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Six DC Titles Canceled, Major Shift In Creative Teams

Bob Harras and Bobbie Chase discuss the latest changes being made at DC Comics.

In a recent interview DC's Senior Vice President Bob Harras and Editorial Director Bobbie Chase revealed that five DC Comics titles are being canceled and that there will be major changes made to the creative teams. Based on the information released earlier, SAVAGE HAWKMAN, TEAM 7, FURY OF THE FIRESTORM, DEATHSTROKE, RAVAGERS, and SWORD OF SORCERY are all being canceled.

BATWING cover by Ken Lashley
BATWING cover by Ken Lashley

Some of these titles were launched relatively recently following the previous round of cancelations by DC, so the question remains, did the publisher really give these series a chance to blossom and thrive, or were they eliminated prematurely?

According to Chase and Harras, although SAVAGE HAWKMAN and DEATHSTROKE are two titles that are being canceled, we will continue to see these characters in the DC Universe in the future. For example, Hawkman will appear in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA.

Cancelations are not where it ends, however. The heads of DC revealed that there would be major shifts made to creative teams, as well. Many creators who are seeing their titles come to an end (Christy Marx and SWORD OF SORCERY, for example) will be moving on to other titles.

According to the interview writer Michael Alan Nelson will be taking over SUPERGIRL from Mike Johnson. Writer Tom DeFalco is being replaced by Justin Jordan (DEATHSTROKE), and Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray are both moving to BATWING. Additionally, Sterling Gates (SUPERGIRL) will be taking over THE JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA'S VIBE for writer Andrew Kreisberg starting with issue #4.

DC is also rolling out "WTF Certified" where the publisher will push things to the limit. You can see the first "WTF Certified" moment this April.

What do you think of the news? Were you reading any of the series that have been canceled? Are you looking forward to seeing the changes made to any of these creative teams?

Source: CBR

280 Comments

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Miss_Garrick

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Edited By Miss_Garrick

No more Amethyst?!? WHAAAHHH!!!

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impossibilly

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Edited By impossibilly

Red Lanterns is like the Nickelback of comics. It's critically reviled, few will admit to being a fan, yet it sells very well.

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Red_Robin212

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Edited By Red_Robin212

Well DC needs to make the room for more Batman titles *Sarcasm*

Dammit Deathstroke was getting good again, And I'll echo the "Team 7 just started" statements and it's pretty damn good so far.

If these Cancellation give us either of these

  • Booster Gold
  • Cyborg
  • Captain Marvel/Shazam
  • Martian Manhunter

Then I'm cool

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Zereta

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Edited By Zereta

With The Green Team and The Movement announced, this means there's room for 4 more titles right? Lets see what's next. 1. Scott Snyder's Superman 2. Whatever new Justice League International book with Red Tornado and Nightwing 3. The new Young Justice book with Raven in it that Scott Lobdell's been teasing. It's mentioned in the CBR interview as well. So... What's the fourth book?

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SuperSlayin

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Edited By SuperSlayin

Can someone tell me why there's a picture of Batwing here?

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Impala

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Edited By Impala

@Zereta: First we don't know if The Green Team and The Movement are ongoing or mini series. If they are ongoing than there are total 8 axed with I,Vampire and DC Universe Presents so there is room for 6 more not 4.

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wdchefdave

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Edited By wdchefdave

Hawkman is like a bar of soap!

You get a hold of him... and he slips out of your hands!

Way back in the '60s, with Joe Kubert drawing him... somehow Hawkman always got cancelled.

I do not understand the whole Deathstroke thing...

Aquaman, Atom, and Firestorm are ALWAYS doomed.

I think Nova and Firestorm came out at about the same time.

And, both have had just about as many re-starts!

So, I shouldn't complain... because I have not bought ANY D.C. comics in years.

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bladewolf

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Edited By bladewolf

I'm sad to hear about Sword of Sorcery, but glad that Demon Knights is still around. I'm seriously surprised Firestorm last this long...the sales have been garbage for months. I also always assumed Team 7 was going to be a limited series, so that doesn't surprise me much either. Real shame about Deathstroke: I just started reading when Jordan came on, and the issues were pretty good. I think Liefeld's taint is sadly what killed the series (likewise for Hawkman, I'm guessing, but haven't read it myself).

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Jonny_Anonymous

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Edited By Jonny_Anonymous

@Billy Batson said:

@Jonny_Anonymous said:

I'm done with trying to read new DC books, no matter how good they are nobody gives them a chance, not even DC so what the hell's the point?

Well with that kind of mentality we wouldn't be getting any diversity.
BB

It's a losing battle anyway, any books at DC that are different have already ether been cancelled or had a "radical new direction" that results in it being turned in to a generic super hero book, I'm not expecting All Star Western or Dial H to last much longer ether, it's the same for Marvel as well. The only hope for these types of books is with Vertigo/Image/IDW/Dynamite/Dark Horse.

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MonkeyToe

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Edited By MonkeyToe

All of these titles are ones that I have already stopped reading anyway, so this news comes as no real shock or effect to me. I am a little disappointed about Deathstroke as I have been enjoying the new creative team.

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sgcomicguy

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Edited By sgcomicguy

Thoughts on titles:|

SAVAGE HAWKMAN- I am a big fan of Tony S. Daniel, so it sucks to see his work getting shut down after 1-8... but then I was surprised Hawkman lasted this long after he left (I don't find Hawkman interesting enough to carry his own series)

TEAM 7- well, that was quick

FURY OF THE FIRESTORM- Can't say I followed ($) this but it always look interest esspecially with TT and JLI crossovers/cameos. now I kinda rege tit.

DEATHSTROKE- Jeez Jordan really got shut down right when he had total control over the character- not having to be contradicted by others [Deathstroke#0 vs Team7#0] :( (also just started writing T7). But now he's got Supergirl, I just hope it's the right fit.

RAVAGERS- good! It relied way to heavily on Teen Titans, both for its initial introduction and the subsequent cameos. I enjoyed some of the characters but overall it just felt like West Coast Titans. If I wanted that I would just read TT. But then I havn't like them since the Culling story arc...

SWORD OF SORCERY- It was nice seeing another female character get a lead, but honestly I had no idea who she was they just picked a character out of the blue. I'm surprised he canned to so soon though, but I don't know what the sales were.

* side note every thing remotely involving Deathstroke has been removed- his single title, his team title, his daughter's team title, and his crossover with Hawkman- ALL GONE :O

coincidence?

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inferiorego

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Edited By inferiorego  Staff

@cagedleo730 said:

@inferiorego said:

If only Kyle Higgins was allowed to stay on Deathstroke....

It would be selling just the same. By the time issue 8 came out Deathstroke was selling about 18k copies.

But wouldn't have dropped it, and I tend to buy 30k copies of every book I read.

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DonFelipe

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Edited By DonFelipe
@Impala said:

@Zereta: First we don't know if The Green Team and The Movement are ongoing or mini series. If they are ongoing than there are total 8 axed with I,Vampire and DC Universe Presents so there is room for 6 more not 4.

According to this article, it seems these 2 titles will be part of The New 52 though I can't quite figure out how they could possibly fir into The New 52 and the DC Universe. In fact, I'm positively surprised these 2 are DC and not lets say Image titles. This is going to be interesting no matter mini, ongoing, New 52 or not.
No Caption Provided
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Bushwhacker_

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Edited By Bushwhacker_

Kinda bummed ta see Hawkman and Deathstroke being cancelled. As long as All-Star Western ain't, I'm good.

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Zeeguy91

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Edited By Zeeguy91

@wdchefdave said:

Aquaman, Atom, and Firestorm are ALWAYS doomed.

The current Aquaman title is actually really successful.

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Bison4Life

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Edited By Bison4Life

I'm surprised Firestorm lasted this long.

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chrisburgess99

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Edited By chrisburgess99

I was collecting 4 of those titles. Savage Hawkman, Team 7, Fury of Firestorm and Sword of Sorcery. I was amazed Hawkman and Firestorm lasted this long. I enjoyed Team7 and Sword of Sorcery, although they never got much development. I hope Amythyst joins Justice League Dark. My titles were close to 24 titles. Once you add Frankenstein and I Vampire cancelling my titles are shrinking. I hope they just don't hand out titles to individual characters. I have no idea how Batwing and teen Titans have survived this long..Teen Titans is my least favorite title that I collect.

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DEGRAAF

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Edited By DEGRAAF

I feel some werent given a fair chance. I think if Ravagers were thrown more into the DCU then they would have survived but since their creation they have done almost nothing.

Team 7, while i thought would eventually get cancelled i didnt think it would be that quick although it seem like a hard thing to keep a on going comic based in the past interesting if it doesnt have any real affect on the present.

I liked the idea of a Deathstroke comic but we knew from the beginning it would be hard considering most villains rarely win. I think it should be more like DC Presents and switches main character for every story arc (they could always stick with a villain longer if the sales are good) but only focus on the villains of the DCU. They could even use the story arcs for the villains as a way to set up larger events in the DCU

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wowylied

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Edited By wowylied

"Ravager, firestorm, team7 cancelled" made my day, really. It is sad for sword of sorcery who was good but those 3 were really bad and still can't believe firestorms lasted longer than omac or frankenstein...

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ShadowSwordmaster

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I liked Team 7 , sad to see it go

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Marco_Kidd

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Edited By Marco_Kidd

@Outside_85: Why not it's a fun gimmick, i'm exited too see what happens

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TheHulk

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Edited By TheHulk

Hulk don't know why it so hard for DC to make up their minds on what comics they want to make. Hulk think they running out of ideas.

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blackkitty

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Edited By blackkitty

Pity, I was enjoying Sword of Sorcery, but its sales have always been low so, can't say I'm surprised. Deathstroke and Hawkman, only question is what took so long and... why not wait till after Justice League America to see if that helps drive up sales of Hawkman? I hope I see Marx on another book, she's a great writer. Love to see her take over Catwoman perhaps.

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Jonny_Anonymous

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Edited By Jonny_Anonymous

@blackkitty: Not to mention Deathstroke JUST got a new writer

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Lvenger

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Edited By Lvenger

Most of these cancellations I'm not surprised by but Sword of Sorcery and Team 7? A tad sooner than I was expecting to be honest.

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Bushwhacker_

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Edited By Bushwhacker_

Make way from some Lobo.

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jwalser3

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Edited By jwalser3

All these titles(Besides SoS) I loved! How will I see Slade if Deathstoke AND team 7 are being canceled?

@Dark_Guyver said:

I wonder where Deathstroke will be ending up. Hopefully in the pages of Noghtwing.

This ruined my day.

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yo_yo_fun

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Edited By yo_yo_fun

The only book I'm reading from the list of titles that are being canceled is Sword of Sorcery. It was a great fantasy book so I'm really sad to see it go:/

I feel that title is being canceled prematurely.

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tgoldberg

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Edited By tgoldberg

See this, guys? This is why I don't read ongoing comics from the big two (well, there's also the prices, but still). Back issues FTW!

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doomsilver

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Edited By doomsilver

They were showing Rose wilson dieing(did I spell that right?) on a teaser. What happned?

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mrtrickster

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Edited By mrtrickster

almost all of these titles are shitty, team 7 is probably the only half way decent book

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rav4

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Edited By rav4

@doomsilver said:

They were showing Rose wilson dieing(did I spell that right?) on a teaser. What happned?

What? What is this? Where was this? What teaser? When did this happen?

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CrimsonAlchemist

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Edited By CrimsonAlchemist

@RedheadedAtrocitus: I'm surprised RL isn't on the list so happy camper they weren't canceled just yet.

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cagedleo730

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Edited By cagedleo730

@TheHulk said:

Hulk don't know why it so hard for DC to make up their minds on what comics they want to make. Hulk think they running out of ideas.

If you're running out of ideas shouldn't it be easier to make up your mind? DC has ideas. They just don't know how to prioritize and advertise their ideas.

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CrimsonAlchemist

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Edited By CrimsonAlchemist

It's a shame they're canceling Deathstroke wish I would of kept up with it alot more.

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rav4

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Edited By rav4

@Ravager4 said:

@doomsilver said:

They were showing Rose wilson dieing(did I spell that right?) on a teaser. What happned?

What? What is this? Where was this? What teaser? When did this happen?

Oh, wait a second *breathes sigh of relief* you're talking about the preview to The Ravagers #9, aren't you? Where Rose is "dying" from being infected with radiation... well, obviously she will survive, but damn it, you nearly gave me a heart attack.

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Sekele

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Edited By Sekele

Sword of Sorcery will be missed

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Serberus08

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Edited By Serberus08

@Zeeguy91: @Zeeguy91 said:

All I'm saying is that Jordan better be given another book and Deathstroke better still be around. Maybe they could give Suicide Squad over to Justin.

That would be worth some thought, I'd start reading it if that were the case.

@CircularLogic: I agree, after Leifeld ran the old creative Pineapple through Deathstroke and Heawkman there was really only a matter of time before people just forgot about said titles. A shame though, I was following those two as well.

And for further verification, when is the cancellation? Effective immediately?

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rav4

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Edited By rav4

@Serberus08 said:

@Zeeguy91: @Zeeguy91 said:

All I'm saying is that Jordan better be given another book and Deathstroke better still be around. Maybe they could give Suicide Squad over to Justin.

That would be worth some thought, I'd start reading it if that were the case.

Jordan is being moved to Superboy, I believe.

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Mannequin

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Edited By Mannequin

I just kicked out money to catch up on Ravagers because I wanted my Beast Boy fix and now there cancelling the title. I think it's way too early for DC to have even considered cancelling the title as it was still fresh, sure there wasn't anything magnificent about the title, but given a new creative team it could've gone somewhere. I think what killed the book had to be the fact that they weren't functioning as a team for quite a few issues and it just didn't feel like there was a need for them. Oh well, DC your breaking my heart.

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LordRequiem

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Edited By LordRequiem

I bet they replace it with something silly. Shazam needs his own title.

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wmwadeii

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Edited By wmwadeii

Thought Team 7 was only supposed to be temporary anyways. I have noticed most of the titles that get canned relate more with the Wildstorm Universe. I think DC is trying to hold these books to the same sales figures as Superman and Batman when they are more demographic specific. I also dont think the creative teams are keeping the same vibe that made these characters and comics popular in the 90s.

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TheSmallvillefan12

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Not Deathstroke

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CrimsonAlchemist

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Edited By CrimsonAlchemist

@crevicekid:Me 2 I've got like practically every issue that's been released really surprising it hasn't got the axe yet.

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SuperSlayin

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Edited By SuperSlayin

@wdchefdave said:

Hawkman is like a bar of soap!

You get a hold of him... and he slips out of your hands!

Way back in the '60s, with Joe Kubert drawing him... somehow Hawkman always got cancelled.

I do not understand the whole Deathstroke thing...

Aquaman, Atom, and Firestorm are ALWAYS doomed.

I think Nova and Firestorm came out at about the same time.

And, both have had just about as many re-starts!

So, I shouldn't complain... because I have not bought ANY D.C. comics in years.

True. You should not complain

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SuperSlayin

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Edited By SuperSlayin

@Red_Robin212: I'm so with you. Except for the Shazam thing. But I think I heard what was going to replace them and none of those were mentioned. At least Cyborg and Martian Manhunter are in team series.

Maybe Booster Gold is too, I'm not sure

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Comiclove5

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Edited By Comiclove5

Please, Please DC, give us a Red Robin book.

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Grey56

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Edited By Grey56

@Rixec: Ah, I had thought that's what the Previews said. Sort of surprised me that I was getting the news there as opposed to another source. But fair enough.

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wallywest55

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Edited By wallywest55

these comics should of been cancelled a long while ago to be honest. Well Deathstroke was alright but it did seem like a lot of random killing with no real plot. Seems like Geoff johns needs to write everything in the new 52 to make it a 5 star comic series.

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bloggerboy

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Edited By bloggerboy

Oh man, I'm so happy Demon Knights hasn't been cancelled yet. I bought the trade of vol. 1 as soon as it was possible. Now I'm thinking I should get a hardcover of vol. 2 when that's out.