Following on from last week’s Marvel-centric article I’m taking a look at DC’s radical reboot coming this September. Although DC are quick to point out that this is a relaunch, not a reboot, the distinction makes very little difference to fans and new readers alike, as it all boils down to the same thing. In September, DC will be cancelling all its titles and launching 52 new titles, all beginning at issue 1.
While there are no confirmed plot details until the comics hit the shelves and we read them for ourselves, it appears that origin stories will be tweaked, personalities changed, costumes redesigned and good becoming evil and vice versa. Almost everything that has happened before, events that have shaped heroes into the characters they are today, are taken out of continuity. They no longer happened. Certain details will be kept, but it’s quite clear that DC is wiping the slate clean, though some argue that they are destroying a long, rich history.
Naturally this is upsetting to some diehard fans, who are appalled at the thought of their beloved characters being tinkered with, but I, for one, am excited. Although I read a pile of DC comics every month, this gives me a chance to start some new titles that I hadn’t considered before. Yes, even existing fans are sometimes daunted by the amount of history to some storylines. And naturally, for the new reader, this is a brilliant opportunity to start reading DC comics without feeling out of the loop. So there is absolutely no reason for you not to pick up an issue or two!
DC has a reputation for being too ‘reboot happy’, having attempted something similar, but much less drastic, numerous times in the company’s past. But every time, the status quo has eventually been reinstated. This time, it is clear they mean business, and I can’t see how they could undo this even if they wanted to. The fact is DC has to do something to increase sales and attract new, loyal readers in order to survive an increasingly digital world. Which is why, alongside this massive shake-up, they have also announced that all of their comics will be available digitally the same day as print. DC is the first company to do this across their entire line and if you don’t have a comic store near you, don’t despair! You can hop on over to Comixology and buy them in beautiful technicolor for your Android, laptop or iPad.
There are some really exciting artist/writer team-ups in this relaunch and there is a slew of Batman related titles, 4 featuring the Superman family and almost every other big name hero gets his or her own title. But it is clear that some titles will be more interesting than others so here are my top 3 titles that you can’t afford to miss. And remember, they all start from scratch so not one jot of prior knowledge is needed.
Justice League #1: What could arguably be the flagship book of this reboot, Justice League goes on sale in the last week of August and is the first title to launch. Written by Geoff Johns, DC’s chief creative officer, and with art by Jim Lee who is one of DC’s co-publishers, this is not to be missed. Johns and Lee are the architects of the reboot so they should have some big ideas and killer stories coming in this book in the future. This is said to feature younger versions of Wonder Woman, Batman, Superman et al. and concern itself with the creation of the League.
Action Comics #1: The quintessential Superman title, which before the reboot was only a few years from its 1000th issue, was the longest running continuously published monthly comic and introduced an iconic character into pop culture. Now written by Grant Morrison, a fantastic Scottish writer with a unique story-telling style and a personal favourite of mine, this book seems to promise a more human side of the Man of Steel and if any title will prove just how powerful comic books can be, this will be it.
Batman and Robin #1: Bruce Wayne’s current Robin is his son, Damian, and the relationship between the two should make for great reading. The writer/artist duo of Tomasi/Gleason have done great stuff with the Dark Knight in the past which makes this, for me, the only Bat title worth buying – not as dark and gritty as Detective Comics #1 or Batman #1, but more entertaining and visually stunning.
To find out more about the reboot and the varied titles that’ll be heading your way come September, check out DC’s website and have a look at the ‘New 52’ section to pick your favourites. You’ll soon be as hooked as I am.
