Groundlings Weren’t Stupid
… and neither are modern general audiences.
Kevin Tsjuihara, CEO of Warner Brothers, decided to keep Justice League UNDER two hours to fill more theater seats with general audience. “General audience” is basically the modern day studio mindset version of groundlings. Groundlings were people who couldn’t afford the wooden seats of the Globe Theater to watch a Shakespeare play. They had to stand in a pit in order to watch this entertainment. Standing room only. Pack them in.
Groundlings enjoyed the same things about the plays as the people who rattled their jewelry while sitting on a cushion in the wooden decks. Like Queen Elizabeth I, a groundling would enjoy the nuances of the Shakespeare’s twists and turns in plot, as well as action scenes. The pit people got a mention in Hamlet so even Shakespeare knew their worth.
Who’s to say a groundling wouldn’t enjoy more ‘high brow’ stuff than Her Regalness? No matter what your status, some people go to hockey games for the fights or go to Nascar for the wrecks. You can’t judge who enjoys what — but apparently Tsujihara decided ‘general audiences’ liked films under 2 hours and Whedon supplied the ass-shots, boob dives, failed humor and ubiquitous Russian family (if anyone should have been ubiquitous, it should have been DARKSEID!) — which is basically schlock. Apparently WB’s attitude is ‘general audiences’ love schlock, right?
Justice League: Live Action or Cartoon with actors? Certainly the theatrical version which Joss Whedon (and the WB suits) presented us with was definitely cartoon material. I’m not talking anime here — I’m talking cartoon — which eventually became a way to sell product rather than have interesting stories. Marvel is more cartoon than DCEU — at least before Whedon marvelized Justice League.
Why Geoff Johns did not inform his higher ups that comics (30 years ago) had moved on from cartoons to more real life situations is a complete mystery. What did he do exactly? From what I can surmise from his comic book job as Chief Creative Officer — Geoff is not one for confrontation. He doesn’t seem to give push back. At least the final product hasn’t been evidence of it. (*cough* new 52)
Previous to Justice League, the DCEU was not a cartoon with actors. It was live action epic using comic characters and their legendary stories. It related modern day problems to a modern day audience by using the DC superheroes as a vehicle — which is something the comics have done for decades. Snyder’s DCEU was Shakespeare compared to Whedon’s Benny Hill antics. Shakespeare appeals to all sorts of people and for different reasons. The Bard wrote historicals, comedies and tragedies — and each one had a mixture of the three. Previously the DCEU (Zack Snyder) didn’t ‘dumb down’ to appeal to a ‘general audience’ or what WB execs idea of a ‘general audience’ was.
How ‘general’ can an audience be if these characters and many of their stories have been in existence for 80 years? It’s in the universal consciousness. People are born with knowing something about these characters. Aside from the 80 years of comics, there have been animation (sometimes cartoons) since the 1940s. But more importantly, there have been live action films and television series of these characters. Superman has had Kirk Allen, George Reeves, Christopher Reeve, Dean Cain, Tom Welling, Brandon Routh and now Henry Cavill play the Man of Steel. Batman has had a plethora of films including a Batman serial in the 40s as well as a television series. Wonder Woman has had a television series and now a highly successful (on all fronts) film. Flash has had two television series. Aquaman has had one tv pilot and appeared on Smallville. Cyborg also appeared on Smallville. But at least three of these characters have never been in a live action big screen property until the DCEU. Although Aquaman, Cyborg and Flash appeared briefly in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, they definitely did not have origin stories. Justice League was supposed to be about that as well as other storylines. Wouldn’t a ‘general audience’ need to know these origins to understand why the characters are motivated or not motivated to do what they do in the film? Why cut that? To stay under two hours? Seriously? Does WB think their audiences are just lemmings — hey, here’s a shiny thing, sit your butt in a seat and pay us money? Unfortunately the shiny thing (trailers) was a bait and switch and the audience did not see what they had been lured into the theater for.
Zack Snyder’s cut before leaving, which was seen by WB execs and deemed unwatchable, was over 3 hours. We have many people who worked on Justice League say there is definitely a cut (maybe not just an assembly cut as other so called ‘experts’ have ‘surmised’) and a JunkieXL score. These are the things we saw in the trailers which weren’t in Whedon’s version. People want to see SNYDER’S JUSTICE LEAGUE. Save face WB. Make it happen.
Speaking of saving face . . . WB has given us crumbs again while spouting, “see we’re making changes.” Oh really ?? Keeping Tsujihara and giving him the stoplight to projects isn’t much of a change. Oh, he’s not going to be involved in the day to day — why, as CEO, would he be in the day to day of any particular film in the first place???
Toby Emmerich is now Chairman of Warner Brothers Pictures Group. Which means he’s head honcho — is Johns still just an advisor? Wasn’t Toby one of those who reportedly decided not to extend Justice League’s release date because they wouldn’t get their 2017 bonuses? Yea, I’m feeling reassured now . #sarcasm
Sue Kroll, formerly President of Worldwide Marketing and Distribution, now has a producer deal. She had ties with Christopher Nolan. IF she lost her position due to the ‘no Superman’ in the initial ads for Justice League – that’s just crap. Superman died in the 90s in the comics, he also came back. With using Doomsday in BvS, most fans knew Superman would be back. The DCEU was introduced with Superman as the foundation – they wouldn’t just leave him dead. PLUS, the trailers which referred to Superman – Alfred HOPING he wasn’t too late and Lois and Clark in a cornfield discussing their ‘engagement’ showed or at least hinted Superman/Clark would be back — which fans were VERY excited about. (WB, please look at the reaction videos of that final trailer when fans see Clark in the cornfield — people were exhilarated.) Unfortunately neither of these trailer scenes were in the Whedon version. Many people were looking forward to Superman’s resurrection, perhaps in the black suit (as he was in the comics), Clark’s return to the Daily Planet and the explanation thereof, and Clark and Lois showing how their love and hope can survive even death. But the audience was deprived of the reasons why they went into the theater. Bad move, WB.
The biggest fail of all — there is no Man of Steel 2 scheduled for 2018, which is Superman’s 80th anniversary. Why did Geoff Johns allow that to happen? There was a second film being done during Justice League — which should have been MOS2. How can Warner Brothers make it up to Superman fans by completely ignoring this anniversary with one of the best Supermen in Henry Cavill. WB doesn’t deserve our money or our attention.
Batman fans better consider they may not have a Batman solo film in 2019, the Caped Crusader’s 80th anniversary. More fail.
Warner Brothers is not changing. They’re manipulating as they always have – and killing the DCEU (not just Superman this time).
Way to go, WB. #moresarcasm Keep bragging how you brought down the Siegel and Shuster families while desecrating the comic film universe you had. Man of Steel (without your interference) was a hit. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Ultimate Cut was a success. Wonder Woman keeping the No Man’s Land scene (a pivotal hero and emotional moment) in tact showed what the DCEU could be with audiences and critiques.
WB execs work out of fear. “Oh, what will the critiques say! We can’t have that. Well, yes, the films made us money, but the critiques hated it.” So let me get this straight, people who paid money to see the films made them financially successful. Critiques, who got freebie passes, didn’t. Hmmmm what’s wrong with this picture?
Again WB — learn this lesson well. Put your best foot forward in the theatrical version. This double/triple dipping is impressing NOBODY. It’s keeping people from the theaters because they know there’s a better version on the horizon. And aren’t all films judged as financially successful by their box office (or lack thereof)?
Your audience has stopped playing the game and is waiting for the better version to come out later. Surprise us — put a GREAT version in the theaters — it’d certainly help the film and theater industry.
General audiences, as well as groundlings, fork out hard earned pay to see your films. Respect that. Respect them.
JUSTICE LEAGUE: Was it given justice?
Justice League, was to be the most important film of the DCEU. This movie was talked about long before Man of Steel. It was Warner Brothers goal line. Everything about the DCEU was supposed to be about Justice League.
Zack Snyder knew before there could be a Justice League there had to be the establishment of Superman. Just as Action Comics #1 of 1938 had done — it truly was the beginning of the DC Universe. Detective Comics #27 which introduced Batman came the following year. Then Wonder Woman in Sensation Comics in 1940. The Trinity together (as they appeared in Batman v Superman). Together in the sense of working along side one another but not being a team yet.
Michael Shanks, a Canadian Shakespearean actor who has done many sci fi films, compared superhero stories to great mythologies. How epic they are. How expansive. Shanks played Hawkman in the Smallville television series and compared portraying a superhero mythology to acting in a Shakespeare play.
Zack Snyder gave us epic films in Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. The trailers for Justice League showed us how this next film would fit into this universe and expand it even further. Fans were excited. Snyder said in this film we would begin to see a lighter tone. After all, in the previous film’s title, we were reaching the dawn. Justice League was to be a brand new direction by Zack Snyder. It wasn’t necessarily a sunny day, at first, but as most Superman fans know. There is always hope.
Let me be clear. I did not hate Justice League. I liked it, but wanted to LOVE!!! it. A friend asked me if I hated it after reading my timeline. Nope. The opposite of love is not hate, but indifference and I definitely was not indifferent after leaving the theater.
I went home and looked at the trailers for Justice League — and wondered where that film was. This theatrical version of Justice League was a bait and switch. The trailers were deceitful. That, I despise! I was expecting Shakespeare and ended up witnessing Benny Hill. Ugh.
There are so many unexplained things in Justice League. From the very first scene to the ending (which was horribly rushed). This was no epic. This was not a film that took care of its fans or its story.
Kevin Tsujihara, Chairman and CEO of Warner Brothers Entertainment, gave Justice League a two hour mandate. If you look at other Warner Brother films, especially those based on books, anyone could see this was ludicrous. It was Tsujihara who gave us the theatrical version of BvS:DOJ. Later fans got the Ultimate Edition which included more scenes that not only built up characters but also clarified the plot. Apparently Tsujihara didn’t learn from his previous error — put your best into the theatrical.
Joss Whedon shawarma’d Justice League. Whedon directed the Avengers, runtime 2 hours and 23 minutes. Apparently Richard Donner’s assistant (Kevin Feige at Marvel) who isn’t Geoff Johns (DC Entertainment President) knew that 2 hours is not long enough to delve into a superhero team’s histrionics and current plight.
Whedon was brought on as a writer for lighter moments before Zack Snyder left the film. Obviously he doesn’t understand the DCU characters and their fans.
Fans were told Whedon was Zack Snyder’s choice, after a family tragedy, to take over editing and reshoots of the film. But now after the film’s release, we find out it was Johns who chose Whedon. He wanted something lighter — more formulmatic which Whedon is apparently used to. Many of the reshoots contained things he had previously done in Marvel films. (As well as Danny Elfman’s score — more about that later).
After the deceit of the trailers, where a good percentage weren’t in the theatrical film, we found out that Whedon’s addition of the Flash diving into Wonder Woman’s breasts was done with body doubles. The actors had refused to do the scene in order to maintain the integrity of their characters and Zack’s vision. Their reaction shots were either plucked from some other scene or the actor was not given the scenario. More deceit!
And Whedon is still writing and presumably directing Batgirl. Is he going to have Barbara Gordon face splat into someone’s crotch? Or will he use the boob scenario again? Cheap tricks which insult the audience and the characters on screen. Especially women.
ah yes, women. Whedon was outed as a fake feminist and womanizer (more deceit!) by his ex-wife in August of this year. This was after an actress told of her casting couch experience with Whedon. Ewwww
The women in this Whedon theatrical cut suffered greatly. Lois Lane is told by her almost mother-in-law, Martha Kent, that Clark told her many times Lois was ‘thirsty’. Really, Martha Kent with potty mouth? And why would Clark tell his mother intimate details about a woman he was going to propose to? Slap that boy upside the head with a kryptonite stick. The Kents raised him better than that.
PLUS Lois was writing puff pieces (which Geoff Johns wrote about in the JL Art book — nice one, Geoffie. This explains new 52.) Amy Adams, who portrays Lois, had rented a residence in London for months during JL shooting but only had a few scenes in the film. Lois was supposed to be investigating something at Star Labs. Lois Lane always throws herself into her work during emotional upheavals. Why not this time? Lois Lane was the brunt of bad jokes and made to be only a love interest in this film.
Wonder Woman also had her fair share of jokes against her. You can tell the Whedon reshoots of Wonder Woman because Gal has more makeup — especially the red lipstick. And the butt shots!!! The camera found her ass at every opportunity — which had nothing to do with the story.
Yea, Yea, we get it. Women are objects. Thanks Warner Brothers for reminding all of us of this putrid concept. (Whedon also shamelessly abused Black Widow in his Marvel films)
Zack Snyder portrays women as strong and vibrant. Able to do amazing things. Even if Amazons have ‘skimpy’ clothes, they are shown to be more than capable warriors and leaders. They don’t need a man diving into their boobs.
Cyborg was to be the heart of the film. A character of color, who depicts the merging of technology with being human. This is a very modern conceptualization and should not be ignored or deleted from the film. His background is unknown to us. Who was he and what happened to him to have his father use a mother box on Victor to regenerate him. Apparently we would have found out in the Zack Snyder cut he left Warner Brothers just before he left. Ray Fisher, who portrayed Cyborg, work a “I ♥ ZS” to the San Diego Comic Con Justice League panel. Why? Whedon had short-shrifted his character.
Aquaman had Atlantis scenes cut involving Mera and also Willem Dafoe as Vulko. How these cuts will adequately lead into the 2018’s Aquaman, only time will tell. Cutting scenes, abbreviating the narrative, effects the storytelling and the entire line of films.
Iris West, another person of color in this film, was cut from Flash’s history. Fans did not get to see the beginnings of that relationship. Barry had friends, they just got cut from the film.
Superman’s battle with the Justice League was filmed by Snyder with the possibility of a few closeups done by Whedon. But apparently, Superman did not recover so quickly. There were possibly scenes involving Ma and Pa Kent as well as Lois to bring him back to himself. Would have loved to see that — would be more like the Death of Superman story.
Lex and Deathstroke were cut from the film, but appeared in the after credits scene. While the infamous race (probably from a Zack storyboard for additional shooting) between Flash and Superman was mid-credit. Henry Cavill’s bajillion dollar CGI removed moustache was very apparent.
Also some fans were waiting for a certain scene between Clark and Bruce which involved a wedding invitation. Since the ring conversation was removed from the film, that’s probably why we didn’t get to see it. Those Russians who were living in fear but the Parademons ignored and didn’t eat them had to be in the film because . . . *shrugs*
I’m a DC fan. Not a Marvel fan. Which makes me a Zack Snyder fan because he understands this DCEU he has built and will build for the fans.
So take your shawarmas (known in the DCEU as brunch) and your Benny Hill jokes and shove them sideways.
Geoff Johns said the DCEU films were going to be optimistic and would bring back hope.
Does Lois doing puff pieces instead of hard core investigating give me hope? Does it make me optimistic for the future of the DCEU? Does Martha Kent confessing to Lois Clark thinks she’s thirsty establish a fun universe? Answer: NO!
Does Flash’s body double diving into Wonder Woman’s body double make me hopeful for the rest of the DCEU? Nope. Especially if Whedon is still doing Batgirl. Guard that bat symbol on your chest well and don’t be falling headfirst into any crotches, Babs — especially before brunch.
Characters or cameos that weren’t in the film: Darkseid, Vulko, Hal Jordan, Iris West, Cyborg’s mom and others. (Darkseid as a constant threat could have made Steppenwolf more palatable — also fixing the CGI.)
The soundtrack. *head desk* Whedon brought on Danny Elfman for the reshoots. JunkieXl had done a soundtrack for Justice League but was dismissed when Snyder (who hand picked him) left. To say Danny Elfman is a has-been is an understatement. Utilizing some of the themes for characters in the Marvel universe, he incorporated them into his Justice League soundtrack. Which was blah, meh, and banal. Wonder Woman’s original theme has electric cello. That grabs you by the spine and makes you stand to attention while giving you goosebumps. Elfman used horns instead. Some fans have replaced Elfman’s crap with the original theme during the terrorist threat with Wonder Woman’s save (taken from the trailer). The difference is blatant. Elfman, like Whedon, failed.
Reconstituting things from the Marvel Universe does not work well in the DC Universe. DC fans want their characters to have integrity and not be watered down to fit into some ‘fun’ formula. If you make the DC characters generic to Marvel’s, then how are you going to get an audience interested in reading DC Comics or enjoying the other DC products?
Fans disappointed in the Justice League film (disappointment doesn’t mean hate) have rose up to make their voices heard. A petition was started on change.org for fans to see the Zack Snyder cut (it was 3 or 3 plus hours) with the JunkieXL score. Disappointed or just curious as to what fans could have gotten for a Justice League film? The petition has been getting tens of thousands of signatures. Why not consider signing it now — for a better future of the DCEU. here
Go and see Justice League. Make your own decision and opinions.
I’m hoping there will be an announcement in December about Man of Steel 2 which should come out in June, 2018 for the 80th anniversary of Superman. If there isn’t, Warner Brothers is a total fail.
Oh well, I’m not a stock holder.
Oh yea, is this unfortunate box office going to effect the Time Warner/AT&T merger? Always something to worry about, right WB peeps?
Freddy Krueger, One Big Ass DCE Nightmare
Frank, Freddy Krueger, Miller and John, Dad Draws Better, Romita, Jr have announced they will be doing a Superman Year One book . . . for Superman’s 80th anniversary.
Freddy is one of the propagators of the Dark Age of comics. (At least Alan Moore had the decency to use facsimiles of the Charlton characters and not actually Batman and Superman.) For 32 years, Krueger has created hordes that believe Superman must be destroyed at all costs because Batman is better. There are 30 years of articles and statements of Krueger’s hate for Superman. His treatment of the character in his stories, The Dark Knight Returns, The Dark Knight Strikes Again, All Star Batman and Robin and Dark Knight: Master Race shows his complete and utter disdain for the Man of Steel.
In a Rebirth world where Geoff Johns and Dan Jurgens are trying to bring Superman out of the trench of the Krueger inspired new 52, why is DC Entertainment giving Superman fans a kryptonite arrow in the back from Freddy?
Krueger considered Superman a bully. He was raised in Hell’s Kitchen and he knows a bully when he sees one or so he has stated in the past. In TDKR (1986) he made Superman a government shill so it was okay for Batman to have Green Arrow use a kryptonite arrow on Supes in a ‘fair fight.’ Freddy made it acceptable for Batman to cheat since Superman must be brought down at all costs.
Now Freddy is apparently having a ‘thief on the cross’ moment stating he’s always loved Superman and wants to do a Superman hero story (before he dies). And Superman fans are supposed to believe him? Freddy the atheist who doesn’t believe in thief on the cross moments? Superman fans are supposed to do a bohica (bend over here it comes again) for Freddy and DC Entertainment? Seriously?
DDB is no better. He bitched and complained about having to draw Superman during his DCE debut. He wanted to do Batman. Klaus Janson, DDB’s colorist on Superman, actually drew The Dark Knight Rises with Freddy. Janson said in an interview he wanted to be remembered for his Superman run rather than TDKR. Unfortunately for Klaus, DDB did not love the character and neither did new 52 editorial.
Freddy wrote and drew Superman with a spare no hate policy. His stories drip with it.
NOW, he wants ‘redemption’?
Some bean counter at DC Entertainment looked at the Dark Knight: Master Race numbers – a cultivation of over 30 years of Superman hate – and decided, oh yea, Freddy can write a Superman book along with his Igor, DDB. Marketing should be literally throwing themselves out windows. Who do you market a Freddy Superman book to? Superman fans? Batman fans? It was Freddy who purposely divided these two for TDKR. Market a Superman book after Freddy’s complete MKUltra for 3 decades? Dream on!
Shall we talk about Freddy’s treatment of women. Oh let’s.
Selina Kyle (Catwoman)
In The Dark Knight Returns, Selina runs an escort service. Joker attacks her, ties her up & dresses her as Wonder Woman for Batman to find. Freddy has/had a dislike for ‘heroes’ who wore the American Flag as a costume.
In Batman Year One (1987), Freddy made Selina Kyle a crewcut wearing prostitute/dominatrix. We know Catwoman always carried a whip but this was more for self defense, not a tool of the trade.
Wonder Woman
The Dark Knight Strikes Back has Wonder Woman being raped by Superman and liking it. This continues throughout the Dark Knight series producing 2 children which neither of them truly raise. All Star Batman and Robin touched on this as well only sans kids.
Sin City (1991)
All but one of the women are either prostitutes or strippers. The story is framed by male observers which places the women in a world where their worth is who you are sleeping with or who wants to sleep with you.
Lois Lane
[intentional blank space here]
Freddy only killed Lois in TDKR, he’s never actually written her.
So what does this mean for a Superman story from Freddy? Back to the new 52 style of kicking Lois to the curb or killing her (like he did Electra in his Daredevil run)?
Freddy can’t write Lois Lane. She’s a woman he can’t manipulate into being lesser. He might not write her at all; the challenge would be so great. And that’s why Freddy can never write a true Superman story. Because he has never understood Clark Kent or what that character truly means to the world — comic book world or real world.
Can Freddy write a power mad super being in a Superman suit? Sure, he’s done that before. But can he write Clark Kent? Can he write the Daily Planet? Can he write a female character who isn’t a sex worker or ends up dead in one issue?
Krueger has stated that comic book characters aren’t people, they’re just lines on a page. This is not a true believer. This is not a Superman fan.
Superman fans BELIEVE!
History and experience says Freddy, Frank Miller, Kruger cannot write Superman as a hero. Freddy destroys well – which may serve Batman’s story to some extent. But the Superman story is about building a better world. Being constructive and inspiring.
Does anyone believe at this stage of the game and his career, Freddy can pull this off?
Who exactly are they going to market this Superman Year One book to? The dark Batman/Superman hating fans he’s cultivated for decades? Superman fans who have shunned his books and interpretations?
For Superman’s 80th anniversary, don’t Superman fans deserve better than this nightmare of a decision?
**The author apologies for any detrimental statements about the real Freddy Krueger character that may be perceived in this blogpost.**
Journey to (Mr.) Oz
Who is the mysterious Mr. Oz? If you read DCU Rebirth #1 by Geoff Johns then you know you have seen him before. Mr. Oz was in Johns’ run of New 52 Superman (issues 32 – 39).
Whoa! Great mystery time!
But who was Mr. Oz BEFORE Johns’ run on Superman & Rebirth?
We know that Watchmen had something to do with the creation of new 52 & Rebirth. So how does someone with the name Mr. Oz relate to that? Ozymandias and Dr. Manhattan have a discussion at the end of DCU Rebirth. “Nothing ends, Adrian,” says Manhattan to Ozymandias (aka Adrian Veidt). Unfortunately Ozymandias looks nothing like Mr. Oz. So where do we go next?
Who were the Watchmen? Alan Moore wanted to use the Charlton characters that DC Comics had recently purchased in 1983 for his Watchmen story (beginning of the Dark Age).. But DC Comics refused as they had other plans for some of the characters. Moore developed characters for his story loosely based on Charlton characters. Some of them may be familiar to you. There were two Nite Owls because there were two Blue Beetles (Dan Garrett and Ted Kord). Doctor Manhattan was based on Captain Atom, Silk Spectre on Nightshade, The Comedian on The Peacemaker, Rorschach on The Question, and last but certainly not least, Ozymandias was based on Thunderbolt aka Peter Cannon. (Not to be confused with Johnny Thunder’s Thunderbolt who also appeared in DC Rebirth #1)
Peter Cannon, Thunderbolt was orphaned in the Himalayas when his physician parents died of the Black Plague. He was raised by the High Abbott and developed the highest level of mental and physical perfection. He became the “Chosen One” entrusted with the full knowledge of the Ancient Scrolls, which were later destroyed. He had an arch nemesis, The Hooded One, who also studied the ancient scrolls and was jealous Thunderbolt had been declared the Chosen One. (of course!) But what got me excited was there was a hooded character. Did he look like Mr. Oz?
That would be a yes. The Hooded One and some other characters from Charlton appeared in Crisis on Infinite Earths (1985). Their first and last appearance. They lived on Earth Four. And most of them were not seen Post Crisis. However, other versions of some of the characters were developed to be used later in the DC Universe. Crisis on Infinite Earths was the uniting of the multiple Earths into one Earth. Something like new 52 before Morrison’s Multiversity. The Charlton characters also appeared in that series.
We know Johns loves characters from years past. Why not bring back “The Hooded One” with a variation of the character. Mr. Oz is probably from the 5th dimension since he was introduced in Johns’ story about other dimensions and Earth. That would make Mr. Oz truly a powerful character. Like Mxyzptlk and Lord Vyndktvx powerful.
Here are the appearances in Johns’ Superman 32 thru 39:
Does anyone know who is behind the locked doors?
Johns introduces Mr. Oz in his Superman run and then uses him again in DCU Rebirth. Geoff Johns is the director of Rebirth – calling in editors and creators to have a more cohesive, fuller and a more familiar universe.
Clark isn’t the only one receiving mysterious pages. Look what PreFlashPoint Lois received from new 52 Lois.
Only a Lois would trust another Lois with what information?
And another thing, powerless Clark Kent died in Batman/Superman Annual 2 published April, 2015 never to be mentioned again — A minion of Xa Du, Kryptonian creator of the living death (suspended animation), did the deed. That’s Xa Du thinking in this panel.
Until —
Action 959, published July, 2016. Mysterious ‘extra’ CK talks of PreFlashPoint Superman hiding him, but Supes doesn’t remember. (See first panel of this article — a great mystery, indeed)
It’s a great time to be a Superman fan. Lots of great plots and fantastic characterization. Plus the art is great! Every Wednesday is turning out to be better and better.
Is Mr. Oz only Superman’s puppetmaster or is there a chessmaster for the entire DC Universe? Time will tell. In the meantime, we’ll be enjoying the unraveling of so many mysteries.
It May Be Time to Return to DC Comics
Geoff Johns has brought us DCU Rebirth. Gathering together editors and creators so they are all on the same page attitude-wise. Hope and inspiration. Imagine that! DC Comics has always been about HEROES. Characters with full lives and deep layering of history, storylines and worlds. Characters that inspire and give us hope.
To see what I’m talking about go read, better yet, purchase DCU Rebirth #1 which came out June 1st. It is in its 3rd printing. Something or someONE happened to the DC Universe and New 52 was ‘created.’ Now a character long gone from the DCU landscape returns to warn his friends/fellow heroes only to find they don’t remember him. Even his closest loved ones. A must read. A must purchase.
LOSER IS DEAD
DCE killed off new 52 Superman. Ironically, it was by a guy who had his solar flare power & he then became ash. (Very reminiscent of the Sand Superman) Solar flare – dumbest power ever since it made Loser vulnerable for ever extended periods of time.
Apparently Loser was not what he thought he was. Fans could have told him that — and they did, by not buying his books.
But we all know how long a Superman stays dead. Even though we called him Loser – no Superman should ever die while his ‘fans’ just shrug. Hopefully they will redeem him. There have been hints of that.
Could there have been a switch during the five year gap? Is the Real new 52 Superman out there somewhere?
SUPERMAN REBIRTH #1
Written by Peter Tomasi, who also authored the fauxmance and the last 8 issues of Superbooks before Rebirth. In this world there is Pre-Flashpoint Superman, his wife & Author X Lois Lane and their son, Jon Samuel Kent — The Kents are known as the Whites because this is new 52 Superman’s world, not theirs. (How they came to the new 52 world is explained in Convergence Superman from a year ago.)
Now that Loser is dead, there is only one Superman alive. BUT Tomasi had TWO Lois Lanes to write about. New 52 and PF. He didn’t write about either of them. He wrote about PF Superman and new 52 Lana Lang. Tomasi has had new 52 Lana suckerpunch new 52 Lois and had new 52 Wonder Woman wanting to be a reporter so she could be by Loser’s side. Not to mention, but I will. Tomasi had Loser contemplating giving WW Martha Kent’s diamond – fans will remember that it was PF Lois who received Martha Kent’s diamond when Clark proposed to her. So completely ignoring any Lois wasn’t really a surprise but it still hurt. Will Tomasi continue to abuse or ignore any Lois? Hopefully he will allow PF Lois still to be Author X as well as a wife and mother.
Mr. Oz , remember him from Johns’ run on Superman? He also states that PF Superman is not who he thinks he is either. Hmmmm. Good mystery here.
Superman Rebirth #1 came out June 1st. Tomasi is still on probation with me. He’s going to have to prove his Superman book is worth reading.
TIARA IS DEAD, LONG LIVE DIANA!
Geoff Johns asked Greg Rucka to come back to DC to write Wonder Woman.
Wonder Woman became Tiara to us. She had multiple personalities and constantly was drawing her sword. In Wonder Woman Rebirth #1 written by Rucka, we get a tweaking of her new 52 story — and be prepared for more as Rucka has two stories going each month (Wonder Woman is being published twice a month as are other books). One is called LIES – which is very appropriate to what happened to her in the new 52 and the other is called YEAR ONE – establishing her true first year.
Wonder Woman came out June 8th and if you LOVE Wonder Woman, you have to buy this book.
ACTION COMICS #957
Yes, Action Comics has gone back to its former numbering. (A bit arrogant to take it to #1 — not to mention stupid.)
Dan Jurgens has the writing honors while Patrick Zircher is on art. Jurgens wrote Superman Convergence and the Superman: Lois and Clark series during the new 52 era. Both must reads/buys.
Action Comics #957 is the official rebirth of Superman to DC Comics, in my opinion. If you were curious about where that splashpage at the top of this post came from — it’s Action Comics #957. If you love Superman, Metropolis, Lex Luthor, Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, Perry White and Clark Kent – you’re gonna go INSANE for this book. It has everything you’ve been missing in the new 52.
Several storylines going on at once – mystery, love, character building, and just Superman mythology goodness. Dive right in. Enjoy!
Rebirth, in general
Geoff’s final book for a while was DCU Rebirth #1. He has about a dozen films coming out over the next few years, not to mention several televisions shows.
Speaking of which — if you are not a fan of Laurel being killed off Arrow — go get Green Arrow Rebirth #1. Black Canary will also be featured in that book. Johns, as the captain of this new comic’s ship, definitely is bringing back the love.
Flash Rebirth #1 is somewhat of a sequel of DCU Rebirth #1. We see part of that story from a different point of view. Iris West and Barry Allen are dating. Do you need to know anything else to go buy the book? Also, Barry (and Batman) will be investigating what happened to the DCU.
If you enjoyed Johns run on Aquaman, be sure to get Aquaman Rebirth #1. You’ll be glad you did.
Also if you’re a Teen Titans fan, Titans Rebirth #1 will be out June 15th. You’ll see some ‘new’ *cough* old characters and Nightwing is back in blue.
New 52 Lois will have her own series beginning in August. SUPERWOMAN Written by Phil Jimenez. Would love to see her meet the PF folks.
Jon Kent (White) has a series coming out in September. He and Damian Wayne will be in SUPERSONS. Can’t wait for this baby World’s Finest.
Looks like there will a whole lot of Superman going on from now on. We have a dead Superman, a Pre-Flashpoint Superman (or is he?), a Superwoman (new 52 Lois Lane), new 52 Lex wearing the S-shield, a Chinese Superman, Supergirl, Supersons, and a Pre-Flashpoint Lois Lane aka Author X. Action and Superman books come out twice monthly.
The new/old character said someone had stole 10 years of their lives. That would be the new 52. Action Comics, 5 year gap, rest of number #1s. Superman is the foundation of any DCU – and if you maim Superman, YOU fail — DCE did fail. Now Johns is giving Superman and the rest of the DCU a REBIRTH!
Thanks to Geoff Johns, DCE is making a concerted effort to give us back our characters. Full lives, loves, missions, honor, and hope inspiring. Rebirth books are now $2.99.
Now if only Diamond distributors would just quit damaging the goods, maybe we could all enjoy our DCU comics again! Go buy digital – they count too!
PS
The reason I said it “may be” time to return is — the same people who were in charge of the new 52 ideas are still in charge. Johns is going to concentrate on film and television – but lets hope he checks in from time to time to make sure this Rebirth isn’t sabotaged. He’s brought in some good people to care for these characters. Let’s hope the people in charge allows that to continue.
What a dump!
It’s been a while, and plenty has happened – most of it bad. But it’s DC Entertainment’s new 52/DCYou, so what do you expect?
Superman now fights for tacos and only comes to Earth for the pie. I’m not kidding.
My friend, Tej, started a question on Twitter. “What would you tell your 5 yrs ago self?” She had a great answer. “Infiltrate that writers retreat.” She’s referring to the October, 2010 editorial retreat where the New 52, now DCYou was created.
Apparently, the ideas from that meeting are still carrying through. Supers with supers. Barry Allen gave Iris West a speedster suit (making her a super) so they could be together even though he was dating Patty Spivot. According to the author their mythic love was obvious in the subtext – despite the fact Barry still was dating Patty.
I find that unacceptable. Why couldn’t it have been obvious in the text? It’s probably why I didn’t read Flash. I know that book was the final straw for my son who quit comics altogether after a 30 year habit.
This same author wrote the Justice League Darkseid War Superman book. He used Jimmy as the protagonist, because he didn’t want to use Lois as an obvious touchstone. When told by fans, Lois has never been a touchstone for Clark in the new 52. He responded by saying that he hadn’t checked to see what was happening in the main books. A little research would have been nice but he didn’t do that.
I’m sure this man is very nice. He spoke with fans and tried to alleviate their concerns. But . . .
Why would he, a participator in the new 52 from the very beginning, attending cons for the rollout of the new 52 and subsequent ones over the years get the idea that Lois Lane was a touchstone for Clark Kent in the new 52?
Lois as a Superman touchstone was pre-52. Fans were told to forget all that along with the Kent marriage (which DCE sent to oblivion along with Barry and Iris’ marriage).
July 2011 SDCC – DCE announced Superman was a battling alien with no human tethers. The Kents were dead and Lois had a boyfriend.
September 2011 – Action Comics, 5 ½ years before Superman #1 storywise appear. Lois and Clark are ‘friends’. Clark becomes despondent when he finds Lois has a boyfriend.
August 2012 – Jim Lee and Geoff Johns have the fauxmance announcement over multi-media outlets. When asked about Lois, Lee said it wasn’t about that, it was about how the fauxmance would effect the DCU.
October 2013 – Fauxmance #1 published. Superman and Wonder Woman are still dating.
May 2015 – Free Comic Book Day. Lois is shown as the betrayer of Clark’s secret to the world.
June 2015 – After multiple announcements, the DCYou books are published. This includes the “Lois as a betrayer” story that carries over in 4 books.
I know quite a few people who would have loved to live in that ‘Lois is Clark’s touchstone’ bubble and forgotten what DCE has done to Superman and Lois Lane over the past years since that editorial retreat. But that bubble would be make believe. Superman fans have had to live with the harsh reality. DC Entertainment neither believes in or cares about Superman.
So now we’re down to Superman (who has been Apokolip’d) only visiting Earth for the pie. The torture never ends. Dark Superman has been the norm in the new 52 and to have a creator deny that fact in order to continue the abuse is a furious headshaking moment.
On the main book front (do we really want to go there?) . . . Tomasi, who is writing the fauxmance, said he always wanted Superman to be a brawler & that’s what Clark has become. But Tomasi also writes Detective and in that book, Clark was his pre-52 persona self. How many personalities do these creators have? Apparently all the kids from Smallville are brawlers, Lana Lang suckerpunched Lois Lane in the last issue. All that has brought this faux book to the bottom of the ‘super’ books in order numbers. Golly gosh, who knew? #sarcasm
Yang has made Superman fight for tacos, avoid Lois Lane and ignore Jonathan Kent’s sage advice in an arena for forgotten mythologies. Yep, since new 52, the real Superman has been forgotten. Stripped out of 2/3rds of his mythology right out of the gate. Jrjr is not on the book, but he did enough damage in interviews before leaving. I, for one, hope he stays gone. He got what he wanted, Batman, which he is drawing with Frank Miller, the DCE administration’s god and total source for how Superman should be portrayed. Isn’t that obvious?
Pak is writing Action (with assists from Kuder) and Batman/Superman. Action continues to fall in order numbers (and for good reason). All excited about creating an LL female of color, they have made her a monster fairly rapidly. In Batman/Superman, the villain is Vandal Savage and the Bat family is helping the hapless Supes.
Pak will be leaving Batman/Superman for 3 books. Tom Taylor is taking over (doing cartwheels & getting out the poms poms. Go Tom!) with a story of the early days of the ‘world’s finest’ (which they have never been called in this century).
Are these main Supes books selling well? Uh, no. DCE keeps taking things away from Superman and never has built him a foundation to replace the 2/3rds of the mythology they excised. As far as building the guy up to be a hero – forget that. It’s all about the darkness.
Yep, Clark Kent is on his way to be one of those forgotten legends.
Taking bets on how Clark will get un-Apokolip’d – it won’t be under his own steam, that’s for sure. Superman’s strong will (or character or emotions other than anger) have not shown up in the new 52. So it’ll be Batman or several of his JL mates. Because Superman is no longer celebrated as an individual, but only as part of the collective. He doesn’t have his own life (no human tethers). So therefore, he truly doesn’t have his own story. There’s a revolving door in his books for ‘heroes’ who sell less than he does – and that’s saying something.
The next arc in the main books will be called Savage Dawn – named after the villain. Vandal Savage’s history has never been established in the new 52. So who knows what he’s capable of.
There are blessings though. Beautiful flowers amongst the trash.
Dan Jurgens and Lee Weeks Superman: Lois and Clark. It’s release date has been moved to the last Wed of the month. Strangely so has the fauxmance. So 3 books on the last Wed of November, Superman, fauxmance and the best book, Superman: Lois and Clark.
Action went from being out the 1st Wed of the month to the 2nd Wed (along with Batman/Superman) but in November, it has been moved to the 3rd Wed. That’s right, DCE, tell us again how books will get out on time. Blah blah blah yada yada yada.
On November 11th, Superman fans will not only get Batman/Superman (with the Batfam assist), but also Max Landis’ Superman: American Alien. Giving this one a chance since I enjoyed his run in Adventures of Superman digital firsts. Also bought the print.
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AND BEST OF ALL!!! DC Comics Presents – Superman – Lois and Clark 100 Page Super Spectacular #1. Which is actually the Wedding Album from 1996. A MUST for any Superman fan. So go to your local comic book shop or fav comic book website and get this book.
Darkness only brings death and destruction. DC Entertainment has created a self-fulfilling prophecy. Only 22% of the market share in October, 2015. Time to let go of those bad ideas and egos and LET SUPERMAN BE SUPERMAN!
SUPERMAN???
You won’t be seeing this guy anytime soon if at all ever.
In its quest to show Superman is unrelatable to a modern audience, DC Entertainment continues tearing the character apart. And you thought the new 52 was bad? DCYOU is Superman destruction in hyperdrive.
Since Superman is known in every HOUSEHOLD around the globe, the DCYOU version would be unrecognizable to the ‘man on the street’ (that would include males from 14 to 34 years old, DC Entertainment, just saying).
Anyone who was born since 1938 (and some folks before) knows these aspects of Superman:
THE CAPE: His indestructible baby blanket cape has ripped. Yes, an indestructible thing ripped. Why did it rip? So he can protect his now powerless hands.
S-SHIELD: Yes, he has one. BUT, in the new 52 his S-shield formulated his majestic collared, biological Kryptonian armor. (Because y’know, Martha Kent wasn’t worthy enough to even assist in making one.) In the DCYOU, the S-shield apparently only had enough power to create jeans, t-shirt, and workboots before it was taken away by the Fortress of Solitude. (Don’t worry the Fortress of Solitude was taken away, too.) Now he apparently gets his S t-shirts from Target/Walmart/K-Mart or Superheroes Discount. See more information regarding the supersuit under POWERS.
SPITCURL: Gone since the new 52 along with the red trunks. Superman always had great hair, but not anymore. He’s got a buzzcut which he does not use his heat vision to trim.
FLYING: Yes, I know Richard Donner proved a man could fly but DC Entertainment seems determined to prove that premise wrong. ‘Superman’ no longer flies or leaps tall buildings. His addiction to a new power has rendered him powerless. Yes DCYOU Superman has an addictive personality now. His strong will died at the birth of the new 52.
POWERS: He has none. Nope, not even electrical powers. His most important power was using his heart first to make decisions but that was sacrificed in the new 52. His powerlessness makes him dependent on Batman to pick him up naked (don’t know what happened to indestructible cape) so Alfred could make him new costumeS (plural). (Alfred is worthy, Martha Kent is not.)
CLARK KENT: Nope. He’s currently without identity. He’s a man without a name. Clark Kent was a non-entity in the new 52. Superman was/is a battling alien without human tethers. And Clark Kent ‘died’ in Batman/Superman Annual 2. As to Jonathan and Martha Kent, they died. (no human tethers) The new 52 Superman acted as if he didn’t learn anything during his 18 years with them. Superman had to bury them twice. First, their UNTIMELY deaths by 5th dimensional character, Lord Vyndyktvx and the second, when they were zombies via the Ultrahumanite.
DAILY PLANET: Clark left the Daily Planet after he started dating Wonder Woman. (Remember, no human tethers). Supposedly started a blog with Cat Grant where he wrote less than 3 articles. Geoff Johns (Richard Donner’s former assistance and now Chief Creative Office for DCE) tried to bring Clark back to the DP, but that was just a blip on the radar which immediately faded for the DCYOU.
METROPOLIS: Not so much. Not when he has to hang with the Justice League (remember, no human tethers). DCYOU Superman is now spreading his vigilantism to Gotham, too. He can’t fly so I guess the rest of the world that can’t be reached by a motorcycle full of gas is safe.
LOIS LANE: Is seen ever so slightly more than Clark Kent, but she is restricted by so many laws. DC Entertainment’s law of supers with supers – she’s not a super so she can’t be with Clark/Superman. (But if he’s powerless & more or less nameless how can he still be dating Wonder Woman? It’s not Lois, so it’s okay to break the rule.) Lois is dating another guy who is rarely seen and makes Superman so despondent. (Clark hasn’t liked any kind of challenge since the new 52 began.) The reason for the boyfriend, 5 years of story that readers have never seen so Superman could date Wonder Woman. Recently Peter Tomasi writer (and also an editor at DCE) has Wonder Woman wanting to be a reporter along side Clark. Then there’s the anyone-but-Lois law fans are VERY familiar with. Lois Lane is not allowed to be in Action Comics (yes, the book that launched everything and the superhero genre, too) since Greg Pak took over (don’t blame Greg, it’s editorial’s fault). Pak has Lana Lang filling the pages of Action. With DCYOU he will not only be adding Jimmy Olsen but a new female character with the initials LL (not Lois, remember the law) who will be a friend to Superman and play an important role. Lois will appear in the Superman book, written by newcomer Gene Luen Yang, but she’s been introduced in the DCYOU as a backstabbing betrayer of Superman’s dual identity (rarely seen) which makes him lose everything. Previous to all this, DCE actually had a Lois Lane solo book but deemed it not worthy of a PR team to promote it. So when we say Lois is a non-entity, we mean DCE is getting rid of her. How do you introduce a beloved character as the purveyor of so much destruction when she has always been THE ONE to believe in the Man of Steel? How does DCE turn that around? They don’t. They haven’t. And they obviously don’t want to.
FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE: Gone. Recently rebuilt because Wonder Woman imploded the Phantom Zone. The FOS is running on all cylinders brainwise. It recognizes this ‘new’ Superman is a phony and takes the indestructible cape (most of it) and the biological S-shield. DCE says the FOS made Superman’s life too easy and too comfortable. This is reminiscent of their statements regarding Lois Lane at the new 52 launch. She was a beautiful trophy wife who made Superman’s life perfect. So now he has a beautiful trophy super girlfriend – what’s the difference? (not Lois so is okay) And Superman’s life is never perfect if you actually deal with his dual identity and his love of humanity, but DCE hasn’t wanted to go there.
Introducing DCYOU Superman: He rides a Tossr motorcycle which he uses as a weapon while wearing ripped cape remnants on his hands. Wears an S t-shirt, jeans and workboots he bought at the store. He’s basically a vigilante without the Superman status. He could be a nutjob who has convinced himself he’s Superman. But then wouldn’t he be wrapping a red blanket around his neck and jumping off garage roofs? So if you want your Superman to be a Marvel character, this is the guy for you. (Marvel would probably respect the character more than DC Entertainment has the last 5 years.) Where’d he get the motorcycle – he’s the Man of Steal now.
If you’re already a Superman fan, don’t worry this character is not meant for you. DCE is looking for future readers. (much like their new reader hunt. Loyal readers were 98%) Future readers are children, right? WRONG. Kids get the real Superman – all the things DCE has taken from him and the red trunks, too. So what are future readers? An early online survey of the new 52 in 2011 revealed that 23% of their readership was female. That would be about 1 out of 4 readers. DCE execs were wondering why women were more comfortable with online surveys. Even this small percentage of females was too large for the target audience DCE announced they were going for – 14 to 34 year old males. A few years later a survey revealed that their audience was 47% female. Doubled. (almost female to male equality) This occurred when DCE was still shooting for that male target audience. DCE gave 18 million dollars to a company who had a target audience of 18 to 34 year old males so they could make videos for them. DCE has acknowledged their audience has changed but do they like that idea? Perhaps their target audience is allergic to online surveys – is that what DCE wants everyone to believe? (even at 53 to 67% responses from males) Or is it more likely, especially with Superman’s abysmal order numbers, males a running away in droves to await the next lightswitch crisis before they spend their money. And DCE has made their Superman as un-female friendly as possible. New 52 superdouche, anyone?
Future readers appear to be the same ole target audience they’ve been focusing on. But blaming 14 to 34 year old males who don’t read comics yet does them a disservice. How do DCE execs know what these potential readers want? How did they know what the new readers (a mere 2%) wanted? They didn’t. It was what the DCE executives wanted. So Nielsen and Diane Nelson can survey till they are blue in the face if the boyz at the top don’t want Superman to rise from the ashes of his order numbers. A phenomenon DCE execs created.
How much better would Superman stories/orders be if DCE execs even considered males and females like all the things they have taken away from the character. Superman’s mythology.
DCYOU/Divergence is breaking the chains of Superman’s mythology. So DCYOU Superman is Superman unhinged – not really Superman in any reality.
Fans do not care if DC Entertainment doesn’t like or understand Superman. At this point, it appears DCE execs/editorial despise the character and all he means to his fans. As businessmen (yea, they are mostly males), they need to buck up and give the people what they want. Meaning make some money with this character without these ridiculous restrictions on his mythology. Isn’t that what business is about? Making money. Does Lee/Harras/Didio want to be known as the destroyers of Superman? We shall see, won’t we.
Remember the rule: IF you don’t like it, don’t buy it. The only way to change things is to take a stand and let your voice be heard. Vote with your purchases (or lack thereof).
Let’s not allow the real Superman to go down without a fight or protest from his FANS!
P.S. Don’t worry Batman fans, your hero gets to keep everything. He’s still the billionaire playboy with a manor, a batcave, batmobile, batplane, etc., utility belt, cowl, Alfred, 5 Robins, and still fighting in Gotham City, Plus Joker is immortal and Batman becomes a god in the Darkseid War. No regressions for him. Is it any wonder Batman sells 200 to 400% more books than any Superman book? He gets to keep ALL of his mythology plus given even more added abilities.
Do You Feel Cheated by DC Entertainment?
Since September, 2011 many Superman fans have felt cheated. He’s not the guy about hope, champion of the oppressed or even about loving humanity. In fact, since the beginning of the new 52 era, there has been no love in the DCU at all.
In 1938, Action Comics #1 started a genre of global proportions. Portraying an alien with extraordinary powers, who had a human identity. Clark Kent/Superman (one and the same) was cast as a romantic hero from the start. It has served the character and his fans well for over 70 years.
Enter DC Entertainment and their treatment of the character & his mythology which is known in every HOUSEHOLD around the world.
In 1938, the cornerstone of what was to follow through 7 decades, we have the pursuit and challenge of a personal relationship. Clark Kent and Lois Lane. Beginning in 2012, we have DC Entertainment’s version of a personal relationship. Loneliness, fear and grief. Supers should be with supers according to one DCE insider, a former Wildstorm creator. Characters should be with their own kind? Segregation? Are DC superheroes now the X-men?
Apparently DC Entertainment is not familiar with Superman vs the Klu Klux Klan or even Superman and the Mole Men? Superman no longer loves humanity. He truly has no purpose in saving anyone. He’s only been allowed to save the Earth from huge superpowered villains. Never allowed to be Clark Kent, journalist, fighting evil using the power of the pen, his heart and his mind. Human readers are supposed to be complacent with a Superman/Clark who never takes on the evil of their everyday lives that they can relate to.
No inspiring readers to aspire. No cheering on the power of the individual. Superman is hogtied to his superfriends. Recently he’s acquired a power that will make him ‘human’ for 24 hours and he’s been using it to the extent that he needs Batman to rescue him (naked, no less) and have Alfred make him a new costume every single time. Dependency on the group. Powerless on his own.
Fans of the 70-plus relationship of Clark/Lois/Superman found another disconcerting aspect to the character under DC Entertainment’s watch.
In 1938 and in the decades that followed, Clark as Superman tells Lois Lane he means no harm. To humanity in general and her in particular.
In the new 52, Superman #27 written by Scott Lobdell, a former creator for Marvel and Wildstorm, shows Clark as Superman deciding to allow Parasite to extract the knowledge of his secret from Lois Lane’s brain. This was after she had saved him several times with her psionic powers. Not even the Silver Age of superdickery had Superman harming Lois Lane in this fashion.
Twelve issues later, Geoff Johns in Superman #38 lightswitched Clark telling Jimmy Olsen he was Superman. Never happened before in the entire 75-plus years of Superman’s existence.
So what if Lois did know but didn’t tell Clark she knew. It’s happened many times and for many years previously. In multimedia, not just comics.
DC Entertainment is not going to go there. They’re looking for new future readers this summer for their revamp of what used to be called the new 52. Earth Zero. (or as some fans call it, Earth Loser)
Divergence is the codename for this summer’s event. Superman will have a crossover between his books. Action (which Lois has not been allowed in by editorial since Greg Pak took over), Batman/Superman (which Lois has been featured), Superman/Wonder Woman (need I say that Lois won’t be gracing that book unless you count Diana wanting to be a reporter along side Clark) and Superman (the book Geoff Johns abandoned to concentrate on television where he obviously has more control).
On Free Comic Book Day, readers got an 8 page ‘preview’ of what was to come in June, 2015. Lois Lane has outed Clark Kent as Superman. How did she find out? Did she always know? If so, then why at this time did she decide to out him? And why make her to be perceived as the villain? I doubt any of these questions will be answered as the storytelling has been lacking since DCE took over. (This story is being written by newcomer Gene Luen Yang as his first fray into the breech known as DCE.)
“Truth”, the name of the crossover event says ” For Superman, there’s no holding back.” Back from what? He’s got a crewcut, t-shirt, jeans, workboots, no cape, nearly powerless and riding a motorcycle. And he’s on the run because his “best friend” (Lois, a relationship that was never adequately depicted for years) outed him.
Since September, 2011, Superman fans have had a 5 year gap in his new history, only lip service to a dual identity (like it’s a bad thing or used as a weapon against Lois), and no triangle for two at all.
So instead of continuing to cheat Superman readers, DC Entertainment is not holding back from ripping us off? Because basically since September, 2011, Superman has been in moniker only, not in character or mythology. No longer the romantic hero we all remember and have depicted in other multi-million dollar media.
I guess those former execs from Marvel and Wildstorm know more about DC heroes than their fans do, right? Or do they have Dr. Fate tied up somewhere telling them what the future readers want?
SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT
Warning: Language, Attitude & Snark
Damn tootin there, Lolo. Something has not been right for a lonnnnggg time.
When the new 52 began, DCE stripped Superman of all female influence. Martha and Lara were dead. Lois was kicked to the curb. But, he’s dating Wonder Woman,right? My mother-in-law (she had five sons so she should know) used to say, “Men have periods, too. They just last three weeks.” Wonder Woman is PMSing all the time. So yea, she’s basically a guy with boobs (and a cranky magic va-ja-ja if it doesn’t get oiled).
Superman had a horrible week. Superman 38 (a week late, expanded and more expensive), Action 39 (DECOMPRESSED!), Superman Earth One Vol 3 were the usual suspects. Our hero appeared in all his glory in Future’s End #40 written from the Pros from Dover (Jurgens, Azzarello, Lemire and Giffen) saved Superman and my week. Yes, they did.
BTW, see that panel of Lois actually saying something in a Superman comic. Well, it is the only thing she said in the expanded issue, raising the price to $5. The other panel was of Jimmy asking her what was gong on. He’s clueless . . . but not anymore!!! Geoff Johns handed him a big gift of knowing Superman’s secret at the end of the issue. Dudebros rule!
It has been stated DCE did a survey and the results were 45% of their readers were female. Apparently DC Entertainment is ignoring this. Because basically Superman #38 told women, “we don’t want or need your money. Just walk away. Dudebros rule!”
And it worked. New readers who started reading in the New 52 have left in disgust. They are tired of waiting. Superman books are not giving them what they want in order to plop down their hard earned pay. Yea, new readers, the reason for the reboot. But admittedly they are women so they don’t count.
BTW, G2Factor will be on hiatus until at least April. Waiting to read Superman Convergence. Will not submit themselves any further to this unrelenting torture of readers. There’s torturing then there’s the upscale of debasing the character and the fanbase. New 52 has been the latter.
Superman’s got a new power. It’s called superflare. (Clark Kent, the Kryptonian Torch! He’s not human, so y’know) No, I am not making this up. I have a better imagination than that. See, it’s an out of control thing. Because Superman in the new 52 doesn’t have a strong will or self control, That’s why DCE can pull this crap. Apparently when his superflare goes off (sounds sexier than it is) it rids Superman’s cells of their solar energy. He has to wait 24 hours before his powers return. His dudebro, Bats told him so. AND Superman’s armor (yea, the biological one) got burnt so Alfred kind of made him a new one. I’m not kidding. Not okay for Ma Kent to make his suit but AOK for Alfred to do so? Dudebros rule! The cape is still indestructible. But he has a mock turtleneck and sleeves that end in fingerless gloves. I guess for when his whittle handsies get cold up there at the Fortress of Solitude. Which may or may not still be taking 40 days to regenerate.
So Clark is human for a day after his solarflare goes off. Okay, I need a vote here: Which would you prefer during that span of time? Clark flirting with Lois or telling Jimmy his secret? Anyone? Beuller? This makes me suspicious. Someone at DCE must be a total Tarantino fan (Superman Django Unchained, anyone?) and believes that crap Kill Bill spouted about Clark. Oh he needs to be Clark because of this new power. No, that’s not the reason Clark Kent exists. My son put it quite succinctly, “Clark has a job because he has to make money. Otherwise he’d be a supervillain.” Now that’s realistic and RELATABLE!
Am I gonna have to drag out the Wimp Ass Clark moniker again? (see Smallville reviews, especially Season 7). Speaking of Smallville – remember when Clark pulled Geoff Johns out of his truck in RECRUIT, season 5. Jeph Loeb tried to warn us. LOL Yep, we’re still wondering where Lois is.
So the issue was obviously enlarged for splashpages, some of which were randomly in black & white – no rhyme nor reason. Jonathon Carroll mention. He’s the guy Lois is with to make Clark soooo despondent. *rme Whatever. Jackee Winters (she’s female) the new Johns’ character was on the cover but not in the story, nor was Steve Lombard or Ron Troupe. So much for the DP folks being involved. Clark and Lois are still not allowed to breath the same air. The only people Clark talked to was his dudebros. Ulyssess, Bats, Alfred, Perry, and Jimmy. There was an epilogue with the hooded guy saying he was proud of Clark & is gonna send Clark a package at the Daily Planet. (Like I care anymore, but maybe he’s the key to this . . . or maybe not. Can’t depend on anything Superman-wise anymore.)
This is still a total misstep on DCE’s part (and Lord knows there have been many) or they are pulling back too far. Ya gotta leave some breadcrumbs for the big surprise and keep folks guessing so they’ll await the next story or issue. But what DCE did with this issue – they beat down readers with a story of no real resolution, an ubiquitous power and telling Jimmy Olsen Clark is Superman. Something new 52 Superman has held consistently against Lois – not knowing his dual identity. He trusts her but apparently it was show and tell day at the DP for Clark and Jimbo, who is no longer a billionaire (why they made him one . . . oh yea, Lobdell or Harras or Lee).
There probably won’t be a Lois birthday party after all unless they give it a half-panel in #39, otherwise nada. #40 is John Romita,Jr’s Superman story. So, lies. Don’t make promises you can’t keep. It’s not trustworthy. DCE is not to be trusted. Therefore, don’t give DC Comics your money.
Action 39, Beardo vs the Ultrahumanite. Zzzzzz Clark sacrifices his psyche (yes again) and grief (there’s always grief in the new 52) in order for the ‘monster’ to engorge itself and thus releasing it’s hold on everyone. Lana apologizes for being a bitch every issue about her dead parents. They re-buried the Kents. Yea, we get it. He’s still alienated. There was a sequence that showed all the deaths of Clark’s friends. Did Clark see a future when he was in the black hole with Brainiac? Because if he thought that shit up on his own, he’s one sick M.F.er Lois dead with armored Batman and Krypto looking on. Batman and Hiro dead in the Batcave after Lex Luthor shoots them. Steel, Kara, and Diana dying at the hands of Zod and Faora. So Wonder Woman can die before Clark? Oh gee, who knew? [sarcasm] The reason the fauxmance is supposedly together is because humans are frail and can die. Clark almost died as Doomy and Diana can apparently die, too. So much for “after the last battle” bullshit. Why are they torturing us with all these horrible stories?
Apparently there was a crack in the Phantom Zone and that’s how the Ultrahumanite got out. Then Doomy got out and then Wonder Woman imploded the Phantom Zone releasing the menagerie (who were infected by the Ultrahumanite) and everyone else. The Bottle of Kandor ended up in Iceland – BUT the Fortress is gonna take 40 days to regenerate. I’m getting brain damage from this. Did anyone see Baka?
The Phantom Zone is repaired by the Smallvillians and Clark but there’s still a squiggly at the Kents’ grave. Oh goodie. Next issue is a Bizzaro story (yes, I know all the new 52 stories are bizarro).
Superman Earth One Vol 3. Haven’t read the book yet. Straczynski isn’t exactly being sincere when he said DC let him go from writing Wonder Woman and Superman (separate books) back in 2010 – truth be told he heard Didio was getting his reboot. I attended the 2010 SDCC where he had a reading of both books. Three months later was the editorial retreat that created the new 52 and also the release of SEO Volume 1. Coincidence? Chris Roberson took over Superman, The Grounded story. (There’s a story there. Lois Lane radar going off.) At 2010 SDCC we met Shane Davis and bought posters of Superman from SEO Volume 1. Volume 2 took two years to write apparently. And now we have three.
Clark’s very in-tuned-to-her-body neighbor is a hooker. He’s not friends with Lois, of course, because every one knows they are an inevitable couple, so can’t write about them. In the preview we got, Lisa L. (get it, LL? How clever #sarcasm) thinks of Clark as a brother. At some point in the story after a huge battle, Clark returns to Martha Kent (Jonathan died after spouting the Niven theory to young Clark) and she encourages him to find love wherever he can. Something happens at the end of the book to make reviewers think Lisa is now his girlfriend. Excuse me. I must get out the puke buckets again.
In every book of Superman, DCE has to put “by Special Arrangement with the Jerry Seigel Family” – it’s legal lip service. Does anyone believe in all good conscience that the Seigel family would ever fathom or tolerate Clark Kent with a hooker? Again debasing the character. All in the name of not allowing the inevitability of the Clark and Lois relationship to transpire even a wee little bit. Toss him a hooker. True, he can’t get an STD from her. But does she die from doin it? Or is that only allowed for Lois to die from the Kryptonian shaft? It’s not as if Lisa has a magic va-ja-ja which could render Clark impotent, but Wonder Woman has that ground covered in main continuity. It’s ANYONE-BUT-LOIS in the name of – well, we can’t have them together yet. 4.5 years for Superman Earth One and 3.5 years for the new 52. HOW MUCH LONGER????
Lois is always strong. Clark, not so much. Yes, I agree Clark should pursue Lois and be worthy of her. Because a strong Lois and a weak minded and completely out of touch with his heart Clark is a TRAIN WRECK EXTRAORDINAIRE! And continues to be so.
There is no character building being done via true love in the new 52. It is not allowed. Yes, Geoff Johns had Arthur & Mera considered married in order to make that character interesting but after he left the book, it was implicitly stated they were not married. The only hero still married in the new 52 is Animal Man. I still think Morrison had it as a stipulation for him writing Multiversity, Action, and his Wonder Woman book. He said during the 2011 SDCC just before the reboot release, he hoped that DCE didn’t mess with Animal Man’s marriage. And they haven’t. But romance isn’t necessarily marriage. Could we at least get an iconic courtship? Clark/Lois, Dick/Babs, Barry/Iris, Ollie/Dinah. Trevor/Diana, Bats/Cats, etc etc etc There’s so much to do before more and more fans throw up their hands, take their cash, and invest it in other entertainment.
None of this negates my previous blogpost that Supermn and Lois are having a secret romance. Why would Clark have to tell Lois if she already knew? The 24 hour human thing may be a way to show Clark that being with a super (WW) isn’t exactly his cup of tea. Especially if the super can die just as much as a human?
Why the new power? It seems it might come in handy with the Darkseid War this summer. Omega beams verse superflare. Lots of yellow and red on the page. Boom Boom Boom. Splashpages. Battle battle battle.
The Jimmy knowing secret thing, I’m not sure. Something to do with some plot obviously. Can’t see Clark hankering to tell Jimmy for any length of time. Lightswitched like the fauxmance. Having Jimmy not be a billionaire was a good move. Having Clark Kent back at the DP is great, too but only if he and Lois get to breathe the same air. It’s something that fans want and have been waiting entirely too long to see. To experience. The key to Richard Donner’s Superman movie was the love story between Clark and Lois. If that was done right, the movie would be a hit. Dick Donner was Geoff Johns’ boss at one time. And they have written an Action series giving married Clark and Lois a child.
So what’s the dealio? Is it editorial again? Hey Pharoah, let our Superman go!!! We need a hero, not a schmoe.
Speaking of children. In Superman Convergence – Clark and Lois are going to have a baby. Now, I have heard some dumb shit, but let’s get something straight. The whole two different species crap hasn’t flown since 1966, almost 50 years ago. Every geek knows Mr. Spock is human/Vulcan. Kon was a clone of Superman and Lex Luthor Kryptonian/human pre-52. In the new 52, Clark and Lois had a natural born son, Jonathan Lane Kent and then Kon who is their son twice over is part clone & part natural (Jon’s DNA). Today animal DNA is put into plants and we eat it. They put animal DNA in humans now. This is no longer science FICTION. So get into the modern world already. Clark and Lois can have a baby just fine. Especially since the Fortress of Solitude is located in a place with at least six months of darkness during the year. Plus the Fortress supposedly holds the knowledge of the known galaxies. Surely one of them figured this stuff out. Oy!
Future’s End #40 will save your Superman soul. Clark takes action heading for New York. Lois is in New York. Big Baddie shows up in front of her. Potential for great storytelling and mythology. Can’t wait until next week. Don’t just sit there. Go buy this issue.
G2Hardcore will be talking about all this and more on Saturday at 5pm.
THE HOSTILE TAKEOVER OF SUPERMAN
When in the course of certain events . . .
When I told my son, long time fanboy of comics for a few decades, that Jim Lee was made co-publisher of DC Comics, he grinned and made an obscene gesture as Mr. Lee’s proxy. Fanboys are notorious gossips and are not without very strong opinions. “I’m gonna fuck, DC.” When I inquired why Mr. Lee would do such a thing especially when he had been promoted to such a high level of the company, all he could say was, “You just watch.” I shrugged it off thinking it was some kind of strange fanboy behavior I’d never understand.
You may think I was prejudiced somehow by this interaction but honestly I couldn’t see the logical reason behind such a statement. In the course of the article, I will be presenting facts; gathering data, and journaling the ‘adventure’ that has been at least 4 years in the making.
Then came Flashpoint, originally constructed by Geoff Johns. The last issue showed DC was now going to combine the Vertigo, Wildstorm and DC universes and Grifter, a Wildstorm character, was to be on the Justice League at some point. The new universe was conceived in an editorial retreat in October, 2010. Bob Harras, formerly of Marvel and then Wildstorm under Jim Lee (now co-pub), was made Editor-In-Chief of DC Comics the previous month.
Evil laughter ensued from the house fanboy. I should probably add that he was mainly a Marvel fan, but also read some indies as well, and definitely was up on all the machinations of the publishing houses.
Before the new 52 actually occurred, I was at a comic book shop going through the sale bins looking for Superman comics. One of my son’s friends, another fanboy who actually did the ordering for a local comic book shop, came over to me with a Grifter comic and said, “This is the future of the DC universe!” If he had had a moustache, he would have twirled it. I told him to “get that shit away from me.” Was I worried about the new 52? Yea, I was. I was already having PTSD from WONK and Grounded. Flashpoint had fridged Lois again and Superman was only Kal-El, not Clark Kent. No Smallville. But the writer had added it was a cliché to kill off Lois – and it was, but it was not the last time she would be fridged in new 52 era.
The new 52 began on August 31, 2011 with Justice League declared the flagship of the universe with Geoff Johns as writer and the former head honcho of Wildstorm, Jim Lee drawing. Lee also redesigned most of the characters putting a ‘majestic’ collar on the Man of Steel. Superman was no longer the flagship character. His identity and stories would be guided by Justice League and their future plans.
All issues carried #1 on their covers. Aside from Justice League, all other books started in September, 2011. I have been doing statistics on the top 10 books of that time plus any others that involve Superman or that strike my fancy.
I started my statistics using October, 2011 order numbers involving the 2nd issues. This seemed a good place to start without the anomaly of the #1s.
Action Comics #2 orders were 153,855, still riding high from the #1s with top writer, Grant Morrison. He was creating a new Superman building 5 years in the past. Only Action Comics and Justice League have this five year gap. Again, Superman’s story would be contingent upon Justice League’s plans.
All prominent characters from the Wildstorm universe had their own books, except for one. Mr. Majestic. He was nowhere to be found in the new 52. Reason: He was being called Superman. An alien with no human ties who didn’t have much of a moral core and who had a superpowered girlfriend. Jim Lee had created Mr. Majestic because he thought it was dumb for Superman not to use his powers to their full extent. More on that later.
Superman #2 orders were 94,233. Veteran George Perez’s story took place in the present or five years in the future of Action Comics. The five year gap was a bottomless pit and even Superman “wished things could be different.” No one knew who this new Superman was and it certainly didn’t bode well when Perez left the book after issue 6 not knowing who this new Superman was or what editorial kept in or out of the book. Shades of things to come.
One year later, October, 2012, Issue #13, Morrison kept his story in the past despite rumblings of bringing it into the present and order numbers were 67,241. A loss of 56.3% (or -86,614) from it’s number 2 issue. Although Morrison fans have often said wait for the TPBs and not get the individual issues. what happened? Why did Morrison decide to keep the book in the past? He was not writing foundational Superman because of what was happening in Justice League after it jumped into the present. And Justice League being a team book certainly wasn’t giving Superman any foundation. The Kent marriage (hinted in Action 12) was declared dead before new 52 began and now everyone knew why. The fauxmance, lightswitched in Justice League #12 but with a HUGE multimedia campaign by Lee and Johns. Superman, aka new 52 Mr. Majestic, had a supergirlfriend now, Wonder Woman.
In Superman, Keith Giffen & Dan Jurgens wrote him for six months after Perez. These two top veterans who knew Superman inside and out were unable to breach the editorial barrier. They had to include Wildstorm baddie, Helspont, into the story. Superman and Action often had the character dealing with alternate realities and timelines but never anything about Clark Kent at the Daily Planet. Does anyone truly believe that these two creators would have Clark dating Lucy Lane as his ‘love interest’? By issue #13 in October, 2012, the book had yet another creator taking over. Scott Lobdell. A veteran of Marvel and then Wildstorm, just like his Editor-In-Chief, Bob Harras, who was at the editorial retreat in October, 2010. Orders for issue #13 were 52,155. A drop of 44.7% (-42,078).
In October, 2013, 2 years after the DCU was rebooted, Action Comics had abysmal numbers. Wasn’t that the reason given for the reboot? And the character of Superman was hard rebooted. Not reboot lite like Batman. What happened during that year? Andy Diggle took over Action for #19 and then quit to have Tony Daniel finish his run (20-21). He said he left for professional reasons. But later we learned, he would not write the fauxmance, which had never appeared or was even mentioned in Action Comics. So Bob Harras tapped Scott Lobdell to write both Action and Superman. Scott Lobdell’s final issue, Action #24 had 39,620 orders for a drop since #2 of 74.2% (-114,235 prints). The worst dive of any new 52 ‘top 10’ book. 114,235 orders is a top selling book on any given month. Why did DC Comics allow it’s first superhero to be desecrated to this point just 4 months after his hit movie, Man of Steel?
Greg Pak took over writing duties in November, 2013 and the fauxmance was mentioned for the first time in Action Comics. He was not allowed to use Lois Lane. Also Charles Soule got the job of writing the fauxmance book which debuted in October, 2013. It’s first issue with a double icon lineup failed to reach 100,000 orders.,
Lobdell continued to write Superman even after publicly sexually harassing a female creator on a comics panel in late 2013 and in March, 2014 Superman was at it’s lowest point with 33,633 orders (down 64.3% or -60,600). Lobdell’s last issue for Superman was May, 2014 with the Doomed event prelude. Geoff Johns and John Romita, Jr. took over the book in June, 2014 (#32) bringing up the orders to 89,140 (down only 5% or -5,093). Quite a jump. But for nearly three years, Superman fans were exposed to a concept of Superman they didn’t know and couldn’t trust. Johns will be bringing back Metropolis, the Daily Planet, Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen and Perry White. Things that are staples of the Superman mythology.
Who was responsible for Superman falling to these depths of near obscurity? Especially during his 75th anniversary year in 2013?
Scott Snyder went to Dan Didio with a Superman story he wanted to write. Didio sent him to Jim Lee. Why? Lee decided he would draw the book and they would use it to celebrate Superman’s 75th anniversary. (Apparently if it wasn’t for Snyder, Superman would have had no other additional book but the fauxmance to celebrate his 75th anniversary.) Snyder’s story was classic Superman mythology involving Metropolis and Lois Lane.
Superman Unchained debuted in June, 2013 as the top comic with 251,456 orders to coincide with the Man of Steel film and perhaps to get the movie going public interested in the character again. The second issue was the top comic for July, 2013 with 165,754. Since comic book #1s usually are an anomaly statistically, I will continue to use the second issue stats. In August, Unchained was the top DC Comic at #2 with 136,319 (down 18% or -29,435). September brings unique books (or stunts) and so there was no Superman Unchained scheduled. However, it was scheduled for October, 2013, the same month as fauxmance book debut. Superman Unchained #4 got bumped to November, 2013. (more about this pattern later) So if any new readers jumped on board previously to September, this slowed down the momentum of the book. Plus new readers’ experience would not be good if they weren’t able to read their book on a regular basis. So much for rebooting the entire universe for new readers, right?
Unchained #4 was published in November and managed to be the 3rd highest DC Comic and was 4th for the month with 110,611, a drop of 55,153 from it’s 2nd issue or -33.3% (which is comparable to Batman’s drop from it’s #2 issue in October, 2011). Superman Unchained #5 was released on New Year’s Eve, highly irregular for a top selling book but had the 5th highest book for the month and 3rd DC Comic with the most orders. 96,322 orders which was a drop of 41.9% or 69,432 less orders than it’s 2nd issue.
In 2011, co-pubs Didio and Lee said that new 52 books would go out on time even if creators had to be added to a book to complete it. In 2013, that mandate got thrown out the window for one book in particular, Superman Unchained. The book that was based on standard Superman mythology and did not involve the fauxmance going on in the new 52.
On January 21, 2014, Scott Snyder tweeted that the final issue of Unchained #9 would be coming out on April 30th, 2014. He stated that the book was always only 9 issues long. That would mean that Snyder was finished scripting the book and fans would get an issue monthly. A solicit for April, confirmed Snyder’s statement.
For those of you who don’t know, your local comic book shop has to order books three months in advance, usually by only reading a solicit from the publisher and those are the numbers reflected in the monthly stats provided by Diamond, the distributor. More about that later.
Superman Unchained was not published in January or February, 2014. In March, 2014, fans got #6 which was 2nd only to Batman in orders. 94,147 orders which was a drop of 71,607 or -43.2% since issue #2.
On April 2, 2014, DC announced that they were canceling the last two issues of Unchained (8 & 9) but promised to resolicit. In other words the book was delayed so much, they could not use the order numbers accumulated for the original solicit dates. This way of doing business terrified some fans who did not understand, this is not unusual for a book involving Jim Lee. Fanboys can tell you all about Divine Right, a book written and drawn by Lee when he was head of Wildstorm. It took him two years for twelve issues with many resolicits. Another book was All Star Batman and Robin (an out of continuity book which had the fauxmance) which Lee never finished despite the fact Frank Miller, the writer, said there were four or five issues left. Ten issues were published between 2005 and 2008. In 2009, Lee acknowledged it was he who caused the delays in the book. In 2010, DC announced the book would finish under the name, Dark Knight: Boy Wonder and would run for 6 issues beginning in February, 2011. Lee never did those issues because he was working on Justice League for the new 52 by that time.
And I didn’t even mention WildC.A.T.S with Grant Morrison (only 1 issue published) or Batman: Europa (nothing published). Plus, supposedly “because he felt his role as publisher and his growing family demands interfered with his role as an artist, Lee left Image Comics and sold Wildstorm to DC Comics in late 1998, enabling him to focus once again on art.” It couldn’t be because Wildstorm products were notoriously late or incomplete? And what fan needs that kind of treatment?
But I digress . . .
Scott Snyder apologized for the delay of Superman Unchained (which wasn’t his fault). Lee only said the book would have more pages (meaning #9, we now realize), but never has said he was sorry for the still continuing delays. This from the co-publisher who adamantly said “books will be on time.” Question: What good is a promise of more pages from a creator who can’t even finish a ‘normal’ amount of pages?
Superman Unchained #7 was finally published in July, 2014. But the constant delays had taken it’s toll on fans. The book was no longer in the top 5 or top 10. 14th for the month with 69,523. A drop of 96,231 or -58% since it’s 2nd issue.
Another pattern fans have noticed with Unchained is that when it is solicited for a date which falls on the same day as the fauxmance, Unchained gets bumped. Superman fans can no longer trust a classic Superman mythology book will ever get published with any regularity especially while the artist, co-publisher, attendee of the 2010 editorial retreat, is connected with said book.
Superman Unchained #8 has been re-solicited for September 10th which is highly unusual for DC Comics stunt month. If released in September, it will be buried by Future’s End #1s. One shots. Remember #1’s sell more than other numbers because collectors join the party. It’s not about the story but that number on the cover.
If Lee waits around for an October or November release date for #8, then we may have a repeat of October, 2013. No Unchained. #12 of the fauxmance will be Charles Soule’s last issue and in November, the book will be taken over by Peter Tomasi. It appears that a bestselling book by Scott Snyder is not given the same consideration as a book which is more in line with what was decided in the 2010 editorial retreat.
The oversized #9 is not even on the horizon. It’s been over a year since Superman Unchained #1 appeared and Jim Lee couldn’t get 8 more issues done within that period of time, most of which was during Superman’s 75th anniversary.
Amongst all this new 52 demoralizing of Superman, Action #1 from 1938 has had phenomenal sales. In 2010, a book sold for 1.5 million dollars. In 2011, a book sold for 2.0 million dollars. Currently, there is bidding on a third book which is reaching over 2.0 million dollars.
Was turning Superman into Mister Majestic with everything but the S shield on his chest really worth it? And who keeps their job, degrading the most recognized character around the world? But I guess redesigning cereal box characters is more important than drawing a top selling Superman story to celebrate his 75th anniversary.
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