One Year Later strange idea?

[NMoline]

http://comics.ign.com/articles/692/692437p1.html Ign has just posted this list of all the one year later titles coming out in March. Does anyone other than myself find this idea extremely perplexing yet somehow intriguing? DC is releasing One Year Later isses before the end of Infinite Crisis and then the missing year will be in the 52 series. Are the OYL titles not going to have spoilers or is that the point that we want to see how it unraveled? I find this so unusual but at the same time I want to buy every OYL and 52 issue.

[Zero Hunter]

You should have seen how much of a shock it was when they did the 5 Years Latter jump in the Legion of Super Heroes back in the late 80's. only they never came out and told you exactelly what happened in those 5 years and only gave you bits and pieces as you went along.

When done well this trick works great.

[scratchie]

I find this so unusual but at the same time I want to buy every OYL and 52 issue.Sounds like it's working! :D

[Lorendiac]

http://comics.ign.com/articles/692/692437p1.html Ign has just posted this list of all the one year later titles coming out in March. Does anyone other than myself find this idea extremely perplexing yet somehow intriguing? DC is releasing One Year Later isses before the end of Infinite Crisis and then the missing year will be in the 52 series. Are the OYL titles not going to have spoilers or is that the point that we want to see how it unraveled? I find this so unusual but at the same time I want to buy every OYL and 52 issue.

It was actually announced months ago that the "One Year Later" issues would start coming out in March 2006, before Infinite Crisis had published its last couple of issues. So I've had time to get accustomed to the idea.

Despite which, your first reaction is very similar to my first reaction when I first heard about it. It did seem to me that this was going to ruin some of the suspense for us. Any supporting character who showed up in a March issue of a DC title would, just by showing up, be telling us that he had survived the end of Infinite Crisis. That's a Spoiler right there even if nobody in a Batman comic book in March, for instance, ever says a single line of dialogue about the weird stuff that happened to them during the last part of the Infinite Crisis.

I get the feeling that in the Batman-related titles, and probably most others, the major appeal or mystery of OYL is supposed to be figuring out "How did things change so much in one year?" Things I have heard give me the impression that the "52" series, filling in the missing year, will have little or no appearances by such big names as Batman and Superman, so I suspect that in their cases we'll just have to gradually "pick it up as we go along" by seeing what clues the writers drop regarding what's allegedly happened to members of the supporting casts lately.

[Giant Guy]

Does anyone know why they did the OYL titles before the end of IC? It just seems strange that the new storylines have started but the big one has not ended.

[Patman]

Does anyone know why they did the OYL titles before the end of IC? It just seems strange that the new storylines have started but the big one has not ended.

I hate that OYL titles are showing up with 2 more issues of IC to go. I'm sure DC editorial is looking to drum up the mystery/curiousity angle to get people to buy the books before IC concludes in 2 months, so they are milking the IC remaining issue for all they are worth.

Of course, in 3 months time, we will have forgotten a lot of these issues.

My LCS did say that OYL has spiked sales for all of those titles yesterday.

[JuggernautRM]

Reason why they are pushing the OYL a little earlier is because they realized that people are tired of seeing IC crossovers in each title.

Also, it does give a sense of wonder at seeing some characters changed a bit, and see what really made them change later on in the remaining IC issues and 52.

[Sean Walsh]

What I think readers will have to understand - many probably do but most might not think about it immediately - is that 1 year in DCU time is NOT 1 year our time.

DC is gonna treat this OYL period as a time of SIGNIFICANT changes. Just look at Detective this week - at least 2 *major* things happened in that year.

My point is: people might think that too much has changed in the books OYL. But it's OYL their time, not ours. 1 DCU year might = 5 or 6 of our years.

[Ian J.N.]

Does anyone know why they did the OYL titles before the end of IC? It just seems strange that the new storylines have started but the big one has not ended.
I think it's more for business reasons than creative. Overlap the ending of one chapter with the beginning of the next, and you're less likely to have readers get off the train.

[Lorendiac]

What I think readers will have to understand - many probably do but most might not think about it immediately - is that 1 year in DCU time is NOT 1 year our time.

DC is gonna treat this OYL period as a time of SIGNIFICANT changes. Just look at Detective this week - at least 2 *major* things happened in that year.

My point is: people might think that too much has changed in the books OYL. But it's OYL their time, not ours. 1 DCU year might = 5 or 6 of our years.

I hate to admit it -- but I'm not sure I understand your point. What has "our time" got to do with anything? Why would any of the readers be thinking of OYL in terms of "our time" instead of "DCU time" in the first place? After all, we are not the characters who are being affected by it. Batman and Superman et aliae are :)

[mohammedali]

Well, let's face it. Who here honestly thinks the good guys lost? No one right... Hence, even if we don't see evil SBP and Alex Luthor get beaten, we know it'll happen. With 52, everything that is covered will only come up in normal continuity when it happens in 52 itslef. The writers have made sure important 52 spoilers don't come out in regular DCU comics before they want them to. Also, the 52 characters are not in any of these books, so we won't get many spoilers anyway. Makes sence right.

Mohammed Ali

[cutler]

I am a long time reader of many titles in the marvel u, and now I have found my way to dc when identity crisis came out last summer. as those of you who are reading this may assume; I do not know many of the characters and stories within the dc u. I am familiar with some of the main stream characters, and what happened with crisis on infinite earths. i am curious as to what dc is doing with one year later and the series 52. as i understand it all the titles in the dc u jump forward one year, and this new series 52 is a weekly series that will fill that one year gap in. Is this correct? also can anyone reading this give me recomendations as to what titles I should pick up. im not real hardcore right now, so maybe some of the more flagship titles out there. im dabbling right now, so sue me :)

[Babylon23]

You've got it right cutler. The books have all leapt a year ahead, and 52 is a 52-issue weekly title that will show us what's happened during that year.

As for recommendations, it would depend on your tastes. I'd recommend checking out the first OYL issues for the different titles, and see which ones interest you. From what I've seen, OYL is desigend as a jumping on point for new readers, so hopefully, it won't be too difficult to pick on on what's going on.

If you're looking for a new hero, check out Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis #40. This is the debut of an all-new Aquaman. It's written by Kurt Busiek and drawn by Jackson Guice. The issue came out this week.

[Zero Hunter]

I agree with Babylon. Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis 40 is a good issue all the way around. You don't need to know hardly anything to jump right in and enjoys this issue. You get the first look at the new Aquaman and a good introduction to the supporting players.

[literally exaggerated]

The latest issue of Detective Comics is friggin awesome, and if you've ever seen or read anything with Batman in it you'll be right at home.

Actually, I have yet to read a bad OYL title...

[cutler]

im sure its out there, but does anyone know of a good checklist for one year later events. or is it simply all the titles in the dc u.

[Babylon23]

It's going to be running through all of the March DC titles. So far, they've released the following:

Blood of the Demon 13
Aquaman 40
Detective 817
JSA 83
Outsiders 34

[Zero Hunter]

These are the OYL book I read this month and what I thought of them.

Blood of the Demon - Very good. Say what you will about Bryne these days he does do a great job on this title. The mystery of the two Etrigans and the new Lord of the Damned is a very good story and the art is great.

Outsiders - Interesting and gets a few more issues. Interesed to see how Boomerrang Jr. and Metamorpho ended up on the team and why the world thinks the team is dead.

JSA - Always good and the OYL does not seem to have changed the qualtity at all. Loved the villian in this one.

Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis - Most radical new direction of the OYL books so far, and one of the most interesting.


And to answer your question Cutler all of the mainstream DCU titles starting with this week are going to be OYL now. Except in the cases when the book is running a little late and might have antoher issue before the jump.

[Super Sonic]

The latest issue of Detective Comics is friggin awesome, and if you've ever seen or read anything with Batman in it you'll be right at home.

Actually, I have yet to read a bad OYL title...

Haven't read Outsiders, no?