Comments on: DC First-Issue Catchup: Creeper, Shazam, Deadman, Martian Manhunter

By: George

George — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 19:07:40 +0000

Just about any time the current crop of creators like Winnick proclaim their longstanding affection for a property they’re about to write/are currently writing, I run and hide. There’s been such a spate of these creators missing the essential core qualities of concepts all the while trumpeting their fan-status for them that it makes me even more cynical than ever. Winnick’s worst work in the medium has been his super-hero stuff, too. I really wish he’d stick to things like Barry Ween, Frumpy, autobiographical storytelling, and even projects like Bite Club.

Plus, yeah: they screwed with Mary. When’s enough enough, eh?

By: Rob Staeger

Rob Staeger — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 22:12:48 +0000

Wasn't Michael Moorcock supposed to be involved in some way with reimagining magic in the DCU? I coudl swear I've heard that, but I haven't seen his name on anything. As for Winnick, I've read interviews where he's said that Captain Marvel is his favorite DC property; he's a really big fan of the whole Marvel family. It makes me want to read his take, but the BNW preview and issue 1 left me much less interested than his enthusiasm would lead me to believe. I really wish he'd do more Barry Ween, though. Those were gems.

By: Johanna

Johanna — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 21:22:27 +0000

Bill, good comparison — I thought of that as well. I was also reminded of the recent Comics Journal interview with Bill Willingham, where he said he was supposed to fix something similar in whichever IC-tie-in miniseries he wrote, but he didn’t really have anything figured out.

By: Bill D.

Bill D. — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 20:54:51 +0000

Only widespread continuity “fixes” like that never work, because they’re promptly ignored or misused by other writers.

That reminds me of the post-COIE Rip Hunter revival series, Time Masters, and its incredibly convoluted rewriting of the rules of time travel in the DCU. Outside of that series, I don’t think those rules were ever mentioned again.

By: Jer

Jer — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 20:29:56 +0000

Where’s the youthful optimism and fun that should be inherent in the idea of a kid becoming the World’s Mightiest Mortal with a magic word?

I realized that this wasn’t going to be the Shazam book for me when I read the interview at Newsarama with Winick and Didio. There was some discussion about what makes Captain Marvel unique, and their answer was “He’s just like Superman, only he’s magic.”

Once I read that, I knew I could pass. If you don’t grasp that Captain Marvel is unique because he’s a kid with a magic word that makes him a superhero, I know I’m not going to like your take.

I read the preview in the Brave New World book and flipped through the first issue. Seeing Mary hospitalized after falling to nearly her death assured me that my prejudice on this book was probably right and I could save my $3 for something else.

(I’m still waiting for that Jeff Smith Captain Marvel graphic novel – I really hope its still coming out at some point…)

By: Johanna

Johanna — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 16:35:57 +0000

I’ve got that first volume on my stack — I’m looking forward to it now.

By: Rob Staeger

Rob Staeger — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 16:10:52 +0000

I haven't tried many of these books beyond the Brave New World preview, but I'm really looking forward to the Mad Monk trade when it comes out; I just finished Batman and the Monster Men and it was excellent. The patience of tradewaiting is rewarded.