How come DC decided to make Mister Terrific not act like Mister Terrific?

[[]D[]/\/\[]D @ Nite/So-tite]

The character was a complete 180 from what he was prior to the relaunch:

http://forums.comicbookresources.com/showthread.php?t=324717

Why did they feel the need to change part of why people liked the character in the first place and make him act completely OOC?

[Kid Kamikaze10]

Uh...


You're gonna have to throw some examples on this one. You might have a point.

[[]D[]/\/\[]D @ Nite/So-tite]

Uh...


You're gonna have to throw some examples on this one. You might have a point.

Well, for starters...

How about constantly letting everyone (including the reader) know how smart he was and that he was Black, complete with his new-found temper.

[SilverZeal]

Actually d real question should b, "Hw in hell would any editor in DC tell Wallace butcher such an awesome xcter?"

[B. Kuwanger]

Yeah I dunno if it was so much about character as it was about the book just not being very good. The "DC Heroes" or whatever got a pretty raw deal: Krul, Wallace, super early team shake up on Static, Daniel/Liefeld on Hawkman, the Firestorm situation, Marz off of Voodoo quickly...

I almost feel like DC threw out several of these just to say they tried.

[Rakzo]

I've been reading Mister Terrific since the beginning and while I can appreciate some of Wallace's ideas I just can't get past the lackluster execution.

For once the characterization is not accurate. From the appearances that Mister Terrific had in JSA he's not supposed to be this wisecracking guy that Wallace was trying to portray and the dialogue is some of the most awkward that I've ever read.

Also, after reading issue 5 and the commentary about black slavery makes me think that Wallace has issues.

[Fused]

I've been reading Mister Terrific since the beginning and while I can appreciate some of Wallace's ideas I just can't get past the lackluster execution.

For once the characterization is not accurate. From the appearances that Mister Terrific had in JSA he's not supposed to be this wisecracking guy that Wallace was trying to portray and the dialogue is some of the most awkward that I've ever read.

Also, after reading issue 5 and the commentary about black slavery makes me think that Wallace has issues.

Wow seriously? Man am I glad I jumped ship at issue 3.

[Shellhead]

Actually d real question should b, "Hw in hell would any editor in DC tell Wallace butcher such an awesome xcter?"

I don't think editors do much anymore, either at DC or Marvel. I think they just briefly check to see that there isn't any nudity or extreme language and then rubberstamp everything as okay. Past editors seemed to have more input on story direction and even characterization. Still, editor Tom Brevoort at Marvel claims that he advised Bendis that Agent Brand of S.W.O.R.D. isn't actually an excited school girl.

[Kid Montana]

Wait, you mean having Mega Mind as your arch nemesis and a killer GPS wasnt meant to bring in loads of new readers...

It was just a terrible book, best that it got cancelled now rather than ruin the character forever.

I was only still reading for the lulz anyway...

[Rakzo]

Wow seriously? Man am I glad I jumped ship at issue 3.

Yeah, it was'nt even subtle. I think it started with something like "Michael is trapped but it would'nt be the first time that a black man has to fight for his freedom" and then it went with scenes of black slavery that happened in earth.

I was like "Oh I get it!, black slavery was bad"

[Outside_85]

I fear for the next (if any) DC books with Wallaces name on it.

[Ramage]

I'm mourning this one pretty badly. Not so much the actual comic, but the comic that was in my head.

[Kid Montana]

I'm mourning this one pretty badly. Not so much the actual comic, but the comic that was in my head.

I had pretty high hopes for this one too...It was just so awful I kept buying it just to make fun of it.

But what do I know, I am just the 5th smartest person on the planet...Goes way down when I haven't had my coffee though...

[shingi70]

I fear for the next (if any) DC books with Wallaces name on it.

pfft i fear for a black character getting an on-going again.

[Desaad]

Look, it isn't as if they didn't try.

Eric Wallace was the perfect writer for Mr. Terrific, on paper. His ideas were exciting, and his background and inclinations were a flawless fit.

It iddn't work out, because he just doesn't have much skill, but I can see why they gave him the book. It's not as if they set out to destroy the character.

One hopes that future attempts will be stronger.

[ropeburn39]

I almost forgot he was black for a page or two, then it was super nice of the writer to remind me...again.

They changed his character so he could bang Power Girl, which is worth it if you think about it :redface:

[Fused]

I almost forgot he was black for a page or two, then it was super nice of the writer to remind me...again.

They changed his character so he could bang Power Girl, which is worth it if you think about it :redface:

D'oh! QFT.

[Rakzo]

They changed his character so he could bang Power Girl, which is worth it if you think about it :redface:

It was worth nothing. I usually don't care about the relationships between superheroes but this was just a step backwards for Power Girl, especially considering how uninteresting Mister Terrific was in this book.

[gwydion]

Just how smart does that make the rest of humanity if the third smartest man in the world doesn't even notice that his girlfriend is Power Girl?!?:tongue:

Way to go Sherlock! Batman must be scared his title of World's Greatest Detective is in jeopardy...:wink:

Then again, no one seems to notice that Clark Kent guy who looks an awful lot like Superman...

[Fused]

It was worth nothing. I usually don't care about the relationships between superheroes but this was just a step backwards for Power Girl, especially considering how uninteresting Mister Terrific was in this book.

Well not for us, obviously, but for the poorly written, Michael Holt it may have been. I think he means it would be worth being a lamer version of yourself to hook up with Peej.

That aside, I have got to flip through the last book at the LCS today to see how truly bad it is.

[mistergoodman]

DC didn't "decide" anything about Mister Terrific though. They hired a writer for a book and it didn't work out.

[FHIZ]

pfft i fear for a black character getting an on-going again.

...I realize the point trying to be made, but that was really worded poorly, haha.

[MadEdric]

I was really disappointed that he used force to beat his first opponent. Here was a great way for them to show his smarts and foil the guy with intelligence.
I'll be sticking with the book until the end though. I want DC to see at least that Mr. Terrific has a fan in me and hope they serve the character and the reader better when Earth-2 comes out.

[Empress96]

I guess Clark deserves the crown :) It's funny how Clark wears glasses but in reality it's the people around him that needs them.

[ArnoldoAAD]

Wait, you mean having Mega Mind as your arch nemesis and a killer GPS wasnt meant to bring in loads of new readers...

It was just a terrible book, best that it got cancelled now rather than ruin the character forever.

I was only still reading for the lulz anyway...

this post feels awfully familiar to me


I had pretty high hopes for this one too...It was just so awful I kept buying it just to make fun of it.

But what do I know, I am just the 5th smartest person on the planet...Goes way down when I haven't had my coffee though...

I suddenly like you for no real reason :smile:


I was really disappointed that he used force to beat his first opponent. Here was a great way for them to show his smarts and foil the guy with intelligence.
I'll be sticking with the book until the end though. I want DC to see at least that Mr. Terrific has a fan in me and hope they serve the character and the reader better when Earth-2 comes out.

Mr Terrific was just an victim of "show dont tell"
he kept saying how smart he was but rarely show that he was smart

In the last interview Wallace gave about Mr Terrific he said a couple of interesting things

h originally planned Mr Terrific stories to go for 1 year and a half, but with different lengths
the Megamind story was gonna last for 5 issues not 3 and the 9th dimension arc(which he calls the space arc) was going to be 3-4 issues
But DC recommended to speed it cause they didnt wanted ppl to just "pick up the trade" and he agreed
he compressed everything to show the possibilities of Mr Terrific as a character

pretty much to have chp 4 and chp 6 as jumping in points

Its pretty obvious that this created a huge problem on it

[gwydion]

From another board:

"If the last page is her snapping his neck and with a single phrase "I faked it," I'll go buy 2 of each issue of this series.":tongue:

[ArnoldoAAD]

From another board:

"If the last page is her snapping his neck and with a single phrase "I faked it," I'll go buy 2 of each issue of this series.":tongue:

That would be the most AWESOME ending ever :biggrin:

this has my seal of approval

[[]D[]/\/\[]D @ Nite/So-tite]

From another board:

"If the last page is her snapping his neck and with a single phrase "I faked it," I'll go buy 2 of each issue of this series.":tongue:


That would be the most AWESOME ending ever :biggrin:

this has my seal of approval

So, would it be safe to say that Mister Terrific as a viable character is now completely ruined?

[Kid Kamikaze10]

D[]/\/\[]D @ Nite/So-tite;14573980']So, would it be safe to say that Mister Terrific as a viable character is now completely ruined?

Seems like it.


I kind of predicted it from the announcement of the title. I just thought Wallace would step his game up...


Now, Mr. Terrific is the object of fan ridicule instead of the rising JSA star he was.

[Joe Acro]

For me, the biggest blow to the character was when he admitted he'd noticed that a string of technological malfunctions had happened on the day his wife died. It's not that admitting it is itself a problem. What is a problem is that the supposed third smartest man must not have looked into this weird perplexity nor discovered its cause.

Hurts credibility a bit.

[Still Don't Care]

From another board:

"If the last page is her snapping his neck and with a single phrase "I faked it," I'll go buy 2 of each issue of this series.":tongue:

I'd buy 10 copies of every issue if that happened. Eric Wallace destroyed Power Girl's character entirely; it's only fair if Power Girl returns the favor to the shoddy version of Michael that Wallace gave us.

And yes, I can hate and despise and ridicule this version of Mister Terrific while acknowledging that the one that wasn't written by Eric Wallace was a good character. It's not actually hard.

[skyvolt2000]

D[]/\/\[]D @ Nite/So-tite;14573980']So, would it be safe to say that Mister Terrific as a viable character is now completely ruined?

I wouldn't say he is ruined. He can be restored via a JSA book.

He is just an example (like Static, Blue Beetle and a few others) of if they weren't broke before the reboot than don't try to fix them.

These 8 issue could have retold his origin or be about hsi first adventure.

[ArnoldoAAD]

I wouldn't say he is ruined. He can be restored via a JSA book.

He is just an example (like Static, Blue Beetle and a few others) of if they weren't broke before the reboot than don't try to fix them.

These 8 issue could have retold his origin or be about hsi first adventure.

I think the retcon that he got on his origin plus the awful set up he got are enough to give him a retcon

and how could he get into JSA if he is in E0 and JSA is in E2, unless they crossover

[[]D[]/\/\[]D @ Nite/So-tite]

So in that case, will DC even bother repairing the damage?

Or will they leave the mess as it is, probably even eventually dumping the character altogether?

[Kid Kamikaze10]

D[]/\/\[]D @ Nite/So-tite;14576529']So in that case, will DC even bother repairing the damage?

Or will they leave the mess as it is, probably even eventually dumping the character altogether?

Well, they did fix Power Girl after a pregnancy and some origin issues.

I don't think fixing Mr. Terrific would be that difficult. Bring back the jacket, maybe retcon the origin a bit, and give him a more accomplished writer, and boom.

[[]D[]/\/\[]D @ Nite/So-tite]

Well, they did fix Power Girl after a pregnancy and some origin issues.

I don't think fixing Mr. Terrific would be that difficult. Bring back the jacket, maybe retcon the origin a bit, and give him a more accomplished writer, and boom.

This would would require giving him another book down the line, and I don't see that happening at all.

I could DC just leaving the character in the state he's in now and just going "It is what it is."

[Robotman4]

I just hope they don't shelve Mr Terrific. He's still an awesome character who deserved a better book.

[zilch]

DC didn't "decide" anything about Mister Terrific though. They hired a writer for a book and it didn't work out.

Annddd...

we have a winner!

The Editor (the guy or gal who is paid to create a saleable product using and directing the writer and artist (and other creative folk involved with the work)) should have cut this off at the pass way earlier than this.

[ArnoldoAAD]

Annddd...

we have a winner!

The Editor (the guy or gal who is paid to create a saleable product using and directing the writer and artist (and other creative folk involved with the work)) should have cut this off at the pass way earlier than this.

you know, this makes me wonder if the editor of Mr Terrific was editing any of the other canceled titles
I generally dont pay attention to those kind of things does anyone knows if thats the case?

[gwydion]

For me, the biggest blow to the character was when he admitted he'd noticed that a string of technological malfunctions had happened on the day his wife died. It's not that admitting it is itself a problem. What is a problem is that the supposed third smartest man must not have looked into this weird perplexity nor discovered its cause.

Hurts credibility a bit.

So does not noticing his girlfriend is a super-powered alien.:wink:

Especially considering how...close...he got to her.

[E-Man]

I just hope they don't shelve Mr Terrific. He's still an awesome character who deserved a better book.

I feel the same way. There are so many great things about Mr. Terrific that I love, but it's sad that things didn't work out on this title. I agree with many people here saying that the ideas needed better execution.

[gwydion]

Well, they did fix Power Girl after a pregnancy and some origin issues.

I don't think fixing Mr. Terrific would be that difficult. Bring back the jacket, maybe retcon the origin a bit, and give him a more accomplished writer, and boom.

To be fair, they "fixed" that pregnancy by ignoring it ever after. They never specifically retconned it.

One way to fix Mr. Terrific then would be to introduce the pre-reboot version in all respects they can, and pretend the series never happened. Sadly, that doesn't seem to be the case. Worlds' Finest seems set to at least give a nod to it in passing. Hopefully it will be small enough to ignore.

[Apathetic-piggy]

So does not noticing his girlfriend is a super-powered alien.:wink:

Especially considering how...close...he got to her.

Let's not really go there. When you think about it, if they can't feel bullets bouncing off their flesh or anything that would normally be painful to a human, they probably wouldn't be able to feel a hug or anything more intimate.

Hell, a lot of physical elements of a Kryptonian probably aren't consistent. How do they have super breath when the volume of their lungs is the same as any basic humanoid? Can they somehow compact air so as to store more during inhalation? It's one of those things we're not supposed to think about. Those things only apply when convenient in all stories. Of course she could have fooled him by having red sun lamps in the room and just telling him that red light was kind of a turn on for her. I don't know. That sort of thing is best left unexplained.

But yeah, third smartest guy in the world probably should have figured something was amiss. Then again, when Lex Luthor, arguably the smartest, figures his time is best-spent stealing forty cakes then perhaps nobody has their priorities straight.


And that's terrible. :biggrin:

[darkseidpwns]

It's DCNU,nuff said.

[FHIZ]

you know, this makes me wonder if the editor of Mr Terrific was editing any of the other canceled titles
I generally dont pay attention to those kind of things does anyone knows if thats the case?

Men of War

[Jack]

There's no such thing in comics as a completely ruined character. All we need is a little time to pass and someone willing to bring back the things that made the old Mister Terrific work, and then we can all agree to forget that this run ever happened.

[Genki Sudo]

There's no such thing in comics as a completely ruined character. All we need is a little time to pass and someone willing to bring back the things that made the old Mister Terrific work, and then we can all agree to forget that this run ever happened.

Which is few and far between in DC, I can list off a bunch of characters that have been mia before and after the reboot

[skyvolt2000]

D[]/\/\[]D @ Nite/So-tite;14576529']So in that case, will DC even bother repairing the damage?

Or will they leave the mess as it is, probably even eventually dumping the character altogether?

You do that in Dc Comics Presents. Just use 2-4 issues. YOu can still use JSA and just have some version of them on his Earth. Maybe the kids of some of the JLA members-where is Jade, her borther, Wildcat's kid and the rest at?

[Cavemold]

...I realize the point trying to be made, but that was really worded poorly, haha.

no kidding i thought we had a flame about to spark.