As was foretold, we've added advertisements to the forums! If you have questions, or if you encounter any bugs, please visit this thread: https://forums.penny-arcade.com/discussion/240191/forum-advertisement-faq-and-reports-thread/
Options

DC Comics Thread! Titans out this week!

BlankZoeBlankZoe Registered User regular
edited June 2016 in Social Entropy++
5 years ago, DC Comics rebooted their universe in one of the largest reboots/relaunches in comics history.

It was....a mixed bag. A very mixed bag. Though there were notable high points (Azzarello's Wonder Woman, Snyder's Batman, etc.) it was by and large mediocre storylines that often contradicted the supposedly brand new continuity and reminded readers of the dark ages of 90s comics in several ways.

This June, they are taking another shot at it. DC Rebirth is, according to DC, an attempt to take the best parts of the New 52 and combine them with the aspects of the pre-reboot universe that the comics have been missing. Over the course of 4 months they will be launching 31 new ongoings, 16 of which will ship 2 issues per month. Another selling point being the line-wide price reduction of all titles to 2.99 across the board.

To be honest, some of them look pretty terrible. But there are enough exciting sounding creative teams and premises that the relaunch could shape up pretty well. I'm going to skip the titles that look...less than ideal, so here's a selection of the best looking series:

The Books
MAY
DCU-RB-Cv1-c4d28.jpg
DC: Rebirth One-Shot
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artists: Gary Frank, Ivan Reis, Ethan Van Sciver, Phil Jiminez, et al.
The big special that starts the whole thing, it's 80 pages for 2.99 and will reveal what causes this change in the DCU.

JUNE
BM-Cv1-ee746.jpg
Batman
Writer: Tom King
Artists: David Finch and Mikel Janin
Coming off of Grayson and The Vision, two of the biggest critical darlings of the past few years, Tom King takes over the flagship Batman title with the intent of bringing his trademark shades of grey storytelling to work. Twice-monthly.

b026_-_superman_1_sm_cv1.jpg?1459020156
Superman
Writer: Peter J. Tomasi
Artists: Doug Manhke, Pat Gleason
Starring the pre-New 52 version of Superman, who has since had a son, Jonathan Kent, with his wife Lois Lane. Juggling being a superhero in a world that isn't quite the same as the one he knew while being the father of a developing superkid himself, Clark is facing his greatest challenge yet. Twice Monthly.

b035_-_wonder_woman_1_wwcover01_cmyk.jpg?1459020202
Wonder Woman
Writer: Greg Rucka
Artists: Liam Sharp, Nicola Scott
Greg Rucka returns to Wonder Woman after having one of the greatest runs on the title ever back in the early 00s, this time trying to establish a clear vision for a character that has been muddled in the past. For the first year of the title, every other issue will be set in the past and tell a Wonder Woman: Year One style story, while the present day issues re-emphasize her mythic roots. Twice monthly.

B055_-_Aquaman_-1_Cover_Color.jpeg?1459019956
Aquaman
Writer: Dan Abnett
Artists: Jesus Merino, Brad Walker
Dan Abnett continues his run on Aquaman, this time with a clean start, by focusing on Arthur's role as king of Atlantis. Seeking to unite Atlantis and the surface world, he and Mera attempt to join the United Nations while also maintaining Arthur's important role (and public image) as a superhero and active Justice League member. Twice monthly.

b044_-_flash_1_fls_cv1_r2.jpg?1459020265
The Flash
Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artists: Carmine DiGIandomenico, Neil Googe
When a freak storm re-creates the incident that gave Barry Allen his powers across Central City, Barry is forced to deal with the arrival of dozens of new speedsters overnight. He attempts to mentor the newcomers as best as he can, but with a new, sinister, speedster named Godspeed on the scene he discovers that not all of these new superhumans are as heroic as he is. Twice monthly.
JULY
b011_-_batgirl1cvr.jpg?1459020083
Batgirl
Writer: Hope Larson
Artist: Rafael Albequerque
Barbara Gordon has had an interesting year. After becoming the Batgirl of Burnside and discovering a whole new supporting cast and revelations that shook her identity to her core, she has decided it is time to go abroad and find herself. Back-packing her way across Europe and Asia, she wants to improve as both a superhero and a person, Kung-Fu style.

HLB_Cv1.jpg?1463423567
Hellblazer
Writer: Simon Oliver
Artist: Moritat
John Constantine has come back to London. After years abroad due to a partially self-imposed exile, he's come back home to face his, very literal, demons. Simon Oliver, a longtime Vertigo talent, takes over the book while turning it into more of a general Vertigo/Spooky DC title as Swamp Thing and Mercury will also be co-starring.

NSM_Cv1.jpg?1461002544
New Super-Man
Writer: Gene Luen Yang
Artist: Victor Bogdanovic
The results of a top-secret Chinese experiment to re-create Superman, Kong Kenan is the first in a new breed of Chinese superhumans. Not much is known about the series outside of the basic premise, but it is a decided passion project for Gene Luen Yang.
AUGUST
All_Star_BM_JRJR_Promo.jpg?1463420992
All-Star Batman
Writer: Scott Snyder
Artist: John Romita Jr.
Scott Snyder's follow-up to his landmark Batman run, All-Star Batman is a "greatest hits" series of Batman's rogues gallery. Each villain will feature a new artist, Sean Murphy, Declan Shavley and others have already been announced. The first is a Two-Face story with art by JRJR.

BLUEREB_Cv1.jpg?1463421013
Blue Beetle
Writer: Keith Giffen
Artist: Scott Kollins
In a seeming attempt to undo the DISASTROUS New 52 Blue Beetle series, Keith Giffen returns to the character he co-created and has Jaime Reyes (possibly his pre-reboot incarnation) wake up in the desert outside of El Paso with no memory of the past few years. Making his way back home, he discovers that the town has been taken over by Kord Industries on orders of the government. Ted Kord knows where Jaime's family is, the question is whether or not he is going to help him find them. (He probably will since Giffen has said Ted is Jaime's new mentor)

DSK_Cv1.jpg?1463421219
Deathstroke
Writer: Christopher Priest
Artists: Carlos Pagulayan and Jason Paz
Probably the biggest surprise in Rebirth, Christopher Priest (writer of several fantastic titles, most notably the greatest Black Panther run) returns to comics for the first time in over a decade to Deathstroke of all books. Stepping away from the more super-villainous version of the character from the past few years, Priest is bringing Slade back to his mercenary roots and throwing him into the middle of a bloody civil war in Central Africa. Twice monthly.

b031_-_supergirl_sg_cv1.jpg?1459020179
Supergirl
Writer: Steve Orlando
Artist: Bernard Ching
In probably the biggest tonal shift of the relaunch, Steve Orlando jumps from the fantastic, but bloody and violent, Midnighter to Supergirl. Citing both the current Supergirl TV show and Superman: The Animated Series as influences, Orlando wants to tell a bright, hopeful superhero tale full of heroics and compassion.
SEPTEMBER
b039_-_trinity_cv1.jpg?1459020231
Trinity
Writer: Francis Manapul
Artist: Also Francis Manapul
No real hard details given other than it being an "iconic" take on the three heroes working together, Manapul's involvement guarantees that it will be, at least, absolutely gorgeous and probably pretty fun.

b073_-_supersons_01_cover_color_cmyk.jpg?1459020412
Super Sons
Writers: Dennis Culver and Chris Burns
Artist: Jorge Jiminez
Starring Damian Wayne and Jonathan Kent, the sons of the world's greatest heroes. With Jonathan just developing his powers and Damian being...Damian, these two will have to learn to work together or they'll end up beating each other up before any villains get the chance.

CYpGAPn.png
BlankZoe on
«134567100

Posts

  • Options
    BlankZoeBlankZoe Registered User regular
    I felt this deserved its own post:

    Darwyn Cooke passed away this past weekend, of a very aggressive form of cancer. He was one of the most talented, acclaimed talents in modern comics and the medium is deeply hurt by his departure. Pretty much anything you buy with his name on it will be fantastic but here are some of the best of the best:

    Justice League: New Frontier
    Catwoman: Selina's Big Score
    Batman: Ego and Other Tales
    Catwoman: Trail of the Catwoman
    The Spirit
    Richard Stark's Parker

    CYpGAPn.png
  • Options
    Grey GhostGrey Ghost Registered User regular
    Nah

  • Options
    BlankZoeBlankZoe Registered User regular
    Grey Ghost wrote: »
    Nah
    :|

    CYpGAPn.png
  • Options
    Grey GhostGrey Ghost Registered User regular
    Oh gosh I meant to Rebirth not to Darwyn Cooke
    I am actually going to pick up a few things of his soon

  • Options
    I needed anime to post.I needed anime to post. boom Registered User regular
    so, Image comics, right

    liEt3nH.png
  • Options
    BlankZoeBlankZoe Registered User regular
    Like

    I'm not a crazy person who is gonna say this is going to fix all of DC's problems and they are going to be amazing again and all is well

    but there are some genuinely rad sounding books coming in this thing, with proven creative teams and good pitches

    It is kinda shitty to just go NAH

    CYpGAPn.png
  • Options
    FencingsaxFencingsax It is difficult to get a man to understand, when his salary depends upon his not understanding GNU Terry PratchettRegistered User regular
    Blankzilla wrote: »
    Like

    I'm not a crazy person who is gonna say this is going to fix all of DC's problems and they are going to be amazing again and all is well

    but there are some genuinely rad sounding books coming in this thing, with proven creative teams and good pitches

    It is kinda shitty to just go NAH

    On the other hand, Dan Didio and Harras are still in charge.

  • Options
    BlankZoeBlankZoe Registered User regular
    Fencingsax wrote: »
    Blankzilla wrote: »
    Like

    I'm not a crazy person who is gonna say this is going to fix all of DC's problems and they are going to be amazing again and all is well

    but there are some genuinely rad sounding books coming in this thing, with proven creative teams and good pitches

    It is kinda shitty to just go NAH

    On the other hand, Dan Didio and Harras are still in charge.
    And there have, despite all odds, been good books under their watch.

    Like, the New 52 was mostly bad, sure, but there have been great books within it.

    Wonder Woman, Batman, Grayson, Midnighter, Shazam, Action Comics, Aquaman, Batgirl, Constantine: The Hellblazer, etc.

    it's easy to just write off the last 5 years as all shit but there are some fantastic titles that get shoved aside if you do that

    CYpGAPn.png
  • Options
    OwenashiOwenashi Registered User regular
    edited May 2016
    HARLEYLBB-Cv5-d025a.jpg
    HARLEY’S LITTLE BLACK BOOK #5
    Written by AMANDA CONNER and JIMMY PALMIOTTI
    Art and cover by NEAL ADAMS • 1:25 Variant cover by AMANDA CONNER
    Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for details.
    (Mumble-mumble) years ago, the alien race known as the Scrubb forced Superman into a boxing match for the ages, against Earth’s greatest heavyweight champion, (mumble-mumble)! Now, (mumble-mumble) years later, the Scrubb have returned…but with said champion unavailable, the Scrubb have chosen the next-best thing: Harley Quinn! This can’t end well for anyone involved. Featuring unbelievable art by the legendary Neal Adams, it’s a tribute to one of the greatest Superman stories of the 1970s, in Harley Quinn’s own particular, ah, idiom!
    On sale AUGUST 24 • 48 pg, FC, $4.99 US • RATED T+

    Well, I guess this will be happening. I wonder if Ali will be mentioned at all in the story.

    Owenashi on
  • Options
    Mr. GMr. G Registered User regular
    There were some good things in the LAST complete DC revamp

    which was like 8 months ago

    And they've already all been undone and they're about to get double-undone

    6F32U1X.png
  • Options
    HobnailHobnail Registered User regular
    DC is the Dark Carnival

    Broke as fuck in the style of the times. Gratitude is all that can return on your generosity.

    https://www.paypal.me/hobnailtaylor
  • Options
    GreasyKidsStuffGreasyKidsStuff MOMMM! ROAST BEEF WANTS TO KISS GIRLS ON THE TITTIES!Registered User regular
    Having never read any DC stuff, a lot of those books do sound pretty cool. Maybe I'll jump on board with a couple of them.

  • Options
    OwenashiOwenashi Registered User regular
    Some of the Rebirth stuff does sound pretty cool. The opening story premise for the Blue Beetle story has a nice hook to it. I also find the new Outlaws lineup interesting in the group being a dark but not necessarily evil counterpoint to the classic DC Trinity. And while Superwoman seems to be ripping off Thor somewhat, I do like that Lois plans to use her new powers as Superman would, perhaps due to some guilt over exposing his secret identity. The first issue's cover also promises some cool stuff.
    SWM-Cv1-a47f9.jpg

    Like Steel, his niece Natasha, Traci-13, the Crime Syndicate's Superwoman and what looks to be Lucy Lane as an Energy Superwoman.

  • Options
    OlivawOlivaw good name, isn't it? the foot of mt fujiRegistered User regular
    Mr. G wrote: »
    There were some good things in the LAST complete DC revamp

    which was like 8 months ago

    And they've already all been undone and they're about to get double-undone

    Yeah, let me know when the people in charge actually know what the hell they're doing or are replaced with people who do, and I'll start actually having hope again

    As it is, I'll pick amongst the ruins of yet another DC universe for the occasional quality book, and continue to tut whenever they do something stupid

    signature-deffo.jpg
    PSN ID : DetectiveOlivaw | TWITTER | STEAM ID | NEVER FORGET
  • Options
    UltimateInfernoUltimateInferno Registered User regular
    upload-30977.jpg

    New DC logo starting with universe rebirth issue.

    "Ride or Die?" asked Goku

    "Ride or Die" confirmed Dominic Toretto, as they took off to find the Dragon Balls in hopes of reviving their friend Sonic
  • Options
    StraightziStraightzi Here we may reign secure, and in my choice, To reign is worth ambition though in HellRegistered User regular
    Well

    It's better at least

  • Options
    Diablo FettDiablo Fett Registered User regular
    it's waaay better than the dumb peel

    surprised that lasted as long as it did

  • Options
    StraightziStraightzi Here we may reign secure, and in my choice, To reign is worth ambition though in HellRegistered User regular
    It's got some pretty big issues

    So even as much as I disliked the peel

    I'm turning on this one more and more every time I look at it

  • Options
    THESPOOKYTHESPOOKY papa! Registered User regular
    edited May 2016
    that C is a fucking tragedy

    that C should get a wish from John Cena

    what font is that C in? dogshit serif?

    I'll bet the person who made Jokewood thinks that C is, like, totally fine you guys what's the problem

    DC managed to make a letter just as overdesigned as their superhero costumes

    THESPOOKY on
    d4753b065e9d63cc25203f06160a1cd1.png
  • Options
    GustavGustav Friend of Goats Somewhere in the OzarksRegistered User regular
    DC has been really bad at logos and title designs for ages. Pity really.

    aGPmIBD.jpg
  • Options
    WeedLordVegetaWeedLordVegeta Registered User regular
    Should I do a separate post for Young Animal

  • Options
    GustavGustav Friend of Goats Somewhere in the OzarksRegistered User regular
    I dunno. At a certain point SE is just gunna be Graphic Violence.

    aGPmIBD.jpg
  • Options
    StraightziStraightzi Here we may reign secure, and in my choice, To reign is worth ambition though in HellRegistered User regular
    Should I do a separate post for Young Animal

    I think Young Animal will be able to easily fit in this thread

    We already have two separate comic threads, and we may need a third one for Image and Indie, that seems like plenty

  • Options
    Butler For Life #1Butler For Life #1 Twinning is WinningRegistered User regular
    Is that Gerard Way Doom Patrol run still happening? That's with Vertigo, right?

  • Options
    BlankZoeBlankZoe Registered User regular
    Is that Gerard Way Doom Patrol run still happening? That's with Vertigo, right?
    It's with Young Animal which is basically Vertigo by another name

    CYpGAPn.png
  • Options
    WeedLordVegetaWeedLordVegeta Registered User regular
    Straightzi wrote: »
    Should I do a separate post for Young Animal

    I think Young Animal will be able to easily fit in this thread

    We already have two separate comic threads, and we may need a third one for Image and Indie, that seems like plenty

    That's why I said post not thread

  • Options
    Munkus BeaverMunkus Beaver You don't have to attend every argument you are invited to. Philosophy: Stoicism. Politics: Democratic SocialistRegistered User, ClubPA regular
    What's the over-under on how many years until the next brand reboot that DC does?

    Humor can be dissected as a frog can, but dies in the process.
  • Options
    Mr. GMr. G Registered User regular
    Warner is working on a Harley Quinn-led movie that would focus on the major female DC characters

    Batgirl and the Birds of Prey are some of the names mentioned of who would be featured

    Margot Robbie is spearheading the entire project, producing it herself and bringing on an unnamed female writer

    6F32U1X.png
  • Options
    DouglasDangerDouglasDanger PennsylvaniaRegistered User regular
    Young Animal is an imprint of DC, right?

  • Options
    WeedLordVegetaWeedLordVegeta Registered User regular
    it is, yes

  • Options
    Butler For Life #1Butler For Life #1 Twinning is WinningRegistered User regular
    Blankzilla wrote: »
    Is that Gerard Way Doom Patrol run still happening? That's with Vertigo, right?
    It's with Young Animal which is basically Vertigo by another name

    Young Animal is a mediocre name, definitely inferior to vertigo (it makes me think of an all-ages line of books)
    What's the over-under on how many years until the next brand reboot that DC does?

    I don't know, but I don't think years are the right unit. I'd go with months.

  • Options
    Garlic BreadGarlic Bread i'm a bitch i'm a bitch i'm a bitch i'm a Registered User, Disagreeable regular
    Man I still can't believe Darwyn Cooke is gone. It keeps making me sad

  • Options
    BlankZoeBlankZoe Registered User regular
    Keith wrote: »
    Man I still can't believe Darwyn Cooke is gone. It keeps making me sad
    I re-read the story from Ego about the fugitives on the run in the log cabin and goddamn if that isn't the most perfect Batman story I've ever read

    CYpGAPn.png
  • Options
    RMS OceanicRMS Oceanic Registered User regular
    I know Before Watchmen was less than stellar overall, but I liked Darwyn Cooke's take on Minutemen.

  • Options
    KyouguKyougu Registered User regular
    Super Sons, Blue Beetle and Supergirl are books I'm cautiously looking forward to. They all could end up being fun, which is something that DC lacked.

  • Options
    I needed anime to post.I needed anime to post. boom Registered User regular
    that C is a sad hammer masturbating

    liEt3nH.png
  • Options
    FCDFCD Registered User regular
    I still miss the circle and stars. That'll always be my favorite logo.

    Gridman! Baby DAN DAN! Baby DAN DAN!
  • Options
    Garlic BreadGarlic Bread i'm a bitch i'm a bitch i'm a bitch i'm a Registered User, Disagreeable regular
    I'm optimistic for Nightwing since Tim Seeley killed it on Grayson

    I'm still sad Midnighter is gone. That series was amazing from start to finish. Wish they'd relaunch it as Midnighter and Apollo or something

  • Options
    LorahaloLorahalo Registered User regular
    I love Jonathan Kent's hoodie cape. It's so fantastic.

    I have a podcast about Digimon called the Digital Moncast, on Audio Entropy.
  • Options
    miscellaneousinsanitymiscellaneousinsanity grass grows, birds fly, sun shines, and brother, i hurt peopleRegistered User regular
    FCD wrote: »
    I still miss the circle and stars. That'll always be my favorite logo.

    the other day i learned that one was done by milton glaser

    why they ever gave it up is beyond me

    uc3ufTB.png
This discussion has been closed.