Dan DiDio Finds a Home for Orphaned Heroes

[Flash's Lightning]

Those are very frustrating for me, because both books have very supportive, very vocal fanbases, and one of my primary goals for characters like Blue Beetle and Manhunter is to make sure that they have a place, they have a home, so that the fans that were attracted to those characters will be able to find them and get consistent and good stories with them. We’ve developed a base of fans that want to see those characters, and I don’t want to leave them hanging.

You gotta give him that, even when a book is killed, he does seem to find a place for the hero of that title. He gained +2 respect points from me for that.

[Shellhead]

It's a good idea. But maybe these characters would have had a better chance with better promotion early on. Blue Beetle at least showed up in a couple of issues of Brave & the Bold and got a scene in Infinite Crisis, but Manhunter seemed pretty much stuck in her own little corner. Guest shots or brief cross-overs with Batman, Superman, or the Justice League would have done a better job of introducing these characters to more potential fans.

[jerrymcl89]

Of course, he's now cancelled the book that he found a home for Manhunter in, as well.

[Sean Walsh]

It's a good idea. But maybe these characters would have had a better chance with better promotion early on. Blue Beetle at least showed up in a couple of issues of Brave & the Bold and got a scene in Infinite Crisis, but Manhunter seemed pretty much stuck in her own little corner. Guest shots or brief cross-overs with Batman, Superman, or the Justice League would have done a better job of introducing these characters to more potential fans.

Buh?

First off, their series each lasted 3 years (Manhunter more than that due to the hiatuses). A lot longer than most failed series tend to last.

Blue Beetle is, as far as I know, still a Teen Titan. And he was introduced in Infinite Crisis, as well as a role in the events alongside Batman.

Manhunter's been a part of Birds of Prey since #100 hasn't she?

[Shellhead]

Manhunter's been a part of Birds of Prey since #100 hasn't she?

Which has also been canceled, so it probably wasn't the most high-profile title to get some attention for Manhunter.

[celticguy]

Which has also been canceled, so it probably wasn't the most high-profile title to get some attention for Manhunter.

She was in Wonder Woman as well When she was on trial for Max Lord.

I am not sure what kind of promotion you wanted?

[Shellhead]

I am not sure what kind of promotion you wanted?

I was pretty specific:

"Guest shots or brief cross-overs with Batman, Superman, or the Justice League would have done a better job of introducing these characters to more potential fans."

High-profile titles. Ones that sell really well. And not just guest-shots, but short crossovers that require fans of one title to buy both titles to get the story. DC and Marvel used to both be a lot better at cross-promoting characters with guest-shots. Almost every time there was a new series with a new hero or hero team, there would be a guest-shot by Superman, Batman, or the Justice League. Even the New Teen Titans got an early sales boost from an appearance by the JLA.

[titanfan]

Guest shots or brief cross-overs with Batman, Superman, or the Justice League would have done a better job of introducing these characters to more potential fans.

When Manhunter was uncancelled, it had Wonder Woman, Batman, and a tease of the return of Ted Kord. It seemed to be working as sales were on an upward trend, but then the book went into hiatus and lost all the momentum it had gained. Out of sight, out of mind.

[celticguy]

I was pretty specific:

"Guest shots or brief cross-overs with Batman, Superman, or the Justice League would have done a better job of introducing these characters to more potential fans."

High-profile titles. Ones that sell really well. And not just guest-shots, but short crossovers that require fans of one title to buy both titles to get the story. DC and Marvel used to both be a lot better at cross-promoting characters with guest-shots. Almost every time there was a new series with a new hero or hero team, there would be a guest-shot by Superman, Batman, or the Justice League. Even the New Teen Titans got an early sales boost from an appearance by the JLA.


It did not help Infinity inc to catch on, sometimes characters just don't catch on. At least enough to justify a monthly.

[Sean Walsh]

Which has also been canceled, so it probably wasn't the most high-profile title to get some attention for Manhunter.

It was a stylistic choice ("she's a girl, let's put her in the comic with all them girls!"), more than anything. Plus I think Simone wanted to write her and help Marc Andreyko out with exposure.

I think just tossing her in JLA or a larger scale book might've seemed too needy. Not all new characters in need of attention and exposure to larger audiences are embraced by the audiences of those books.

They did pump some star power and advertising into the first revival - Batman, the Blue Beetle tease, and it's where Wonder Woman's trial for killing Max Lord took place. But the second revival got nothing....... I really don't get the point of doing it, outside of "we promised the writer we would."

[Ontir]

Where is this home? You talk about it, but never name it.

[Brack360]

She was in Wonder Woman as well When she was on trial for Max Lord.


That was a story arc in Manhunter's own series, not Wonder Woman. The entire trial was totally ignored by Allan Heinberg and Jodi Picoult.

[hondobrode]

are cancelled but Didio made it clear that the characters will be featured in the Battle For the Cowl and whatever follows. Probably Dick becomes the next Batman, Damian will be the new Robin, and the Birds of Prey characters are too popular to not have something done with them, though it might be a different name. The Birds of Prey name is fairly strong and the run got over 100 issues so I would think it would build on the name i.e. Birds of Prey : Gotham or something.