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RIP Robin? Hardly.
Posted by Rolando Garcia on Feb 27, 2013 in Opinion
My Thoughts on the New Batman Trailer, Visualize
Posted by Rolando Garcia on Dec 21, 2011 in Non-fiction, Opinion
Commentary courtesy of me. Screenshots taken from the amazing new trailer for “The Dark Knight Rises.” You can watch it here:
Blue Beetle. Phantom. BATMAN.
I really have to thank Jess Kirby for doing so many of these. I love writing them to the point where they’re some of my personal favorites. But they’re also helping me keep on top of my regular posting schedule here on the site. I’m doing lots of fun stuff right now that are more long term projects and don’t lend themselves to these short posts. But don’t you fret. In a few weeks we’ll be releasing Revenger #2 and, hopefully, a Revenger app! Plus I have some work coming up later this year on Shattered Myth. And, of course, you can catch me over at Fucked in Park Slope a couple of times a week. Enough plugs, though. Let’s get on with the comic strip:
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Interactive Infographic Fun
Posted by Rolando Garcia on Jul 25, 2011 in Silliness
I had a question I wanted to answer. I did something thinking. I came up with this little slideshow. For maximum impact, I suggest clicking through at your own pace.
A few of the pics used came from Bat-Blog so be sure to check them out.
Being a Fanboy: Thoughts on the DC Comics Relaunch
Posted by Rolando Garcia on Jun 12, 2011 in Non-fiction, Opinion
I’m just going to brain dump my thoughts on the new DC Comics by category. I find this entire relaunch interesting from both a fan and professional perspective. Let me tell you right now, though: I’m totally psyched for this thing.
Action Comics #1
Creative Teams
There are a lot of titles I’m excited for based on the creative teams. Grant Morrison and Rags Morales on ACTION COMICS with that crazy cover on #1? I don’t care what universe it takes place in, nor what issue number it is.
I pretty much love everything Paul Cornell writes, so at the very least I’ll be picking up DEMON KNIGHTS. Scott Snyder and Yanick Paquette on SWAMP THING? Paquette’s art is perfect for that series. I think Snyder has the right skills to write it. I’ll read that in a heartbeat.
Digital Release
Yes! This makes me so happy. I’m going to get all my comics digitally. Physical space was becoming a hassle. I also like that after a month titles drop in price by $1. That’s a nice incentive to try a series. Hopefully they’ll introduce a subscription model with a discount (eg, 12 issue subscription for $30, 24 for $55).
I also think it’s a smart idea for getting a new audience. Comics were popular because they used to be sold everywhere. Now they’re only sold in an ever shrinking number of specialty stores. Apps and websites are the new spinner racks; the kids who’d love comics spend more time on the internet than hunting down comic book stores. Be there for them to find you.
Renumbering
Good idea. By renumbering to one and doing digital day-and-date release they’re emphasizing these are stories to consume in a new medium, not rare collectibles. They’re telling the audience to download this issue not because you can sell it for $100 later but because it’s the beginning of a story they should be reading.
The numbering system has always been a marketing tool. It helps the readers keep stories in order but also reminds them which pieces they’re missing. The latter doesn’t matter when your comic is at issue 8XX because a new read will never try and fill in the gaps. But if a new reader picks up an issue of the relaunched series in the spring, like ACTION COMICS #5, going back and buying old issues online seems reasonable and easy.
Swamp Thing #1
I’d take it further. I would change the entire system to be more like TV seasons. Every year you’d begin a new volume with twelve issues (eg, Volume 1 Number 1 through 12, Volume 2 Number 1 through 12). Every September I’d release the previous year’s volume as a trade/discounted download, and the monthly would begin a new volume, first issue.
Continuity
I’m not averse to changing continuity every now and then if it’s going to be in a good direction. We don’t know the extent of the effect on continuity this relaunch is having. There are some solid hints but nothing solid enough for me to say “I don’t like this direction.” It’s safe to assume they won’t do anything drastic like change Superman’s origins so that the Kents didn’t raise him or bring Batman’s parents back to life.
It does seem like the Justice Society may not exist as we’ve known them since Crisis on Infinite Earths. The solicit for ACTION says Superman is the world’s first super hero. That would be a pretty major change in the continuity of the last 25 years. I imagine they wouldn’t just get rid of the JSA completely, so if they are gone from the main continuity my guess would be they still exist on an Earth-2. I’d be ok with that. Power Girl and friends can have their adventures over there.
I am disappointed that BATMAN, INCORPORATED is being changed as a result of this. I was looking forward to seeing it play out over the next year and a half with different Batmen across the books. I’m especially sad to have our time with Dick Grayson as Batman cut short. But Scott Snyder is writing BATMAN and Kyle Higgins is writing NIGHTWING, so I’ll live.
I am curious to see how this all comes from Flashpoint. Will there be an in-story explanation? Could it be that Barry Allen helps set things straight but not exactly the way they were? He only made an approximate version of the world he knew? That would be an interesting story.
Teen Titans #1
Costumes
A wash. By which I mean that some of the new costumes are way better than the others, some worse. Yes, it’s disappointing seeing the cover of TEEN TITANS #1 and finding one of my favorite costumes, Kid Flash, altered in ways I did not like. On the other hand, the same cover has Tim Drake in his new Red Robin costume. I was not expecting anything like that, especially coming from the Batman-family, but I love it. I can point to a dozen examples like that.
Overall
Call me an optimist. I think it’s a solid business plan and I look forward to reading quite a few of these books.
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