New 52 - I am almost done....

[leonmallett]

Today I cancelled the last ongoing I have on my pull list for the New 52, and all that remains is the Multiversity books. After those then I am done with the DCU.

I will still read Astro City (Vertigo imprint), but because of the book, not the publisher.

My first comic book was Brave and the bold #153 by DC. From then until recently the bulk of my comics reading and collecting had been DC. But thanks to the storytelling drives initiated by Dan Didio, and latterly Didio, Johns and Lee, I leave the DCU behind, perhaps for good. Even writing these words feels liberating as for approximately 10 years I think they have been obsessed with increasing the grim-dark and with focusing on event-based storytelling.

A 35 year customer-publisher relationship comes to an end. If the comics of the DCU had not taken the turn precipitated by the likes of Infinite Crisis, and had instead focused on telling good stories with recognisable iterations of their heroes, then I would still be aboard. I don't think I have outgrown comics, but I have grown beyond DC's approach to their own comics.

Now if only VEI would publish more books per month...

[Cyberstrike]

Outside of Harley Quinn there really isn't much of anything left for me in the New 52 DCU either. Batwoman is now a big pile of meh and Justice League 3000 is all over the map. I'm giving very serious thought to dropping both Batwoman and Justice League 3000 in the very near future.

[Tim]

I'm in a similar situation, but I've been pretty much done with it for a long time. I was a DC fanatic from around 1990 till the new 52 and I honestly gave the books a try in spite of feeling betrayed by DC. I'm now reading Supergirl only. That's the only book that I've enjoyed consistently (even thought Tony Bedard's run was not very good). It seems like the current leadership and editorial staff are completely out of touch with what made the DCU special and wonderful in the first place and the feel of the books is like all the worst things about comics in the 90's smashed together with all the worst things about comics now mashed together. I miss DC Comics and the characters I love desperately.

[ArmstrongAndHammer]

Hey, so I have been reading old DC (I only collect trades) and have read some of the new 52, and I am wondering what they have done to upset you, I am not challenging your dislike or anything, and not trying to defend DC, is it the change in all the characters? Specially what change. I read them all but DC was my first and you know what they say about your first.

[StarBrand]

Your post really hits home, Leon. Wow.

[String]

The only DC title I still read is Flash. Francis Manapul's art was gorgeous, his panel layouts and designs were ingenious and innovative and his storylines were very good. Rob Vendetti has taken over as writer and since I love X-O, I stuck around to see what he can do. So far, it's been decent though I still have my qualms over the 'new' Wally West.

But I agree with you Leon. For the past decade, my DC input far outweighed anything else. Superman and Shazam (Captain Marvel) remain my top favorite characters. I've tried giving the Nu52 a chance, it had some decent spots but they are few and far between. The last straw for me was the end of the Legion. Sure, Levitz may not have had his past top storytelling form, but the title was mismanaged which is sad since it was one of the few titles unaffected by the Nu52 change.

Now, I read reviews of the Superman:Doomed event and there's indications that the Pre-Flashpoint, Post-COIE, whatever you want to call it, universe is still around. The Legion (or part of them ) is set to appear in Justice League United.

But honestly, I'm finding it hard to summon the energy to care anymore.

[nycjadie]

I love the New52. For me it's business as usual, and the new creative teams on the Bat titles (except Morrison) have been great, IMO.

[Tim]

Now, I read reviews of the Superman:Doomed event and there's indications that the Pre-Flashpoint, Post-COIE, whatever you want to call it, universe is still around. The Legion (or part of them ) is set to appear in Justice League United.

But honestly, I'm finding it hard to summon the energy to care anymore.

If the continuity is reverted to Pre-Flashpoint (which I seriously doubt), I'll buy every DC title they put out even if it means dropping Valiant to be able to afford it.

I'd love to see just a few books (maybe 6-7....a couple of Superman books, a couple of Batman books, a Wonder Woman, A Flash, Green Lantern, and Justice League and JSA books and maybe other) set Pre-Flashpoint, kind of like the opposite of the Ultimate line, I'd be all for that.

[depluto]

I've tried DC again and again over the years but it just never takes. If somebody gave me a stack of current DC books for free I probably would not bother reading them.

I have been a Marvel zombie all my life but I'm getting tired of their *SQUEE* with all the .1 books and occasional $4.95 cover price for a few extra pages I didn't want. On the verge of dropping all of them and just getting Valiant and a few Image books.

[dornwolf]

I really like Injustice and Earth 2, but just about everything else I've liked has been cancelled. Also, Multiversity is my favorite current book, or at least the one I'm anticipating the most each week.

Literally the only thing I read is Earth-2 and Smallville so you aren't alone with this one.

[Bone-A-Fach-ee]

Every title I tried reading didn't hook me past a few issues. Was very excited by Aquaman (of all titles), but lost interest immediately after the first arc.
There are some other titles that I too used to like reading, but was turned off by the New 52 versions of. I'm interested to check out the new Batgirl, and Multiversity is intriguing, but if it doesn't start moving forward soon, I don't see keeping up with that either.
I'm all Valiant, some Marvel, and Image. I like Letter 44 by Oni too.

[Cyberstrike]

Hey, so I have been reading old DC (I only collect trades) and have read some of the new 52, and I am wondering what they have done to upset you, I am not challenging your dislike or anything, and not trying to defend DC, is it the change in all the characters? Specially what change. I read them all but DC was my first and you know what they say about your first.

Speaking for myself: The fact that DC signs off on various things then at the last minute wanted changes that pretty much ruins what the creative team had been setting up in some cases for years. For example: Batwoman marring her girlfriend only to have DiBio state that no of the heroes will get married (straight or gay) because he thought it wouldn't be right for any of the superheroes and all of the bat characters in particular to have any happiness in their secret identities.

The fact that New 52 now revolves around Batman to a sickening degree close to half of the titles are about Batman, Gotham City or spin-offs from Batman. With Green Lantern being a close second.

That good creative teams are followed by bad creative teams.

Canceling titles like The Teen Titans and The Suicide Squad and then quickly restarting and renumbering them by adding the word "New" in the title and continuing the storylines from the previous series.

The constant grimdark directions for every single series, except for Harley Quinn and Batgirl if the direction works out.

No one knows what is supposed to be part of the canon and what is not.

3 weekly seriesNew 52: Futures' End, Batman Entenel, and Earth 2: War's End that seem to be building towards another crossover event that will lead to another crossover event.

[Cyberstrike]

...double post...

[ShadowTuga]

I only read Batman. I have problems with the continuity holes, but some of the comics are awesome. But I'm not the best example of a DC fan, because I am not one.
I will not try to be apologetic about some of the HUGE shortcomings of the Bat-world, let alone the entire DC Universe; It's scheduled/monthly comics, it's a shared universe- there will always be stuff that it's not to our likes and feels rushed, imho. It's sadly inevitable. So I totally see your POV- I just hope that Valiant doesn't disappoint you, as well.

[Ramses818]

So what would you long term readers do if Didio is replaced in the near future? How long do wait before you give DC another try?

[leonmallett]

Hey, so I have been reading old DC (I only collect trades) and have read some of the new 52, and I am wondering what they have done to upset you, I am not challenging your dislike or anything, and not trying to defend DC, is it the change in all the characters? Specially what change. I read them all but DC was my first and you know what they say about your first.

For me, it has been the primarily three things; the grim darkness that has pervaded the tone of much of the line in the past 8-10 years, and which had been increasingly so since the New 52 in my experience; the unnecessary changes to characters or ditching of other characters; and the over-focus on events. Now for others these things may not hold true to their own perceptions, but I think Didio and company have been poor custodians. And the title I had been enjoying most (Earth 2) has been ripped apart - the characters it was focused on are barely in it after Robinson left, replaced by a Batman and Superman.

When DC was gleefully headlining that Hawkman would be about more maiming and ultra-violence, that should have been enough of a wake up call.

The New 52 is not for me. Not enough lightness against the dark. Too little consistency with the heroes I knew. Too many arms ripped off for the sake of depicting casual ultra-violence without showing consequences. Sacrificing storytelling for the grand Didio event road map. And those issues were there beforehand of course.

*IF* DC had gone the route of hard reboot, with a cleaner break, it may have been more palatable, but they didn't.

[dornwolf]

Hey, so I have been reading old DC (I only collect trades) and have read some of the new 52, and I am wondering what they have done to upset you, I am not challenging your dislike or anything, and not trying to defend DC, is it the change in all the characters? Specially what change. I read them all but DC was my first and you know what they say about your first.

Speaking for myself: The fact that DC signs off on various things then at the last minute wanted changes that pretty much ruins what the creative team had been setting up in some cases for years. For example: Batwoman marring her girlfriend only to have DiBio state that no of the heroes will get married (straight or gay) because he thought it wouldn't be right for any of the superheroes and all of the bat characters in particular to have any happiness in their secret identities.

Ah yes the not so insane but still quite idiotic DC variation of the Marvel maneuver.

Hey, so I have been reading old DC (I only collect trades) and have read some of the new 52, and I am wondering what they have done to upset you, I am not challenging your dislike or anything, and not trying to defend DC, is it the change in all the characters? Specially what change. I read them all but DC was my first and you know what they say about your first.

For me, it has been the primarily three things; the grim darkness that has pervaded the tone of much of the line in the past 8-10 years, and which had been increasingly so since the New 52 in my experience; the unnecessary changes to characters or ditching of other characters; and the over-focus on events. Now for others these things may not hold true to their own perceptions, but I think Didio and company have been poor custodians. And the title I had been enjoying most (Earth 2) has been ripped apart - the characters it was focused on are barely in it after Robinson left, replaced by a Batman and Superman.

When DC was gleefully headlining that Hawkman would be about more maiming and ultra-violence, that should have been enough of a wake up call.

The New 52 is not for me. Not enough lightness against the dark. Too little consistency with the heroes I knew. Too many arms ripped off for the sake of depicting casual ultra-violence without showing consequences. Sacrificing storytelling for the grand Didio event road map. And those issues were there beforehand of course.

*IF* DC had gone the route of hard reboot, with a cleaner break, it may have been more palatable, but they didn't.

Well if Bleedingcool is to be believed come next year for at least 2 months maybe for an event the old continuity is possibly returning.

[Cyberstrike]

Hey, so I have been reading old DC (I only collect trades) and have read some of the new 52, and I am wondering what they have done to upset you, I am not challenging your dislike or anything, and not trying to defend DC, is it the change in all the characters? Specially what change. I read them all but DC was my first and you know what they say about your first.

Speaking for myself: The fact that DC signs off on various things then at the last minute wanted changes that pretty much ruins what the creative team had been setting up in some cases for years. For example: Batwoman marring her girlfriend only to have DiBio state that no of the heroes will get married (straight or gay) because he thought it wouldn't be right for any of the superheroes and all of the bat characters in particular to have any happiness in their secret identities.

Ah yes the not so insane but still quite idiotic DC variation of the Marvel maneuver.

What is even more stupid is the possible mainstream press DC lost over this. Kate Kane is Bruce Wayne's cousin and Batman, as much as it pains me to say it, is one of the most (if not the most) popular superheroes on the planet the fact that his cousin is a lesbian would have been a great message for the LGBT and it would have gotten them a lot of press some negative but I believe more postitive press. I mean Northstar getting married was great, but lets be honest Northstar is a second-string hero at most the fact that he is best known as being one of the first openly gay superheroes and the mainstream press made the issue where he got married a big deal.

[Cyberstrike]

As far as them bring back the pre-Flashpoint DCU I think that would be a huge mistake, DCE bet the farm on the New 52 that it make the DCU easier to get into, and if they had thought it out better it might have worked. But everything in that version of the DCU starting at Infinite Crisis (and it's assorted lead-ins) made that version just as grimdark and unbearable as the New 52 currently is. The New 52 might be salvaged if DC gets rid DiBio, Johns, Lee, and Harras and/or stop trying to be Marvel-lite and offer a real alternative to Marvel. Dan DiBio onced said in documentary that Superman is the fireman of DCU and this might shock people but on this statement I agree with him 100%. When I wear my Superman t-shirt to me that "S" in an upside-down triangle is a symbol of hope and God almighty we need more hope in this world.

That is why I can't stand Man of Steel it's cynical and hopeless. That is not Superman. Superman inspires me to be a better person and make this world a better place. Seeing Superman and Zod level Metropolis which makes Superman IMHO at least an accessary to mass murder if a not a mass murderer himself, and that is wrong.

[Chiclo]

Hey, so I have been reading old DC (I only collect trades) and have read some of the new 52, and I am wondering what they have done to upset you, I am not challenging your dislike or anything, and not trying to defend DC, is it the change in all the characters? Specially what change. I read them all but DC was my first and you know what they say about your first.

Speaking for myself: The fact that DC signs off on various things then at the last minute wanted changes that pretty much ruins what the creative team had been setting up in some cases for years. For example: Batwoman marring her girlfriend only to have DiBio state that no of the heroes will get married (straight or gay) because he thought it wouldn't be right for any of the superheroes and all of the bat characters in particular to have any happiness in their secret identities.

Ah yes the not so insane but still quite idiotic DC variation of the Marvel maneuver.

What is even more stupid is the possible mainstream press DC lost over this. Kate Kane is Bruce Wayne's cousin and Batman, as much as it pains me to say it, is one of the most (if not the most) popular superheroes on the planet the fact that his cousin is a lesbian would have been a great message for the LGBT and it would have gotten them a lot of press some negative but I believe more postitive press. I mean Northstar getting married was great, but lets be honest Northstar is a second-string hero at most the fact that he is best known as being one of the first openly gay superheroes and the mainstream press made the issue where he got married a big deal.

Any press like that just seems to be cheap and short-lasting, from gay weddings to Archie getting shot. To me, chasing that sort of press just feels cheap.

[dornwolf]

Hey, so I have been reading old DC (I only collect trades) and have read some of the new 52, and I am wondering what they have done to upset you, I am not challenging your dislike or anything, and not trying to defend DC, is it the change in all the characters? Specially what change. I read them all but DC was my first and you know what they say about your first.

Speaking for myself: The fact that DC signs off on various things then at the last minute wanted changes that pretty much ruins what the creative team had been setting up in some cases for years. For example: Batwoman marring her girlfriend only to have DiBio state that no of the heroes will get married (straight or gay) because he thought it wouldn't be right for any of the superheroes and all of the bat characters in particular to have any happiness in their secret identities.

Ah yes the not so insane but still quite idiotic DC variation of the Marvel maneuver.

What is even more stupid is the possible mainstream press DC lost over this. Kate Kane is Bruce Wayne's cousin and Batman, as much as it pains me to say it, is one of the most (if not the most) popular superheroes on the planet the fact that his cousin is a lesbian would have been a great message for the LGBT and it would have gotten them a lot of press some negative but I believe more postitive press. I mean Northstar getting married was great, but lets be honest Northstar is a second-string hero at most the fact that he is best known as being one of the first openly gay superheroes and the mainstream press made the issue where he got married a big deal.

Any press like that just seems to be cheap and short-lasting, from gay weddings to Archie getting shot. To me, chasing that sort of press just feels cheap.

The funny thing with this is that Archie comics is now far more progressive than Marvel and DC

What is even more stupid is the possible mainstream press DC lost over this. Kate Kane is Bruce Wayne's cousin and Batman, as much as it pains me to say it, is one of the most (if not the most) popular superheroes on the planet the fact that his cousin is a lesbian would have been a great message for the LGBT and it would have gotten them a lot of press some negative but I believe more postitive press. I mean Northstar getting married was great, but lets be honest Northstar is a second-string hero at most the fact that he is best known as being one of the first openly gay superheroes and the mainstream press made the issue where he got married a big deal.

Personal favorite moment was when they sent out the press release saying they weren't against gay marriage just marriage in general. Oh and that Aquaman was never married to Mera despite the whole King and Queen thing. Such an odd thing they felt the need to point out.

[nycjadie]

Personally, I prefer the dark tones of DC now. I've noticed a gradual move in that direction since ROTDK.

[Jace]

I just try to enjoy the titles for what they are, if I enjoy the stories then great. If not I don't read them. I'll give anything Jimmy Palmiotti rights a try because his stuff is just fun, classic comic book type stories. His latest title GI Zombie is certainly not tied into the DCU proper but it is enjoyable and cool. I just hope it lasts past issue 6 because so far the numbers aren't great. The art in that book is amazing btw. I also am reading Flash and Green Lantern family. V-ditti steering both these classic characters? YES, PLEASE! I also enjoy Booth/Rapmund artwork on Flash a lot, though I know there are members here who do not care for it I certainly am an advocate of voting with your $ and there are certainly no shortage of great independent titles out right now. I am constantly singing the praises of creator owned stuff ... Think Tank, C.O.W.L., Clone, Letter 44, Rise of the Magi, Thief of Thieves, Lazarus, Skyward, East of West .... these are all GREAT books and there are more I haven;t gotten around to trying yet that I hear are so good like Saga and Chew. So there is certainly no reason to keep buying something you don't enjoy especially if it comes from the big two, who due to their parent companies and the popularity of Super-Hero movies seem to be little more than IP farms sometimes.

[BugsySig]

The New 52 helped bring me back to comics a few years back. I had been almost solely a Marvel reader over the previous five years...and most of my life for that matter...but almost every title I enjoyed was cancelled within about a year. So turning to DC, with an easy jumping on point, seemed like a good idea.

I had been a big WildStorm fan back in the day and picked up Stormwatch, Voodoo and Grifter, and jumped on OMAC due to my Kirby love and Demon Knights as well. Quite frankly they were all crap except Demon Knights, and even that grew very wearisome by the third arc.

Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and Flash will always be decent, but reading those does nothing for me as I fell like all their stories have been told again and again. I considered picking up some more of the Dark line, but then came the creative changes, and then the cancellations, and the new launches, and I dropped everything.

Now I am all VALIANT and Image. Occasionally I'll pick up a Marvel book in trade, but I don't think I'll ever return to DC.

[String]

I'll give credit to DC for one thing that they've done better than Marvel of late and that is, a diversity of genres within their line. Superheroes, war, noir, supernatural, western, space, etc, since Dido took over, they have done better in showing the breadth of the DCU.

For example, yes, they just cancelled All-Star Western but that brought to an end Palmotti and Gray's writing of Jonah Hex after more than a decade. That's a helluva an accomplishment in today's industry.

Marvel may highlight certain genres within their solo titles but there's nothing really specific (for example, you have the Dark line of magic/horror titles yet where is my Doctor Strange solo title???) It bugs me that a good portion of their titles is Avengers-related in some form or fashion.