DC News & Views: 52 Debriefing Wraps Up

The big news this week is: I’m 26! That’s right. As of May 14th, I have spent one more year on this planet.

Anyone looking to get me a gift, feel free to order me a Scarlet Spider Bowen Bust, find someone to make me an awesome Aztek sketch, or buy me that customized Steel Spider action figure that is kicking around eBay. All are perfectly acceptable choices.

But, as interesting as that is, I’m sure you are all more interested in NEWS! Before that though, let’s use a brand new graphic as we cover the last crop EVER of 52 interviews…

Wow…that’s damn pretty, if I do say so myself. (And I do.)

Shame I can only use it this once, huh?

Morrison

Getting towards the end of our conversations with the key players of DC’s 52, we sat down with Grant Morrison.

From the start, Morrison was something of the wild card in fans’ eyes. After all, the other writers knew and worked together, but Morrison…he was most often seen as someone who did his own thing in his own way, and that way was usually talked about in hushed tones.

Not to denigrate 52 in any way, but something like a weekly comic series starring B and C list characters in the DCU sounded almost…pedestrian for Morrison.

But – it wasn’t. By all accounts, Morrison roared into the project along with the other writers, lending his voice and views to the story, forever putting his stamp on it, while blending seamlessly with the others to produce a unified voice.

Newsarama

Grant Morrison owns up to his role in the loooooooong delays of his Wildstorm work, which is mighty wide of him. Probably should’ve done that some months ago.

On the other hand, dig this workload: “There was one week somewhere in the mid-late 30s where I went into total meltdown – I was working on five issues of 52 at the same time, as well as plotting future issues with the guys and doing proofreading and corrections on the upcoming stories. On top of that, there was double duty on Batman with scripts for both Andy Kubert and J.H. Williams going on at the same time. I was writing All-Star Superman #8 at that time too, as well as Authority #2. And in the same year, I wrote four movie pitches and the screenplay for the We3 adaptation. It makes me shudder just to think about it.”

Guy needs to learn to say no, methinks.

I love the drop in of humility in this statement, “The roles also shifted around a little as we progressed. Everybody always describes me as the ‘big ideas’ guy but they only ever mention one of my ideas (Skeets is evil…oooooo) and you rarely get to hear how much of my time was spent cheerleading my way through the weekly phone calls.” For some reason, the idea of Morrison saying, “Skeets is evil…oooooo” in a sarcastic, self effacing way with his brogue makes me laugh.

Wow…I forget all about Super Chief. Glad to hear that there were more plans there because what did make the book was not so hot. Better to think of it as just “not yet done” than “done poorly.”

Morrison’s pitch for the Megaverse is inspiring, even to an anti-multiple earth fella like myself. The only problem? It’ll never happen. There will never be a New Earth line of books and an Earth-5 line of books, and an Earth-10 line of books. It just won’t happen. It would make me appreciate the multiple earth thing, no doubt, but I think we’re fooling ourselves if we rest our hopes on such a move.

I have to say, it is fun to read about who wrote once and to see how close it hewed to expectations and how much was written by one writer despite repeated assurances that “we all write everything.”

Waid I

Now that 52 has wrapped up, we’re finding out that the creative people involved from the beginning were the ones really savoring the secrets. And while Mark Waid may not have a flask of Gingold in his jacket pocket (or does he?), the writer clearly sat on a lot of secrets during the last year as one of the four writers of the series.

As we look back on 52, Waid sat down with Newsarama to talk about the project and give some insight into how the mysteries of 52 evolved. And as we chatted about detectives and mysteries, we delved into the world of Ralph Dibny — and how the idea to make him and Sue into “ghost detectives” was one of the first 52 endings the writers decided upon and solidified.

Newsarama

Ahh, Mark, good for you giving the net more fodder with this statement, “That, and just the fact that, you know, whenever you need somebody torn in half [laughs], Geoff’s the guy to go to! [break] Yeah! He’s really good at the dismemberment, at the limb-shearing — whenever you need it bloody, Geoff’s the guy to go to.” I’m sure no one will pick up on it though.

“When I started reading comics, I knew every comic’s schedule. I knew exactly. I knew that Detective Comics came out every fourth week; I knew that Superman comics came out every second week; I knew that the Hulk came out every third week of the month.”

I too remember those days. I probably came in at the tail end of that being the case, but I definitely remember it. Which is weird, given Waid and I’s age difference. That means that things were that way for, what, 20 years? Craziness.

It is funny that Mark Waid identifies Steel as a character that grew on him because I came in with a prior enjoyment of the character and very much did like care for him in 52. Different strokes, I suppose.

That almost was bit about Clark Kent becoming as obsessed with destroying Luthor as Luthor is with destroying Superman makes me so sad because that would’ve been excellent. Imagine how much more satisfying Luthor’s fall would’ve been with that element mixed in.

That bit about Steve Wacker and almost quitting is revealing. They really held it together well in public though, didn’t they.

Waid II

Sometimes, after many obstacles, much patience, a little bit of craziness and a time that seems like forever, something amazing can finally be accomplished you can be utterly proud of.

No, I’m not talking about “52,” I’m talking about interviewing Mark Waid. Duh!

Waid is one of my all-time favorite writers, a guy who is so good it makes you want to reread his books forever and repeatedly bang your head against a wall because you know you will never be in the same league if you are a wannabe writer. I know, I have the bruises.

But I’ve never gotten the chance to interview the guy! At least, not until now. There have been near-misses on both ends due to deadlines or internships, but finally, at long last, I got to interview one of my idols.

As an added bonus, it was on the day the final issue of his yearlong weekly comic book, “52,” came out. Maybe fates were causing us to miss each other so many times before because the interview was so perfectly placed.

Comic Book Resources

I appreciate Waid’s sentiment about one Earth being restrictive, but as I said in my review of 52 Week 52, I really don’t see that as the case. To me, more Earths means more rules, not less. With one Earth, you could do any alternate world story you wanted, during any time period. With 52 Earths, you’ve gotta find a spot for them. 52 will run out faster than you think, I guarantee it.

Nice to hear Waid acknowledge that Steel’s storyline didn’t work out so hot. I too saw the potential there and was disappointed by how it ended up and it is nice to know that maybe I’m not just being a jerk when I say that.

Wow…Isis was created just to kill to send Black Adam off the deep end. No particularly unpredictable, of course, what when it is spelled out that way, she seems very much a Woman in the Refrigerator, huh? Not that I would’ve done it differently.

Didio hates Ralph? Uh-oh, I hope that doesn’t mean we won’t at least get a Ghost Detectives mini out of the resolution of his story.

Johns

Because he co-wrote 52, one of the most successful books that DC had over the last 52 weeks, it’s safe to say that Geoff Johns had a high-profile year.

But wait. The year before that, he wrote Infinite Crisis, didn’t he? OK, he’s had two high-profile years.

And the writer … no, wait. Didn’t he write the Green Lantern: Rebirth miniseries the year before that? OK, so, three big years.

But as readers close the final pages of 52, now Johns can settle back and concentrate on his monthly comics. Just a handful of understated monthlies… well … and Justice Society of America’s much anticipated crossover with the Justice League title. And then he’s got those Sinestro Corps stories coming up in Green Lantern that have already gotten most DC readers in a state of fan fervor.

Alright. Does this guy ever do anything small and unnoticed?

Newsarama

It’s weird…everyone likes The Question’s death scene. Maybe I should revisit. I was so sick of him dying that when he finally died, I was just relieved and I couldn’t appreciate the scene.

Booster Gold is the ultimate hero? May these words never be uttered again.

Sad to hear Daniel might not be Supernova for long. But that’s basically just cause I dig the costume.

Wait the new multiverse goes New Earth and then 1-51? That’s weird, right? So what’s Earth-1 now? Is that like Earth Prime was?

Giffen

Now that we know 52 really did end – and Countdown isn’t some twisted, inescapable 52-sequel trap like a vortex in Rip Hunter’s laboratory – it becomes even more apparent that the only “character” who’s sticking around after 52 for the next weekly is Keith Giffen.

Like clockwork, for the last year, and now well into his second one, Giffen has been breaking down the pages for a comic book every single week, taking the writers’ scripts and translating them into a consistent look for a multitude of artists working on the massive undertaking that is a weekly comic.

After all this time working on weeklies, it’s like he’s the Energizer Bunny of the weekly comic book – while editors come and go, and writers take off for other projects, Giffen keeps going, and going, and going, and going …

So as Newsarama looks back at the year of 52, it becomes apparent that Giffen’s the one guy whose hands were always there on the page. After all, he was involved at the very beginning of 52, sitting in on the creative meetings and working with the editors and creators, and his style helped to guide every single panel until the comic’s end.

Newsarama

Giffen hated Osiris? Wait…I think I knew that already.

This: “Like initially, they called in the plot for Black Adam tearing Terra-Man in two being done in a tasteful manner, but I wasn’t going to have any of that.” is great line.

Didio

You might think that, now that DC’s 52 has concluded, that DCU Executive Editor Dan Didio is sitting back, somewhat shellshocked, unable to believe or accept that the 52 part weekly series is all over, and without one missed week.

You’d be wrong, if you thought that.

Thing is, from the very start, Didio didn’t waver in his confidence that the team that had been assembled for 52 could pull it off – could tell a weekly story in real time while attracting, engaging, and keeping a sizable audience.

Not a waver.

Continuing with our series of conversations with the key players of 52, we sat down with Didio to talk about the project.

Newsarama

Huh…it is a little funny to see the normally optimistic Didio a bit down on things. “I was never comfortable with the way we did it. We could have always done something better, from turning scripts around in a better fashion to get them to Keith and the artists faster, or making sure we have the right artist for the right book…in a sense, we were always behind the eight ball, hoping we were making the right choices at the right time.”

I wonder what would’ve happened if they had to got to contingency plans? Would the online community go nuts if 52 came out with 18 pages one week? I’d expect yes, right?

“Going back to story versus format, something that Michael Siglain and I got into now and again in the weekly looks at the issue was that 52 used the day as it’s main unit of time. When you put that structure onto the story, and move away from the gray, “an indeterminate amount of time later…” you can end up with something like you did where Black Adam killed every man, woman and child in Bialya for a span of two days; and the heroes did nothing. That seemed to cast all the heroes (except the latter retconned-in Martian Manhunter) in a rather jerkish light…”

That’s another one I’m glad to see acknowledged.

Oops…except I just noticed that that was Newsarama asking a question as a statement. Damn.

What makes me sad? I would totally buy that an Animal Man book written by Grant Morrison that featured Buddy finding a copy of Previews and trying to prevent things that would happen in three months based on the solicitation copy. It’d be like a comics Early Edition. I’m such a nerd.

Odd that Didio was the one guy who didn’t get asked the “multiverse leaked early” question since he was the perpetrator of it.

The Rucka

And we wrap up our conversations with the writing side of the 52 team today with a chat with Greg Rucka.

Said by the others to have been the “ground level” guy, that is, seeing the DCU from the level of the common man while others flew overhead and in space, Rucka is widely credited with the Renee Montoya/Question storyline, which saw a new person take the mantle of a hero. But for Rucka, his 52 experience was about much, much more than replacing one hero with another.

Newsarama

The Rucka acknowledges what many have been muttering here and that’s refreshing. Because of the nature of 52 it had to come first and therefore, other projects suffered. He mentions Queen & Country in his case (and the need for pitch hitting on Checkmate), but I imagine one could also throw Green Lantern, Teen Titans, and Morrison’s two Wildstorm projects (he more or less admitted that in his interview) into that pot as well. I’m sure there were probably ripples beyond that too as the book moved its way towards production. The only one who didn’t seem to get hurt was Waid, but then I think he was only on the hook for one book (Legion) for most of that, so that might’ve helped.

I applaud DC for not wanting to raise the price on the final issue, but I do think it is a bit funny. I just can’t see a lot of fans getting up in arms about it. Sure, there would be some, but not anymore than usual (and probably slightly less) especially considering it is a finite price raise, one issue only. Not that it needed to 52 pages either (although that would’ve been neat in a dorky sort of way), but it does strike me as odd that the whole decision was derailed by price.

Is the Oregon cost a nice place to vacation? I’m an East Coast boy so I really have no idea.

Well, that’s that. Now to the NEWS!

MORE! With Waid

Welcome back to the second part of my epic interview with Mark Waid. But wait! If you haven’t read the first part of the interview, look no further than here.

While the first half of the interview mostly covered Mark’s contribution to “52,” this half explores his work on “Brave and the Bold,” “Supergirl and the Legion of Superheroes,” and all that fun personal stuff you should expect from any “Reflections” column.

But the highlight of the interview, for me, is when we talk about the slow death of “fun” comics in an industry so focused on battling heroes, death and other lewd crossover acts. It was a real eye-opener of a conversation for me, and merits some deep thoughts about the subject.

That said, let’s get shaking.

Cause Comic Book Resources recognizes that two just isn’t enough.

There’s plenty here to depress and provoke. I especially like the passage about Civil War vs. DC’s events, but I leave it to you to read it and dig those up. It is good stuff…one of the better online interviews I’ve read in awhile.

Write, Write, As Fast As You Can

Marc Guggenheim is asked the same question every time he does an interview these days.

“Are we going to see Barry Allen or Wally West during your run in Flash?”

And without fail “The Flash: Fastest Man Alive” writer responds with the same monosyllabic rejection: “No.”

But as CBR News caught up with Guggenheim, on this rare occasion he did offer a hint of a qualifier: “[That is) not unless I do a flashback, which I may very well end up doing. But no, I am not bringing back Barry and I am not bringing back Wally.”

And do you want to know why?

You can’t catch Guggenheim, he’s the interviewing at Comic Book Resources man.

Nice to see the Barry coming back thing gets a no from Guggenheim. Also great to see him acknowledge Bart’s happy-go-lucky roots as a revisiting of them might actually justify choosing him as a new Flash because it is different enough from the previous two Flashes.

The reasoning behind the Titans/JLA tug-o-war was an interesting bit. Guggenheim is right, that is a nice dodge there. Good for Brad, dreaming it up.

Sidenote, is Brad friends with everyone in the industry (at least, who work for DC)? Is it cool, vaguely incestuous, or both?

Beechen Leaves Robin for Titans

It’s really great that Adam Beechen is finally ready to pop and become one of those superstar writers I said he would soon become the last time I interviewed him.

I unabashedly love what Beechen is doing on “Robin,” and his new high profile gigs on “Teen Titans” following up Geoff Johns and working on DC’s new weekly comic series “Countdown,” along with Paul Dini, Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti, Tony Bedard and Sean McKeever, is ensuring him a well-deserved place in the spotlight as one of DC’s premier writers.

Beechen took some time to talk about “Countdown” and leaving “Robin” (rejoice, Cassandra Cain lovers!).

Beechen tells us the why at Comic Book Resources

Beechen is off of Robin as of #166? Well, that’s a whole lot of disappointing. I mean, sure, that is still seven or so months away but I was hoping for a Dixon-esque run. Sigh…

Actually, it is doubly disappointing the reason he’s leaving Robin is that he’s picking up Titans. And his work on Titans so far (albeit, he’s not flying solo yet) has been…well, not good, shall we say.

It is funny…most of the focus of criticism when it comes to arcs in comics is that creators stretch them for trades. Here, though, Beechen is saying he would plot things out for longer arcs and have to compress them. He doesn’t seem that bothered, but I could see it making a world of difference for something like Batgirl’s switch to evil. Imagine if he had two more issues to give that whole situation resonance and better illuminate it.

Wait…the bad news keeps coming here. Bringing back villains from Willingham’s run? Good God man, why? Don’t be a hero!

Nice to see that Beechen will got a chance to resolve Dodge’s story in some way though given he started it.

Umm…And Then He Leaves Titans for Space

Sometimes, even if you leave space, space calls you back.

Case in point, DC’s “space heroes” of the recently-concluded 52: Animal Man, Starfire and Adam Strange. They all made it back to their respective homes by the end of the series, but in August, they’re going back in Countdown to Adventure, an eight issue miniseries.

We spoke with DCU Executive Editor Dan Didio for the details of both the miniseries and some creative ripples it causes.

Catch a ride on the rocket ship Newsarma to ask, “what the hell is going on?”

Well…that was abrupt.

I’m not sure I mind actually though. I’ve really liked Beechen’s Robin (as evidenced above) and thought, based on that, he’d be a good fit for the Titans. However, after his co-writing of the most recent Titans’ arc, especially the last issue, I’ve come to alter my opinion a bit. So maybe McKeever (who has been quite great with teen characters for Marvel) coming on is for the best. That’s how I’m choosing to process it anyway.

I feel like an idiot, but I am totaling blanking on what DC character Didio is being spoken of with this reference: “And would that returning menace share a name with a fabulous rock band whose hits spanned the ‘70s and ‘80s?Any clue?

The only suggestion that made any sense to me in the talkback was Genesis, but that was more an event in DC history and less a sentient threat. Arrgh! It is killing me that I can’t get this. I can’t decide if it is a hole in my DC knowledge or a hole in rock knowledge.

As far as the series goes? I like Buddy a lot, but the space stuff often left me cold in 52 so…I’m fence sitting for now. I’ll keep watching though.

Also, DC? Yeah, stop slapping Countdown on everything.

And, in Beechen’s Wake, Comes McKeever

They’re some of the most high-powered heroes of the DC Universe. Between them, they possess the powers of gods, the fire of demons and years of training from the smartest and best fighters in the world.

They’re among DC’s biggest guns — that’s why they’re called “Titans.”

But they’re also teenagers. And that qualifier is what makes the latest announcement from DC about the Teen Titans comic seem appropriate to many fans, as Dan Didio revealed yesterday that the new writer on Teen Titans beginning with issue #50 will be Sean McKeever.

Newsarama’s head must be spinning by now. I know mine is.

Check out this lineup!

More women than men! Someone who isn’t a white guy!

Okay, so it is not a total victory, but still. Some diversity is cool, right?

Well, it looks like it might not be the lineup. Supergirl is confirmed, Blue Beetle is confirmed as being in the issue, but not necessarily beyond that, and we have no idea if the Titans not on the cover who are still part of the team are out. But, I’d be darn okay with this lineup.

I’m also thrilled about the Tomorrow Titans returning. That was probably the pinnacle of Johns’ run.

Man, McKeever is just all over the DCU, huh? Too bad Marvel didn’t show him the same confidence when he was there because I think he’s good enough to deliver on it.

Frankly, He Prefers DC

No sooner does Gary Frank’s first issue of The Incredible Hulk hit stands when DC Comics and the artist confirm for Newsarama that he has signed an exclusive contract with the publisher. As for his project? A short while back, writer Geoff Johns hinted at a big name artist coming to Action Comics after the “Bizarro World” arc comes to a close. Enter Gary Frank—the new regular artist for Action Comics.

Newsarama contacted Frank a second time to get insight into this sudden change of venue and to find out some specifics about his upcoming project with Geoff Johns and Richard Donner on Action Comics.

Newsarama talks the big pickup

Huh…the Kubert era on Superman is over and with a whimper besides. That’s a shame.

On other hand, here comes Gary Frank who, I think, is just excellent. This is probably the most exciting exclusive I’ve heard in sometime. Good for the folks over at the DC building, putting this one together.

This is just a small panel, but take a look.

Good stuff, no? Where is this from though? Any ideas?

Any way, like I said, I think is fine news for DC. I’m sad we won’t be seeing more Frank Squadron Supreme work, of course, since I’m a bigger fan of that than of Superman, but hey, it isn’t always just about me, you know.

Hitman Gets a New Contract

Been far, far too long since Tommy Monaghan’s been seen around the DC Universe.

That’s due to change later this year. DC’s holding details close to the vest right now, but as was announced this weekend in Bristol, yes, Garth Ennis and John McCrea will re-team for a Hitman story. While Ennis himself has said that he and McCrea were working on a “lost” story where Monaghan meets the JLA for an arc of JLA: Classified, plans change. DC has confirmed that Ennis and McCrea’s project will indeed be a three issue miniseries, Hitman/JLA, and will debut sometime after August.

Here’s hoping it is only a matter of time until the zombie penguins pay Newsarama a visit.

I’ve wanted to read Hitman as of late given as the positive word of mouth it has always sported so I’ll support this. If it means getting what I want, I’m happy to buy a three issue mini. I’m decent like that.

TIM’S TIRADES

A ton of tirades this week because, well, you’re worth it.

World War III in Retrospect

Now that World War III is two weeks behind us, let us revisit it, free of the hype, free of the backlash. Let us ask the tough question: was World War III (as in the supplementary miniseries) necessary?

In the broadest sense of the question, the answer is no. DC could’ve paced 52 any way they chose. They did not have to have a supplemental miniseries to tell us everything that happened that they didn’t get to yet. You could restructure 52. Specifically, Weeks 45-50 when it more or less became 52 featuring Black Adam anyway. A nip here, a tuck there, and you have enough pages to indulge in the continuity clarification that World War III was apparently designed for.

But, I suppose, that somewhat misses the spirit of the question. Of course DC could’ve paced 52 differently. They could’ve made Red Tornado’s talking head the star of the book, too (which, by the by, would’ve been INCREDIBLE!) but they didn’t. So let’s focus on this reality.

Well, in this reality, the answer is still no.

First, because, as was nailed home to us again and again as World War III ramped up, the purpose of 52 had changed. Initially it was imagined as a sort of travelogue, a roaming look at what the heck the DCU was up to while Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman got their shit back together. However, at some point (I would argue that re-reading the series makes it seem like this some point was rather early…say Week 6 or so) the creators behind the book realized that it would be far more compelling to ditch the idea of their spotlight characters as “tour guides” and embrace them as main characters instead. The book would be less about what happened to the DCU and more about what happened to these guys and, in seeing that unfold, allowing us to see bits and pieces of the “lost year” of continuity.

If you buy that, and I do, then you realize that WWIII represents a derailing of that mission. Changing the direction of a series early on, while somewhat problematic from an ethical standpoint (after all, you did sell it, and continued to sell it for some time, on a wholly different manifesto), is do-able. But reversing that approach with two weeks issues/weeks left in the series? Never a good call.

What we are left with instead is a miniseries that hurts both the OYL flip and the 52 series. The flip goes us the impression that the DCU had changed and had, more or less, settled into that change by the time we’ve caught back up to it. WWIII shows us that the whole she-bang was more or less only altered two weeks before we got there. The sort of “lived in” feel that so many OYL books featured is, more or less, rendered a lie because of this.

Overlooking even this though, WWIII is still “unnecessary” because it fails to explain what happened in this one week period that, apparently, redefined the DCU for a whole of two weeks. Take these examples, for instance:

Martian Manhunter mindmelds with Black Adam and, as a result, detects other Martian life, leading to his brand new look. In his miniseries, the reason for his new look was already covered in the first two issues. Also, this “reveal” makes J’onn look a, well, indecisive. He starts the WWIII more or less disgusted with humanity. He ends the mini inspired by his peers and re-embracing humanity. In his miniseries, he’s back to hating it all over again. Goodness, make a call!

Jason Todd dons the Nightwing garb. Why? Umm…he hates criminals, I guess? We already knew that from pre-Infinite Crisis stories, so what was gained here?

Firestorm and Firehawk are working together because Professor Stein is nowhere to be found. Covered, without the need for Jason to force himself on Lorraine (ostensibly because she talks too much…yay Women’s Lib!), in Firestorm OYL stories.

There’s a Supergirl in the present and one in the future. Well, yes, we got that from her appearing in two titles. I guess it clears up any concern about either Supergirl not being real though, right? And it explains exactly why there are two…sort of.

Batgirl going bad was “truly” covered in Titans, but one could argue this helped us to get how Deathstroke got her the drugs in the first place.

And so on. Of the “mysteries” the only two that was answered in a way that either a.) hadn’t already been explicitly presented or b.) could’ve been surmised by what we already read in the title were the Teen Titans and Aquaman. Honestly now, do you not think that both “revelations” could’ve been better handled (and had more impact) had they popped up in their own titles rather than being handled here?

With that in mind, how can one say it was anything but unnecessary?

Sexuality in the Solicitations

First off, I have to say that “Wang Watch 2007” is by far my favorite name for a comic book related internet driven “scandal”. I hope it become a yearly thing.

Second, boy, this has to be one of the dumbest scandals I have witnessed.

For those of you who aren’t paid (and handsomely!) to spend your time monitoring the internet comic community and might’ve missed it, the deal is this. Alex Ross drew a cover with Citizen Steel on it. Citizen Steel had a generous package.

Okay, maybe something is lost without visual aids.

Here’s the cover.

Now, look closely

Oh come on now, a bit closer.

Jeez, stop being so repressed. Really look!

Ahh, there you go.

So anyway, this was noticed by several blog folk out there and everything went CRAZY! Apparently, some of us are frightened of bulges. Some of us thought it indicated…excitement and were frightened of that. And some of us sought about to rectify other people’s misinterpretations.

Me…I just don’t see the big deal.

The guy’s wearing, essentially, spandex briefs. I understand that it we don’t tend to see this sort of thing in comics, but given his outfit, doesn’t it make sense you’d see that he is, in fact, a man and not a eunuch. It does not even strike me as being gratuitously large. I’m not in the habit of checking out how gentlemen fill out a pair of briefs, but based on my limited knowledge, it does not appear that Alex Ross went out of his way to make Steel big. Also, this is Alex Ross we’re talking about here. Do we really think he just had to draw himself a large penis and decided this was his chance? Yes, I’ll grant you he does draw Black Canary a bit mannish…

but he still does not strike me as all that package oriented.

Thus, my labeling this story as dumb. Heck, the penis cross section from the All-New Atom cover was a lot more scandalous than this if you ask me. And that was an interior!

No, the real story of the solicitation that interested me was about these statues.

As I mentioned at the time, they were bound to make some folks upset and, sure enough, it did.

And why not? As my fiancée so succinctly put it in reference to the Catwoman figure, “So, apparently Catwoman was born without nipples.” Because, of course, if she was, there is no way we wouldn’t be seeing them.

What I did not expect was the reaction to the Supergirl statue. That’s not to say I didn’t expect a reaction to the statue because I did. Every time we get a new toy, statue, or poster of Supergirl, the internet loses its mind, so it only figures. I expected complaints about her unrealistic body weight, her elongated torso or her far too short skirt/ far too small shirt. And those were there. However, there was something else.

First, several people commented on Supergirl’s nipples. Now, I’ve looked at that statue, and looked, and looked (yes, I know that sounds pervy, but what can you do?) but I don’t see ‘em. Or at least, I don’t see them to a degree that someone would need to comment on them as being too, what’s the proper term here…pert(?).

However, what really stunned me was some people’s assertion that her pose is inherently sexual in nature. Again, I looked and looked and I still don’t see it. It seems a bit like a stock spacey blond pose (which, in and of itself, is reason to complain) but there is nothing really enticing (or setting about to entice) about it. I probably shouldn’t be surprised by this though. Since she’s debuted, the Girl of Steel has been hung with the label “slut” (or different versions thereof) seemingly only solely on the basis of her costume. For some, a short has to mean you’re easy. Because no other explanation could possibly make sense, apparently.

It all reached stomach churning proportions in this passage from the usually well respected Don MacPherson (in the same story that started off Wang Watch 2007),

“Also coming from the same manufacturer is a Supergirl statue, with a more obvious anime/manga influence being apparent in the design. Her impossibly elongated torso would make the vinyl figure seem ridiculous in appearance, but overpowering that silly look is the overtly sexual pose and look on a teenage character.

Look at this… She’s pulled up what little top she has to expose as much skin as allowable for a general audience. Supergirl seems to invite, seems to beg for something to be done. It’s like this blonde bimbo is offering a target for a perverse super-hero universe money shot.”

And there you have it folks. Supergirl is just asking for it, dressed like that. Nice to see the hits never go out of style.

Everyone was so focused on throbbing man member (hello Google hits!) that they missed this tidbit in the same article. Or maybe, and this gives me a chill, so many people don’t like this Supergirl, don’t like her costume, that they are just fine with the hypothesis that Supergirl is just begging for it. After all, as we’ve all read repeatedly, she is just an anorexic slut, right? Maybe this sort of disdain is so common place that we don’t even notice it anymore. I don’t know.

I don’t like Supergirl. I don’t like this statue of her. But the only thing that left me angry here was the casual perpetuation of her as a girl always looking to get down, as a wanton barely clothed slut with an eating disorder. And then, the deafening silence that followed. Apparently, penis is not cool, but this sort of thing? Fine by us.

Hypocrisy? Us?

Now, on the surface, this statement, “There’s nothing the slightest bit hypocritical about praising Marvel for doing the same things you criticize DC for doing” featured in a recent post at Postmodern Barney is an accurate way of poking fun at the ridiculous posturing that happens on message boards everywhere. And good for Dorian, I say. Those posturers (note: not actually word) need to taken down a peg or two.

But, as I thought about more, it occurred to me that maybe you could perform in such a way, in either direction, and not really be being a hypocrite. Or at least, not being aggressively one. More like a hypocrite in the way that you think your kid is cute but if you saw one just like it belonging to someone else you’d be less charitable about it.

My theory stem from the idea that many fans have that somehow, at their core, DC and Marvel are different. That Marvel is all about people first, heroes second and DC is all about huge, splashy iconic heroes who need not be human. As I’ve stated before, I think this is a wildly simplified view of the companies and while it might have once been accurate (say 1968ish) it has not been for quite sometime. However, my opinion does not necessarily preclude others from continuing to think that way, odd as that might seem.

With this is mind, it is wholly possible that a fan might view DC as being for one thing and Marvel for another. As Winick has said time and again, he could do things at Marvel that no one would blink at it. Yet, when he tried to do similar things at DC, the fans lost their minds. DC fans, to paraphrase him, are far more sacred about their characters. Therefore, a guy who reads both for what he views as their “strengths” might read a Winick story in a Marvel book and say, “great, love the interactions, loved that twist.” Or he could read virtually the same story and be totally put off, “that’s way out of character and inappropriate!” On the surface, it makes no sense, but according to that fan’s internal logic, it does. Marvel doing one thing is okay because, well, it’s Marvel and that’s what they “are supposed to do.” DC doing it though is wrong wrong wrong. Or, DC doing something is okay because that’s how DC is. Marvel doing it is boring and staid.

Of course, I’m probably just giving too much credit to them here. It probably is more a matter of “I love DC so everything Marvel does sucks” or “I love Marvel so everything DC does is dumb.” I’d like to think (or fool myself into thinking) that this is more to the discourse than that though.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

BATMAN #665

The Black Casebook! Some guy who looks a lot like Bane! One more issue until #666 and the future story! Here’s where Morrison’s gotta prove himself.

EX MACHINA #28

Is he from the future? Is he from the past? Where does he buy his striking outfits? All good questions.

More important though? How bad is Mitch gonna kick in Mr. Diving Suit’s teeth when he finds out that Suit has his mom hostage? My guess? Pretty bad.

Wow…that was GIANT! Hope you dug it. Talk about it at the message board (see link below), e-mail me at parallax2@juno.com, or IM me at parallaxX2 (remember, two x’s). Hope to hear from you.

Un Gajje is Now Closer to Thirty than He is to Twenty. Yup…Depressing.