DeMatteis on the Supernatural DCU & "Phantom Stranger"

[CBR News]

Writer J.M. DeMatteis spoke to CBR News about joining Dan DiDio as co-writer on DC Comics' "Phantom Stranger," bringing in the Spectre and a flair for the supernatural and spooky.


Full article here.

[ShaunN]

I love JM's work. However, I also feel that the decision to give the PS a distinct, human-oriented origin was a big mistake and has leeched most of the mystery and awe away from the character. We have gone from having a genuinely mysterious entity to one who is far too human and far too limited, as a result. Also, JM will be scripting but Didio will still be plotting, so that limits how much JM can do with the title.

[eh_ver]

I've been really enjoying this book. Its probably one of my top three right now (though, heck, I think I'm only getting 7 monthlies right now). I don't see any change in that when DeMatteis comes on. I'm expecially excited for issue 6. That one sounds awesome!

[Talisman]

I really wish J.M. really had a bigger hand in the handling of the plots, but I'll take what I can get at this point. They need some definite tweaking, but hopefully by issue 12 he'll be on the book as the sole writer.

[hondobrode]

I've always liked his work. He's the Go To Guy for supernatural. I loved his Spectre series.

[SJNeal]

As much as I love DeMatteis, he tends to stray into navel-gazing territory when it comes to supernatural books (see The Spectre, Seekers Into The Mystery, Mercy, et al...). But guided by Didio's more straight forward sensibilities, this might actually work!

[chastmastr]

DeMatteis is excellent!

[BamaRainbow]

I love JM's work. However, I also feel that the decision to give the PS a distinct, human-oriented origin was a big mistake and has leeched most of the mystery and awe away from the character. We have gone from having a genuinely mysterious entity to one who is far too human and far too limited, as a result. Also, JM will be scripting but Didio will still be plotting, so that limits how much JM can do with the title.

I don't see how having a "distinct, human-oriented origin" is a "mistake." There's still a lot of mystery to the character. You may say he's "far too human and far too limited," but even the most human of humans is still capable of vast mysteries.