CBR: Animal Man R.I.P.? Gerry Conway Talks

[CBR News]

Gerry Conway, who famously scripted the death of Gwen Stacy, returns after a
lengthy hiatus from comics to pen DC’s forthcoming six-issue miniseries “The Last
Days of Animal Man.� CBR spoke with Conway about the book.


Full article here.

[americocaine]

DC Universe RIP---> NEXT EVENT!

[Roquefort Raider]

Death has become totally meaningless in the DC universe.

DC should set aside one monthly "R.I.P" mag to show the death of its characters; it could feature a different one each month. That way, the regular mags could be devoted to stories with an actual point to them.

One doesn't "develop a character" by killing them.

[Sean Walsh]

Interesting. I like how Conway's original plot wasn't even Animal Man centric, but focused more on how a hero would deal with losing his powers.

One doesn't "develop a character" by killing them.

"The Last Days of Animal Man" does not imply death; or rather, it's just as possible that Animal Man is no more after this story and Buddy Baker lives on without those powers that made him Animal Man..

[Calvin Government]

Animal Man - a clever, stable family man - is actually quite possibly a very good choice for something like this. We'll see what he does with it, but it could be a lot of fun... and the 'out of continuity' nature of the story means that we don't have to put up with fans whining about how death doesn't mean anything. We can just sit back and enjoy the ride.

[Thok]

For what it's worth, even if I knew nothing else about the project, the cover for issue number 1 by itself would be enough to make me interested in this. (It's also a clever homage by Bolland to the his cover of Animal Man 1.)

[F1uke]

I like this idea a lot. The only part I'm not sold on is other heroes involvement.

In addition to dealing with Buddy’s personal issue, we’re introducing two new villains, Bloodrage and Prismatik. We’re also revealing the “future” of several mainline DC heroes. Oh, and we’ll be giving readers a glimpse of one of Earth’s new Green Lanterns, circa 2025.

I don't like how they are showing new Green Lanterns, because then people are going to say how that person has to eventually take over, and eventually all these future stories will never be able to happen.

[shanealt]

I disagree with the sentiment that the series is made irrelevant because "death has no more meaning in comics anymore", and that you can't use a book like this to develop a character. The important part of the series isn't death--even if Buddy Baker dies, the important part of the series isn't death. It's about his reaction to it, and how he grows to accept it. I think that was made very clear in the article--you'll see how Buddy has matured, and how he continues to mature, and how he'll react to everything that happens.

That's the interesting part about books like these. It's rarely the point-by-point events that matter--they're just summaries. What matters is how the story is told, and if it has a message to be conveyed to the readers. If that is the case, or even if it's just that people enjoy the story, it's a story worth telling.

[Shade]

we’re introducing two new villains, Bloodrage and Prismatik.

Is he being assisted by Rob Liefield?

[jeaoure]

I researched the Grant Morrison series, and liked what I read, though of course Grant seemed to be more interested in deconstructing the superhero comic in general than in developing Buddy Baker as a character.

Ugh. C'mon, man.

Morrison's Buddy Baker was one of the best-developed and artfully-realized characters in mainstream comics, particularly at the time it was being published.

Granted, he never had the depth and complexity of Matlock, but still...

[jeaoure]

Is he being assisted by Rob Liefield?

The funny thing is, in Morrison's final issue of AM, he railed on writers who succumbed to the temptation to write pointless, "extreme", blood-lusty villains for Buddy to fight each month.

I suppose I should reserve judgment, but this doesn't exactly sound promising.

[carabas]

It's an Animal Man mini, but it's not written by Grant Morrison. I can't fathom why anybody would be remotely interested in this.

[Sean Walsh]

It's an Animal Man mini, but it's not written by Grant Morrison. I can't fathom why anybody would be remotely interested in this.

The return of Gerry Conway (who I kinda always thought would return to Spidey first after 15+ years away from comics)?

[Alexrules]

I'm glad he's not returning to Spider-man, it's just not Spider-man to some of us anymore.

I hope Animal Man doesn't die after falling off a bridge and well... you know. Snap!

[Grico]

The fact that Conway didn't pitch this as for Animal Man and that he cites as his Animal Man base his 60s appearances and 52, missing the Animal Man era that actually mattered makes me worried about the potential quality of this. Does any of Conway's previous work suggest he can pull off old age and dystopic future-y stuff (which I assume we will be in a negative future as opposed to utopia for dramatic purposes)? Its a weird way to get back into comics, a spider-man one shot of out of continuity mini would be a good fit, not a character he has no connection to. I guess DC was responsive and Marvel wasn't (the pitch certainly don't sound DC specific). Brian Bolland covers though sound good. I'm on the fence buying the first issue just for the Bolland cover.