All Star: Number of issues to a series vs. one shot trades

[Punkrawk]

http://www.newsarama.com/DC/AS/AS_Batman.htm
According to the Times, All-Star Batman is slated to begin in July. Reportedly, the storyline will last six issues.

I am a bit confused on the whole "All Star" thing. I thought this was DC's version of Marvel's "Ultimate" comic book series. Am I mistaken? Is this just another "Hush" type idea? I haven't found any concrete evidence to tell me any other way. Do most series start out with just a few issues then move onto more if it sells well?

[cactusmaac]

AFAIK they're just minis by a single creative team.

Not like the Ultimate line which is a bunch of ongoing monthlies.

[Lorendiac]

http://www.newsarama.com/DC/AS/AS_Batman.htm


I am a bit confused on the whole "All Star" thing. I thought this was DC's version of Marvel's "Ultimate" comic book series. Am I mistaken? Is this just another "Hush" type idea? I haven't found any concrete evidence to tell me any other way. Do most series start out with just a few issues then move onto more if it sells well?
Several people seem to have gotten the same impression, but I don't know how that rumor got started in the first place. To the best of my knowledge, DC never said that "All-Star" was going to be their equivalent of Marvel's "Ultimate" titles. I saw it as much more similar to the original concept behind the "Legends of the Dark Knight" book that they started publishing about Batman back around 1989 or 1990. When it first started, it was a bunch of five-issue story arcs that were kind of "fuzzy" regarding continuity. Maybe a particular story arc had happened in the first couple of years of the "modern Batman's career," and maybe it hadn't really happened at all in mainstream continuity; it was just some sort of Urban Legend or tale of an alternate timeline or whatever!

In the first 20 issues, for instance, we had story arcs by Denny O'Neil (twice), Grant Morrison, and Doug Moench, and I think none of those authors had anything in their arcs that continued subplots from anybody else's take on what Batman was like in his earliest years of grim and gritty crimefighting. It was more a "series of independent miniseries by different writers" rather than one ongoing serial drama. My understanding of the announced All-Star line was that it would work on very similar lines - no ongoing continuity from one story arc to the next, no respect for any piece of a character's past continuity if you didn't feel like it; each writer on an All-Star Batman story, for instance, gets to do it his way no matter how anyone else ever did it or will do it in the future.

[dancj]

My understanding was that they are ongoing series's, but that the initial creative teams are only committed to 12 issues.

[WSLer]

I saw it as much more similar to the original concept behind the "Legends of the Dark Knight" book that they started publishing about Batman back around 1989 or 1990. When it first started, it was a bunch of five-issue story arcs that were kind of "fuzzy" regarding continuity. Maybe a particular story arc had happened in the first couple of years of the "modern Batman's career," and maybe it hadn't really happened at all in mainstream continuity; it was just some sort of Urban Legend or tale of an alternate timeline or whatever!

In the first 20 issues, for instance, we had story arcs by Denny O'Neil (twice), Grant Morrison, and Doug Moench, and I think none of those authors had anything in their arcs that continued subplots from anybody else's take on what Batman was like in his earliest years of grim and gritty crimefighting. It was more a "series of independent miniseries by different writers" rather than one ongoing serial drama.


It was made quite explicitly clear that the stories in LOTDK were a part of continuity, but from the very, very, very early years of his career.

Among the very first arcs was the "Venom" storyline which was quite directly related to later Batman continuity, as it gave the basic background for Bane.

They weren't imaginary or Elseworld's stories, that was made quite clear.

[MicroZone]

http://www.newsarama.com/DC/AS/AS_Batman.htm


I am a bit confused on the whole "All Star" thing. I thought this was DC's version of Marvel's "Ultimate" comic book series. Am I mistaken? Is this just another "Hush" type idea? I haven't found any concrete evidence to tell me any other way. Do most series start out with just a few issues then move onto more if it sells well?


You ever watch the Batman or Superman cartoons? You know how they take the basic iconic style & stories of those characters and make a series that's easy for newbies to get into, and yet deep enough to reward regular fans?

That's what DC All-Stars it. Only instead of Paul Dini & Bruce Timm, it's Frank Miller, Jim Lee, Grant Morrison & Frank Quietly.

[Lurker]

You ever watch the Batman or Superman cartoons? You know how they take the basic iconic style & stories of those characters and make a series that's easy for newbies to get into, and yet deep enough to reward regular fans?

That's what DC All-Stars it. Only instead of Paul Dini & Bruce Timm, it's Frank Miller, Jim Lee, Grant Morrison & Frank Quietly.


Good explanation.

Myself, I'd like to see more concrete promo pieces and maybe some logos. Release dates would be cool too; June solits are out and yet there is none for All-Star Bats and its coming out first. According to Wizard, "the source for all things comic," these are 'sposed to drop this summer. Well, what the fuck?

[Brian R]

These are not ongoing books, they are mini series with specific creative teams. Of course, there is a chance that either title might spawn another mini later on, if the right creative team can be found, but DC wants it to be TOP quality. As far as I knew, Batman was supposed to be twelve issues just like Supes, but I guess now its six, who knows?

[chicainery]

Concerning All-Star: Superman, at least:

Each issue of All-Star will be self-contained. Issue #2 is a Lois story; issue #3 is a Jimmy Olsen story; and #4 will be a Bizarro story. This will be a new take on Bizarro in which anyone who touches Bizarro becomes a Bizarro.

link (http://www.newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=757662)

I hope that All-Star: Batman and Robin is the same. Self-contained stories, instead of 6-issue arcs would be a breath of fresh air.

[Brian R]

Concerning All-Star: Superman, at least:



link (http://www.newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=757662)

I hope that All-Star: Batman and Robin is the same. Self-contained stories, instead of 6-issue arcs would be a breath of fresh air.

I know! One or two-issue storylines are a lost art, especially at Marvel, but to a llesser degree at DC also. Ironically enough, I will probably wait for the trades of the AS books because my comic book spending needs to come down, and since they dont affect continuity, it doesnt matter if I read them a year after. Besides, being that these books will sell extremely well, I dont see DC waiting much longer than a year, or worse yet, not collecting it at all.

[MicroZone]

These are not ongoing books


Actually, Dan & Jim have both already said that they were ongoing. Grant has even gone as far as to say that he has 8 more issues of Superman penned already, beyond the 12 that he's doing with Frank.

[dancj]

From the wizard world report:

"Grant Morrison reaffirmed "All Star Superman" as a 12 issue limited series, saying Frank Quitely would explode if the story was longer than that. But he would like to do more, maybe another 8 issues, or for the rest of his life if possible. Either way was fine with him."

so it looks like they are limited, but I wouldn't be surprised if they continue past 12 issues.

Dan

[WSLer]

so it looks like they are limited, but I wouldn't be surprised if they continue past 12 issues.

Dan

As usual, it will all come down to sales.

[dancj]

I'd be very surprised if either book doesn't sell extremely well

[Windbreaker]

It was made quite explicitly clear that the stories in LOTDK were a part of continuity, but from the very, very, very early years of his career.

Among the very first arcs was the "Venom" storyline which was quite directly related to later Batman continuity, as it gave the basic background for Bane.

They weren't imaginary or Elseworld's stories, that was made quite clear.
That's the first time I've ever heard anyone say that all LOTDK are part of continuity. I thought it was widely accepted that some arcs were, and some weren't. Some arcs clearly fit into early Bat-life, but others aren't careful w/continuity.

[Forefinger]

Somehow I just focused in on the fact that Miller & Lee were on Batman, and I didn't pay attention to who was writing the Superman. Now that you guys have mentioned that it's Grant Morrision, who wrote some of the coolest Superman moments ever in his run on JLA, I'm going to have to buy that too. Thank alot guys.

[dancj]

That's the first time I've ever heard anyone say that all LOTDK are part of continuity. I thought it was widely accepted that some arcs were, and some weren't. Some arcs clearly fit into early Bat-life, but others aren't careful w/continuity.

I've always been under the impression that it's all in continuity - except for the arc set in the future

[Kevin Street]

Nah, you and Lorendiac and Windbreaker are all right. LoTK arcs were supposed to be indeterminate, neither in nor out of continuity, unless someone later said different. Arcs like "Venom" have definitely found their way into continuity, like the "Knightfall" stuff, but most of the LoTK stories are still in limbo.