So...build a SHAZAM book

[Justice-Acquintances]

Geoff Johns. Gary Frank. 'Nuff said.

[refrax5]

My suggestion that he defend villains from the JL was supposed to be a joke. I was suggesting Winnick for the same reason they chose Johns, he's simple. The audience for the story should be too.

I have a friend that is and author and recently asked his agent "What do I need to do to write a book that sells like Jackie Collins?" His agent replied "You can't." He went on to say, "The reader can tell when you're writing down to them. You just can't make yourself sound that accessible." Winnick can write a story that children can enjoy, Johns can write a simple story for an older audience but he sounds like he's talking down to kids. As much as I love Dini's work he will never sell like Johns, Snyder, or Morrison.

I think you're confusing "simple" with "shallow" at best and "idiotic" at worst.

As for Superman, he has a big ol' smile on his face a lot in Action. So does Bart Allen over in Titans. Barry Allen is a pretty cheery guy in his series. There's tons of wisecracks and bater in Justice League. Most of your criticisms seem to fall into that kind of "Everything modern is so dark and sinful and wrong! In my day, our heroes never did anything wrong and never showed any sort of personality beyond being sunny and corny all the time! That was better simply because it's what I grew up with" sort of nonsense. There's a pretty big variety of stuff in comics. You just come off as biotter and puritanical towards everything modern or different.

[davidn15]

I think you're confusing "simple" with "shallow" at best and "idiotic" at worst.

As for Superman, he has a big ol' smile on his face a lot in Action. So does Bart Allen over in Titans. Barry Allen is a pretty cheery guy in his series. There's tons of wisecracks and bater in Justice League. Most of your criticisms seem to fall into that kind of "Everything modern is so dark and sinful and wrong! In my day, our heroes never did anything wrong and never showed any sort of personality beyond being sunny and corny all the time! That was better simply because it's what I grew up with" sort of nonsense. There's a pretty big variety of stuff in comics. You just come off as biotter and puritanical towards everything modern or different.

a common trait here on the DC boards

[Spycrab Killer]

What? Seriously? See, this is why Captain Marvel fanboys don't get to write Captain Marvel.

Yeah, I agree.

Billy Batson isn't the purest person in the DCU now. Oh, so that means no chance at all for "redemption," when really, the New 52 Billy acts like how I'd imagine a kid like him would.

Also, I'd like Geoff Johns to be on it, since I like what he's doing.

Also, keep Billy Batson. I like him.

[scribbleMind]

I was watching Linkara's review of Battle for Bludhaven 3-4 and he introduced The Nuclear Family and I immediately thought, "They should be Captain Marvel villains" So yeah, let the new Shazam fight an evil version of the old fashioned wholesomeness he used to represent.

[Conway]

I think you're confusing "simple" with "shallow" at best and "idiotic" at worst.

Have you ever tried to read a Jackie Collins book?

As for Superman, he has a big ol' smile on his face a lot in Action. So does Bart Allen over in Titans. Barry Allen is a pretty cheery guy in his series. There's tons of wisecracks and bater in Justice League. Most of your criticisms seem to fall into that kind of "Everything modern is so dark and sinful and wrong! In my day, our heroes never did anything wrong and never showed any sort of personality beyond being sunny and corny all the time! That was better simply because it's what I grew up with" sort of nonsense. There's a pretty big variety of stuff in comics. You just come off as biotter and puritanical towards everything modern or different.

GL (Hal) and Flash have always tried to have fun with their situations, and do make JL almost interesting. At no point have I ever supported the idea that these people don't struggle. What I have said is they show no acceptance of their lives. My life sucks (no worse than any of yours I'm sure) it's stressful and painful, that doesn't mean I don't accept it and smile and joke. You want realism and modern thought, realize that these people have come to terms with the fact that this is their lives. The Warrior that trained under Aries may even find some joy in it.

Yes I think "Billy Batson" the kid that is the best human being on the planet should be a simpler story. Yes, I think a lot of the characters are way to serious all the time, but I definitely don't want a code. I just don't think every character needs to brood, alone, in the dark like Bruce Wayne all the time.

[Mr. Holmes]

I think you're confusing "simple" with "shallow" at best and "idiotic" at worst.

As for Superman, he has a big ol' smile on his face a lot in Action. So does Bart Allen over in Titans. Barry Allen is a pretty cheery guy in his series. There's tons of wisecracks and bater in Justice League. Most of your criticisms seem to fall into that kind of "Everything modern is so dark and sinful and wrong! In my day, our heroes never did anything wrong and never showed any sort of personality beyond being sunny and corny all the time! That was better simply because it's what I grew up with" sort of nonsense. There's a pretty big variety of stuff in comics. You just come off as biotter and puritanical towards everything modern or different.

Refrax is always the voice of sanity.

a common trait here on the DC boards

You should have seen the actual DC hosted boards before they shut down for telling reasons.

Anyway, I'm going to go back to topic. I think there should definitely be fun and "all ages", because like Desaad said, the nostalgic, corny style Captain Marvel just has to go. I would say a book like the Flash right now is kind of whimsical, but without being completely cartoonish like the Jeff Smtih book.

Shazam! tone-wise can be similar to something like Thor or a less campy He-Man. I wouldn't do away with the whimsical tone of the earlier stories, but I would definitely tone that down, and have more of the mystical, Dark line kind of backdrop.

[paulski]

I would be fine if Johns did the Shazam backup in Justice League permanently. I really like what he's doing and don't want that direction to change at all.

Yeah, I was under the impression they were already in the process of creating a new Shazam book. Like you, I'm real happy with what I've seen so far.

[big al]

I like what they are doing in the JLA back ups, I tried to think what to do with this character a few years ago and without a total revamp like they are doing I just couldn't get any decent ideas going for him. I did think it would be cool if different pantheons of Gods started saying "wait a sec....the Greek gods have a champion out there" (I think Zues, Mercury and all of those guys were greek gods, if they weren't then I'm sorry) so it would be neat if say a few of the other pantheon's came along and made the Wizard find champions to represent them, this is where Freddy could get his powers, he might be powered by the Norse gods for example, maybe a hero for a japaneese pantheon or an old Indian pantheon. I used ot have a dungeons and dragons book about Gods and Demi gods that are out there from history and there are tons so you could get a few new characters out of that for sure...they don't all have to get along either. Cap's been pretty free with what he does, he's a hero but what if Zues showed up one day and said "you know, we kind of need you to do this (which billy might not agree with) or we're taking our powers back and finding someone who will"....those were the ideas I came up with.

[refrax5]

Have you ever tried to read a Jackie Collins book?



GL (Hal) and Flash have always tried to have fun with their situations, and do make JL almost interesting. At no point have I ever supported the idea that these people don't struggle. What I have said is they show no acceptance of their lives. My life sucks (no worse than any of yours I'm sure) it's stressful and painful, that doesn't mean I don't accept it and smile and joke. You want realism and modern thought, realize that these people have come to terms with the fact that this is their lives. The Warrior that trained under Aries may even find some joy in it.

Yes I think "Billy Batson" the kid that is the best human being on the planet should be a simpler story. Yes, I think a lot of the characters are way to serious all the time, but I definitely don't want a code. I just don't think every character needs to brood, alone, in the dark like Bruce Wayne all the time.

And luckily, they don't. So, what was your point again, beyond endlessly harping on the point that everything new=bad?

[refrax5]

[QUOTE=Mr. Holmes;15409318]Refrax is always the voice of sanity.


Well, thank you, my friend.