DC Comics Thread

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This is a thread to talk about DC Comics.

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JRCarter wrote:

Marvel Rumored To Take Over DC Comics

Sure, i trust the only site that’s non-stop talk trash kid Nova and doesn’t learn how to move on, so trustworthy.

From Chip Zdarsky’s latest email newsletter:

WOW WHAT A WEEK EH
The comics world was rocked with the news that the (co?) Publisher of DC Comics, Dan Didio, has been let go. Was it for taking away Superman’s outside underwear and then putting them back like some kind of pervert? Hard to say. But it has stirred up a lot of chatter on the socials about me filling his role. It’s very kind of everyone to think of me for that position, but I’m perfectly happy being freelance and desperately searching for my next paycheck like a wild animal.
But! I do have some ideas for DC if they decide to bring me in as a consultant.
– Make the blue on Superman’s legs into chaps, so the red underwear is actual underwear like a normal fucking guy
– You want to really revolutionize secret identities? Make Superman’s secret identity “Batman”.
– Like a real hawk, Hawkman should be shitting on people.
– Batman should marry Catwoman
– We. Need. More. Robins.
– Aquaman should start calling all dude superheroes “Landman” just to show them how stupid it is.
– Fire Matt Fraction for making Jimmy Olsen into a fucking joke!!!!
– Buy “Spiderman.” That character is awesome

WEIRD THEY HAVEN’T OFFERED YOU THE JOB
I know, right?

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Will_C

I don’t need the “EH” to figure out he’s a Canadian (we just know) but sometimes marijuana is not your friend (or wait and re-read an hour later)

Zdarsky is like that all the time, he shares the same kind of irreverent humour as Layman. They both really make me laugh on Twitter and I don’t think anyone in the industry takes a single bit of it seriously.

I liked including ‘Batman should marry Catwoman’ in with the crazy ideas list.

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Will_C, Rocket, Sean Robinson, Todd

The future of Wonder Woman is bright, as writer Mariko Tamaki takes over

Mariko Tamaki, a shining talent who recently penned the graphic novel Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass, is turning her attention to DC Comics’ trinity, taking over Wonder Woman this June.

“Wonder Woman was the hero I grew up with, she was my little-kid-living-room-cosplay,” said Tamaki in a statement. “I have always wanted a golden lasso and an invisible jet, and I feel like now, writing Wonder Woman, I’m one step closer.”

Tamaki’s run on the title kicks off on June 10 with Wonder Woman #759, which features art by Mikel Janín and a cover by David Marquez. According to DC, the new story arc picks up with Diana in the aftermath of her battle with the Four Horsewomen, a time when life on the mere-mortal wavelength is tricky, and a new threat looms. Not helping the matter: the return of Machiavellian businessman Maxwell Lord. The classic villain shows up in issue #760 looking for help, and Diana’s quest to do the right thing makes for a complicated decision.

I’ll definitely check this run out.

NEW KRYPTON Arises and DOCTOR FATE Returns in JUNE 2020 SUPERMAN Advance Solicitations

Superman #24
Action Comics #1024
Event Leviathan: Checkmate #3
Legion of Super-Heroes #8

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Todd

[Sean Robinson]

Solicitations for June 2020 thread

DC Solicitations for June 2020 – Newsarama

• This reply was modified 4 years, 9 months ago by Sean Robinson.

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Ben, Vikram, Todd

That Young Justice solicit looks like it was written just for me. This has become such a mediocre book, but it stars three of my all time favourite characters. I can’t help myself. This must be how Meadows feels on an ongoing basis! 🥺

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Rocket, Todd, Sean Robinson, DavidM

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Christian

OK, if that is hinting at the bleeding obvious, I’m not investing because…. This is DC.

They like to tease this stuff and sure, sometimes they actually start a plot running.

But later?  They will sabotage the hell out of it, run it off the rails so it just fades away.  Nope, not taking the bait.

I have to admit though, I did laugh at the Bat-Bucket line.

Who’s writing it?

Tynion?

I don’t think I know his work at all. The dialogue style made me think it might be Bendis. Or possibly somebody trying to be Bendis.

It’s Tom King, not Tynion. It’s from a special leading into his Batman/Catwoman series.

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Ben

You realise the implications of this? Batman is always prepared. This has been established as his main super-power.

So if what is hinted here has happened, it wasn’t an “accident”. If it’s happened, it’s because he planned it.

 

 

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Christian, Ben, Todd

He certainly wasn’t wearing his Bat-johnny on every occasion.

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Ben

garjones wrote:

It’s Tom King, not Tynion. It’s from a special leading into his Batman/Catwoman series.

It’s great dialogue, too. And the whole style of it is very reminiscent of Mr. Miracle (which is a good thing).

But I’m not going to be drawn into reading Batman.

Christian wrote:

But I’m not going to be drawn into reading Batman.

No and I wouldn’t. King is a great writer but I don’t think he quite clicks with the grind of monthly superhero comics. His runs are full of great little bits like that but don’t work great as a whole. I’d be happy if he does 12 issue mini series with obscure characters for the rest of his career because I’ve loved all of those.

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Ben, Christian, Dave

Sheriff of Babylon convinced me that King isn’t a superhero writer.  He sometimes really nails it, like Vision, bits of Batman, but I think he’d be better doing full creator owned.  Might not pay as well though.

Still need to read Sheriff Of Babylon – I bought the collection on Comixology when it was dirt cheap but haven’t got around to it yet. Thanks for the reminder.

Come to think of it, the Black Label is the perfect option for King.  A lot of his ideas work better as out of continuity tales.

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RonnieM, Dave

Yep. Black Label is really what a lot of us have been saying we’ve wanted for years: top creators let loose on characters for standalone stories unfettered by continuity, and with a bit more latitude to tell the tale they want to tell in whatever format works best.

That doesn’t guarantee results, but the imprint seems to have a better than average hit-rate so far.

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DavidM, RonnieM, Ben

Yep. Black Label is really what a lot of us have been saying we’ve wanted for years: top creators let loose on characters for standalone stories unfettered by continuity, and with a bit more latitude to tell the tale they want to tell in whatever format works best.

But no genitals

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RonnieM, Todd, Dave

The world is not yet ready for Bat-Commando

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Todd, lorcan_nagle

lorcan_nagle wrote:

Yep. Black Label is really what a lot of us have been saying we’ve wanted for years: top creators let loose on characters for standalone stories unfettered by continuity, and with a bit more latitude to tell the tale they want to tell in whatever format works best.

But no genitals

They have to differentiate it from all the Watchmen spinoffs somehow.

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lorcan_nagle, Todd

Posted this before but here's some @rafaalbuquerque art for a declined Justice League of Tomorrow pitch we did pic.twitter.com/NwLJoJqMAh

— Rick Remender (@Remender) March 23, 2020

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Sean Robinson, RonnieM

First look: Batman meets Gossip Girl in new graphic novel Gotham High

Looks like DC are going to go ahead with publishing their weekly comics digitally, even while print issue distribution is suspended.

https://www.newsarama.com/49628-dc-s-weekly-comics-to-continue-digitally-during-diamond-stoppage.html

“Here’s where we are on digital. All our data shows the digital consumer and the physical consumer are two different audiences. For now, we’re going to continue to release digital comics, but will revisit this if the pipeline for physical distribution continues to be challenged and disrupted,” Phillips posted.

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RonnieM, Todd

Mixed feelings about this. I understand that it’s probably the best for the creative community and thus the industry as a whole. But, I can’t help feel that as much as they argue to the contrary this will impact print sales, and thus make life harder for local comic shops coming out of this crisis.

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Todd, njerry, Ben

I don’t entirely agree they are two different audiences really. It may be anecdotal but from here and a few podcasts I listen to there are a lot of people who migrated to digital.

On the other hand here you have an industry where everyone pretty much works from home or can and the sole item stopping it running as normal is the print distributor.

Then the issue is the backbone of the whole monthly system is the comic shops who won’t be able to sell them. So to me they can mitigate this for them if when Diamond get back up and running they do something special. For example if this shutdown is for 3 months, package the missing back issues in Panini UK style, 60 or 80 pages and take the financial hit and sell them for $3.99. So digital gets first but pays more and it’s a promo for comics shops to sell to customers.

 

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DavidM, RonnieM, Todd, Ben

..or maybe what TKO is doing too:

 

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DavidM, RonnieM, Todd, Sean Robinson, njerry, Dave

If DC is going to continue publishing digitally, how will that work when the physical side of the industry starts up again in two, three, four, or six months?

Will print then be months behind digital releases? Will DC flood the market with new comics once they start up again in order to catch up? Will they skip physical releases for those issues entirely, and just start up with physical copies when Diamond is up and running again? Will they pick up in print where they left off, reprinting the issues that were digital only until they catch up? Or is this how they will scrap print entirely?

If they skip over the issues that were published digitally, or play “catch up” and flood the direct market with months worth of comics in order to catch print up with digital, both would probably be nightmare scenarios for struggling shops. If DC scraps print comics, I don’t see how it’s not the beginning of the end of the direct market and the end of comic book stores.

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Sean Robinson, Todd

[garjones]

To be honest I doubt they know. The world is turning so slowly but the Diamond news is less than a week old, we have no idea when they will be up and running, could be 3 weeks, could be 30 weeks. If it’s 30 weeks then what do you do? Leave freelancers without income for half a year.

Albeit digital returns better profits I highly doubt they have any desire to dump print right now. Jim Lee was saying fairly recently that digital sales had stalled and are still a minority. They may want to push those sales but if it drives print under their business is in deep trouble. So I doubt they’ll be that callous, Marvel before Diamond dropped the news offered deep discounts and returns to soften the blow.

There are existing scenarios like the Panini model where they could have a different solution of bundling the missing issues. I’m not yet saying DC are wrong or right but this is a think of ever shifting sands and potentially any answer can be wrong.

Check this out! ⁦@JimLee⁩ is doing 60 sketches in 60 days and auctioning off the drawings to benefit struggling comic stores! https://t.co/nMI7jc5ZW8
— Scott Williams (@ScottW_inks) March 30, 2020

• This reply was modified 4 years, 8 months ago by garjones.
• This reply was modified 4 years, 8 months ago by garjones.

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Rocket

garjones wrote:

..or maybe what TKO is doing too:

 

Wasn’t TKO the one that was essentially doing direct distribution?

Jason wrote:

If DC is going to continue publishing digitally, how will that work when the physical side of the industry starts up again in two, three, four, or six months?

Will print then be months behind digital releases? Will DC flood the market with new comics once they start up again in order to catch up? Will they skip physical releases for those issues entirely, and just start up with physical copies when Diamond is up and running again? Will they pick up in print where they left off, reprinting the issues that were digital only until they catch up? Or is this how they will scrap print entirely?

If they skip over the issues that were published digitally, or play “catch up” and flood the direct market with months worth of comics in order to catch print up with digital, both would probably be nightmare scenarios for struggling shops. If DC scraps print comics, I don’t see how it’s not the beginning of the end of the direct market and the end of comic book stores.

TBD

RonnieM wrote:

Wasn’t TKO the one that was essentially doing direct distribution?

That’s the one but they were still using comic shops, just shipping to them directly instead of using Diamond.

[Sean Robinson]

DC’s April 1st titles scheduled for April 29th on Comixology

Newsarama link

So pushed back 4 weeks, I’m not that offended. Crossing fingers its back to normal at that time.

I’m not switching over, though. I need the physical copy in my hands.
If it goes longer than 4 weeks they do need to give the LCS’s a sweetheart deal.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 8 months ago by Sean Robinson.

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Vikram, Todd

garjones wrote:

..or maybe what TKO is doing too:

That is awesome.

I really don’t know when we’ll get “back to normal.”

The end of April seems overly optimistic.

Memorial Day/The end of May seems more realistic, but still generous.

The nature of the direct market, which is selling time-sensitive collectibles that come out on a regular to schedule to a bunch of independently-owned hobby shops, makes it different from most other publishing industries like books, music, and home video. You can always wait a couple of months to but the new Stephen King novel or record album from your favorite band, but all of those Batman, Spider-Man, and X-Men comic books might be hard to track down.

It’s a literal Catch-22, where if they start up distribution too soon, a lot of stores (and, thus, readers) will miss out on their weekly product lines. But the longer they wait, the more stores will probably not be able to reopen because they’re forced to shutter their businesses permanently.

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Todd

garjones wrote:

Jim Lee was saying fairly recently that digital sales had stalled and are still a minority. They may want to push those sales but if it drives print under their business is in deep trouble.

Unless they believe that killing print will drive all those readers to digital. This would really be an ideal situation for them.

But it’s a gamble. I’ve said elsewhere that if print comics died today, I honestly wouldn’t be upset. I buy exclusively in print so I’m the customer for them to target with a switch to digital, but there is not a single title I care enough about enough that I would miss it if it was cancelled. If print never came back, I would almost certainly stop buying new monthly comics and they’ve lost a monthly sale.

I would still buy trades and archival material if the market switched to 100% digital backed by print collections for the prestige collectors’ market. I would likely spend just as much on comics overall as I do now, in that situation. But it would be almost entirely old (like, properly old) material. If they launch a new digital monthly book, I’m not going to look at the trade unless if has a name like “Moore” or “Gaiman” on the cover.

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Todd

It really sucks that it’s happening now, because of the circumstances, but this was always gonna be an inevitability.

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Todd

[garjones]

DavidM wrote:

Unless they believe that killing print will drive all those readers to digital. This would really be an ideal situation for them.

I honestly don’t think they are anywhere near that point yet. Since 2011 when Comixology went day and date the two main publishers have been doing the opposite really in response to retailer summits.

Initially the comics got released at midnight but they forced them to be pushed back to they’d be after the comic shops opened in the US. DC changed their one month price drop to two and them removed it completely also after retailer feedback (although of course they may have seen benefit themselves if sales didn’t change significantly).

Now that’s not to say this crisis couldn’t end up causing that push but right now I don’t think that’d be instigated by the big two. They also have the problem that retailers make a lot more effort to sell their products than Comixology who have not made any changes to improve their app of webstore for several years (since Amazon bought them to be blunt about it).

As a new company Comixology was expanding rapidly and getting a huge number of downloads, now they don’t seem to be arsed.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 8 months ago by garjones.

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Todd, Ben

It’s funny but despite many claims of:

It just doesn’t seem to take.  Technologies evolve sure but they don’t always entirely replace their predecessors.

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Todd

garjones wrote:

Now that’s not to say this crisis couldn’t end up causing that push but right now I don’t think that’d be instigated by the big two. They also have the problem that retailers make a lot more effort to sell their products than Comixology who have not made any changes to improve their app of webstore for several years (since Amazon bought them to be blunt about it). As a new company Comixology was expanding rapidly and getting a huge number of downloads, now they don’t seem to be arsed.

I initially thought Amazon’s purchase of ComiXology would be huge for them.  However, they don’t seem to have done anything positive for them.  For a while, I wondered if maybe they didn’t buy them to limit competition and eventually fold them into the Kindle app.  That doesn’t seemed to have happened either though.

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Todd

[garjones]

No you are right, they seem to be pretty much in stasis. My suspicion is the guy that started it as a small business, eventually got to sell it for $50m or whatever and is happy sitting next to his swimming pool with a cocktail. Simultaneously it’s too small a part of the Amazon business for them to pay it that much heed. It’s a model where it’s pretty hard to lose money so it doesn’t flag up as having any problems.

By the way our old pal John Hendrick of the Big Bang said very good news for the comics biz is coming today.

There is massive comic industry news coming very, very soon.

Keep an eye out, this is huge.

And for the first time in a long time it’s actually positive.

And when you hear… pic.twitter.com/16gjr599ib

— Big Bang Comics (@TheBigBang_) March 31, 2020

• This reply was modified 4 years, 8 months ago by garjones.

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RonnieM

What was the news?

[JRCarter]

Rick Remender posted some more declined pitches on Twitter:

Here's a DC JLA story I pitched in 2007. Declined. pic.twitter.com/qSlyAfsK6b

— Rick Remender (@Remender) March 31, 2020

Good for a laugh. Notes for my first DC pitch from 2002. Had all the henchmen of Gotham turned into zombies. I tricked @danbrereton_art into agreeing to paint it. Pitched in person. Was made fun of by the editor. Went out that night. Got drunk. Met wife. The end. pic.twitter.com/pH2iBDHaru

— Rick Remender (@Remender) March 31, 2020

Here is a declined DC pitch from 2008 for a Sea Devils revival that would see Aquaman lead them. Art by @rafaalbuquerque pic.twitter.com/JxTvWYNy3E

— Rick Remender (@Remender) March 31, 2020

Back at the old HD. Going into my DC folder, here are some pitches that I was asked to do in 2006-07 for Wonder Woman, Nemesis, and The Great Ten. Declined. pic.twitter.com/kiIX0buR6K

— Rick Remender (@Remender) March 31, 2020

• This reply was modified 4 years, 8 months ago by JRCarter.
• This reply was modified 4 years, 8 months ago by JRCarter.

rory wrote:

What was the news?

I dunno, I’m assuming not released yet. That time stamp is mine, it was posted in the evening their time, maybe some more later today.

So less of a Big Bang, more of a … small whimper?

 

BWAHHHhahahahahahahahahaaaaaaaa

 

……. please send help

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Todd

[garjones]

You lack patience you padawans.

Another shop owner, Ryan Higgins, says something will come out today. Yes I am aware it is April 1st but I’m not sure they’d consider their main source of income a joking matter (I could and have been wrong there in the past though).

Huge, game-changing comic book industry news just dropped. Waiting for the word… pic.twitter.com/K8jbLjAfT6
— Ryan Higgins (@RyanHigginsRyan) March 31, 2020

April 1st is cancel this year. Nobody has time for this shit. https://t.co/tKP5KO6xxF
— Ryan Higgins (@RyanHigginsRyan) April 1, 2020

• This reply was modified 4 years, 8 months ago by garjones.

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Rocket, DavidM

[garjones]

So this is the rumour at Bleeding Cool (yes I know but this one looks pretty legit as he’s spoken to the guy setting it up).

You remember when paper comics came with a code to redeem a digital copy? They are reversing that concept, Comics Hub is setting a system pretty immediately where you buy a digital copy and that gives you a voucher to redeem the paper copy at the shop later on. The retailer gets their share wired to them even if they are shut completely during lockdown, then when they reopen hand out the comics.

If that works then I think everybody wins. The publishers can continue on their schedule so their freelance creators also get paid. Retailers get an income stream when under restrictions, fans of paper copies and completists will get their issues eventually but can keep up with the stories online without paying twice.

I like the convenience of everything in a library at Comixology but if this works I will switch, nominate my old LCS and buy there instead, especially with the new rip-off prices on the UK site (which they’ve tied me into with my Amazon ID). If they have an extra paper copy I can’t collect then they can sell it again or give it away as a promo. If that’s how it works, just unofficial so far.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 8 months ago by garjones.
• This reply was modified 4 years, 8 months ago by garjones.

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Todd, DavidM, Ben

So it’s kind of like if I order a CD through Bandcamp, I get a digital version to play immediately if I can’t wait for the physical copy to arrive.

I approve

 

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Todd

[garjones]

To add Comics Hub is the internal software used by the vast majority of comic shops to order and manage their inventory, so that’s why they think they can turn this around very quickly as they have all the databases and catalogues already in place, they just need to present a front end for customers.

Edit: Ryan Higgins who helped work on it has confirmed the Bleeding Cool story is legit so I will link to it.

https://bleedingcool.com/comics/today-the-comic-shops-direct-market-was-saved/

• This reply was modified 4 years, 8 months ago by garjones.
• This reply was modified 4 years, 8 months ago by garjones.

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Todd, DavidM

[Rocket]

garjones wrote:

nominate my old LCS

I went to Comic Hub’s website and there are remarkably few stores they are working with. From their map, the only one in Europe is Big Bang. There is also only 1 store it works with in NY state. While it is an admirable idea, a cynical view may be that they are doing it to get more stores to use their service which seriously cheapens the concept. To get even darker, they are a pusher giving the first hit for free but charging for it down the road.

 

p.s. no offense to Mr Hendricks and Higgins, but maybe there is a good reason the only site that reported it was Bleeding Cool.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 8 months ago by Rocket.

From John’s FAQ and the original article

Someone was asking if it was Comichub or the stores taking payment from customers so here it goes. – The service costs $25 per week to stores not already on Comichub – The money that customers pay for their comics goes straight to the stores

ComicHub usually takes time to be installed inside a comic shop. Given the circumstances, they have pared back the standard tool, costed to work online for every comic book store on the planet. 

It’s okay to take a critical view but to be fair I know John well and he isn’t a mug, also BC aren’t the only ones reporting it.

https://www.cbr.com/how-comichub-distribution-during-covid-19-pandemic-works/

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Ben, DavidM, Todd

The Comic Hub idea has been dumped, according to The Beat because many retailers were strongly of the opinion that it would promote migration to digital.

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Ben, Todd

That’s going to happen anyway in this environment, but they would have gotten something instead of nothing.

I’m not sure they would have got that much uptake if I’m honest. I think that for a lot of people monthly print issues are a habit that wouldn’t be replaced by digital copies and the promise of physical books months down the line.

And while it’s a good idea in some ways I do think it’s a bit of a shaky model when you look at the practicalities of redeeming your guaranteed physical copy (especially when some of these stores may not survive long enough for the print editions to come through) and the logistics of actually getting several months’ worth of comics shipped once the stores finally start opening again (whenever that may be).

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Todd, RonnieM

Dave wrote:

I’m not sure they would have got that much uptake if I’m honest. I think that for a lot of people monthly print issues are a habit that wouldn’t be replaced by digital copies and the promise of physical books months down the line.

And while it’s a good idea in some ways I do think it’s a bit of a shaky model when you look at the practicalities of redeeming your guaranteed physical copy (especially when some of these stores may not survive long enough for the print editions to come through) and the logistics of actually getting several months’ worth of comics shipped once the stores finally start opening again (whenever that may be).

Ya.  Sound more like a “wouldn’t it be cool if…” idea without a lot of logistics put to it.

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Todd, Rocket, Dave

Dave wrote:

the logistics of actually getting several months’ worth of comics shipped once the stores finally start opening again (whenever that may be).

This part is the one they may have no choice but to confront. At the moment the publishers have agreed a month without new issues but they are going to hit their own pressure valve with reduced income after a while and still paying freelancers (Donny Cates confirmed that Marvel and DC creators are producing as normal right now).

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Todd, Dave

Dave wrote:

practicalities of redeeming your guaranteed physical copy (especially when some of these stores may not survive long enough for the print editions to come through) and the logistics of actually getting several months’ worth of comics shipped once the stores finally start opening again (whenever that may be)

If people care that much about a print copy when their local has gone out of business then there’s an easy solution – print your own copy.

This wasn’t being presented as a perfect solution but more an ad hoc holding measure, put together very fast, to bridge the gap from A to B.  As of right now, the closed shops get £/$ 0, if this solution saw them get something, might that be enough? For some it won’t be, for others it will be.

I was always concerned with the practicalities of setting this up so quickly, I remember how bug ridden Marvel Unlimited was for so long but I think the knee jerk reaction from some of those retailers is a bit naive. Comics readers all know digital is there, they probably know it’s available for free on various pirate sites, they are still buying print because they prefer it.

You kind of have to confront how they can work together in the long run.

Physical retail, regardless of it being comics or with lockdowns, is struggling. John’s thread on Twitter had a lot of people in remote locations saying they’d prefer to buy through a system like that and send money to them than send it to Jeff Bezos. Even if they don’t think it can be done now they shouldn’t violently dump ideas like this which seems the impression from the Beat article on it.

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Todd

Superman: Up In The Sky is a bit of a weird one. It’s a tale told in 12 parts, of 12 pages each; that were originally printed in the DC Wallmart specials, before being reprinted as a 6 issue mini series, and more recently in hardcover. As such it neither reads like a mini, nor a graphic novel. There’s no flow between chapters; it’s very stop/ start. Repetitive even.

And, yet.

Andy Kubert, Sandra Hope, and Brad Anderson’s artwork is astonishing. I’ve always been a fan of Andy’s, and he delivers the goods spectacularly here. The series is full of jaw dropping images and splash pages that are frame worthy. I can’t pick a favourite image, but I am really fond of this one, as an example:

On the other hand, Tom King’s story isn’t going to blow you away here. It’s very much secondary to the artwork. It reads like a series of disparate vignettes rather than an actual story.

And, yet.

Each chapter delves hard into what makes Clark Superman. There are some tremendous displays of superpowers, but it’s the heart that beats underneath it all which is more powerful than any locomotive.

At times it’s schmaltzy and overly sentimental, but as I grow older and more world weary, I find myself drawn more & more to what Superman represents. King taps into that here, leaving you in no doubt why Superman is the greatest of all time.

Like I said earlier. It’s a weird book. It’s not the best Superman story. It’s not the best Tom King story. But, at the end it leaves you feeling warm & fuzzy, lifted up and inspired. Sometimes that’s enough.

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Bruce, Dave, Ben, DavidM

[Sean Robinson]

Solicitations for August 2020 thread

DC August Solicits- Newsarama

• This reply was modified 4 years, 7 months ago by Sean Robinson.
• This reply was modified 4 years, 7 months ago by Sean Robinson.

All of DC’s Scooby-Doo comics are free on Comixology:

https://www.comixology.com/Scooby-Doo-Where-Are-You-2010/comics-series/4712

https://www.comixology.com/Scooby-Doo-1997-2010/comics-series/353

https://www.comixology.com/Scooby-Doo-Team-Up-2013/comics-series/11959

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DavidM, Dave

Nice one Paul. I will nab those for the kids.

didn’t know this was coming

GREEN LANTERN EARTH ONE VOL. 2 HC
written by GABRIEL HARDMAN and CORINNA BECHKO
art and cover by GABRIEL HARDMAN
In this sequel to the bestselling 2018 original graphic novel, Hal Jordan and John Stewart must team up to save the galaxy from an invading force!
Manhunters, alien races, rings of power—it’s a lot for the people of Earth to absorb. Especially when an interplanetary incident forces their protector, Hal Jordan, to leave on a rescue mission that results in the discovery that there’s a new player in the galaxy: Yellow Lanterns!

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paul f, Ben, garjones

[Sean Robinson]

SUPERGIRL to Conclude Digitally With Issue #42

DC’s Supergirl ongoing series is still scheduled to conclude with issue #42, as announced in the publisher’s original May 2020 solicitations, but now the series’ final two issues will publish on digital platforms only as part of the publisher’s revised post-distribution shutdown schedule.

Supergirl #41 will be on digital platforms exclusively on May 26 and issue #42 on June 30.

DC’s THE TERRIFICS Will Conclude Digitally With September’s #30

Readers of DC’s The Terrifics looking for new issues in DC’s recently released revised June, July and now August schedules will get an opportunity to read the series conclusion, just digitally for the final three issues.

The final print issue of The Terrifics will be #27, scheduled for May 26. The final three issues concluding the series will be available only on digital platforms, including issues #28 (Jul. 7), #29 (Aug. 4) and #30 (Sept. 1).
Issues #28 and #29 were originally solicited for May and June, respectively.

HARLEY QUINN Ending With August’s #75

Harley Quinn writer Sam Humphries has announced on Twitter that the series will come to a conclusion with August’s #75.

“Hey y’all, I’m hammer-smashing the embargo to break the news that Harley Quinn is over with issue 75! Final issue! No worries and no tears, this has been the plan for almost a year, and we’re celebrating with one Harley’s biggest issues of all time!” reads Humphries’ statement on Twitter.

“This is a happy ending for all – I’m moving on to some very cool secret projects (no hints) and Harley is moving on to one of my favorite creators and people (no hints). Perfect occasion for a new number one. And I’m absolutely thrilled about where Harley is headed.”

DC’s GENERATION Event Absent from JULY & AUGUST Schedules

DC has indicated they’ll update the status of the project later this year

• This reply was modified 4 years, 7 months ago by Sean Robinson.

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Todd

Sean Robinson wrote:

didn’t know this was coming

GREEN LANTERN EARTH ONE VOL. 2 HC
written by GABRIEL HARDMAN and CORINNA BECHKO
art and cover by GABRIEL HARDMAN
In this sequel to the bestselling 2018 original graphic novel, Hal Jordan and John Stewart must team up to save the galaxy from an invading force!
Manhunters, alien races, rings of power—it’s a lot for the people of Earth to absorb. Especially when an interplanetary incident forces their protector, Hal Jordan, to leave on a rescue mission that results in the discovery that there’s a new player in the galaxy: Yellow Lanterns!

That’s cool, I liked the first one.

paul f wrote:

https://www.comixology.com/Scooby-Doo-Team-Up-2013/comics-series/11959

I genuinely think this was DCs best and most consistently enjoyable super-hero series of the past decade.

Batman Universe #1-6, by Bendis, Nick Derington, and Dave Stewart, is perhaps my favourite comic of the year.

A Batman team up book, in all but name, with chapters featuring Green Arrow, Green Lantern (so many Green Lanterns!), Jonah Hex, Nightwing, and others. It probably plays a little fast & loose with continuity, and would probably cause your brain to melt if you try to reconcile it. But don’t bother. This book is just so much fun, and genuinely laugh out loud funny in places.

It’s beautifully drawn. Derington’s art is similar to Stewart or Burnham’s. Not particularly flashy, but with impeccable panel to panel storytelling. Dave Stewart’s colours work perfectly here too, giving the whole thing the feel of a gorgeous animated movie.

In my earlier review of Superman: Up In The Sky, I said that it was a strange book to read, very much an interconnected series of 12 vignettes. This, however, reads far more seamlessly, and could almost be an OGN. If it ever comes out in a Deluxe Edition, I would definitely be tempted to double dip on this.

Seriously, everyone needs to read this. Even DavidM. It’s awesome.

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RonnieM, Dave

Looks like there’s a HC available:

I might have to grab this.

You definitely should, Dave. It’s a steal at that price too!

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RonnieM, Dave

Batman Universe HC was one of the my last pre-C19 steal buys from Books Etc – it’s on the read pile downstairs

My only complaint with the book, and it’s not a deal-breaker at all, is that the dialogue is a bit off.

Regardless, the book is fantastic.

From one awesome take on the Bat to another, I devoured Curse of the White Knight #1-8 today. Sean Murphy’s sequel to his superlative original.

For those of you living on a different planet, the Murphyverse is an Elseworld’s version of DCU, that has diverged quite significantly from the original; giving room for Murphy to go nuts with his storyline.

He uses that to full advantage here with a take on the 1990’s epic “Knightfall”. There’s lots of surprises, with familiar elements spun off in totally different directions, leaving you on the edge of your seat wanting to know what happens next. There’s a sequence mid- way through the book that had me choking up.

Murphy’s visuals are phenomenal, with faithful recreations of 90’s staples. The movie Batmobile was certainly a nice touch. The action scenes are astonishing, brutal and visceral. Occasionally, however, you’re left wishing they had been given a bit more time to breathe. A few more pages in a couple of places would really have helped remove the slightly rushed feel of a few scenes.

I noticed DC couldn’t help themselves shoddily colouring clothes on to a naked lady during a particularly meaningful flashback scene. Ironic, given this is a Black Label book, the violence throughout is pretty gruesome, and the raw pencils for that panel we’re shown in the prior issue with no clothing protecting the young lady in question’s modesty.

Still, overall, this is a great book. Not as mind- blowing as the first instalment, but a fantastic hour or two’s read. More if you just sit there drooling over the artwork like I did frequently throughout.

Looking forward to vol 3.

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Dave, Ben

Vikram wrote:

I noticed DC couldn’t help themselves shoddily colouring clothes on to a naked lady during a particularly meaningful flashback scene.

Yeah, seems to be a running theme for White Knight, after the Harley scene in the first one that had nudity concealed by word balloons.

I imagine DC are still extra sensitive about this stuff in the wake of Batman: Damned.

Has anyone read Dark Knights Death Metal? It was out last week, IIRC

Got postponed to mid- June Anders.

I noticed DC relaunched their ongoing ‘Digital First’ offerings. They are being sold during the coronavirus shenanigans but that has to be complete coincidence as they were scheduled before anyone knew.

They look pretty good, I bought Swamp Thing as it was written by Mark Russell who I really like and at 79p a pop worth a go. There’s a WW book by Connor and Palmiotti and the Batman one has had good reviews so Bleeding Cool made the assumption the writer was a pseudonym rather than a new writer could be talented.

I’ll report back on Swamp Thing when I’ve caught up.

Vikram wrote:

Got postponed to mid- June Anders

Ah, fuck.

They’re reprints of the material created for the new Wallmart Giants. I have been getting the Superman ones. Good classic stories, with lovely artwork by Paul Pelletier. Will probably try Russell’s Swamp Thing at some point, and he’s on the Batman one now from #4.

garjones wrote:

so Bleeding Cool made the assumption the writer was a pseudonym rather than a new writer could be talented

Ah, those infallible, talented people at bleeding cool.

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Todd

Just saw that Harleen #1 is free on Comixology at the moment – well worth checking out if you haven’t already.

https://comixology.co.uk/Harleen-2019-1/digital-comic/797603

DC Launches New Solicitations Catalog

Because DC has embraced a “multi-distributor model” that now includes Diamond Comic Distributors, Lunar and UCS, the publisher apparently needed to create a new monthly solicitation catalog that wasn’t exclusive to Diamond, and Friday they announced that will take the form of DC Connect.

“This downloadable, digital-only catalog features solicitation information for DC’s comic books, original graphic novels, collected editions, and collectibles—and that’s just the start!” reads DC’s description.

The “digital-only” designation is yet another sign DC is further embracing the platform.

“In the coming months DC Connect will update and evolve in order to maximize the advantages of its digital format, the publisher continued. “Future issues will include expanded content, featuring talent interviews, preview pages from upcoming stories, behind-the-scenes looks at projects in development, multimedia content, and more!

“The catalog will also have a new look and layout compared to its predecessor, DC Previews, making it more engaging and easier to get the latest intel on current and future DC comic book projects.”

The debut cover of DC Connect features artwork by Jason Fabok and Brad Anderson for August’s Batman: Three Jokers. The full .pdf is downloadable now at http://www.dccomics.com/connect.

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DavidM

This is a bit shit. Ignoring the cancellation of one of my favourite books, but the refusal to print #19 is a bit bloody infuriating.

#19 is the final part of the third arc. If I have to buy the third TPB to get one part of a six part story, that I already have five parts of, I’m not going to be happy.

If they put #19 in vol 4 as indicated in the article, then they’ll start that book with the finale to a story that has nothing to do with the rest of the book. Which would just be a bit weird.

Annoyed 😠

https://www.cbr.com/dc-lucifer-remaining-issues-canceled-straight-to-collected-edition-sandman-universe/

That is annoying. They could at least release it digitally or something.

Vikram wrote:

This is a bit shit. Ignoring the cancellation of one of my favourite books, but the refusal to print #19 is a bit bloody infuriating.

#19 is the final part of the third arc. If I have to buy the third TPB to get one part of a six part story, that I already have five parts of, I’m not going to be happy.

If they put #19 in vol 4 as indicated in the article, then they’ll start that book with the finale to a story that has nothing to do with the rest of the book. Which would just be a bit weird.

Annoyed 😠

https://www.cbr.com/dc-lucifer-remaining-issues-canceled-straight-to-collected-edition-sandman-universe/

I thought the book was doing well?  Good critical chatter too.

Although DC have form where Lucifer is concerned, the previous series got royally shafted.

Of note – new Newsarama link – because they joined GamesRadar

This week’s Shazam! #12 will have surprise unsolicited story with Batman

June 2’s Shazam #12 will be a surprise team-up with Batman, in what DC calls an “interlude issue” by the incoming creative team of writer Jeff Loveness and artist Brandon Peterson.

Shazam! #12 was originally scheduled to be writer Geoff Johns and artist Dale Eaglesham’s penultimate issue of their run, but their final two issues have been pushed back by DC. Those final stories will now publish in July 29’s Shazam! #13 and then August 25’s Shazam #14.

On the plus side, Johns and Eaglesham’s finale has been expanded to 40 pages, with DC upping the price to $4.99.

[Eduardo]

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/dc-cuts-ties-diamond-comic-distribution-1297309

DC Cuts Ties with Diamond Comic Distributors

The announcement was made via an email to retailers sent Friday morning, with the company telling customers that all orders for DC product will be fulfilled by Lunar Distribution and UCS Comic Distributors for periodical releases and Penguin Random House for graphic novels and collected editions starting later this month.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 6 months ago by Eduardo.

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Dave

It’d be interesting to know what drove that. If it’s purely a better financial deal for them or if Diamond really pissed them off.

If its the latter I wonder what happens internationally because from what I saw initially Lunar and UCS don’t have that capability (but always possible they do now).

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Ben

No clarity on what’s going to happen with the UK comic shops, again.

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Ben

Yup and while this may be a logical move, I’m not sure anyone was always happy with a monopoly, the timing is pleasing no comics shops I’ve seen. They want to try and get back to normal as soon as they can and this apparently adds more admin and cost.

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Todd, Vikram, Ben

garjones wrote:

Yup and while this may be a logical move, I’m not sure anyone was always happy with a monopoly, the timing is pleasing no comics shops I’ve seen. They want to try and get back to normal as soon as they can and this apparently adds more admin and cost.

Oh, the folks at my shop are PISSED OFF. It seems like they are not confident in the distributors DC has chosen.

While the situations are quite different, I can’t help but to think of the Marvel/Heroes World debacle.

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lorcan_nagle, Ben

That’s what comes to mind, and that certainly contributed to Marvel’s bankruptcy at the turn of the century.

The thing I don’t get is the whole monopoly argument only holds water if publishers aren’t exclusive to one of the distributors. All this move does is change one monopoly for a duopoly elsewhere. There’s still no more choice. I can’t see this helping anyone, to be honest.

And, on a practical level, my LCS now has twice the admin for no benefit. All that can possibly be is bad for their business, and bad for the customers. Yay!

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lorcan_nagle, Todd, Ben

Maybe DC wants to kill off the direct market so they can go digital exclusive.

After two months of no revenue, Diamond, the publishers, and the retail network are already in a precarious position. Now really isn’t the time to disrupt that. Just like that, Diamond is going to lose one-fourth to one-third of its volume, and retailers are going to see increased shipping costs and manpower requirements. And this on top of an already uncertain economic outlook, both within the industry and greater society.

It’s almost like they’re trying to burn down the industry.

I suspect a lot of veteran retailers are having Hero’s World flashbacks today.

 

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lorcan_nagle, Todd, Ben

WB/DC Exec #1: “Man, Marvel has really been pissing off retailers and readers consistently for the last several years. It’s like they WANT to alienate everyone!”

WB/DC Exec #2: “Hold my beer.”

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lorcan_nagle

Maybe DC wants to kill off the direct market so they can go digital exclusive.

Well, it seems like they want to kill something. Like throwing a hand grenade and seeing who’s left.
It’s evil, but I can see the talk beforehand. There’s too many companies and too many of the top five/ten throw too much shit at a wall seeing what will stick.

I couldn’t imagine running a store nowadays. What to order? How much?
My LCS told me things like DC’s Death Metal will have extra copies if I forget to add it, but things that don’t sell and they were ordering 1 or 2 of previously will not be ordered anymore.

Consumers like us that share info on what’s coming up have to ask in advance for what to buy.
Getting new people into the market or older customers coming back? Forget it.

I (kind of) get DC’s decision, but will they even be the ones alive when the smoke clears?
No guarantee of that and they may hand the undefeated title to Marvel.

Yeah, this has been a bit ‘conspiracy theory’, but as gar said
…purely a better financial deal for them or if Diamond really pissed them off…
I can’t believe it’s over a couple bucks.
Diamond really, really pissed them off and/or (probably ‘and’) they pulled the pin.
_________________________

I think it’s too soon to get headlines like the one I’m going to post, but there is that immediate vibe.

Comic book retailers unite in shock and anger over DC split with Diamond

“It was a nice gut punch after we just reopened our doors for the first time in two months,” said J.C. Glindmyer, owner of Earthworld Comics in Albany, N.Y. of Friday’s surprise news. “As most retailers, I’m not going to cut off my nose to spite my face, I’ll order for my regulars, the minimum for racks, but [I’m] not putting any significant resources in their future projects.”

“The timing of this is terrible and shows a blatant disregard for concerns of comics sellers,” said Benn Ray of Atomic Books in Baltimore. “So I say this as a lifelong DC Comics fan as well as a retailer — screw you, DC Comics. I wish them every bit as well as Marvel did when they did this back in the ’90s. Whoever is calling the shots at DC, if there is anyone, should be sacked immediately.”

Lots more in link…

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