With DC Comics’ mega-relaunch just around the corner, I thought I’d weigh in on the changes we can all expect to see. For those who’ve yet to hear the big news, DC plans to reboot its entire run of comics starting in September. Every issue, including stalwarts like Action and Detective Comics will revert back to No. 1.
I’ve mentioned it a few times in my reviews of Flashpoint. Ironically, while Flashpoint has yet to wow me, the scheduled relaunch is pretty intriguing. A great many of DC’s longtime readers have decried the idea, falling back on the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” argument. (Of course, a great many of those fans have also bemoaned DC’s current direction for many years.)
I’ll stick with Superman’s upgrade in this article. Why? Because he’s DC’s flagship title. Batman may be king at the box office, but the Man of Steel has always been DC’s premiere hero. Plus, I’m a big fan, anyway.
How big a fan is Matt?
Exact details are a bit sketchy, but at this point it looks like we’ve got two separate renditions of the character.
First, there’s Grant Morrison’s take in Action Comics, due out the first week in September. Gone is the classic (and much ridiculed) “underwear on the outside.” Now, the Metropolis Marvel sports a simple pair of blue jeans, a T-shirt, and a mini-cape that kind of looks like a handkerchief. This version represents the hero’s early years, a time when he was very much a crusader for the oppressed. Morrison has promised this Superman will be much like he was in his earliest portrayals by Jerry Siegel and John Schuster, with a little bit of (and I’m not making this up” Bruce Springsteen thrown in.
Superman as Bruce Springsteen???
Then, there’s George Perez’s take in Superman No. 1, one of the last relaunch titles of the month. This costume, which represents the current era, reveals a costume with very little changes. In fact, the old “underwear on the outside” look is the only thing changed, in favor of all blue tights and a slightly odd-looking belt.
No more undies on the outside!
So what’s my take? Well, it’s a little early to tell. All the talk has been about Morrison’s version, most likely because it’s the most different. His is a hero that operates on the street level, fighting for the everyday man rather than intergalactic space monsters. I’m very, very interested to see what stories he has to tell.
After all, Morrison can be kind of a mixed bag. His worked on All-Star Superman was nothing short of spectacular, quite literally one of the finest collections of Superman stories in years. However, his contributions to Batman and the headache-inducing Final Crisis were, to put it delicately…not so good.
Meanwhile, there’s been much less talk about Perez and his upcoming stories. So, yea, sure, my excitement is mostly reserved for Action Comics right now. That could change, though.
The New 52 (I only see 7 tho...)
This isn’t the first time DC rebooted their titles. The closest thing to such a hard reboot took place almost 30 years ago with Crisis on Infinite Earths. In those days, many longtime fans weren’t too happy with John Byrne’s new take on Kal-El of Krypton. A lot of them hated the idea that Superboy no longer existed, that Clark Kent would eventually marry Lois Lane.
Well guys, now it’s out turn.
It’s the nature of the industry. There’s little point in complaining. In fact, it’s a necessary component if they hope to bring in new readers, and they do. I’ll miss the current, classic look of Superman, but I’m not dreading the new look either. It should be interesting, as should the new stories and takes on the character.
The real question is whether or not DC sticks to their guns rather than revert back to the status quo…