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| Some great stuff here, but improvements are needed. |
I don’t hate you guys; in fact, I really don’t hate you
guys. In fact, you’re my favourite publisher. The New 52 has been great for me
in ways that Marvel NOW! hasn’t. It’s been, in my opinion, a pretty fun ride
from Green Lantern, Superman Action Comics, Batman, Aquaman, The Flash, Talon, Nightwing
and even Justice League have very
much entertained me.
I’ve also loved, I repeat, LOVED Arrow. It’s been a great series with a thoroughly entertaining take
on the characters. I even loved Man of
Steel. I realise that will lose me my seat at the cool kids’ table, but I
did.
There are, however, certain things I really REALLY want you
to do with 2015. Below is my… well… wish list for this year. I hope that most
of these things will happen, if not all.
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| I'm not satisfied by Greyson in the place of this. |
Bring back Nightwing
Look, I know there are artistic reasons for it, but
cancelling Higgins’ Nightwing felt
like the ultimate betrayal to someone who got into DC precisely because of this
title. And yes, I’m sure Greyson is
great, but be honest- it’s not like having a Nightwing book. I’m sure he will return, but make it soon!
There are more than one way of doing this; I wrote an
article a while back on how Nightwing could still be Nightwing post-Forever Evil. Any one of those ideas
could be fine, or you could come out and do something totally unexpected (I’m
hoping Convergence will allow for
Nightwing to return), but please, I need a Nightwing
series!
Diversify Superman
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| This would be MUCH better that Supergirl's current design |
This year saw you do some truly amazing things with Batman, Batgirl, Gotham by Midnight and
Gotham Academy saw the Bat-books become something amazing- there was some
stylistic diversity that reinvigorated the title. Batgirl’s look was fresh and
contemporary without making her look like what some perverts hope girls will
cosplay as; and Gotham Academy, by
all reports, is more-or-less superhero-free.
There’s no other way of saying this; apply this thinking to
the Superman family of books. There’s
no reason not to revamp Supergirl’s costume, or to bring back Superboy with a bold new direction. You
can even bring other Super-characters into the mix. I would pay to read a
Krypto book, or even a Mon-El ongoing.
Put Good Writers on
Diverse Titles
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| This guy deserves better. |
When you started the New 52, you had good intentions, books
like Blue Beetle, Static Shock and Mr Terrific were all books that you made a show of caring about to
make you look like you gave a damn about diversity of characters in comics.
Unfortunately, they didn’t last long. Not because these aren’t characters that
couldn’t hold audience interest, but because (in Mr. Terrific and Static’s
case) they didn’t have that great creative team.
So here’s what I propose; get the most well-loved creators
on these books. I defy anyone to tell me that a Grant Morrison-written Mr. Terrific wouldn’t sell. As for
Static? What about Tomasi? He’s proven himself with Batman and Robin, give him a shot. As for Blue Beetle, just bring it back!
Give Teen Titans a rest
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| How many more strikes do these guys need against them? |
So, we can cancel the okay titles, like Batwing but titles that have been terrible, like Teen Titans need to be kept alive? Two
series since the New 52 began and they haven’t gotten better. It’s time to put
the franchise away for a while. If you really have to have teenage super
heroes, considering putting them all together in a Young Justice title.
I’m talking all the teen characters together- the Titans,
the Ravagers, Legion Lost, all of them. This would allow you to maintain
copyright and might placate the fans reeling over the cancellation of the Young Justice cartoon. Just…
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| Sadly, this isn't the worst of it. |
Stop Sexualising Characters
There’s a reason I’m not buying Greyson, as much as I love the character: I cannot feel comfortable
reading a comic near my wife and kids that features a one-page spread of a
woman in orgasm. I wish I could say that that was the worst of sexualised
characters from you guys, but it isn’t. Catwoman, Starfire, and a swathe of
other female characters are dressed I-wish-it-was-only-half-naked with
impossible poses bent (no pun intended) on emphasising lady parts. You’ve shown
us that Batgirl can be just as, or even more successful when sexed-down, time
to apply that logic to other female characters.
And I wish I could say it was just the women, but the men
get similar treat (although, yes, not as much). There is NO reason for a
lingering shot on Henry Cavil’s abs and Steven Amell can do every one of those cool
exercises with his shirt on. See, sexulisation isn’t bad because you shouldn’t
do it to women. It’s not bad because
you shouldn’t do it to men.
Sexualisation is bad because people
deserve to be admired for their character, not how they look naked.
So that’s it. I’m still along for the ride, DC, and I’m
looking forward to a good one, but if these issues aren’t addressed, I’m may
find myself disillusioned.
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