Genocide: why....?

[Franklin]

I remember reading that Genocide looked the way she did because Gail asked Aaron to come up with the most hideous, 80's super villain costume that he could. And boy did he succeed!

But what I don't remember ever reading is why Gail wanted that particular look for a character designed to seemingly be Diana's Doomsday. Does anyone remember her talking about the reason she wanted that look for Genocide (apart from the name)?

[americanwonder]

Because the late 80s/early 90s comics nearly killed off the whole industry?

Ok, I have no idea.

[MajorHoy]

Looks like Thorn on steroids or something. (Maybe Miracle-Gro®?)

[Seant]

I think there are many ........????????s about that run.

[Reginleif]

purple and green, dat combo.

[Zagreus]

Looks like Thorn on steroids or something. (Maybe Miracle-Gro®?)

Because Genocide was originally designed to be Knockout, you know, green costume, red hair, returned from the grave, with her identity concealed. But then Gail was told she couldn't use Knockout, but the character was already designed already, and she came up with some not very well thought out story about her being Diana's own body from an alternative future, sent into the past... yeah, I don't get it either...

[OBrianTallent]

Something that I thought had been intended to play into the character's origin was a scene or several scenes where different science themed characters were seen going around to sites of genocides and massive devastation picking up soil. I had always thought these would be used to make Genocide in a similar manner that Diana was made from clay and where Diana was mythological, Genocide would be man/technologically based.
I always thought Genocide could have been much more than what she came out to be which is obviously due to much editorial muckering about. Also, as much as I love Aaron Lopresti's work, I'm not so sure that he was the best artist for this. An artist with a little more grit, a darker tone would have been interesting.

[Zagreus]

Something that I thought had been intended to play into the character's origin was a scene or several scenes where different science themed characters were seen going around to sites of genocides and massive devastation picking up soil. I had always thought these would be used to make Genocide in a similar manner that Diana was made from clay and where Diana was mythological, Genocide would be man/technologically based.
I always thought Genocide could have been much more than what she came out to be which is obviously due to much editorial muckering about. Also, as much as I love Aaron Lopresti's work, I'm not so sure that he was the best artist for this. An artist with a little more grit, a darker tone would have been interesting.

That's actually a FAR cooler idea than the one the author of the comic came up with...

[Outside_85]

Because the late 80s/early 90s comics nearly killed off the whole industry?

Ok, I have no idea.

Wasn't it rather in the mid- to late 90's where the comicbook industry collapsed?

[americanwonder]

Wasn't it rather in the mid- to late 90's where the comicbook industry collapsed?

As I understand it, you're right that the crash came mid to late 90s. But, imo, it had been building to that for awhile. Still, it was mostly just a joke, since so many things get blamed on the 90s comics.

... The concept is interesting but the reveal was lacking and it just didn't make for a great story overall...

I loved the intro we saw in that DC #0 preview issue. Baddies digging up dirt in various sites of genocide. Very creepy. But, yeah, the "She is YOU! From the FUTURE!" reveal was a head-scratcher.

... I loved so much of what Gail did but I think she needed the editor to step in here and help guide that story with a little more direction/to a more satisfying reveal and conclusion.

Well, this is DC, I wouldn't be surprised in the editors were part of the problem, "guiding" the story in a not quite right direction.

[dshipp17]

As I understand it, you're right that the crash came mid to late 90s. But, imo, it had been building to that for awhile. Still, it was mostly just a joke, since so many things get blamed on the 90s comics.



I loved the intro we saw in that DC #0 preview issue. Baddies digging up dirt in various sites of genocide. Very creepy. But, yeah, the "She is YOU! From the FUTURE!" reveal was a head-scratcher.



Well, this is DC, I wouldn't be surprised in the editors were part of the problem, "guiding" the story in a not quite right direction.

The comic book collapse was not due to quality, as you seem to be implying, but for a very different and unrelated reason, somewhat connected to the stock market.

[americanwonder]

The comic book collapse was not due to quality, as you seem to be implying, but for a very different and unrelated reason, somewhat connected to the stock market.

Speculation about the value of new #1 and overprinting (lots and lots of X-Force #1 out there) played a big role, as I understand it. But, that's all off topic.

Genocide had some real potential, but just didn't get there, imo. And part of that was the design. Green for Genocide?

[spark627]

Genocide was supposed to be made from Knockouts body, hence the green outfit and red hair. However DC nixed the idea and Gail had to come with something suddenly, hence the story never felt right.

That being said, I'm not sure why the outfit was so bad. Everything about that story felt wrong, but based on random comments from Gail, it sounds like DC had a lot to do with it.

[PauloIapetus]

The comic book collapse was not due to quality, as you seem to be implying, but for a very different and unrelated reason, somewhat connected to the stock market.

Maybe this wil help Fanzing-How to save the comic book industry

[I-Ching]

I don't remember but the costume and the story told me there was something very much lacking in the execution of the idea. The whole 'Diana's corpse from the future" was such a "huh? wha?" moment it had little to no impact after such a build up. The concept is interesting but the reveal was lacking and it just didn't make for a great story overall. And the name. Yeesh. I loved so much of what Gail did but I think she needed the editor to step in here and help guide that story with a little more direction/to a more satisfying reveal and conclusion.