DC Comics Thread

[number8]

Yeah, I was responding to those when it was going on. I think Waid came on too strong, but it's obviously anger stemming from his displeasure at DC's treatment of Harley for the past 2 years, which has been atrocious and all around repulsive. Simone came to the right conclusions: she's right that DC's best course of action is to apologize and use a different page for the contest, and she's right to admit wrong with her Deadpool comparison, given Harley's longstanding characterization as a sexpot. In general, I view "morbid humor" and "titillation" the same way I view "household pets" and "porn." I like each thing individually, but putting them together is just plain being a douchebag.

[number8]

Man alive, I thought I liked Matt Kindt, but what he's done to Deadshot and Harley's origins (TWO OF MY FAVORITE GODDAMN CHARACTERS) in the Villains Month issues are inexcusable.

[sevenarts]

Kindt's DC work often does not seem terribly personal. I imagine a lot of it's just a paycheck for him, to which I say great, keep giving us more Mind Mgmt.

[sevenarts]

DC's gonna do a weekly Batman book overseen by Snyder and written mostly by all of Snyder's generic posse. Sounds great!

[number8]

So Williams and Blackman's final issue of Batwoman came out yesterday, and it ended with a cliffhanger that's now never going to be resolved.

[sevenarts]

It wasn't especially good anyway, but I'm still annoyed that the story's going to end like that now. It's a typically weird and abrupt Blackman/Williams cliffhanger - they've had problems with endings on and off since the beginning of the New 52 - made even worse by the knowledge that there won't be a followup. Batwoman had its problems but I don't get the logic of cutting the story short like that instead of just, I don't know, waiting a month to do the inevitably shitty Zero Year tie-in?

[number8]

Even if they had to slot in a Zero Year tie-in (and I get why business wise they'd want all the tie-ins to drop the same month), Williams also said that they planned to wrap up their entire run in #26, not just the arc, since they were going to leave of their own volition. It seems spiteful to not just let it wrap (think of the trade sales, DC, geez). Especially when they've already completed and turned in the script for the next issue, which now looks like it's just going to be tossed in the trash.

I wonder how confused people who don't read the behind-the-scenes news are going to be.

[Sven]

...aaaaand they just announced that Stormwatch, the last DC book in my box, is ending in April. I was kind of hoping that it was going to be the weird title that, despite being absolutely bonkers nonsense, DC would keep publishing. I'd've kept reading. Put Doug Mahnke on something away from Geoff Johns and I just might start buying that. Otherwise, my funds are going straight to Avatar and Image.

[Sven]

Holy moly. I'm at a bar waiting for friends, reading the Frankenstein trades I checked out from the library. Ponticelli delivers some of the best artwork in a big 2 comic, like, ever. I always liked him, but every page of this screams with energy and inventive monstrosities. Still ho-hum on Lemire's writing skills, but this is a damn fine book.

[Grouchy]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qay-aM6ut2w

Not Necessary to watch it all the way through (which I did), but goddamn, Christopher Lee's voice. That man is a treasure.

[number8]

...aaaaand they just announced that Stormwatch, the last DC book in my box, is ending in April.

Other books cancelled in April:

Nightwing
Teen Titans
Superman Unchained
Suicide Squad
Justice League of America

[Sven]

Holy moly. I'm at a bar waiting for friends, reading the Frankenstein trades I checked out from the library. Ponticelli delivers some of the best artwork in a big 2 comic, like, ever. I always liked him, but every page of this screams with energy and inventive monstrosities. Still ho-hum on Lemire's writing skills, but this is a damn fine book.

3 months later, I've finished the second trade. I think Ponticelli's work here is the apex of DC's recent comics output, every single page a revelation of technique and imagination. The two issues inked by Walden Wong bear an uncanny similarity to Brian Bolland's illustration, projecting the feel of a classy monster movie that never was. But best yet is the impression left by Matt Kindt, who weaves the last seven or so issues into a unique vision of legacy and nightmares, even managing to spin a little gold out of the wan bale that was the Rotworld crossover. In one page he infuses more resonance into the Frankenstein character than Lemire does in his whole run.

Good comics.

[number8]

So I guess Azzarello's Wonder Woman is entering its last arc. I've been pleasantly surprised by how long this title has lasted on my pull list, but I think it's the right time to bow out. The fact that it's been one big continuous story this whole time keeps giving it the impression that it's dragging, even when it's not really. I've made the decision to drop the title at the end, regardless of who's going to take over. I will always look back fondly at it as the one New 52 title that kept saying "fuck off" to company mandate and ignored everything else going on with the DC universe, including her relationship to Superman.

[sevenarts]

Yeah, the time is right. I was just thinking as I read the most recent issue that, while it's still great, it's been going on in the same vein for quite some time now. I love it but I think it's a good idea to build up a climax and bring it to a satisfying ending. It's really amazing how long Azzarello and Chiang could keep doing something so idiosyncratic and counterintuitive at a company that was otherwise smothering any such innovations elsewhere in the line. One big story for a couple dozen issues, with the title character often shunted to the side as part of a larger ensemble, totally self-contained, with beautiful art and no tie-ins to any of the dull corporate events going on around DC. I don't know how Azzarello managed to be exempt from all the DC nonsense but I'm glad he pulled this off.

WW was the last DC book I was buying in any form (in hardcovers) so now I'll be totally done with DC. I'll probably continue to read the Bat stuff out of sheer curiosity but it's not like I'm actually enjoying those books.

[number8]

Yeah Batman #28 was just insulting. I want Zero Year to be done as soon as possible and then I'm dropping it. That'd be it for me with DC as well.

[number8]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Azzarello and Chiang's replacement on Wonder Woman is David Finch. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAthat sterrible.

[sevenarts]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Azzarello and Chiang's replacement on Wonder Woman is David Finch. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAthat sterrible.

Hahah was just coming here to post pretty much exactly this. Whatever, DC. I basically only read any non-WW DC books to laugh and shake my head disapprovingly these days.

[sevenarts]

Really getting a kick out of those Guillem March pages that got rejected from early issues of the New 52 Catwoman. I really dug how baldly smutty and cheesecakey that book was early on, and it looks like it would've gone even further in that direction if given the chance. Would've been pretty fun to see, instead it went in some more typical directions and lost its naughty energy.

[bac0n]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Azzarello and Chiang's replacement on Wonder Woman is David Finch. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAthat sterrible.

...and with this, I will be off DC entirely. Odd, since two years ago, I had a dozen DC titles on my pull list.

[number8]

The writer is Finch's wife, whose only comics work is those porny Alice in Wonderland books for Zenescope.

[Sven]

Yeah, with last week's conclusion of Stormwatch (watch for a review of the entire run soon!), my DC pull is down to a solid nada as well. Kinda wish I'd been picking up the Greg Pak books, as I hear they're good, and Kuder and Lee are two of the best artists they have right now.

[number8]

Nightwing cancelled, to be replaced by Grayson: Agent of SPYRAL. He'll quit being a superhero and globetrotting it as a sexy secret agent.

Meh idea, good team though. Tim Seeley and Mikel Janin.

http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/c7c8193bc63b8b56430c4f93708371 7bd0931726/c=41-338-3557-5045&r=537&c=0-0-534-712/local/-/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2014/04/14//1397500147000-GRAYSON-COMICS-jy-3912-.JPG

[slqrick]

Lol that cover is awkward, but I like the idea.

[Skitch]

Could be cool. Glad they didn't kill him.

[number8]

I liked Batman #30. Snyder's fetish with long monologues, smug wordplays and random trivias definitely make him better at writing Riddler than any other villain he's written so far. I just wish this final arc is what Zero Year jumped into from the get-go rather than rehashing the origin first again.

[Sven]

I'm well off the wagon at this point, but that sounds about perfect. Come to think of it, I think Riddler, or Two Face, not sure, might be the most intriguing and most frequently well-executed villain in the Gotham catalogue.

Nothing to do with Batman Forever, I swear. I hope.

[slqrick]

http://i.imgur.com/miXLsnr.jpg

[number8]

That is hugely unfortunate.

[number8]

Bruce is letting Alfred and Tim think that Dick is dead? That's fucked up.

[Sven]

Man alive, I thought I liked Matt Kindt, but what he's done to Deadshot and Harley's origins (TWO OF MY FAVORITE GODDAMN CHARACTERS) in the Villains Month issues are inexcusable.

I just read these two issues. What did he do?

[number8]

I just read these two issues. What did he do?

Oof, you went back deep, but IIRC I had more of a problem with his views of those characters than the writing of those issues. He basically changed Deadshot's entire origin story. I've always been very fond of the classically tragic premise of him learning to be a crackshot because he missed a shot and killed his brother by mistake. The revision to him being a crackshot because stray bullets killed his family struck me as an artless alternative.

As for the Harley issue, I just remember having a very big problem with his characterization of her as someone who would commit the mass murder of children. I believe this has been mostly ignored since, though.

[Grouchy]

As for the Harley issue, I just remember having a very big problem with his characterization of her as someone who would commit the mass murder of children.
And this is not Harley... Why? If the Joker would do it, Harley would follow suit, if only to impress him.

[number8]

She'd never been that ruthless, especially not on her own without Joker. From the animated series to her solo comic series, her characterization was always more ditzy and wacky than outright lethal. Hell, she reformed and turned hero for a while--Paul Dini always wrote her more as someone inadvertently falling into crime no matter what she tries to do. "Child murderer" struck me as an oddly extreme place to go to for a character like that. It'd be like seeing Two-Face eat someone's flesh or something.

[Sven]

Oof, you went back deep, but IIRC I had more of a problem with his views of those characters than the writing of those issues. He basically changed Deadshot's entire origin story. I've always been very fond of the classically tragic premise of him learning to be a crackshot because he missed a shot and killed his brother by mistake. The revision to him being a crackshot because stray bullets killed his family struck me as an artless alternative.

As for the Harley issue, I just remember having a very big problem with his characterization of her as someone who would commit the mass murder of children. I believe this has been mostly ignored since, though.

Aha, yes. To the first point, I, too, thought it was pretty brazen for Kindt to end the issue, impressively staged as it was, with such an overt act of slaughter. Seemed a bit much. That said, aside from the egregiousness of that conclusion, I thought it was otherwise successful in offering an insight into the bifurcated experience and personality of the character, who has never really made sense to me.

The same goes for Deadshot. Didn't know his origin, have no real strong impression of him as anything other than an assassin protagonist. The book was written and drawn well, and the blocking of the inciting incident was effective, but there's not much meat there.

Anyway, I had just remembered your comment and thought I'd revive it.

[number8]

For obvious reasons, Harley's existence really depends on Joker behaving closer to the animated series. During her solo series, Gotham City Sirens, and Paul Dini's Detective Comics, etc, whenever Joker pops up it would have to be that charming, dastardly, softer Joker, because that's the only way it makes sense for him to have a Harley by his side. When he's the sexually provocative serial killer monster that most modern writers prefer him to be, the idea of him having a girlfriend is odd. Harley's appearance in Snyder's "Death of the Family" was particularly out of place.

So in a way, I can understand why her initial New 52 characterization by Glass and Kindt in Suicide Squad was very different, with her being more tortured and murdery, to fit in with the New 52's Leatherjoker. I just really dislike it. And hey, look, now it's all wiped away again by Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti's version, who's back to the more happy-cartoony Harley.

[Grouchy]

The Arkham City Joker/Harley combo is also ruthless to the max.

I don't know. If Harley did that in the Animated Series, it would be out of place. In the comics, the Joker has already done so many outrageous and appalling things that it makes sense to me that Harley doesn't stay behind. But of course, I haven't read this comic so what do I know.

[number8]

DC just announced two new Batman titles: Gotham Academy and Arkham Manor.

I give up.

[sevenarts]

DC's not gonna stop until all 52 titles have Batman on the cover.

That said, I'm at least curious about anything Becky Cloonan does, so I'll probably check out Gotham Academy.

[Sven]

I was so close today to plunging into Batman Eternal. My pull list was wan this week and they have every issue. Tempted, but then Reason kicked in. Also screaming at me was every issue of Future's End. I've been weak when it comes to Zircher-illustrated books in the past, but again, Old Man Reason showed up and dutifully put me in my place. I took leave with no DC. What will it take to get me back on? I thought Infinity Man and the Forever People would do it, but that first issue was so boring.

[number8]

Oh wow, Gail Simone is off Batgirl, and being replaced by Cameron Stewart as a writer. He's just going to do covers for the art, not interiors, but he did do this badass redesign of Babs' costume:

http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/comicsalliance.com/files/2014/07/batgirl-tarr-stewart.jpg

[Dukefrukem]

DC just announced two new Batman titles: Gotham Academy and Arkham Manor.

I give up.

Arkham Manor sounds amazing.

[Skitch]

The first thing I noticed (and love) was the jacket not spandex. Then I noticed he pointed it out on the right lol. While the primal hetero in me would double-take the over-sexing of female characters, the logical side of me always thought it was pretty dumb how skimpy they make girls outfits.

Look at any crowd of normal dressed women and watch how much adjusting they do on regular clothes, how the hell would anyone do martial arts and fight crime in a dominatrix porn fetish outfit?

[Sven]

Ads reveal that Mahnke is drawing an issue of Multiversity. There are very few things I want to see more than that issue. Gonna go gawk at some Kelly/Mahnke JLA to sate the hunger for now.

[number8]

DC just announced two new Batman titles: Gotham Academy and Arkham Manor.

I give up.

HAHAHA THEY JUST ANNOUNCED ANOTHER ONE.

Gotham by Midnight.

Wow.

[sevenarts]

They will not stop until there are 52 Batman titles.

In all fairness, the Batman line is probably less bad overall than most of the rest of their line. Or maybe I just think that because I like Batman so much.

[number8]

They're also picking some pretty decent talents for the projects. Gotham by Midnight has Ben Templesmith on art, so with that and Gotham Academy and Batgirl, it looks like they're loosening up on the Jim Lee house style a bit.

But yeah, I'm mostly shaking my head at this because it's like they don't seem to know how to not rely on Batman.

Speaking of which, finally dropped Snyder's book. Two more issues of Wonder Woman until I'm DC free.

[sevenarts]

What'd you think of the end of Zero Year? I had thought it was picking up a bit towards the end, there were some issues in there that were downright fun, but the ending was such a limp, unearned resolution, and all the 25th Hour-esque melodrama with Julie Madison was especially forced and contrived. This was such a gorgeous book, and the colors especially were frequently startling and exciting - and how often can THAT be said about a Big Two book? - so it's a shame that Snyder's storytelling has so often fallen short. There's been a forced grandeur to all his New 52 Batman stories, like he wants very badly to convey the idea that he's telling big, important stories with new perspectives on Batman, but there's nothing to back up that attitude, and every arc he's done so far, even if they've seemed good at various points, has fallen apart entirely at the end.

[number8]

I was basically suffering it for the gorgeous Plascencia coloring. I thought it was mostly a bore. One of the criticisms I've read that I think I agree with after reading the whole thing is that it's way too big for a Riddler origin story. The guy was a dictator for months in his first appearance? And now he's a mid-level threat in jail for robbing banks and stuff? It's an odd direction to take. I've also said before that I think Snyder is very well suited to write Riddler's dialogue given his style, and I did enjoy the bloated banter, but his big Riddler story is essentially just Riddler threatening Batman and Gotham by force with a "answer a riddle and you're free" thing superficially thrown in.

And yeah, that Julie Madison coda is just overwrought.

[sevenarts]

It's a good point about the Riddler, I definitely agree on that front. I don't see what stories they can really do with him (at least convincingly) after going in this direction with him for his debut. It reminds me of the dire mid-70s stories where Denny O'Neil had Two-Face holding the country hostage with nuclear bombs and stuff like that - O'Neil was another guy who, for all the acclaim he's gotten as a Bat writer, never really got a lot of Batman's rogues' gallery.

[number8]

I can now laugh at this, I guess.

http://ic.pics.livejournal.com/evandorkin/781303/165826/165826_600.jpg

[sevenarts]

This thread's always so negative (and not without good reason) but is anyone else excited for Multiversity? First DC book I'm gonna pick up in single issues as it comes out. Really looking forward to some brain-twisting Morrison craziness.

[Sven]

I was very close to dropping some cash on the Burnham Action Comics variant for Multiversity, but then thought better of it. Got the regular issue and will report back some time later this week.

[Sven]

Ow. Love me some Multiversity. Straight-up Seven Soldiers vibes, for shiz. Reis is damnable, cuz his stuff be all corporate style, but the man can get intricate. Not sold on pirate monkey, because Filth did monkey and pirates aren't random anymore. Can't believe they're letting Morrison basically dictate the function of the multiversalizing of the new U on the basis of a long-gestating miniseries (esp. after essentially saying he's not doing any more), but as a sort of swan song I guess it makes sense. That said, unless you're like me and think Final Crisis is a Moby Dick level masterpiece and were essentially winded by the surprise (re)introducing of Nix and could cruise ably along with the esoteric discussions of (apparently no-longer) antiquated multiversal functionality, this book is probably only going to confound. It's kinda like Morrison's Inland Empire. So far. Beautiful. Sprouse next!

[slqrick]

Multiversity is fucking batshit. Didn't realize how much I missed Morrison's writing.

[sevenarts]

I was tempted by the great Burnham cover too but also opted to get the regular one.

Anyway, great issue, this was loads of fun and reminded me of everything that could be great about DC's history and universe. Really complex and referential, I can't imagine what this must seem like to someone who's never read Morrison's other big DC projects like Seven Soldiers or Final Crisis - or even the original Crisis, which this draws on a surprising amount.

[slqrick]

Huh. Red Lanterns post-Soule has been kind of amazing.

[Sven]

Huh. Red Lanterns post-Soule has been kind of amazing.

You mean post-Milligan Soule-era? Haven't read any of it, but maybe it's out of spite. Milligan's is one of the few great post-reboot runs.

[number8]

I think he means post him taking over. Speaking of which, he's leaving it and other DC titles in March to work exclusively for Marvel.

[slqrick]

Yeah, I meant the Soule stuff, which has been terrific. I read a couple of the Milligan issues and got bored of Atrocitus standing around and pontificating endlessly. I haven't been impressed with Soule's Marvel work as much as DC (haven't read She-Hulk), but I'm excited about the prospect of him getting his hands on one of the bigger books.

[number8]

New Secret Six ongoing, written by Gail Simone.

DAMMIT, I thought I was gonna be done with the New 52 after Azzarello leaves Wonder Woman.

[slqrick]

Ooo shit.

[Sven]

Posting it here for now, but we can move any potential further Vertigo discussion to the general thread:

The Names. Anyone? I thought it was a terrific first issue, one of Milligan's recent best. Helps that Fernandez has an uncanniness about his style, bringing greater expression to Risso's stark shading. The spikes of grief and confusion rang particularly true, especially as a counterpoint to the framing sequence's matter-of-factness. The "champion" thing is just hysterical.

[number8]

Yep. I got it too. Rote premise, but gonzo execution. That last page is absurd.

[sevenarts]

This latest Multiversity issue was hysterical. So relentlessly meta, Morrison just taking shots at DC and channeling comic blog debates through the mouths of the characters. Great, great stuff.

I'm also really enjoying "Robin Rises" in Batman & Robin. Aside from whatever Morrison's doing and the now-ending Wonder Woman, this is probably the only DC title that's delivering this kind of high-concept, high-octane thrill ride, just bursting with ideas and stunning visuals and still packing in plenty of great character moments along the way. For a book about a grieving father descending into Hell to bring back his murdered son, it's just so damn FUN and exciting, even with the Hellbat's raging intensity at its core. A few missteps aside (hello, Two-Face), this title has always been good in the New 52, and at times it's been downright jaw-dropping; this is one of those times again.

[number8]

Oh my god why. (http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2014/11/03/dc-comics-convergence-exclusive/18249201/)

[Acapelli]

Oh my god why. (http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2014/11/03/dc-comics-convergence-exclusive/18249201/)
am not opposed to the idea, but the talent involved makes it an easy pass

[sevenarts]

The event itself is definitely going to be terrible but I'm intrigued by all the 2-issue miniseries. I think the only one they've announced so far is Tom Peyer on The Atom, which suggests they're going to be pairing some older creators with characters they're associated with, could be good if they manage to attract back some other names who haven't worked for DC/done much in a while. Peyer's way underrated and his '90s Atom stories were lots of fun, for example. I'm sure at least a handful of the tie-ins will be worth a look.

[number8]

Pax Americana blew my fucking mind. Grant Morrison channeling Alan Moore results in one insanely dense book. I kept reading and re-reading it. It's like this issue was made specifically for not just Watchmen readers, but Watchmen scholars who know the ins and outs of Moore's book and can recognize the form experimentation, history, and themes being referenced. Insane.

[sevenarts]

Yeah Multiversity has been nothing but great so far but this issue in particular was just amazing. The way it riffs on Watchmen goes well beyond the usual homage and is practically comic criticism in comic form, dissecting and commenting on the themes and characters of Watchmen and what that book has to say about superhero comics more generally. Brilliant and beautiful. Quitely's page design has a lot to do with it, the way the action moves around some of those pages is just stunning. I'm thinking especially of the page where Eve and her father are going down a stairwell and the panels zigzag across the page with them as they move between floors. And the way the whole structure of the book, both overall and within individual pages, reflects all of Captain Atom's comments about the way that comic books can be read in different orders that change the story, and the way that ties together with the story's ideas about time, man it's all just overwhelming. So good.

[Sven]

I'm thinking especially of the page where Eve and her father are going down a stairwell and the panels zigzag across the page with them as they move between floors.

Catch how the dialogue described the form on that page? A little cute, but still a jolting experiment. Fantastic issue. I feel like the book was one step away from making the Question's role relevant, and not just a vehicle for exposition. Insights?

[number8]

Oh dear, Miller and Snyder are planning on writing a third Dark Knight book together. Miller apparently can't physically draw anymore (way to bury the lead in this story) so it will have rotating artists.

[Skitch]

I'd read that. The Dark Knight Strikes Again is underrated, but Miller needs guidance and a collaboration with Snyder seems like a good fit.

[Grouchy]

Miller apparently can't physically draw anymore
Huh, why?

[number8]

Huh, why?

Probably something to do with the fact that he's looked like this (http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/08/22/article-2731443-20B26FEF00000578-778_634x774.jpg) for the past 6 months. I was shocked and felt bad at Comic Con because I was mocking him a bit right before the Sin City panel and then he walked out looking like death. No one seems to know what he's ill of, but he's a guy in his 50s who looks like he's 90. Stan Lee is actually over 90 and looks healthier than him.

[Grouchy]

Probably something to do with the fact that he's looked like this (http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/08/22/article-2731443-20B26FEF00000578-778_634x774.jpg) for the past 6 months. I was shocked and felt bad at Comic Con because I was mocking him a bit right before the Sin City panel and then he walked out looking like death. No one seems to know what he's ill of, but he's a guy in his 50s who looks like he's 90. Stan Lee is actually over 90 and looks healthier than him.
Damn. Yeah, I was reasoning that he wasn't actually that old. In that picture, though, it looks like somebody just socked him in the eyeball.

[Skitch]

Ive been picking up New 52 zero issues as I come across em in quarter bins. Today i got Phantom Stranger. Holy shit this was good! Think Ill pick a few more of these.

[number8]

Does anyone else feel that Multiversity is kinda cruel? It just makes me yearn for that kind of rejuvenation of classic characters rather than the way Nu52 did it. The Thunderworld issue feels this way most of all.

[number8]

Wow, some of these new books that DC just announced actually sound pretty great. Gene Luen Yang is taking over Superman from Geoff Johns. That's fantastic.

Also, Garth Ennis and John McCrea reviving Section Eight from Hitman in their own series, haha.

[Sven]

Neato! That's just as exciting as his Section 8 announcement.

Edit: wrong thread but his Marvel announcement is totally jazz too!

[number8]

I didn't get to the comics shop for a couple of weeks, so I just read Ultra Comics last night.

Holy shit.

[Sven]

I didn't get to the comics shop for a couple of weeks, so I just read Ultra Comics last night.

Holy shit.

I was hoping it was gonna be the next Superman: Beyond in terms of Morrison/Mahnke mind meltdown. It was great, but my favorite is still the Marcus To kid stuff.

[number8]

Oh dear, Miller and Snyder are planning on writing a third Dark Knight book together. Miller apparently can't physically draw anymore (way to bury the lead in this story) so it will have rotating artists.

So this is officially confirmed now, but it's with Brian Azzarello, not Scott Snyder. They still haven't announced the artists.

The title is:

http://i.newsarama.com/images/i/000/147/051/original/DKIII.jpg?1429905890

[Sven]

Azzarello's definitely the better choice, though I'd've preferred a straight-up Miller-penned script. Snyder's verboseness and love for exposition would've killed it.

[Acapelli]

Azzarello's definitely the better choice, though I'd've preferred a straight-up Miller-penned script. Snyder's verboseness and love for exposition would've killed it.
agreed

[number8]

Miller's style is to overwrite himself, though. He and Azz are such different styles of writers. I think it's gonna be interesting to have a Miller book be written by someone who's known for pithy dialogue and uses little to no narration.

[Sven]

Multiversity #2 is hysterical. The last page is especially great.

[number8]

Multiversity #2 is hysterical. The last page is especially great.

Yep.

"If you read too fast, you miss things."

[number8]

Fuck, I just realized that Morrison introduced the idea of Multiverse-2 in Multiversity #2.

That son of a bitch.

[number8]

In case you haven't heard, DC will now have some pages split between story and ads, as opposed to having full page ads.

Greg Capullo has been fuming about it on twitter. I can't imagine a lot of their other artists are happy, either.

[number8]

Chris Burnham was furious and tweeted photos from his comp copies, but DC made him take them down. Obviously, people saved his photos, though. They will look like this now:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CGIBSneUsAEk-B7.jpg

[Dukefrukem]

That is shit.

[sevenarts]

The single issues are already arguably inferior to collected editions, and certainly more expensive, so this really just makes it so there's no good reason to ever buy a DC floppy.

[TGM]

The single issues are already arguably inferior to collected editions, and certainly more expensive, so this really just makes it so there's no good reason to ever buy a DC floppy.

Speaking of collected editions, how would this work for that? Would they just combine 2 half-pages as one full page in the collections (assuming they were spaced properly enough to do that), or just leave a big blank spot at the bottom? This is just a really bizarre decision on their part...

[number8]

Speaking of collected editions, how would this work for that? Would they just combine 2 half-pages as one full page in the collections (assuming they were spaced properly enough to do that), or just leave a big blank spot at the bottom? This is just a really bizarre decision on their part...

The artists didn't draw the pages this way. DC had people just photoshop it. They just told creators to keep the ads in mind and not make it impossible to do, but still break their stories to work in normal pages because in trade and digital, the pages are untouched.

604103960413278209

[Skitch]

This wont last long. Terrible terrible idea.

[Grouchy]

Wow, that is beyond awful.

[number8]

lol

http://www.newsarama.com/25766-superman-lois-clark-brings-preboot-husband-wife-back-to-main-dc-continuity.html

[Sven]

I suppose we can change the name of this thread to something else.

All-Star Section Eight is the greatest comic of all time.

[Sven]

I suppose we can change the name of this thread to something else.

All-Star Section Eight is the greatest comic of all time.

Just came in here to post this EXACT message. Good job, September Sven. But seriously guys, if you haven't taken the plunge, please do. All Star Section Eight is tremendously special. Pun kind of intended.

[number8]

RIP New 52 2011-2016.

http://i.newsarama.com/images/i/000/163/352/original/DC_Rebirth.jpg?1453498762

[Ezee E]

RIP New 52 2011-2016.

http://i.newsarama.com/images/i/000/163/352/original/DC_Rebirth.jpg?1453498762

hahaha. Wow. I was with it for the first year and a half at least.

[Sven]

I'm so happy to be practically done with both DC and Marvel. My brain can't handle the noise of it anymore. Though I am reading New Romancers, as well as the surprisingly excellent DKIII.

[number8]

I'm still clinging on Secret Six, my one final holdout at the Big Two. That will probably change soon and my pull list will be officially Marvel/DC free.

[bac0n]

I would be interested in what is going on with Rebirth, if there was even a faint glimmer of hope that Green Lantern would return to 1 or 2 titles instead of the half dozen or so title convoluted mess that it turned into, that I walked away from over a year ago. Oh, and I guess now he wears a trenchcoat or something?

[slqrick]

I'm still clinging on Secret Six, my one final holdout at the Big Two. That will probably change soon and my pull list will be officially Marvel/DC free.

I got onboard the Al Ewing/Mighty Avengers train late, so having just read both volumes, I just have to read Ultimates and whatever else he does with the core characters that have been in all iterations.

Also, my most anticipated series in general is Tah Nehisi-Coates' Black Panther, so I'm reading at least two books.

[number8]

Sounds like the Rebirth mandate is to cancel the critically acclaimed but niche titles like Black Canary and Midnighter and double down on more Batman.

Batman will become a bi-monthly title.

[number8]

Batman will become a bi-monthly title.

Superman, too. On top of that, there's still Action Comics, plus a new title called Man of Steel.

[Acapelli]

Sounds like the Rebirth mandate is to cancel the critically acclaimed but niche titles like Black Canary and Midnighter and double down on more Batman.

Batman will become a bi-monthly title.
noooo not midnighter

i only just discovered it

[number8]

Here's the full line-up. Action and Detective are returning to the original pre-Nu52 numbering.

JUNE

Rebirth Specials:
AQUAMAN REBIRTH #1
BATMAN REBIRTH #1
THE FLASH REBIRTH #1
GREEN ARROW REBIRTH #1
GREEN LANTERNS REBIRTH #1
SUPERMAN REBIRTH #1
TITANS REBIRTH #1
WONDER WOMAN REBIRTH #1

New #1 Issues (Shipping twice monthly):
AQUAMAN #1
BATMAN #1
THE FLASH #1
GREEN ARROW #1
GREEN LANTERNS #1
SUPERMAN #1
WONDER WOMAN #1

New Issues (Shipping twice monthly):
ACTION COMICS #957
DETECTIVE COMICS #934


JULY

Rebirth Specials:
BATGIRL & THE BIRDS OF PREY REBIRTH #1
HAL JORDAN & THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS REBIRTH #1
THE HELLBLAZER REBIRTH #1
JUSTICE LEAGUE REBIRTH #1
NIGHTWING REBIRTH #1
RED HOOD & THE OUTLAWS REBIRTH #1

New #1 Issues (Shipping twice monthly):
HAL JORDAN & THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS #1
JUSTICE LEAGUE #1
NIGHTWING #1

New #1 Issues (Shipping monthly):
BATGIRL #1
BATGIRL & THE BIRDS OF PREY #1
THE HELLBLAZER #1
RED HOOD & THE OUTLAWS #1
THE SUPER-MAN #1


FALL

Rebirth Specials:
BATMAN BEYOND REBIRTH #1
BLUE BEETLE REBIRTH #1
CYBORG REBIRTH #1
DEATHSTROKE REBIRTH #1
EARTH 2 REBIRTH #1
SUICIDE SQUAD REBIRTH #1
SUPERGIRL REBIRTH #1
TEEN TITANS REBIRTH #1
TRINITY REBIRTH #1

New #1 Issues (Shipping twice monthly):
CYBORG #1
DEATHSTROKE #1
HARLEY QUINN #1
JUSTICE LEAGUE AMERICA #1
SUICIDE SQUAD #1

New #1 Issues (Shipping monthly):
BATMAN BEYOND #1
BLUE BEETLE #1
EARTH 2 #1
GOTHAM ACADEMY: NEXT SEMESTER #1
SUPERGIRL #1
SUPERWOMAN #1
SUPER SONS #1
TEEN TITANS #1
TRINITY #1

[slqrick]

Omega Men and Grayson were the only two books I was reading, so I guess that's that. I guess I'll check out whatever Tom King writes though, especially if they give him something high profile like Batman.

[number8]

It is all but certain that he is getting Batman after Snyder moves to Detective. He just signed an exclusive contract, and they really only do that for people they have big plans for.

[slqrick]

That's cool I guess. Can we talk about how incredible Omega Men has been? Juicy sociopolitical/religious themes, intergalactic shenanigans, fully developed and morally grey characters...its been awesome. Kyle Rayner's "America da best" arc is probably my least favorite part.

[number8]

712741037807116290

[number8]

Gerard Way continues his desire to become Grant Morrison. http://www.newsarama.com/28744-doom-patrol-leads-new-dc-imprint-by-gerard-way.html

[bac0n]

Two Awesome Batman Posters are being released by Mondo Tomorrow. (http://mondotees.com/blogs/news/119917507-the-dark-knight-by-jock-batman-by-gary-pullin)

[number8]

Jesus christ, how often can you rebrand yourself with a new logo, really?


http://www.dccomics.com/sites/all/themes/dc_comics_bp/logo.png

[Skitch]

Jesus christ, how often can you rebrand yourself with a new logo, really?


http://www.dccomics.com/sites/all/themes/dc_comics_bp/logo.png

This many times:

http://i.imgur.com/rVBLoy4.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/5lxGSR0.jpg?1

[number8]

I think it's less the quantity and more the frequency. They've gone through 3 different logos in one decade.

[Ezee E]

I think it's less the quantity and more the frequency. They've gone through 3 different logos in one decade.

4 times in the 70's!

[number8]

Spoiler for the cause of Rebirth. Probably no single panel has ever caused me to sigh with more defeat.

http://i.imgur.com/NQYzlgD.png

[Grouchy]

... and that's terrible.

[Ezee E]

He should've removed his hood like in a CSI episode.

[megladon8]

DC is doing a great job releasing some of the comics I loved as a kid.

Shadow of the Bat is finally getting released in trades, as well as Robin, Birds of Prey, and now Peter David's Supergirl.

So awesome.