DC Relaunching Everything? - Part 4

[TheCorpulent1]

The second problem is that comics are hard to get into due to decades worth of convoluted continuity. They aren't new reader friendly at all. Asides from Batman, Aquaman, and Green Lantern, the rest of DC is essentially getting a clean slate in regards to continuity. New readers don't have to feel obligated to check out comics that are decades old and written in an out of date style that only hardcore geeks like. All these new #1's makes new readers feel easier to check them out as opposed to Action Comics #905.

I agree with everything else you said, but I call bulls*** on this. I was a new comic reader at a time when continuity was pretty heavy--back in the '80s and early '90s--and I never felt obligated to look into old comics; I wanted to because the stories were interesting enough that I wanted to figure out how they got to that point and learn about what I'd missed. My first issue of virtually every comic was some random issue in the middle of a story arc until I started really buying them regularly in high school. That's not to say that jumping-on points aren't beneficial; I just think completely discarding decades of what made those selfsame characters you're trying to generate interest in great in the first place is a mistake.

Hell, the claim that streamlining and simplifying characters creates better sales is already a proven fallacy. Barry Allen's origin is more straightforward than Wally's, since Wally's hinges on Barry's to begin with, yet the sales on The Flash haven't been particularly noteworthy since Barry took back over the mantle. Meanwhile, Batman's comics, which are a seething morass of continuity under Morrison, are doing quite well. At best, stunts like this line-wide reboot are short-term sales boosters.

 

[trustyside-kick]

Thing is, Corp, you are an intelligent individual. The average person is not. The average person is an idiot. The average person goes "man I wanna get into that but there's so much history...nevermind". And sadly I know these type of individuals personally. They ignore the fact that they don't have to read every old comic to enjoy it.

 

[CConn]

I have to say, most comics ARE hard to get into due to their continuity. When I started reading comics, it took me months to enjoy titles like Rucka's Adventures of Superman or his Wonder Woman purely because there was so many characters and events referenced in those books that I had no clue about...

And yes, I stuck with it. And yes, now I know continuity like the back of my own hand...but for anyone who isn't hardcore dedicated to getting into comics...it can be hard.

I'm sorry, but there's a definite reason why superheroes' origin stories are referenced over and over by the general public, and you never hear an ounce of info about their history after that...people don't know, and people don't care.

I think though, the thing people overlook is...you don't really need a reboot to tell stories for new readers. It can all be done purely through the writing itself.

 

[trustyside-kick]

I think though, the thing people overlook is...you don't really need a reboot to tell stories for new readers. It can all be done purely through the writing itself.

Yea. I was wondering though if it would help if each year or so you had the titles be done in volumes so that early on there is a new #1 come the next year(s)/volume but for the hardcore fan that cares the variant cover would have the proper numbering as if it continued like normal. SOME sort of indication that is also obvious that this variant cover is strictly numbering not even having to be a different picture really to appease the hardcore fans and keep it easy for the newbies.

 

[Anubis]

That seems pointless.

 

[trustyside-kick]

Well only if it would piss off the hardcore fans that the number is handled in volumes to where it is essentially a bunch of mini series though with more than 1 arc in that volume. But I personally would not care and also new fans wouldn't feel intimidated if they DON'T hop on the wagon now and try to years from now when the numbers are higher.

*shrug*

 

[Anubis]

Fact of the matter is, as Corpy already pointed out, it doesn't matter. Spike for a few months, then back to s**t. The Fact that Batman, GL, and whoever else isn't getting a reboot and will still sell automatically makes the idea of continuity being off putting a boos**t excuse for being too lazy to read.

 

[trustyside-kick]

Well I'm looking at the numbering, aka the cover really, having an impact on new readers. Because some people DO see the high numbers and are intimidated. I may not be that way with DC books because I'm familiar with the DCU...but I sometimes have that problem when wanting to try a new book of a different publisher even.

 

[moraldeficiency]

Fact of the matter is, as Corpy already pointed out, it doesn't matter. Spike for a few months, then back to s**t. The Fact that Batman, GL, and whoever else isn't getting a reboot and will still sell automatically makes the idea of continuity being off putting a boos**t excuse for being too lazy to read.

I would say too lazy to write. But that's basically right.

 

[Mystirious]

I don't really get why continuity would be so confuzzling. As long as the story is good and the characters well written I dont mind if I dont know all the details of all the characters continuity

And I can always look stuff up on wikipedia or check out the back issues and trade paperbacks

 

[Ipodman]

I think as long as you start off on the first issue of any story arc you are fine. The worst thing is if you start reading from part 3 or part 4 of a story arc... that's why they should include "PART #" on the cover (which I notice that Marvel is kinda doing for some titles...)

 

[moraldeficiency]

I think a large problem is DC has made a point of saying how they expect readers to be reading the comics, how they've laughed at the idea that marvel readers would need recap pages. I mean look at something like final crisis. If you didn't know the characters every scene would be a good wtf. Asking a comic reader to actually do research to understand characters is just sad and silly. It's one thing to look up scientific terms, political events or even definitions but if you actually have to research the characters to get the story this has already failed.

 

[Kitsune]

Thing is, Corp, you are an intelligent individual. The average person is not. The average person is an idiot. The average person goes "man I wanna get into that but there's so much history...nevermind". And sadly I know these type of individuals personally. They ignore the fact that they don't have to read every old comic to enjoy it.

Actually the average person is, well average... it's just that 50% of people are below average. I told this to someone and he agreed with me until I told him that 50% of people were above average. I had to bite my tongue to keep from saying "Well that shows witch 50% you're in, doesn't it?" t:

 

[Franklin Richards]

Which.


What 50% are you in?

 

[Ipodman]

Aaaah... math

 

[Mystirious]

No one said there'd be math!

I think a large problem is DC has made a point of saying how they expect readers to be reading the comics, how they've laughed at the idea that marvel readers would need recap pages. I mean look at something like final crisis. If you didn't know the characters every scene would be a good wtf. Asking a comic reader to actually do research to understand characters is just sad and silly. It's one thing to look up scientific terms, political events or even definitions but if you actually have to research the characters to get the story this has already failed.

A recap page at the start of each issue would be a really neat idea

It would help new readers understand whats happened in the story so far without the need for lots and lots of exposition

 

[SuperFerret]

Actually the average person is, well average... it's just that 50% of people are below average. I told this to someone and he agreed with me until I told him that 50% of people were above average. I had to bite my tongue to keep from saying "Well that shows witch 50% you're in, doesn't it?" t:

That just means that the "average" bar is set pretty low.

 

[moraldeficiency]

No one said there'd be math!



A recap page at the start of each issue would be a really neat idea

It would help new readers understand whats happened in the story so far without the need for lots and lots of exposition

I'd say necessary for what they want to do.

 

[Cain]

A recap page at the start of each issue would be a really neat idea

Absolutely; it's one of those things I feel Marvel has done right. Prior to this year I hadn't bought a Marvel title since the Civil War event. Yet I had no problem getting into the works of Hickman or get back into Spidey after his world was rocked for example and a great deal as to why was the help from the recap pages.

I've been steadily reading DC for almost 25 yrs. so it was easy for me to always keep track on things there. However I know that's not the case for a great deal of comic book fans. So I never got why they were so stubborn when it came to recap pages and chose to rely on unnecessary exposition instead which drags the stories down instead of compliments them.

 

[8Diagrams(WU)]

Trust me when I say this....being bald is bad unless you're black. And even then that's only if your head is shaped right for it."

Ridiculous, immature and offensive. What a gem.

 

[Anubis]

Asians can rock the bald look too.

 

[moraldeficiency]

Hispanics as well, actually I think about anyone can as long as they don't have a weird head shape. Better bald then balding though every time.

 

[Tron Bonne]

Ridiculous, immature and offensive. What a gem.

Is he having a laugh?

 

[Roughneck]

What do you really need to know?

Batman - Dead parents, fights crime

Superman - planet destroyed, super powers raised on earth, fights crime, loves Lois

Green Lantern - Intergalactic policeman

Flash - fast



my girlfriend could tell you that much. the ins and outs will become obvious enough when reading (Better with better writing) but how obvious will it be to even the biggest idiot out there that the Joker is a bad guy and Batman musy hate him. They put out enough referances that Joker killed Robin.....its nothing to be intimidated by

 

[CConn]

Yea. I was wondering though if it would help if each year or so you had the titles be done in volumes so that early on there is a new #1 come the next year(s)/volume but for the hardcore fan that cares the variant cover would have the proper numbering as if it continued like normal. SOME sort of indication that is also obvious that this variant cover is strictly numbering not even having to be a different picture really to appease the hardcore fans and keep it easy for the newbies.

Here's whatstart do:

Start any new run or creative direction with a new number #1. For instance, Rucka's first issue of Detective would've gotten a #1, then Synder would've gotten one, etc.

This would both alert readers of new story lines and jumping on points, while appeasing the industry's love of new #1s.

I would like to keep the history of the titles intact by always having the original numbering somewhere inside the book, but that'd probably be too confusing.