CBR: Harras And Berganza Discuss DC's Relaunch

[CBR News]

The Editor-in-Chief and Executive Editor of the DC Comics Universe tell CBR everything about the impending September relaunch of 52 titles from what stories still impact the characters to what titles are still on the way and much more.


Full article here.

[Neutrino]

Thanks for confirming Identity Crisis is still canon, Harras. We'll never be free of that albatross.

Still, I like the enthusiasm behind the move within the company, even if it's just the same-old corporate talk. I think it's a well organised relaunch, if slightly hampered by DC's relatively shallow talent pool. It looks like they've definitely hit a homerun in early promotion to comic fans, now they just have to sell it to everybody else. Digital is naturally the best way to start.

[I am MODOK]

I'm ok with this approach, picking and choosing what still "counts." It seems the only one that is going to really burn me up is taking Martian Manhunter out as a founder of the Justice League. That was J'onn's big claim to fame, and replacing him with Cyborg really takes a lot of history away from the character.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

Whats weird is the time skip seems to heal Barbara Gordon. With the "Killing Joke" staying in. I suppose this is the only way to make it work. That when the Joker shot her , he missed paralyzing her.

[randomengine]

Ok, I am excited. Let's Do This!

[SUPERECWFAN1]

It really reminds me of the Post Crisis back in the 1980's. I'm intriqued to see how tight and good it can be.

[theloupgaroukid]

Thanks for confirming Identity Crisis is still canon, Harras. We'll never be free of that albatross.

Still, I like the enthusiasm behind the move within the company, even if it's just the same-old corporate talk. I think it's a well organised relaunch, if slightly hampered by DC's relatively shallow talent pool. It looks like they've definitely hit a homerun in early promotion to comic fans, now they just have to sell it to everybody else. Digital is naturally the best way to start.

The talent pool is "shallow" because that is the way they choose it to be. The list of creators not involved in the relaunch (like Sean Murphy, Marcus To, Nicola Scott, Dustin Nguyen, Jamal Igle, Paul Dini, Kurt Busiek, and James Robinson, just off the top of my head), as well as those who had pitches that were passed over (Brian Wood being the major rumor) takes some of the steam out of relaunch for me.

It's the All-New DC! Brought to you by the same people who let it slide into mediocrity... but it'll be different this time because Wonder Woman is wearing pants and Superman has shin guards.

[ticklefist]

Berganza: And as the editor of "Flashpoint," that was a great series to open everyone's minds to changes, and there are a lot of surprises to come in the series itself yet.

You had 1 issue out of the door. That didn't prepare us quite as well as you think, pal.

Glad to hear the "emphatic yes" when asked if we'll be getting more books in the coming months. Even happier that it came directly after JSA was mentioned.

[Neutrino]

The talent pool is "shallow" because that is the way they choose it to be. The list of creators not involved in the relaunch (like Sean Murphy, Marcus To, Nicola Scott, Dustin Nguyen, Jamal Igle, Paul Dini, Kurt Busiek, and James Robinson, just off the top of my head), as well as those who had pitches that were passed over (Brian Wood being the major rumor) takes some of the steam out of relaunch for me.

I agree about the talent stuff. Brian Clevinger, creator of Atomic Robo, made a pitch for Firestorm which got rejected too. Sure, we got Gail Simone, but it's not like there's any real risk of her leaving DC. Spencer-- gone, because signing Finch as exclusive is more important than a fresh new talent. DC should take more risks on writers, and less risks on artists turned writers. It's still too early to say that those creators are gone though. Nguyen is confirmed working on something; Murphy is at Vertigo. I bet James Robinson wouldn't leave. Maybe he's rebooting JSA when the time comes...

[PastePotPete]

Thanks for confirming Identity Crisis is still canon, Harras. We'll never be free of that albatross.

Hey, I got back into DC with Identity Crisis after an extended hiatus, and though I now completely understand why some long-time fans were miffed about it, I gotta say as a new fan coming in it kind of blew me away. I didn't know DC was telling stories like that.

Did the ending reveal suck? Yeah. But I enjoyed the ride.

As for the article itself -- Good piece. More of the same. I just want to read the books at this point. I wished they'd revealed them one title every couple of days up until August 31st. But Rich Johnston makes that impossible.

Also, I think they just sold me All-Star Western. I mean, I was maybe going to check it out anyway for the Gotham connection but it ties into Justice League? Why does that make me intensely curious?? I'm very susceptible to marketing.

[shingi70]

How could have identity crisis happen if alot of the people in are getting retooled origins making it impossible for them to be in it. This is supposed to be an early age of heroes so other than the batman stuff(he's an urban legend so all his history could have happened and he didn't come out publicly until JL)

[SUPERECWFAN1]

I agree about the talent stuff. Brian Clevinger, creator of Atomic Robo, made a pitch for Firestorm which got rejected too. Sure, we got Gail Simone, but it's not like there's any real risk of her leaving DC. Spencer-- gone, because signing Finch as exclusive is more important than a fresh new talent. DC should take more risks on writers, and less risks on artists turned writers. It's still too early to say that those creators are gone though. Nguyen is confirmed working on something; Murphy is at Vertigo. I bet James Robinson wouldn't leave. Maybe he's rebooting JSA when the time comes...

Well I think DC rolled the dice on Tony Daniel and was suprised. He only was supposed to do 1 story-arc and go back to art. But his arc was...really good. And he's an artist turned writer so....roll the dice on Finch. See if it happens twice.

[Uxas]

Not one question about how angry most of the DC Comics base is about this "relaunch".

You have absolutely nothing to support that claim.

Glad to hear the "emphatic yes" when asked if we'll be getting more books in the coming months. Even happier that it came directly after JSA was mentioned.

Yeah, I'm glad to hear this too. Now we can forget the "no book in September- the character's gone" nonsense.

[Uxas]

How could have identity crisis happen if alot of the people in are getting retooled origins making it impossible for them to be in it. This is supposed to be an early age of heroes so other than the batman stuff(he's an urban legend so all his history could have happened and he didn't come out publicly until JL)

That hasn't been confirmed at all. Books like JL have at least one arc set aprox. 5 years in the past, to lay down the basics. After that those books jump back to the "present".

[Rollo Tomassi]

So Eddie and his team have put together yet another "Timeline"? Well, that's certainly not rebootish at all.

Maybe they can post it so everybody can see what's still canon and what isn't. It would go a long way towards calming people. Unless they're afraid.
Are they afraid? Hmmmmm?