DCU Reboot

The comics blogosphere has been buzzing about this news from DC that it's rebooting, sorta, its comics, with 52 number ones coming out in September. I really don't know what I think about it.

On one hand, it conveys some of the excitement that One Year Later had, with the suspense of not knowing what will be changed and what won't. On the other hand, I read comics about characters I enjoy. If those characters are no longer the same, will they still interest me?

And that second question has a variety of possible answers. If they reboot the characters from scratch, it's truly starting over and I can choose what to read similar to how I started reading comics in the first place back when I was a kid. I'll top off my shortboxes and whatever I like and keep reading of the new, I'll consider all new comics.

But if they simply roll back the clock a year or two, or even a bit more than that, it could be good, if it removes the nasty crap done to characters like Roy Harper and restore what was good, or it could be bad if it removes all the good things that happened to them and helped them develop as characters, such as Dick Grayson becoming Batman. What if they go back so far that Dick and Roy are teens again? I don't want to read that. I've already grown up with these characters and think of them as adults. I don't think I can accept them as teens again, still finding their way in the world. Been there, read that. Ditto most of the characters. After all Bruce Wayne has been through, growing in complexity and interest level, to go back to a younger Bruce won't feel right.

I can't begin to guess what DC has in mind, though there's a lot of speculation out there, including my concerns outlined above. I'm going to have to wait and see and then decide what to read, but I suspect my wallet will be much happier come September. I might find fewer comics to read, saving me time and money. Or it might make me unhappy for the same reason because I'll lose so many of my favorite comics to read. The other option, that there will be 52 books I'll want to keep reading is almost too much to hope for.

This paragraph is typical of what I find so confusing about this:

"In addition, the new #1s will introduce readers to a more modern, diverse DC Universe, with some character variations in appearance, origin and age. All stories will be grounded in each character’s legend – but will relate to real world situations, interactions, tragedy and triumph."

A more modern, diverse DCU, if it is, indeed, more diverse, is a good thing. But what does "relating to the real world" really mean. That the tragedies won't come because of super villains destroying cities, but because terrorists destroy those cities? Because it's not as if the DC characters haven't suffered and lost loved ones in recent years. It's not as if they haven't triumphed over diversity, either. And where does a book like Batwoman fit given it was started what seems like ages ago and keeps getting pushed back. Is it still coming out? Is it going to fit the new DCU?

I think I just gave myself a headache thinking about this. It's going to be a long wait til September.

The Joy of Comics

This sums up the appeal of comics perfectly, I think.

Time to Stop Procrastinating

And write some reviews!

Green Arrow 12
The end of the Forest mystery/Brightest Day with Jason Blood rebonding with Etrigan, and seriously, did anyone doubt that would happen somehow? Next issue, we should get back to actual Green Arrow stories. I hope. Oh, and to pick a nit, Ollie tells Galahad that he understood how he felt about his daughter's death, that he lost a girl he loved like a daughter. Why couldn't he just say he'd lost his granddaughter?

Detective 877
So loving this book. Scott Snyder has a nice feel for the Bat-verse. Bringing in Tony Zucco's daughter was a brilliant move, presenting Dick with an intriguing emotional dilemma.

Gotham City Sirens 23
Still fun. Selina is shamed into helping Harley, Harley is her usual loopy self, Arkham Asylum is about to go ballistic, and Bruce shows up. I know people generally prefer Harley with the Joker, but I want her going back to being a semi-heroic/loony pal of Catwoman. She's too restricted as a character when she's with the Joker.

Batman 710
Gotta love Two-Face! Nice guest turn by Selina, too. And things look so bad for Harvey, I almost feel sorry for him.

Batman and Robin 23
Aside from Jason looking too much like Roy Harper, this was okay. If Winick doesn't screw this up at the conclusion, this could be a good story, given this decent beginning.

Zatanna 13
Lovely cover by Hughes. Spectre makes an appearance that seemed rather unnecessary, but might have more meaning later, the Brother Night storyline continues, and we learn Det. Colton has a big secret. Cool.

Supergirl 64
A decent conclusion to the story. In fact, the story was fine, but coming after the brilliance of Sterling Gates, it just felt blah. Just an average story where for a while, it had reached greatness.

Jeffrey Catherine Jones, RIP

I was sad to read of Jeffrey Catherine Jones' death. I believe the first time I encountered her work was in the National Lampoon and on a couple of comic book covers. I know the non-powered Diana Prince era is not the favorite of most Wonder Woman fans, but I really loved the book back then because I loved the stories. Lots of intrigue and spy/suspense type stories, which I love and some fantasy in the form of guest appearances by  Fritz Leiber's Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser. And while the interior art was fairly average, there were some sweet covers. Two of them were by Jeff Jones, done in very different styles; one painting-like and the other very comic bookish. Never mind the bondage aspect. I have no trouble with heroes in peril if posed realistically, male or female, and I don't think anyone ever drew the female form as beautifully as Jeffrey Catherine Jones did. We've lost a great artist. And if you've never seen these covers, here they are.

Falling Behind Again

The comics are piling up again, but I've also been lazy about posting reviews. Can I blame allergies? Because this has been a horrible allergy season so far. Anyway, on to the reviews.

Secret Six 33
A satisfying conclusion to the main story in hell, which of course isn't a true ending, because there's the matter of Scandal's "other girlfriend." I love all the complexity in this book, especially the complex relationships and emotions. The art's been great, too.

Freedom Fighters 9
Again, the group is disbanded, more or less (I swear this is a recurring theme), and the politics is as thick as ever, which is why I love this book so and am sad it'll be ending soon. I wouldn't like all comics to be like this, but I do like having one to read, with characters representing a variety of views.

Batgirl 21
A pretty cover and the usual fun inside. The real intrigue for me is the direction Wendy's story is taking. I'm looking forward to seeing how that develops.

Birds of Prey 12
Super cover, but does Hawk really go around in street clothes and his mask? At least Dove looks like she's just wearing sunglasses. It was nice seeing Renee (The Question) in the story (and I'd love to see Batwoman guest next!). And what a nice, creepy story. Part 2 looks like it should be a winner. Junior's such a icky villain.

Flash 11-12
This sets up Flashpoint nicely, although a bit slowly. Zoom's a powerful villain and playing with time is always fun and it gets explosive when you put the two together. Next up is Flashpoint 1 and it had better live up to the hype.