The Return of "Adventure Comics"

[The Toyroom]

From Newsarama:

While DC Executive Editor recently hinted to Newsarama readers that something major was going to play out with Superman in the Superman family of titles, he spoke a bit more in-depth about that specific element and a couple more with the LA Times over the weekend.

For starters, DiDio said that Superman turn Action Comics over to new characters, and in his own book, the Man of Steel will be headed into space – on a trip that some may see as one way.

“In his own book, "Superman," there will be a dramatic turn as the hero leaves Earth and it seems like he’s leaving for good,” DiDio said.” We’ll follow his adventures in space more so than his adventures on Earth, and that’s a big and exciting thing. We’re also bringing back one of the old-time favorite titles of DC Comics, "Adventure Comics." It will be back with a new No. 1 and with new stars but old stars at the same time. It’ll be pretty easy to guess who will be the stars of Adventure Comics if you know who the title was most identified with...”

The remaining conversation suggests strongly that the relaunch of the series will be the home for the Legion of Super-Heroes.

Some thoughts and questions....

1) I've always thought they should bring back "Adventure Comics" as an anthology title, so I'm glad to see this is finally happening

2) "Adventure Comics" has such a long and important history to DC Comics I'm a little disappointed though that they're going with the "Issue #1" mentality instead of #504 like it should be...

3) The Legion in "Adventure" makes sense....and they've been hinting that the LSH wouldn't be forgotten after "Legion of 3 Worlds" wraps up (they just cancelled the monthly with #50). I only hope that Geoff Johns is at the helm.

4) NOT very excited about Superman Exiled In Space again....been there, done that.

5) "Action Comics" WITHOUT Superman? Didn't work when they did the weekly years ago (yeah Supes was in it but he only had two pages per issue)....failed experiment. Superman IS Action Comics as far as I'm concerned.

6) So apparently Geoff Johns' stellar run on "Action" and Superman comes to an end if he's doing a Legion book?

7) Will "Adventure" be just the LSH or will we see someone like, say, oh, I dunno..AQUAMAN returning to his former title as well? Gee, I hope so...and it BETTER be orange-shirted, two-fisted, Arthur Curry!

8) They just released a special entitled "Adventure Comics Special Featuring The Guardian". Ennnnh...I hope this isn't a hint at him being in the new monthly...I don't wanna see this clone in the book on a monthly basis.

[thunderbolt]

Nope, thay ain't sucking me in again. Especially to yet another Legion reboot. Didio's now succeeded in running off James Robinson, Mark Waid and Grant Morrison from the DCU, will Geoff Johns be far behind?? Can't seem to get rid of Winnick, tho.

[The Toyroom]

^ What's this about running Robinson and Morrison out of the DCU?

[jds1911a1]

I agree about not haveing superman featured in action comics (I called it Action Comics Weakly back then) and that was with decent Nightwing and Hal Jordon stories in it.

Superman in space was boring the first time (so was Hal Jordon's year in space in 83-84)

[Earth 2 Chris]

Why would Superman leave Earth? Esp. with a wife? Batman RIP is Knighfall over again, and this is Super in Exile all over again. With 70 years of stories to regurgatate, can't they pick some that are more than 20 years old?

Sheesh.

Chris

[thunderbolt]

^ What's this about running Robinson and Morrison out of the DCU?

Supposedly there were some dissagreements over Robinson's Supes book, so he's quiting the DCU, and Morrison si being forced into rewrites because of the changes the out come of Final Crisis was going to make to the DCU, so he's done after that. Keep in mind that the plot and outcome of FC was approved by DC editorial a couple years ago. Now Didio is meddling in it.

[The Toyroom]

So this can't bode well for Robinson's new "Justice League" (sans America) book....I've been unimpressed by his run on Superman so far to tell the truth (compared to Geoff Johns on "Action") but he's still a decent "name" writer that DC can't afford to lose.

Now Morrison I think SHOULD take a breather from the DCU IMO...even if the plot was approved, I can't say it's been enjoyable for this reader. But be that as it may, this is the same type of editorial circle-jerking that got Morrison's "Final Crisis" off to a bad start...what with the contridictions with "Countdown to Final Crisis" and "Death of the New Gods". Funny, just the other day I read that DiDio didn't want anyone else to explore the new multiverse until Grant was able to since a lot of it was "his baby". So where's that leave the DCU and the multiverse now? Geoff Johns can only write SO many books for pete's sake.

DiDio seriously needs to be removed from his position....to my knowledge, he has NO editiorial skills whatsoever. The DCU has become such a convulted mess in the last 5 years or so, it's hard for this lifelong fan to recognize it as "DC Comics" anymore.

And as pointed out...the rehash of stories from 10,15,20 years ago as if they were fresh is getting old. Especially since those stories happened within the current context of continuity as it stands since "Crisis on Infinite Earths" Yeah there have been minor tweaks and reboots but they're still the SAME versions of Superman, Batman, et. al. that were exiled into space and robbed of their cowl not so very long ago (in my mind anyway). Been there, done that, have the shirt and the black armbands and die-cut covers to prove it.

[thunderbolt]

I'm enjoying the ride of Final Crisis, now its dissapointing to know that the creator's original story is being mucked with. It really won't be Morrison's story now.

[The Toyroom]

^ I will say my interest in "FC" has picked up with the last issue....but I still feel like LOTS of the story has been left out due to time and/or editorial constraints.

[johnnystorm]

DiDio meddles in everything that goes on...he was responsible for that Death of the New Gods debacle that was negated ONE WEEK after it concluded! Word is he's done it to Morrison again as well as James Robinson, effectively ending their DC work for the foreseeable future. Now Morrison is overrated IMHO- he's very, very good, but has a direction planned for the DC Universe that is obviously not understood or accepted by the rest of the creative staff. After this Final Crisis is done, look for DC to go in a million directions again. James Robinson though is a loss..he created and wrote arguably one of the best series of all-time, Starman. Which, I might add, regularly built on and enhanced DC continuity without death, destruction, or negating what had come before.

I continue to insist that Dan Didio's sole editorial contribution to Dc Comics has been buying a box of old 1980S comics at the flea market and passing them out at meetings. Nearly EVERY plotline, revamp, crossover, event he has helmed is a rehash of something done already in the 1980s. Don't believe me? Look at this:

1.Infinite Crisis=Crisis Infinite Earths
2.Death of New Gods=Hunger Dogs
3.Captain Atom as Monarch=Armageddon 2001
4.Death of Flash & the current Kid Flash taking the mantle
5.New status quo for Superman & Wonder Woman starting anew
6.Batman broken, someone else wearing the cowl=Batman RIP
7.Kingdom Come=current JSA storyline
8. Deaths of major characters for shock value or to create a new "Modern" version ...then Green Arrow, Green Lantern= today Blue Beetle, Martian Manhunter
9. Power of Shazam = Trials of Shazam
10. New Teen Titans=New Teen Titans
11. Legion revamp
12. Superman exiled in space
13. New versions of Manhunter, Starman, Dr. Fate
14. Revivals of 80s characters: Lobo, Booster Gold, R.E.B.E.L.S, Outsiders
15. New Supergirl
16. Weekly series- Action weekly
17. New Aquaman
19. Endless variant covers

on & on & on...nothing new. Feel free to add your own!

I kinda look forward to Adventure Comics returning. Looks like it will be the revamped LSH, and I'm thinking that's going to be a LOT like the 70S Grell series (which is ok with me!). But I'm also afraid they are going to get Superboy -Prime in there somehow, probably "rehabilitated" and forgiven for the massive death count and maimings he's been responsible for (ditto Black Adam in JSA). Would be nice to see an Anthology Adventure with LSH, maybe Aquaman, Black Orchid, Captain Fear...not gonna happen though.

And I expect Action Comics will showcase Agent Liberty, Guardian, and Gangbuster while Supey's away...hey! Add those three to my list above!

[thunderbolt]

I really wish Morrison would be given control of the Superman books, his All Star run was one of the best modern Superman stories, and Superman Beyond is looking to be right up there. I really dig the Superman of Earth 4, Captain Adam9who looks and has powers just a tad like Dr. Manhattan).

[The Toyroom]

14. Revivals of 80s characters: Lobo, Booster Gold, R.E.B.E.L.S, Outsiders

"Booster Gold" is actually one of the best reads in the DCU right now...but of course you have to thank Geoff Johns for putting it on a great start as well as the synergy by having original creator Dan Jurgens on board as artist (as well as soon to be scripter too).

But I really don't recall anyone clamoring for the return of R.E.B.E.L.S. ....and I've never been crazy about it's writer Tony Bedard.

[johnnystorm]

I agree there...Booster Gold is one of DC's best titles right now... I enjoy it very much.
And why is it good? I dunno...classic character guest-stars like Batgirl, Elongated Man, Jonah Hex, Blue Beetle...classic villains presented in a classic villain style...good story by Dan Jurgens and great art by Ordway... no gore or death...you know, all the things that Dan DiDio DOESN'T DO in other DC books. And I guess it's selling well...does at my local shop.

Oh, and word balloons on the covers. God, I missed that...it's something you never realized was gone until they started doing it again here & there and you think "That's an odd cover!" .


And Bedard - also not one of my favorites. Put Birds of Prey into the crapper.
REBELS- pah! Not interested. 25 issues & two creative teams until cancellation tops...that seems to be the timespan DC gives before deciding the ideas a flop. See All-New Atom, All-New Blue Beetle, and All-New Manhunter for details.

[thunderbolt]

^^^ I enjoyed the Atom title, its not like Ray Palmer could keep a title afloat either.

[The Toyroom]

^ I betcha though if Geoff Johns took on the Atom the way he's taken on Green Lantern and is going to tackle the Flash soon, we'd all be lovin' it. Especially if he cranks up the scientific aspect like he's going to with Barry Allen as a forensic scientist. Throw in some Chronos, Dr. Light (drop the whole serial rapist BS!) and return the Floronic Man to the old creepy version (i.e. NOT anything remotely similar to the Floro character from "Millennium") and DC would have a hit.