Meltzer on JLA OYL and hints to new Line Up

[Spamotron]

http://www.comicon.com/pulse/

As the article says more details can be found in Wizard.

[The Shadow]

... someone at DC OK'd Meltzer writing ANOTHER JLA book?

Will they never learn?

[protege]

refresh my memory; what was wrong with his last one? If it was Identity crisis, well, I liked the JLA dynamic in that one.

[PIMPurself]

I hope this starts soon. Green Arrow is at his best when Meltzer writes him.

[Sean Walsh]

... someone at DC OK'd Meltzer writing ANOTHER JLA book?

Will they never learn?

Yes, because that IDENTITY.....whatever, which he wrote, did such horrible sales.

;) :p

[LukeRed5]

I had no problem with Identity Crisis except for the horrible ending.

[GoGo Yubari]

... someone at DC OK'd Meltzer writing ANOTHER JLA book?

Will they never learn?

Wait, he's written a JLA book before? Because IC doesn't really count.

If it's the Brad Meltzer who wrote that awesome Green Arrow arc instead of the Brad Meltzer who wrote Identity Crisis (and yes, I know it's the same guy, shaddup), then this should be good.

[Tom]

refresh my memory; what was wrong with his last one? If it was Identity crisis, well, I liked the JLA dynamic in that one.
I didn't. I liked the depth of his characterizations, but his interpretations of those characters were way off. For all his professed love of Ollie, the Ollie I grew up reading (which is exactly the same Ollie Meltzer grew up reading) would have risked his life to stop anyone in the League from overstepping their bounds . Not to mention that Deathstroke fight was painfully stupid.

[Tom]

... someone at DC OK'd Meltzer writing ANOTHER JLA book?

Will they never learn?
They gave their flagship title to the man who wrote their highest-selling book last year? Those MORONS!

[Cayman]

Green Arrow Archer's Quest was great. IC veered between quite good and completely unreadable. If he can avoid dumb things (like Kyle trying to punch Deathstroke rather than use his ring), the potential is there for this to be good.

Cay

[The Shadow]

If it's the Brad Meltzer who wrote that awesome Green Arrow arc instead of the Brad Meltzer who wrote Identity Crisis (and yes, I know it's the same guy, shaddup), then this should be good.
LOL

I want the GA Meltzer too!

[Kevinroc]

Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman? Wasn't Infinite Crisis supposed to show that these three could never work together again?

(And yes, I know such a thing would have been temporary, but I thought we'd at least have to wait until DC editorial completely changed before we saw such a thing. Not the same group of folks responsible for splitting them up in the first place.)

[The Shadow]

They gave their flagship title to the man who wrote their highest-selling book last year? Those MORONS!
Sales don't always mean GOOD!

[Tom]

Sales don't always mean GOOD!
I agree, but from a business point of view, this one's a no-brainer.

[Cayman]

Does the article say how long he's committed to the title?

Cay

[Nick Kal]

This is awesome!!!

[borateen]

Does the article say how long he's committed to the title?

Cay

Looks like he's signed on for 12 months.

[Yoda]

Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman? Wasn't Infinite Crisis supposed to show that these three could never work together again?

(And yes, I know such a thing would have been temporary, but I thought we'd at least have to wait until DC editorial completely changed before we saw such a thing. Not the same group of folks responsible for splitting them up in the first place.)

It was supposed to show what can happen when they are not on the same page and are not working together. That was stated many times by various people in interviews. I don't recall reading anywhere that it was supposed to show that they can never work together.

[LordEd1976]

I'm there.

Can't wait to see Ollie writen by Meltzer again. I have an autographed copy of Archer's Quest that is the crown jewel in my TPB collection.

And I'm probably alone here but I thought Identity Crisis was good.

[Shellhead]

Based on this news and some other spoilers that I've been reading lately, I don't think that I'm going to be too happy with the DCU after Infinite Crisis. Not that I'm happy with it now, but at least I'm buying Seven Soldiers and Legion regularly.

[Nick Kal]

I liked Identity Crisis too man. I hope his line up is good. Got to have GL, The Flash and some others on there.

[yenaled]

The only bad thing about Identity Crisis was the Deathstroke fight, and his Green Arrow arc was the best arc of the current series.

I'm hyped about this loads.

[Unbreakable]

I hope his line up is good. Got to have GL, The Flash and some others on there.

And do not forget, Metamorpho, Booster Gold, Hawkman, and the Elongated Man :D

[PIMPurself]

The only bad thing about Identity Crisis was the Deathstroke fight

Really? What was bad about it? I thought one of the best moments in the whole mini was when Ollie stabbed him in the eye with his arrow.

[4DGlasses]

The only bad thing about Identity Crisis was the Deathstroke fight

Kyle came off as a total spasmo-rookie, not the seasoned veteran he is.

But other than that, ID Crisis was dope. And if the line-up has Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman in it, I don't really care who else is in it. Meltzer's good. I will try to refrain from comparing his run to Morrison's JLA revival.

[Babylon23]

This sounds good to me. I enjoyed both Identity Crisis and Green Arrow.
From the characters listed, I hope Donna Troy, The Atom and Zatanna make the cut.

[gorosaurus]

Really? What was bad about it? I thought one of the best moments in the whole mini was when Ollie stabbed him in the eye with his arrow.
That was nice; it woud have been better if Ollie had stabbed him in his good eye.

[The Shadow]

Really? What was bad about it?
Weeeeelllllllll......

How did Slade KNOW who to plan to attack?

You'd plan differently for Superman or Hal Jordan than you would Hawkman or Green Arrow... so how did he know who to plan for?

And this is the JL freakin A! NOT the Teen Titans. These guys (and especially Hawkman that has CENTURIES of experience to call on) shouldn't have been beat by one guy.

The way Deathstroke took out Flash and Green Lantern was BEYOND ridiculous. Slade somehow calculated when and where Flash was going to attack him and pulls out his knife and puts it the perfect position to stab Flash (yes STAB the FLASH!!!!!). Deathstroke has only got enhanced human reflexes and while he may be smarter than the average guy the Flash has speed of light reflexes. Flash could be on top of Deathstroke and punched him in the head so often Slade would wake up and not know what happened... all this before Slade could even pull his knife out.

Then Green Lantern for some absurd reason flies over to Deathstroke and tries to punch him. WHY??? When it would have made much more sense to simply enclose Deathstroke in an energy construct. That would have ended the fight instantly. ( I know the comics can't end THAT quickly but at least have him ATTEMPT it... it's like Meltzer read Green Lantern 50-60 and still thinks Kyle is a rookie.)

In just those 2 instances Deathstroke does something he really shouldn't have been able to do, while Green Lantern arcts like a rookie again and not someone who has some experience under his belt by doing something incredibly dumb and play into Deathstroke's plan.

Why didn't Zatanna get out of range of Slade? One spell and he's down.

So many wrongs... not made right.

[Flying Fruitbat]

June is so far away.

Justice League was my favorite book as a child. I am getting tired of every story being about a great world threat and if Brad can juggle the plots and their range, he has my interest. I am glad to read the Big 3 will return and hope there is room for Dinah and Zee. As for which Titan gets promoted, Cyborg is my wish.

Sorry to interupt the thread by sticking with the topic and not going on about Identity Crisis. I thought ID Crisis was already covered in a dozen threads.

[4DGlasses]

That was nice; it woud have been better if Ollie had stabbed him in his good eye.

That's OK, we got to see that in Kill Bill Vol. 2!

[Tom]

Justice League was my favorite book as a child. I am getting tired of every story being about a great world threat
To me, that's what the League is all about. That should be what separates them from all the other teams out there - from both companies.

[The Shadow]

To me, that's what the League is all about. That should be what separates them from all the other teams out there - from both companies.
I agree!

Which is why I like the big 7 as my team.

I don't want to read about some lame ass thrird or fourth stringer saving the universe... I want SUPERMAN being THE MAN in the DCU.

[yenaled]

Really? What was bad about it? I thought one of the best moments in the whole mini was when Ollie stabbed him in the eye with his arrow.

Meltzer greatly underpowered Wally and Kyle and made them out to be idiots really.

Wally could never ever have been stabbed by Slade. He runs quickly but see's in slow motion, the sword would have looked static to Wally. Even if Deathstroke had managed to get his sword up for Wally, Wally could have vibrated through it. It just wouldn't have worked like that.

A Lanterns ring doesn't stop working if his fingers are broken, Kyle has used to ring when it isn't even on his finger before. Kyle knows so much better than to try and fight Slade hand to hand combat. I understnad Meltzer was trying to make it so Kyle was scared, confused and thereofr couldn't concentrate on constructs. Which would have worked... if he had made any. They should have had Slade chopping down constructs before Kyle could fully form them as Slade would have been that quick... but instead Kyle went to punch - which doesn't make any sense.

Anyway apart from those things it was good, it was great seeing Ollie ram the arrow into Deathstrokes socket.

[Doug Strange]

The Justice League has been one of my all-time favorites since I was a kid. I would dearly love to be excited about it again.

I could not be less so right now.

[TCJohnson]

ANy word on which member will be raped to make the JLA more realistic?

[4DGlasses]

Kyle went to punch - which doesn't make any sense.

The only part of B-Rad Meltzer's ID Crisis that sucked IMO.

I don't have any feelings for JLA after Morrison's run, aside from the Obsidian Age TPBs, which are just mediocre. I read Byrne/Claremont JLA/Doom Patrol reboot and was not impressed. Kurt B's Crime Syndicate was impossible to read because of the vomit-inducing art, could have rocked if I could stomach the art. Crisis of Conscience could have been told in two issues. JLA has fizzled out like a bad fart.

Show us how much you love my heroes, B-Rad. I'll let the Kyle boo-boo slide if you treat this book with the adoration it deserves.

[Flying Fruitbat]

I agree!

Which is why I like the big 7 as my team.

I don't want to read about some lame ass thrird or fourth stringer saving the universe... I want SUPERMAN being THE MAN in the DCU.


When you two word it like this it makes sense. Every member has his own title (expect one) and when he encounters a threat he can't handle by himself he calls on his League. We don't need to read any characterization because that is why they have their own books.

If you have some lame third stringer without a book, readers need to know what this hero is all about. When you have the Big 7, you can skip this and spotlight J'onn now and then.

This does make the JLA unique and not like other teams with rotating membershps or a team that has too many lame heroes. I quit Morrison's run when he brought in the next Green Arrow, Mr. Miracle, Big Barda and the angel that was his Hawkman.

I hope Brad doesn't make the same error. Let's have as many Big 7 members as possible.

[SuperManny]

"Justice League of America"........and the DCU reaches a Silver Age full circle.

These classic interpretations of characters and now teams are not much of an homage anymore! Aquaman in his old suit, Barbara is probably coming back as Batgirl/woman, and they even changed Red Tornado's face plate. I know Geoff Johns has said he's a fan of it, but it sucks that the DC editors agree with his influence.

*just venting*

[Babylon23]

I'd prefer to see a balance of big guns and b-listers. There are some great characters who can't seem to maintain their own series that really shine in a team book (Zatanna, Atom, etc.). I'd like to see some of these characters in the new lineup.

[Lex]

I'd prefer to see a balance of big guns and b-listers. There are some great characters who can't seem to maintain their own series that really shine in a team book (Zatanna, Atom, etc.). I'd like to see some of these characters in the new lineup.I agree. I find the Big 7 only membership to be really boring. A mixture of popular characters (like Superman and Batman) and b-list heroes (Green Arrow, Red Tornado, Firestorm, etc.) and maybe one obscure/new character would probably be a really fun line-up.

[Shellhead]

Meltzer greatly underpowered Wally and Kyle and made them out to be idiots really.

Wally could never ever have been stabbed by Slade. He runs quickly but see's in slow motion, the sword would have looked static to Wally. Even if Deathstroke had managed to get his sword up for Wally, Wally could have vibrated through it. It just wouldn't have worked like that.

A Lanterns ring doesn't stop working if his fingers are broken, Kyle has used to ring when it isn't even on his finger before. Kyle knows so much better than to try and fight Slade hand to hand combat. I understnad Meltzer was trying to make it so Kyle was scared, confused and thereofr couldn't concentrate on constructs. Which would have worked... if he had made any. They should have had Slade chopping down constructs before Kyle could fully form them as Slade would have been that quick... but instead Kyle went to punch - which doesn't make any sense.

Anyway apart from those things it was good, it was great seeing Ollie ram the arrow into Deathstrokes socket.

I don't think that Meltzar actually likes powerful superheroes like most of the Big 7. Look at how he made Flash and Green Lantern job to a Teen Titans villain. Yes, Deathstroke was fast enough to easily defeat Wally when he was just Kid Flash, but now Flash is just far beyond his capabilities. I expect that Meltzar will inflict more degradation on our heroes than even Chuck Austen's dismal JLA crying issues. Lower your expectations enough, and it might seem okay.

[PIMPurself]

I agree. I find the Big 7 only membership to be really boring. A mixture of popular characters (like Superman and Batman) and b-list heroes (Green Arrow, Red Tornado, Firestorm, etc.) and maybe one obscure/new character would probably be a really fun line-up.

How about Detective Chimp? :D

[Calamas]

So far I’ve liked Meltzer’s comic work with the exception (as someone else already pointed out) the poor ending of Identity Crisis. But even if you felt that he degraded the JLA to the point where they ceased being heroes, Infinitive Crisis is supposed to eliminate all the darkness in the DCU. Tainting and tarnishing is out of bounds. We should be getting the man at his best.

I’m there.

[Lex]

How about Detective Chimp? :DThat would be so awesome it makes my brain hurt just thinking about it!

[shyguy]

ID Crisis didn't do much to impress me, so I don't think I'll be onboard for Meltzer's JLA.

A shame, because I love Benes' work.

[Shellhead]

So far I’ve liked Meltzer’s comic work with the exception (as someone else already pointed out) the poor ending of Identity Crisis. But even if you felt that he degraded the JLA to the point where they ceased being heroes, Infinitive Crisis is supposed to eliminate all the darkness in the DCU. Tainting and tarnishing is out of bounds. We should be getting the man at his best.

I’m there.

I read one of Meltzar's novels a while back, and described my reaction to the book, both halfway through and after the ending:

http://forums.comicbookresources.com/showthread.php?t=90611

The man has serious potential as a writer of suspenseful stories, but his plot twists reveal a basic contempt for the intelligence of the reader.

[The Shadow]

"Justice League of America"........and the DCU reaches a Silver Age full circle.

These classic interpretations of characters and now teams are not much of an homage anymore! Aquaman in his old suit, Barbara is probably coming back as Batgirl/woman, and they even changed Red Tornado's face plate. I know Geoff Johns has said he's a fan of it, but it sucks that the DC editors agree with his influence.

*just venting*
Vent away because I agree!

It'll only be a few more years until our generation is writing comics in the 70's/80's style so our kids can hate it! LOL

[Babylon23]

How about Detective Chimp? :D

Nah, Detective Chimp is already booked for Shadowpact.
How about B'Wana Beast?
Or Ultra the Multi-Alien?
Or Brother Power the Geek?

[TCJohnson]

So far I’ve liked Meltzer’s comic work with the exception (as someone else already pointed out) the poor ending of Identity Crisis. But even if you felt that he degraded the JLA to the point where they ceased being heroes, Infinitive Crisis is supposed to eliminate all the darkness in the DCU. Tainting and tarnishing is out of bounds. We should be getting the man at his best.


Nope. Infinite Crisis is not supposed to remove all darkness from the DCU. I know what Mark Waid said, but apparently he exagerated.

[Captain Jim]

I think it's a mite early to make that judgment.

[Lex]

How about B'Wana Beast?
Or Ultra the Multi-Alien?
Or Brother Power the Geek?Yes!
Yes!
Hell yes!

[TCJohnson]

I think it's a mite early to make that judgment.
I am just repearting what I heard others have said, like Geoff Johns...that it would not be removing all darkness from the DCU.

[Captain Jim]

Okay, everybody, let's all do our best to remain civil and contain the sarcasm. It's fine to say you disliked Identity Crisis and give that as a reason for not wanting to pick up Meltzer's JLA. But I don't think anybody really wants to hear all those old complaints detailed all over again. Nor do we need any more arguments about the relative pros and cons of that series.

[Ultraman Max]

Guess deciding to stop reading the title when the current series ends turned out to be a good move, especially he if plans to focus on the duller "character moments". Which seems to be the case from the interview.

[Apathy Boy]

All this Meltzer-bashing is unfortunate. Because it's taking away from all the Benes-bashing that could be taking place.

Honestly, I like Benes' art. But he's a really odd choice for JLA. I can only assume he got the gig because Black Canary and Zatanna will be on the team. Mmm... fishnets.

[Ian J.N.]

I'm of divided mind on this move. On the one hand, DC would be incredibly stupid not to put Meltzer on a regular title (and truthfully, I enjoy his writing). But. With Identity Crisis, Meltzer injected a kind of dark realism into the DCU, not because of editorial mandate (as far as I know), but because of his storytelling sensibilities; that's how he interprets the characters. The DC writers seized on this idea of darkness, and it's lead up to Infinite Crisis, which, presumably, is intended to bring a resolution. By putting Meltzer on such a central DCU title, they're undercutting this resolution. They're saying "Yup, the DCU has gone dark, but it's fixed now," but once Meltzer injects his brand of rape/murder/conspiracy/negligent father plot twists, the whole claim becomes hollow.

[Viking Bastard]

Now, I like Meltzer. And while I had some gripes, I dug IdC.

But him on JLA? Eh?

Give him a Bat title or something.

[Cayman]

The solicits for the OYL books so far don't really give any indication that the DCU will move away from "darkness" at all. In fact several titles (Nightwing, Outsiders) sound grimmer than ever.

Cay

[SUPERECWFAN1]

HELL YES!!! Oliver Queen will finally be written good again.


Everyones down on the Deathstroke fight except for the fact that the way it was played was classic. The assembled heroes felt Deathstroke could be taken down easy which had them a tad overconfident.

Deathstrokes fighter who uses 90% of his brain to plot and plan. By the time he saw the heroes he already knew which ones he was gonna take down and which ones to fight. Oliver had to throw him off and used the arrow stabbin him in the eye.

This is great news by DC. :D

[Shellhead]

Deathstrokes fighter who uses 90% of his brain to plot and plan. By the time he saw the heroes he already knew which ones he was gonna take down and which ones to fight. Oliver had to throw him off and used the arrow stabbin him in the eye.

You forgot to mention the astounding foresight that Deathstroke showed by digging up the pavement the previous day, planting land mines exactly where they would be needed to blast Flash, covering them up again and allowing the surface to dry, then arranging for the heroes to encounter him in the exact right time and place for those mines to be effective. Cool, or bad writing? That depends on the reader.

[Lex]

Cool, or bad writing?I just take that scene as being fun and don't care to think of how Deathstroke did all those things.

[Bored at 3:00AM]

Well, this will no doubt sell very well and have the message boards filled with the venomous rants of those who shouldn't even bother reading it for at least a year.

Hooray!

[Cayman]

Well, this will no doubt sell very well and have the message boards filled with the venomous rants of those who shouldn't even bother reading it for at least a year.

Hooray!

I'm gonna start right now!


Nah, I'll get the first issue or two, if I don't like I will just drop the book.

What do you want to bet it gets relaunched at $2.99 though? :p

Cay

[Flying Fruitbat]

Well, this will no doubt sell very well and have the message boards filled with the venomous rants of those who shouldn't even bother reading it for at least a year.

Hooray!

Maybe not. June is far off, but some fans might be able to keep their New Year's resolutions to be fair minded and refrain from ranting like a two year old.

I see June's messages filled with "now that I actually read the story, I like it..." and "now that I actually read the story, I don't like it, but to each his own...". And the best comment will be, "I was asked for my opinion on Brad's JLA debut. Sorry, I cannot give it. I have not read the comic yet".

[Doug Strange]

Maybe not. June is far off, but some fans might be able to keep their New Year's resolutions to be fair minded and refrain from ranting like a two year old.

I see June's messages filled with "now that I actually read the story, I like it..." and "now that I actually read the story, I don't like it, but to each his own...". And the best comment will be, "I was asked for my opinion on Brad's JLA debut. Sorry, I cannot give it. I have not read the comic yet".BWAH-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAA!

[handOFfate]

I totally called this. I knew Meltzer was going to relaunch a DC book somewhere down the road. DC would have been stupid not to capitalize on IC's huge sales. In all honesty, I did think it was going to be Wonder Woman, not JLA. But still, I like Meltzer's work enough to give this a shot.

[dazzler_slave]

Wow, once again, we have everyone screaming about how they hate a comic that won't be out for at least 6 months! :rolleyes:

Does anyone ever look forward to anything anymore? It seems like there are only 2 kinds of comic readers anymore. Those that hate everything before even reading it, and then delight in proclaiming that they were right after they read it....and those that build up excitement to a ridiculous degree then cry because they are let down that the comic isn't the second coming of the Watchmen. Why can't we just look forward to something with an open mind and enjoy a comic for being entertaining but not groundbreaking? I swear it's we fans who are ruining the comic industry.

OK, rant done, now feel free to jump all over me. :)

[Unbreakable]

Well, this will no doubt sell very well and have the message boards filled with the venomous rants of those who shouldn't even bother reading it for at least a year.

Hooray!

This will be just like New Avengers. It will be a top 10 seller, with bad reviews from all the mad fanboys.

[Shellhead]

Wow, once again, we have everyone screaming about how they hate a comic that won't be out for at least 6 months! :rolleyes:

Does anyone ever look forward to anything anymore? It seems like there are only 2 kinds of comic readers anymore. Those that hate everything before even reading it, and then delight in proclaiming that they were right after they read it....and those that build up excitement to a ridiculous degree then cry because they are let down that the comic isn't the second coming of the Watchmen. Why can't we just look forward to something with an open mind and enjoy a comic for being entertaining but not groundbreaking? I swear it's we fans who are ruining the comic industry.

OK, rant done, now feel free to jump all over me. :)

If Brad Meltzar was an unknown writer, I would agree that we should approach this with an open mind. But after Identity Crisis, plus reading one of his books, I think of Meltzar as somebody who likes to write about rape. I don't like rape in my superhero comics. It's disappointing, because that novel of his showed that he *can* write well if he wants. It was a riveting page turner, although there was a major revelation near the end that ignored logic by saying that the character in question was crazy... kind of like the revelation in Identity Crisis.

It would be great if Meltzar could keep it clean and write JLA as the heroic team that it is. If I hear enough good things here at CBR, I will give it a try. But right now, my expectation is more rape, more shock value, and more sloppy characterizations.

[Flying Fruitbat]

If Brad Meltzar was an unknown writer, I would agree that we should approach this with an open mind. But after Identity Crisis, plus reading one of his books, I think of Meltzar as somebody who likes to write about rape.

So, you are going to approach this with a closed mind?

That's cool. I admire your honesty.

[dazzler_slave]

If Brad Meltzar was an unknown writer, I would agree that we should approach this with an open mind. But after Identity Crisis, plus reading one of his books, I think of Meltzar as somebody who likes to write about rape. I don't like rape in my superhero comics. It's disappointing, because that novel of his showed that he *can* write well if he wants. It was a riveting page turner, although there was a major revelation near the end that ignored logic by saying that the character in question was crazy... kind of like the revelation in Identity Crisis.

It would be great if Meltzar could keep it clean and write JLA as the heroic team that it is. If I hear enough good things here at CBR, I will give it a try. But right now, my expectation is more rape, more shock value, and more sloppy characterizations.
That's a bad attitude to have. Sure, it could be like Identity Crisis (which wasn't that bad, and I LOVED Sue Dibny), or it could be like his Green Arrow run which was fantastic, and managed to be nostalgic and current, and did not have a hint of rape or any other dsturbing topic in it. Why look for the bad, when it could just as easily be good. Oh, and by the way, accusing someone, of being fascinated with rape is a crappy comment and you really shouldn't throw accusations like that around.

[Shellhead]

That's a bad attitude to have. Sure, it could be like Identity Crisis (which wasn't that bad, and I LOVED Sue Dibny), or it could be like his Green Arrow run which was fantastic, and managed to be nostalgic and current, and did not have a hint of rape or any other dsturbing topic in it. Why look for the bad, when it could just as easily be good. Oh, and by the way, accusing someone, of being fascinated with rape is a crappy comment and you really shouldn't throw accusations like that around.

Why should I bother remembering anything at all if I'm never going to draw conclusions from my experiences. I have read two Brad Meltzar stories now, and I disliked both of them. I don't think that I should have to keep giving him more chances to entertain me. Like I said, if there is enough positive commentary about his OYL JLA here at CBR, I will give it a try.

[Paul Newell]

Thus endeth the "rape-comics" tripe.

Thank you. Back to the main programme.

[Captain Jim]

Agreed. I can't believe some of you people. He writes one comic story with a rape (neither gratuitous nor graphic) and on the basis of that people say all he writes about is rape. Right! :rolleyes:

[Shellhead]

Agreed. I can't believe some of you people. He writes one comic story with a rape (neither gratuitous nor graphic) and on the basis of that people say all he writes about is rape. Right! :rolleyes:

I have read one of his books, too, which is more than most of his IC fans have bothered to do.

[PanzerMega]

I'm looking forward to it.

Identity Crisis and Green Arrow were great, and although IDC had a few flaws, I'm optimistic that Meltzer's run will be leaps and bounds over any JLA issues since Mark Waid left the title.

[Shellhead]

I'm looking forward to it.

Identity Crisis and Green Arrow were great, and although IDC had a few flaws, I'm optimistic that Meltzer's run will be leaps and bounds over any JLA issues since Mark Waid left the title.

Good point. The Claremont/Byrne arc was very disappointing, the Austen crying issues were a pointless exercise in degradation, and I just couldn't buy the Busiek issues because of the artwork. Meltzar is coming on board at a good time, when expectations have tanked.

[Suzanne]

Well I for one am psyched about this! I loved Identity Crisis, and Ed Benes is one of my favorite artists, so this news is sort of like an early Christmas present for me :cool: In terms of the line-up, given old new title, I think it'll share similarities to the Satellite Era. Or it could mirror JLU.

[Guts/Batman]

*Does the Vader stance* NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOO

Got that out of the way...

I'll give it a shot none the less. If not for Ed Benes' art by itself.

The story doesn't have to carry that far for me if it has Ed Benes on the art.

If it resembles Identity Crisis in any way, I just might have to pass on it. Which is a shame because I do love my JLA...

[Unbreakable]

because I do love my JLA...

If you love the JLA, I suggest you buy Justice League Unlimited. It is a good clean mix of the JL big guns, with d-listers thrown in as well. This month's issue had Supergirl, Power Girl, Hawk Woman, Atom Smasher, and Firestorm(Ronnie), fighting the menace of Girder(that big steel guy). The stories are always sef contained, continuity free, fun stuff, that has different DC Universe heroes teaming up each month in a good old fashioned Justice League slug fest against a supervillain. It is better than anything that we have seen in the JLA since Morrison was writing it.

[Kevinroc]

Here's a little teaser interview Meltzer gave to Newsarama.

http://www.newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=53278

[mattx110]

in IC, meltzer wanted deathstroke to fight off the jla, and when you're scripting somethign and not seeing it fully drawn until it's too late, you don't realize you left out a character's powers, plus he wanted an excuse to get the deathstroke/dr light cutaway, so it's fine wiht me. but i still only bought every issue but the last one, so idk what happened.

[Guts/Batman]

The only thing about the JLU comic is the art...

It's just not...me.

[bfrank]

I didn't. I liked the depth of his characterizations, but his interpretations of those characters were way off. For all his professed love of Ollie, the Ollie I grew up reading (which is exactly the same Ollie Meltzer grew up reading) would have risked his life to stop anyone in the League from overstepping their bounds . Not to mention that Deathstroke fight was painfully stupid.
I'll give you the deathstroke fight, but he wasn't really writting the ollie we grew up with...

[Unbreakable]

The only thing about the JLU comic is the art...

It's just not...me.

The art is imitating the cartoon's style, but the self contained stories are good. In the last several issues alone we had Dr. Sivana and Mister Atom vs Vibe, Gypsy, Balck Canary, Ragman, Batman, and Black Lightning. We had The Demons Three vs Dr. Fate, Deadman, Zatanna, Dr. Occult, Etrigan, Zauriel, and Phantom Stranger. This is some good stuff, cartoon art and all.

[Guts/Batman]

I like the art...when animated.

But I just can't get into the comic with the art imitating what is animated. Call me crazy but it's just too distracting.

[Bored at 3:00AM]

So, who has been confirmed for membership in Meltzer's JLA?

The Big 3, Hal & Ollie....who else?

[Tom]

I'll give you the deathstroke fight, but he wasn't really writting the ollie we grew up with...
Sure he was - or at least he was attempting to. Had he written a story set in present day, I'd agree, but he specifically chose to hinge his entire plot on a flashback set in the period when he (and I) first encountered Ollie.

[Tom]

Agreed. I can't believe some of you people. He writes one comic story with a rape (neither gratuitous nor graphic) and on the basis of that people say all he writes about is rape. Right! :rolleyes:
You know, I have no desire to revisit this debate, but for a lot of people (myself included) Sue's rape was both gratuitous and graphic.

[Guts/Batman]

So, who has been confirmed for membership in Meltzer's JLA?

The Big 3, Hal & Ollie....who else?

I think that's about it for now.

Metzer has some interesting characters to choose for his JLA.

[Guts/Batman]

You know, I have no desire to revisit this debate, but for a lot of people (myself included) Sue's rape was both gratuitous and graphic.

And totally unnecessary.

[Cayman]

Wonder if they'll get somebody from the Wildstorm universe?

Cay

[Guts/Batman]

Wonder if they'll get somebody from the Wildstorm universe?

Cay

Majestic, perhaps? Or is he too powerful?

Especially since the universe is in jeopardy there now.

[Captain Jim]

You know, I have no desire to revisit this debate, but for a lot of people (myself included) Sue's rape was both gratuitous and graphic.

A matter of opinion, obviously, and I don't want to revisit it either.

But Meltzer doesn't deserve to be characterized as someone who only/ always writes about rape on the basis of one instance. That was intended to be the main focus of my post. And that's not opinion.

[Sk8maven]

But Meltzer doesn't deserve to be characterized as someone who only/ always writes about rape on the basis of one instance.Shellhead pointed out that it is not just one instance, but at least two. The other was between hard covers, so if you want to split really skinny hairs, you can claim that it "doesn't count" for the purpose of discussing comics.

On the whole I think it's fair to tab him as "overuses gratuitous shock devices".

Maven

[Will.S]

If Brad Meltzer somehow decides to include "rape plots" in Justice League of America then I would be cautious but I really doubt we'll be seeing that in the book.

I'm looking forward to his run due to his choice of mixing in more characters that are not the big 7 and his really human take on the league in Identity Crisis despite the weird fight between Deathstroke and the JLA.

[bfrank]

Shellhead pointed out that it is not just one instance, but at least two. The other was between hard covers, so if you want to split really skinny hairs, you can claim that it "doesn't count" for the purpose of discussing comics.

On the whole I think it's fair to tab him as "overuses gratuitous shock devices".

Maven

at least two out of how many pieces of work?

[bfrank]

Sure he was - or at least he was attempting to. Had he written a story set in present day, I'd agree, but he specifically chose to hinge his entire plot on a flashback set in the period when he (and I) first encountered Ollie.

No he wasn't...a little something happened in '85 - '86 that put an end to that....

[Tom]

No he wasn't...a little something happened in '85 - '86 that put an end to that....
If that's how you want to look at it, fine, but that's not how I see it and in fact, it's not how Meltzer sees it either. He made numerous references in interviews to writing the Ollie of his childhood.

[Rio_de_Janeiro]

You people seem to over-estimate a writer's real power in shared universes. Inasmuchas Meltzer had a story and he was able to build it his way, he still had some things he had to include, and some changes to make. Editors must have compassed him at one time or another, and certain restrictions due to other writers' stories had to exist.

Also, if the editors and the company as a whole allowed certain narrative elements to come through and actually be published (the rape, the Deathstroke fight, the flamethrower, etc.), they should be held more accountable than they really are, here.

I loved identity crisis. The rape was impressive, shocking. I don't share the opinion that it should be avoided in the current comics superhero world. I think it's a parent's duty to filter what their kids read, or else, why have kids in this world, nowadays, if you're not going to raise them?

I agree that the Deathstroke scene was plain WRONG. But it didn't spoil my reading experience of the narrative rhythm, plot construction and character interaction of the ouvre as a whole.

The Jean Loring solution, for me, looked as if it had been dictated from above. I'm still a bit ambiguous about the flamethrower. On one hand, it makes perfect sense for a lunatic to take a flamethrower "just in case", since she was a lunatic in order to get the whole thing going, anyways. But, on the other hand, the whole idea is just naff...why not take something smaller and a bit less clumsy? Maybe Jean just follows a weird logic à-la-Doom Patrol.

but, i digress,,,

I am really looking forward to Meltzer's JLA. I know he reads the criticism to him directed. He must have reflected a lot, due to the aggressive stance of the debate around his work. I believe he will study his JLA well.

I'm giving him the benefit .

Rio.

[Bored at 3:00AM]

You people seem to over-estimate a writer's real power in shared universes. Inasmuchas Meltzer had a story and he was able to build it his way, he still had some things he had to include, and some changes to make. Editors must have compassed him at one time or another, and certain restrictions due to other writers' stories had to exist.

Also, if the editors and the company as a whole allowed certain narrative elements to come through and actually be published (the rape, the Deathstroke fight, the flamethrower, etc.), they should be held more accountable than they really are, here.

I loved identity crisis. The rape was impressive, shocking. I don't share the opinion that it should be avoided in the current comics superhero world. I think it's a parent's duty to filter what their kids read, or else, why have kids in this world, nowadays, if you're not going to raise them?

I agree that the Deathstroke scene was plain WRONG. But it didn't spoil my reading experience of the narrative rhythm, plot construction and character interaction of the ouvre as a whole.

The Jean Loring solution, for me, looked as if it had been dictated from above. I'm still a bit ambiguous about the flamethrower. On one hand, it makes perfect sense for a lunatic to take a flamethrower "just in case", since she was a lunatic in order to get the whole thing going, anyways. But, on the other hand, the whole idea is just naff...why not take something smaller and a bit less clumsy? Maybe Jean just follows a weird logic à-la-Doom Patrol.

but, i digress,,,

I am really looking forward to Meltzer's JLA. I know he reads the criticism to him directed. He must have reflected a lot, due to the aggressive stance of the debate around his work. I believe he will study his JLA well.

I'm giving him the benefit .

Rio.

From what I've heard from Meltzer in all the various interviews he's done, it doesn't sound like there was any kind of editorial interference or meddling whatsoever in Identity Crisis. In fact, he was so affraid of it, he held back the scripts so that editorial wouldn't have time to change anything. But, to his surprise, Dido was completely supportive of everything he did.

So, love it or hate it, Identity Crisis is exactly what Meltzer had in mind, from Sue's rape to Deathstroke's ass-whupping of the JLA to Jean being the murderer.

[Paul Newell]

Evidently no-one actually wants to talk about Meltzer on JLA. Take it to the IC board, guys.