Going Nuts At DC Comics

by Armand Vaquer


DC Comics has gone nuts!

It has been reported that the comic book company is totally revamping its entire super-hero line of comic books.

According to National Post.com:

DC, the comic-book arm of Warner Bros., is rebooting its entire line of comics this fall, and is restarting all their series with a new issue No. 1.

Going forward, all new issues of DC comics will be released the same day in digital form via apps (on devices such as the iPad) and on the DC website.

The DC Universe includes characters such as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and The Green Lantern among others.

The new issues will attempt to update the heroes for the 21st century, and will notably play with their ages in several cases.

According to the Toronto Star:

DC’s revamped collection will start with “Justice League” No. 1, which will reunite the classic (albeit freshly minted) lineup of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Aquaman and Green Lantern. It will be written by DC's chief creative officer Geoff Johns and illustrated by co-publisher Jim Lee, the first time the acclaimed comic book duo have collaborated together.

I've never been a fan of Jim Lee's artwork. His 2006 Wonder Woman costume design is horrible (see picture at top). Looking at his artwork over the years gives me the impression that he flunked anatomy art classes or just skipped them altogether.

Accompanying the article is a picture of Superman with a caption stating that Superman may become younger or get a whole new costume. From the picture above by Jim Lee and Scott Williams, Superman does look younger (looks like SuperBOY) and his costume has changed. He still has his red cape, but he appears to have a collar(!) and lost his red trunks (will they show up in a new Anthony Weiner photo?). This is crazy! The costume is iconic and is embedded in American folklore. Looks like Jim Lee messed that up big time! To put it bluntly, Superman's new costume looks like crap!

All this is complicated, especially in the case of Superman. The heirs of Superman creators Jerry Siegel and Jerome Shuster have regained some ownership of the Superman character, but a recent article in Variety indicates that Superman may be legally split in two. Certain aspects may be owned by the heirs, while others would be retained by DC Comics if this comes to pass. It would be tragic if it came to this (two Supermen). Why can't DC and the heirs sit down and hammer out an agreement/partnership? This is getting weirder and weirder!

Some have speculated that these changes were made with their litigation involving the Siegel/Shuster heirs in mind.

Thank goodness I've given up reading comic books long ago. But these changes seem unnecessary and radical.

A thumb's down from here!

Superman's Patriotic Imagery

by Armand Vaquer


Superman's association with the U.S. flag and patriotism dates back to his beginnings in the late 1930s and 1940s.

In the 1940s, Superman was depicted in comic book covers as a morale booster for U.S. troops fighting in the European and Pacific theaters of World War II.


This association continued in the 1950s with the opening of the Adventures of Superman television show. The show's opening depicts a resolute Superman (George Reeves) standing in front of the American flag.

In 1953, Adventures of Superman's producers made a special episode, "Stamp Day For Superman" that was donated to the Department of The Treasury. In this episode, not shown on television, Superman tells elementary school children of the virtues of buying Savings Stamps to help their country.

The photo below from "Stamp Day For Superman" shows Superman with the U.S. flag and the word "citizenship" in the background. Would this Superman renounce his U.S. citizenship? Not likely!





Christopher Reeve's Superman also continued with this association. In Superman 2, the Man of Steel returns the White House's flag and pole to the Executive Mansion's roof after defeating three Kryptonian Phantom Zone criminals.



The comic books of the Modern Age also depicted Superman as an American patriot. The comic book cover at right of Superman unabashedly patriotic was produced after DC Comics re-booted the Superman character (along with other super-heroes in their stable) in the late 1980s. And the one below left is a more recent cover.












These images only scratch the surface. There are many more such depictions of Superman's patriotism. With all this ingrained imagery over the years, it is small wonder why the reports of Superman renouncing his U.S. citizenship in Action Comics #900 has some people upset. That's why it is tricky business to tamper with an iconic character.



One final point.

One of Superman's abilities is a super-intellect. Granted, even one with a superior intellect could get frustrated over some government policies. Rather than get angry and renounce his citizenship, he would shrug it off and logically figure that administrations come and go and policies change with each administrative change. He would also use his influence to get the ones he disagrees with changed. A person with his super-intellect would not act rashly and renounce his citizenship. It comes off as some politically correct internationalist bullplop. I wonder if DC's writers even considered this.

The storyline just rings hollow.

Adrianne Palicki Is The New Wonder Woman

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Source: WENN

The young and rather obscure actress Adrianne Palicki has managed to do something that many actresses with bigger names and touted careers could not, land the coveted role of "Wonder Woman".

Palicki (Friday Night Lights / Legion) will now be stepping into Lynda Carter's shoes and taking on a role that the actress made into a pop-culture icon in the late 1970s. The part, however, will not be for a major motion picture, which had been rumored for some time, but for a TV movie that will serve as a pilot for a television series.

Warner Bros had been trying to get a big-budget "Wonder Woman" movie off the ground for several years but could never seem to be able to assemble the right creative team to make it work. Not, that the studio didn't have actresses lined up around the block jonesing for the part. Just about every femme fatal in Hollywood that remotely looked the part had their agents blazing up the Warner's switchboard. The list of Diana Prince wanna-bees included Jennifer Love Hewitt, Anna Friel, Jessica Biel, Katie Holmes, Megan Fox, Eliza Dushku and singer Beyonce Knowles.

Who did Lynda Carter endorse to replace her? Eliza Dushku, but the choice wasn't Carter's to make. Now the young Adrianne Palicki will have her shot and resurrecting an iconic role a task that should prove rather difficult. Carter is so recognized as "Wonder Woman" that even DC comics has endeavored to make their artwork resemble her.

See Also: Wonder Woman - Wonder Woman #600 Statue / Wonder Woman - Lynda Carter - Bust / Wonder Woman's New Look and Direction / Jennifer Love Hewitt Wants WONDER WOMAN / Anna Friel Has Her Eyes On Wonder Woman / Wonder Woman Cover Girls Of The DC Universe Statue / Wonder Woman (1976 - 1979)(ABC / CBS) / Darna - Whatever You Do Don't Call Her Wonder Woman / Wonder Woman 1:4 Scale Museum Statue / DC Universe Amazon Warrior Wonder Woman Action Figure / Pusan International Film Festival Focuses On Asian Super Heroes / Actress Profile - Linda Harrison / Wonder Woman Photo Gallery

New Photos From GREEN LANTERN

Source: Warner Bros

GREEN LANTERN
In 3D and 2D in select theaters on June 17

(Warner Bros. Pictures)

Director: Martin Campbell
Writers: Greg Berlanti & Michael Green & Marc Guggenheim and Michael Goldenberg
Story by Greg Berlanti & Michael Green & Marc Guggenheim
Based upon characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics
Producers: Donald De Line, Greg Berlanti
Executive Producers: Herbert W. Gains, Andrew Haas

Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard, Mark Strong, Angela Bassett, Tim Robbins, Temuera Morrison, Jay O. Sanders, Taika Waititi, Jon Tenney

Action Adventure. In a universe as vast as it is mysterious, a small but powerful force has existed for centuries. Protectors of peace and justice, they are called the Green Lantern Corps. A brotherhood of warriors sworn to keep intergalactic order, each Green Lantern wears a ring that grants him superpowers. But when a new enemy called Parallax threatens to destroy the balance of power in the Universe, their fate and the fate of Earth lie in the hands of their newest recruit, the first human ever selected: Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds). Hal is a gifted and cocky test pilot, but the Green Lanterns have little respect for humans, who have never harnessed the infinite powers of the ring before. But Hal is clearly the missing piece to the puzzle, and along with his determination and willpower, he has one thing no member of the Corps has ever had: humanity. With the encouragement of fellow pilot and childhood sweetheart Carol Ferris (Blake Lively), if Hal can quickly master his new powers and find the courage to overcome his fears, he may prove to be not only the key to defeating Parallax...he will become the greatest Green Lantern of all.

www.greenlantern.com