Bob Harras new DC Editor-in-Chief

[Saint]

New York, NY, September 27—Robert Harras has been named Editor-in-Chief, VP, DC Comics, it was announced today by DC Comics Co-Publishers Jim Lee and Dan DiDio. Harras will oversee editorial for DC Comics, DC Universe, MAD Magazine and Vertigo and will be based in New York City, reporting directly to the Co-Publishers. Harras becomes the company’s first Editor-in-Chief in nearly 10 years since the position was held by Jenette Kahn from 1981 to 2002.

“Bob Harras’ personal and creative integrity is respected and renowned throughout the comic book industry,” said Jim Lee, DC Comics Co-Publisher. “As an editor, he provides invaluable insight into storytelling and character.”

“We could not be more excited to make this announcement,” said Dan DiDio, DC Comics Co-Publisher. “Bob is a tremendous evaluator of talent, character and story. He is a proven leader who brings a keen understanding of the marketplace to the position.”

Prior to being named Editor-in-Chief, Harras was the Group Editor, Collected Editions at DC Comics.

Before joining DC Comics, Harras was the Editor-in-Chief of Marvel Comics from 1995 to 2000.

In case you're not aware of who Bob Harras is, he was running the show during Marvel's dark ages (bankruptcy filing and all that). Seems like a curious decision.

 

[runawayboulder]

Interesting choice. The bankruptcy thing wasn't his fault. Marvel was in bad shape before he took over.

Harras came on as Marvel EIC (after the 5 EIC debacle) and put an end to the Clone Saga. He approved the idea to bring back Norman Osborn against many of the writers objections. He did oversee Age of Apocalypse but then the down slide of the X-Titles in the late 90's before Morrison rejuvenated the line.

He also was there for Heroes Reborn, which was big news at the time but then ended up being a pile of donkey crap. He oversaw the very successful Heroes Return including Busiek/Perez Avengers and Waid/Garney Cap (both runs). Marvel Knights and DD started while he was there but I'm sure most would credit Quesada and Palmiotti for that.

His tenure was 50/50. I don't read a hell of a lot of DC but if I was a DC loyalist I'd give him a fair shot. His run as Avengers writer was always highly underrated.

 

[Tron Bonne]

He's actually been working at DC under another position for quite awhile from my understanding.

 

[Saint]

He's actually been working at DC under another position for quite awhile from my understanding.

I believe he was group editor for collected editions, yes.

 

[Drz]

I believe he was group editor for collected editions, yes.

Thats something DC really needs to sharpen up. Get the collected editions faster and spread them around. Especially with the upcoming Earth One line up.

 

[BrianWilly]

So what does this mean, really? Once again, me no understand big business words well good.

Does he literally occupy the same hierarchical/editorial space that DiDio did? Is he more involved with the creative side of the process now, as opposed to the business side?

 

[Tron Bonne]

So what does this mean, really? Once again, me no understand big business words well good.

Does he literally occupy the same hierarchical/editorial space that DiDio did? Is he more involved with the creative side of the process now, as opposed to the business side?

I believe so

 

[Hush]

What question are you answering Tronn?

 

[Tron Bonne]

Both that he asked. I believe the EIC does have creative control and would occupy the same kind of area that Dido had

 

[Hush]

Ahh I see, but i thought that we had Geoff Johns in control of all creative stuff?

 

[Tron Bonne]

I think he, Didio, and Lee are still kind of the head of that stuff, but this position at least oversees some of it. I could be totally wrong, though. I'm only going by the impressions I'm getting from the articles and the similar role he played at Marvel.

 

[Hound55]

Is it still called Editor-in-Chief? When are they going to change the official title to "Primary Target of Alan Moore's Wrath"..?

 

[Kurosawa]

Too bad it wasn't Bob Rozakis, he's actually a DC guy and knows his stuff. Harris isn't the worst guy in the world, however. Although whoever decided to to shelve the classic Monster Society of Evil reprint needs to be shot.

 

[Drz]

Ahh I see, but i thought that we had Geoff Johns in control of all creative stuff?

Geoff Johns is in charge of getting DC characters to television, movies, games and so on. For example he got Superman and Wonder Woman rights for Batman: The Brave & The Bold. Has some game company working on Suicide Squad and so forth.

 

[Hound55]

Geoff Johns is in charge of getting DC characters to television, movies, games and so on. For example he got Superman and Wonder Woman rights for Batman: The Brave & The Bold. Has some game company working on Suicide Squad and so forth.

And if you want a more recent hero who's taken over your mantle put on ice, no questions asked... buttabing-buttaboom, he's your guy.

 

[hippie_hunter]

Ahh I see, but i thought that we had Geoff Johns in control of all creative stuff?

Geoff Johns is in creative control of all of DC Entertainment. A position that goes beyond just comics. He's a producer on the Green Lantern movie (and most likely a producer on all future DC movies that are not made under Syncopy Films). He takes part in future DC based video games along with Jim Lee such as Batman: Arkham City and Suicide Squad. And is taking part in expanding DC's role in television.

 

[Darthphere]

This is why DC can't get **** done. Too many ****ing people in charge of specific things.

 

[Saint]

And if you want a more recent hero who's taken over your mantle put on ice, no questions asked... buttabing-buttaboom, he's your guy.

Hardly fair; Johns made a point of giving Kyle role in the post-Rebirth GL universe, and Kyle pretty much runs the show in GLC. As for Wally, well, Johns originally was to write him in a back-up feature in the Flash title--it was actually editorial who decided that this should be delayed and Wally should be downplayed this year, as a means of emphasizing Barry's return.

So no, Geoff Johns doesn't put new heroes on ice--anyone whose actually read his work can see he's more interested in keeping everyone on the table at the same time. While solo titles for both characters would be preferable, Johns certainly didn't have that kind of power when GL:R was going down, and I don't know if that's a decision he'd be making in his new position or not.

 

[Drz]

Saint you just gotta accept this forum has alot of ********/troubled Kyle Rayner and Cassandra Cain fans who love to moan and whine about Geoff Johns and some other writers. You should check out the Earth One threadh and see how people constantly try to bash Batman Earth One while talking on how Superman Earth One will rock.

 

[Hush]

Thats because it looks like Batman Earth One will legitimately suck.

 

[hippie_hunter]

This is why DC can't get **** done. Too many ****ing people in charge of specific things.

Ummmm....what? DC Entertainment just formed. You can't expect things to get done overnight. DC is finally getting **** done now that it has reorganized into DC Entertainment and actually has people in charge of things such as television development (new Batman and Green Lantern shows are being developed), video games (DC Universe Online, Batman: Arkham City, Suicide Squad, Green Lantern: Rise of the Manhunters), and taking part in an ever increasing digital world, movies (Batman 3, Superman, Green Lantern, and the Flash).

 

[TheCorpulent1]

This is why DC can't get **** done. Too many ****ing people in charge of specific things.

I think it's just the opposite, personally. DC, for a long time, was just Paul Levitz, then Dan DiDio, then the whole rest of the editorial staff (not counting imprints), then the creative talent. It seems like a few people overseeing things more personally than DiDio was up until the formation of DC Entertainment could dramatically improve the coordination of DC's editorial clusterf***. Harras' record at Marvel may cast a bit of a shadow over the decision, but he at least knows that type of position and has some solid experience of what he did right and (hopefully) what to avoid this time around.

 

[yenaled]

Does this mean Dan DiDio will stop giving interviews because that is an awesome thing.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Probably not. But hopefully it'll at least mean DiDio will be less hands-on with the comics.

 

[Saint]

Saint you just gotta accept this forum has alot of ********/troubled Kyle Rayner and Cassandra Cain fans

I'm a fan of both of those characters, I'm just reasonable about it. Johns didn't have anything to do with Cassandra getting the boot, anyway; in fact, he was the only writer who took legitimate steps towards repairing the damage done to that character by Adam Beechen.

That's what Johns does; he's the DCU repairman. They call him when a title (or character) isn't doing well and needs fixing--which is exactly what happened with GL and Flash. As much as I love Kyle and Wally, both of those books had run out of steam for different reasons--so Johns came in and rejuvenated them. Obviously it wasn't strictly necessary to replace the main characters in either case, but as Johns has managed to keep all the characters on the table, without diminishing them, I can't complain.

While we're talking about Cassandra Cain, though, the way she exited the role was, in fact, completely ******ed. She gets one page where she says "Oh, I'm leaving forever for some reason." Really? Lame. I guess they felt she was unsalvageable after Beechen ruined her and just wanted her out of the picture.