Comics are Awesome III

[Dominic]

I can see wanting to redesign a character from 70+ years ago. But, the new costume is too mono-chrome. (Superman is a not a stealth bomber.)

Loosing the trunks could work. But, the limbs and body should have some detailing the break up what is effectively a silhouette (framed against the red of the cape). That look would work for a poster, or a stylized cover, but not for a mainline character showing up in sequential art (aka "comics"). Even "Red Son" Superman, which was designed to work with stylized art, has detailing the break up the shadow.


Speaking of Superman, I found two copies of Earth 23 Superman at Target yesterday. Both had cruddy paint.

[andersonh1]

I can see wanting to redesign a character from 70+ years ago.

I have a problem with trying to continually redesign the look of what is arguably THE most widely recognized and well-established superhero in the world. The fact that the same basic costume was used for 74 years is an argument for how successful it is, not that it needs yet another change.

From a visual standpoint, the yellow belt and red trunks break up all the blue. None of the New 52 or movie designs have come close to doing that. And now with the red boots gone as well, there's far too much blue, as you point out.

[andersonh1]

Action Comics #52
There's a crossover going on with the other Superman books, and the story is called "The Last Days of Superman", so it looks like, barring some plot twist, the rumors are true and DC is killing off New 52 Superman so that the post-Crisis version can replace him. That's fine with me. He's never felt like Superman at all with his distance from the Daily Planet, the armored costume, the constant angry red eyes, the "edgier" attitude... good riddance to him. I like many of the past versions of Superman (Golden Age, Silver Age, newspaper strip version, Bronze Age, post-Crisis), so it's not a case of me simply rejecting change. The changes themselves largely strayed too far from what Superman should be, something past versions managed to avoid for the most part.

New 52 Superman is dying for some reason. I haven't been following the story, so I don't know why. It's possible that it has something to do with what robbed him of his powers during the Truth storyline. In any case, he's flying along when the issue opens, holding hands with Wonder Woman, when he blacks out and Batman catches him with the Batplane. He and WW make sure he rides in the cockpit. They're trying to trace an energy creature who thinks it is Superman. They had gone to China, but run into a dead end there and are heading back to Gotham where Bruce wants to use the Batcave instruments to try and determine what's wrong with Superman.

The energy creature is with New 52 Lois Lane, and looks like a fiery version of New 52 Superman. The creature is griping about not being accepted, and Lois is humoring him, when the creature suddenly says that it has a secret, and rather than just tell her, it needs to show her.

Cut to California, where we see the setup we've seen all through the Lois and Clark series. Post-Crisis Superman and Jonathan are cooking pancakes and bacon for dinner and waiting on their Lois, when energy Superman and New 52 Lois arrive at the door. Superman and the energy creature have a talk, while Lois wonders why there are so many pictures of her in the house, and Jonathan wonders why she looks and sounds like his mom. The energy creature attacks Clark, who removes him from the house and starts angrily attacking him, telling him to stay away from his son. And in the middle of that fight, the Batplane lands, with New 52 and post-Crisis Superman meeting for the first time. The exchange a few words, but that's all, as one Lois leaves the farmhouse, another arrives, and old Superman leaves to remove his family from danger, leaving new Superman and the energy creature standing face to face.

Overall: middle chapter syndrome is abundant here, but apart from having no idea where the energy creature came from (and it's not really important... it's just an adversary to keep the plot rolling), the first meeting of the two Supermen from the old and new continuity is little more than an appetizer. I'm hoping for a more substantial talk between the two down the road, and I suspect that will happen before the story ends. For readers who haven't been following Lois and Clark, I wonder if they understand just who "Clark White" actually is? I guess that's what the internet is for. Interestingly, new 52 Batman and Superman seem to be best friends again, something that wasn't the case all through the post-Crisis era.

Green Lantern Corps: Edge of Oblivion #5
The issue opens with a flashback to Guy Gardner's childhood, as his abusive father beats him and he throws some insults back at his dad. In the old continuity, I don't think Guy's dad was abusive, but he did play favorites, showing affection to Guy's older brother Mace and treating Guy poorly. I'm not sure what the point of the change in backstory was, but it's put to good use here and later in the issue, as the young Guy tells his mom that as long as dad is beating on him, he'll leave her alone.

And that's what Guy does in the present day: make himself a target to keep others out of harm's way. At the end of last issue it was revealed that he was under the control of the two giants who were supposedly protecting this last planet in the dying universe. He breaks free, and the six lanterns determine that the two have to be defeated to free all the others, including John Stewart. Guy is able to use the fact that they think he's still under their control to get close, whereupon he attacks them and distracts them long enough for the empathic GL to snap Mogo out of it. The giants are attacked and revert to their true form, giant monstrous creatures who are ready to devour the last bit of life in this universe and then move on to the next one.

It's a good story for Guy Gardner, though after his strong showing in Lost Army, John Stewart gets very little to do here. And with only one issue left, I'm still thinking it's very doubtful we'll see any resolution to the Krona and Relic plotlines from Lost Army.

[Dominic]

As long as DC papers over the "kill and replace" angle with "ReBirth", then I really do not care. (Keeping that as an active part of the character will just add pointless baggage, not unlike Tony Stark being adopted in "Iron Man".) That being said, I will miss Superman and Wonder Woman. (It just makes more sense than Superman and Lois Lane.)

[andersonh1]

DC trying to have their cake and eat it too... which I suppose makes sense from a business perspective at least.

http://www.newsarama.com/29368-dc-s-reb ... o-lee.html

Jim Lee: I think as exciting as the “New 52” was, it didn't address certain elements that were very unique and identifiably DC. And I think over the years, as we moved the “New 52” forward, we realized we were missing an opportunity by overlooking things like legacy and generations and the things that were hallmarks of the DC Universe.

So what that allows us to do is talk again about, was there a Justice Society?

Talk again about a multi-generation of heroes and sidekicks.

And in a way, this was all there before Flashpoint, before the “New 52.”

Geoff came up with this brilliant story that basically allows us to seat the “New 52” within the continuity that preceded it.

So it really synchronizes and harmonizes pre-52 with “New 52” continuity, I think in an elegant way that allows, I think, long-time fans to have their cake and eat it too, and all the new fans that we got through the “New 52” to keep up with the fact that the universe is continuing to grow and evolve and is exciting and new.

You mentioned before about companies doing these continuity-altering and time-altering, earth-altering, character-altering events back-to-back. The problem is that, as you keep on changing things so often, you get further and further removed from the core of what makes the character great.

This is almost like a reset. We're getting back to the basics of the character again.

It's not a reinvention. It's not a reboot. It's just going back to what the core strengths of what the characters are, reinforcing them, understanding clearly what the characters stand for, what their motivations are about, who they are.

And that way, when we start to cross them over and start to do events, you can really understand why they're participating in this story, what their role is in the story, and then hopefully how they add to the overall make-up of the entire universe.

So we've got to get these characters back to where people recognize them, are comfortable with them, and are excited by them. And then from there, we can start to move the story forward and then start to cross them out and grow the universe as a really interactive world.

[Dominic]

Lee, Didio and the others cannot go on record admitting to a mistake, let alone a series of mistakes.

[Sparky Prime]

DiDio: You mentioned before about companies doing these continuity-altering and time-altering, earth-altering, character-altering events back-to-back. The problem is that, as you keep on changing things so often, you get further and further removed from the core of what makes the character great.

This is almost like a reset. We're getting back to the basics of the character again.

It's not a reinvention. It's not a reboot. It's just going back to what the core strengths of what the characters are, reinforcing them, understanding clearly what the characters stand for, what their motivations are about, who they are.

...

So we've got to get these characters back to where people recognize them, are comfortable with them, and are excited by them. And then from there, we can start to move the story forward and then start to cross them out and grow the universe as a really interactive world.

At least DiDio acknowledges they lost sight of who the characters are supposed to be and that they need to get them back to being recognizable.

[andersonh1]

I think for once they are admitting that what they did with the New 52 didn't work, even if they're not calling it an out and out mistake. They are splitting the difference, trying to keep it all in continuity while begging for the older fans to come back with promises to restore jettisoned continuity, and the new logo which is definitely retro and referencing past logos. They ought to just bring the bullet back and be done with it.

So yeah, it is almost the Didio and Lee apology tour, even if I still have no faith that either have a clue about DC's characters. Hopefully Geoff Johns can make up for that with his supervisory role on Rebirth. We shall see... the first issue is out next week.

[andersonh1]

Spoilers for Rebirth. And yes, I read through them. I think I'm going to be pretty happy with where things go, if this is any indication.

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2016/05/21/ ... -spoilers/

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2016/05/20/ ... one-there/

Spoiler

Wally West is back. There are three Jokers. The Original JSA is back. Watchman are now part of the DCU and are responsible for the loss of time??? The last part is a mind f-ck.

So I asked around and was told that, yes, they are genuine and that the comic states that

Spoiler

Doctor Manhattan

was directly responsible for the creation of the New 52.

I'll love it if the whole overhyped, hollow shell of a DC universe that was the New 52 turns out to be nothing more than a plot by the above spoilered character. What a great way to dismiss that wrong turn as the mistake it was.


Newarama: http://www.newsarama.com/29407-preview- ... ilers.html

IGN: http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/05/21/ ... h-1-review

Lots of spoilers: http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/05/21/ ... eak-online

[Sparky Prime]

I don't know how I feel about

Spoiler

Watchmen

being a part of the DC universe... But it is interesting to have

Spoiler

Dr. Manhattan create/manipulate

the New 52 though. It makes sense, he is one of few characters capable of it. Great to see

Spoiler

Wally West is back, although I'm surprised to see him in his Kid Flash costume. If he remembers events prior to Flashpoint, he should be in a Flash costume. Guess that can be explained as part of the manipulations of time in the New 52 though.

Looking forward to reading this.