10 Possible Story Casualties of the DCnU

[madmarva]

I can't say that I haven't enjoyed Flashpoint so far because I have, but like Toyroom said, it's basically an Elseworlds-type project. I guess the resolution is supposed to have something to do with September's relaunch, but with Flashpoint not being tied to the current continuity and with a brand new continuity set to hatch in September, it really is superfluous.

I like the Atlantis-Amazon War. DC should have saved that for the new continuity. It certainly would have sullied the reputations of both Aquaman and Wonder Woman, but if done right at least nobody would be able to say the characters were boring, as they have both been through the bulk of their history, IMO.

The best twist is Thomas Wayne surviving rather than Bruce. Nice idea, but What If was doing stuff like that back in the 70s and DC with Imaginary Stories in the 60s.

[The Bat]

I guess the resolution is supposed to have something to do with September's relaunch, but with Flashpoint not being tied to the current continuity and with a brand new continuity set to hatch in September, it really is superfluous.

Thant's just it...I don't believe it's taking place outside of current continuity...it's the cause of the change of continuity leading into the relaunch.

[thunderbolt]

^^^ That rumor's been out there for a while, Bleeding Cool's been running with it for a while. I have a feeling a lot of this is happening to rework Superman in case the lawsuit doesn't go in WB's favor. That and I think this may be a last ditch effort to save the printed monthlies/ testing the water for digital only publication.

[The Bat]

That and I think this may be a last ditch effort to save the printed monthlies/ testing the water for digital only publication.

Man Joe, I hope you're wrong about that...I'm not going digital. I want my paper DAMMIT! I'd be one mad MoFo if they ever tried to stop printing Comics.

[thunderbolt]

There is now way that monthlies are a very profitable business anymore, most of the pulisher's money is made in trades and liscensing. I'd bet floppies will be gone in 3-4 years if that long.

[MIB41]

The only good thing I see is if Identity Crisis goes away...I feel that is the place where things really started to crumble for the modern day DCU...and it was all just downhill from there.

Anthony, I feel your sentiments quite well. This is why I quit collecting comics on a monthly basis literally decades ago. I can remember all through the late 60's, 70's, and early 80's reading one consistent storyline. You didn't have constant costume changes, identity changes, universe changes, and our heroes pretending to "die" at every turn. Back in those days, artists prided themselves on quality work. Each time a new writer came in, he would continue the excellence of the story writing that came before. Artists would try and bring consistency to the look of our heroes and emphasize continuity so the reader's world was not disrupted. In short, it was taboo to do anything to invade or interrupt the continuity of story and the universe established.

All of that ended, when Marvel decided to "change" Spider-man's costume. Remember what an earth shattering moment that was? Everyone freaked out. Then DC killed Superman. Then DC eliminated all of the alternate universes. Then Marvel killed years of storyline by suggesting Parker was cloned. They even destroyed the classic storyline involving the death of Gwen Stacy and Norman Osbourne, by bringing Norman back and suggesting that he had, in fact, rapped Gwen before she was killed. Nice work guys.

Suddenly anything that was once taboo was now considered the "in" mode of story writing. So this is all we have these days. Marvel and DC are no longer little companies. Their publicly traded corporations that demand sales EVERY month for fear of diminished returns on their precious stock. So every other month we have "events". Someone "dies". Someone changes their costume. Someone changes their reality. Someone comes back from the dead. All for the sake of selling a few extra comics and helping the bottom line, so the stock holders are adequately enriched. It's disgusting. That's why I no longer invest in today's heroes. I invest only in the stories of yesterday. Their the only ones that endure. And the only one's movies are ever based on.

Anthony, you have every right to feel ripped off. You just have to remember, it's no longer about the reader. It's all about the snobbish stock holders, who could care less about the quality as long as their coffers are 'properly' filled.

[samurainoir]

I'm surprised how much I've enjoyed the Batman Elseworlds in Flashpoint. It's kind of neat seeing Thomas Wayne as Batman and Martha Wayne as The Joker. It's really a dynamic that hasn't been explored and Azzerello's doing a great job writing it.

[aquatroy]

unless those books are stolen from my home, i really don't care with Dididididio does with the DCU.

Great point! DCnU can try to be whatever it wants. I still have memories of great stories. Continuity be damned.

There's another point to be made. Golden Age, Kingdom Come, and Killing Joke weren't supposed to be in continuity. However, all of the stories have been referenced in old DCU continuity. The great stories of the past are going to influence future writers. No matter how hard editors might try to keep control of the new continuity, the old will creep in.

[MegoSteve]

unless those books are stolen from my home, i really don't care with Dididididio does with the DCU.

I agree.

Continuity can be such a barrier to telling good stories. I tend to have my own version of DC continuity anyway. I only buy a few titles a month at most, and I honestly couldn't care less about the big crossover events that comics have based their entire business model around.

[BlackKnight]

Flash Point is just an Elseworlds Tale ..., But to me it's the Best Idea Since Blackest Night ..., and I am just a Huge Sucker for Elseworld Tales ....

The Aquaman vs WonderWoman and the Amazons is Fantastic. I am reading both of those Books , and am Just big time hooked.

Flash Point is also the Best thing Kubert has drawn in Years imo. I was a Big Fan of His X-men Run after Lee ..., as well as His Batman vs Predator 3 Issue mini Origional that started it all ..., But little else has Been Great for me from Him.

[boynightwing]

Identity Crisis WAS the beginning of the end of the DCU.

Starman is my favorite comic series EVER. And DC publishing would have probably have been out of business by 1983 if not for New Teen Titans. What a crock.

Chris

I agree about Identity Crisis. I did love the story but I sensed too it was the start of worse things to come. After it, I never bought another comic with the word Crisis on the cover again.

I've never read Starman but such a glowing recommendation warrants a look.

JLA Year One will also be void. I really enjoyed that series.

Maybe they should have looked to Bruce Timm and Paul Dini to clean up their Universe instead of the Clowns who are going to make things worse.

[The Toyroom]

JLA Year One will also be void. I really enjoyed that series.

That's been void for a while...after Infinite Crisis in fact....Wonder Woman was reinstated as a founding member of the JLA, replacing Black Canary, who replaced WW after Crisis On Infinite Earths....

And now none of THAT even matters as apparently Cyborg is replacing Martian Manhunter as one of the original 7....

[The Super Collector]

And now not of THAT even matters as apparently Cyborg is replacing Martian Manhunter as one of the original 7....

Cue "Price is right fail music"

[The Bat]

And now none of THAT even matters as apparently Cyborg is replacing Martian Manhunter as one of the original 7....

Eh...that's a wash for me, I never cared for either one of those characters.I rather they take them both out and just have 6 in the line up...or add somebody that's more interesting.

[Earth 2 Chris]

Maybe they should have looked to Bruce Timm and Paul Dini to clean up their Universe instead of the Clowns who are going to make things worse.

I've been saying that for years. Let Timm, Dini, Burnett, Tucker, Murakimi and all the other animated DCU crew have a whack at the comics. They have constantly proven themselves more capable of reinterpreting and handling these characters better than just about anyone.

Chris