Doctor Fate update

[scratchie]

From Steve Gerber's blog:

http://www.stevegerber.com/sgblog/2007/05/14/whither-doctor-fate/

[Cayman]

From Steve Gerber's blog:

http://www.stevegerber.com/sgblog/2007/05/14/whither-doctor-fate/

Thanks for the update. I'd been wondering what was going on with this. Wonder what the other feature will be? I'm crossing my fingers for Zatanna.

Nice sketch by Justiano. I quite like his style with all the sharp pointy edges.

[Hawkman]

'Bout time. I was beginning to worry this series was going to be quietly swept under the rug for good. Looks like DC's going to use the Countdown label to try and move some books they don't have complete confidence in. Could be smart, but I think a lot of people might be turned off by it as well.

Either way, Fate looks pretty slick in that sketch, and putting two stories in one issue has the potential to lure in a broader audience. I really hope this title delivers on both fronts, whatever the second one may be.

[scratchie]

'Bout time. I was beginning to worry this series was going to be quietly swept under the rug for good. Looks like DC's going to use the Countdown label to try and move some books they don't have complete confidence in. Could be smart, but I think a lot of people might be turned off by it as well.Yeah, I appreciate Steve's optimism, but on the other hand, changing the name of your new comic to something that isn't the character's name isn't exactly what I'd call a vote of confidence.

[Jack Zodiac]

Man, that's a nice sketch.

On the topic of DC using Countdown to launch new titles... could go either way. It's a great idea considering the book's going to be "the spine" of the next year of the DCU, but if they don't make it accessible to everyone with every issue, that'd be a mistake. Each issue needs to be something anyone could pick up at any time and understand what's going on, especially if they want to use the title to introduce new characters or reinvent old ones. I hope it works, and I hope they keep doing great work with these ideas.

[berk]

Disappointing news. I was anticipating the Fate series mainly because Gerber's writing it, and it's unlikely I'll be interested in the other feature, no matter who the character is, unless some other favourite writer or artists happens to be doing it.

[CYOTI]

Probably a good idea on DC's part.

[PastePotPete]

Animal Man, Adam Strange and Starfire star in "Countdown to Adventure."

What will this series be called?

"Countdown to Magic"? "Countdown to the Unexpected"?

Egh. I'm on board for this series but putting Countdown in the title seems forced. Marvel didn't actually put Civil War in the title. They just gave the titles a Civil War banner. I mean, that's what DC is trying emulate here, right? The success of the Civil War tie-ins?

[Cayman]

Hmm, just re-read the blog and noticed the description of the second story doesn't resemble Zatanna at all. Oh well.

[shaxper]

This makes a lot of sense. I never had much faith in the ability of a Doctor Fate solo title to make it on its own. It's never worked in the past, and Doctor Fate is no more popular today than he was for those other volumes.


I like that DC is doing these anthology series starring more than one character now. Even if it's twice the price, it gives the illusion and excitement of being more bang for your buck. I'd be more likely to try such a title.

The Countdown title, though -- that's just cheap, and it makes me less likely to buy the series. It dates the title terribly, and makes it absolutely clear that this series is just a tie-in; not a series for the ages.

[moon knight]

Nice to hear some news about this. Glad to hear that Dr. Fate's series is still a go. I am exicted to see who the other character is going to be. That sketch is really good.

[jboy]

Does anyone have a list of everything Justiano has worked on? He has quickly become one of my favorite artists.

Thanks.

[Hatut Zeraze]

My bet on the second feature is Klarion the Witch Boy.

I really hope I am right.

[Green Lantern wannabe]

You know, I never really considered Dr Fate to be the mirror image of Dr Strange. Dr Strange stories had the aura of Eastern mysticism, but, in the Dr Fate stories I read, there wasn't any sense of that aura from ancient Egypt or anything like that - he was just an adventurer with mystic zap powers.

Perhaps the Phantom Stranger could have been a better competitor.

[Babylon23]

Interesting change on DC's part, and one I definitely approve of. Hopefully, the series will attract enough readers that Fate can eventually spin-off into his own series. Can't wait to see who the other character is.

[Cayman]

My bet on the second feature is Klarion the Witch Boy.

I really hope I am right.

Wow, good thought. I hope so too.

[Hatut Zeraze]

On another thread, some guy suggested what should have been a more obvious choice:

Ralph and Sue Dibny

Klarion is a cool idea, but the Dibny's as a backup to a Gerber/Justiniano Dr. Fate would make this comic a really, really big deal. I like it.

[Babylon23]

Good call on Ralph and Sue. I'd definitely be interested in seeing that.

[Albert]

I can't wait to see what Gerber brings to a Dr. Fate title-- I was always a fan of his Dr. Strange work. I hope he's doing okay-- the blog seems to hint at some health issues.

[Fatguy]

So, the other character is a "New, twisted version"? Was the Creeper around in the Silver Age? He just got a new update. Maybe Martian Manhunter, also recently changed around a bit.

[Sean Walsh]

COUNTDOWN TO MYSTERY was announced today at WizardWorld Philly and will launch later this year.

It'll contain the Gerber/Justiniano Dr. Fate series plus an Eclipso series written by Matt Sturges.

[PastePotPete]

The Jean Loring Eclipso? Isn't she a sort-of all-powerful intangible God-like being akin to The Spectre? It's hard to make a character like that work and I don't know Matt Sturges. Not sure how I feel about this.

I definitely want those Gerber Fate stories, though. I'll check this out.

[Cayman]

Eclipso's a turn-off but perhaps it'll turn out to be an interesting feature. I'm quite excited for the Doctor Fate stories.

[Sean Walsh]

The Jean Loring Eclipso? Isn't she a sort-of all-powerful intangible God-like being akin to The Spectre? It's hard to make a character like that work and I don't know Matt Sturges. Not sure how I feel about this.

I'll assume it's the Jean Loring Eclipso. Who knows what'll happen before then, though.

And Matt Sturges currently co-writes JACK OF FABLES. So that's a plus, in my book at least.

[diablo7]

i love dr. fate but i don't know about justiniano's work...i remember seeing pics of that crappy chaos comics stuff...but if i see some of the pages and they look good i might give it a try...