Last week, I discussed hating the current DC Comics output. To my mind, DC has three major problems: a misallocation of writing talent, a lack of writing talent, and an over-abundance of melodrama.
Generally speaking, I have no idea why anyone is writing what they are in DC. Grant Morrison, fine, he’s a superstar and basically gets to write anything he wants. Gail Simone, as well, is simply so good at her niche that she can afford to be left to her own devices. Tony Bedard has been excellent on REBELS and earned a promotion to the space A-Team with Green Lantern Corps. After that, literally, the entire rest of the line can use a reshuffle. Let’s start at the top with Geoff Johns. I understand Johns writing Green Lantern, as he’s turned that into a flagship title, and I get trying to do the same with Flash… but really, Brightest Day? I know it’s coming out of his huge event, but because of that, it’s going to sell no matter what. Why not let the excellent Peter J. Tomasi handle it alone and tackle a third book? What book? Well, the Legion of Superheroes has relaunched based on Johns’ work. Sure Paul Levitz has a loyal, old audience, but why not give Johns one of the Legion Titles (the other being Adventure Comics) to make sales go up for both books. Hell, at that point, why not let someone young write the other Legion book so that they could make their name? The absolute same goes for JSA, which has two titles, neither high profile or worth reading (and really, one JSA Title is enough anyway). That brings us to James Robinson, the man with the keys to both Superman and The Justice League, who is getting universally terrible reviews for his work on both. I understand he’s a legend, but he needs to be treated like Marvel treats Claremont- give him a niche to play in, then let the main titles be handled by someone else. At least Paul Cornell seems like an excellent choice for Action Comics.
If only Detective Comics had a similarly stellar direction. Tony Daniel had a story to tell that DC apparently liked. I didn’t enjoy it- the Black Mask reveal was utterly destroyed by the Oberon Sexton reveal- and it’s time for an actual writer to take over Detective. Paul Dini may be enjoying playing in Streets of Gotham, but he’s still a huge name and should be on a flagship title, along with his pet project, Zatanna.
Peter Tomasi is, too, utterly wasted. GLC made him a star, so he moves on… to do 2 GL books. Brightest Day and Emerald Warrior is overkill. Give the man something new to do. If Dini doesn’t want Detective, he’d fit there, writing a great Dick Grayson, or he could work on Superman, JSA or the Justice League. Keep him high profile, but from doing the same tricks over and over again. Teen Titans is a dead franchise and, nothing against Felicia Henderson or Eric Wallace, but it needs some regular, fun stories for a bit from someone with a bit of a name, so it can be re-launced in a less blood-soaked mindset, especially given the current generation of reader’s view of the team is shaped by the cartoon. Fabian Nizcea has proven time and again that he is perfect for that kind of book.
That would also leave Red Robin free for Sterling Gates. Gates likes a bit of brooding in his heroes with a strong internal monologue and current Tim Drake fits that. The happy-go-lucky Supergirl does not. J. Michael Strazynski, another star, gets Brave and the Bold to play with and Wonder Woman to try and make big… but where’s his flagship? He just wrote Spider-Man and Thor. Why waste him on books that are not traditionally big sellers?
JT Krul seems talented, but is being killed by unpopular editorial decisions on his book, while Brian Q Miller is excellent on Batgirl, a book he couldn’t be less of a highlight in. How about a Damian book by him for some recognition? Didio is terrible on Outsiders; Judd Winnick needs new characters or to just go away- we’ve seen all his tricks on those he writes. Booster Gold was doing great with a new voice, but is back to juvenile hijinks (hint: stop giving every book to his or her old creators).
You know what? Rather than go through the last few DC books, I think that’s a good point to break. Their talent is misallocated. They keep giving their books back to old creators and looking backwards. Why is this a problem?
Matt Fraction, Jason Aaron, Jonathan Hickman, Andy Diggle, Jeff Parker, Greg Pak, Fred Van Lente, Daniel Way, Kyle and Yost, Abnett and Lanning, Marjorie Liu, Rick Remender, Kieron Gillen, Zeb Wells… hell Mark Millar, Brian Bendis, Ed Brubaker, and Dan Slott. These are all Marvel developed talents. Sure, many of them worked elsewhere, but Marvel took them, allocated their talent properly, and made them (or is making them) stars. Millar and Bendis were carefully built, then launched into the upper eschelon with their own events. Brubaker, great, but mishandled at DC, was put in a place in Marvel to shine with a huge Captain America event and following Bendis on Daredevil. His star was, in turn, used to make Matt Fraction, a hugely talented indy creator who now writes Iron Man, Uncanny X-Men and is about to write Thor. Jason Aaron got his own smaller books and when he won critical acclaim for Vertigo with Scalped, Marvel built him with a strong Ghost Rider run, then moved him to Wolverine: Weapon X and now he’s in position to take over the main Wolverine title. Kyle and Yost did side X-Books, but get to handle major crossovers to increase their name. Gillen gets to follow JMS on Thor. Pak got the Hulk Events and now he and works on the hot Rulk stuff with Jeph Loeb. Diggle followed Ellis on Thunderbolts and is doing huge things on Daredevil (who’s book is seemingly a star making machine). Van Lente gets to work with Pak on Hercules and gets Amazing Spider-Man stories along with Dan Slott. Way gets the hot Deadpool coming out of a movie. DnA get the cosmic playground. Hickman got his Secret Warriors launced with Bendis and is now on Fantastic Four. The list goes on and on. Marvel is creating new talent and stars. DC is releasing new stars, JT Krul, Bryan Q Miller, into the wild alone and hoping people find them. Also, look at the size of that Marvel list. Most of DC’s creators have been in the business for decades. They’re repeating themes and motifs over and over again. Marvel has a fresh take on old characters with so many new voices. Even during Dark Reign, the fresh ideas kept everything lively and intriguing.
That’s the last thing DC is missing. They just aren’t fun comics. In Superman, a planet is murdered. Blackest Night has already been more than covered as overly emotional pap. Robinson on the League is killing kids and blowing up cities. The JSA broke up so they could have a grim and gritty team to act like soldiers. There are not fun comics, but dark tales told in a manner we’ve already seen by the wrong writers who’ve already told their best stories fifteen years prior. Hopefully, they get back on track, because when Brightest Day is yet more dark violence and horror, it’s time for a serious re-evaluation.
Next week: How to Fix DC.
