DC Comics and the September relaunch of 52 new #1 comics has been all over the news these last couple weeks. We've seen the images of heroes getting updates and new looks to their costume. We know what creative team will be working on the books and have a tiny idea what the first issues will be about.
What we don't know a lot about is the villains.
Some heroes are only getting a costume change while retaining their current history. Other characters sound as if they are getting a completely new origin. Jim Lee has been busy redesigning the costumes of many iconic heroes but we've only seen a couple villains in the September books. Are we going to see the familiar villains returning as they were or will be have a bunch of new bad guys running around?
== TEASER ==
A safe assumption is most of the existing villains will return. It wouldn't make sense to throw away existing villains and their backstories with the heroes. There's also the years of history these villains already have. DC has made it clear that this isn't a reboot. From some of the solicits for issue #1, we know existing events will carry over. But if some heroes are getting new looks or tweaks, why shouldn't the villains get them as well?
A couple of the villains that we've seen so far are Deathstroke and Harley Quinn. Deathstroke doesn't look too different than what we're used to. His costume appears to have some changes but nothing as dramatic as Harley Quinn. She will have a look slightly closer to her Arkham Asylum/Arkham City video game look. Whatever the reason for this look, we deserve an explanation. Her costume doesn't seem to be too practical, especially if she's going on crazy missions as part of the Suicide Squad.
Just as the heroes have iconic looks, so do the villains. It would be unfortunate for some of those classic looks to be severely altered but we would all agree there are a few that could be improved with a Jim Lee makeover. It only makes sense that the villains should get updates as well. Granted, the updates that are being done are in order to make the heroes fresh and exciting for new readers. Villains are a selling point for comics but won't be the main reason someone buys an issue.
All of the focus has been on the heroes. They are the stars of the books. There is a chance that all the energy in updating has been placed solely on the heroes/stars of the comics. DC has to have given the villains consideration as well. If this is the moment to make some changes or tweaks, they better take advantage of it and make any adjustments to the villains they see deserving or in need on them.
Besides a possible new costume, should we see changes in the villains actual histories? If you look at the solicits for Supergirl #1 or Superboy #1, changes have been made. Change is good sometimes but there will be that sense of dread in things going horribly wrong. We won't know what might happen to our favorite villains until we see them in September. I am just as fearful as the next DC fan but I will hope for the best. This isn't a decision made at the last minute. Everything has been considered. This will be our chance to see some of our favorite characters again for the first time. I am looking forward to September and can't wait to see what changes the villains will go through.
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