DC Reboots, we react!

So. DC has officially confirmed suspicions that yet again, they’ll be rebooting the DCU with the conclusion of the Flashpoint event in September along with the move to day and date digital releases to match the shipping dates of physical comics. So far confirmed is that 52 titles will be launched and/or relaunched with new #1s and will carry with them significant shake ups in creative teams and even the continued existence of some characters. All of the surviving characters will be given re-imagined costumes overseen by Jim Lee. Among the creative changes, Fabian Nicieza has publicly stated he will not be writing Teen Titans, while rumours still circulate that Grant Morrison will be moving to Superman and Gail Simone will not be helming the relaunched Birds of Prey. Geoff Johns is confirmed as writer of JLA, which will reportedly have a large rotating cast but will focus on Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, The Flash, Cyborg, and Aquaman. The one official image so far suggests that somewhat de-aged versions Bruce Wayne, Barry Allen, and Hal Jordan will be the representatives of their respective legacies. Here’s what we have to say about it.

Emma: First off I just want to say that having had a day or two to mull the available information over a bit and see what’s bubbled to the surface from various sources that there probably doesn’t need to be any rioting in the streets unless you own a brick and mortar comic book store with single issues being your only viable revenue stream. There’s too many question marks still in the air for me to comfortably say very much about anything on topics like the survival of Lois and Clark’s marriage or just what these 52 titles may or may not be. What I can and will speak to, though, is DC’s bullshit “commitment to diversity.”

It is, and I’m fairly sure for a number of reasons that DC editorial isn’t aware of this, 2011. One black guy and a white chick on a team full of The Dead White Guys That Time Forgot is not diversity, especially since basically all those dead white guys were brought back by killing off their non-white successors. I mean seriously, the original crew of the USS Enterprise was more diverse than Geoff Johns’ newly unveiled JLA. Actual diversity was Dwayne McDuffie’s monumentally unpopular JLA. I can’t even fathom how DC can claim any kind of commitment to diversity when- shortly after Static and Blue Beetle were unceremoniously dumped from Teen Titans to preserve it’s untainted whiteness- the Static ongoing withered on the vine without seeing a single issue in print.

The actual truth of the matter is that any steps towards true and honest diversity at DC have come from the efforts of specific writers and had nothing to do with editorial policy or initiatives, because really editorial can’t even seem to manage to keep the artists and colourists depicting the few POC characters DC actually has as their actual race. Until the long delayed Batwoman ongoing launches in the fall (which it seems has been held back so long in part because editorial keeps pulling co writer and co artist JH Williams III off the book to make variant covers for Batman Inc), there won’t be a single title at DC headlined by a (canonically recognized) queer character and the only non-white title character I can think of off the top of my head is Damian Wayne who I’m pretty sure most of the fandom read as white (say nothing about Dick Grayson’s ignored and erased Romani heritage).

I’m also hearing rumours that Barbara Gordon and Dick Grayson are being returned to Batgirl and Nightwing, which I think conflicts a lot with creator comments that claim that Scott Snyder’s Detective Comics run and the Gates of Gotham miniseries won’t be affected by the reboot and flies directly in the face of the projected two year length of Grant Morisson’s Batman Inc. storyline. Although of course a younger Bruce puts the existence of Damian Wayne, Tim Drake, Jason Todd, Stephanie Brown, and Cassandra Cain in massive jeopardy.

Which would be a horrendous maneuver as the current slate of Bat titles are the sole vanguard of progressive and diverse storytelling at the entire company. The crowning achievement of Batman RIP, The Return of Bruce Wayne, and Batman Inc. was to decenter both Bruce Wayne and Gotham City in the Batman mythos to give fresh license and agency to the full roster of Bat characters. Which not only contributed to the much needed return of Stephanie Brown and Cassandra Cain, but to the widening scope of the Batman Inc. initiative that has already given us David Hine’s Nightrunner who is not only a fantastic character in his own right, but a template for modern, progressive storytelling. The path forward for DC has been paved by the Gotham/Bat centric titles since the launch of Gotham Central. Move the focus away from the same eight white guys, diversify the cast organically with well researched and respectful portrayals of non white/hetero-normative characters, and continuously plow forward instead of walking backwards with your eyes fixed on your own navel, which is precisely what this reboot is shaping up to be.

Angel: I feel like I have a unique perspective on this. For about a week, I’ve been preparing to write about the fact that I’ve only just picked up my first DC comic titles. Of course, I’ve seen Batman: The Animated Series and assorted other DC television shows and movies, but about a week and a half ago, I picked up a copy of Jeph Loeb’s Hush and read it while traveling. I loved it, and upon my return, started reading every bit of Batman I could get my hands on. I picked up the latest Batman & Robin because of a friend’s love of Jason Todd. I read through The Killing Joke and Batman: Year One.  I was beginning Batman Year Two: Fear the Reaper when DC announced that they’re essentially rebooting their entire universe.

Theoretically, I’m the market that DC is trying to appeal to: the people who haven’t read much or any DC and may feel intimidated by the vast number of titles, characters and incarnations. New readers are supposed to jump at the chance to have Action Comics #1 or Detective Comics #1.

I’ll admit, the vast expanse of DC comics can seem a bit overwhelming, but personally, I think it’s part of the fun. Over the past week, I’ve gotten to read newer comics, titles from the 80′s and titles from the 90′s, and the best part about them is that they’re all a part of a larger story. They’re all relevant. While I’m all for alternate universes and timelines (Marvel’s Ultimate continuity were actually some of my very first comics in high school), the prospect of everything being rendered null and void seems not only ridiculous, but unnecessary. I’m certain that I’m in a very small minority of people who are only just delving into the DC universe, but I’m honestly left feeling a bit alienated. What’s the point of current on-going titles continuing through August if 52 storylines won’t even be relevant after then? Why should I even allow myself to become invested in Batman & Robin when there’s a decent chance that its current arc will be the last in this continuity?

Honestly, the only good thing I’m seeing from this is that DC will be offering titles digitally the same day as print copies. It’s something Marvel could definitely learn from, and hopefully it’ll push them to follow suit, but dear god, that better be the only thing they copy.

Dee: Universe relaunch.  Wow.  It’s a massive idea, and one that’s hard to wrap my head around.  Originally my thought was why didn’t they simply launch an Ultimates line like Marvel, only in today’s market of declining comic sales, expanding the line up isn’t something that any publisher is going to embrace.

What about the characters I love?  I’ve been promised more diversity, and more new stories and characters, and I love this idea.  But the flip side is not wanting to lose the minority characters we’ve already embraced. The fate of Cass Cain, Renee Montoya, Vixen, and so many more weighs heavily on me.  What about the stories I’ve spent so much time reading and loving?  Does this negate those histories?

What about DC’s poor track record?  Everyone remembers DC’s other world-changing events and it seems that not many remember them fondly.  Adding to that the frustration of having bits and pieces of them ret-conned over the years and people are understandably wary.

There are parts that I understand completely.  Comic sales are flagging.  DC multiverse history is confusing and labyrinthine.  That can be a turn off to new readers.  But in order to capitalize on this, DC are going to have to market this heavily, and outside of the usual comic book realm. They’re going to have to capture a new audience with all of these number 1s, at the same time balance the expectations of the current one.

As to same day digital distribution… Again, I’m of two minds.  I do love the ability to buy comics digitally but would a slight delay be too much to ask to give brick and mortar stores an advantage? They’re flagging, and they’ve kept the comics industry afloat all these years.  I think a better move would be to distribute through more than one company, ie Diamond.

I suppose one question is answered for me.  I can now understand why Batwoman was pushed off again. Why release a highly-anticipated book only to retcon the origins a few months later?  I hope it’s one of the first releases.

I’m trying to be optimistic about this, but it is hard.  I’d like less speculation, and more solid answers from DC, but it looks like we’ll have to wait a bit longer for that.