DiDio & Tan on Outsiders

[theXfactor]

http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2009/10/03/breaking-dan-didio-and-philip-tan-the-new-creative-team-on-outsiders/

I'm pretty intrigued. Thoughts?

[bongoes]

I'm pretty intrigued. Thoughts?

Exactly what your thoughts are, I'm intrigued. I wonder what the significance of Superman (or someone with the symbol) in that picture is. It'll be interesting to see Didio write a monthly though.

[bongoes]

Newsarama has interviews.

http://www.newsarama.com/comics/091003-DiDio-Outsiders.html

http://www.newsarama.com/comics/091003-Tan-Outsiders.html

[galactica]

Any guess on the people on the cover?

[ryerye17]

Interesting...well, not really, but still.

[Will.S]

Seems like a strange move.

I'll be interested to see how this book does in the sales when Didio starts writing it.

[Gitaroo_Dude]

Fantastic news. Didio on a book I have no intention of buying. :biggrin:

Adventure Comics dodged a bullet here.

[Personamanx]

Well. It wont stop me from not reading this anymore.

[Will.S]

Fantastic news. Didio on a book I have no intention of buying. :biggrin:

Adventure Comics dodged a bullet here.

Well. It wont stop me from not reading this anymore.
On the other hand, there's this too.

[philippos42]

Is that Geo-Force and Steel? Well, I like those characters, so let's hope that the appearance on the front cover at least means they're not being killed off.

But I remember: DiDio wrote Superboy before becoming E-i-C. Then killed him off (temporarily, but still).

Yeah, this will probably just be the regular level of DC badness.

[KET]

Well, I suppose this news explains why this train wreck of a series keeps getting published. I feel sorry for the trees being tragically wasted.

[galactica]

If that is Steel on the cover, I'll try out a few issues of this.


And I wouldn't consider the series a train wreck. Apart from the RIP issues, everything has been pretty good. The Chuck Dixon run was good and the Pete Tomasi issues have been good.

[Desaad]

Would have loved to see Nicieza on this book.

Won't be picking this up.

[Retro315]

Geo-Force and Steel.

I think this'll work (possibly, I mean, jury's still out on DiDio's writing chops lately, but it's not like Metal Men was bad, it's just ... we were all reading it for Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez's art, and the story was pretty generic stuff).

But while I'm willing to check it out, and think Tan is a good fit for Outsiders, which falls in with the grittiness of the Batman books, but isn't, I'll reserve judgment.

There's some good stories that can be told with the Outsiders - Geo-Force, Black Lightning, Metamorpho, Katana, Halo, deserve some good stories. Steel joining actually seems like a fairly natural fit. Maybe Dan's got a good story to tell.

The interviews tell us they're going old-school on it with plot-script stories, so that likely means they'll conference the plot, and then Dan'll go in and add dialogue after Tan tells the story. I'm at least interested to see the results.

Now, for Tomasi leaving the book ... that's the secret good news behind this. He's been telling a weird, but promising Outsiders story ... but the news that he's got something else in the works ... that gets me excited.

What, oh what, could Pete Tomasi's new project be?

Because if Pete is writing Aquaman, I will be a happy fanboy.

[galactica]

Geo-Force and Steel.

I think this'll work (possibly, I mean, jury's still out on DiDio's writing chops lately, but it's not like Metal Men was bad, it's just ... we were all reading it for Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez's art, and the story was pretty generic stuff).

But while I'm willing to check it out, and think Tan is a good fit for Outsiders, which falls in with the grittiness of the Batman books, but isn't, I'll reserve judgment.

There's some good stories that can be told with the Outsiders - Geo-Force, Black Lightning, Metamorpho, Katana, Halo, deserve some good stories. Steel joining actually seems like a fairly natural fit. Maybe Dan's got a good story to tell.

The interviews tell us they're going old-school on it with plot-script stories, so that likely means they'll conference the plot, and then Dan'll go in and add dialogue after Tan tells the story. I'm at least interested to see the results.

Now, for Tomasi leaving the book ... that's the secret good news behind this. He's been telling a weird, but promising Outsiders story ... but the news that he's got something else in the works ... that gets me excited.

What, oh what, could Pete Tomasi's new project be?

Because if Pete is writing Aquaman, I will be a happy fanboy.

Pete Tomasi on Aquaman would be great.

[Batman was taken]

Interesting...

I have been contemplating whether or not to keep getting Outsiders. I really don't know now....

[Retro315]

Pete Tomasi on Aquaman would be great.

The irony is that Patrick Gleason on Aquaman was AWESOME as well but he'll still be with Pete on Green Lantern and it'd be a heavy workload to do both titles.

Anyway, crossing my fingers about Pete on Aquaman (although I think Pete would be a strong option for a new Hawk book, too).

[Sean Walsh]

Interesting move. Gives a lower-tier book a good shot in the arm getting the Exec Editor and a top artist onboard.

And unlike GLC and a lot of other stuff he writes, Tomasi's OUTSIDERS has been horribly lackluster, so I'm not sad to see him go so that he can focus more on his better books.

[Jaded Devil]

I actually kinda have a problem with this. There are so many good comic writers out there, either fledgling or long-established pros, who aren't working regularly who would love an assignment like this. But DiDio, who's not exactly struggling in his "day job," decides to write the book himself because he thinks it'd be "fun"? Shouldn't he be too busy trying to run the day-to-day operation stuff? Kinda feels like taking away a job from someone more qualified to do it just for kicks.

Think what you will about Quesada, but at least he recognizes his job duties realistically prevent him from working regularly on a book. He's even removed himself from penciling a project he was slated to because he knew his "day job" came first.

[galactica]

I actually kinda have a problem with this. There are so many good comic writers out there, either fledgling or long-established pros, who aren't working regularly who would love an assignment like this. But DiDio, who's not exactly struggling in his "day job," decides to write the book himself because he thinks it'd be "fun"? Shouldn't he be too busy trying to run the day-to-day operation stuff? Kinda feels like taking away a job from someone more qualified to do it just for kicks.

Think what you will about Quesada, but at least he recognizes his job duties realistically prevent him from working regularly on a book. He's even removed himself from penciling a project he was slated to because he knew his "day job" came first.

I agree with most of what you are saying but a comic book and drawing a comic book are two very different things.

There are any number of writers who work on two or three titles for DC/Marvel as well as an indy book. And artist can pretty much work on only one title at a time. Mark Waid is EiC and writes at least two regular titles with one more just announced. Of course Waid is a great writer who is leaps and bounds above Didio but that's not the point I'm trying to make.

My point is drawing a 22 page monthly comic is a full-time job, write a 22 page monthy comics isn't. He can still do his job as EiC and meet writing deadline.

Now whether he should be writing at all is another question.

[joao_miranda]

I actually kinda have a problem with this. There are so many good comic writers out there, either fledgling or long-established pros, who aren't working regularly who would love an assignment like this. But DiDio, who's not exactly struggling in his "day job," decides to write the book himself because he thinks it'd be "fun"? Shouldn't he be too busy trying to run the day-to-day operation stuff? Kinda feels like taking away a job from someone more qualified to do it just for kicks.

Is there any other reason to write comic books? Why do you think guys like JMS do it, when they certainly don't need the money? Because it's fun. That's why I wanna do it.

[Thok]

What, oh what, could Pete Tomasi's new project be?

Because if Pete is writing Aquaman, I will be a happy fanboy.

If Martian Manhunter gets revived, that would be another project I could see Tomasi doing based on his past history with the character.

[Jaded Devil]

Is there any other reason to write comic books? Why do you think guys like JMS do it, when they certainly don't need the money? Because it's fun. That's why I wanna do it.

So you're okay with DiDio getting another paycheck instead of talented writers who could use the money, like John Ostrander or William Messner-Loebs? Just smacks of using his power to get a gig that would be much better-suited to another writer.

[Mat001]

Is that Geo-Force and Steel? Well, I like those characters, so let's hope that the appearance on the front cover at least means they're not being killed off.

John Henry's in a coma as explained in Superman #682.


Think what you will about Quesada, but at least he recognizes his job duties realistically prevent him from working regularly on a book. He's even removed himself from penciling a project he was slated to because he knew his "day job" came first.

Quesada is an artist. Didio is a writer. Doing "Wednesday Comics" didn't interfere with his work as editor of Teen Titans and being executive editor. That's why Levitz gave him the thumbs up prior to resigning. Didio convinced him that he could do both jobs. And as pointed out, Waid is writing three books and has a day job. If Waid can do it, Didio can. Regardless of the quality of his work.

[joao_miranda]

So you're okay with DiDio getting another paycheck instead of talented writers who could use the money, like John Ostrander or William Messner-Loebs? Just smacks of using his power to get a gig that would be much better-suited to another writer.

What I prefer is unrelevant. Sure I would love to see any of those writers getting more work. But that's got nothing to do with it. Jim Lee probably also has a lot of money. Should he never do a comic book ever again?

Didio isn't doing this because of money. He's doing it because he likes. That's the best reason you can get to do anything.

[Ikonic]

If that is Steel...I'll be checkin' this out!

[Karl O'Neill]

We will see.

Not sure what to think of this move.

[titanfan]

Using "plot-style" scripts just means that Didio writes a plot outline, the artist does all the page layouts and breakdowns and then the writer fills in the dialogue afterwards?

[Desaad]

Using "plot-style" scripts just means that Didio writes a plot outline, the artist does all the page layouts and breakdowns and then the writer fills in the dialogue afterwards?

Generally speaking, yes.

They often call it "Marvel Style", since it's the way that Stan Lee used to work with his artists (though that blurred the lines, as he used to leave A LOT to, for instance, Jack Kirby to fill in, which is how the Silver Surfer was born).

But yeah. It allows the artists to become more like co-creators, IMHO, having input on pacing and staging and what not. But it's also a lot more work, I would imagine, forcing them to figure out how/what works.

[DetectiveDupin]

Meh I probably wont be picking up Outsider's anytime soon,

[Clockan]

im actually really happy about this... ive always been curious to see didio on writing duties... ide love it if he was a great writer... of course herald wont think so

plus tan on anything is a good thing... especially when its something already on my pull list

[Mundungus]

They both have enthusiasm for this book, which gives me some hope.

I'm a hit-or-miss with Tan. I think he has fantastic design sensibilities and that page in Batman and Robin #4 where Lightning Bug is jumping between buildings is breathtaking, but I'm not keen on his character work (They're just statues to me), but he's certainly no slob.

I really have no expectations for this book. I'm going to give it a fair shot.

[Captain Jim]

They often call it "Marvel Style", since it's the way that Stan Lee used to work with his artists

I'm getting a big kick out of the fact that Didio writes "Marvel style."

ive always been curious to see didio on writing duties...

I thought he did a good job on Metal Men in Wednesday Comics.

[meek?]

Mang... I JUST got really comfortable w/ the team set in place.

Tomasi and Pasarin w/ The Outsiders are great together! I thought the title was finally fixed already.

Peace.

[ljacone]

I'm of two minds on this. I really liked Tomasi on this title, so I am disappointed that he is leaving. But, I also liked DiDio's Metal Men from Wednesday Comics, as well as his Aquaman story from the Holiday Special last year, so I am optimistic about the stories he wants to tell. So I guess I will have to wait and see.

Honestly, what I want most is a steady creative team. Since Winnick left this title has been bounced around in all different directions.

[bottlecityofkanga]

I started getting Outsiders when the line up changed as I'm a big fan of the 80s version. When I found out how bad it was I kept buying it to write bitchy reviews of it on my blog haha!

I'm not thrilled about this creative change though!

This will be the fourth "new direction" in three years!!!

Will he be keeping Halo, Katana, Black Lightning etc? I doubt he will. No one seems to like Halo (expect me :frown: )

[pariah-1972]

I really don't know what to think of this but since Outsiders doesn't really matter much nowadays it's pretty harmless unless he decides to ruin a character.

[nepenthes]

I'm happy about this if for no other reason than Tomasi might be moved to a higher profile title.

an Aquaman rumour would be too good to be true

I'm getting a big kick out of the fact that Didio writes "Marvel style.

ha yeah that's awesome

[Captain Jim]

Will he be keeping Halo, Katana, Black Lightning etc? I doubt he will. No one seems to like Halo (expect me :frown: )

In the interview, he says they want to get away from changing the team every time there's a creative change.

[Psavell2]

In the interview, he says they want to get away from changing the team every time there's a creative change.

Yeah, I liked what he said about building on what's already been written. That sounds promising to me since I like what I'm reading right now. Also, unless I'm reading it wrong, it sounds like he won't be cutting any characters, just adding new ones, which is okay by me too, though I'm mainly a fan of the original team, so it's really already feeling a little crowded with Creeper and Owlman, though they have grown on me.

[ljacone]

Yeah, I liked what he said about building on what's already been written. That sounds promising to me since I like what I'm reading right now. Also, unless I'm reading it wrong, it sounds like he won't be cutting any characters, just adding new ones, which is okay by me too, though I'm mainly a fan of the original team, so it's really already feeling a little crowded with Creeper and Owlman, though they have grown on me.

I agree with you about Creeper, but Owlman seems to fit in very nicely with this crew. Maybe I am just used to the BATO era with a team of six?

I hope DD means what he says and builds on what Tomasi is doing right now, which I am really, really enjoying.

[Psavell2]

I agree with you about Creeper, but Owlman seems to fit in very nicely with this crew.

I agree. I particularly enjoy the budding friendship between Owlman and Black Lightning. I could see their relationship becoming one of those classic friendships like Green Lantern and Flash/Green Arrow, The Atom and Hawkman or Pre-Crisis Superman and Batman.

Creeper doesn't seem suitable to any team dynamic, but I enjoyed his moments in the spotlight in the special and the last two chapters of The Deep, so unless they want to give him a solo co-feature somewhere I'll take him any way I can get him.