Lots of news this week and little for me to say, so let’s dive right in shall we?
Tomasi Cracks Under the Hot Lights
Over the last few months Newsarama has spoken to many of the creators who will be guiding the DC Universe titles come the One Year Later “leap” in March. But as we revealed last summer, not only will many of the DC titles be getting new creative teams and storylines ‘OYL’, the publisher has “shuffled” many of their titles and families to different editorial offices in conjunction with the March changes.
Over the next eight weeks leading into the March ‘OYL’ “launch”, we’ll be talking to each of the DC Editors and Senior Editors behind the curtains about the changes and the future of their titles, and we’ll even be talking about some DCU titles that aren’t affected by the event.
In Part 1 of this weekly series, “DC Editors Debriefing”, we sit-down with Peter Tomasi, Senior Editor of Batman, Detective Comics, Robin, Green Lantern, and the upcoming Green Lantern Corps ongoing series…
The real question now is: Did Newsarama use torture to get their information?
The Bianci cover with Robin is just…too creepy. What’s the deal with that?
This is probably the most “helpful” OYL interview yet in that there are actual tidbits of heretofore unconfirmed information to dine in.
They include:
Bruce Wayne is Batman
Tim Drake is Robin
Batman and Robin are absent from Gotham for a year.
I love that Tomasi point blank proclaims this and people still are saying things like, “Well, maybe Bruce is Batman because he’ll always be Batman but there is also another Batman.” I guess it could be the case, but I don’t get that “I’m going to fool you on this” vibe from Tomasi on the matter.
I do, however, get the “I’m going to fool you” vibe from the solicitation that talks about a new hero in Gotham (who is not Batwoman or The Question, as Tomasi mentions). Take a look at those panels featuring fearsome Russian supervillain turned joke with an accent KGBeast. See the guy that sacks him? Doesn’t that look an awful lot like Bruce Wayne’s Year One crime fighting gear just before he realized he needed a bit more to frighten criminals? I do not want to stir up speculation, but that’s worth noting, isn’t it?
Glad to hear that Harvey Dent will be returning. I was kind of sad to see him in Arkham in a recent Gotham Central issue since he ended his last appearance (in “Hush) all healed and sane again. I am all for a return to Two-Face, I would just prefer it to not have happened off-panel at some point between the end of Hush and that GC appearance.
Oh, and that Robin cover? Still creepy. Really creepy.
A Website Guy Joins DC
DC Comics has named Alex Segura as their new Publicity Manager, effective January 30th.
Segura, familiar to Newsarama readers as a frequent contributor and former editorial staffer, also previously served as an editor at Wizard Magazine and most recently as Publicity Coordinator for Archie Comic Publications. In addition to those duties, Segura just completed a stint as an online editor for The Miami Herald, where he wrote a monthly graphic novel review column for the paper’s Tropical Life features section.
In conjunction with the news, Segura has agreed to pen an online diary of his first month on the job, which will appear weekly on the site beginning in early February. Now, with the formalities out of the way, we’ll let Alex take the floor to share a few thoughts.
Commence back patting at Newsarama
This is cool for the people at Newsarama…I guess. I seem to remember though, a certain former Nexus staffer who went on to greatness. A certain staffer named Ben Morse. A certain staffer who is now known by the title “Staff Writer- Wizard”. So suck on that Newsaraâ€â€
What? What’s that. Segura also worked at Wizard before this? Oh…I seeeee…hmm…
Well good for Newsarama.
The Midwest: Woefully Behind, Pop Culture-wise, Yet Again
For roughly 200 retailers across the Midwest (as well as their customers looking for their weekly fix), there was no joy in the comic shops yesterday.
For the third out of four weeks, new comics did not arrive as scheduled, due to shipping problems. Comics are scheduled to reach stores today.
Weep for Midwesterners at Newsarama
I may bag on the Midwest from time to time (that’s the middle of our country, right? From about Ohio to Missouri?) because Janelle’s from Minnesota (which would be the middle of the Midwest, I guess) and nothing strengthens a relationship more than bagging on where someone grew up. However, everyone deserves their comics on Wednesday (except in the case of holiday or apocalyptic weather). If comics were around when the Constitution was written, you better believe that “Comics are to be delivered Wednesdays” would have been on the Bill of Rights. Amendment #3, I’d expect. After all, quartering soldiers is not that big a deal, is it?
I’ll buy the truck excuse once, 3 times out of 4 weeks? That seems…suspicious to me.
BOP OYL
Continuing our look at DC’s titles “One Year Later” that hit in March, we spoke with Gail Simone, writer of Birds of Prey to find out what is, might be, or won’t be coming up, and while her answers were the teases we’ve come to expect from writers about their books after the flip, they’re pretty enjoyable teasers.
Onward.
Fun with acronyms at Newsarama
First off, because I love to stir up unnecessary theorizing, is that a new Phantom Lady on the cover, carrying the Crime Doctor? No reason to think it is, but hey, it could be.
Apparently, though, everyone else’s assumption is that it is Gypsy. From JL Detroit. Which is cool. Or something. Well, not really, but I am sure that Simone can make it work.
Other things to look for in this interview: “a Canary” and try to find any mention of Huntress in the future tense by Ms. Simone. Bet you can’t.
What does it all mean? Why not head on over to the message board and take a guess. Or two. Or several.
Oh There’s Clark Kent. But Wait, Where’s Superman?
While the holidays put things on hold for a few weeks, DC spring-event “One Year Later” doesn’t kickoff until March, and that gives us a little more time to check in with the creative teams of all the affected DC Universe titles.
Today we catch up with writers Kurt Busiek and Geoff Johns. Along with interiors artist Pete Woods and cover artists Terry and Rachel Dodson, the duo team for the first OYL Superman story, a four-month, eight-part story arc running through Action Comics #837-840 and the reconfigured Superman 650-653. In the following brief chat they tell us what they can about the post-Crisis Superman without spoiling some of the surprises yet to come…
File a missing persons report with Newsarama
Writing about Superman is just so hard for me because the character so rarely connects with me that I am predisposed to be sort of “eh” about anything coming down the pike involving him. I realize it is unfair so I try to rein it in, but it’s hard.
I will tell you this: they have gotten two creators who could not be better choices to tackle this character. They are so good, in fact, that I cannot believe they have not had a shot at Superman yet. Well, Johns perhaps not because he’s still new to the game, but Busiek? Beyond JLA and Secret Identity, I do not think Busiek has ever turned any work in on the Man of Steel.
The duo also seem quite excited about it, which is nice, and they offer some interesting (if obscure) random tidbits that will be worth watching out for.
Some apathy is largely unswayed, but I imagine that most others will be quite thrilled with these developments. Too bad it is only for eight issues, eh?
DC Increasing Its Army
Jamal Igle, the dynamic artist of the monthly DCU series FIRESTORM, has signed an exclusive contract with DC Comics.
Meet the newest conscript at the boot camp known only as The Pulse
I cannot believe there is still anyone left who has not been signed exclusive (except for Vaughan), but this is a good pick up for DC. Igle has grown and continues to grow as an artist, he’s consistently on time, and he’s already working on a book for them. I prefer these announcements to the “we signed ’em exclusive, we’ll find something to do with them later” approach that occasionally pops up.
Variant Covers: Dangerous Temptresses
Next month, acclaimed artist Ethan Van Sciver returns to GREEN LANTERN with issue #9. Now, DC Comics announces a special variant cover by Van Sciver for this issue, scheduled to arrive in stores on February 22!
Give in to your fiery passion at Comic Book Resources
Generally, I avoid variant covers. I do not think they are the demise of the industry like many, but I’m not a huge fan of them either. I try not buy them because I have no interest in shelling more money for the same story with a different cover or in encouraging what I think is a pretty silly practice that has been shown to be a short term sales boost, as best.
All of this said, I like this cover so much more than the other #9 cover that I am trying to figure out if I can get it without reinforcing DC’s burgeoning bad habit AND without paying more. That’s probably pretty much a pipe dream, but what can I say.
Oh, for those who forgot, here is the original cover:
You may recall it as the cover that all the comic fans on the internet began to refer to as the “GL wants to kiss Batman” cover. I personally chose to interpret it as they had already kissed and had pulled back, stunned. They would, of course, walk in opposite directions moments later, just like a sitcom.
By the way, what does it say about the comic internet community that, almost universally, everyone looked at that cover and thought, “dude, they are so going to kiss”? Where are our heads at?
A World Without Conduit?
This March, DC will unveil its One Year Later titles, with all new creative teams and bold new directions. For Superman, this means the pairing of two heavy hitters in the world of comics, Geoff Johns and Kurt Busiek. Both of these men have made their mark in the comics industry, on such projects as JLA/Avengers, Infinite Crisis, and much more. Now they team up to once again redefine the Man of Steel for a new generation with their story, Up, Up, and Away, which runs through both Superman and Action Comics from March until June.
I wanted to get an early feel for the story, as well as find out more about the latest trend for DC of co-writing comics, so I decided to get in touch with Geoff and Kurt and ask them a few questions.
Read the bad news for Conduit at Silver Bullet Comic Books
Heh…it would figure. The week I proclaim, “writing about Superman is hard for me,” is the week that I have to read and respond to two articles about this Superman arc. Ahh, the universe, she is a crafty one, no?
Bloodsport? As in this guy:
Wow…who’d have thunk?
A 100% Conduit free? What up with that? Doesn’t everyone love Conduit? Anyone?
Look!
He’s so awesome, you can just tell.
They really are making a big deal about this only Clark on the covers thing, aren’t they? It could mean something shocking, I suppose, but boy would that be getting the book off on the wrong foot. You get two of the most “respectful” writers in comics on Superman and you give them…a different Superman? Hmm…I doubt it. My best guess: Superman took some time off and now he’s back. Thus, he was “just” Clark for awhile and this is the story of his returning to the scene. If it is even that. Or it could be they are just messing with us.
TIM’S TIRADES
A Killer Batman
I am not one to deviate from a theme that is working for me so after some spirited conversation on the Batman killing Joker idea on the message boards (see some of the comments below), I am returning to the general theme of Batman committing murder. This time I am tackling the question of whether or not DC has ever caved to outspoken fans and given the people a Batman who pulled that trigger.
The answer is “no.”
Ahh, I know what you are thinking. “But what about ‘Knightfall/ KnightQuest/ Knightsend’?” Yes, that this when DC claimed to give fans what they thought they wanted by crippling Bruce Wayne and bringing in Jean Paul Valley (the “hero” Azrael) as his no-nonsense replacement. Valley was brutal and driven. He turned the Bat costume into a nightmare of steel and chrome and claws and flame throwers. And, eventually, he allowed the killer Abattoir to fall to his death (which indirectly caused the death of an innocent). Fans bought the story but most (if not all) who in favor the return of Bruce Wayne and the ending of this fascist’s reign.
So, yes, in the most literal sense, DC did give the people a Batman who kills. And yes, much like they thought would happen, the people rejected this new Batman and thus DC was vindicated. People did not really want a killer Batman, they just though they did. But DC played it a bit fast and loose here, severely stacking the deck in their favor.
When people then (and now) claimed they wanted a Batman who would cross the line, what they were really saying was that they wanted the Batman to cross the line. They were looking for Bruce Wayne to get “tough” and kill Joker or Two-Face or Mr. Zsasz. They were not looking for a brainwashed cultist who still pledge allegiance to a “Saint Dumas”, but just happened to wear a Bat costume. They were looking for the Dark Knight who got sick of the revolving door of justice not a barely holding it together mad man who was losing more and more of himself as he tried to become “better”.
What DC did is…well, it’s like this. Say you and your buddies are out one night and they are hassling you about your girl/boyfriend as your buddies are often wont to do. You proclaim your love for Chris/Cathy but admit that you wish s/he was a little bit more open with his or her feelings. Your friends take your complains to heart and the next morning you wake up to find a new Chris/Cathy in your bed who is ready and willing to discuss their feelings. The problem is that you did not want a different boy/girlfriend, not really. You wanted everything the same plus more open discussion. What you go instead was someone who had the same name and role in your life but in no other way resembled your previous partner. Then, when you returned s/he to your friends later that day they proclaimed “See, that is not really what you wanted.” Maybe, maybe not. However, the “experiment” was hardly a fair one. DC is your buddies and Jean Paul Valley was the second Chris/Cathy.
Thus, DC has never really made good on the promise of the “Knights” trilogy. Batman has never truly killed. A guy calling himself Batman did (and really, what he did was more of a manslaughter due to negligence thing), but not the real deal. It takes nothing away from the storyline, but it does render the boast that “we [DC] proved the people did not want a Batman that kills” null and void.
So, will DC ever step up to the plate and really do it? I hope not. I see no reason to ever satisfy that group of fans (as my Tirade from last week made clear). Especially since, if DC did it “fairly” they might find that their attempt to teach people “be careful what you wished for” ends up being more of a lesson for them in “be careful the wishes you grant.”
****On a side note, even in the seminal work The Dark Knight Returns, which many point to as the root cause of today’s “a$$#0!e” Batman, Batman was not a killer. Sure, he was brutal to almost sadistic levels but in the end he could not kill Joker even in a far flung dystopian future. Crazy, crazy Joker had to snap his own neck because Batman was not willing to go that final step.****
COMING ATTRACTIONS
There is a ton of great stuff coming out this week (including not one but two Grant Morrison books, and Ex Machina) but I only could choose 3 for this feature. So here are the ones I am most excited for.
MANHUNTER #18
The revelation at the end of last issue about Kate being a legacy hero of sorts was cool, but what really has me coming into this issue is Kate locking horns with Phobia again. Besides Shadow Thief, Phobia is the only villain who has appeared twice in this book and I am excited for Kate to, perhaps, acquire her second villain. Or perhaps even her third, with her “father” being behind the kidnapping of her son.
Actually, I change my mind. What really has me excited for this issue IS the family drama. It is just the present day stuff; Kate racing after her son and ex-husband (who she also has to tell that she is not falling back in love with him) and, in doing so, possibly playing into the hands of evil birth father. Mmm…that’s good drama.
Also, Mr. Battles is always a good time.
PLANETARY #24
Is it one or two more issues after this? Either way, woo-hoo! A new issue and we are getting closer and closer to this book’s (no doubt) spectacular conclusion. It may not be my favorite book anymore (it comes out too infrequently to be that) but it still is guaranteed to get me all sorts of excited.
INFINITE CRISIS #4
Now we get into it. We have villains, we have motives, we have misled heroes (Kal-L), and we have the Anti-Monitor. This is the make or break issue. The setup is done and now we are reaching the time for all sorts of action. My only fear is that the cosmic stuff (aka Donna Troy’s subplot) will dominate the issue.
OPINIONS ON THE WORK OF PEOPLE FAR MORE TALENTED THAN I
BATMAN #648
Okay, obviously Jason Todd is not dead. So why bother even pretending?
Otherwise though, I dug the issue. Winick’s Alfred continues to be excellent and somehow, issue after issue, I find myself hating Black Mask less and less. I like Todd’s decision to taunt Batman with a lock of Joker’s hair too. Great way to play his former mentor.
VIGILANTE #4
I can now admit that I am basically sticking with this book to finish what I’ve started. I feel no shame about this.
JSA #81
I’ve already reviewed this baby so why not check out the full length jobber.
SEVEN SOLDIERS FRANKENSTEIN #2
This book just drips “pulp novel” and I love it. I do not know how we ended up on Mars or why, but it is still great. Not nearly as creepy as issue 1 but still satisfying in an over the top, adventure Burroughs style sort of way (Rice, not William. Although a William S. Burroughs comic would be something).
TEEN TITANS #31
Kid Eternity is neat. However, the fact that he shows up and just fixes everything, thus ending what could have been an epic battle with (essentially) as simple snap of his finger? Not so hot.
The Captain Carrot thing, while cool in the first installment, goes a grand total of nowhere here. It just sits on the page and takes up space. Why even bother if you are going to do so little with it.
GOTHAM CENTRAL #39
I’m happy this book is ending on a high note with this storyline. It is not as good as the book at its best (Half a Life, Unresolved) but it is pretty damn close.
SHOOTING BACK AT THE GRIMACE
And now for some comments from our message board about whether or not Batman should kill Joker. My comments are interspersed in italics, as always.
I don’t disagree with anything said, but I do have another questions to pose. Let’s say that the Joker was killed, if not by Batman then by another vigilante/villian/time. Would his persona, his style be strong enough to sustain a legacy? Could perhaps a kid Joker, just as psychotic but with that youthful innocents work? Or perhaps a female? Harley Quinn to the Nth degree. Since his origin is at least meant to be multiple choice as mentioned in The Killing Joke, is who’s behind the bleached skin and smile as important as who’s behind the cape and cowl?
I posed the questions because one of my favorite scenes in comics is during the JLA: World Without Grownups story where, I believe a then 14 year old, Tim Drake confronts a teenage Joker whose in an asylum cell. Since teenagers by nature are scary, the thought of one with the psychotic genius of the Joker should be down right terrifying.
Perhaps Arkham Asylum was about as close to an “ulitmate” Joker as would be safe to transverse and Dhaise does bring up a good point about the movie version and how that will be handled.
-Talowolf
I think so. The Joker needs to be the Joker. It’ll always feel just a little off if not worse knowing that it’s a different guy with the same getup, unless the reasoning behind the getup is really compelling. But then you have reasoning for a Joker character, which doesn’t work. You see? I my just be talking out of my ass.
-Megatron
Fake Joker wouldn’t be well recieved by me unless it was handled in a manner like ‘Batman Begins:Return of the Joker’ where a strong story presence was responsible for the changing of the guard, and not just an attempt to have another stand in running around.
-Dhaise
Eh…I’d hesitate to make Joker a legacy. I think that kind of madness should be unique and to just farm it out…I don’t think that is such a hot idea. It worked well in Return of the Joker, but that had the benefit of being a future Elseworlds type story. Here in the present DCU, I just don’t think you could pull it off well.
Well here’s another twist to the question… Should the state execute Joker?
Sorry, don’t mean to get all political but really shouldn’t society have a say on if he lives or dies?
-RatCat
The standard DC claptrap is that the State would have to prove him mentally fit before they could pull the switch,so the Joker’s pretty much a lock on ‘never seeing death row’.
‘Should’ they do it? Oh yeah, there’s certainly real life lunatics who have fried so it’s not like it’s completely without precendent.
-Dhaise
Dhaise is right. The Gotham courts will eternally decide that Joker is not fit to see trial. Which is so wrong because he is a sociopath, not a psychopath. Crazy as a loon for certain, but he still knows that murder and mayhem is wrong. Therefore, he is the type of crazy that can stand trial. Understandably, however, DC is not big on being accurate in this case.
As far as “should they kill him?” I don’t know. I’m not in favor of the death penalty in real life, but he is a monster and DCU prisons seem to have an open door policy. So…
On that note, I’m out. Please drop me a line at parallax2@juno.com and let me know what you think of this week’s installment. See you next week for Revamping, Solicitations, and who knows what else.
By the way, check out Marvel News and Views. Jamie’s endorsing Starbucks this week. Always a good time. I prefer my coffee from an independent company, but good for Jamie being open about his love of corporate America.
Un Gajje, Man of the People
