Is Steel going to die, too? (possible spoilers)

[Supes35]

Since we now know that John (Steel) is going to be a major player in '52,' do you think that DC is going to kill that character off, next?

I am asking, because it seems that DC is all about shock value nowadays and building up characters only to kill them off in the end.

I don't want anything bad to happen to the Steel character, but with Didio being so determined to bring back the pre-crisis elements, I wouldn't be surprised of Steel does not make it out of '52' alive. I hope that Steel lives, though, as I've always liked his character and saw the potential his character does have.

[Matt Algren]

Since we now know that John (Steel) is going to be a major player in '52,' do you think that DC is going to kill that character off, next?

I am asking, because it seems that DC is all about shock value nowadays and building up characters only to kill them off in the end.

I don't want anything bad to happen to the Steel character, but with Didio being so determined to bring back the pre-crisis elements, I wouldn't be surprised of Steel does not make it out of '52' alive. I hope that Steel lives, though, as I've always liked his character and saw the potential his character does have.
I'm going from memory here, but isn't Steel in the big ad for 52? The one withe the cowl, cape and the tiara in the foreground?

[Yoda]

Well on character out of the main six in 52 is supposed to die. Although we won't know until it happens because none of the 52 characters are supposed to be featured in a OYL title until 52 concludes next spring.

[PatrickG]

I think Steel's niece, who succeeded him, may be subject to some character assassination and may even die based on what I've read.

But I suspect Steel himself, John Henry Irons, is being setup for a 52 spinoff that will launch sometime around June 2007.

Didio doesn't give a rip about pre-Crisis. What he's into is making the DCU as marketable as possible.

Hal Jordan's return, in the end, happened because Hal has appeared on more merchandise than any other GL. Kara Zor-El/Supergirl's return happened because she's been on more merchandise, she had a movie and the concept is simple and easily marketed outside comics.

In fact, Warner's Supergirl line of clothes and cosmetics has been identifying Supergirl as Superman's cousin Kara for six or seven years.

Steel (the John Henry version) has had a movie and has been featured in two cartoon series as well as a TON of merchandise like T-shirts and ballcaps.

Didio can play more fast and loose with Flash since the costume obscures the identity and no one outside comics really know who Barry Allen or Wally West are. I wouldn't be TOO shocked to see, say, a Flash who is not Wally, Barry or Jay in the new series.

But the bottom line, as far as character setups go, seems to be marketing based.

I wouldn't expect Hank Hall back as Hawk or anything like that anytime soon.

Characters will tend to settle towards more "cute" status quos. Who they are and what they do will be something you can sum up in twelve words or less. In cases where it's easier to revert to a Silver Age status quo to accomplish that, I expect we'll see just that. But if a Silver Age character or status quo gets in the way of that, it's pretty unlikely they'll come back unless a creative team makes a hell of a pitch.

[stealthwise]

In the latest issue of Action Comics, one of the goons in armour makes some comparison to Steel and his comrade says something like, "Steel is a brother."

Notice the IS, not WAS. DC's been pretty careful so far about emphasizing who is and isn't alive (when they actually acknowledge it), so unless the crooks aren't aware that he's dead, I think that it might be safe to say that Steel is still around somewhere.

[Ian J.N.]

I don't want anything bad to happen to the Steel character, but with Didio being so determined to bring back the pre-crisis elements, I wouldn't be surprised of Steel does not make it out of '52' alive. I hope that Steel lives, though, as I've always liked his character and saw the potential his character does have.
I disagree that DC's goal is to bring back the pre-crisis elements. Some characters, like Green Lantern and Batman, have been brought back to their iconic roots, but just as many have been launched into new directions: Blue Beetle, Kyle Rayner, and Aquaman, for example. I wouldn't worry about Steel's fate simply because he's a post-crisis character.

What DC is trying to do, though, is diversify their lineup. From today's Crisis Counseling interview with Didio:
Q: With Blue Beetle a Hispanic and the new Atom Asian, is there a conscious effort for more racially diverse characters OYL?

DD: Absolutely, and the global reach of the DC Universe will be felt fully as new heroes are revealed in the pages of, you guessed it, 52.
In Steel, they have a racially diverse character who's already been established. I think DC will take a similar tact they did with Hawkgirl, i.e. give him a spotlight, which is basically what they're doing in 52. I find it unlikely that they plan to kill him off.

At the very least, we get a whole year of Steel. Hey, that's awesome! Let's worry about his fate later.

[sly_kat]

eh my guess is Black Adam bites the dust, while blowing up his imperfect country, that he fought so hard to keep:)

[handOFfate]

eh my guess is Black Adam bites the dust, while blowing up his imperfect country, that he fought so hard to keep:)

Black Adam is too interesting a character to kill off. He also seems to be a favorite of Johns. I think he and Booster are safe.

[titanfan]

Steel is my pick to die in "52", if only because he has a replacement ready in Natasha.

[EZMOHR]

Since Countdown to IC in my opinion, they have been setting up the big death to be Booster Gold.

[PatrickG]

Steel is my pick to die in "52", if only because he has a replacement ready in Natasha.

Actually, Didio has hinted that Natasha may not be worthy of the name Steel in 52, which is what brings John Henry back to the fold.

I think something was said about her being morally questionable or something.

[titanfan]

Well, her Dad's sacrifice at the end of the series could give her motive to change her ways. :)

I do actually think that Booster's story arc could end with his death in 52. Still, I have to think that with the hits that the JLI has taken lately, that the remaining core members of the team (that are still alive) should have a "do not execute until the next big crossover" memo put on them...

[DarthAstuart]

I do actually think that Booster's story arc could end with his death in 52. Still, I have to think that with the hits that the JLI has taken lately, that the remaining core members of the team (that are still alive) should have a "do not execute until the next big crossover" memo put on them...

actually, I'd say Booster's status as a key figure from the JL/I/E/A/O/U days puts a target on his back...or head, if it should somehow be maxwell lord doing the killing.

for whatever reason, didio seems to have it out for the Giffen/DeMatteis league. anyone seen any good convention or interview comments where he explains WHY he feels this way? i can get not liking the stories, to each his own, but why not just let it lie instead of killing and screwing up all the characters to fit whatever crisis-of-the-month he wants?

[Lex]

In the latest issue of Action Comics, one of the goons in armour makes some comparison to Steel and his comrade says something like, "Steel is a brother."

Notice the IS, not WAS. DC's been pretty careful so far about emphasizing who is and isn't alive (when they actually acknowledge it), so unless the crooks aren't aware that he's dead, I think that it might be safe to say that Steel is still around somewhere.I don't think that's something you can trust. Unless a character comes right out and says that Steel is still alive, it's best not to assume. DC has said that none of the main characters in 52 will appear anywhere in the OYL DCU because they don't want to spoil the ending of 52.