Comics NEWS! DC announces Watchmen sequel!! (sort of)

Here's something will definitively annoy old fans..but no doubt please the always demanding younger crowd.

They did it! DC Comics finally did it!!
They're gonna produce more WATCHMEN material!

That's right! Alan Moore timeless classic is finally getting a sequel...in the form of various prequels!!

DC Entertainment has announced that this summer they will publish all-new stories to expand on the acclaimed series. They understand that there will be some controversy with this decision but have decided to take the plunge. DC Comics will put out seven inter-connected prequel mini-series which will "build on the foundation of the original WATCHMEN." All titles will be under the BEFORE WATCHMEN banner.

Oh, my...

Co-Publishers Dan DiDio and Jim Lee said:

It’s our responsibility as publishers to find new ways to keep all of our characters relevant. After twenty five years, the Watchmen are classic characters whose time has come for new stories to be told. We sought out the best writers and artists in the industry to build on the complex mythology of the original.

Getting a bit pro-active regarding this cult classic they own?

Wanting to cash-in on the success of an Alan Moore tale? Who do they think they are... Hollywood? XD

Why did all these sort of things keep happening under DiDio/Lee??

Anyways, they're not kidding around when they're talking about expanding this classic.
They have unied an all-star cast of creators to work with these characters.
And are planning quite a lot of upcoming titles, such as:

- RORSCHACH (4 issues) – Writer: Brian Azzarello. Artist: Lee Bermejo
- MINUTEMEN (6 issues) – Writer/Artist: Darwyn Cooke
- COMEDIAN (6 issues) – Writer: Brian Azzarello. Artist: J.G. Jones
- DR. MANHATTAN (4 issues) – Writer: J. Michael Straczynski. Artist: Adam Hughes
- NITE OWL (4 issues) – Writer: J. Michael Straczynski. Artists: Andy and Joe Kubert
- OZYMANDIAS (6 issues) – Writer: Len Wein. Artist: Jae Lee
- SILK SPECTRE (4 issues) – Writer: Darwyn Cooke. Artist: Amanda Conner

I see lots of personal favorites of mine amongst these names.
Though that doesn't make this whole idea any better honestly..

Each week, these issues will also feature a bonus back-up tale to follow.

Called "Curse of the Crimson Corsair", and written by original series editor Len Wein with art by the original series colorist John Higgins.

This seems to be the only part of this whole experience that I've been actually liking.

There will also be a single issue named BEFORE WATCHMEN: EPILOGUE, by various writers and artists as well as a another Crimson Corsair story by Wein and Higgins.

I suppose you won't heard any comment coming from Alan Moore regarding all this.
He likes to create stories and enjoy expanding them sometimes, as long as he's in complete control of all this.
(like with the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen or Tom Strong)

Though Dave Gibbons, the original artist on WATCHMEN and its co-creator already said the following:

The original series of WATCHMEN is the complete story that Alan Moore and I wanted to tell. However, I appreciate DC's reasons for this initiative and the wish of the artists and writers involved to pay tribute to our work. May these new additions have the success they desire.

My own opinion? Honestly I'm not liking this at the moment...
Why does everything need to get a sequel? Why all these remakes? Why all that?
Simply because some people nowadays wanna make some money out of something that isn't theirs, something with proven success, something they can "ride" alongside to see how much they'll make out of it.

Some of these comics might turn out fun. Even great perhaps. But it was greed that started it all.

Blah :/

AwesomeCosplay Pic of the day: Solomon Grundy @ NYCC

'nuff said!

CBR Ambush Bug: Year None

 

You think ya can put a good bug down, well you know what? You can't!!

After a decade of silence...and cameos throughout group shots...and hidden references in Wonder Girl bedroom in Young Justice...the Ambush Bug is back in the DCUniverse!

Meaner, greener...it is a whole new world out there!
DC Comics are now grittier...there's more deaths awaiting our heroes at every corner...and also strange editorial decisions that put good characters out of commission.
Will the Bug strike out against this injustice? Will Cheeky accompany our hero just like in good ol' times? What's up with the new DC logo since the last time the Bug had a mini-series for him?

And more important, did I forget to buy some flapjacks yesterday??

Comic title: Ambush Bug: Year None
Art by Keith Giffen, Al Milgrom & Art Baltazar (issue #7)
Story by Keith Giffen & Robert Loren Fleming

Published by DC Comics
From 2008-09
Lineup Ambush Bug
Format: Collects the six issues Ambush Bug: Year None mini-series.

Irwin Schwab is back! In an all-new series set in the (then) modern DCU!
Brought back to the mainstream attention thanks to a noticed cameo appearance in the middle of the epic blockbuster one year long storyline "52" (which layouts and breakdowns were done by Keith Giffen), it was only a matter of time until Irwin was given a proper new new mini-series.

After a brief hiatus in the 90s (when the similarly crazy and 4th breaker Heckler took his slot), The Bug is back to make fun of all things comics, all in good fun of course, reference and make nods at clichés, tropes and the oh-so serious fanbase of funny books.

What's all this about this time? Is it any good?
You will traverse the entire Multiverse to be able to answer this question...

Female characters and "ethnic" heroes drop down like flies... It's a grittier and more edgy DC Universe..

Ambush Bug is like he's always been. Lazy. Grumpy.
He just wants to have fun and "enjoy life" in his lil' apartment with his faithful sidekick Cheeks, the Toy Wonder.
But the whole DCU has changed this last decade.

Things are a whole lotta more serious around, these days.

Characters die...women end up in refrigerators... All of this to boost sales!
And then some characters are brought back...only to die again! Again, for the sake of sales!
What changed since last time?
Well, Dan Didio's in charge now...

The Ambush Bug-family is all back and all get there time to shine!

This 6 mini-series ran from September 2008 to January 2009 where it "ended" on a cliffhanger (to boost sales???) on issue 5...only to be brought back a year later (One Year Later, for real!) directly with issue 7.

The series is like a best of the Ambush Bug and gets to showcase doing what the Bug does best, poking fun at various corners of the DCU.
All of his trademarks gimmicks make an appearance at some point or another.
Giffen and Fleming mock (gently) all the aspects of comic book publishing and DC (in-story actually!).
The Bug notices all the changes there's been in the DCU lately, mostly with events running all the time (and he tries joining the crossover...only to be left too late behind the JLA, the Titans, etc..). Some issues take place around specific events, the Bug ends up resulting in some tragic deaths (Identity Crisis/Jean Loring going after Sue Dibny, Blue Beetle getting shot by Max Lord while he's distracted by Irwin, his fan number one!) or getting beat down by retconned characters like the Silver Age Batgirl, finding the Golden Age Earth-1 Superman (living "outside" the DCU with the Super-turtle amongst others), the 52 new characters (Batwoman, Montaya!The Question..) guest-star in an issue, the world is invaded by OMACS in another, etc..

It's a very fun book for the ones that keep up with DC Comics....and easily a good way to introduce, while having a good laugh, the various bizarre concepts of the DC Universe!

All the other elements from Ambush Bug comics make a comeback, like splashpages/parodies, Giffen's traditional 6-panels grid, ..
Ambush Bug ends up accidentally killing Dan Didio (or did he?) and disappears for a whole issue leaving the spotlight for other characters such as the evil sock Argh!yle and Mitsu Bishi, the Bug's japanese counterpart.

DC's Editor-in-chief about to retcon-punch Ambush Bug out of his own pages!

It's a great series that doesn't take itself too seriously and has fun with comics.
The Bug gets to make sarcastic comments on the stats of modern comics.

"He's just lines on paper."

The industry, like rival company Marvel Comics gets lampooned as well.
In one issue, the Bug ends up married to The Inferior Five's Dumb Bunny (who already got to appear in past Ambush Bug comics) so he tries divorcing her by any means he can, like asking the devil himself to divorce them both.

Amber Butane of the Amber Butane Corps makes a comeback, now more of actuality than ever, trying to rid on Geoff Johns' current success.

The final issue #7 (and therefore, 6th issue), the main plotline has a detective trying to find out what happened to issue 6 (in a quite special finale issue guest-drawn by Art Baltazar).

One other issue starts out with the missing dialogue from a previous issue's page.

As you can guess, it's all in good fun.
Like comics should always be, heck, it's called entertainment for a reason! Am I right or am I right??

Overall, it's an amazing series, that makes a lot more sense now than ever!
I do miss the ol' Julius Schwartz-era Ambush Bug parodies... but it's a different book for a different time!

Dan Didio is seen as the reason behind everything that goes wrong at DC nowadays... The Bug doesn't hesitate to make fun of that and fanboys and nerds reactions. They're also integral part of what passes for a  "plot" here.

It's a great book making fun of the genre and having a kick, having fun while at it.
Easily enjoyable even by non-fans and huge collectors.
Perfect, featuring some of the best moments the Bug have been through his carreer, Keith Giffen art at its best and cartooniest.

A must for any DC or comics lover!
Get it!
But don't lose your hair trying to find issue #6, okay? It. Doesn't. Exist!!!

I give it:

  3 / 3 Plastic-trophies!

 

Comic NEWS! Ultimate DC?!

From JLA #1

The DC Universe rebooted?

I wasn't gonna blog about this, since I'm not one to fall into "viral marketing" or such pointless hype-fuelling systems.
But after seeing so much divided opinions on the web since this announcement, I guess I'll have to join in the fun as well and give you my side of things to come.

This teaser picture was released a bit earlier. It's a teaser showcasing the "changes" that will occur after the current event FLASHPOINT. (which is about the Earth being all wrong, thanks to the Reverse Flash, the Flash is lost in a completely different planet that the one he's used to, Booster Gold drops in this anomlay after a time travel, the Flashpoint-heroes are trying to deal with these "invaders" or anomalies if you want, etc..)

It seems our heroes won't be able to correct completely the universe..or is it?

What we do know so far:
- Co-editor in chief Jim Lee is currently redesigning the entire DC library of characters (for some reason?)
- Other co-EIC Dan Didio said it's a great time for DC Comics, what with all the fanbase, people reading comics currently, the synergies between comics, games, movies/tv shows and movies... A perfect starting point to deep in the DCU
- A lot of major comics (their entire lineup?) are starting all over their numbering, amongst them will be: Batman #1, Superman #1, Wonder Woman #1, Birds of Prey #1, Green Lantern #1 and upcoming new titles Aquaman #1, Hawkman #1...
- This teaser above seems to be spawning from Flashpoint' changes... (Cyborg included in a JLA lineup?)

What we do not know and can only speculate upon:
 - DC will reboot their universe along the current popularity of the Batman/Dark Knight and upcoming Green Lantern movie
- Geoff Johns did say an Aquaman title and Hawkman would be launched after Brightest Day (but this Aquaman #1 doesn't seem to be penned under his writing)
- This could as easily be a Flashpoint spinoff/Aftermath similar to how Marvel had "Decimation" after "House of M"
- This is a partial reboot like WW had on her own title recently (remember the Jim Lee redesigned leather jacket-ed WW?) or Zero Hour
- This is just another event following Flashpoint and not definitive
- This might be the launch of an "Ultimate" line for younger readers, to help out fresh years of continuity?
- It's not just a change in costume designs.. They all look sorta younger
- Superman looks strangely Earth One-ysh, like JMS' take in that graphic novel taking place in a younger alternate universe
- lots of V shaped necklines
- They didn't use other (better) artists such as Alex Ross or George Pérez to redesign groups or different kind of characters...just 100% Jim Lee

What contradicts a reboot:
- It would detract from Grant Morrison's multi years long storyline currently taking form in Batman & Robin, Batman Inc., etc.. You wouldn't go against a famed renowned well liked good writer.
- Geoff Johns wouldn't reboot all his years of writing Green Lantern, even if he's the one assigned to Green Lantern #1 (bye bye Blackest Night & co?)
- Risk to alienate tons of fans all around the world by losing years of characters development & etc.. (Barbara Gordon back to Batgirl and not Oracle? what about new announced Birds of Prey #1? no more Red Robin, Damian Wayne, etc..)
- contradicts already announced publishing series (new JLI title, Etrigan on-going, etc..) and marketing plans (Retrospective one-shots - stories taking place in the past of the DCU such as a Justice League 90s in the JLI days, Batman 70s/80s, etc..)
- what about the current on-going storylines? Like Gail Simone's Birds of Prey or Dan Jurgens' Booster Gold? Or Doomsday in Superman books? Wonder Woman on-going "fake" reboot?

What might prove it's a reboot:
- Didio sort of said it.
- Looks like the actual DCU, spinning off Flashpoint rather than an actual Ultimate line
- lots of year passed since Crisis on Infinite Earths in '85
- lots of different interpretations of the current DCU around (with the cartoon Young Justice, the movies, the 52 alternate universe,..), too much?

Anyway, it's too early to be sure what this is really about. Real reboot? Fake reboot?
I used to think the current DC universe was quite easily understandable and accessible...More so than ever.
(with comics like DCU Legacies even clearly up certain facts..)
Jim Lee already redesigned everybody for the MMORPG DCOnline...did he got bored and redo everyone? Are those leftovers? Did he just doodle more designs, Didio passed around, exclaimed "Hey! Nice redesigns! We should use those, let's reboot!" ???

I guess we'll have to wait and see...
(this might just prove to be simply costume redesigns for no reason...or for a Flashpoint Aftermath with Barry Allen/The Flash trying to correct what's left over..or an alternate Ultimate line...will we end up with 2 Birds of Prey book, one by Simone in-continuity and a #1 in an Ultimate universe - since she isn't writing that BoP #1??)

(that's what I hope at least...don't reboot just yet! the current DCU is well established and loved and most adaptations are even based around it *crosses fingers for the best*)