Comments on: Countdown Tanking?

By: Joel

Joel — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 12:47:10 +0000

I’m with Sarah and Rob S. “Midnight Run” is a decent buddy comedy. Nothing deep, but at least it’s competent. Whereas “Countdown…”

By: John Seavey

John Seavey — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 16:24:59 +0000

I’ve kind of gotten the impression, admittedly without any proof, that Carlin’s antagonism in the interviews is basically venting of frustration with the project. He was, after all, stuck onto ‘Countdown’ after the project had already started, replacing an existing editor on a weekly series that had already been mapped out from start to finish by “consultant” Paul Dini. I’d have to imagine that this is somewhat like taking the wheel of the Titanic shortly after it hit the iceberg.

This doesn’t excuse some of his comments, of course, but I think he’s a very good editor being asked to defend indefensible positions to a hostile reading public, and really, there’s no way to do that gracefully.

By: Rob S.

Rob S. — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 16:18:06 +0000

True, Sarah -- Countdown *wishes* it was Midnight Run.

By: Journalista - the news weblog of The Comics Journal » Blog Archive » Nov. 26, 2007: Z-Culture wars

Mon, 26 Nov 2007 10:41:52 +0000

[...] “They’re comparing DC’s highest profile project, during an interview with the company’s Executive Editor, to a SNUFF FILM?!?! And this is from a site known for being in bed with the big superhero publishers? How badly is Countdown tanking that that kind of opening is considered good publicity, or even acceptable?” – Johanna Draper Carlson [...]

By: Anthony

Anthony — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 00:30:15 +0000

>>The kind of stories that are considered okay to publish with DC superheroes these days have sunk to such a level that I’m sure it’s an accurate description of the content, sadly. I was just amazed that that was the opening. Stop and think for a moment. They’re comparing DC’s blockbuster superhero story to watching people get killed for a turn-on?<<

Given a bunch of their stories of late seem to be basically snuff films-as-comics (see: any Joker story from the past 10-15 years or so—-I still wonder who finds him doing nothing but repeatedly and graphically killing enough people per appearance to fill Yankee Stadium for no reason besides “he’s craaaazy!” as entertaining—or that Three Stooges eye-poke Black Adam gave the Pyscho-Pirate in “Infinite Crisis), it sounds like a pretty apt description to me, unfortunately…

By: Sarah

Sarah — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 17:19:19 +0000

Hey. Midnight Run is a great little comedy. It doesn't deserve the comparison!

By: Johanna

Johanna — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 22:59:44 +0000

Oh, that is interesting — I had no idea of that history.

By: James Schee

James Schee — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 22:01:03 +0000

I think that line and Didio suddenly doing the interview/recap instead of Carlin is a sign of sort of how antagonistic many of the prior ones had been.

I don’t follow Countdown despite it having some of my favorite characters who don’t have a spotlight title currently. Because the books just reek, in terms of art and just plain direction and dialogue.

Yet I have been following the Countdown recaps and have been amazed at what seems pure disdain Carlin has for answering some questions there.

I’ve been around long enough to know that its hard to read emotion into what someone writes online. Plus had very pleasent times with Carlin back in the old AOL DC chat days.

Yet from repeatedly denying the need to have editorial boxes, which DC seems to now feel differently about. To dismissing editorial mistakes to “its just comics” its been like watching a train wreck.

Which given the state of the Countdown series and how huge a mess its been, can be understandable in part I guess.

By: Johanna

Johanna — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 21:18:14 +0000

Can’t you find another podcast subject and break the dependence? :)

By: Derek Coward

Derek Coward — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 19:41:00 +0000

On my podcast, I’ve been saying almost since the beginning that DC needed to have some sort pointers to tell readers where the scenes either started or were going to continue. There’s no way I can in all good conscience even call that thing a story. Countdown seems like a bunch of random scenes that didn’t seem to fit in anywhere else thrown into a book that DC could sell for 3 bucks a pop.

And what part of the Piper-Trickster storyline was supposed to be a deeper examination of homophobia? From the beginning it seemed like an excuse to make lame gay jokes.

The ONLY reason that I’m still buying the thing is because I do a podcast where I talk about it.