I am a reasonable man. There have been those that have said that I am the most reasonable man in comics. While I can’t support that sort of hyperbole, I would put my reasonableness up against anyone else's reasonableness. When you have a gift like this, you must use it. Occasionally an event will pop up that is so unreasonable and silly that I must tackle it with my counseling robes and reason stick. This week the planned protest at SDCC of DC’s relaunch activated my non reason radar.
If you haven’t heard there are fans that aren’t very happy about DC’s relaunch plans. In their own words:
Are you utterly baffled, disappointed and just ANGRY to see how DC ruins your favorite character's design and wipes decades of comic history out of the mainstream universe? Well, you're not alone!
And why not make some noise at the biggest pop-culture event this year, where creators, artists and writers appear in person – show them how fans – the fans of the classic characters, the (nevertheless slightly changing) designs, the character's history and personality – really feel about it!
What a confusing mess of a statement. First of all I think this is mostly just about getting attention. The most basic dynamic of a comic book convention is the interface between those who want to be seen and those who want to look. Fans come to meet creators. Creators come to answer questions and sell things. People put on costumes so people can look at them. People come to take pictures of the costumes. It is how conventions roll. Get ready for a protest EVERY year at San Diego.
Secondly, how are decades of comic history getting wiped out? There has NEVER been a time where more of DC’s back history has actively been in print, available for purchase. This is a golden age for readers who enjoy the history of characters and their back story. There are high end reprints and cheap black and white imprints available. DC (or any company) is going to sell you as much of their product as you can handle. If there is a market for Golden Age Robotman stories, they will print it. Relaunches and Reboots aren’t done because of a moral directive to make comic book history simple. They are done because there is a perception of a customer base that isn’t being served. SALES ARE IN THE TANK.
As Conor has said many times (and I agree with him), “You make your own continuity.” That isn’t just advice that is the truth. It is as true for the creators as for the fans. Thank the almighty Robert Kanigher that is the truth or superhero comic books would be truly awful. Every single awful creative decision would linger around the character for decades. We would have Quisp in the Aquaman relaunch. Continuity and history are two different things to me. The history of a character is a rich well of ideas with tons of different textures and styles. It is a tapestry of mistakes (both fortunate and unfortunate) and successes. An engaged reader will explore the history of a character. Continuity has become all the rules about what you shouldn’t do. It is all black and white and right and wrong. It is the adult in the room trying to put everything in order. The healthiest state would be a balance between the two concepts.
Finally, I can’t see why fans of “classic” characters are going to be angry that Bruce Wayne is Batman or that Barry Allen is the Flash; unless your “classic” characters are Dick Grayson as Batman and Wally West as the Flash. If that is the case, I would like to introduce you to the sliding scale of classicality. Every character is someone’s favorite character. Vibe is classic in someone’s mind, and that is ok. Just don’t expect everyone else to agree with you. You can’t always get what you want. The industry’s biggest problem is that we have been getting exactly what we want for a really long time.
Comic books were once about cheap thrills and twist endings. Now the industry has to give the reading public a heads up on Spider-man dying, and then provide preview art of the Spider-man dying, all in a story that has the title The Death of Spider-man. Not only I do think that it wasn’t a big dea to spoil the ending, but I think it was the smartest move they could have made. There is a broken piece in the superhero machine. That marketing strategy is what you have to do when you have been selling to the same audience for decades. We actually don’t really like surprises. We are just playing out the string. The cheap thrills have lost the thrill to us. There needs to be new blood, for the sake of the big companies and the little guys.
This protest just feels like a marching representation of all the baggage fandom carries on its journeys into mystery. This situation reminds me of a favorite Grant Morrison quote from when someone asked him how old Batman is (ironically enough from a panel at last year’s SDCC),
“It doesn’t matter. You must understand these people aren’t real…You can’t make it realistic because it’s not. So basically Batman is 75 years old, and Robin is 74 years old. They don’t grow old because they’re different from us. They’re paper people”
That is probably why this protest irks me. It professes a need to nail down exactly what these characters SHOULD be. It also strikes me as disrespectful to creators in an odd way. Batman’s personality exists only because creators made it up. It isn’t a ghost written biography. Creators aren’t just there to add sub headings to Wikipedia entries.
In the end I hope the protesters actually try out the new books, or maybe turn their energies toward creator owned comics. They might discover that the high wire act is more fun to watch when you aren’t staring at the safety net the whole time.
Tom Katers is tired of explaining what is actually fun about comics.
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I’m expecting many images of the protest from iFanboy:)
A cosprotest would be pretty funny. I look forward to their sexy manga and steampunk tech protest signs.
Also I don’t like being an internitpicker but the first paragraph after the statement needs to be proof read. There’s an “is” missing and a “to” that should be a “so”. :- I also say this because it was kind of wonky to read.
SALES ARE IN THE TANK.
Nothing more needed to be said.
@ResurrectionFlan I never mind courteous corrections, as I stared at that paragraph for about 4 minutes trying to figure out where the is was missing.
It’s funny–what I disliked most about the JJ Abrams Star Trek movie in the end was the rebooting and retconning the characters at an earlier point in their lives, thereby making all the stories we all know and love into stuff that will never have happened continuity-wise. It seemed disrespectful and most of all lazy, like they didn’t believe they could come up with any new characters of their own so it was just easier to play the ones we already were invested in, even though by doing so they changed them into new versions we may not even like as much.
But with comics, well, it’s just different. Wait out one story arc, and changes you didn’t dig have a way of self-correcting. Or find a different book to read that is going in a direction you like. Or follow creators rather than characters so if you aren’t happy with what’s being done on the Batbooks you can jump over to the Superbooks for a while to stick with a writer you trust to make you happy.
And never forget, it’s a marketing move. No one cares about what marketing people do–we just let them do it, smile and nod, and stay out of their way, because they so rarely have any real effect on anything. 😉
As long as we’re courteously orrecting can you do something about this sentence
Not only I do think that isn’t a big deal, but I think it was the smartest move they could have made.
I’ve stared at that for 5 minutes now and it hurts my mind.
folks seem so quick to protest the things that don’t matter. Where are these people when we are going to war?
Oh and great article. I was around in 1985 for Crisis and all I can say is Thank God there was no internet then.
Sad that those people feel they need to protest, I agree it’s disrespectful, hopefully will be done more in good fun than serious anger.
I’m one of those who is a bit uneasy in regards to this “revamp”. I’m an older reader who loves the history and I’m not sold that these desperate measures are gonna bring in this flood of new readers as hoped.
BUT, that said “Get a brain MORANS” is freaking classic! LOLOLOLOL
It felt really good to move on from DC years ago…
A reboot does not erase DC history. All the great stories they have written in the past still exist. The only thing this changes is the future stories of DC characters.
“Have you ever read comics before?”
“No I haven’t.”
“Have you heard of Spider-Man?”
“Why yes, everybody has! Peter Parker isn’t it?”
“That’s right! Well, if you go to a comic shop tomorrow you can buy a comic where Peter Parker is going to die!”
“Wow, cool, I think I might do that. I am after all human and I have this weird morbid curiosity.”
“So did you enjoy it?”
“Kind of, I think there was some stuff I didn’t get – but it was fun, and it made me feel quite sad!”
“Will you be buying Marvel comics from now on?”
“Well…I dunno…I was thinking…If I had already been reading it, you would have ruined it for me yesterday wouldn’t you? Will you spoil stuff for me in the future?”
“Only the BIG stuff kiddo! Only the stuff you REALLY wouldn’t want spoiled!”
“Ummm…OK. It’s just…why would I want that? Ever? Are you using the fact that you don’t respect your customers as a sales technique? That’s a bit odd. No, actually I’ll give your comics a miss in future.”
Tell me Tom, is that message to new readers really the “smartest move”?
“Join in the fun with Marvel Comics, where we spoil our stories so you can’t enjoy them!”
History cannot by definition be erased. Those stories are printed for posterity and part of the shared legend. Now its time to continue the next chapter with new mythology.
i feel there are a lot of hardcore comics fans who have this “i’m fine with change as long as everything stays the same” mentality towards comics. The habitual, ritualistic fashion that they treat the comic reading experience with seems to have taken over. At some point its just about having fun and enjoying the stories for what they are.
There are so many more important things in this world and in your individual communities to get upset about and try and change. total waste of time and energy, but to each their own.
I hope that DC’s reboot is the right thing at the right time. I am looking forward to a less convoluted origin on a lot of DC’s characters. *ahem* wonder woman.
I need to spread awareness of Tom Katers… The world could be a better place with his words.
Hey bansidhewail thought that was you! It’s funny because the Alternate timeline was what I liked most about JJ’s trek because it allowed him to NOT be constrained by what had gone before. People can die that we don’t expect, stories can hapen that would have contradicted the show etc…Let’s be clear though…everything from the TV show STILL happened…just in an alternate reality from the new Movie one.
this is how I’m looking at the DC reboot as well. Now this could be as much a Jumping OFF point as a jumping ON for me and is clearly aimed primarilly at NEW readers. If they succeed the company will only be stronger.
While I understand the moves I still very much dislike the re-numbering of Action, Detective and Batman (Superman was already rebooted once and the title changed and then changed back) and I full expect them to pull a Marvel and still take advantage of the 1,000th issue when it comes around.
I am somewhat excited about the Green arrow book though as it seems to be going where I’ve said for years the character should go…sort of like the James Bond of the DCU 9If he can have trick arrows he should have other gadgets as well.
Ray
Tom I was expecting an article about feet.
@bansidhewail Off topic, but the Abrams movie doesn’t retcon anything at all. It’s a new timeline. So it doesn’t erase any of the previous stories. Whatsoever.
I am not a huge DC reader. I regularly try out the batbooks when it is a creative team I enjoy, but that is about it.
How a question:
Am I the only one that thinks that this whole reboot thing will only be a temporary thing? Think a longer verssion of Age of Apocalypse or something like Heroes Reborn.
DC will be able to make all these (great?) stories, but I have a feeling everything will be somewhat back to normal down the line. Whatever was a huge sucess will be kept in “continuity” but the characters will be back to normal.
What do you think?
This protest better not interfere with this year’s PaceyCon! People need to hear their Pacey fanfic written & read by Josh Jackson! U-S-A! U-S-A!
@boosebaster Here’s another hypothetical conversation.
“So, I wanna kill Spider-Man.”
“Get the hell out of my office.”
“No, no, no, the Ultimate version, not the one that’s an Avenger.”
“Ok, you’ve done nothing but tell fantastic stories with that character for nearly your entire career with us, why shouldn’t we let you tell this story! Just one thing, you know we gotta tell all the major media outlets about this. This is exactly the kind of thing that’ll get our books into more people’s hands, and we’d be stupid not to take advantage of it!”
“Hey, it’s been working since Batman broke his back and Superman died, why should it stop now?”
“But how do we avoid all the trolls on the internet that will harp on us for letting the mainstream media in on the secret ahead of time?”
“I know, we’ll just present it at face value from the beginning! We’ll call the story arc ‘Death of Spider-Man’. That way no one can complain that the news coverage ruinned it for them!”
“Genius! Let’s do it!”
Months later, after reading boosebaster’s post on iFanboy.com:
“Do you believe these people?”
“I know, it’s like they hate comic books or something”
Hm. Article posted on the internet about being reasonable turns into bitching and moaning in the comments…
This is the article I wish I had written about the subject. Kudos, Tom. Best one yet about the stupidity and the inanity of this “protest”. At least if the so-called “fans” decided to read the material before bashing it…
Thank you so much for your depiction of continuity as “all the rules about what you shouldn’t do. It is all black and white and right and wrong. It is the adult in the room trying to put everything in order.” I couldn’t agree more.
I grew up reading DC, and have pretty much avoided it for years because I have no idea what the back story is. There are generally so many references to events and characters outside the immediate story in most comics, that whenever I pick up a Superman or a Green Lantern, I’m usually so confused I give up trying.
But I’m reading all of the Flashpoint issues, and am signed up for the first three issues of all the new #1’s. And for the first time in a long time, I’m really excited about comics.
@Actualbutt
Umm…that wasn’t a hypothetical conversation. That *WAS* the marketing message. That *WAS* what Marvel was saying to people.
By using spoilers to market its stories, Marvel is telling potential new customers that spoiling is what they do. Are you actually trying to argue logic?
If you had never read comics, would this convince you to start now?
On the other hand, I applaud DC. They are being imaginative, ballsy and bold and they think (whether they are right or not is a different question)…that they are going to improve the stories by doing this.
Spoiling is lazy and hurts the industry. The fact that Marvel couldn’t come up with a better way to sell this story tells me they have a serious lack of talent in their marketing department.
The fact that the story was called The Death of Spider-Man means nothing, plenty of similarly titled stories have just been about a “figurative” death or somesuch.
And saying I hate comics because I hate spoilers and stupid business decisions? Right, whatever.
@boosebaster spoilers aren’t going to turn people away from comics. studies have shown that most of the world would prefer to know exactly what they are going to get from a story rather than be genuinely surprised. sad, but true.
@nbcabaniss
Finally an actual intelligent response to my ravings, thank you! I actually agree with you. But that is more of a “mainstream” trait (soap operas are always spoiled aren’t they?). However, Marvel wants to convert the mainstream into fans, and once you are a fan, then you do not prefer to know the ending.
In all of this, not a single USM reader has said (or I would guess thought) “I’m glad they spoiled this! I am totally happier this way.” Nobody’s arguing that point, they’re arguing that it’s smart business, and that’s the point I have [clearly] taken serious umbrage with.
What I’m getting at is that I predict this DC relaunch will be huge for comics. It’s smart, the time is right and it’s so important for them to get the books right that I can’t see them failing to. In comparison Marvel’s attempt to grow the market is weak and lame and short-termist and anti-reader.
Dear Angry Nerds,
DC Comics doesn’t owe you anything. All the stories you enjoyed still exist. These new stories may be really awesome, you don’t know if they will be bad yet. Stop making a snap judgement based on costume redesigns and a few phrases of a solicit. If you don’t like these stories after you actually fucking read the them, then don’t buy them.
Sincerely,
Reason
@MaxPower: Angry Nerds would be a great iPhone game!!!
Amen.
I also love that Morrison quote. That whole panel is up as a DC podcast and now that you’ve reminded me of it, I think I’m going to have to listen to it again.
Some people are going to feel really dumb when a couple of months after the reboot, everything goes back to the status quo, as it always has…
@boostergold4 It would just consist of nerdy protestors being catapulted towards structures made of Con booths and panel tables with Didio, Lee and Johns.
I don’t believe there will be a return to status quo, I reckon this is going to stick.
So these guys are going to be at the largest pop culture event of the year and they’re going to spend their day protesting? Jesus Christ, its people like this that reinforce the stereotype that comic con is full of socially awkward virgins losers.
Wow it is getting that serious that hundreds of comics fans will actually protest the reboot? It won’t have any impact, but still wow.
@DarkKnightDetective They’re not all that way, but… they’re there.
This protest just gives me one more example of why I can’t wait until comic fans of the old generation (not all of them, just the ones that are stuck in their ways) die the F off !!! I mean for real, move with progression or get ran over.
While I was reading Tom’s article, all I could think about was those people spending countless hours arguing over how this messes up the numbering in their collections. I just really hope DC sticks to their guns and doesn’t go back to the old numbering in a few months (I know history says otherwise). I hope they don’t even do the landmark #1000 for Action or Detective, I mean this industry has seen so much so called “change” this would be a perfect chance for DC to stand alone and keep their money where their mouth is.
Now it could be kinda funny if some were dressed as DC characters with clever signs. Feel free to make your suggestions here!
Don’t think it will make any difference, but if that’s how they want to spend a con, that’s their right.
The guy i the picture loves DC so much that he has to call them morons. What a weird way to show you care.
The guy in the picture loves DC so much that he has to call them morons,what a weird way to show you care.
(had to correct my typo)
That’s a picture from the counter-protests during the Iraq War(IIRC).
I don’t even understand what people mean when they say “The old stories don’t count anymore!” It makes no sense to me. What do they want to happen? Do they want Batman to make random references to some adventure he had in an issue of Detective comics in 1947? Next time Spider-Man fights Mysterio, do they want him to run down every single time they have ever fought in the past? If you read the story and you enjoyed the story, it counts. They can’t take it away from you.
While I understand the cynicism about renumbering and such; I can’t see how DC can go back to the standard continuity etc. This isn’t like a Crisis Reboot. DC core heroes, Superman, Wonder Woman, etc are coming out with what look to be radically different origin stories. Not simply restarting from ‘the beginning’ with a few tweaks as in the past. There’s a good number of other characters who aren’t simply being rebooted; they are one hundred percent not the same character as ‘standard’ continuity. Multiple characters from Vertigo, Wildstorm, etc have been strategically folded together into a cohesive world. A folding in which required Wildstorm’s end and Vertigo’s roster being cut back nearly to the quick. Bottom line; even if DC might wish to do so in the future; there’s no way to retreat. Any retreat would be an admission of company-wide failure. One so large that the credibility loss as a company would be far worse than any difficulty caused by difficulties in selling the new regime.
Hopefully they don’t reboot the Cardinals.
This all reminds me of the walking dead letter column, specifically in the past 3 months. Kirkman will get a letter saying “FU im dropping this book”, his usual response: “That’s nice, see you next month”.
I hope they couple the reboot/day and date with some sort of digital subscription model. I’ve been holding off DC books hoping this would come to light, they now have a great back catalog of digital titles and with more each week I’d gladly pay a monthly rate.
@bansidhewail I loved the ‘reimagining’ of STAR TREK. While I admit that initially I wasn’t sure how I would feel about it, I found the movie did explain how this was a divergent universe which was not identical to that of ST:TOS. As in comics you still have the old stories to go back to. Frankly, I have zero interest in the ‘new DCU’ but I had dropped 90% of the current DC titles months ago. I’m not the target audience for either, it seems.
Great points Tom! I completely agree, comic fans constantly ask for something new but when we get that something, usually a minority likes to make a lot of noise about how the creators are being raped when in fact it’s noting more than an attempt to save them from falling into even deeper obscurity than they already are. And as someone who works at one of the few comic shops that are left, I’ve been delighted by the number of people who come in asking about the relaunch and buying Flashpoint books in anticipation. From my persective, the relaunch is showing signs of success 3 MONTHS before it’s debut. And to those protestors against the relaunch: Please stop furthering the stereotye, you’re making us look bad.
Great article. Interesting points. Interesting comments too. As a member of the “old generation” hopefully I won’t get “ran” over by a car, Joshua. At least not until I get to read some of the new stories to see if they are actually any good or not. I liked the comparisons to the Star Trek reboot. If this is handled just as well I think we may all be in for a real treat. As a huge Star Trek TOS fan I was worried about the reboot but I really enjoyed it. It was a real hoot (as we say in the old generation vernacular). What I enjoyed about the Trek reboot is that they didn’t just throw out the old stories they created a new alternate timeline. I like the fact that old Spock survived and still remembers the original history. For me this validates everthing that came before and allows them to tell all new stories with my beloved original crew. They captured everything I loved about TOS and I can’t wait to see fresh new stories about Kirk, Spock and McCoy in their prime again.
If DC can do that with their relaunch count me in. I only hope that a few characters survive that remember the old timeline even if they never mention it again. I still hate some of the new costume designs though. I will miss mini-skirts, fishnets, and women’s legs. This is still supposed to be a fantasy ya know.
Good article, but ther eis one thing I kind of disagree with. I am pro reboot for DC. I think its a good idea. The thing I disagree with is the idea that you can make your own continuity. I wish I could. It just doesn’t work that way, unless I stop reading the book that disagrees with my continuity . . . which is what I did, and why I don’t read many DC books at the moment.
Everytime they retcon a story idea that I enjoyed it gets hard for me to get behind whatever they have done. I have one idea in my head, and whats on the page just doesn’t support it, which equals a loss of sale from me.
Its kind of like in Inception where they had to properly implant ideas in your head. If they did it wrong, you would never accept it. Most retcons just never feel right.
I’m hoping this reboot feels right.
If the reboot stays true to the characters but modernizes some of the stories like the A-Team movie did then the reboot could be really interesting.
A well done article Thom. Couldn’t have said it better myself. It seems sad to me that people are taking this so personal. Especially when there are real problems in the world that don’t involve “paper people” that truly deserve the effort of a protest.
great article Tom, i never understand how some fans feel ownership over anothers work. they aren’t the owner, the OWNER is and they should stop acting like they are entitled to anything.
Im really optimistic about this relaunch personally as im looking forward to the fresh creative voice it offers. Im also optimistic because all the folks who i’ve seen that were really upset, have realized that this relaunch isn’t for them and have decided instead to support creator owned books and what more can you ask for than that right? it’s fantastic
Great article Tom. I think if anyone really get’s that upset over the changes in a fictional universe they really need to check their priorities in life. Maybe take up a new hobby…or maybe even give sex a whirl.
The “protesters” have updated their Facebook page by the way, with a message that has to be the most confusing backpeddle in history. They’re not protesting the reboot, but they are? Now I just wanna ignore them even harder.
Ed Brubaker was right when he said that all of those comics that we bought, read, loved and cherished are not meaningless.
But protesting a company which licenses fictional characters taking actions meant to try to do something which will help ensure the continued existence of said characters? About as meaningless as meaningless can be.
Hmm… silly comic book fans acting silly? I don’t believe it.