Please, God, let this week get better
So, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about continuity. More specifically, what to do when continuity rips your heart out of your chests, stabs it with dull knives, pours acid inside, then laughs at you as you try to close up the gaping hole in your torso. The continuity to which I speak, of course, is that of the DCU. I was vaguely excited about the prospect of the July solicitations coming out yesterday. That is, until I actually saw them. Then I was just… depressed. It was like stabbing a cherry topped knife into my already crappy day. Not depressed in the actual depression way, just in the “god, that blows” type way.
July brings the promise of the first of the Black Canary 4 part mini. It also has the first of the Green Arrow Year One 6 part mini. I have faith in both these things. Detective is still being written by Dini, so I have faith for this also. Nightwing and Robin both look OK, with ‘Wing promising the return of Vigilante and Robin earning his own rouge’s gallery, lead by Dodge. Outsiders is a crossover with Batman and Amazons Attack. Superman/Batman promises the return of a “major Villain that will have repercussions across the DC Universe” which makes me ask which silver age baddy hasn’t made an appearance in the modern age? They CLAIM that All Star Batman & Robin the Boy Wonder is due out, but I’ll believe that when I see it in my hot little hand. Amazons Attack looks AWESOME. As does Teen Titans; Is that Artemis attacking Tim? Didn’t she die? So far, I’m looking forward to the Amazons Attack event. I still can’t believe that they are bringing back the Club of Heroes in Batman. That was like… one of the dumbest things from the silver age. I read a thing from Morrison saying that it’s not going to suck, but do I really believe him?
You will note, however, that I did not mention Countdown or Flash in this list. The May solicit for Titans features on its cover: Donna, Dick, Tim, Cassie, Raven, and Cyborg. The teaser is that “A titan dies, are nightwing and donna the next targets?”. I say it’s Starfire. That’s the one character that all these have in common, plus, if Star was meant to die in space, she could fall into the category of “people the monitors are watching that should have died”.. a category that includes Dick and Donna. So… I didn’t stress over it too much. However, the main solicit for Countdown is an upshot from inside a grave with flowers in the foreground. Standing to the sides of the grave are Mia, Cyborg, Gar, and Raven and in the front is Tim with his hands covering his face and Cassie hugging him consolingly, and while she looks sad she doesn’t look like she’s crying.
So… It has all the V3 Titans except Kon and Bart. It could be that they are finally laying to rest the notion of Kon coming back. After all, Tim is the one that hasn’t really reconciled that notion. Cassie has more or less moved on, Tim hasn’t. With the possible short term return of Kon in Titans as a Bizzaro, it could be that Kon is dying and it takes him a month or so to die for real. Which, you all know, I hate. The other possibility is that it’s Bart. Why would I say this? The Flash: FMA descript is this: “DC Comics announces the second month of a special FLASH promotion as the Fastest Man Alive's world changes forever! Retailers: please check your the Previews order form for a special incentive designed to help you meet the demand for this story.” The cover is Bart, meaning that the Flash’s eyes are gold. But… This book hasn’t been selling so well. The first story line was crappy. Fans wanted to see Bart as the Flash. Not Bart as Wally as the Flash. I’m worried for Bart. I’m worried for Tim. If Bart were to die, and Kon truly be dead, that would mean all that’s left of Young Justice is Tim and Cassie. I looked around a bit at the Newsarama message board, and everyone more or less agrees that DC really needs to stop killing off everyone who Tim’s ever loved. It’s not just a S_D or Livejournal Fandom thought. I’m hoping that it’s just the DCU trying to entice fans to read by promising destruction… oh who am I kidding. They hate us.
So, this in mind, I’ve decided to treat the DCU as it exists in the comics, as some continuity that exists and is important, but isn’t necessarily what happens to the characters. From now on, I officially declare the Pendant DCU as my Official Canon Continuity. Not only is it written and produced by fans who actually like the characters they are working with, but I know the people who create it and can actively yell at them when things go wrong. Not that I ever think that Jeffrey or Susan or Sertan and Pete or Macalla would ever write something I would ever disagree with the way I disagree with the comic canon.
I’ve also decided that if I am in need of a YJ fix, or a Superboy fix, or a fix of any characters that have been hopelessly torn asunder by the comics (Gieffen’s league, for example) I shall turn to the dangerous realm of fan fiction. Yes, I know it is treacherous to navigate and many times you can fall into terrible pit falls, but when that happens, I can simply hit the back button on my browser and forget that fic ever existed. I’ve also decided that Jason White fics are a suitable substitute for Superboy fics, particularly ones like Alphie’s Being Jason White or Teh_no’s Saga of the Supersons where Jason is older and falling into the more traditional Superboy role.
The Little Things by Darth Stitch. One of the cutest Jason White fics around. This completely wins for the “Borg room” line.
This Looks Like a Job For... by Darth Stitch. The Fab Five make over a certain mild mannered Reporter. Really has the Fab 5’s characters down.
Hold Your Tounge by Julesjanson. Set in the SRverse, Jimmy realizes Clark’s dual Identity. It’s a very, very good Jimmy fic.
Histories Under One Sun by Russncosmonaut. Very nice introspective look at Clark as a young man.
The Last Temptation of Alfred by David Hines. Alfred attends a Butlers convention where there is a contest for best employer horror story. Guess who wins all prizes. You know why? Because Alfred always winz all prizes!
Distortions on an Empty Face by Katany. The Dick Grayson of the Comic DCU is a refugee of the Infinite Crisis, transported into the body of his Toon Titans DCU counterpart.
In only slightly related news: I had Superman Returns on in the background back on Saturday during the Pendant Chat and I came to realize I don’t totally hate Kate Bosworth as Lois. If I’m not looking at the screen, she does sound a little Lois-y. She’s no Dana Delany or Erica Durance or Susan Bridges (:D) but she’s not bad. It’s just when I look at her that my brain screams “NOT LOIS”. As much as I hate to say to cast based on looks, they needed to cast a girl who’s about 5 years older than Bosworth and a brunette.
July brings the promise of the first of the Black Canary 4 part mini. It also has the first of the Green Arrow Year One 6 part mini. I have faith in both these things. Detective is still being written by Dini, so I have faith for this also. Nightwing and Robin both look OK, with ‘Wing promising the return of Vigilante and Robin earning his own rouge’s gallery, lead by Dodge. Outsiders is a crossover with Batman and Amazons Attack. Superman/Batman promises the return of a “major Villain that will have repercussions across the DC Universe” which makes me ask which silver age baddy hasn’t made an appearance in the modern age? They CLAIM that All Star Batman & Robin the Boy Wonder is due out, but I’ll believe that when I see it in my hot little hand. Amazons Attack looks AWESOME. As does Teen Titans; Is that Artemis attacking Tim? Didn’t she die? So far, I’m looking forward to the Amazons Attack event. I still can’t believe that they are bringing back the Club of Heroes in Batman. That was like… one of the dumbest things from the silver age. I read a thing from Morrison saying that it’s not going to suck, but do I really believe him?
You will note, however, that I did not mention Countdown or Flash in this list. The May solicit for Titans features on its cover: Donna, Dick, Tim, Cassie, Raven, and Cyborg. The teaser is that “A titan dies, are nightwing and donna the next targets?”. I say it’s Starfire. That’s the one character that all these have in common, plus, if Star was meant to die in space, she could fall into the category of “people the monitors are watching that should have died”.. a category that includes Dick and Donna. So… I didn’t stress over it too much. However, the main solicit for Countdown is an upshot from inside a grave with flowers in the foreground. Standing to the sides of the grave are Mia, Cyborg, Gar, and Raven and in the front is Tim with his hands covering his face and Cassie hugging him consolingly, and while she looks sad she doesn’t look like she’s crying.
So… It has all the V3 Titans except Kon and Bart. It could be that they are finally laying to rest the notion of Kon coming back. After all, Tim is the one that hasn’t really reconciled that notion. Cassie has more or less moved on, Tim hasn’t. With the possible short term return of Kon in Titans as a Bizzaro, it could be that Kon is dying and it takes him a month or so to die for real. Which, you all know, I hate. The other possibility is that it’s Bart. Why would I say this? The Flash: FMA descript is this: “DC Comics announces the second month of a special FLASH promotion as the Fastest Man Alive's world changes forever! Retailers: please check your the Previews order form for a special incentive designed to help you meet the demand for this story.” The cover is Bart, meaning that the Flash’s eyes are gold. But… This book hasn’t been selling so well. The first story line was crappy. Fans wanted to see Bart as the Flash. Not Bart as Wally as the Flash. I’m worried for Bart. I’m worried for Tim. If Bart were to die, and Kon truly be dead, that would mean all that’s left of Young Justice is Tim and Cassie. I looked around a bit at the Newsarama message board, and everyone more or less agrees that DC really needs to stop killing off everyone who Tim’s ever loved. It’s not just a S_D or Livejournal Fandom thought. I’m hoping that it’s just the DCU trying to entice fans to read by promising destruction… oh who am I kidding. They hate us.
So, this in mind, I’ve decided to treat the DCU as it exists in the comics, as some continuity that exists and is important, but isn’t necessarily what happens to the characters. From now on, I officially declare the Pendant DCU as my Official Canon Continuity. Not only is it written and produced by fans who actually like the characters they are working with, but I know the people who create it and can actively yell at them when things go wrong. Not that I ever think that Jeffrey or Susan or Sertan and Pete or Macalla would ever write something I would ever disagree with the way I disagree with the comic canon.
I’ve also decided that if I am in need of a YJ fix, or a Superboy fix, or a fix of any characters that have been hopelessly torn asunder by the comics (Gieffen’s league, for example) I shall turn to the dangerous realm of fan fiction. Yes, I know it is treacherous to navigate and many times you can fall into terrible pit falls, but when that happens, I can simply hit the back button on my browser and forget that fic ever existed. I’ve also decided that Jason White fics are a suitable substitute for Superboy fics, particularly ones like Alphie’s Being Jason White or Teh_no’s Saga of the Supersons where Jason is older and falling into the more traditional Superboy role.
The Little Things by Darth Stitch. One of the cutest Jason White fics around. This completely wins for the “Borg room” line.
This Looks Like a Job For... by Darth Stitch. The Fab Five make over a certain mild mannered Reporter. Really has the Fab 5’s characters down.
Hold Your Tounge by Julesjanson. Set in the SRverse, Jimmy realizes Clark’s dual Identity. It’s a very, very good Jimmy fic.
Histories Under One Sun by Russncosmonaut. Very nice introspective look at Clark as a young man.
The Last Temptation of Alfred by David Hines. Alfred attends a Butlers convention where there is a contest for best employer horror story. Guess who wins all prizes. You know why? Because Alfred always winz all prizes!
Distortions on an Empty Face by Katany. The Dick Grayson of the Comic DCU is a refugee of the Infinite Crisis, transported into the body of his Toon Titans DCU counterpart.
In only slightly related news: I had Superman Returns on in the background back on Saturday during the Pendant Chat and I came to realize I don’t totally hate Kate Bosworth as Lois. If I’m not looking at the screen, she does sound a little Lois-y. She’s no Dana Delany or Erica Durance or Susan Bridges (:D) but she’s not bad. It’s just when I look at her that my brain screams “NOT LOIS”. As much as I hate to say to cast based on looks, they needed to cast a girl who’s about 5 years older than Bosworth and a brunette.