Hey there friends of CBM and fellow comic book readers, I notice that this site has yet to be brought into light since once again one of the major titans of the comic book industry is doing a major shakeup this coming September. Over at BleedingCool.com (link will be provided) there is an article that suggests that in September DC comics is doing a major overhaul with some of the titles, many are ending by August and then the following month we are going to see many new #1 issues to a good amount of titles many of us read. The article states that the follow issues will be ending in August: Flashpoint, Brightest Day: Search for Swamp Thing, Action Comics, Detective Comics, Superman, Wonder Woman, All three Green Lantern titles, Legion of Super Heroes, THUNDER Agents, Gotham City Sirens, Birds of Prey, Superboy, Supergirl, and Adventure comics. This is quite a handful of well-known titles that have some strong fan bases and there is a hint of a new post Flashpoint event simply called so far, DARK, and rumors are hinting that it will involve Swamp Thing also. So what does the future hold for the beloved DC universe, well I’m going to list the pros and cons of this major thing.
PROS
1.Bringing in new readers: One of the biggest problems the comic book industry is that bringing in new crowds and readers, both young and old into decades of continuity is a bit rough since people can’t pick up a comic without knowing what’s occurring half the time. So with a #1 issue they allow the non-fans to get interested with these characters.
2.Braver and Bolder stories: With DC doing a fresh clean slate on the mainstream universe, we can look forward to some of the most intriguing and well thought out stories without as prior mentioned, without chunks of continuity need to know the rest of the story. If Geoff Johns is writing amongst these new titles (I hear he’s writing Aquaman next….very interested), then we can expect great things.
3.Mature stories?: Now this is more or else an up in the air theory but with the return of Swamp Thing and John Constantine to the DCU, are we going to see a much more Mature universe with some darker story elements that will push the readers interests?
4.Less is more: This goes for the Green Lantern titles which I love them, don’t get me wrong, and with the post War of the Green Lanterns story we are going to see a whole new order with the Green Lanterns. Will the next new series be simply called the Lantern Corps?
5.New worlds to explore: There is mention that post Flashpoint, we may see that world as a separate one where more stories can unfold. Much like the JSA and JLA titles, will we see a new side to the world of Flashpoint, after the big event it has become?
CONS
1.Not all titles ending: There is no word that all of the titles are coming to an end, titles that I read like Zatanna, Power Girl, Xombi, Batman & Robin, and Batman Inc are not amongst the titles listed as ending in August. Excluding Xombi which remains on the borders of the mainstream universe. I’m sure the repercussions of the Flashpoint world will seep into those books and alter the characters greatly, but still not all are ending so why the major shakeup?
2.DC becoming Marvel?: some fans are worried that DC is trying hard to compete with their big competitor Marvel who are in the process of launching a bunch of titles in and around the events of FEAR ITSELF, so is this DC’s attempt at pulling a Marvel but doing it AFTER an Event?
3.Fan outcry: Typically whenever titles are canceled in this way it makes many fans like me sadden that the company is looking for another way of bettering themselves with new titles rather than altering that book to fit their new order.
4.Rushed stories: All these titles as mentioned above are all being forced to end in August, so this means many arcs that were planned have to be scrapped in order to make it on such a tight deadline.
5.Numbers mean nothing: I put this on Marvel as well but the issue numbers need no longer apply if the companies reboot the titles and just tack on a new #1 issue makes the reading order all messed up.
Now this is all speculation until the big announcement they have in store for us this coming June 11th, so we will have to keep our minds in an optimistic point of view yet at the same time be prepared for what’s to come, be it good or bad. Catch you all later, ComicCritic87 OUT!!!!