Tuesday, March 1, 2011

What Is Sterling Gates' Secret Project?



With the question of what new title I should review here behind me, I figured I would ask the next question that has been bugging me.

What is Sterling Gates' secret project?

It has been a couple of months since his epic run on Supergirl ended. We have heard solicitations through May. And still no answer. Is he writing one of the Flashpoint minis? Is he writing a new monthly?

I don't think it is any surprise that I am a fan of Gates' work and so I am looking forward to picking up whatever title he is working on. This will be pure speculation, just blind guesses of titles or characters that I think Gates would do a great job with. But here are a couple of thoughts of some titles I hope will be the 'secret project'.


I would love to see a re-imagination or revamping of Amethyst, Princess of the Gemworld. I really enjoyed the monthly series back in the 1980's and thought Ernie Colon's art was the perfect fit for the mystical title. I think that Gates would have a great handle on these characters. And on the Booster Gold blackboard there was a line about Gemworld which means it might be coming back.

Of course, maybe I am pigeon-holing Gates a little here. Amethyst is young blond woman on a hero's journey. Maybe a little bit too close to Supergirl?


More than Amethyst though, I would love to see Gates do a Dr. Fate book. Is there any DC character more underutilized than Fate. I mean, Fate is a great character with so much potential and instead we see him languishing in the background or not being around at all.

I will admit, I would want this to be an 'old school' Fate. I would want it to be Kent Nelson, with Inza, and the tower in Salem. I know Fate has gone through a bunch of revamps. I don't even know who currently wears the helmet, if anyone. The world needs a good Dr. Fate book. The world would be a better place with a good Dr. Fate book.

Anyways, those are my two top guesses. I had plenty of others - Shade the Changing Man, the Creeper, Damage, Kid Flash - but these are the two I would like to see the most.

What titles or characters would you all like to see as Sterling Gates' Secret Project? I would love to hear other ideas.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

I would bet on it being the upcoming second Flash monthly, Flash: Speed Force.

Anonymous said...

I agree that a Flashpoint tie-in book seems most likely, but in addition to Dr. Fate and Amethyst (two good choices) I would love to see him re-boot Billy Batson/Captain Marvel. As heir to Shazam, the character has so much potential that I don't think is being fully tapped. The stories with Freddie feel recycled and I think Gates would bring a fresh angle to the character.
Scott

Gene said...

Darn you Scott that was my guess too! ;)

Sterling Gates has a knack for turning lemons into lemonade, so he would be ideal to rehabilitate the Marvel Family. It would be interesting to see how he would write Billy and Mary Batson.

Anonymous said...

I'm assuming Dr. Fate. It's something relatable. Captain Marvel would be an interesting to see him toy around with. -ealperin

Dave Mullen said...

I don't think Amethyst or Doctor Fate are realistic candidates, not in this marktplace, I think if it isn't a Flashpoint spin-off it will be one of the books spinning out of Brightest Day. Firestorm is a good fit for Gates and strong contender for his own book right now, Hawkman though has James Robinson attached while Aquaman is Geoff Johns baby I think... I know Captain Marvel has been rumored for a project and obviously he'd be a good choice indeed for Gates to work on but I'm not sure if Eric Wallace has first dibs on that character or not.

Other than those though I haven't a clue! Gates is a terific writr with a gift especially for the iconic characters - his occasional work on Superman in particular shone out ovr th last three years and thats the sort of character id like to see him let loose on.

Anonymous said...

I'm wondering if Gates hasn't been tagged as a skilled writer of female characters?
In which case maybe his next project is, Wonderrr Womannn!
Okay thats stretch I doubt they'd hand off one of big three to Sterling Gates just yet...
On the other hand do we know his next project is with DC??

John Feer

Martin Gray said...

There's currently a Dr Fate in the JSA, Kent Nelson, great-nephew (or something) of Kent Nelson. My favourite Dr Fate was Inza, in the Bill Loebs run - one of the most refreshing mainstream superhero comics I've ever read.

Amethyst, I'd like to see Keith Giffen pick up on, with no reboot.

A Speed Force title would be great, if Sterling were focusing on Wally and Linda. Mind, given how writers tend to get shunted off Wonder Woman with little apparent warning, I'd not be surprised were Gates not taking over a classic Diana.

I'd really love Sterling to helm a Superman Family book, weaving the tales of Daily Planet staffers, friends and foes - I adore his handle on Metropolis. And imagine him on Mr and Mrs Superman!

Mind, if we're talking Brightest Day, perhaps he's having a crack at Hawk & Dove?

Anj said...

Man, you all are better at this than me.

Speed Force, Superman Family, Captain Marvel, Firestorm, and Hawk & Dove are all waayyyy better possible titles than the ones I guessed.

And you are right John, we don't know if it is a DC project. So maybe it's Spiderman?

Anonymous said...

I just want him to write a Superman title. I love his take on the world of Metropolis.

Gene said...

Sterling Gates has a talent for turning lemons into lemonade, so he would be the most qualified to rehabilitate Billy and Mary Batson.

Anonymous said...

"Man, you all are better at this than me.

Speed Force, Superman Family, Captain Marvel, Firestorm, and Hawk & Dove are all waayyyy better possible titles than the ones I guessed.

And you are right John, we don't know if it is a DC project. So maybe it's Spiderman?"

Here's to hoping for a Hawk and Dove solo series again. (I'm inrigued by those two characters ever since they popped up in Birds Of Prey. I wonder what series Mr. Gates will do... Either way, there are ones that look like he could be a candidate for and others-well-not so much...

Here's to finding out what series he's doing, though! ^_^
-ealperin

Matt Price said...

Good post! And some great suggestions both in the post and in the comments. I'd love to see a Sterling Gates Daily Planet series myself!

Anonymous said...

"Good post! And some great suggestions both in the post and in the comments. I'd love to see a Sterling Gates Daily Planet series myself!"

That would be something to read. I'm up for that.-ealperin

Anonymous said...

Update!

Guess what (or should I say who ^_^) Sterling Gates is writing!:

http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2011/03/11/flashpoint-friday-where-is-he-or-should-we-say-when/

-ealperin