Dan DiDio New Writer on the Outsiders

[thunderbolt]

I think affordability is killing comics, too. When I was a kid I could get 4 comics for a buck. Now it costs nearly 16 bucks for the same 4 basic books. Availability is tough, too. In the 70's you could go into any dime store, gas station or 7-11 and come out with comics.

[saildog]

word...

I'm not trying to be a suck up and in fact I misspelled "Baltazar".

All I know, is that my Sister, who never read comics (and in fact made fun of me for it), reads them now and watches cartoons (largely produced by Bruce Timm) with her Daughter because there are bits they both get and enjoy.

Lord knows, I never thought I'd see the day and I promise you, I can detail the pathology of how it came to be. She frequently tells me to "shut up!" now.

[saildog]

I disagree.
It was Video Games, Pokeyman-esque Crap & Ultimately the Direction of Animation. Children don't have to try & read a book , when the Imagination is Put right there infront of them & they don't have to create it. Also, there are plenty of "Kid Friendly" stuff on the Shelves today, as our past threads on the Topics have proven. As far as Continuity goes,.. the Mentality of "Darker stuff" is more so in Continuity, Sure,.. However it's also Mostly 30 to 50 yr Olds reading too.

My Son actually reads alot of my books these days..., it's neat stuff..., but unless a parent collects the books,.. not too many Kids are seeking them out either.

I see your point, and agree.

Forgive me, I tend to be a bit simplistic and my lack of understanding never keeps me from trying to make a point.

However, I still think my list of writers, given a chance to set the tone, would make DC a butt-load of money. Write something that parents and kids will share and you are golden. Again, look at what Hollywood has done since Toy Story. (followed by a ton of movies that kids loved..........and parents got......does my analogy make sense, BK?).

Follow the Toy Story model and kids get it on one level and Parents like it on another and since Parents get it, they are willing to buy. It takes talent, but the precedence was set as far back as Looney Tunes. It's not impossible to do nor does your audience have to be mutually exclusive. Kids can love something that Parents "get". That pattern was set long ago. What made "Shrek" so popular???

[Mego Milk]

If I had a bajillion dollars, I'd buy DC and ask for Bruce Timm, Art Baltzar, Franco, Paul Dini, and Geoff Johns.

word...

[BlackKnight]

As much as I love Watchmen, Sin City, Dark Knight......they derailed comic for kiddies.

I disagree.
It was Video Games, Pokeyman-esque Crap & Ultimately the Direction of Animation. Children don't have to try & read a book , when the Imagination is Put right there infront of them & they don't have to create it. Also, there are plenty of "Kid Friendly" stuff on the Shelves today, as our past threads on the Topics have proven. As far as Continuity goes,.. the Mentality of "Darker stuff" is more so in Continuity, Sure,.. However it's also Mostly 30 to 50 yr Olds reading too.

My Son actually reads alot of my books these days..., it's neat stuff..., but unless a parent collects the books,.. not too many Kids are seeking them out either.

[saildog]

If I had a bajillion dollars, I'd buy DC and ask for Bruce Timm, Art Baltzar, Franco, Paul Dini, and Geoff Johns.

Now, I realize I probably have excluded someone worthy of inclusion, but I know I haven't included an unworthy artist.

From there, I'd ask these people to put it all back and I bet we'd have some worthy comics that would thrill young and old alike.

As much as I love Watchmen, Sin City, Dark Knight......they derailed comic for kiddies. The reason I love my comic shop is for the sole reason that they have shed The Android Dungeon stigma and reach out to kids by making a family friendly atmosphere. Swing the pendulum back as far as you can and sales will sore and you will build an audience. Look to Hollywood's example. Stuff fit for kids sells..

[BlackKnight]

What DC should have done is have a Bruce book starting in the Stone Age and have him visiting different time periods working his way back to the present running concurrently with the books set in the present.

I woulda Been down with that...
Even though I am reading short versions of that in the Pages of Captain America Reborn right now..., But given the writes over the Top of Batman & Cap, I am actually surprised they don't do that, & won't be when they Do.

[madmarva]

I've always liked the idea of the Outsiders better than the actual book, dating back to the 1980s. Still kind of resent the fact it replaced Brave and the Bold, though. I always loved the Batman teammups

Tomasi's a good writer, but I still couldn't get into the Outsiders book.

Never read anything from Didio other than a story in a Halloween anthology. Might try it and see.

The Power Girl book has been flat for me other than for the most obvious reasons.
I'll probably drop it to make room for the 2nd JSA book.

Superman and Action have been flops to me. I have enjoyed World of Krypton — although I would prefer the adventures of Superman as Superman. The Supergirl book is OK. Unfortunately, it seems like we are in for at least another year this stuff.

I'd prefer Bruce as Batman, but Batman and Robin is a fun book. Red Robin has been somewhat interesting, but already seems to be going in circles.

What DC should have done is have a Bruce book starting in the Stone Age and have him visiting different time periods working his way back to the present running concurrently with the books set in the present.

[BlackKnight]

I think the Direction of PG's Alter-Ego is what makes Me feel I maybe don't like it...., but When She is being "Super" I like it very much... so I dunno.

All the Sexest "Boob" jokes are kinda Funny..., call me a Pig. lol.

[The Toyroom]

4 issues in to Power Girl and even though I like it I'm thinking do I really like it enough to keep buying it? Probably not but I think I'll wait to see how the Vartox story plays out

[BlackKnight]

I was done with Supergirl too,.. But I really liked the Last issue,.. So I dunno... I read Supergirl, Powergirl & Ms. Marvel. Something about a Blonde inm a SuperHero Suit with somewhat powers of Superman,.. Makes me Wanna read.

[The Toyroom]

they will not get my money, I will not support this. .

That's the way I'm feeling with the Superman titles with this New Krypton crap and Supes not even being in his own books. The only one I was holding on to was Supergirl and now I think I'm done with that too....

[BlackKnight]

... I stopped reading JLA Long ago,.. I dunno even where I got.
I do wish the Art work in Red Robin was better...., but I am digging Yost's writes. How he write's Tim, Particularly his whole thoughts on the "new Bat Universe" outside of Bruce, Is pretty much on Par to how I think,.. & I find myself thinking,.. Yes..., thats how I think ! lol. I bought the 2 1st issues of Batgirl,.. But that is all for me,.. I dislike the New suit she will be in,.. & is just one of those books I know I can live without,... it doesn't mean that much to me anymore with my hopes of Barbara getting back in the Suit with the Anti-Life Equation. Perhaps another time..., It just sucks that I feel I have wasted 15 bucks or so, (counting battle for the cowl batgirl) hoping for something different, & nothing.

I guess I just feel,.. like I will not not support this Non-Bruce Batman Stuff..., they will not get my money, I will not support this. The stuff I have read,.. is really just ok as it is..., Not very "Visionary" or Inventive at all,.. well outside the Worst BatMobile ever. The Good Guy/Bad Guy angle of Batman & Robin was already done too,.. In the Form of Bruce & Jason.

Blackest Night Batman #2 was good imo...., but I do feel it is the weakest book of the 3 so far,.. as far as my interests go.

[The Toyroom]

I'd rather read about Geo-Force and Black Lightning on the Outsiders than have them in the JLA where they don't belong....plus I'm liking the current take on this new Owlman (Roy Raymond Jr.). But I can understand your reluctance to read something without Batman...I can't get into any of these new books with Dick Grayson as Batman. I'm reading Red Robin but I'm already thinking about dropping that. Gotham City Sirens is a cool book and I'm liking the new Batgirl series so far....

[BlackKnight]

I think you would have liked the recent take on it....the original Outsiders plus The Creeper and Owlman (taking over the role of Batman) handling global missions with Alfred calling the shots. It's only been a handful of issues with this concept (#15-22 so far).

I read the Outsider's Special. ... I just didn't wanna get involved in another Book,... & try the Outsider's Again without Batman. I just am not into this World without Bruce Crap that other's seem to be..., the only Book I read is really Red Robin,.. because He is actually trying to Find Bruce.