As you can probably guess by the title and content of this blog, I’m a big fan of DC characters and comic books – and not just the ones set in the DC Universe, but also the stuff published through Vertigo, WildStorm, and America’s Best Comics. Sure, as a company, DC has done plenty of things that are tough to stomach, from the terrible way they treated Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster to the not-terrible-enough way they treated Eddie Berganza… Still, I try to keep a (generally) positive attitude at Gotham Calling and to focus more on the works themselves than on the industry behind them (as much as that distinction makes any sense when talking about a creative field).
That said, DC sometimes makes it damn hard to endorse their output, even if you try to disconnect it from the real world. As if things weren’t bad enough in the cinematic branch, the comic book editors have proven to be increasingly willing to dilute the silver in the catalog at the expense of ruining their greatest assets. In particular, the whole Geoff-Johns-takes-a-shot-at-everything-Alan-Moore-has-created-for-DC motif keeps reaching new extremes! They also recently brought ABC’s Tom Strong and Promethea into the DCU… To be fair, this could be handled in a way that, if not necessarily respectful, is at least interesting and entertaining – however, against the toxic background of the current Watchmen sequel, those moves cannot avoid a distinctive whiff of desperation, if not outright spite.
It’s a shame, really, because spin-offs, crossovers, and cameos *can* be fun. We certainly didn’t need a second John Wick or a sequel to Blade Runner or a Han Solo origin tale, but – for all their flaws – those turned out to be pretty rewarding movies. Going back to comics, I used to love it when The Sandman’s cast occasionally popped up in The Spectre or in JLA or even in Johns’ JSA! And Tom Strong, at least, has starred in a handful of good stories without the direct involvement of the original creative team. Alas, I just don’t trust DC anymore.
Anyway, it’s not the end of the world. Fortunately, there are several other works to enjoy out there. In fact, here is your monthly reminder that comics can be awesome:
