So, after Convergence, which I won't be reading, DC will be redoing their entire line again, continuing some comics and starting a bunch of new ones. No longer to be called the New 52, though continuing with that reality, while diversifying and expanding their approach to characters and storytelling. And that sounds great. I just don't know what to make of it, or what I'll want to read.
I'll continue with Harley Quinn, and read Palmiotti and Conner's Harley/Power Girl mini series. And I'll stick with the fun Gotham Academy. But I'm not sure what else I'll try. The new Black Canary might be worth looking at; ditto Starfire. But Red Hood/Arsenal? I was enjoying seeing Roy with Kori, but she, apparently, will no longer be in the book with him, so does that mean they break up? Or are these completely different versions of these characters? I might try the first issue, but really, I'm getting tired of revamps. I can put up with that in the Marvel 'verse because I haven't been reading about those characters for 50 plus years. With DC, I have.
But I do applaud DC for changing their approach. I think at this point, a comic book publisher needs to be looser and more flexible, able to mix things up as readership and society changes, keeping current. This approach is designed to appeal to more women and to younger readers as well as we older folks. So, we'll see how it works out for them. But for me, Image has become my favorite comics publisher and that isn't likely to change any time soon.
Showing posts with label DC Reboot. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DC Reboot. Show all posts
Friday, February 06, 2015
Friday, September 30, 2011
Well Into DCnU Now
And yet, I'm still working my way through a stack of DCU, aka pre-DCnU, books.
I'm taking my time with these "older" universe books, savoring them like the fine wine they are.
For instance, Batgirl. The Steph Brown BG. I love(d) this book. And Batgirl 24 epitomized all that was wonderfully perfect about this book. From the awesome cover to the last panels with Steph and Babs, this book rocked. Steph has her showdown with dear old dad who's now in prison, and has a lovely scene with her mother. But then, we also got to see amazing pages of her remembered hallucinations while under the influence of Mercy, the powerful hallucinogen her father doused her with, and well, this was a bittersweet sendoff for one of DC's best and brightest books and I can't begin to explain how much I'll miss it.
As for the new DC, I tried Grifter and Voodoo, two characters from the Wildstorm universe which I didn't mind seeing rebooted in the DCnU proper. Both diverged quite a bit from the original versions of the characters while keeping the flavor of who they were in WildCats.
Grifter shows the most promise of the two, with Cole being as badass as he was before and the book setting up an intriguing mystery. The art was nice, too, though there was more spittle in mouths than I like. Makes him look like he's drooling.
Voodoo also sets up a mystery, and introduces both Pris and agents hunting her. Hard to tell yet who's good and who's bad in this, and it might be more complicated than good vs. evil. Pris is an alien of some sort, but from where and why she's here, we have yet to discover. I'm hoping the journey to the answers are worth the time I'm going to give this because I did love Voodoo in Wildstorm. Sure, there's a titillation factor, but Pris, as I recall, was a very sexual woman, one who used all she had, including her body, as a means to an end, but she was no pushover. I do recall vulnerability in her and some self-confidence issues. It's been a while since I read Wildcats. But I'm willing to go along with this here, because the women working in the sex club, while stereotyped, are knowingly pandering to a class of men who objectify women and I want to see if Ron Marz will take this to something more empowering for women, especially Pris, who as an alien, clearly has other issues to deal with, too. And I so love the cover. So I'll stick with this through the first story arc.
Which brings me to the books I haven't read nor plan to read. The ones being vilified all over the comic blogosphere. Namely, Catwoman and that Red Hood book that Roy Harper is unfortunately starring in, Red Hood and the Outlaws) and all I can say is that I'm very glad I'm not reading either. You can find lots of links to posts about there on Dispatches from the Fridge because I can't begin to link to all of them, let alone the best of them.
So, for the record, I like when Bruce and Selina are romantically involved. I liked in the old DCU when they had sex, or it was at least, implied. I like that there was emotion there, and on Earth 2, they were actually married before she was killed, and the had a daughter.... excuse me. I got caught up in a moment of nostalgia.
But those panels/pages I saw posted were just ugly. Sorry, Judd Winick, but edgy they ain't. They sure weren't sexy, except possibly to teen boys and the men who never grew up. Aside from the art, which seemed odd in places, especially Batman's torso, I just didn't like seeing Selina like that. I'm no prude, no, that's not my objection here. But Selina of the DCU had come so far and was such a cool character, and while she took what she wanted, she certainly wouldn't take Batman like that. That Selina was above that, miles past it. She wanted Bruce, but she wanted him the way a mature woman wants a man. As an equal. As someone desired for herself and not her body.
As for the Red Hood book, I'm not reading it because I detest Jason Todd, but now, seeing how sexualized Kory is, based on the pages I saw, and how moronic Roy is, all I can say is, "Feh." Sorry, DC, but that's not how a woman who enjoys sex would act. That's how a damaged woman, a vulnerable woman would act. And the guy who goes with her is essentially agreeing to rape her. And while the old Roy would hop in bed with any female who was interested, I like to think he'd draw the line at taking advantage of someone clearly as vulnerable as Kory seems. They were friends, for crying out loud. And I can't see him hanging out with Jason, either, so he clearly isn't the Roy of old.
But then, that's why I'm not reading these books. Because I can't get what was out of my head. I can't get past who these characters are/were to me. I wish someone would just wake me when the DCnU is over.
I'm taking my time with these "older" universe books, savoring them like the fine wine they are.
For instance, Batgirl. The Steph Brown BG. I love(d) this book. And Batgirl 24 epitomized all that was wonderfully perfect about this book. From the awesome cover to the last panels with Steph and Babs, this book rocked. Steph has her showdown with dear old dad who's now in prison, and has a lovely scene with her mother. But then, we also got to see amazing pages of her remembered hallucinations while under the influence of Mercy, the powerful hallucinogen her father doused her with, and well, this was a bittersweet sendoff for one of DC's best and brightest books and I can't begin to explain how much I'll miss it.
As for the new DC, I tried Grifter and Voodoo, two characters from the Wildstorm universe which I didn't mind seeing rebooted in the DCnU proper. Both diverged quite a bit from the original versions of the characters while keeping the flavor of who they were in WildCats.
Grifter shows the most promise of the two, with Cole being as badass as he was before and the book setting up an intriguing mystery. The art was nice, too, though there was more spittle in mouths than I like. Makes him look like he's drooling.
Voodoo also sets up a mystery, and introduces both Pris and agents hunting her. Hard to tell yet who's good and who's bad in this, and it might be more complicated than good vs. evil. Pris is an alien of some sort, but from where and why she's here, we have yet to discover. I'm hoping the journey to the answers are worth the time I'm going to give this because I did love Voodoo in Wildstorm. Sure, there's a titillation factor, but Pris, as I recall, was a very sexual woman, one who used all she had, including her body, as a means to an end, but she was no pushover. I do recall vulnerability in her and some self-confidence issues. It's been a while since I read Wildcats. But I'm willing to go along with this here, because the women working in the sex club, while stereotyped, are knowingly pandering to a class of men who objectify women and I want to see if Ron Marz will take this to something more empowering for women, especially Pris, who as an alien, clearly has other issues to deal with, too. And I so love the cover. So I'll stick with this through the first story arc.
Which brings me to the books I haven't read nor plan to read. The ones being vilified all over the comic blogosphere. Namely, Catwoman and that Red Hood book that Roy Harper is unfortunately starring in, Red Hood and the Outlaws) and all I can say is that I'm very glad I'm not reading either. You can find lots of links to posts about there on Dispatches from the Fridge because I can't begin to link to all of them, let alone the best of them.
So, for the record, I like when Bruce and Selina are romantically involved. I liked in the old DCU when they had sex, or it was at least, implied. I like that there was emotion there, and on Earth 2, they were actually married before she was killed, and the had a daughter.... excuse me. I got caught up in a moment of nostalgia.
But those panels/pages I saw posted were just ugly. Sorry, Judd Winick, but edgy they ain't. They sure weren't sexy, except possibly to teen boys and the men who never grew up. Aside from the art, which seemed odd in places, especially Batman's torso, I just didn't like seeing Selina like that. I'm no prude, no, that's not my objection here. But Selina of the DCU had come so far and was such a cool character, and while she took what she wanted, she certainly wouldn't take Batman like that. That Selina was above that, miles past it. She wanted Bruce, but she wanted him the way a mature woman wants a man. As an equal. As someone desired for herself and not her body.
As for the Red Hood book, I'm not reading it because I detest Jason Todd, but now, seeing how sexualized Kory is, based on the pages I saw, and how moronic Roy is, all I can say is, "Feh." Sorry, DC, but that's not how a woman who enjoys sex would act. That's how a damaged woman, a vulnerable woman would act. And the guy who goes with her is essentially agreeing to rape her. And while the old Roy would hop in bed with any female who was interested, I like to think he'd draw the line at taking advantage of someone clearly as vulnerable as Kory seems. They were friends, for crying out loud. And I can't see him hanging out with Jason, either, so he clearly isn't the Roy of old.
But then, that's why I'm not reading these books. Because I can't get what was out of my head. I can't get past who these characters are/were to me. I wish someone would just wake me when the DCnU is over.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
A Late Addition to the List
I added Resurrection Man to my pull list. I don't really know the character, other than his appearance not all that long ago in Supergirl, and he seems cool, and is someone who can't be screwed up in my mind because I have no real preconceptions about him.
I did read Grifter 1 and while it's certainly not about Cole Cash from the WildCats in the Wildstorm universe, the book wasn't half bad and a lot of intrigue was set up. Cole is a real grifter in this who somehow has been dragged into something he has no clue about. Or does he? The art was fine. Nothing special, but easy enough on the eyes.
I still have some last DCU books to read and review. I think I'm putting them off so I won't have to say goodbye to those wonderful characters. *sniff*
I did read Grifter 1 and while it's certainly not about Cole Cash from the WildCats in the Wildstorm universe, the book wasn't half bad and a lot of intrigue was set up. Cole is a real grifter in this who somehow has been dragged into something he has no clue about. Or does he? The art was fine. Nothing special, but easy enough on the eyes.
I still have some last DCU books to read and review. I think I'm putting them off so I won't have to say goodbye to those wonderful characters. *sniff*
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Posted this on DC's Facebook Page
They said they were reading feedback, positive and negative and appreciated everyone's passion and hoped we'd be reading the new 52 in Sept. So I posted this:
There are precious few DC comics I'll be reading come Sept. I'll give the ones that aren't characters I know and love and don't want to see retconned a try: Batwoman, Voodoo, and Grifter. I might try something else, too. Not sure yet. But everything I love about the DCU will be gone. Better to have started the whole thing from scratch than take the characters I love and destroy them this way. Sticking Roy Harper with a character I detest (Jason Todd) is no way to make up for killing his daughter. Taking the Batman cape and cowl away from Dick Grayson is a step backward. I've read him as Nightwing. I'm past that now. I want to read his adventures as Batman. So, I'll go from reading 30 or so DC books a month to 3-5. Somehow, I figure that'll just be a drop in the bucket of DC's profits. And I'm sad that after reading DC Comics for 50 plus years, starting when so few girls like me read superhero comics, I'm no longer a reader DC wants.
The End of the Super Marriage is Big News
The NY Daily News had something to say about Superman in the DCnU. Just reading the two pages that have been circulating all over the comics blogosphere today, I've got to say: I can't go through this again. I've read Clark as dweeb for so many years, decades, even. And while I don't read all the Superman books, I was thrilled that good guy Clark finally got the woman of his dreams. I really don't want to read all that angst until he wins her over, again.
I get that it's new to a lot of people. I get that the younger writers are itching to write it. Don't mean I gotta read it. And I won't.
I get that it's new to a lot of people. I get that the younger writers are itching to write it. Don't mean I gotta read it. And I won't.
Monday, July 11, 2011
October in the DCnU
I didn't think the DCnU could get worse after the big announcement of the 52 #1 books, but I was wrong. The solicits for October make me even less enthused. Aside from some of the descriptions saying nothing of any note, between the non-costume Kory is wearing, the unusual tattoo Roy is sporting (doesn't looking Native American to me), and the second issue of Catwoman sounding even more soap opera-ish than the first, I really don't see myself reading more than Batwoman and perhaps one or two others. DC might be jumping a herd of sharks with this reboot.
Meanwhile, Secret Six 35 rocked, as usual. Bane wants to take the offensive and go after the people important to Batman. This cannot end well, but the sad fact is, that after the next issue, it does end. Damn.
Meanwhile, Secret Six 35 rocked, as usual. Bane wants to take the offensive and go after the people important to Batman. This cannot end well, but the sad fact is, that after the next issue, it does end. Damn.
Wednesday, June 08, 2011
Dick Grayson Gets No Respect
Picked up this week's comics, vented at manager a bit about DC's upcoming reboot, we'll purge my pull list in September and start over. He said he was thinking about putting together a "If you like X, you might like Y" list for DC titles for folks like me looking for something else to read other than mainstream DC. I told him I'll buy more toys there with the money I won't be spending on comics.
Still trying to wrap my mind around this whole mess, especially when related to my favorite characters.
Babs/Oracle has probably been the most blogged about. I've lost track of most of the posts, but, many folks feel as I do, that losing Babs as Oracle and getting her out of the chair means DC loses something special. There was a Batgirl before Babs -- Betty Kane -- and when Babs became Batgirl, I didn't know why Betty couldn't have been given a better, bigger role, but Babs won me over. I liked that she was a librarian, which I became! But I think Steph Brown is my favorite Batgirl. But there's only one Oracle and Babs created that persona. She earned that special place in the DCU and come September, that will be gone.
But Babs isn't the only one being forced into a younger, less developed state. Think about poor Dick Grayson. With the character assassination done to poor Roy Harper (the only good from the reboot is that the damage done to Roy the last year or so will be undone, it seems, though I probably won't like what he'll be, either, in the new DCU), I refocused my comics character lust to Dick Grayson who'd been forced to play second to Roy in my heart. It's been clear for years that the PTB at DC don't like him. But finally, with Bruce supposedly dead, he got to become Batman, keeping the cowl warm til Bruce's return. And here's the thing...
If Dick had stayed Nightwing, I would be okay about him being Nightwing again in the reboot.
If Bruce had returned and Dick went back to being Nightwing, I would be okay about him being Nightwing again in the reboot.
But he did become Batman and Bruce did come back and let him stay on as Batman and coming up with the Batman Inc concept so there could be more than one Batman. Dick earned that cowl and he deserves to keep them.
So, two scenarios come to mind in the reboot: Dick goes back to being Nightwing, still a mature man in his 20s, very experienced, whether or not he's ever been Batman, and I'll get to read new Nightwing stories...
Or... Dick is Nightwing, having recently given up being Robin, and I'll have to read all over again about Dick finding his way on his own as this new hero called Nightwing. Sorry. Been there, done and read that. I want to read about a hero leaving his mentor and going out on his own, gaining experience, yadda yadda yadda, I'll find another character to read about.
The second option sucks. The first isn't much better because I preferred reading about Dick as Batman, mentoring Damian, than reading about Nightwing, a solitary hero with a mostly screwed up personal life because he keeps neglecting it to be a hero.
My LCS has a 5 title minimum for a pull list. So far, I've got:
The Lone Ranger
Zorro
Criminal
The Spirit (if it continues)
Doc Savage (if it continues)
Batwoman (because she's still new enough to the DCU to not be much affected by the reboot, I think/I hope)
At least, I've got the minimum covered, but a few extras, just in case, would be a good idea.
As for today's haul...
Nice ending on the BoP story (Birds of Prey 13), with a cameo appearance by Catman. I was happy to have something to read that isn't part of Flashpoint. Yet.
Batman and Robin 24 indicates this title will go out with a whimper, what with Jason Todd taking over, relegating Dick and Damian to guest roles in their own book. Have I mentioned how much I detest Jason? The main reason I don't want to read the coming title with Roy in it? Yeah, I figured I had.
Booster Gold 45 continues the Flashpoint storyline, which I've completely lost interest in now that the reboot's been announced. I guess this was okay. I felt pretty meh about it.
Still trying to wrap my mind around this whole mess, especially when related to my favorite characters.
Babs/Oracle has probably been the most blogged about. I've lost track of most of the posts, but, many folks feel as I do, that losing Babs as Oracle and getting her out of the chair means DC loses something special. There was a Batgirl before Babs -- Betty Kane -- and when Babs became Batgirl, I didn't know why Betty couldn't have been given a better, bigger role, but Babs won me over. I liked that she was a librarian, which I became! But I think Steph Brown is my favorite Batgirl. But there's only one Oracle and Babs created that persona. She earned that special place in the DCU and come September, that will be gone.
But Babs isn't the only one being forced into a younger, less developed state. Think about poor Dick Grayson. With the character assassination done to poor Roy Harper (the only good from the reboot is that the damage done to Roy the last year or so will be undone, it seems, though I probably won't like what he'll be, either, in the new DCU), I refocused my comics character lust to Dick Grayson who'd been forced to play second to Roy in my heart. It's been clear for years that the PTB at DC don't like him. But finally, with Bruce supposedly dead, he got to become Batman, keeping the cowl warm til Bruce's return. And here's the thing...
If Dick had stayed Nightwing, I would be okay about him being Nightwing again in the reboot.
If Bruce had returned and Dick went back to being Nightwing, I would be okay about him being Nightwing again in the reboot.
But he did become Batman and Bruce did come back and let him stay on as Batman and coming up with the Batman Inc concept so there could be more than one Batman. Dick earned that cowl and he deserves to keep them.
So, two scenarios come to mind in the reboot: Dick goes back to being Nightwing, still a mature man in his 20s, very experienced, whether or not he's ever been Batman, and I'll get to read new Nightwing stories...
Or... Dick is Nightwing, having recently given up being Robin, and I'll have to read all over again about Dick finding his way on his own as this new hero called Nightwing. Sorry. Been there, done and read that. I want to read about a hero leaving his mentor and going out on his own, gaining experience, yadda yadda yadda, I'll find another character to read about.
The second option sucks. The first isn't much better because I preferred reading about Dick as Batman, mentoring Damian, than reading about Nightwing, a solitary hero with a mostly screwed up personal life because he keeps neglecting it to be a hero.
My LCS has a 5 title minimum for a pull list. So far, I've got:
The Lone Ranger
Zorro
Criminal
The Spirit (if it continues)
Doc Savage (if it continues)
Batwoman (because she's still new enough to the DCU to not be much affected by the reboot, I think/I hope)
At least, I've got the minimum covered, but a few extras, just in case, would be a good idea.
As for today's haul...
Nice ending on the BoP story (Birds of Prey 13), with a cameo appearance by Catman. I was happy to have something to read that isn't part of Flashpoint. Yet.
Batman and Robin 24 indicates this title will go out with a whimper, what with Jason Todd taking over, relegating Dick and Damian to guest roles in their own book. Have I mentioned how much I detest Jason? The main reason I don't want to read the coming title with Roy in it? Yeah, I figured I had.
Booster Gold 45 continues the Flashpoint storyline, which I've completely lost interest in now that the reboot's been announced. I guess this was okay. I felt pretty meh about it.
Monday, June 06, 2011
Oracle vs Batgirl
Comments on this post over at Has Boobs, Reads Comics led to these comments of mine, long enough to warrant a post here methinks:
I'm heartsick about many of the changes, including Dick becoming Nightwing again, but this has me besides myself. I work with blind and visually impaired people and others who can't read standard print, including quadriplegics. I know how powerful a symbol and role model Babs as Oracle is and I know how so many people don't just get to start over or leave that wheelchair behind. I hate that DC is going backward. Just. Hate. It.And then:
I'm not defining Oracle by her disability. I think people need role models and she's one of the very few who are positive role models for disabled people. She's a shining example of overcoming adversity and doing something special with her life, even more than when she was Batgirl. I don't want her to be a BatGIRL. I want her to be what she's been: a fully realized awesome WOMAN who has played a vital role for the DC Superhero community. Anyone can be Batgirl; after all, there have been others besides Babs (the first one I knew was Betty Kane) and Steph Brown has filled the role admirably and capably and her costume is awesome! In fact, the current Batgirl is one of the most fun comics DC publishes. And Babs, as Oracle, has been the amazing anchor of Birds of Prey. Why anyone wants to go backward from that is beyond me. Well beyond me.Finally, Barbara Gordon has been many things over the decades: librarian, congresswoman, Batgirl, Oracle, daughter of Commissioner Gordon, girlfriend of Dick Grayson, friend to Black Canary and Huntress and Zinda, mentor to many young female characters from Misfit and Cass Cain to Stephanie Brown and Wendy/Proxy. Babs in her personal life and as Oracle has touched the lives of most of the characters in the DCU. No Batgirl has ever been able to say that. Batgirl is just another costumed crimefighter. Oracle has been so much more. That's what DC is giving up and they should be ashamed of themselves.
Bat Books
No. Just. No.
Not gonna be reading the new Bat books, except Batwoman, unless it relies too much on the new Bat order of things and starts to annoy me, and possibly Catwoman, unless it makes Selina too much of a villain and then, no to that, too.
I wasn't reading Batman and Detective until Dick became Batman and now I have no reason to continue with them. Nor do I care to read about Bruce and Damian as Batman and Robin. That's father and son more than mentor and mentee. I love reading the Dick and Damian team and I will treasure their wonderful run, but I can't go backward. For that reason, I can't bring myself to read Dick as Nightwing once more and that costume! Ugh. The red on the black just looks ridiculous.
Red Hood and the Outlaws sounds even worse. I never liked Jason Todd. Never. I'm one of the readers who voted for the Joker to blow him up. To have Roy teamed with him and Kory? No. Just. No. I don't care that he's got his arm back. I don't care that that cover is pretty. I'm sure he won't have a daughter, but even if Lian is there, this is just wrong. Roy and Jason? I'd read it only if Roy can beat the shit out of Jason every issue. That would be worth the price. However, this makes me feel ill:
I think I need to rest and eat some chocolate before I have a fit.
So, I pose a question, to anyone who still reads this blog: Given how infrequently I post while reading 15-20 books a month, and how fewer posts I'll be putting up here when I'm reading 5-10 titles per month, will anyone stick around and keep reading this humble blog?
Not gonna be reading the new Bat books, except Batwoman, unless it relies too much on the new Bat order of things and starts to annoy me, and possibly Catwoman, unless it makes Selina too much of a villain and then, no to that, too.
I wasn't reading Batman and Detective until Dick became Batman and now I have no reason to continue with them. Nor do I care to read about Bruce and Damian as Batman and Robin. That's father and son more than mentor and mentee. I love reading the Dick and Damian team and I will treasure their wonderful run, but I can't go backward. For that reason, I can't bring myself to read Dick as Nightwing once more and that costume! Ugh. The red on the black just looks ridiculous.
Red Hood and the Outlaws sounds even worse. I never liked Jason Todd. Never. I'm one of the readers who voted for the Joker to blow him up. To have Roy teamed with him and Kory? No. Just. No. I don't care that he's got his arm back. I don't care that that cover is pretty. I'm sure he won't have a daughter, but even if Lian is there, this is just wrong. Roy and Jason? I'd read it only if Roy can beat the shit out of Jason every issue. That would be worth the price. However, this makes me feel ill:
Jason Todd finds himself as a leader of a team of antiheroes – including "Green Arrow's rejected sidekick Arsenal and Starfire, a former prisoner of intergalactic war."Ollie rejected Roy? Ignored him, yes. Tossed him out when he caught him shooting up? Yes. But rejected him? Give me an f'in break. We've finally gotten to the point where Roy and Ollie had reconciled, never mind that crap after Lian was killed. And I don't like Roy called an anti-hero. He was always a hero. A very flawed, very human hero, but a hero none the less.
I think I need to rest and eat some chocolate before I have a fit.
So, I pose a question, to anyone who still reads this blog: Given how infrequently I post while reading 15-20 books a month, and how fewer posts I'll be putting up here when I'm reading 5-10 titles per month, will anyone stick around and keep reading this humble blog?
Considering My Pull List
Come September, I'm thinking it'll be something like this....
The Lone Ranger
Zorro
The Death of Zorro (I'm not sure when this wraps up.)
Criminal
Unwritten (if it continues)
Batwoman (She's fairly new, so except for some bumps if any other Bat characters show up and they're not what I expect/want, this should be fine.)
The Spirit (Assuming it'll still be published.)
It gets a bit murky at this point. There are some books I'm reading (well, accumulating for future reading) that I could get in monthlies and keep up that way, then buy the trades. These include, assuming they'll still be published:
Air
Scalped
Ummmmm.....
I'm taking a wait and see who the heck is behind the cowl with:
Batman
Detective
Batman and Robin
If it's not Dick Grayson, I won't be getting these. Similarly, I don't want to read about Babs as Batgirl. Been there, read that, decades ago and in a lot of stories. And Dick and Damian form the best Dynamic Duo. I like 'em even better than Bruce and Dick in the old days.
Batgirl... Again, keeping to my feelings about the Bat family, if not Steph, I'm not going to read it.
A Catwoman title? Well, that depends, too. If this version of Selina hasn't had a daughter she gave up, if she doesn't know Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson are both Batman, if she hasn't been through all she's been through, if she reverts back to just being a cat burglar, than no, thanks.
Supergirl? Uh, not sure at all. Kara's gone through a lot thanks to Sterling Gates and she's become an awesome version of SG. I would hate hate hate to have her regress to an earlier version.
I don't read other Superman titles, so I doubt I'll start with any in September.
Legion of Super Heroes? What? Another reboot? Are they doing this? I have no clue what to do if this continues.
Green Lantern and Green Arrow? Well, again, it depends. GA has gotten boring, and to be honest, GL has gotten way too complicated for someone who reads only the GL book and not the other Lantern books. I'm thinking of dropping it.
Aquaman.... This holds appeal because I do like the character and he's been rebooted so many times, I actually lost track enough to not be bothered by another reboot. Plus, I didn't read all the versions and many of what I did read sucked. So, I might be enticed to try this.
Secret Six? Birds of Prey? I'm almost afraid to look at them after August. I'd hate to see them ruined. Is Secret Six even continuing? I did read about a new team on BoP and given the changes coming for Babs, this is definitely questionable for me.
Wonder Woman? Hell, I stopped reading it a year ago and I see no reason to start again in September. Ditto JLA and JSA which I stopped reading even before that. I am a bit intrigued by Mr. Terrific, but if no Checkmate and Sasha, then I don't think it'll make me happy.
Nothing else sounds interesting. I'm seriously going to have to look at independents. I don't like reading black and white pages, though. That's fine for 3-4 panel strips, but in a book, it's really tough for me at times to differentiate characters and read the dialogue and text because it all kinda blends in on me. So, I'll need to seek out some fun color comics. Any suggestions? And not Marvel. I've read various Marvel titles over the years, but I can't really get into the Marvel Universe.
The big thing that bugs me about this, because really, DC can do what it wants and I don't mind saving some money to spend on other things, is that there will be a lot of female lead books I won't be supporting, and they might be great, just simply things I don't want to read. And I feel bad about that. But DC clearly doesn't want me as a reader, so that's that.
The Lone Ranger
Zorro
The Death of Zorro (I'm not sure when this wraps up.)
Criminal
Unwritten (if it continues)
Batwoman (She's fairly new, so except for some bumps if any other Bat characters show up and they're not what I expect/want, this should be fine.)
The Spirit (Assuming it'll still be published.)
It gets a bit murky at this point. There are some books I'm reading (well, accumulating for future reading) that I could get in monthlies and keep up that way, then buy the trades. These include, assuming they'll still be published:
Air
Scalped
Ummmmm.....
I'm taking a wait and see who the heck is behind the cowl with:
Batman
Detective
Batman and Robin
If it's not Dick Grayson, I won't be getting these. Similarly, I don't want to read about Babs as Batgirl. Been there, read that, decades ago and in a lot of stories. And Dick and Damian form the best Dynamic Duo. I like 'em even better than Bruce and Dick in the old days.
Batgirl... Again, keeping to my feelings about the Bat family, if not Steph, I'm not going to read it.
A Catwoman title? Well, that depends, too. If this version of Selina hasn't had a daughter she gave up, if she doesn't know Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson are both Batman, if she hasn't been through all she's been through, if she reverts back to just being a cat burglar, than no, thanks.
Supergirl? Uh, not sure at all. Kara's gone through a lot thanks to Sterling Gates and she's become an awesome version of SG. I would hate hate hate to have her regress to an earlier version.
I don't read other Superman titles, so I doubt I'll start with any in September.
Legion of Super Heroes? What? Another reboot? Are they doing this? I have no clue what to do if this continues.
Green Lantern and Green Arrow? Well, again, it depends. GA has gotten boring, and to be honest, GL has gotten way too complicated for someone who reads only the GL book and not the other Lantern books. I'm thinking of dropping it.
Aquaman.... This holds appeal because I do like the character and he's been rebooted so many times, I actually lost track enough to not be bothered by another reboot. Plus, I didn't read all the versions and many of what I did read sucked. So, I might be enticed to try this.
Secret Six? Birds of Prey? I'm almost afraid to look at them after August. I'd hate to see them ruined. Is Secret Six even continuing? I did read about a new team on BoP and given the changes coming for Babs, this is definitely questionable for me.
Wonder Woman? Hell, I stopped reading it a year ago and I see no reason to start again in September. Ditto JLA and JSA which I stopped reading even before that. I am a bit intrigued by Mr. Terrific, but if no Checkmate and Sasha, then I don't think it'll make me happy.
Nothing else sounds interesting. I'm seriously going to have to look at independents. I don't like reading black and white pages, though. That's fine for 3-4 panel strips, but in a book, it's really tough for me at times to differentiate characters and read the dialogue and text because it all kinda blends in on me. So, I'll need to seek out some fun color comics. Any suggestions? And not Marvel. I've read various Marvel titles over the years, but I can't really get into the Marvel Universe.
The big thing that bugs me about this, because really, DC can do what it wants and I don't mind saving some money to spend on other things, is that there will be a lot of female lead books I won't be supporting, and they might be great, just simply things I don't want to read. And I feel bad about that. But DC clearly doesn't want me as a reader, so that's that.
Wednesday, June 01, 2011
My Comment on this DC Universe The Source Post
Because comments are closed there, I'm commenting here, and virtually sticking my tongue out at them, so there. Yeah, I can be mature when I want to be. ;)
They say they hate secrets. Well, I hate having to start over again at age 58. Seriously. I've been reading DC Comics since I was 7. That's over half a century, people. I've been through reboots. I adjusted. Of course, there was my boycott in the '80s after the original Supergirl died in the original Crisis on Infinite Earths, not that DC noticed. And I'm sure they won't notice when my pull list of DC titles shrinks come September. Because I'm pretty sure it will.
Here's where they're at:
I didn't even mind when Bruce came back because Dick has still been Batman, just one of a few now. And Barry being back is okay as long as Wally can continue as the Flash. But if come September, reading DC comics will feel like reading an alternate universe version of the characters I've come to know and love, well, I'm not sure that's what I want.
I'm just getting too old for this crap. I put up with the big events even if they fizzled somewhat after 52, which was, IMO, the best of the bunch. Even Brightest Day, with its wonderful art and nice start, fizzled in some of the storylines and restoring a status quo of sorts, with the newly undead mostly being dead again, save for Swamp Thing, which was a nice surprise, but really, did we need to drag this out for a year?!
So forgive me for my lack of enthusiasm. But then, I'm not the right demographic, anyway, am I?
They say they hate secrets. Well, I hate having to start over again at age 58. Seriously. I've been reading DC Comics since I was 7. That's over half a century, people. I've been through reboots. I adjusted. Of course, there was my boycott in the '80s after the original Supergirl died in the original Crisis on Infinite Earths, not that DC noticed. And I'm sure they won't notice when my pull list of DC titles shrinks come September. Because I'm pretty sure it will.
Here's where they're at:
"Yesterday was just the beginning. After all, we don’t want to spoil the many surprises we have up our sleeves. It’s so important to us to make sure you maintain those feelings of excitement and unexpectedness when you pick up a new issue of our books."And here's where I'm at: I like being surprised. Truly. But I also like familiar and comfortable. Reading about characters I know and love in surprising and entertaining stories is what I want from DC. Reading about interesting and exciting new characters and new versions of older characters who are truly new, is what I want. Jaime Reyes and the new Blue Beetle and Ryan Choi as the new Atom. Seeing characters grow and mature into new roles, such as Dick Grayson becoming Batman and Wally West becoming the Flash.
I didn't even mind when Bruce came back because Dick has still been Batman, just one of a few now. And Barry being back is okay as long as Wally can continue as the Flash. But if come September, reading DC comics will feel like reading an alternate universe version of the characters I've come to know and love, well, I'm not sure that's what I want.
I'm just getting too old for this crap. I put up with the big events even if they fizzled somewhat after 52, which was, IMO, the best of the bunch. Even Brightest Day, with its wonderful art and nice start, fizzled in some of the storylines and restoring a status quo of sorts, with the newly undead mostly being dead again, save for Swamp Thing, which was a nice surprise, but really, did we need to drag this out for a year?!
So forgive me for my lack of enthusiasm. But then, I'm not the right demographic, anyway, am I?
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
DCU Reboot
The comics blogosphere has been buzzing about this news from DC that it's rebooting, sorta, its comics, with 52 number ones coming out in September. I really don't know what I think about it.
On one hand, it conveys some of the excitement that One Year Later had, with the suspense of not knowing what will be changed and what won't. On the other hand, I read comics about characters I enjoy. If those characters are no longer the same, will they still interest me?
And that second question has a variety of possible answers. If they reboot the characters from scratch, it's truly starting over and I can choose what to read similar to how I started reading comics in the first place back when I was a kid. I'll top off my shortboxes and whatever I like and keep reading of the new, I'll consider all new comics.
But if they simply roll back the clock a year or two, or even a bit more than that, it could be good, if it removes the nasty crap done to characters like Roy Harper and restore what was good, or it could be bad if it removes all the good things that happened to them and helped them develop as characters, such as Dick Grayson becoming Batman. What if they go back so far that Dick and Roy are teens again? I don't want to read that. I've already grown up with these characters and think of them as adults. I don't think I can accept them as teens again, still finding their way in the world. Been there, read that. Ditto most of the characters. After all Bruce Wayne has been through, growing in complexity and interest level, to go back to a younger Bruce won't feel right.
I can't begin to guess what DC has in mind, though there's a lot of speculation out there, including my concerns outlined above. I'm going to have to wait and see and then decide what to read, but I suspect my wallet will be much happier come September. I might find fewer comics to read, saving me time and money. Or it might make me unhappy for the same reason because I'll lose so many of my favorite comics to read. The other option, that there will be 52 books I'll want to keep reading is almost too much to hope for.
This paragraph is typical of what I find so confusing about this:
I think I just gave myself a headache thinking about this. It's going to be a long wait til September.
On one hand, it conveys some of the excitement that One Year Later had, with the suspense of not knowing what will be changed and what won't. On the other hand, I read comics about characters I enjoy. If those characters are no longer the same, will they still interest me?
And that second question has a variety of possible answers. If they reboot the characters from scratch, it's truly starting over and I can choose what to read similar to how I started reading comics in the first place back when I was a kid. I'll top off my shortboxes and whatever I like and keep reading of the new, I'll consider all new comics.
But if they simply roll back the clock a year or two, or even a bit more than that, it could be good, if it removes the nasty crap done to characters like Roy Harper and restore what was good, or it could be bad if it removes all the good things that happened to them and helped them develop as characters, such as Dick Grayson becoming Batman. What if they go back so far that Dick and Roy are teens again? I don't want to read that. I've already grown up with these characters and think of them as adults. I don't think I can accept them as teens again, still finding their way in the world. Been there, read that. Ditto most of the characters. After all Bruce Wayne has been through, growing in complexity and interest level, to go back to a younger Bruce won't feel right.
I can't begin to guess what DC has in mind, though there's a lot of speculation out there, including my concerns outlined above. I'm going to have to wait and see and then decide what to read, but I suspect my wallet will be much happier come September. I might find fewer comics to read, saving me time and money. Or it might make me unhappy for the same reason because I'll lose so many of my favorite comics to read. The other option, that there will be 52 books I'll want to keep reading is almost too much to hope for.
This paragraph is typical of what I find so confusing about this:
"In addition, the new #1s will introduce readers to a more modern, diverse DC Universe, with some character variations in appearance, origin and age. All stories will be grounded in each character’s legend – but will relate to real world situations, interactions, tragedy and triumph."A more modern, diverse DCU, if it is, indeed, more diverse, is a good thing. But what does "relating to the real world" really mean. That the tragedies won't come because of super villains destroying cities, but because terrorists destroy those cities? Because it's not as if the DC characters haven't suffered and lost loved ones in recent years. It's not as if they haven't triumphed over diversity, either. And where does a book like Batwoman fit given it was started what seems like ages ago and keeps getting pushed back. Is it still coming out? Is it going to fit the new DCU?
I think I just gave myself a headache thinking about this. It's going to be a long wait til September.
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