Questions about DC's relaunch

[vynsane]

[...]hide from the public eye for a year or two, examine every criticism everyone has of him, work on his craft (maybe even taking an anatomy class--I'm dead serious; you know he's never had one and I'm not saying that to be mean or anything), put together some amazing comic book, and not solicit it until he has five issues in the bag so that it won't be late[...]

Jae Lee did almost everything there before starting volume 2 of Hellshock. the key missing ingredient was the not soliciting the title until he had five or so issues under his belt. his style before his renaissance was still better than liefeld, though a bit over-the top. his style afterward was incredible, really just lightyears beyond what he was doing beforehand.

[RoIIo Tomassi]

The first time I was exposed to Jae Lee's art was on Namor. He was following Byrne's classic style with his very raw style. I didn't hate it perse, but as relatively new reader I was more comfortable with more "standard" art. When you're young and a new reader, you arent yet familiar with different artists' styles. After McFarlane, I'd say Jae Lee's art was the first distinctive style I could recognize.
Ironically, the first time I was exposed to Liefeld's art it was the "Atlantis Attacks!" Annual of Amazing Spidey(Spidey and She-Hulk). It had a John Byrne cover and of course I was used to McFarlane's art on Spidey interiors. So I instantly recognized the shit on interiors was neither. I felt gypped!! My reaction was "wow. This fucker is trying to ape McFarlane and failing miserably!!"

That might have been the literal moment when I became aware of artist's styles.


I will say Jae Lee is one of my favorite artists now. His Transformer/GIJoe mini set during WWII is fucking phenomenal.

[RoIIo Tomassi]

Back to the comics! I read Superman 1-12. 1-6 by Perez, 7-12 by Giffen and Jurgens. (Lobdell took over with issue 0/13, so that's three writing teams in its first year. A good sign for any relaunch)

Now, the original pitch was Action was the past and Superman was "five years later" in the present. And supposedly everything from the previous continuity had been condensed down into those five years. Or "all the important stories" was the notion Diddle-io gave. Okay, so Perez' arc wasnt entirely awful. There are some changes, like Lois is now head of a multimedia news organization including the local news channel. Jimmy is the head tech geek for said corporation. Clark is still clinging to his newspaper roots. Amd Lois is sleeping with some other douche, so I guess Clark's bedroom floor is littered with kleenex and lotion bottles. Basically the gist of the six issue arc is people are getting pissed that aliens keep attacking and Superman keeps saving Metropolis. Clearly all the damage being done is Superman's fault. It turns out the aliens are really like galactic bedbugs that were on Clark's new Jim Lee designed super suit and they waited five years to attack. So the first story arc is directly related to Morrison's first arc in Action.
But then when Giffen and Jurgens take over, people are acting amazed whenever Superman shows up. Some people are even thinking he's an urban myth. Even though the guy has been around for FIVE YEARS. And considering what Clark and Lois do for a living, he's probably been on the cover of the Planet quite a bit. And if you consider that 25 years of Post-Crisis continuity was smooshed down into five years, he was probably on the cover of EVERY SINGLE ISSUE. You know, like the time he died fighting Doomsday? And had a state funeral? But everybody is like "oh hey! I didn't think he was real."
Anyway, their first two issues are a pointless fight with Helspont. That reject WildCATs villain who's a Ghost Rider from space ripoff. And the guy monologues worse than a MAD parody of Dr. Doom. Seriously, it's TWO issues of the guy cackling about taking over Earth and Superman saying "No way Dude! Not gonna happen!" If we were talking about Jim Lee's creative masturbation earlier, Helspont in the jizz that stuck to the pages. Pointless.
Then 9-10 are about some blogger accusing some schmoe of being Superman. Him having a "secret identity". Again, it's been FIVE YEARS. This lightbulb is just NOW going on over somebodies head? Like this isn't one of the first things Lois would've tried to figure out in the past 2100 days?! Ridiculous. Not to mention irresponsible journalism because then the not-Superman's family gets attacked.
The last two issues were yet another alien attacking, this time in Russia. And Lois sets Clark up with her baby sister and they go bungee jumping. I'm just gonna assume Clark wrecked Lucy's tender little beaver when they got home that day. Because itd be the only redeeming thing about this run.

But from reading this, I guess none of the stuff that they said they were gonna keep from the old continuity they actually kept.

I kinda want to read Teen Titans next and keep the awfulness going.

[RoIIo Tomassi]

Just real quick; in Teen Titans 1, Tim Drake has a framed 8x10 on his desk of him and Batman swinging through the air while he was still Robin.
A. Who took the picture? and
B. When would Bruce ever allow that pic to be taken, never mind get framed and just be sitting around Drake's apartment?

Should we be peeved with Scott Lobdell for writing that? Bobbie Chase for failing as an editor? Katie Kubert for some nepotistic reason?
Or perhaps the fans. Because they've been buying this shit and perpetuating it for a year.

[vynsane]

Just real quick; in Teen Titans 1, Tim Drake has a framed 8x10 on his desk of him and Batman swinging through the air while he was still Robin.

is it also signed "To Tim, Love Bruce"?

A. Who took the picture?

Spider-man?

B. When would Bruce ever allow that pic to be taken, never mind get framed and just be sitting around Drake's apartment?

because what's a "secret identity"?

Should we be peeved with Scott Lobdell for writing that? Bobbie Chase for failing as an editor? Katie Kubert for some nepotistic reason?
Or perhaps the fans. Because they've been buying this shit and perpetuating it for a year.

all of the above.

[Diabolical]

And they've said that Tim was never Robin.

[RoIIo Tomassi]

He must've photoshopped the pic for inspiration.

In the first issue he also makes references to previous incarnations of Teen Titans teams. But in the fourth issue he yells "Teen Titans!" and the gay kid says "Ooh! Catchy!" and Tim replies "Thanks I just thought it up!" or something.
So clearly the writer of the first issue didn't communicate with the writer of the fourth iss-- oh wait. They were both Lobdell. DC Comics suck.

[RoIIo Tomassi]

Just read the first seven issues of Green Arrow. I thought Superman's book had it rough with three creative change ups in the first year. This one has three in the first SIX months!! JT Krul did the first three issues, before getting replaced with Kieth Giffen and Dan Jurgens for three issues. And then Ann Nocenti came on board with issue 7.

Now, this might be a minor pet peeve, but at no point in the frst seven issues do they explain why Ollie is dressing up in green and fighting crime in Seattle or why he's partial to bows and arrows. I realize we all know his origin, but considering the entire point of this stupid reboot was to attract new readers you think maybe mentioning the guy's motivation at some point might be beneficial? Perhaps?

The first two story arcs aren't worth mentioning for their mediocrity. They didn't suck, but there's nothing in them worth mentioning. They could've easily taken place in the previous continuity. The beginning of Nocenti's arc sucked so the book seems to be headed in a southward direction.

Ironically, the CW show hasn't been half bad.

Still have a couple more New52 runs to read, but I'm gonna leave those for later and switch over to something Marvel and give the DC stupidity a rest. Maybe some X-books.

[anarky]

With the half-assed reboot and now what looks like the gradual phasing out of Vertigo, I wonder (and I'm not kidding) if WB is trying to slowly get out of the comics business, harpooning their own sales so they can point out to shareholders how bad they are at it.

[RoIIo Tomassi]

Gail Simone fired off Batgirl via a courageous e-mail.

After she had already turned in several scripts for the next several issues, she received an e-mail from new editor saying she was no longer the writer. What a dick.

[RoIIo Tomassi]

DC's next big idea is an "Event" in April called...I shit you not...it's called "WTF"

Yes. WTF will be emblazoned on the covers of its comics in April. Hopefully, parents will get a kick out of explaining to their kids what that means.

I know I'm already thinking WTF. And it's still January!!
Mission Accomplished, Bob Harras!!!

[anarky]

They're gatefold covers (because Harr-ass loves gimmicks). Each one opens to show some WTF development.

Like Detective Comics. It has the number 900 on it (because fuck you everyone who objected to the renumbering). It opens to reveal... MAN-BAT!!! I was totally like, "What the fuck? Isn't Man-Bat a little early for his next appearance?"

[RoIIo Tomassi]

Is the Renumbering permanent?

If so, Engage Thyself in Coitus DC.

[anarky]

I think it's a one-time deal, judging from what I read. "The 900" apparently actually refers to Man-Bat's legions. So, in other words, it's intended as a cheeky homage, but comes across as a big ol' "FUCK YOU!"

[Diabolical]

The New 52 did something right...Wesley Willis is Wonder Woman's half-brother.

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