time (when Warlord launced, Conan was still going very strong at Marvel), as well as the art and later writing of Mike Grell. The original series, during its run, was also the keystone of DC’s sword and sorcery/fantasy franchises, as its pages saw Claw the Unconquered, Arion, Lord of Atlantis, Arak, Son of Thunder, and Conqueror of the Barren Earth springboard into their own series.
Though the original series ended, Grell revisited Morgan and company with a Year-One-ish miniseries in 1992. Since then, Travis Morgan has been out of luck in regards to his own series. Until now.
Mount a dragon and ride it all the way to Newsarama. And no, that’s not a heroin reference (ask your parents).
Ladies and Gentlemen, I present you”¦another almost reboot from Mr. Bruce Jones. Me, I could care less. I am highly unlikely to pick up this book regardless of whether or not it builds on Mike Grell’s run or takes a whole new character and makes him the Warlord, so I don’t have much right to say anything. However, if the talkbacks are any indicator, Warlord fans are not thrilled about what would seem to me to be a pretty minor spin on Warlord’s story. Could I use “Warlord” once more in that paragraph? Oh”¦apparently so.
I got there is some trepidation about Bart Sears on art as well, but if ever there was something his style was suited for, it would have to be large brutish men whacking away at monsters and each others with all manner of Middle Age weaponary. This is, of course, an oversimplification of Sears’ abilities. I am sure he’d be suited for other things. I just think that is a particularly good fit.
That Green Glow Ain’t Just Money You Know
In the DC Universe, outer space is a dangerous place. The cosmos is ablaze with the interstellar “Rann/Thanagar War” and in certain sectors threats to all life lie in wait under the cover of the darkness of space. This September, a light is shined on that darkness, an emerald light, when writer Dave Gibbons and artist Patrick Gleason launch “Green Lantern Corps: Recharge,” a five issue mini-series from DC Comics. CBR News spoke to Gibbons about the reintroduction of the DCU’s premier interstellar police force and what it means to the galaxy.
Ask your ring to translate Comic Book Resources
Can I say that I hate that the rings have returned to their “can do everything” (translate, protect the wearing from mortal injury, speak to you, tell you how much of a charge it still has, tell you how beat up Red Tornado is, scan the known universe for worthy GLs, etc) status from the pre-Kyle era? Good”¦cause I do.
Sweet Mogo!
Right”¦sorry.
Anyway, I’m still split on the book. First, of course, it has Mogo (sweet, sweet Mogo). Second, it has Kyle, who I really like but haven’t had much chance to read since I stopped reading JLA (when Waid wrapped up his time on the title) and Winick sent Kyle off into space (with John minding the store) the first time.
Then again, its cosmic and overstuffed with GLs. I’m not much for space opera and I thought one of the best parts about Kyle’s era was the elimination of all those “other” GLs. Doubling them doesn’t make me jump for joy, rest assured.
I dislike having to talk myself into trying a book (see my back and forth on Legion) and I feel like that’s exactly what I’m doing here and what I did on the first issue of the new GL (Hal’s) series. So, I guess I’m leaning towards no at the moment. But who knows what I’ll decide when the issue actually hits stands.
And God Bequeathed Onto You”¦Justice
Alex Ross has released the first twelve pages of August’s Justice #1, showcasing the result of his and Doug Braithwaite’s artist collaboration and Jim Kruege’s co-writing.
At www.Alexrossart.com, Ross wrote:
“These last several years, I’ve done these solo stories with the individual heroes where there was nothing fantastic in their storylines beyond themselves. Here, you’re getting the whole enchiladaâ€â€the Justice League going up against their greatest villains, the Legion of Doom.”
Receive your most excellent gift at Newsarama
Well, to give props where warranted, that is some great looking art. Braithwaite and Ross deserve to take a bow. However, since this is just a dream sequence, it is hard for me to say what I think the book will be from this preview. The dialogue in places is very stilted and Batman’s invitation to Gotham’s children comes across as unintentionally creepy and nervous laughter inducing. I think I may just be a bit burned out on Ross’s nostalgia fever.
OMAC Zooms in on a Different Scene
Joining the growing list of INFINITE CRISIS-related projects to go back to press, THE OMAC PROJECT #2 has sold out at DC Comics and will go back to press for a new printing. The issue sold out twelve days before arriving in stores on May 25.
THE OMAC PROJECT #2 Second Printing (MAR058203) reprints the story by Greg Rucka with art by Jesus Saiz. The new printing features a variant version of the original cover by Ladrönn, with Batman, Sasha Bordeaux and an Omac on the viewscreen.
Your eye in the sky, Newsarama has the image and info.
Nice new cover. It conveys a dynamicism that the first one lacked. Of course it also lessens the creepy voyeuristic “I always feel like somebody’s watching me” (ahh, Rockwell, where are you? I miss you and your hair something fierce) vibe of the original. And say it’s a draw but kudos (mmm”¦candy granola bar) for DC for continuing to produce worthy covers for their reprint issues. Oftentimes, I like them even better than the original attempts. (And yes, I suspect that dynamicism is a word that I just created. Neat, huh?)
The Old Folks Still Have Some Pull
JSA #73 (MAR050411), the first chapter of the highly anticipated 3-part tale “Black Vengeance” and a tie-in to DAY OF VENGEANCE, has sold out at DC Comics. The issue, written by Geoff Johns with art by Don Kramer & Keith Champagne and a cover by Alex Ross, sold out twelve days after arriving in stores on May 11.
See how they captured the youth demographic at Newsarama
This is a pretty standard sellout announcement (it appears as though that “Day of Vengeance” tie-in bug on the front cover has magical properties”¦get it? Magical? God, my wit is cutting.). Where the fun comes in is the exceptionally bizarre debate that follows about why an issue sells out. Matt Brady, Newsarama resident Talkback wrangler, puts forwards the none too radical idea that retailers underestimated the kind of response tie-in issues would get and that’s a big reason for the sell out, especially when retailers where unaware that it was a tie-in (see this week’s issue of Nightwing). Alfonso, a poster, took offense at the way Matt said it (although he did not disagree with the theory, seemingly) and said so. Apparently, Alfonso is famous round those parts for his support of DC, so this came as no surprise. However, a third poster, y2auld claimed that Matt Brady’s theory was wrong wrong wrong. A few back and forths later, y2auld’s logic ate itself as he, essentially, declared that the reason DC books were selling out was because they were issuing press releases saying they sold out. In other words, by claiming that, say DOV #2 had sold out of the warehouse, it did sell out. Now, either y2auld does not have a leg to stand on, or he is a massive conspiracy theorist or, and this is my personal guess, he means to say that by DC declaring a book sold out, retailers then sell out of it because of the excitement and concern by fans that they are missing out on something. However, applying that logic sort of ruins the fun of the debate (which as I said, feels so odd) so I instead am promoting the conspiracy idea.
All Accomplishments Mean Nothing Without Awards
The 2005 Harvey Awards were presented during a ceremony at the MoCCA Festival in New York last night. The awards were evenly distributed, with THE NEW FRONTIER, Jeff Smith, THE COMPLETE PEANUTS, and THE ESCAPIST all winning two awardsm and the rest evenly divided among the nominees. The complete list of winners is as follows, with winners marked in bold with an **.
Find out how DC fared at the post-awards show wrap up (and avoid Joan Rivers) at The Pulse
I’m going to make the same suggestion I always make when I cover comic awards. Get Martin Lawrence to host. He is, after all, the man (theme songs don’t lie people). Plus, maybe we’d get some cable coverage out of it. A fella can dream, right?
Anyway, DC pulled down 6 awards, which is not half bad, but the big winner was no doubt New Frontier, which won half those awards all on its own.
For those that concern themselves with these sorts of things, no, Marvel did not take home any prizes this time out.
COMING ATTRACTIONS
MANHUNTER #11
I might get lambasted by my friends for supporting the hell out of this book while not giving Legion a shot beyond the first few issues, but whatever. I love this book something fierce. Plus, if I don’t recommend it, Babos loses his mind and kidnaps my family”¦I can’t take that risk
SEVEN SOLDIERS KLARION THE WITCH BOY #2
Overall, my favorite of the Seven Soldiers first issues. Let’s see if it can keep it up into issue #2.
OPINIONS ON THE WORK OF PEOPLE FAR MORE TALENTED THAN I
BREACH #6
Did I dig the weirdness this week? You won’t know unless you check out my review.
JLA #115
The problem will this might be that I knew too much of what was going to happen before I even picked up this issue through interviews and the like. Essentially, this issue just delivers those plot points and setups next issue to be the issue where things happen that I did not already expressly know. It’s well done though. Oh, and there is a great Martian Manhunter is invisible joke. And an unintentional Hal gag that involves him, basically, “just being in the neighborhood.” He should be there given his connection to Batman’s mind erasing, it’s just how he’s brought on the scene that strikes me as VERY awkward.
LEX LUTHOR MAN OF STEEL #4
How amazing is LL: MofS? So amazing that I would need a thesaurus to write this review. Rather than do that, I’ll just tell you that I am loving it like I love chocolate and peanut butter.
Sadly, we don’t get the answer to what the heck went down with Superman and Batman last month. In fact, the only bit of Superman we see is him as Clark Kent in a press conference. However, I can tell you that once the issue got started, I hardly even paid the fact mind until I looked back at the issue to write it up here. What does happen this issue is an explanation of who that woman in the tank was and Lex’s splashy debut of the Science Spire (which, by the way, sounds like a very cool idea for a museum). My favorite part of the issue, however, is far and away Lex’s quick psychological summary of his assistant. Brilliant, insightful, and utterly devoid of concern for her feelings, it was the perfect reflection of who Lex is.
NIGHTWING #109
I am enjoying Dick’s foray into undercover work, but the longer this goes on the more it seems like Grayson is painting herself into one hell of a corner. Also, and I know this is totally fanboy and such, but Black Mask, who HATES Bruce Wayne, encounters his ward in this issue. The weird thing is, Black Mask does nothing about it, doesn’t even mention it. I would have loved to see some sort of reference to that. Again though, that’s me being totally fanboy about things.
****REVIEWS FROM THE FUTURE****
Yeah”¦I got nothing.
WELCOME TO THE REVAMPING
Welcome to installment #2 of this semi-regular feature. This time we go way obscure to bring you the relaunch of”¦
Doctor Thirteen
Terrence Thirteen comes from a long line of those who were labeled practitioners of the Black Arts. He’s a natural for DC’s magic club, right? Well, no, not really. Instead, raised by a father who elevated rational thought above all else, Doctor Thirteen became a professional skeptic, a man who’s very existence was defined by debunking what others believed to be true. He was later portrayed as delusional madman in a Vertigo one shot involving Artificial Intelligence (lord know why) and cannon fodder in issue #1 of Seven Soldiers Zatanna. For the sake of our little endeavor here, we’ll label those two stories “non-canon” and they shall never be referenced again.
The world of magic in the DCU is currently being ripped apart by the tag team of the Spectre and Eclipso. Of course, we as fan, know that this is a temporary state of affairs and, ultimately, Spectre will come to his senses somehow, Eclipso will be defeated and many of the big players in the world of magic will be spared or restored.
However, there will be an inevitable gap between what is and what was. The magic community will be diminished, even if its big names are still walking about. And what does nature abhor? A vacuum. So into those voids will rush all manner of person: rogue, villain, reluctant hero, egomaniac, and starry eyed dreamers. Amongst them, there will no doubt be tricksters and grifters looking to exploit this moment for their personal gain.
That’s where Dr. Thirteen comes in.
There is nothing fundamentally wrong with the underpinnings of the character and with the world of magic in upheaval he is a natural for revisiting. He will become the Arthur Conan Doyle of the modern world. A man both fascinated and repelled by the spiritual, the magical, the initially unexplainable. A man forever driven by his desire to know the absolute truth of all things.
Thirteen will come across as a bit brusque. He is wholly dedicated to his “calling” and has little to no ability to temper that. His belief in the truth blinds him to the fact that sometimes people prefer the lie or even need it to live day to day. He believes himself to be their crusader, protecting them from scam artists and a life of believing in what isn’t real and sometimes he will be. But others, in his hurry to reveal, he’ll wrought more damage than he could imagine.
Of course, the DCU is a world where magic exists, we the readers know this with absolute certainty. In this way, it is inevitable that Thirteen will encounter what is, in fact, real, true magic. What happens then? What does the rational man who no doubt embraces Occam’s Razor as his personal mantra in the way some people embrace the Lord’s Prayer do when the simplest explanation comes from the spiritual world. Does he accept this or will it disgust him too much? Does he truly hold logic above all else or is he only dedicated to the wholesale debunking of anything spiritual or supernatural. Is this a selfless quest or is it motivated by a desire to see the generations of his family accused of witchcraft exonerated? After all, if there is no such thing as magic, then there is no way that his ancestors were witches and warlocks, now is there?
The ongoing saga of Doctor Thirteen would tell the story of a man who looks for the truth everywhere but refuses to acknowledge what the truth about himself might be. He gives himself over to this crusade because it provides order to his life and leaves him too busy to face what he fears within his own life. Doctor Thirteen is Batman turned about 8 degrees. There’s no costume, no utility belt, no mask, but the same obsession with the past and unwillingness to let anyone in lest be made vulnerable is part of both of their DNA. Doctor Thirteen could be the world’s most rational man or the world’s biggest fool, but as long as he doesn’t stop running, he’ll never have to face that fact.
SHOOTING BACK AT THE GRIMACE
Tim,
Fellow Nexus writer here…just wanted to recommend a good Scarecrow story. The Batman  Four of a Kind TPB is an excellent book, with origin/year one stories for
Scarecrow, Poison Ivy, Riddler, and Manbat. Great stuff. It’s also the reason I’m not going to pick up the Batman/Scarecrow Year One book, because the story in Four of a Kind is so good.
And I don’t understand the appeal of car racing either.
-Andy Campbell
Thanks for the recommend Andy. That’s one of those books that I always see on the shelf but never bother with. Because of you, I did bother with it and you’re right. That is a very good story.
Oh, and the only reason ‘Avengers’ wasn’t listed alongside the other teams is because I completely spaced. You’d think after answering the same exact question in three different interviews I’d have the list memorized by now…
-Ben Raab
Well, it happens to all of us. I like my version in which you think Avengers is weak in comparison with, let’s say, Silverhawks, better, but fine, we’ll go with your version.
For those of you who don’t know, Ben Raab is the writer behind the current DC mini Human Race (on shelves now) and previous works like Green Lantern.
When it comes to the new Vigilante series announced, if it ain’t the Cowboy, I don’t care.
-Glen Davis
Umm”¦bad news Glen. Take a look at the Vigilante story above. Sorry.
Mr. Stevens,
I think people are assuming Bruce Wayne will be replaced as Batman due to the comments made by Didio about how some of the same people may not be under the masks “one year later.” That comment about someone different being under a mask coupled with the assertion that Nightwing is supposed to play a big part in the upcoming Crisis also had me wondering if Dick Grayson was going to be Batman after the dust settles from this thing. I agree that WB probably won’t let it happen because of the movies (which I think sucks…things like that just limit Batman and Superman…Superman especially, at least Robins can die in Batman comics). A move like that would definitely kick up some dust, no? Hope that clarifies the origin of these Batman rumors.
-CheckmateJedi7
Well, that does help a bit Checkmate, but I still don’t quite get it. At least I can see what they are drawing it from though.
For the record I hope DC doesn’t go that route since they already have done so twice in less than 15 years, first in Knightfall/Quest/End and then again in Prodigal. Do we really need another story proving Bruce is the only one who can really be Batman this soon? Methinks not, but I could be wrong.
Well, there you have it. Another character, another revamp. Another opening, another show. In Philly, Boston, or Baltimore. As always, please tell me what you thought of the whole column at the message boards or via e-mail at parallax2@juno.com. Especially in reference to the revamp. When I get outside of the box like that (as in break from the straight up news and views) I always feel just a touch out of my league so any feedback, good, bad, indifferent, is appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Un Gajje Can’t Stop Thinking: “Batman Begins Batman Begins Batman Begins Batman Begins Batman Begins Batman Begins Batman Begins” Over and Over Again
