On November 8th, I had the luck of driving just a few miles from my place of work to MIT. And there, I was able to take in the MIT Comparative Media Studies Program 2018 Julius Schwartz Memorial Lecture. Past lecturers have been Neil Gaiman and J. Michael Straczynski.
This year it was Brian Michael Bendis.
The lecture was open to the public and held in a big auditorium style class room on campus. It looked like about 100 people were in attendance.
Given that he is now on the Superman books and has written a bunch of books I loved, I was thrilled that I was able to attend.
Fellow comic professional Marjorie Liu led the discussion, interviewing Bendis and talking a lot about his history, his process, and his favorite moments.
It was really fascinating to hear Bendis talk about his childhood reading comics, his desire to be an artist, and his ultimate conversion to writer. At one point, Bendis talked about how the XMen fandom was like a religion and the fans were passionate and vocal. Later, Bendis talked about how much fun he was having playing in the DC Universe. One of the properties he mentioned was the Legion of Super-Heroes.
Well, the last 30 minutes were a Q and A session. And I got up.
I asked him if he could talk more about the Legion and any plans there were for the team. (I also warned him that Legion fans were probably on par with Xmen fans in regards to their zeal.)
He first out said that he thought the Legion was great (he might have said 'cool'). But then he said in a way that sounded almost like a obfuscation, something like this (and I am paraphrasing).
"If someone were trying to do the research on the Legion and its history to bring back a book starring them, I would say that it is one of the hardest jobs they would ever undertake."
Now maybe I am transferring hopes, but the tone in which he said that made it sound like HE was the person who was trying to wrangle some sense out of the LSH mythos. Maybe I am just hoping. If not him, someone is out there trying to prep the history of the book.
So what do people think of Bendis being on a Legion book? And would people accept a Legion book in the 'Wonder Comics' imprint? Would you mind a quatro-boot, making the team a young heroes team again?
I also asked how he (and Liu) dealt with reviews and opinions about their work given the immediate reaction of social media. As a reviewer myself, I has always wondered. Both talked about trying to both listen to critiques but also distancing themselves from the morass that social media can be.
You can hear the whole thing here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjPGu_5UBf0
I have to say Bendis was just awesome and approachable. When the lecture was open, both he and Liu stuck around to meet the fans and sign stuff. (Had I known Liu was going to be there I would have brought books for her!)
I was able to thank Bendis for his treatment of Kara in Man of Steel. (Heck, she was the hero, banishing Rogol Zaar!) I also got 4 books signed including my variant Action Comics #1000, now signed by 9 of the creators involved.
I feel very lucky that I was able to attend, ask a question, and meet Bendis. You could feel his passion for comics, talking about them both as a fan and a professional.
4 comments:
Happy to hear you had a good time.
His answer sounds deliberately vague to me. My guess is there ARE plans, but logically he can't reveal anything... whether he is behind them or not.
As frustrating as five years without a Legion book must be, I think I get why DC is so hesitant. Since COIE, the Legion has suffered retcon after recton. It was rebooted every times, and every single time it ended crashing and burning. Levitz and Giffen were brought back, and it still crashed. Spectacularly.
The Legion fanbase is splintered, and non-fans seem to think Legion continuity is an impossibly impenetrable nightmare. DC must be trying to figure out the best way to proceed. Rebooting again or going back to a modified Pre-Crisis continuity again? Tying the franchise to the Superman mythos again? Make Superboy and Supergirl regular members? And what about the Reboot and Threeboot fans?
Personally I think a Quatroboot would be a mistake. People is tired of reboots, and it'll be a waste of time if DC reboots their universe again, as I suspect they'll do several years from now.
Of course, I understand many fans will find the idea of going back to the Bronze Age unappealling.
Whatever the case may be, I think Superboy and Supergirl must be reinstated as the Legion's inspiration and team members, and they must make regular appearances. Fully cutting ties with the Superman books was a mistake.
"Both talked about trying to both listen to critiques but also distancing themselves from the morass that social media can be."
No kidding.
That's some very impressive autographs! Nice.
T.N.
"Rebooting again or going back to a modified Pre-Crisis continuity again?"
No and no. Especially after the most recent one. Lord, that was depressing.
"Tying the franchise to the Superman mythos again? Make Superboy and Supergirl regular members?"
That would be nice, but it begs the question of WHICH Superboy - young Clark, Connor, or Jon (assuming Bendis doesn't permanently turn him into a villain and/or kill him off, which is doubtful)? Would Supergirl be Kara or a new character carrying on her title? No matter which option is chosen for either character, it's gonna alienate a good chunk of readers.
"And what about the Reboot and Threeboot fans?"
I think it's clear DC doesn't believe we actually exist. 60s Legion, 80s Legion, or GTFO - that's their policy.
"Personally I think a Quatroboot would be a mistake. People is tired of reboots, and it'll be a waste of time if DC reboots their universe again, as I suspect they'll do several years from now."
I agree - I'd rather the Legion stay on the shelf until the current "creative" roster is largely replaced, especially Didio. Even in the Five Years Later stories, the Legion stood for optimism & working for better things, and as it is right now, the DC universe stands for gore, grimness, & cynicism (with only lip service paid towards "hope" or "love", usually after wallowing in the grimdark for issue after issue). Until they realize not all of their heroes have to be disgusting, onanistic caricatures of depression/PTSD/suicidal tendencies (looking at you, vile pretentious mockery of Kirby's Fourth World) and don't have to spend every issue knee deep in viscera, I'd rather not see the Legion at all. Lord knows how badly they'd be handled this time around.
The only reason DC should get a reboot at all is if it's accompanied by a severe creative turnover, and when (not if) it comes, that probably won't happen. So it's better to see favorite subjects not being used than being subjected to the gross misuse DC clearly favors.
"No and no. Especially after the most recent one. Lord, that was depressing."
Then I'm afraid you're leaving DC with no choice. It has to be one or another.
"That would be nice, but it begs the question of WHICH Superboy - young Clark, Connor, or Jon (assuming Bendis doesn't permanently turn him into a villain and/or kill him off, which is doubtful)? Would Supergirl be Kara or a new character carrying on her title?"
I think at the very least Clark must be a former member, and Kara a recurring member.
Severing ties with the Superman franchise completely did to the Legion NO favors.
A new non-Kara Supergirl? Bad idea. DC spent eighteen years attempting and failing to replace her, and it only damaged the franchise, its continuity and the character's viability and iconic status. Still another non-Kara Supergirl would be a mess.
"I think it's clear DC doesn't believe we actually exist. 60s Legion, 80s Legion, or GTFO - that's their policy."
Well, given that DC spent two decades telling Pre-Crisis fans "eat whatever we are shoving down your throats or GTFO", and such statements were fully supported by Reboot and Threboot fans... I don't think 90's fans have much cause to complain.
Among other things because, unlike the original Legion, the Reboot and Threeboot Legions were given a decent sendoff which allowed them coexist with the mainstream Legion.
"I agree - I'd rather the Legion stay on the shelf until the current "creative" roster is largely replaced, especially Didio."
I don't think Dan DiDio stepping down would fix nothing, I'm sorry. The current continuity mess and penchant for misery and deaths began long, long before his rise, and it went on due to Post-Crisis fans' support.
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