Don't Call It A Comeback. DC Spoilers - Page 2

It's like Marvel and DC have a competition going to see who can who can do the crappiest "big event".

I agree that the reboot of the Flash back in 56 started the Silver age,but the crack about Western comics was uncalled for,particularly since I could make out the case that Jonah Hex is one of the few DC comics with consistently good quality.

That has nothing to do with what Geoff Johns said. Jonah Hex is a good book now. But, it took multiple series and launches to find a strong leg to stand on. If you don't believe me, go to your Quarter Bins and find copies of "Hex" from 1985-1988.

Jonah Hex was a hit from the beginning. The lead feature of Weird Western and then a 92 issue self titled series. He's been around for over 30 years with only one real misstep, Hex. And he's been very consistent with really only 4 prominent writer (teams). Albano, Fleisher, Lansdale, and Pamiotti & Gray.

Go ahead, try to name a western series that has been more successful than that. Heck, how many solo superhero series have been more successful than that?

I've been around long enough that the return of a character from the dead, even someone that I like such as Barry Allen, just does nothing for me. Same with Skrull invasions and "Final" Crises (although I have enough faith in Grant Morrison to give it a try). An interesting House of Mystery relaunch or the surprise return of Joe Kubert to Tor gets me more fired up now.

I wouldn't even call The Albano years good by a long shot. Interesting and bizarre for the genre, sure.

The second part of your statement is a very loaded topic and can splinter off into a variety of other forum topics. How does one measure success and how are you measuring it?

For the third part, yeah...I agree about the surprising stuff that DC is pulling out of nowhere. I loved the first issue of the new House of Mystery and I haven't picked up Tor yet. But, I've seen preview stuff.

I'd agree that the Albano years were less successful than Fleisher's run, and the latter two runs as well, but I was speaking of the benefit of consistency of vision. Yeah, Lansdale went in a more weird and supernatural west direction, but Hex has remained fairly consistent in look and character while any number of characters have gotten often radical revisions.

As for the second, I was more speaking in terms of # of issues. Jonah Hex was a lead feature for over 10 years from his creation. Yeah, that's not necessarily an indicator of long term merit, The Haunted Tank was a lead for something like 25 years, but it certainly is an indicator that the character had "a strong leg to stand on" right from the beginning. Especially since he's barely changed from the Fleisher run. Palmiotti and Gray didn't suddenly reimagine the character into something radically different than he's been, with the exception of Hex.

so they'd have someone to put under Libra's mask.

I was under the impression that Barry's the spark that keeps the Multiverse alive.

The hints in DC 0 that Libra is Barry Allen are so strong that it has to be a swerve. Seriously. Right?

I haven't picked up my massive pile of crap from my LCS in over 5 weeks, so I didn't get a shot at DCU0 yet. I'm speculating after I heard Allen was coming back, and the fact someone glossed that Libra has blue eyes. I thought of Allen immediately, and thought to myself "That'd be interesting".

Maybe when all is said and done Allen could lead the Black Lanterns.

I haven't heard that, but it could be one of those things that is actually kept under wraps.

Well, if you're going to take Morrison at face value. The Libra is the same guy who got blown out of fucking wack during the Wein Days on JLA.

Something caused him to reconstitute and come back to human form. Did he come back as Barry? Not sure. But, it could be something.

I think I'll chime in again.

Although a lot of comics were bogged down in the "grim and gritty" 90's, it seemed that DC was working hard to mature their franchises and enable the iconography of their core characters (Batman, WW, Flash, GL, etc) to be passed down to a new bearer for different generations.

It was a bold move that made sense and helped balance comics for the old guard of fans and newer readers who could possibly relate more to a modern age take on these aging icons.

Crisis and to a lesser extent Zero Hour helped combine all of the convoluted threads of the DC universe into a more cohesive whole. This also allowed for new, fun stories to be told without the baggage of some of the more laughable aspects of the golden age.

Then the harbinger came in the Superman books. They decided to bring back Krypto the super dog. Which may have been a cool idea for a twelve year old in the 50's but comes off as cheesy today.

Then Didio had the bright idea to bring back the convoluted mess of the golden age multiverse, except this time it's even MORE bogged down with needless over the top violence and shock value.

For years I had one hobby that I enjoyed, and that was reading and collecting TPB's, with DC being my number one choice for the capes and tights stories. But after Infinite Crisis and their multi part never ending events like 52, countdown, Final Crisis, RIP Batman, Hey everyone it's Barry Allen, and Honestly we're not milking you this is the Penultimate Crisis, I decided to give up.

Didio seems to have taken the worst aspects from the last five decades of comics and thrown them at the wall.

There may be some great stories being told (many of you have told me to give 52 a chance) but I cannot bring myself to do it.

Marvel has made some questionable decisions, but their universe at least feels like it's growing and working to attract new readers (we won't mention One More Day).

And really, as a 31 year old man should I be reading these in the firs place?

Penultimate crisis on alternate Tuesdays?

I will never, EVER understand the obssesion some comic book writers have with Barry Allen as The Flash...sure he was iconic and a great hero, but his death was well handled and cemented him as the iconic death of the DC Universe...which only made Wally West as The Flash and even more interesting character (and my favorite Flash, i admit).
I admit that as long as a comic is fun and entertaing to read, i can accept most over the top plots, but the Barry Allen thing has always bugged me.
And yes, I grew up with Hal Jordan going bonkers and Kyle Rayner becoming Green Lantern...and liked it.

They should turn him into the living embodiment of the Speed Force so he enters the god pantheon of the Dc universe you've just mentioned.
Oddly enough, Ive just finished Ostrander's run on The Spectre, and I marvel at how well handled the character and its alter ego were in that book...shame that doesnt repeat itself.

who knows. maybe geoff johns will do with Barry Allen what he did with Hal Jordan, reinvent him and actually make him interesting.