(no subject)
Probably my favorite from the Photoshop contest =)
Greg Rucka's ending Gotham Central and his next solicited issue of Wonder Woman is listed as being the last one (!). Something's got to be up there, since they aren't allowed to cancel Wonder Woman due to licensing issues. Still, it's too bad Gotham Central is ending, that book was great. It's very telling that DC was willing to continue the book despite consistent bad sales, and Rucka himself is the one who's ending it. I'm not sure what Rucka's going to be doing in the meantime if someone's going to replace him on whatever follows up Wonder Woman, and if Queen and Country isn't coming out anymore (anyone know?).
Quote from a Judd Winick interview about the whole Red Hood thing:
A lot of readers fall into the category of wanting a story, but hating conflict. They love the characters, but hate when things happen to them. But that’s what these stories are about - we create these obstacles and put them through these terrible things, and they’re supposed to survive. It’s never about ‘Batman would never allow this to happen.’ Things happen, and that’s what this is about. Jason’s return is one of the best impediments that we could come up with. It’s one of Batman’s living nightmares.
I thought it was hokey and stupid at first; very few comic characters stay dead, after all. But after reading the trade, I can actually recommend it to people who read Batman. Winick is a great superhero writer, unlike, say, Grayson or Willingham. Winick brings up a great point that often comic readers want a story, but don't want conflict, which obviously doesn't work. I think the real challenge of being a comics writer is making your conflict make sense within the fictional context of the universe, and having characters do things that are interesting and believable without making them act out of character.
It's slightly bad form to hate on stuff, but I can't keep quiet: Supergirl stinks. Or as I like to think of it Mary Sue, Elongated Torso Girl Pointless Smackdown Monthly. Every issue thus far has been her fighting some hero for little to no reason, pretty much beating them, then they talk about something that has little to no relevance. Every one. This is Jeph Loeb, the supposedly highly-sought-after writer. He's put out outstanding work before (Long Halloween, anyone?) so I'm not sure what this Mary Sue punch-a-thon garbage is. He'll be off the title soon enough, but I think it'll take a real talented writer to turn this around.
Some Feb. solicits for DC are out, I'm looking to pick up the next Birds of Prey trade (about damn time!)