DC Relaunching Everything? - Part 9

[hippie_hunter]

If Blackman stays, I'll probably stay, but the pessimist in me is kinda expecting an entirely new creative team that will just ruin everything.

 

[CConn]

It always depends on who the creative team is.

If they put Judd Winick or something on it, I'd be gone like Donkey Kong.

 

[RoughNTumble]

please rob liefeld

 

[Mystirious]

Even if JH Williams wont be doing the art for Batwoman he can still write it

Just because he's going to be doing art for a different book doesn't mean he won't still be writing Batwoman with Blackman and with another aetist on art

McCarthy would be a very good choice

Just end it, Batwoman is far too easy of a character to mess up.

If they cancelled Batwoman I'd be done buying anything dc publish

Batwoman is the only dc character that I care about at all and her ongoing series is the only dc comic book I even remotely care about. She's more important to me than any other fictional character past or present

If dc cancel it I'll be done buying any dc comic books

If DC cancel their only series with a lesbian star I'm not going to continue to give DC my money

 

[Mystirious]

If Blackman stays, I'll probably stay, but the pessimist in me is kinda expecting an entirely new creative team that will just ruin everything.

Why would the creative team change though hippie hunter

Williams can still write the comic book. And he's been dedicated to this character

Even if it does I'll still buy it. Batwoman is a comic book that I would buy no matter who the writers or artists were

As amazing as Williams' art is, you people are totally ignoring the fact that Blackman is actually a really good writer himself, and is probably responsible for a good amount of Batwoman's current quality.

Blackman is an excellent writer

 

[Mystirious]

Also Sandman is just a four issue mini series

Williams could do the art for it while someone else fills in as artist for an arc or two of Batwoman and then he could do the art for Batwoman again

So I dont think we need to worry about Williams leaving Batwoman as either a writer or an artist guys

Let's not worry too much. Its better to be optimistic

 

[JewishHobbit]

Optimism is for chumps! I prefer to be angry and depressed all day

 

[Mystirious]

Optimism is for chumps! I prefer to be angry and depressed all day

It's not as much fun as it sounds Hobbit

I try for a mix of hopeful optimism and cynical sarcasm

 

[hippie_hunter]

Even if JH Williams wont be doing the art for Batwoman he can still write it

Just because he's going to be doing art for a different book doesn't mean he won't still be writing Batwoman with Blackman and with another aetist on art

McCarthy would be a very good choice





If they cancelled Batwoman I'd be done buying anything dc publish

Batwoman is the only dc character that I care about at all and her ongoing series is the only dc comic book I even remotely care about. She's more important to me than any other fictional character past or present

If dc cancel it I'll be done buying any dc comic books

If DC cancel their only series with a lesbian star I'm not going to continue to give DC my money

The way I see it, I'd rather have the book end on a high note and remember it fondly than see it get dragged through the mud like my beloved Teen Titans. On the bright side though, Batwoman is not in the "Do Not Drop" category of books so I'll drop it without turning back if the quality dropped.

Why would the creative team change though hippie hunter

Williams can still write the comic book. And he's been dedicated to this character

Even if it does I'll still buy it. Batwoman is a comic book that I would buy no matter who the writers or artists were



Blackman is an excellent writer

Because Williams is incredibly slow, that's why I'm expecting a creative shift. And I'm just utterly pessimistic when it comes to this character, she just started off so horribly and it took A LOT of work to get her on the right track.

 

[HighFivingMF]

Hey, RavenX. Good news! Tidbits from the DC panel:

1:40
Greetings, 'Rama readers! We're getting ready for the Justice League and Green Lantern panel here at SDCC!

1:45
We've got Geoff Johns here already, signing books like a champ...
1:50
We've also got Justice League artist Jim Lee, Earth-2 writer James Robinson, Earth-2 artist Nicola Scott, Green Lantern: New Guardians writer Tony Bedard, Justice League Dark writer Jeff Lemire, and Flash writer/artists Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato.
1:52
They're also joined by editor Brian Cunningham.
1:53
We're starting off with the cover for Justice League #12, which has an angry Aquaman standing over the unconscious bodies of Superman and Batman. "The first year was about the Justice League and who they are and their conflicts," Johns said. "One relationship changes in a very big way." There will be people quitting, Johns added, saying the next year is about how the team SHOULD be, rather than as they are.
1:54
Justice League #0 in September will have Billy Batson meet the Wizard Shazam. They do not get along — Shazam is weirded out that a kid is visiting him, whereas Billy doesn't like Shazam telling him what to do. Johns says that Billy will be joining the Justice League.
1:55
Tony Daniel will be on the book after Issue #12, in a story that reintroduces the Cheetah and seeds the Trinity War in 2013.

1:56
Justice League Annual #1 features OMAC fighting the JLI lineup. "It's really a Booster Gold story," Johns said. It's the last issue of the JLI, but it also ties into Justice League #12.
1:56
Green Lantern — who's that Lantern with a gun? Johns said when the character meets the Justice League, they ask why he carries a gun. The Lantern replies: These rings run out of juice, don't they? This is my backup.
1:58
Johns says that the Third Army's rationale is that the Guardians realize that emotion and fear aren't the problem for universal strife — it's free will.
1:59
Johns alludes to the fall of Guy Gardner in the next few months...
2:01
Green Lantern New Guardians #0 — Bedard says that he's been trying to give each Corps their moment. "By Issue #12, you'll learn why all those rings came to Kyle in the first place." In Issue #0, we're going to have more first-string Lanterns, like Atrocitous, Larfleeze and Carol Ferris. Bedard says that Kyle will begin to learn to master the other colors on the emotional spectrum, not just green (willpower).
2:02
Bedard likens this to a kung-fu movie, where the newbie has to learn five different styles of martial arts. Rage and avarice and the darker emotions will be tough for Kyle to unleash, and he needs everything to take on the Third Army.
2:02
"The Guardians are trying to wipe out the main players," including Lanterns like Kyle and Hal Jordan, Johns says.
2:03
Red Lantern #0 — Johns says that the Guardians have been working to take apart the other Corps, as well, but that Atrocitus isn't that easy to take down.
2:05
Now we're moving onto Flash #0. Buccellato said we all know Barry Allen's origin story, but they're giving it just a little bit of a different spin. Manapul: We fill in a lot of the gaps after a certain occurrence in his life, who raised him, how did he get to the place he's at now? Buccellato: Why does he always do the right thing? Why does he care about the evidence so much?
2:06
Issue #13 has a sign: "Welcome to Gorilla City." Grodd invades Central City — after Flash left a mess in Gorilla City, the telepathic gorilla is going to mess up his home. Barry might need some help to get the monkey off his back. Perhaps the Rogues might help...
2:09
Earth 2 #0 has the Superman-Batman-Wonder Woman trinity, as well as a red-armored fourth hero with a gun: Terry Sloane. Robinson says there were actually eight major heroes, or "wonders," as they called him. Robinson says that Sloane is a villain now, but he has noble reasons.
2:10
Meanwhile, we'll see Alan Scott versus Solomon Grundy, in what is now a six-part story as opposed to five. "He's basically going to become the Superman of Earth 2," Robinson said.

2:11
We'll also meet Wesley Dodds, the Sandman, a Canadian superhero who works with the World Army. The Army is led by new character Amir Khan, who Robinson describes as "Captain Nemo meets Nick Fury."
2:11
Justice League Dark #0: Lemire says that the dark books are a bit more disconnected from the rest of the DCU. Justice League Dark acts as the bridge, Lemire said, with Steve Trevor and ARGUS tying in.
2:12
It boils the title down to Constantine, seeing his relationship with Zatanna and introducing a character who is basically the Moriarty to his Sherlock Holmes.

2:12
Johns said he was excited about when Billy Batson meets Constantine for the first time. The books will tie in together more as the Trinity War approaches.

2:13
They're now opening the panel up for questions...

2:15
Will we see more JSA characters, like Wildcat? Robinson says yes, but it'll take some time to roll them out. There's a more mystic feel to this Earth, and the next arc has the government versus the Justice Society. "It's basically magic versus science, so we'll meet Dr. Fate and Wildcat." We'll also meet some government heroes with some familiar names. Scott said we've already met one, but no one's noticed.
2:19
Johns describes Shazam as "Little Rascals with magic powers." He also has confirmed that he has already started work on a sequel to Batman: Earth One with Gary Frank.
2:21
Bedard said they're going to look at Kyle's past, with things like Jade now being out of continuity (and the effects on Soranik and Donna Troy) putting a little snarl in things. "He's pretty good with the ladies," Bedard said, but after Johns pointed out that half his former girlfriends don't exist anymore, "he's not very good with the ladies."
2:25
Lee says DC evaluates its titles and tries to put out the best ideas every year, to try to strategize what books work and which ones don't. Comparing their lineup to how television works, Lee said there's a process to how many superhero books they have, how many genres they're working with, and are trying to constantly refine their titles.
2:27
A fan dressed as Deadpool asked for Starman Thom Kallor. Johns directed him to Legion of Superheroes.

2:28
Who was the Green Lantern of Krypton's sector when it exploded, and is Superman mad at him? Johns said that's a great story that they'll have to tell.
2:29
For Johns, what was the greatest challenge for Aquaman? Johns praised Ivan Reis, Joe Prado and Rod Reis. Johns said that his goal was to address all the jokes about Aquaman, and then move on with their lives. "It's worked out pretty well so far."
2:29
Will there be any threads from Flashpoint come back? Johns said no plans right now, but you never know.
2:30
What about J'onn J'onzz? He'll be back soon, Johns said.
2:31
What about Sodam Yat? He'll be back next year, Johns said.

2:32
Will Barry revisit his role as a Blue Lantern? And will Blue Beetle join the Teen Titans? Buccellato says no blue in Barry's future. Bedard said that there's no Titans for Jaime Reyes, but he'll be on a big adventure coming soon.
2:32
That JLI annual will have some Blue Beetle action, Bedard said.

2:32
Will Barry find Bart Allen anytime soon? Manapul has said "it's been discussed to be discussed." Buccellato said "it'll happen at some point, just not today."
2:34
An Australian fan said he wanted to see some Australian superheroes, such as "JLAus." Johns laughed and said he loved the idea.
2:35
Robinson said that he intends to remain on Earth 2 as long as he is able.
2:36
Did the similarities to Superman help influence the changeup to Shazam, both visually and tempermentally? Johns said that brought up the hood, but Billy's new attitude will make the characters seem very different.
2:37
There's one sequence where Billy and Superman are fighting back-to-back, when Billy blows up a car. Superman is not quite amused. Billy tries it later with Cyborg, who is like, "sweet!" They wind up skeet-shooting cars later.
2:37
Any plans for Ma Hunkel, the first Red Tornado? Robinson: That's a nice challenge.
2:39
Is there a character for the New 52 that you're hoping to have in the next year or so worth of story? Johns says he'll be reintroducing the Metal Men at some point.
2:40
Will Lobo's red ring ever be addressed? Bedard said probably not, sadly.

2:40
The Dex-Starr Valentine's Day special is coming, Johns said, he's just waiting for Krypto to come back so they can hang.

2:41
When are we going to see Raven appear in the Teen Titans? Johns: September.
2:43
Will we see the Red and the Green in Earth 2? Robinson said it won't be called the Red, but these things do tie together, especially with the introduction of Wildcat.
2:43
Any expectations to see Plastic Man anytime soon? Future cloudy, check back again later.
2:44
Where's Wally West? Does he exist? Buccellato: It's not really a panel until somebody asks that. Bedard: He's probably hanging out with Ted Kord somewhere.
2:46
Does DC discuss the effects their writing might have on children and society? Johns: "You always want your heroes to have a lesson and a moral center -- even if they're screwed up like Billy Batson... it's okay, we're all a little flawed, and for Billy Batson to find the potential to become Shazam, that's more interesting than this perfect little kid that I've never met anyone like that before."
2:47
And that's a wrap! Thanks, 'Rama readers, and stay tuned to Newsarama for more SDCC coverage!

 

[Mystirious]

I really hope that all the Guardians are wiped out apart from Ganthet during this story arc

They're pure evil now and those creepy frakking smurfs need to be gotten rid of

Hopefully either Sinestro or Atrocitus just finally have enough of their nonsense and take them all down

 

[Primal Slayer]

Nothing on WW....

And did Johns ever think how there are now 5 Earth GLs and not one of them is female? Do they not have enough will power?

 

[RoughNTumble]

and an earth red lantern

named john

 

[Zionite1]

Really?I like it as a Superboy - early years suit. But full time for a grown up superman? I dont think he'd look right next to the others in the JL.

Well Superboy looks good in Tshirt and Jeans with the Young Justice,so I see no reason why Superman wont look good with Tshirt and Jeans next to the Justice league.Post 52 maybe becuse of the general armored look.But not Pre 52

 

[Mystirious]

Nothing on WW....

And did Johns ever think how there are now 5 Earth GLs and not one of them is female? Do they not have enough will power?

Earth women can only be Star Sapphire's apparently

 

[HighFivingMF]

And did Johns ever think how there are now 5 Earth GLs and not one of them is female? Do they not have enough will power?

Well, he's only created one of them.

 

[Anubis]

Who happens to have a penis.

 

[HighFivingMF]

Who happens to have a penis.

Where's a woman going to put the ring if her hands get chopped off?

 

[Anubis]

Same place she'd put her diaphragm.

 

[HighFivingMF]

Another panel.

Get ready for DC Comics-The New 52, live from San Diego as part of our Con Away From Con coverage.
4:24
We're just about underway as the talent takes the stage. Too many to name but...yeah, let's just call it "a lot."
4:24


4:25
First up is Batgirl #0, with Gail Simone talking about the "transformation" story that shows how Barbara Gordon made the decision to become Batgirl. She promises readers will be surprised by the story that's told here.
4:26
Scott Snyder talks Batman #0, saying it will show Gotham City in "a completely different way" that shows how Bruce Wayne sets up shop and gives a brand new perspective on the Batman mythology.
4:26



4:27
Coming out of the Court of Owls, Talon #0 is an idea conceived by James Tynion IV and will tell a story across the DC Universe.

4:27



4:29
Finally from Snyder is Swamp Thing #0, which he says will be "nightmarish and gross" that shows how Alec Holland died and came back as Swamp Thing, a story that pays off in the Animal Man crossover Rotworld.

4:29



4:30



4:30
David Finch and Gregg Hurwitz talk about Batman: The Dark Knight #0.

4:31
Savage Hawkman #0 is the culmination of the story that's been told so far as Hawkman finds out the truth of why he has the Nth Metal and has to deal with the consequences of that news.

4:31



4:32
Deathstroke #0 shows why Slade Wilson "wants to get up in the morning and kill everybody" according to Rob Liefeld, with the end of the issue setting up the family issues he wil have to deal with. It also ties into the Team 7 title that's coming soon.

4:32



4:33
Liefeld then talks about Grifter #0, which gives readers a glimpse inside the program that made him who he is and shows a mentor and teacher in his life, showing who trained him and set him on his path.

4:33



4:34
The new writer/artist of The Fury of Firestorm, Dan Jurgens, says #13 will take the character back to being one person again and will show how the two people who make him up have to jockey for control.

4:35



4:35
In Superboy #0 we see the horrors of the cloning process that created Superboy and goes into why Supergirl reacted so violently to them when the two first met says Scott Lobdell.

4:36



4:37



4:37
Superman #0 then tells the story of Superman's parents in a new way, showing how they felt when they realized Krypton was going to be destroyed. It's a story of a couple facing the end of the world says Lobdell.

4:38
Teen Titans #0 tells a brand new type of story of Tim Drake back in Gotham City that reveals new things about him while adding new elements as well. We'll also meet Bunker's boyfriend, with lots of drama coming out of that part of the story.

4:38



4:40
Jimmy Palmiotti talks about All-Star Western #0, which tells the origin of Jonah Hex. There are also story element endings and beginnings that are contained there as well.

4:41



4:42
Suicide Squad writer Adam Glass says #0 will get into why Amanda Waller is they way she is and why she's running this team, as well as why she was part of Team 7, why she left that team and what happened after she did.

4:43



4:44
The first year of Justice League, Geoff Johns says, was about who the team is while the second year - which includes some new members joining and some leaving - will be about what the team should be. Justice League #12 then puts a cap on one and starts the other.

4:44



4:45
Aquaman #0 starts out right after he's exposed as the man from Atlantis and shows the year he spent searching for Atlantis and his mother according to Johns.

4:45



4:47
Starting in January, Justice League readers will find out more about the time Martian Manhunter spent on the team and what went wrong with that situation.

4:48
Cyborg and Shazam will be "buddies" when he joins the team, acting a little irresponsibly being the two youngest members of the team. It's also interesting also since it's a pairing of magic and technology.

4:53
Editor-in-Chief Bob Harras urges fans to stay tuned since there will be lots of good stuff with retuning characters joining DC Comics-The New 52 in the next year or so. So watch for more on that front.

4:57
Gail Simone teases that there's some story about Barbara Gordon and Oracle coming up on Batgirl #13, but that she's also really excited about the Death of the Family tie-in with the other Batman books, which shows what The Joker's plans are for her in particular.

5:09
One thing that can be said about the fans at the DC Comics-The New 52 panel: They have a passion for the books, the characters and the universe.

5:12
That's about it for DC Comics-The New 52 from San Diego Comic-Con. Hope you enjoyed and stay tuned to DCComics.com for more Con Away From Con coverage

 

[CConn]

If they cancelled Batwoman I'd be done buying anything dc publish

Batwoman is the only dc character that I care about at all and her ongoing series is the only dc comic book I even remotely care about. She's more important to me than any other fictional character past or present

If dc cancel it I'll be done buying any dc comic books

If DC cancel their only series with a lesbian star I'm not going to continue to give DC my money

Okay, two things...

1). If Batwoman is the only DC comic book you remotely care about, what do you even buy books like Wonder Woman, Batgirl, Birds of Prey, etc. now? I mean, you're technically saying that you're buying books you don't care about at all for no expressed reason.

2). While I can totally understand your anger and frustration over it if DC canceled it while it's sales were still strong, if DC canceled Batwoman due to lack of interest on the part of the readers (like, let's say, if it was only selling 15,000 copies per issue), how can you blame them? They're a business who's goal is to make money. If the comic book reading audience displayed a lack of interest, how would it be DC's fault if they were to cancel it? It would almost be the democratic thing to do.

 

[Pfeiffer-Pfan]

If a book isn't selling as hoped, DC should invest a little time into improving the flaws (change direction, creative teams, etc).

But if that still didn't work then yeah they are completely justified in cancelling a title... regardless of the five or six fans who'll cry blasphemy.

Batwoman is always going to be a book on shaky ground once J.H. Williams III leaves it...

But thankfully, for now, he isn't.

 

[the great thor]

my problem with the relaunching is we the fans dont know what is canon history and what isnt. a ploy dc is doing so as not too have to tell us that certain stories we have are wrothless now(spider-man one more day). i also dont like not knowing about what the state of certain characters relationships are at present. i have always loved the couple of dick grayson and starfire but just look at it now. we dont know what they are too each other, and the writers made starfire a ****e( sleeping with both of her male teammates night in and night out) she is so soiled now i dont know if i want them together. i mean the writers just pissed on there relationship and dont seem to care. to take a great couple and do that well i cant get onaboard with it.

 

[Cain]

Yeah I mean DC has done a lot of things I've been extremely unhappy about like prematurely ending Rozum's last volume of Xombi or wiping the last volume of Booster Gold completely out of continuity for example. Or the whole Stephanie Brown & Secret Six fiasco.

But I also understand that they did it because BG had a niche audience which I was a member of as did those other books and they had to move on and publish stuff that will actually sell a lot better and not lose them any more money.

Doesn't mean I'm going to up and go and never buy anything published by DC ever again though considering how much quality **** they're currently publishing at the moment. As a comic book fan I'd be the one who's losing if I did that because I'd be missing out on some great ****ing examples of the medium today just because I'm mad that some books or characters that I loved are no longer around.

 

[Cain]

If a book isn't selling as hoped, DC should invest a little time into improving the flaws (change direction, creative teams, etc).

But if that still didn't work then yeah they are completely justified in cancelling a title... regardless of the five or six fans who'll cry blasphemy.

Batwoman is always going to be a book on shaky ground once J.H. Williams III leaves it...

But thankfully, for now, he isn't.

They did that FOREVER. There were many books (Ie: Power of Shazam, Hitman, Legion of Superheroes back in the day) or Jonah Hex, Booster Gold, R.E.B.E.L.S., Secret Six, Power Girl for more recent examples that had a loyal audience but the sales weren't all that hot.

But DC kept on giving them chance after chance after chance by taking losses and publishing them anyway for over 20 issues for the sake of the fans of those books. Even when it lost them a lot of dollars and marketshare to the point that they HAD to reboot to just stay viable against the monster known as Marvel. The competition had way more mainstream audience and general comic audience appeal because they had the dollars to have superior marketing and pressings. It's obviously a business model that was no longer feasible for them from a competitive standpoint.