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| In lieu of a professionally made graphic, here’s something we made in MS Paint! |
A general holiday tradition here at Multiversity is for a few of us to look at the past year and ask ourselves, “Gee, what things do we want from Marvel or DC in the next year?” We as fans are a rather entitled bunch, after all, and we certainly are never too ashamed to throw hissy fits regularly when we don’t get our way (that is, after all, what the internet is for!). We usually only do this for Marvel and DC, though; somehow it is just not as effective when we admonish a creator-owned book for — well, doing what it wants.
Last year, myself, Josh, Gil and Brandon all put together lists of things that we wanted to see from Marvel and DC in 2011. Some of our prayers were answered, some weren’t, and absolutely none of us asked for DC to cancel all of their books and relaunch their entire line. That would’ve been awesome if one of us had, but we’ll have to chalk it up for a missed opportunity. Either way, check behind the cut for our reflections from last year, and stay tuned for our 2012 Wishlists — coming soon!
Marvel:
1. More Marvel UK/the return of Captain Britain and MI:13
In the pages of the mini-event Iron Age, helmed by Rob Williams, Captain Britain got a brief 20 or so page story in which he was totally awesome — but that’s about it.
However, at NYCC, it was announced that Captain Britain would be joining the Secret Avengers, and that the subsequent arc of Uncanny X-Force would feature the team going against Captain Britain and the Captain Britain Corps in February of next year. It’s the closest thing I can get to a full-on win in this category, truthfully, so I suppose I’ll have to take it.
Still, I could always do with a bit more.
2. Seriously — The Twelve? Let’s finish it.
In November, Marvel announced that the Twelve had been completed, and the final issues would be released in February, March and April. I’ll cal this one as a win, even though it’s happening next year.
3. Transform Icon into Marvel’s Vertigo
Right now, the only books we’re getting from Icon are Bendis and Bagley’s Brilliant, Fraction and Ba’s Casanova, and Brubaker and Phillips’ Criminal. Scarlet, Powers and Incognito are all assumedly pending, but we haven’t seen them in quite some time. All of Mark Millar’s Millarworld books come out through Icon as well, with various artists attached and numerous delays involved. We also had the Takio hardcover from Bendis and Oeming, as well as a re-release of Jinx. Every so often, one of those Kabuki: Dream Logic books comes out too.
So basically, Icon is still the same three writers putting out books with their best artist pals, just as it was the year before. Nothing intrinsically new, and nothing to combat against the impressive powerhouse of ideas and comic book staples like Vertigo. This one is a solid no, unfortunately.
4. Let’s take that finger off the cancel button, ok?
When Marvel released their February 2012 solicitations, it caused a lot of controversy on the internet as it was revealed that seven books had gotten the axe. A string of books were cancelled throughout the entirety of 2011, including one that was cancelled in the middle of its story, with EIC Axel Alonso admitting that it would probably never see resolution. There was also the quiet drama that unfolded when Marvel cancelled two books before they had even been released.
I can understand that times are tough for the big two right now, with record low sales of books and the economy in the shape that it is in. Never the less, it is still sad to see some of my favorite books go the way of the dinosaurs.
Continued below5. More enforcing of deadlines
This year saw Marvel double-shipping many titles per month, and outside of a few titles here or there (specifically those with Mark Millar’s name on them as a writer), pretty much everything came out on time. All things considered, Marvel had a great year with their output, and I have the additional longboxes to prove it.
DC:
1. More focus put towards editing
Last year saw a lot of really bad errors from DC, ones that were rather egregiously noticeable. This year saw DC relaunch its entire line in order to revitalize their books, but the editing errors have still persisted, with all the same errors as last year and some really bad screw-ups, such as the first Green Lantern Corps issue being called “The Triumph of the Will” — it took the internet seconds to call DC out on this; how neither the former-editor now-writer of the book nor anyone in the DC offices knew about the vicious propaganda film of the same name is beyond me.
I’m calling this one a loss. Again.
2. Make All-Star your Ultimate this year
There was absolutely no action on the All Star front this year. There was supposed to be the return of Miller and Lee’s All Star Batman (under the new name “Dark Knight: Boy Wonder”), but that clearly didn’t happen. There was also no additional news on the All Star Wonder Woman or All Star Batgirl fronts, nor were there any updates on the rumored spin-offs/one-shots from Morrison’s All Star Superman.
A brilliant opportunity, assumedly lost and abandoned in the wake of the New 52. Such a shame.
3. We get it — you like Batman!
Right now, despite DC relaunching their entire line, there is still an issue of Batman released weekly.
I’m going to call this one a loss.
4. I’m still waiting for Multiversity
And I’m still waiting.
5. More enforcing of deadlines
As mentioned before (and as assumedly mentioned later), DC relaunched their entire line this year in an effort to revitalize their various franchises and draw attention to some new ones. In addition to that, part of the modus operandi of every New 52 title was that it would be on time; an incredibly brazen notion, given that they were supposed to have released a litany of Grant Morrison-penned Batman titles and a Geoff Johns-penned Flash issue that still hasn’t (and never will) seen the light of day. With the New 52 so far, there hasn’t been a single missed deadline (accomplished by changing artists and writers on books left and right), so we’ll call this a win, despite it only being a half-win.
Josh’s Wish List
Marvel:
1. $2.99 titles that actually matter (or make $3.99 books worth it more)
Over the last year, a sizeable amount of Marvel’s catalogue has jumped to a $3.99 price point with either A) no increase in content or B) LESS content than it had before. In short, I am losing my battle against cost affective comic book reading.
2. Fewer Avengers Books
All four Avengers ongoings that existed a year ago still exist in addition to two Avengers mini-series and one more ongoing on the way. Yup, no luck here either.
3. More Nextwave
No signs of life.
4. Not letting the New X-Men Characters fade into obscurity
None here either.
5. Take more chances on lesser known characters/creators
Iron Man 2.0, Alpha Flight, Victor Von Doom, X-23, Destroyers, Ghost Rider, Black Panther, and Daken all cancelled and/or aborted within a month of each other, all piloted by and starring lesser knowns. Yeah, this was not the year to Make Mine Marvel.
DC:
1. Animal Man ongoing
Not only did I get one, not only was it piloted by one of my all time favorite writers, but it ended up being a critical and financial success for DC, thereby guaranteeing it as much of a future as any comic series is wont to have. Slam fucking dunk, Buddy!
2. Grant Morrison Writing an Established Character That Isn’t Batman
Grant Morrison turned Superman into a young, slightly hip socially conscious super hero that attacks business moguls and sticks his nose up at the police. In short, he gave one of my all time least favorite characters every single attribute I appreciate in other human beings. Check and mate.
3. More Ragman
He may or may not exist anymore in the revamped DCU. This does not bode well.
4. A series focusing on a Lantern corps other than the Green one
Okay, so technically I got this one, but Red Lanterns leaves much to be desired on more than a few levels. Though there is also New Guardians, which very pointedly focuses on all seven Corps. So I guess this is a half win.
5. The long rumored Speed Force book to finally start running
Much like Ragman, it is currently unclear whether or not any Flash ever existed that isn’t Barry or Bart Allen and it is ALSO unclear whether Barry and Bart are even still related in any way. In short, this one looks unlikely too. Oh well, 2.5 out of 5 ain’t bad!
Gil’s Wish List
Marvel:
1. $2.99 across the board
While Marvel started publishing more books with the $2.99 price point, there are still a lot of books that sell for the pricier $3.99. It’s a shame, because when I see the higher price point, I still look at them as being more likely to put back. Even IF a good $3.99 book is a better buy than a mediocre $2.99 book.
2. A better artist on Uncanny X-Men
Carlos Pacheco’s on the book now? SCORE ONE FOR THE GILMEISTER!
3. Return of SWORD
Well, I wanted a book devoted to SWORD, or even a backup in the pages of an X-Men book, but at the very least they are still being used in the pages of X-Men and the Secret Avengers. Hopefully they’ll show up in Wolverine and the X-Men now that Beast is on the teaching staff!
4. A major culling of oversaturated heroes
Well, I was half right? Deadpool’s books went through a major cutback, with Corps, and Team-Up being let go, but Wolverine is inexplicably in more books now. Win some, lose some, I guess!
DC:
1. A Legion Ring
YES! And I have one!
2. A Big 7 JLA
I suppose I was close? The DCnU brought the heavy hitters back to the Justice League, albeit without Martian Manhunter. But all things considered, I’ll chalk this up as a win!
3. Secret Identities
HUZZAH! Clark and company are important again in the pages of Superman! Hal Jordan was being a douche to Carol! Even Bruce Wayne shows up more in the pages of Batman! I’ll take this as a win as well.
4. A Fourth World Mini
No dice. But now that the New Gods are back in the DCnU, maybe we’ll get one in the next couple of years. A nerd can only hope
Marvel/DC:
1. More Crossovers!
This will probably never happen any time soon. There’s still a lot of enmity between the two from a business perspective, so we probably won’t see Bendis writing Daredevil and Batman together for a while, or another classic Superman/Spider-Man book from Johns or Stracynzski (c’mon, both would be a lot of fun to read!)
Brandon’s Wish List
Last year my lists were varied, but I surprisingly ended up getting most of what I wanted. Hooray me! Hooray beer! (Why beer? Why the hell not?!) So let’s take a look at what I asked for and how it turned out.
Marvel:
1. Wolverine Renumbered
It’s happening. Starting with Wolverine #300, the series is back on track and showing it’s true numbers. I couldn’t be happier. Granted, it took most of the year for it to happen, but it is happening!
2. Make Mine Weekly
Marvel still has yet to do a weekly ongoing series (outside of a mini or two), though they are the closest they’ve ever been now that they are doing the Fear Itself run-off minis. Those alternating form a sort of weekly comic, but they aren’t quite what I asked for. I still think this idea would be a lot of fun but I doubt it’ll happen anytime soon as the weekly comic buzz has died considerably in the last year on all fronts.
3. X-Title Shake-Ups
Boy oh boy, did we get this one! We got new creative teams, set teams, two distinct feels and mission statements within the X-Men titles themselves. Blue and Gold are back, bigger and badder than ever!
Uncanny X-Force is still better than Uncanny X-Men though, and to me that is still a shame as Uncanny X-Men should be the flagship book. Instead it’s not even in the top 5 of the best X-Books, in my opinion.
Overall, though, this one was a great success!
4. Maggott
I love Maggott. If you’ve ever been to this site, you should know this by now. It’s fun for everyone here cause either you’re with me or you get to make fun of me!
I would argue that this year in fact did see the return of Maggott! We got lots of references to him in places like Wolverine and the X-Men, as well as an appearance in Shame Itself. Add to this his appearance in Ultimate X-Men (at least, I think it’s supposed to be him) and his previous reincarnation during Necrosha and you’ve got enough to make me happy for now.
5. Bachalo X-Men
Result: Big time! Wolverine and the X-Men, anyone?
Also, I mentioned how much I loved his Iceman in my request last year, and what do we get in issue #2? All kinds of Iceman/Icemen awesomeness!
So overall, I’d say Marvel was listening to my requests. I must have been a very good boy! Looking over my list, I think I could make an argument that I got all of my five wishes except one. Not bad, if I do say so myself!
DC:
1. Justice League: Generation Lost crew as the new Justice League!
Well, kind of a hit but also kind of a miss. While the team isn’t THE Justice League, they are a Justice League — the Justice League International, and in this ever shrinking global community I’d argue International is the best kind of Justice League! I do wish Judd Winick would have been kept on writing chores and that Blue Beetle would have continued to play off Booster Gold, but you take what you can get, especially when you’re living in a brand spanking new continuity.
I wonder if Winick wishes he’d been on this book instead of Catwoman…
2. New Hawkman Ongoing
This was on my list two years running and it finally happened! Sad thing is I kind of wish it hadn’t after reading the new stuff.
Maybe that’ll be one of my wishes for 2012.
3. Guy Gardner back with the JLI
Not only is Guy Gardner still the greatest GL ever to wear the ring, but in the DCnU he’s all over the place. JLI and GL Corps both sport Guy in all his glory. This was a big success for me!
4. A Big Event!
Chalk this one up as another “wished for it, got it, wish I hadn’t wished for it.” We got a big event (Flashpoint) with large ramifications (DCnU), but the execution was horrible in both the event and the subsequent relaunch of the DCnU. While some of the new books are great and the hype was off the charts, the follow through has been worse than that of Brand New Day (which I loved). It’s confusing and contradictory. They need a Crisis already to clean up only 3 months worth of publishing. Oy vey!
Continued below5. New Firestorm Ongoing with Igle and Spencer
New Firestorm? Check! A new Firestorm with my selected creative team? Not even close. Yet another near success that instead turns out to be an unbearable read.
Overall, my DC wish list was a success as far as wish fulfillment on the surface level. Once you get into the grit of it all, though, most of it is garbage I could do without. Unlike Marvel, my DC wishes only rated two for five on the success-o-meter.
