One year after releasing 52 #1s, DC is releasing 55 #0s. With this one-month dismissal of 52ism, we get lots of ugly covers, some weird creative teams, and the end of a couple of minis.
Goose Egg Month
In baseball, when your opponent doesn’t score, it’s called “throwing up a goose egg,” because of the shape of a zero. DC is reaching back to the glory days of “Zero Hour,” by having all of its series publish a #0 issue this September.
Ostensibly, this is both a celebration of the first year of the New 52 and a chance to give readers a new jumping on point. While the cynic in me sees this as a cheap ploy, it is also smart business; if every year, each book has a pre-determined jumping on point, it would be easier to check out books you’ve always wanted to read and not have to worry about being too lost. Of course, it also means it is a convenient place to drop off a title, so it may be a double edged sword in that way.
DC says that these issues will fill in major blanks for the New 52, whether it be telling a character’s origin, or filling in significant chunks of history that may have gone missing thus far. Will this mean that some origins that were presumed to be untouched are, in fact, now different? Only time will tell.
What time isn’t needed for is to see that these cover images are pretty ugly. When they were originally solicited, they were clear that these were not the final covers, but DC’s website has these in the previews section without a note about their temporary status, so have these become the official images? Let’s hope not, if only so that we don’t have to look at this painful Catwoman image much longer:
4 New Series
Along with the books we’ve come to know and love, four new series will be given #0 issues in September: “Team 7,” “Sword of Sorcery,” “Talon” and “The Phantom Stranger.” I have discussed these already, but the more I read about them, the more hope I have for all four series.
Each addresses a problem with the New 52 in a way that the Second Wave didn’t; “Talon” is the first new character (not a new version of a character, an entirely new character) to get a DC series in the New 52, as well as the first spinoff series. While the last thing the world needs is another Bat-family book, this shows DC is at least attempting to give fans more ‘Court of Owls,’ since the crossover/storyline has been such a success.
“Sword of Sorcery” both brings back a beloved character, and does so with both a female lead and a female writer on board. This doesn’t exactly erase the boys club that is DC, but it is a step in the right direction. “The Phantom Stranger” will be attempting to bring a supernatural character into the spotlight of the DCnU, instead of just floating around the perimeter, and “Team 7” seeks to answer some of the “what happened 5 years ago when superheroes went from nonexistent to everywhere?” questions. While these may not be the most exciting choices for new series, they are certainly well thought out.
Adios Amigos
Of course, because DC has decided 52 is the magic number, that means we have to say goodbye to some books, as well. Last month saw “Justice League International” go bye bye, and this month it is joined by “Captain Atom,” “Voodoo” and “Resurrection Man.” Don’t be shocked to see these heroes join established team books as full-time members (Mitch Shelley has already guested in Suicide Squad, so that seems logical), and the next little bit of business means that DC is serious about not burying its cancelled characters in the Wally West/Donna Troy purgatory.
DC Universe Presents: G-G-G-GHOSTS!
In the #0 issue for “DC Universe Presents,” we get 5 stories from cancelled books (although only 4 cancelled books are mentioned), featuring O.M.A.C., Mr. Terrific, Hawk and Dove and the Blackhawks. Only Dan DiDio gets to write the #0 issue and the #1 issue of his book (O.M.A.C.), as latter issue scribe Rob Liefeld tackles Hawk and Dove, Earth 2 writer James Robinson attempts to undo everything Eric Wallace did to Mister Terrific and Tony Bedard wraps up the Blackhawks story, because why not.
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Green Lantern Gets a New Arabic Ring Wielder
The mysterious Green Lantern with the arabic tattoo from the Free Comic Book Day issue is front and center of “Green Lantern” #0. This is one of a few books (“Justice League,” “The Phantom Stranger”) that deals directly with the FCBD issue. Hopefully, the upcoming ‘Trinity War’ will be worth all the fuss, and not be yet another overblown DC crossover (I’m looking at you, “Countdown to Final Crisis”).
Creative Team Mix Ups
There are a few artists filling in on these zero issues, most notably the great Ben Oliver on “Action Comics,” and Gary Frank taking “Justice League” to tell a complete Shazam story with Geoff Johns. Elsewhere, Judd Winick writes “Green Arrow,” in what I can only believe will be an illustrated version of his pitch for the series (why else would a guest writer come in for an origin story without being the new series writer?), and Scott Lobdell takes over “Superman.”
Lobdell on “Superman” seems like a really bad idea from the outset, especially as he’s been talking up using some of Grant Morrison’s “Action Comics” elements. This is like hiring Brett Ratner to direct a sequel to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. DC somehow has no idea how to work with Superman, their most iconic character. If you look to the corners of the DCnU that are really thriving, they are the areas where top notch creators are given the reins and then left alone; Geoff Johns was allowed to break down Green Lantern and put all the best stuff back in while discarding the junk, Grant Morrison told an epic Batman story that let others like Scott Snyder come in and have fun within the new status quo.
With Morrison on “Action Comics,” it seems silly to put a guy who just shook up the Teen Titans on its sister book – Superman is going back to his roots in “Action,” is he going to be edgy and dumb in “Superman?” Time will tell.
Before Watchmen Marches On
As of publication, I’ve only had a chance to read two “Before Watchmen” issues, “Minutemen” and “Silk Spectre” #1. Surprisingly, both have been really good, if not great. However, it is hard to glean anything interesting from the solicits, except to note that there still hasn’t been a fill-in artist. That is a sad commentary on the state of comics today that we ever need to say that, but hey, there it is.
Vertigo
Vertigo books are in a weird place right now; some minis and ongoings are wrapping up, and only a few Vertigo books are going strong right now, although the ones that are appear to be in no danger of slowing down/ending anytime soon (“Hellblazer,” “American Vampire,” The Unwritten” and “Fables,” along with their associated books). The newer books have yet to really take off, and it feels like it is time for a bunch of new titles to start springing up. Bring it, Vertigo!
The Shade
“The Shade” will be completed after all. And there was much rejoicing!
