Jordanstine

This user has not updated recently.

943 0 13 50
Forum Posts Wiki Points Following Followers

DC Relaunch: Post-Flashpoint = Just another PARTIAL Reboot (sigh)

We have 2 conflicting and contradictory stories from DC Vice President of Sales - Bob Wayne.
 
Is it a reboot or not?
 
Bob Wayne on May 31st:

Quote:

To our comics retail partners,

In the time I've worked at DC Comics, I've witnessed any number of industry defining moments. But today, I bring you what is perhaps the biggest news to date.

Many of you have heard rumors that DC Comics has been working on a big publishing initiative for later this year.

This is indeed an historic time for us as, come this September, we are relaunching the entire DC Universe line of comic books with all new first issues. 52 of them to be exact.

In addition, the new #1s will introduce readers to a more modern, diverse DC Universe, with some character variations in appearance, origin, and age. All stories will be grounded in each character's legend - but will relate to real world situations, interactions, tragedy and triumph.


This epic event will kick off on Wednesday, August 31st with the debut of a brand new JUSTICE LEAGUE #1, which pairs Geoff Johns and Jim Lee, together for the first time. (Yes, this is the same week as FLASHPOINT #5.)

We think our current fans will be excited by this evolution, and that it will make jumping into the story extremely accessible to first-time readers - giving them a chance to discover DC's characters and stories.

We are positioning ourselves to tell the most innovative stories with our characters to allow fans to see them from a new angle. We have taken great care in maintaining continuity where it's most important, but fans will see a new approach to our storytelling.

Some of the characters will have new origins, while others will undergo minor changes. Our characters are always being updated; however, this is the first time all of our characters will be presented in a new way all at once.

Dan DiDio, Bob Harras and Eddie Berganza have been working diligently to pull together some of the best creative teams in the industry. Over 50 new costumes will debut in September, many updated and designed by artist Jim Lee, ensuring that the updated images appeal to the current generation of readers.
Bob Wayne 3 days later on June 2nd:

Quote:
As a follow-up to my first letter, we wanted to provide some immediate specifics on September:

CONTENT

We know that you want more details on the creative teams and their title-by-title assignments for the launch. (And by the way, let me just reiterate this point: this is the launch of the New DCU. It is not a “reboot.” I think you will soon discover why that is.)
----

A) "We are relaunching the entire DC Universe line of comic books with all new first issues."

He didn't say "we are relaunching a NEW DC Universe line of comic books". He clearly said "entire" as in the one that currently exists now in the DC Universe.

B) "We think our current fans will be excited by this evolution, and that it will make jumping into the story extremely accessible to first-time readers."

New things do not evolve. Things that have been around for a while are the ones that do evolve.

C) "Some of the characters will have new origins, while others will undergo minor changes."

Hmm, so some characters are going to be "rebooted" while others are just going to be "retconned".

D) "We have taken great care in maintaining continuity where it's most important."

So those characters who's continuity is not that important would be rebooted / retconned.

E) "Some of the characters will have new origins, while others will undergo minor changes. Our characters are always being updated; however, this is the first time all of our characters will be presented in a new way all at once."

Sounds like the same old partial reboot we've seen for the last 3 decades. Cough-cough-Final-Identity-Crisis-of-Infinite-Earths-Zero-Hour-Birthright-Secret-Origins-cough-cough.

F) (3 days later) "...And by the way, let me just reiterate this point: this is the launch of the New DC Universe. It is not a 'reboot'."

Definition of Reboot in fiction: "to change continuity; to relaunch existing continuity and replace it with a new canon (previously established continuity)".

Very contradictory statement from Bob Wayne. So what's his definition of a "reboot" then? Does new origins and new ages mean what exactly? Does he even consider Crisis of Infinite Earths, Final Crisis, Identity Crisis, Zero Hour, etc. reboots or not? Because by definition they are all partial reboots.

Post-Flashpoint basically becoming another Post-Crisis reboot.
 
----
 
Even the writers were told it was a reboot. Not just a reboot, but a full reboot. 
 
J. Straczynski on his conversation with Dan DiDio:

Quote:
"When Dan DiDio comes out to the West Coast, we tend to get a bite for dinner to discuss projects, ideas, books and just hang. Dan is a great guy and an energetic speaker, chockful of ideas and aspirations for DC. As part of that, he shared repeatedly on and off for really more than a year his dream of rebooting the DCU and starting over."

"So I felt confident that it was coming soon (which is one reason why I felt there wouldn’t be a problem in the long run leaving the monthly books, since most of the things done in Superman and Wonder Woman would be erased by the reboot anyway, so ultimately it didn’t matter whether I stayed or left."
Is it a reboot or not?
 
Is a duck... not a duck?
 
Coz from DC's two different points of view: it's not a duck... yet it walks, talks, feels, and tastes like a duck. 
 
Ladies and gentlemen, say hello to 2011's Crisis of Infinite Earths:
 
3 Comments