DC’s New Earth One Line
I’m not sure if I’m just cynical or if there really is a lack of interesting comics news out there of late. It’s probably a mix of both, but DC’s recent announcement of a new Earth One line is a welcome bit of good news among the daily fluff. This will be done through a series of graphic novels by some of their big name creators in a new continuity. Geoff Johns and Gary Frank will launch Batman. J. Michael Straczynski and Shane Davis will be handling Superman. In each case they will be a new retelling of each character’s origin stories.
I really like the potential of this. The fact that they will be in a graphic novel format means they will be able to debut in bookstores at the same time as the usual comic shops. There will be no waiting for the trade here. It is a ideal format to appeal to new readers. The fact is it’s just not easy to get potential new costumers to seek out a comic book store. It is much wiser to go where the public already are and give them something they can instantly jump into without fear of the dreaded DC continuity. I like the potential of Johns and Frank on Batman. I have really enjoyed their work on Superman in Action Comics and currently in Superman Secret Origins. Straczynski on Superman is equally as appealing, which is notable given Straczynski ‘s recent falling out with Marvel over being handcuffed by event continuity issues. This means Straczynski will have the kind of freedom on Superman that he initially did with his brilliant run on Thor before the event monster drove him out. Carla Hoffman over at Robot 6 has a good write up on the setup to Marvel’s upcoming Siege event. After reading that I can safely say Straczynski is looking like a wise man for leaving when he did.
DC once again has made a smart move while Marvel seems to be spinning their wheels.
Good grief — isn’t Superman: Secret Origin a new retelling of a new version of Superman’s origin in a new continuity? Didn’t we just have All-Star Superman? Didn’t we have Superman: Birthright not long before that?
I’m getting very very tired of the idea of super-creators doing an update on classic characters’ origins. There are other ways to address the continuity problems and new-reader firewalls, my favorite of which Tom Spurgeon addressed in his Ways to Make Comics Better:
Secret Origin is the retelling of Superman’s origin in the current DC continuity (earth 2 if I’m getting numbers right), so it links up with all the stuff going on in the Superman family books. It is fair to say they are kind of heavy on alternate universes of late. Like the new pulp universe with Batman, the Spirit, Doc Savage (in the Superman role), and so on.
Looks like I’m one of the few people that thinks this move by DC is good. There has been quite a few negative reactions around the various news and blog sites. Honestly I’m having trouble understanding why people are so negative on this. I figure the books will sell based on how well they are written. I’m pretty confident in Johns and JMS will write something people will enjoy.