DC Comics has announced that it will reboot its entire superhero lineup in September, all beginning at issue No. 1. DC is home to Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and many other recognizable comic book icons.
New creative team
In a bold and risky move, DC’s new creative team, Geoff Johns and Jim Lee, are leaving behind 70 years of storylines and starting over with a clean slate. The change will come with new origins, retooled costumes and more modern plotlines. Lee commented that this will “make characters more identifiable and accessible to comic fans new and old.”
Battle of the superheroes
DC has long played second fiddle to its arch nemesis, Marvel Comics. Marvel, owned by Walt Disney Company, regularly grabs 40 percent of the comic book market. DC, owned by Time Warner, garners 27 percent. Johns and Lee are hoping to narrow that gap.
A magical number
The new DC saga begins Aug. 31 with a new start for the Justice League. The Justice League, which debuted in “The Brave and the Bold” magazine in February 1960, is team of superheroes including Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Flash and Aquaman.
In all, 52 titles are slated to reboot, with 13 new titles being released each week through September. Fifty-two is a magical number at DC, being the number of alternate Earths which “exist” in the company’s “multiverse.”
New digital strategy
The premiere of “Justice League” will also mark the beginning of a new marketing strategy. DC plans a same-day digital release for all of the rebooted titles via an app and through the company website. Thus, according to DC’s blog, “making DC Comics the first of the two major American publishers to release all of its superhero comic book titles digitally the same day as in print.” This comes after a similar move by Archie Comics, which pioneered the strategy.
Sources
National Post: http://arts.nationalpost.com/2011/05/31/dc-reboots-entire-line-of-comic-books/
MSNBC: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/43232629
Titans Tower: http://www.titanstower.com/monitor/?p=3118
An actor, film maker, screenwriter, cat lover and journalist, Ron lives in Eastern Washington where he pursues his professional and creative endeavors with equal relish.
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