DC Comics Reboot

[Villano]

For a while now, there's been some speculation that DC was planning on rebooting their universe and starting all their comics again with #1's (this started back when DC listed its release schedule for its August books and someone noticed that all their comics seemed to be wrapping up their current storylines and that the last issue of the Flashpoint mini-series was the only thing shipping the last week of the month).

Well, now it appears to be true: DC Announces Post-"Flashpoint" Details, Relaunches All Titles - Comic Book Resources

Jim Lee is redesigning 50+ characters? The characters are going to be younger? The stories will now "relate to real world situations, interactions, tragedy and triumph"? What does that mean?

And if they are de-aging characters, what does it mean for Nightwing, Robin, Batgirl, etc? Does this mean young Bruce and Dick Grayson as Robin?

The only monthly title I get from DC is Secret Six (although I've started collecting Batgirl in trades), so I wonder if those books are even going to exist anymore.

 

[Diamond Cross]

I hope they choke.

 

[Klaus]

More details are cropping up, including Grant Morrison writing Superman.

Some of those Jim Lee redesigns are very poor, though. WHat's with all the high collars?

 

[Villano]

Some more info:

It seems that the picture is of the new "original" line-up of the Justice League. Martian Manhunter out/ Cyborg in.

Also, Gail Simone is off Birds of Prey (and the new book probably won't have anything to do with the current one).

Teen Titans - written by Fabian Nicieza.

Justice Society of America - Marc Guggenheim is gone.

Wonder Woman - ???

Green Lantern - Geoff Johns

Hawkman - James Robinson and possibly drawn by Philip Tan.

Aquaman - Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis.

Omac - ???

Adventure Comics, starring Deadman - ???

And Superman & Wonder Woman are dating (good-bye super-marriage?).

My feelings on this reboot:

EDIT: It's been reported that Zatanna, Batgirl, Secret Six, and Jonah Hex are no longer available as subscriptions from DC. No confirmation on this, but it wouldn't surprise me.

 

[Pinotage]

Really? Was this move necessary? *shakes head*

I'm a long time DC fan, in particular the Bat-verse, and I've seen them play around with that so many times that enough is enough. Mind you, if the change gets rid of Batman Incorporated, that's one plus.

I don't really know what to say...

Wait and see.

Pinotage

 

[Mallus]

More details are cropping up, including Grant Morrison writing Superman.

Yes!

 

[GrayLinnorm]

So, does this mean we'll never see Action Comics #1,000?

 

[Fast Learner]

For those of you who are disappointed/unhappy with the reboot, I'm curious about how many DC comics you currently buy each month.

I mean, I figure the folks at DC have what they consider to be a good reason to reboot everything. My guess is that sales are unacceptable and one of the reasons people say they don't buy comics is because they're spooked by the gigantic ongoing storylines.

It probably also relates, perhaps more directly, to their announcement that with the reboot every issue of every comic will be available in digital form the same day the print edition hits the shelves. They're likely wanting to lure in a whole new crowd of potential comics fans on iPads/tablets, and a reboot could easily be the thing that attracts those new folks.

 

[Pinotage]

For those of you who are disappointed/unhappy with the reboot, I'm curious about how many DC comics you currently buy each month.

I mean, I figure the folks at DC have what they consider to be a good reason to reboot everything. My guess is that sales are unacceptable and one of the reasons people say they don't buy comics is because they're spooked by the gigantic ongoing storylines.

Sounds a bit like what DC is doing to their comics is similar to what some believe WOTC is doing to D&D! Need a new edition every once in a while akin to a new comic reboot.

Either way, I buy several of the bat-titles every month, and I guess my complaint here is that they've fiddled around enough with Batman over the last year or so. RIP. Bruce Wayne. Batman Incorporated. Sometimes a period of stability is needed.

As long as they keep the good story lines going, I'll be happy.

Pinotage

 

[Villano]

For those of you who are disappointed/unhappy with the reboot, I'm curious about how many DC comics you currently buy each month.

I mean, I figure the folks at DC have what they consider to be a good reason to reboot everything. My guess is that sales are unacceptable and one of the reasons people say they don't buy comics is because they're spooked by the gigantic ongoing storylines.

It probably also relates, perhaps more directly, to their announcement that with the reboot every issue of every comic will be available in digital form the same day the print edition hits the shelves. They're likely wanting to lure in a whole new crowd of potential comics fans on iPads/tablets, and a reboot could easily be the thing that attracts those new folks.

The dislike is really due to several factors.

The first is that people don't have a lot of faith in the people in charge at DC. I mean, if they announced that the reboot was being headed by Grant Morrison, Alan Moore, and Neil Gaiman, there would probably be more enthusiasm.

Since DiDio's been in charge, it's been big "nothing is ever going to be the same again!" events, gimmicks, and mini-reboots. They've caused the very continuity problems which they now claim to need to be fixed.

There's also this weird mentality there. On the one hand, they seem to want to reintroduce the Siver Age concepts, but on the other, they want the grim & gritty 90s stuff. Someone summed it up best by saying that DC is run by people who wish there was more rape and cannibalism in the Silver Age.

Plus there are the costume redesigns. When they rebooted everything with Crisis, they didn't change the way the characters looked.

And now there's some confusion as to what kind of reboot they are going for. Comic Book Resources is reporting that the "effects of major crossovers like Blackest Night [are] to stay in place moving forward". So...what does that mean? Are they mixing retcons and current continuity? That's just going to cause a bigger mess.

Honestly, I'm beginning to wonder if this is going to end up being a House of M or Heroes Reborn and the old continuity will be back in a year (which makes the whole thing stink of a desperate sales gimmick...especially when you consider that they are releasing 52 first issues in one month).