Gail: Up and Atom!

[NickThompson]

("Up and at them!" :) )

http://www.newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=60372

[The Beast Of Yucca Flats]

Gail doing Atom? Kick-ass!

Lieberman doing J'onn J'onnz? Eeeeeew.

[Weetomuncher]

Sounds like it might be a decent little book for Gail to work on but Gail sadly hasn't been given another A lister yet after the disgraceful way she was dumped from Action Comics.

Gail's Action stories were the best of the bunch that were going out and it was crazy to remove her from the book. I don't like John Byrne's dated style that much but Gail was absolutely spot on.

If that woman doesn't get Wonder Woman soon I'm going to hold my breath until...

I EXPLODE!

[Tobey Cook]

Well if anyone's read Firestorm #22, the hint for who the new Atom is shows up there.

I won't say anymore :)

[Karl J. Barnes]

Sounds like it might be a decent little book for Gail to work on but Gail sadly hasn't been given another A lister yet after the disgraceful way she was dumped from Action Comics.

Gail's Action stories were the best of the bunch that were going out and it was crazy to remove her from the book. I don't like John Byrne's dated style that much but Gail was absolutely spot on.

If that woman doesn't get Wonder Woman soon I'm going to hold my breath until...

I EXPLODE!

Definitely could see and want to read Gail writing Wonder Woman.

[TCJohnson]

I am so disgusted with the DC and them taking a shit on established characters to create new ones.

At OYL I am going to be down to three non-vertigo DC titles, and one of them is not even in current continuity.

[NickThompson]

Well if anyone's read Firestorm #22, the hint for who the new Atom is shows up there.

I won't say anymore :)
Say more! :(

[TCJohnson]

Oh God, I hope it is not her. Other than the fact that Firestorm is a horribly written comic, I really did not like that character.

Besides, why type cast Gail as a writer who only writes women comic book characters?

[Karl J. Barnes]

Oh God, I hope it is not her. Other than the fact that Firestorm is a horribly written comic, I really did not like that character.

Besides, why type cast Gail as a writer who only writes women comic book characters?

I know that is not what I want, but I would really love to see her take on Wonder Woman.

[MacQuarrie]

Who do we have to kill to get Gail on Marvel Family? I so want to see her writing Billy and Mary and Freddy and Tawky Tawny and Sivana and Mr. Mind and....

[TCJohnson]

Winnick is taking over Marvel Family.

Frankly I would refer J-Bolt.

[Cam63]

We'll just leave a fanboy's head in their bed.

[NickThompson]

Oh God, I hope it is not her. Other than the fact that Firestorm is a horribly written comic, I really did not like that character.

Please explain :)

[Super Sonic]

Argh! Why won't DC give Gail a JLA character I care about! =(

Unless of course Gail picked this if so, for your next project ask to write:
The Flash
Green Lantern (any but Hal)
Green Arrow
Nightwing (I know he's not in the JLA)


Thanx Gail. =P :3

[heystacy]

Winnick is taking over Marvel Family.

Frankly I would refer J-Bolt.


I don't know about Winnick. I didn't like his outsiders. I'm willing to give Atom a try by Gail though. She would be great on the Marvel Family.

[Spackling Compound]

Besides, why type cast Gail as a writer who only writes women comic book characters?
Like Deadpool and Superman?

[TCJohnson]

And Villains United which were mostly men.


Deadpool was a long while ago and Action Comics was a very short run. If all her long, ongoing series are just female characters, I would worried about her being stereotyped.

[Patriot07]

Sorry, can't get excited about this. The Atom to me is and always will be Ray Palmer. I don't see myself reading this at all.

[Lex]

I don't know about Winnick. I didn't like his outsiders.I agree that Outsiders has been horrible, but Winick has written a really good Captain Marvel. If he can maintain the awesomeness from the Superman/Shazam! mini, then it could be a good story.

[Night Swordsman]

FINALLY!

Howard TOLD me about the Shazam series(four hours after he got it!),but promised me not to tell! Months ago! =)

Im uber excited!

[Lex]

FINALLY!

Howard TOLD me about the Shazam series(four hours after he got it!),but promised me not to tell! Months ago! =)

Im uber excited!Howard was a great choice as artist for the Shazam! series. I remember really enjoying his take on Cap in JLA. I'm looking forward to his art on the book.

[Nick Soapdish]

Say more! :(

Yeah! Just stick it in a spoiler tag.

[shrike]

I'm curious as to what this will be about, but color me HIGHLY disappointed it won't feature Ray Palmer... I mean, really, DC does have a nasty habit about taking away characters to replace them with 'new' types, often with no more success than what was had before...

[TCJohnson]

Well, you can't have a middle aged man as a super hero anymore. You have to make him young and hip and exciting so that your audience can relate to them...and audience of middle aged men.....wait a second!

[Azrael52]

I'll buy the $1 book, and try the Atom. There are a couple of the others I wouldn't mind seeing. What's up with OMAC? My problem, though, is I've already added so many books over the next couple of months that I've gotta drop some. Plus, I'm trying to save up for ComicCon International in 2007.

[Paploo the Ewok]

This is pretty danged awesome news :)
Trevor Scott, the artist from Majestic looks like a good addition.

[TCJohnson]

Gail,

Right now, there are different types of legacy hero. With Blue Beetle, it seems like Giffen and Rogers are taking a dump over the Ted Kord version of the character in order to make their own character look better. "That wasn't a real hero, this is!" And they are making sure this Blue Beetle has NOTHING to do with the Ted Kord character (they are actually making that a selling point.)

Then you have Aquaman by Busiek who seems to have links to the old Aquaman, and is a continuation of the story, remaining respectful of the past.


Which direction are you going with your Atom? Is it going to put down Ray to make your own character stand out, or is it going to at least honor the other character?

[MacQuarrie]

Winnick is taking over Marvel Family.
Why don't you just give me a nice papercut and rub lemon juice in it?

Winick on Marvel Family is like Tarantino remaking Bambi. I can't think of a writer more wrong for it.

And where the hell is Jeff Smith's version?

[Justin D.]

Gail,

Right now, there are different types of legacy hero. With Blue Beetle, it seems like Giffen and Rogers are taking a dump over the Ted Kord version of the character in order to make their own character look better. "That wasn't a real hero, this is!" And they are making sure this Blue Beetle has NOTHING to do with the Ted Kord character (they are actually making that a selling point.)

Then you have Aquaman by Busiek who seems to have links to the old Aquaman, and is a continuation of the story, remaining respectful of the past.


Which direction are you going with your Atom? Is it going to put down Ray to make your own character stand out, or is it going to at least honor the other character?

How do you actually expect her to answer that question without sounding insulting to Giffen, Rogers, Hamner, and everyone else involved with the new Blue Beetle comic? Plus, having a characer with the same name of another character is not "taking a dump" on any character. Hal Jordan didn't "take a dump" on Alan Scott and they had no connection. There are numerous other references to make, but there's no real point. Try waiting until the book actually comes out for a few issues before making comments like the one above. Otherwise, you come off as a bit of a over-reactionary fanboy stereotype.

Also, I like Firestorm's current book, especially since Stuart Moore and Jamal Ingle took over. The Nanette character only made the briefest of appearances so I don't see how you could dislike the character as much as you say.

[PaladinZero]

Winick on Marvel Family is like Tarantino remaking Bambi. I can't think of a writer more wrong for it.


I can't tell you how much I agree with you about Winick. I **HATE** Winick. But, if I heard Tarantino was remaking Bambi, I have to say that would interest me... :D

[kingdom2000]

"All New Atom"? LOL that is hilarious and stupid name. Sounds campy. But grats on the extra paycheck. In other news, Top Cow named a woman as its EIC (http://www.newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=60304) . Has that happened before for a place that publishes more then one comic? And even more shocking, she is an absolute knockout. A hot comicbook fan...I heard rumors they existed but to see actual proof is slightly shocking.

[Gingold]

What the hell? This is awesome news and everyone's bitching like a bunch of stereotypical fanboys. Gail's getting the chance to redefine one of DC's classic characters and people start whining over the Action gig being over or Ray Palmer going away? Eh? Where's the love people? Where's the sunny optimism?

I'm on board.

[Gail Simone]

"All New Atom"? LOL that is hilarious and stupid name. Sounds campy. But grats on the extra paycheck. In other news, Top Cow named a woman as its EIC (http://www.newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=60304) . Has that happened before for a place that publishes more then one comic? And even more shocking, she is an absolute knockout. A hot comicbook fan...I heard rumors they existed but to see actual proof is slightly shocking.

Either you're drunk or you recently had a lobotomy.

Gail

[Gail Simone]

What the hell? This is awesome news and everyone's bitching like a bunch of stereotypical fanboys. Gail's getting the chance to redefine one of DC's classic characters and people start whining over the Action gig being over or Ray Palmer going away? Eh? Where's the love people? Where's the sunny optimism?

I'm on board.

Thank you, kind sir!

Gail

[Paploo the Ewok]

Why don't you just give me a nice papercut and rub lemon juice in it?

Winick on Marvel Family is like Tarantino remaking Bambi. I can't think of a writer more wrong for it.

And where the hell is Jeff Smith's version?


Still on the way. He's done 2 of the 4 planned Prestige Format issues planned, but it was slowed down due to the fact that it took longer to end Bone then he expected. And then once Bone was finished, the Scholastic deal took up a lot of his time, as he supervises the production on the new colour GN's. Though Shazam is what he's working on at the moment for sequential comic pages, so he should have it done sometime before 2007 I suspect.

[Tad Sivana]

Whoa! This is exciting news.
I can still remember how pumped I was as a kid when the Atom teamed up with the Martian Manhunter, now I feel that way again!
Gail, I know you'll have fun with the legacy of Ray Palmer and his amazing (and often underused) powers. Truth to tell, I feel sorry for Ray, who got seriously beaten up last year in the DCU and is probably pretty depressed.
I'll always like Ray, one of the great characters of the Silver Age and the signature character for Gil Kane (in many ways more important even than Green Lantern), but I can understand that he might be happier forgetting about Jean and her crimes and doing his swords and sorcery thing in some subatomic realm for the forseeable future!
So who picks up the action? It's established that there are a couple of white dwarf belts/outfits out there....but when some folks put 'em on, they get themselves scrambled like a cheap breakfast. Ya gotta be nuts or really brave to put on something that might give you the amazing ability to fill up a breakfast burritto.

[mdg1]

Either you're drunk or you recently had a lobotomy.

Gail

So he's either had a frontal lobotomy or a bottle in front of he?

(yes, I know it's a misquote. But I couldn't resist)

Looking forward to hearing more about this new Atom.

[Night Swordsman]

Gail! I find this bad! There are EIGHT pages of replies to the DC news on Newsarama,but we are still stuck at THREE! Lets keep the words flowing,folks!
Tell us why you like the new books,why you DON'T like the new books,and why you should NEVER,EVER Feed Gail after midnight... :p

[NickThompson]

What the hell? This is awesome news and everyone's bitching like a bunch of stereotypical fanboys. Gail's getting the chance to redefine one of DC's classic characters and people start whining over the Action gig being over or Ray Palmer going away? Eh? Where's the love people? Where's the sunny optimism?

I'm on board.
Well, if you were a fan of the Ray Palmer Atom, you could be upset as this Atom isn't Atom, if you get my drift. If Marvel replaced Deadpool, that wouldn't be the Deadpool I like, it'd be another character. Having the same name doesn't make you the same person :)


Doesn't bother me, it's not like I had any view of Atom. But I feel it with Blue Beetle, so I can see it there.

[Night Swordsman]

Well, if you were a fan of the Ray Palmer Atom, you could be upset as this Atom isn't Atom, if you get my drift. If Marvel replaced Deadpool, that wouldn't be the Deadpool I like, it'd be another character. Having the same name doesn't make you the same person :)


Doesn't bother me, it's not like I had any view of Atom. But I feel it with Blue Beetle, so I can see it there.

Would that person be,oh Agent X,then? =P

I just think DC is trying to create some new things..but to be honest,I will LOOK at the early solicits for the Atom,and probably order it on Gails writing.
But i really wished we had more Hawk and Dove,Rose and Thorn,or even something else: a ORIGINAL Gail hero,to add to the DC Mythos.

That would of made me clap my hands and say "I believe! I believe!"

[Gingold]

Well, if you were a fan of the Ray Palmer Atom, you could be upset as this Atom isn't Atom, if you get my drift.

The Al Pratt fans got over it.

I am a big fan of the Ray Palmer Atom. A cool character who has pretty much never been able to successfully keep an ongoing series going. I just don't see much use in complaining about it. All those cool old comics starring Ray Palmer are still out there for me to read.

If it's a choice between a new Atom written by Gail or nothing (and I'm pretty sure that DC's pretty adamant about Ray being out of the picture for the time being), I think I'll take the new Atom series.

[Cream Filled Taco]

Gail, do you keep Atom in your front pocket, or the back?

[kingdom2000]

Either you're drunk or you recently had a lobotomy.

Gail

Neither, just bored. As for the title coment, just calling it how I see it. It is a stupid name. Doesn't mean the book itself will be bad, but a stupid name is a stupid name. Look no futher then Y: The Last Man. It describes the book to a tee, but that is still a bad name for a very good book.

[NickThompson]

Would that person be,oh Agent X,then? =P

I liked Agent-X :)


Also he's slightly different, as he didn't call himself Deadpool.

[TCJohnson]

How do you actually expect her to answer that question without sounding insulting to Giffen, Rogers, Hamner, and everyone else involved with the new Blue Beetle comic? Plus, having a characer with the same name of another character is not "taking a dump" on any character. Hal Jordan didn't "take a dump" on Alan Scott and they had no connection. There are numerous other references to make, but there's no real point. Try waiting until the book actually comes out for a few issues before making comments like the one above..


Where did I say that having a character with the same name is taking a dump over the previous one? Please quote me. You can't. You know why? Because I didn't say that. In fact, I even used Aquaman as a way of doing it right.

Did I mention Hal Jordan taking over for allen scott? Did I mention Firestorm? No, nor did I mention Wally West, Barry Allen and a bunch of others. Because that is not what I am talking about. If that was just the case why did I mention Aquaman since that is another hero taking another's name.

None of those are examples of what I am talking aboutl.

From what Giffen and Rogers have been saying, they are bragging that this character will have absolutely nothing to do with Ted Kord. John Rogers said on his website that peopel shouldn't worry, this book will be 99.99% Ted Kord free. The tone of what they are saying on different sites that they are going to try to make their new character look better by making Ted Kord look more pathetic. Ted Kord was the baffoon who never got the scarab to work, this will be the real hero. That is what I am talking about.

They didn't do away with Allan Scott and Jay Garrick to give us Hal Jordan or Barry Allen. Wally West is an example of doing it right. So is Firestorm (at least the issues Dan Jolley wrote..the current writer is really horrible), and so is a bunch of others. From everything Kurt Busiek said he is doing it right (which again I mentioned as an example of doing it right.) Kyle Raynor is an exmple of doing it wrong since Hal Jordan had to be a villain to get a new Green Lantern. They promoted one character at the expense of another.

So again I ask, is this going to be a continuation of Atom's legacy and respect the original character, or is this going to be yet another of example of trying to make the current character look heroic by dissing the previous one.

[Briareos]

Seen any robot dogs lately Gail?

[TCJohnson]

Where's the sunny optimism?



THe current editors of DC has killed any optimism I have for books in the DCU. I am tired of being optimistic just to really disappointed. Lately whenever I am pessimistic about something going to happen in the DCU I am proven to be right.

[TCJohnson]

Gail's getting the chance to redefine one of DC's classic characters and people start whining over the Action gig being over or Ray Palmer going away?

See, this is where I have a problem with all this, and where I have a problem with DC's attitude.

She is not redefining a classic character. Ray was the classic character. and Al Pratt as well. But it is not the powers or the name that defines these characters. It's their origins, their personalities, their concepts, their histories. Ted Kord was not my favorite character in the DCU because of the name Blue Beetle. Nightcrawler is not my favorite at Marvel because of the teleportations. They are my favorite because of everything about them.

When Barbara Godron became Oracle, that was defining the character. What Gail did to Catman in Villains United, that was redefining the character.

DC thinks that if they gave another character the same name all the old fans will love this character. But if it is not the name that people love so much. If that were true then Ben Rielly would have been a more popular character, as would the Jean Paul Batman.

Gail is not redefining a classic character. She is creating a completey, totally new one with the same name.

If the character is taking over for Ray Palmer but they are not doing something awful to Ray Palmer for it to happen , fine. But if DC is destroying the Ray Palmer character to promote this one, like they are doing with Ted Kord, I will be really disappionted

[Night Swordsman]

I liked Agent-X :)


Also he's slightly different, as he didn't call himself Deadpool.

I LOVED Agent X,and was where i first encountered Gail's writing,which i loved. Agent X will remain one of my favorite books of all time,but i disliked how it ended.

Gail NEEDS to ONE DAY,write Deadpool again.
And Outlaw.

[stealthwise]

AGENT X YEAH!

Er... sorry.

Anyways, what is Gail trying to do, make my wallet EXPLODE?

Er...with emptiness?

I can't believe that they're giving new books to Jones (who's not all that bad a writer, just boring as hell and inconsistent), Lieberman (I've read only one issue and read the summaries of dozens of others and I have no idea why he has a job right now) and Winick (go back to BARRY F'N WEEN).

Er... I apologize for my parenthetical outburst.

As it stands, I'd really love to see a Secret Six ongoing and an Atom mini, rather than what we're receiving, but I'll get the one dollar book and see what's going on.

[Gingold]

She is not redefining a classic character. Ray was the classic character. and Al Pratt as well. But it is not the powers or the name that defines these characters. It's their origins, their personalities, their concepts, their histories.


For most of the classic DC characters, it's the costume, the powers, and nostalgia for Challenge of the Superfriends that makes people love them so much.

Like I said before, I like Ray Palmer. I love those Gil Kane drawn stories, and he's got one of the sleakest most well-designed costumes of all time. And he had the cool little floating chair in JLA meetings, and he got to ride on the Flash's sholder. Pretty cool stuff. His history, powers, origins, personality and early adventures had absolutely nothing to do with his predecesor,but he was still really cool and had a lot of great stories.

As long as he doesn't become a bad guy or the Spectre, I'm cool with a new guy or gal taking his place.

[TCJohnson]

As long as he doesn't become a bad guy or the Spectre, I'm cool with a new guy or gal taking his place.


Or being killed in a really lame way, or an alcoholic who can't handle it anymore, or an inmate in an insane asylum.

But that is my point. If Gail is going to respect Ray Palmer then fine. But what I hate is when authors do, "my character is much better because the old one wasn't hero enough to hack it!!" To me that is cheap and means that your character isn't good enough to stand on their own feet without dumping on somebody else's creation, or some fan's favorite character. Unfortunately, Dan Didio and the editorial staff seems to really favor the later, and it is utlimately they who control the direction of a comic book.

[Night Swordsman]

Or being killed in a really lame way, or an alcoholic who can't handle it anymore, or an inmate in an insane asylum.

But that is my point. If Gail is going to respect Ray Palmer then fine. But what I hate is when authors do, "my character is much better because the old one wasn't hero enough to hack it!!" To me that is cheap and means that your character isn't good enough to stand on their own feet without dumping on somebody else's creation, or some fan's favorite character. Unfortunately, Dan Didio and the editorial staff seems to really favor the later, and it is utlimately they who control the direction of a comic book.

I think it's safe to say GAIL,if left to her devices(usually whips and chains..ACK!),will not go down the "lets boost my hero over the previous nameholder" trail. If anything,what i have seen of Gails writing tells me she is VERY aware of this fact,and would rather ENHANCE BOTH characters than take away from either.

My 2 cents.
Very sick now..must go lie down and rest..will read replies to all my posts in the near future.

[TCJohnson]

You know, after that fight with Mac I knew I should have stayed away from this forum permanently. Think that was the right choice.

[heystacy]

I agree that Outsiders has been horrible, but Winick has written a really good Captain Marvel. If he can maintain the awesomeness from the Superman/Shazam! mini, then it could be a good story.

We will have to see.

[TCJohnson]

I think it's safe to say GAIL,if left to her devices(usually whips and chains..ACK!),will not go down the "lets boost my hero over the previous nameholder" trail. If anything,what i have seen of Gails writing tells me she is VERY aware of this fact,and would rather ENHANCE BOTH characters than take away from either.

My 2 cents.
Very sick now..must go lie down and rest..will read replies to all my posts in the near future.

But Gail is not usually left to her own devices. She is left to her editor's devices.

Go get some sleep man and feel better.

[Gingold]

If Gail is going to respect Ray Palmer then fine. But what I hate is when authors do, "my character is much better because the old one wasn't hero enough to hack it!!" To me that is cheap and means that your character isn't good enough to stand on their own feet without dumping on somebody else's creation, or some fan's favorite character. Unfortunately, Dan Didio and the editorial staff seems to really favor the later, and it is utlimately they who control the direction of a comic book.

Has this happened at all since Didio took over? I can't think of an example of what you're saying. (The Kyle/Hal switch was kinda like that, but that was way before Didio was in the picture). We've seen a new Firestorm who seems to be carrying on the legacy of the orignal, and a new Blue Beetle, who's yet to debut. Am I missing somebody?

I hope I'm not coming off as a combative dick, TC. I'm just a bit curious as to the conclusions you seem to be jumping to.

[NickThompson]

Bit dissapointed that DC didn't try a partnership deal with Apple though.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v325/ReaperFett/TheOmacProject.jpg

[TCJohnson]

Has this happened at all since Didio took over? I can't think of an example of what you're saying. (The Kyle/Hal switch was kinda like that, but that was way before Didio was in the picture). We've seen a new Firestorm who seems to be carrying on the legacy of the orignal, and a new Blue Beetle, who's yet to debut. Am I missing somebody?

I hope I'm not coming off as a combative dick, TC. I'm just a bit curious as to the conclusions you seem to be jumping to.

Blue Beetle/Ted Kord. I mean, c'mon, that death was horribly done, and they had to make other heroes act totally out of character to achieve it. And Ted Kord's death didn't even accomplish anything. The only thing it did was convince Sasha to alert Batman what was going on...but Batman pretty much already knew and Sasha could have done it anyway. Dan Didio says his death inspires other heroes, but how the hell are the other heroes suppose to know how ted kord died.

So Ted Kord died because he was a joke that nobody took seriously. And now there is this high school kid who will get the scarab to work when it never worked for Ted Kord. And this kid doesn't even want to be a hero, yet Giffen and Rogers, based on their interviews, are going to set him up to be much more a hero Blue Beetle ever would be.

And if you think about it, Jason Todd is the same way. They are making Jason Todd to be a complete psychopath to make Tim Drake seem that much better.

Firestorm began that way (gave him a really lame death) although I think Jolley made it better when he brought Ronnie back for a few issues...showed Jason why Ronnie was a hero.

I am not trying to be a combatitive dick eithe (although you could have said conclusions I am coming to instead of jumping to). I am just saying what I don't like about about editorial policy and hoping Gail doesn't fall down the same trap.

[Nick Kal]

And this kid doesn't even want to be a hero, yet Giffen and Rogers, based on their interviews, are going to set him up to be much more a hero Blue Beetle ever would be.

Nor did Spider-Man.

Also, DC is awesome right now and you're being way too pessimistic. Honestly, would you rather read Civil War over at Marvel with their commentary on Reality Television and the American Government which we all know will be super liberal (and I am too but it's not like I want the damn comic to be so predictable) and have excerpts of the Diary of Anne Frank for a scared mutant girl because this event will be like the Holocaust all of a sudde? At least DC has some sort of grasp on reality with their big events...

[Lex]

I'm certainly looking forward to the new Atom book. Ray was cool, but I don't think I'll mind a new character. Besides, Gail is nothing if not respectful of the past.

[NickThompson]

Also, DC is awesome right now and you're being way too pessimistic. Honestly, would you rather read Civil War over at Marvel with their commentary on Reality Television and the American Government which we all know will be super liberal (and I am too but it's not like I want the damn comic to be so predictable) and have excerpts of the Diary of Anne Frank for a scared mutant girl because this event will be like the Holocaust all of a sudde? At least DC has some sort of grasp on reality with their big events...
Yes, I would rather read Civil War :)

[Gingold]

Blue Beetle/Ted Kord. I mean, c'mon, that death was horribly done, and they had to make other heroes act totally out of character to achieve it. And Ted Kord's death didn't even accomplish anything. The only thing it did was convince Sasha to alert Batman what was going on...but Batman pretty much already knew and Sasha could have done it anyway. Dan Didio says his death inspires other heroes, but how the hell are the other heroes suppose to know how ted kord died.

So Ted Kord died because he was a joke that nobody took seriously. And now there is this high school kid who will get the scarab to work when it never worked for Ted Kord. And this kid doesn't even want to be a hero, yet Giffen and Rogers, based on their interviews, are going to set him up to be much more a hero Blue Beetle ever would be.



It looks like we'll be seeing Fire, Booster, and Guy in pretty prominent roles post-IC, and I think they'll all be inspired by Ted's legacy, particularly Booster.

I'm not going to argue the merits of Ted's death with you. I wouldn't have killed him either. But I can't imagine Giffen of all people is interested in making his new guy a hero at the expense of Ted's legacy. And I haven't seen anything in the interviews they've done to give that impression. They seem to be stressing that this is a new character and even though it's Giffen and Blue Beetle, the book will have a serious tone. Which frankly, seems like a good idea to me if they're going to give us a new character. If the new BB was another light-hearted gadgeteer, then Ted's death would certainly be meaningless. I say, let's give the new kid a chance.

[jerrymcl89]

Blue Beetle/Ted Kord. I mean, c'mon, that death was horribly done, and they had to make other heroes act totally out of character to achieve it. And Ted Kord's death didn't even accomplish anything. The only thing it did was convince Sasha to alert Batman what was going on...but Batman pretty much already knew and Sasha could have done it anyway. Dan Didio says his death inspires other heroes, but how the hell are the other heroes suppose to know how ted kord died.

So Ted Kord died because he was a joke that nobody took seriously. And now there is this high school kid who will get the scarab to work when it never worked for Ted Kord. And this kid doesn't even want to be a hero, yet Giffen and Rogers, based on their interviews, are going to set him up to be much more a hero Blue Beetle ever would be.


They are setting the new Beetle up to be more powerful, certainly. Ted was not powerful. But I'm not sure that powerful is the same as heroic. I thought Countdown showcased Ted's heroism specifically because he kept pressing forward, even without much assistance from other heroes, and even knowing he was in over his head. That story may have been unfair to Babs, or to J'onn. I think it was very fair to Ted.

[TCJohnson]

Also, DC is awesome right now

in your oppinion. Not everybody would agree with you. I certainly don't.

and you're being way too pessimistic.

Oh, does this mean I get to make cracks about you now?

would you rather read Civil War over at Marvel with their commentary on Reality Television and the American Government

GOD YES!!!!! I am enjoying Marvel events a hell of a lot more than DC events right now.

which we all know will be super liberal

And people accuse me of jumping to conclusions. Why is it ok for you to be pessimistic about marvel but not me about what DC is putting out? Since it is ok to take personal shots at each other, I would say that is extremely hypocritical.

And Quesada has been anything but liberal. He has been the one putting support our troops on the cover, and he was the one who approved that Iraqi war propaganda comic a few months back.

and have excerpts of the Diary of Anne Frank for a scared mutant girl

I really like Paul Jenkins' writing and I am really looking forward to what he is going to do with it. Or would you rather writers of comics not be literate and draw parallels to other pieces of literature.

At least DC has some sort of grasp on reality with their big events...

......Have you actually read Infinite Crisis?

Marvel is basing their event on the current state of the nation, DC is about pulling apart reality to create different dimensions with machines and moving the center of the universe. Which one has a grasp of reality?

[TCJohnson]

They are setting the new Beetle up to be more powerful, certainly. Ted was not powerful. But I'm not sure that powerful is the same as heroic. I thought Countdown showcased Ted's heroism specifically because he kept pressing forward, even without much assistance from other heroes, and even knowing he was in over his head. That story may have been unfair to Babs, or to J'onn. I think it was very fair to Ted.

From some quotes from John Rogers websites, and how they are going to make sure it will be completely Ted Kord freee with no connections to Ted Kord whatsoever....my impression is that it is going the other way. We will see.

[TCJohnson]

It looks like we'll be seeing Fire, Booster, and Guy in pretty prominent roles post-IC, and I think they'll all be inspired by Ted's legacy, particularly Booster.

Rucka has a real habit of using JLI characters as cannon fodder. I am not real thrilled with him getting his hands on Fire in an espianoge book. The espianoge genre gets has a lot of cannon fodder and characters get killed quickly. Look at all the supporting characters in James Bond.

Booster...Well, we know one of the main characters is going to die in 52. The editor of 52 says he hopes there will be a Steel comic book afterwards, you know Geoff Johns would never kill off Black Adam and from Rucka has said in interviews Renee Montoya is going to be Batwoman. (He has said Batwoman would be emerging from 52 and she will be a lesbian.) SO this means that Question, Booster or Ralph Dibny is going to be killed off. After Blue Beetle my favorites are Booster, Question and....Ralph is up there although not in the top 5. And again, Didio is using this as a selling point for 52. And you are wondering why I am not being optimistic about any of this.

But I can't imagine Giffen of all people is interested in making his new guy a hero at the expense of Ted's legacy. And I haven't seen anything in the interviews they've done to give that impression. They seem to be stressing that this is a new character and even though it's Giffen and Blue Beetle, the book will have a serious tone.

But all the books are serious in tone. That is one of the reasons I liked Blue Beetle. That and he was the everyman of the DCU. Why should I like a book where they purposely go in and remove everything that I like about the character?

When they say there is a possibility of the Blue Beetle returning, I will give it a chance. Until then, no.


By the way, thank you for debating me instead of just insulting me because of my opinions.

[Nick Kal]

Yes, I would rather read Civil War :)

Please tell me why. I seriously am trying to decide if I will.

[NickThompson]

Please tell me why. I seriously am trying to decide if I will.
I just think the whole thing sounds interesting. I like that they're trying to have it standalone as such, everything needed is in that mini. I also like that theyre aiming for the political angle being there if you're looking for it.

As for Front Line, I like Jenkins' writing. Because of the style, I'm hoping for a good view of both sides of the argument.


And if that fails, McNiven is good art :)

[TCJohnson]

Please tell me why. I seriously am trying to decide if I will.

Different strokes for different folks. I don't like the current direction DC comics is headed. If you do, that's fine. Doesn't mean I have to or be condescending to people who do like the current massive crossover that is apparently never going to end.

I like HoM although I can see why others thought the pacing was too slow. And I love all the series that came out of decimation 100x more than anything DC is putting out right now except maybe Jonah Hex, and that is not even in the current continuity.

[TCJohnson]

I just think the whole thing sounds interesting. I like that they're trying to have it standalone as such, everything needed is in that mini. I also like that theyre aiming for the political angle being there if you're looking for it.

As for Front Line, I like Jenkins' writing. Because of the style, I'm hoping for a good view of both sides of the argument.


And if that fails, McNiven is good art :)


He also likes sherbert ice-cream. I want that put on the record.

[Nick Kal]

in your oppinion. Not everybody would agree with you. I certainly don't.

I know. I didn't agree with you. Just posting that there are people who actually like DC and think what they are doing right now is good even though you feel everything is terrible.


Oh, does this mean I get to make cracks about you now?

You're offended easily... I didn't mean it in a negative way. No need to flame eachother...



GOD YES!!!!! I am enjoying Marvel events a hell of a lot more than DC events right now.

Why?



And people accuse me of jumping to conclusions. Why is it ok for you to be pessimistic about marvel but not me about what DC is putting out? Since it is ok to take personal shots at each other, I would say that is extremely hypocritical.

And Quesada has been anything but liberal. He has been the one putting support our troops on the cover, and he was the one who approved that Iraqi war propaganda comic a few months back.

I'm not being pessimistic about Marvel. I'm stating my concerns and thoughts of what I think will come. I never said it wasn't okay for you to dislike DC. As a DC fan I just wanted to throw in my two cents.

Also, if you want to throw around personal insults, it's okay. I could care less... even though I have not intended to insult you...

And supporting the troops does not make you all of a sudden non liberal. I can support the troops and not support the war, dude. Also, I wasn't referring to Quesada, but rather the writer, Millar who tends to be very liberal in his writing. I don't actually know if they're his viewpoints (They very well may be) but they are in there. And they are liberal... and there's nothing wrong with that. I just am expecting it... I'm sure there'll be arguments for both sides... that's why they ask what side you are on... but I'd give the edge to rebels with the writer we have.


I really like Paul Jenkins' writing and I am really looking forward to what he is going to do with it. Or would you rather writers of comics not be literate and draw parallels to other pieces of literature.

I would rather Marvel not glorify themselves as creating an event that should in any way disrespect what happened in the Holocaust by using Anne Frank as an archetype for their event. Of course, it can be handled well, but if it isn't I'd be very upset.



......Have you actually read Infinite Crisis?

Yes I have.

Marvel is basing their event on the current state of the nation, DC is about pulling apart reality to create different dimensions with machines and moving the center of the universe. Which one has a grasp of reality?

Marvel thinks they are being political. DC knows they are writing superhero comics that are fun.

[Nick Kal]

I just think the whole thing sounds interesting. I like that they're trying to have it standalone as such, everything needed is in that mini. I also like that theyre aiming for the political angle being there if you're looking for it.

As for Front Line, I like Jenkins' writing. Because of the style, I'm hoping for a good view of both sides of the argument.


And if that fails, McNiven is good art :)

Where has that been confirmed? We have at least 4 tie-ins we know about right now. Amazing Spider-Man, Wolverine, Front Line and Fantastic Four. She-Hulk would be a 5th.

[Nick Kal]

Different strokes for different folks. I don't like the current direction DC comics is headed. If you do, that's fine. Doesn't mean I have to or be condescending to people who do like the current massive crossover that is apparently never going to end.

I like HoM although I can see why others thought the pacing was too slow. And I love all the series that came out of decimation 100x more than anything DC is putting out right now except maybe Jonah Hex, and that is not even in the current continuity.

You are being condesceneding, though. I never was.

What I don't like about Decimation is that Quesada himself basically said they were all unimportant to try and make it seem like what Marvel is doing is in no way equal to how DC is handling Crisis... so if these stories mean nothing, then why buy them? Are they really that good? 8 - 9 X-Men minis that mean nothing vs. minis that have a purpose within a greater storyline (and which you don't need to read because you get the info in the mini series anyway)... hmmm...

[TCJohnson]

I know. I didn't agree with you. Just posting that there are people who actually like DC and think what they are doing right now is good even though you feel everything is terrible.

And that is all good. Different strokes for different folks. But saying I am being pessimistic just because I don't agree with you.

You're offended easily... I didn't mean it in a negative way. No need to flame eachother...

My apologies then. However, when you start saying, "How can anybody possibly like...." does come off as insulting and condenscending.



Why?

I don't like Geoff Johns writing, never have and never will. It is all flash but little depth. I don't like the way that DC makes you read dozens of books just to get one story. I don't like the way DC lies about it, telling you that all you need to read is OMAC for that story, but then half way through telling you that you need to read all the Superman books and the Wonder WOman comic books just to follow the story. I don't like how I have to read writers I don't like to enjoy the books that I do. I don't like the pacing and everything is rushed. I don't like how Infinite Crisis is killing off characters just to make their own look good.

I like the way that Marvel events, you only need to read the HOM series and not a dozen other books. I like the way that the Marvel books are focusing on characters instead of moments that seem cool but are really empty when you examine them. I like the way that Marvel is creating potential new stories and they are giving their heroes a lot more potential to be hores instead of turning into characters that I can't even respect.


I'm not being pessimistic about Marvel. I'm stating my concerns and thoughts of what I think will come. I never said it wasn't okay for you to dislike DC. As a DC fan I just wanted to throw in my two cents.

So it is ok for you to voice your concerns about Marvel, but when I do about DC I am being pessimistic? Yeah, ok.


Also, if you want to throw around personal insults, it's okay. I could care less... even though I have not intended to insult you...

Then I wasn't trying to be insulting to you. But it is still hypocritical.

Marvel thinks they are being political. DC knows they are writing superhero comics that are fun.

And have you heard reports of the new outsiders?

[NickThompson]

Where has that been confirmed? We have at least 4 tie-ins we know about right now. Amazing Spider-Man, Wolverine, Front Line and Fantastic Four. She-Hulk would be a 5th.
They tie in, but they're not important I believe. It's like, Brubakers first DD issue ties in to Bendis', but you don't need it.

[Nick Kal]

They tie in, but they're not important I believe. It's like, Brubakers first DD issue ties in to Bendis', but you don't need it.

Are you sure? They're labeling books the Road to Civil War begins here... and they have those markers... and Fantastic Four seems to have an important element leading to it... which could all be covered in the mini, as was done in Crisis, but it is possible those issues are necessary.

[NickThompson]

Are you sure? They're labeling books the Road to Civil War begins here... and they have those markers... and Fantastic Four seems to have an important element leading to it... which could all be covered in the mini, as was done in Crisis, but it is possible those issues are necessary.
Pretty sure, Quesada said in a Newsarama interview :)

[TCJohnson]

You are being condesceneding, though. I never was.



Actually, this post: Honestly, would you rather read Civil War over at Marvel with their commentary on Reality Television and the American Government which we all know will be super liberal (and I am too but it's not like I want the damn comic to be so predictable) and have excerpts of the Diary of Anne Frank for a scared mutant girl because this event will be like the Holocaust all of a sudde? At least DC has some sort of grasp on reality with their big events...


was extremely condescending, implying nobody could possibly like Marvel.

[TCJohnson]

Are you sure? They're labeling books the Road to Civil War begins here... and they have those markers... and Fantastic Four seems to have an important element leading to it... which could all be covered in the mini, as was done in Crisis, but it is possible those issues are necessary.


They have said they are only releasing two series, Civil War and Civil War: Battlelines. You can read the other books, but they are not necessary for the main series. The complaint Marvel got with HOM is that there were too many tie ins, and they are trying to cut down on them.

[Justin D.]

So Ted Kord died because he was a joke that nobody took seriously. And now there is this high school kid who will get the scarab to work when it never worked for Ted Kord.

Ever think that Ted didn't need the scarab to work for him to be a hero and that's why it never did? That's a compliment to him, not an insult. Plus, I haven't seen any interviews where Giffen and Rogers say the upcoming BB will be a better hero than Ted Kord as BB. Just that he'll be a different kind of hero. He may even fight bigger, more powerful villains, but that doesn't make him a better hero.

Also, wasn't Jason Todd always a snot? I didn't think making him go darker surprised, or at least upset, too many people.

When someone called you pessimistic after reading your rants on here against virtually everything DC has coming up, that's not a crack at you. That's just observant. It's not to get defensive about. You're pessimistic about DC now and in the near future. If you're not, then your posts sure paint a different picture. I'm not going to get in a back and forth arguement with you about how I think you're contradicting yourself just to show how annoyed you are with DC right now. I'm looking forward to a lot of upcoming books.

I think the idea of a one-shot used to promote many new ongoing and mini-series that only costs a dollar is a brilliant idea and should be used much more often. Like, pretty much every time there's about to be a launch of more than one series.

[Nick Kal]

And that is all good. Different strokes for different folks. But saying I am being pessimistic just because I don't agree with you.

I'm just saying so because everything you've said about DC is negative and it seems like you see nothing good of it at all.

My apologies then. However, when you start saying, "How can anybody possibly like...." does come off as insulting and condenscending.


I jsut asked if you'd prefer what the other brand is doing and gave some of my issues.


I don't like Geoff Johns writing, never have and never will. It is all flash but little depth.

This hurts my soul. :p He's my favorite and his characterizations are great, imo. He cares about the characters.

I don't like the way that DC makes you read dozens of books just to get one story.

If I didn't read HoM the Decimation would be a bit much for me, no?

I don't like the way DC lies about it, telling you that all you need to read is OMAC for that story, but then half way through telling you that you need to read all the Superman books and the Wonder WOman comic books just to follow the story.

That was an admitted mistake. Why should it be held against them forever?

I don't like how I have to read writers I don't like to enjoy the books that I do.

But that's where it's just a personal thing that you can't control. That happens to everyone.

I don't like the pacing and everything is rushed.

2 years to set it up seems like they handled it with great care.. hints here and there...

I don't like how Infinite Crisis is killing off characters just to make their own look good.

Whoa... Hawkeye?

I like the way that Marvel events, you only need to read the HOM series and not a dozen other books.

What I don't get though is that if you did read Spider-Man: HoM, none of it fit into what happened in the actual mini. Spidey is evil in his mini with D.I.D. and then he's fighting alongside everyone else in the main book... huh?

I like the way that the Marvel books are focusing on characters instead of moments that seem cool but are really empty when you examine them.

Crisis is all about Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman being examined. Booster Gold has gotten tons of great focus. I haven't seen much of this focus in the X-Books I hav read recently.

I like the way that Marvel is creating potential new stories and they are giving their heroes a lot more potential to be hores instead of turning into characters that I can't even respect.

I'm almost certain that DC is creating a whole slew of new characters as well as putting pre existing ones in new and exciting situations. And really, if you ask some people, Charles Xavier looks like a crook now... as does... Spider-Woman.


So it is ok for you to voice your concerns about Marvel, but when I do about DC I am being pessimistic? Yeah, ok.

I do like Marvel, though.



And have you heard reports of the new outsiders?

No, elaborate. All I've heard is that they're a secret team now.

[Gail Simone]

Guys, please quit attacking each other and get back to how I'm going to piss on Ray Palmer's grave, okay?

Gail

[Nick Kal]

Actually, this post:

was extremely condescending, implying nobody could possibly like Marvel.

I was stating why I think Civil War will likely be bad and as I've said I'm not sure whether I'll buy it or not.

Also, DC, in my opinion, absolutely has a better grasp of what needs to be done.

[stealthwise]

Guys, please quit attacking each other and get back to how I'm going to piss on Ray Palmer's grave, okay?

Gail

I'm guessing that you'll probably use some sort of prosthetic, because squatting is awkward, and you're above that now, Ms. "I got to write Action Comics for about two seconds."

;)

[Nick Kal]

Guys, please quit attacking each other and get back to how I'm going to piss on Ray Palmer's grave, okay?

Gail

Sorry. I didn't think I attacked anyone... :o

Anyway, so I think the new Atom will be a female because I'm sexist and Gail Simone only writes about females... or has to have some sort of female in her book... in fact, she should do a special guest spot as Co-Writer on a Y: The Last Man special with Vaughan.

Also, the new Atom will suck because Ray Palmer is not the Atom anymore, even though he wasn't the first Atom...

[stealthwise]

I was stating why I think Civil War will likely be bad and as I've said I'm not sure whether I'll buy it or not.

Also, DC, in my opinion, absolutely has a better grasp of what needs to be done.

I agree with that 1000%.

Ironically, I also agree with a ton of what TC has said. But DC has been delivering stories and events that I actually want to see.

A new Aquaman? Hell yeah, at least it's something I can get on board with, a cool concept with a great writer. They can always bring Arthur back later on.

The GL Corps is back! Bat-Dick is nearly gone! Superman by Busiek and Johns! Legion of Super-Heroes! I don't even have to mention the top-notch Wildstom and Vertigo stuff either.

What's Marvel offering other than a blatant copy of past big storylines? A giant photocomic and the uneven-in-quality Ultimates line.

Make mine DC.

[TCJohnson]

Guys, please quit attacking each other and get back to how I'm going to piss on Ray Palmer's grave, okay?

Gail

I didn't say you were. I was saying what I see is happening a lot in DC these days and was asking you how are you going to handle this? I am hoping you won't go the same way that Giffen and Rogers seem to be going.

But this is my last post in this forum.

[Nick Kal]

I agree with that 1000%.

Ironically, I also agree with a ton of what TC has said. But DC has been delivering stories and events that I actually want to see.

A new Aquaman? Hell yeah, at least it's something I can get on board with, a cool concept with a great writer. They can always bring Arthur back later on.

The GL Corps is back! Bat-Dick is nearly gone! Superman by Busiek and Johns! Legion of Super-Heroes! I don't even have to mention the top-notch Wildstom and Vertigo stuff either.

What's Marvel offering other than a blatant copy of past big storylines? A giant photocomic and the uneven-in-quality Ultimates line.

Make mine DC.

But you know what, I don't think Civil War is actually a rehash of an old storyline. I think it draws on ideas of those and expands on them. As I've said, what I think the problem is is the hype about the political aspect... and them comparing a little girl in the story to Anne Frank possibly.

[Nick Kal]

I didn't say you were. I was saying what I see is happening a lot in DC these days and was asking you how are you going to handle this? I am hoping you won't go the same way that Giffen and Rogers seem to be going.

But this is my last post in this forum.

If anything I feel like Giffen would honor Ted Kord's name... so what exactly is it again that you have against with what you think they'll be doing?

Oh snap, he won't psot here anymore. Oh, well.

[Kyuubi]

As Cam would say, "Good on ya Gail."



I'm not entirely sure what it means, but I believe it's positive.

[Gail Simone]

Sorry. I didn't think I attacked anyone... :o

Anyway, so I think the new Atom will be a female because I'm sexist and Gail Simone only writes about females... or has to have some sort of female in her book... in fact, she should do a special guest spot as Co-Writer on a Y: The Last Man special with Vaughan.

Also, the new Atom will suck because Ray Palmer is not the Atom anymore, even though he wasn't the first Atom...


:)

Gail

[Nick Kal]

:)

Gail

Aw, thank you for smiling.

Will you ever visit the East Coast Gail? Come to Midtown Comics in NYC! :)

[Brian Cronin]

Of all the announced new titles, this was by far the one I am most excited with.

Sounds like it'll mesh really well with your writing style, Gail, good luck!

Second most coolest sounding book is Niles' Creeper.

-Brian

[the4thpip]

Lieberman doing J'onn J'onnz? Eeeeeew.
Feel the J*oementum!

What?

Not that Lieberman?

Nevermind then, I'll just get the All-New, All-Tiny Atom!

[Justin D.]

Neither, just bored. As for the title coment, just calling it how I see it. It is a stupid name. Doesn't mean the book itself will be bad, but a stupid name is a stupid name. Look no futher then Y: The Last Man. It describes the book to a tee, but that is still a bad name for a very good book.

I'm not positive, but she may have been referring to your comment about Top Cow's new EIC. Ever heard of Jeanette Kahn?

[Bored at 3:00AM]

Sounds like this could be a heckuva lot of fun. The Atom is a great concept with tons and tons of potential. The title seems to indicate that they'll only be a passing connection to the previous incarnation, but as long as its got our hero shrinking to microscopic size and engaging in crazy pseudo-scientific adventures, then I'm on board for at least the first issue or two.

Hopefully, Gail's "All-New" version will be able to find an audience and won't be shouted down by the rabid fanboys who can't understand that Ray Palmer, while an interesting character, hasn't ever pulled in enough readers to keep a solo series afloat for longer than a handful of years, even during his best creative period, which was nearly forty years ago. He was a great team-player in JLA, but never a star who could support his own solo book.

[Dr Ray Palmer]

Guys, please quit attacking each other and get back to how I'm going to piss on Ray Palmer's grave, okay?

Yeah, we're losing sight of what's important here: that Gail hates comics and comic fans!!!

[the4thpip]

I'm not positive, but she may have been referring to your comment about Top Cow's new EIC. Ever heard of Jeanette Kahn?
She was in the second Star Trek movie, right?

[Typo Lad]

Guys, please quit attacking each other and get back to how I'm going to piss on Ray Palmer's grave, okay?


Well, standing up wouldn't work, so I'm assuming...

No, no. Taking it too far.

[Typo Lad]

Nanette as the Atom seems a reach.

[mdg1]

Correct me if I'm wrong... but do we even know if All-New Atom even HAS shrinking powers?

[jadrax]

I think we know the name, the auther/artist and the fact its not got Ray Palmer in it so far.

Personally im not massivly excited by the idea, but will cirtainly give it a look.

[Corrina]

Guys, please quit attacking each other and get back to how I'm going to piss on Ray Palmer's grave, okay?

Gail

Ray's dead?

OMIGOD!! You Killed RAY!!!!

[Gail Simone]

Yeah, we're losing sight of what's important here: that Gail hates comics and comic fans!!!


No, I just hate YOU, stinky!

Gail

[Gail Simone]

Ray's dead?

OMIGOD!! You Killed RAY!!!!

Bring him here so I can destroy his memory!

Gail

[NickThompson]

How likely is it that the new Atom will say "Up and Atom!"? Please say highly, I don't think I can take the dissapointment.

[Dr Ray Palmer]

Ha! I'm special! Gail hates ME and not the rest of you. So SUCK IT, the rest of you!

I got a sneak peek of All-New Atom #4. Every page features a different character giving a reason why they hate Ray Palmer and are glad he's not the Atom any more. Then the last page is a fold-out poster by George Perez featuring EVERY character in the DCU pissing on Ray Palmer's grave!

[Shiloh]

I would probably buy Gail's grocery list, if they published it. That being said, however, the Atom,
as a character/concept (whether its a new character or Ray Palmer), holds less appeal for me than
a grocery list (just my opinion, your mileage may vary), so I think I'm going to pass.

[the4thpip]

I would probably buy Gail's grocery list, if they published it. That being said, however, the Atom,
as a character/concept (whether its a new character or Ray Palmer), holds less appeal for me than
a grocery list (just my opinion, your mileage may vary), so I think I'm going to pass.
What if this is a character baking radioactive muffins, though?

[Shiloh]

What if this is a character baking radioactive muffins, though?
Oh, hell, if she's goes that direction with it I will be soooo there!

[Tad Sivana]

Even if Gail pees on Ray's grave, I'm not worried, since Ray's corpse can shrink to a subatomic size that will make plenty of room between those pee molecules. Plus I'm sure he has an anti-pee avoidance program built into the belt.

[Night Swordsman]

Has ANYONE considered this?: That maybe..in some way,might be connected,directly or indirectly,to Atom Smasher? Or a NEW legacy hero?

[Typo Lad]

Or... or maybe it's Damage.

I love Damage.

It's a lonely love.

[MatthewC]

I don't have any great affection for the Ray Palmer character, but I'm going to have to hear more about the concept before I give it a try.

Let me try to figure out what was cool about the Atom that needs to be retained in the concept.

1. Real science facts mixed well with whacky comic book science. The Atom wasn't just a character who shrank to the size of a pencil. He was a character who could explore that fascinating part of the universe we learned about in science class, where electrons whirled around atoms like minature planets and processes on a very small scale acted together to create the world around us. Ray Palmer's very origin was tied into white dwarf stars, something weird and strange in astronomy... at the time.

But let's face it, Ray Palmer's science is a little outdated in today's world. Nowadays it's all about string theory and supercompressed dimensions hiding inside an electron's orbit. It's about finely balanced mathematical constants keeping matter from evaporating away. We can never see that sort of thing in the real world, but a comic book artist can draw what it looks like in our imaginations.

So Gail, I urge you to crack open the latest edition of 'A Brief History of Time' and steal liberally.

2. Superhero as a voyeur. As far as superpowers go, shrinking is a lot like invisibility. It's all about being able to get into places you couldn't otherwise reach and seeing things that would otherwise be kept behind closed and locked doors. It's about information and access, not raw power. Oracle may think she's a badass information broker, but the Atom can go where even computers don't reach.

3. Thinking man's hero. Yeah, sure, Ray would use his 'increased mass double kick' to sock people in the jaw, but compared to guys like Superman he's pretty small beans in the violence department. Heck, even Black Canary would probably kick him around in a straight up fight. Instead the Atom has to think of ways to apply his powers to solve his problems.

And I think that's about it. I don't insist that the Atom be a scientist, just an explorer. Nor does he (or she) have to be a college professor or anything.

If I can get some of the above three elements in the new series, I'll give it a try.

[Cam63]

Correct me if I'm wrong... but do we even know if All-New Atom even HAS shrinking powers?

Yes, but only one body part at a time.

[Tad Sivana]

Let me just say that I'll be very disappointed if the new Atom ISN'T a scientist. Seems like you'd have to be scientifically savvy just to use the belt without getting turned into Atomole....though, uh, this IS a limited series, right?
I'm not saying I think we need lectures about science in the writing, but a little narrative light shed on what and how the Atom's powers work and 'what's happening now' is always nice and was one of the highlights of the Silver Age series, and even the Morrison JLA Atom.

[Night Swordsman]

Yes, but only one body part at a time.

Is water in any way involved?

[the4thpip]

this IS a limited series, right?

Wrong.





....

[Crowley]

my advice for this title?

three words:

Amazonian Cleavage diving.

[Gail Simone]

I don't have any great affection for the Ray Palmer character, but I'm going to have to hear more about the concept before I give it a try.

Let me try to figure out what was cool about the Atom that needs to be retained in the concept.

1. Real science facts mixed well with whacky comic book science. The Atom wasn't just a character who shrank to the size of a pencil. He was a character who could explore that fascinating part of the universe we learned about in science class, where electrons whirled around atoms like minature planets and processes on a very small scale acted together to create the world around us. Ray Palmer's very origin was tied into white dwarf stars, something weird and strange in astronomy... at the time.

But let's face it, Ray Palmer's science is a little outdated in today's world. Nowadays it's all about string theory and supercompressed dimensions hiding inside an electron's orbit. It's about finely balanced mathematical constants keeping matter from evaporating away. We can never see that sort of thing in the real world, but a comic book artist can draw what it looks like in our imaginations.

So Gail, I urge you to crack open the latest edition of 'A Brief History of Time' and steal liberally.

2. Superhero as a voyeur. As far as superpowers go, shrinking is a lot like invisibility. It's all about being able to get into places you couldn't otherwise reach and seeing things that would otherwise be kept behind closed and locked doors. It's about information and access, not raw power. Oracle may think she's a badass information broker, but the Atom can go where even computers don't reach.

3. Thinking man's hero. Yeah, sure, Ray would use his 'increased mass double kick' to sock people in the jaw, but compared to guys like Superman he's pretty small beans in the violence department. Heck, even Black Canary would probably kick him around in a straight up fight. Instead the Atom has to think of ways to apply his powers to solve his problems.

And I think that's about it. I don't insist that the Atom be a scientist, just an explorer. Nor does he (or she) have to be a college professor or anything.

If I can get some of the above three elements in the new series, I'll give it a try.


Great post!

I don't want to give too much away, but we're of like minds in some aspects.

Gail

[Cam63]

Is water in any way involved?

Cold water is.

[the4thpip]

Maybe the Atom is a shrink?

[Cam63]

He hates it when he's depressed and he get's called a sad little man.

[Night Swordsman]

or sad little WET man

[PatrickG]

Great post!

I don't want to give too much away, but we're of like minds in some aspects.

Gail

Okay. Following recent developments in the DCU, why do I have a feeling that the new Atom is some kid/college student who thinks that math and science are boring and then stumbles onto Ray Palmer's technology?

I don't mean to make that sound trite. It's a good concept if that IS the shape of things to come.

But I'm worried that we're being setup for an entire generation of Kyle Rayners what with Blue Beetle, Firestorm and a new Atom.

Thing is, this whole approach isn't quite the standard legacy model where the son/daughter/protege takes up the mantle -- which is what a lot of fans want. But it's also not the Julie Schwartz approach which was more akin to having a new hero who gets a journey independent of what's come before.

I think Hal has staying power as GL (or why the memory of Barry has such impact) is largely because when he debuted, his story had NO CONNECTION to Alan Scott. He was just a new guy who happened to have the same gimmick and name but he wasn't anybody's son or protege and he didn't stumble onto someone else's gimmick, really.

I'd really like to see an assertive new Atom with no ties to Al Pratt or Ray Palmer who doesn't stumble onto either's legacy or even pay direct tribute to either one. Not a guy with "big shoes to fill". Not a guy honoring a tradition. Just a guy who happens to be called the Atom, who might shrink. Let him (or her) get at least ten issues in before Palmer or Pratt get referenced.

I'm just scared that this legacy thing is becoming shorthand for heroism and so these guys are increasingly heroes because somebody else was a hero before them. I'd really like heroes who are heroes because of who THEY are and how THEY act.

I'd also like more heroes to be in control of the story, even if that means that they become more the TOPIC of their own book rather than being the protaganist. I miss heroes doing things that mislead other characters or even the reader. I love it when, after 20 pages of thinking that the hero is doing one thing, they wind up doing another -- in the process faking out the audience and the other characters. I'd like more heroes who are dicks without being Archie Bunker stereotypes. More strong-willed or bullheaded characters. More approaches for how to deal with problems.

For instance, the standard comic book hero line is that it's wrong to tamper with history -- but why not do a book that argues that it's wrong NOT to tamper with history if you have the ability to? Why not write a book where mindwipes are treated as ethical. No cautionary tale here. Seriously adopt an ethical stance on a book that contradicts the general thought found elsewhere in the DCU.

[Night Swordsman]

as long as Gail dosn't give the powers to a ANT,i am ok with it. ;)

[PatrickG]

See... I have this crazy idea in the back of my head that "The All-New Atom" is actually ABOUT an all new atom. :)

[Night Swordsman]

Kewlie beans! Maybe she can create new electrons and quarks too! :o

[the4thpip]

Hmm... Is Trevor Scott still the artist for this?
He's not in the "Brave New World" special:

THE ALL-NEW ATOM by Gail Simone (Birds of Prey, Villains United) with art by John Byrne
http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/June06/solicitations.html

[jadrax]

Well theres not much atom on that cover but I like what I see so far. ;o)

eeek! theres two covers floating about out there and the're pretty different when it comes to the Atom!