This whole thing really seems to be DC's attempt at having their cake and eating it too. They can applaud themselves for rebooting everything with the New 52, saying it needed to happen. And then they can call back to the prior universes for a money grab.
Week three's titles were released this week. Here is Newsarama's coverage:
http://www.newsarama.com/22819-dcs-convergence-week-three.html It includes things like Len Wein on Swamp Thing and Marv Wolman on Teen Titans. Those are truly looking back at DC history with fondness. Here are the super-titles and one other that grabbed me.
ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN
Writer: Marv Wolfman
Artists: Roberto Viacava and Andy Owens
Colorist: Sotocolor
Superman and Supergirl try to escape the city through the Phantom Zone, but they enter a portion they’ve never seen before and learn that Supergirl is destined to die if they return to their proper time and dimension. True story.
The released art is above. I don't mind seeing the pre-Crisis headband Supergirl again. Once more we will see how it is Supergirl's destiny to die in the Crisis. I wonder if in this story, Supergirl will willingly go to her death, like a hero.
Still, I am sort of sick of DC picking over the bones of this story. And I am especially sick of Wolfman going back to this moment. He has already done it here. I worry whenever Wolfman writes Supergirl. The art looks very nice though.
Writer: Stuart Moore
Artists: Gus Storms and Mark Farmer
Colorist: John Rauch
While Brainiac 5 struggles to break through the dome, Superboy tries to keep the Legion of Super-Heroes spirits up—but then the Atomic Knights ride into town.
It has been a while since we saw Superboy and the Legion. This looks like the early Levitz/Giffen time period fiven the costumes I am seeing. Again, the art looks interesting here.
But the Atomic Knights!
WONDER WOMAN
Writer: Larry Hama
Art and Color: Josh Middleton
Art and Color: Josh Middleton
White-jumpsuit-clad Diana Prince is
in the grips of a Domesday cult when her lover Steve Trevor leaps into the fray
to save Etta Candy from vampires of Red Rain.
So there are a couple of things about this solicit that made me want to promote it.
I have a small warm place in my heart for the white-jumpsuit Diana. I wish I could explain it.
While I don't know what to expect from Larry Hama writing Diana, I do love Josh Middleton's art. Remember, he did Supergirl covers for a while, right at the beginning of the Gates/Igle era. I am happy I'll see his work on interiors!
This whole thing could be a disaster. But I'll be sampling a handful of these books.
So there are a couple of things about this solicit that made me want to promote it.
I have a small warm place in my heart for the white-jumpsuit Diana. I wish I could explain it.
While I don't know what to expect from Larry Hama writing Diana, I do love Josh Middleton's art. Remember, he did Supergirl covers for a while, right at the beginning of the Gates/Igle era. I am happy I'll see his work on interiors!
This whole thing could be a disaster. But I'll be sampling a handful of these books.
I like Diana (Rigg) Prince despite the run being a mess at times, what with the confusing gender politics and the idea that Wonder Woman needs an old blind guy to teach her how to be a hero without the super - so many genres covered, such big dramatics, the amazing art. So I'm with you in looking forward to this Retrocative-style book ... and very curious as to where that publicity image fits in.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, enough dwelling on Supergirl's death. Peter David's Many Happy Returns is everything I need.
Good old Marv Wolfman! He has the complete courage of his restrictions....what will be his variant on his favorite theme I wonder? I honestly think he does this to make clear his contempt for the character and her fanbase which is a good illustration of the drawbacks of having Fans Turn Pro. They tend to have these vendettas against certain characters.
ReplyDeleteJF (defiant)
I completely agree with Martin and John. There is more to Supergirl than her just dying.
ReplyDeleteGene
Wolfman has run out of ideas so he has to keep going to the well. Writing a character's death is a cheap way to momentarily get readers.
ReplyDeleteWhat made the heroic death of supergirl possible was not Wolfman's writing but Supergirl's already established character. No other character could have played that role. Few characters would have been powerful enough to take on the anti-Monitor. Not Batman, not Batgirl, not the Flash, etc. Wonder Woman possibly, but she lacked the raw power of Supergirl, and she did not have the close bond established with another character like Superman. And you needed someone who with the appropriate level of honor and idealism like her.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the comments.
ReplyDeleteI do think it is interesting that Wolfman keeps going back to this moment. I think he likes to pick this scab, as if to say 'I'm the guy that killed her off ...'.
But yes, it was the strength of her character that made her death so powerful. It is hard to believe that DC didn't recognize that prior to making the decision to kill her off.
Larry Hama is a good writer in general, making original things with lot of emotion and depth. I'm sure it will be nice. I'm not a fan of this illustration, but the most important is its fitting to the story. If both match, it's ok.
ReplyDelete