DC is releasing fifty-two zero issues in an attempt to give a jumping on point for people that did not come on board with the New 52 from the get go, and as a way to re-tell the origins of those heroes who’s continuity was still confusing post-Flashpoint. In some cases, such as that of The Phantom Stranger, they are changing origins radically. Does the new origin work or is it a dud? Find out with this Major Spoiler’s review!
Category Archives: Dan Didio
REVIEW: Justice League International Annual #1
The JLI has been run under the bus a couple times now, with team members dropping like flies. Can a different creative team for the annual bring about less death? Major Spoilers takes the plunge to find out!
Challengers of the Unknown headed to DC Universe Presents
DC Comics has announced that once the five part Deadman story concludes in DC Universe Presents, the company will reintroduce fans to the Challengers of the Unknown.
DC RELAUNCH: Fans in a crisis over no Crisis – Who Cares?
This past weekend, Dan DiDio set the Intardwebz ablaze when he made the announcement that the Crisis events from the last thirty years, including Crisis on Infinite Earths, never happened in the New DC Universe.
Wildstorm ends in December, Zuda bye-bye next week
As the news begins to sink in regarding the partial move of DC to the West Coast, Dan Didio and Jim Lee shared the following announcement on The Source informing readers that Wildstorm and Zuda would be ending in December.
Jim Lee and Dan DiDio named Co-Publishers of DC Comics
Press Release
DC Entertainment, founded in September 2009 to unleash the power of the DC Comics library of characters across all media platforms, has named its executive management team, including new co-publishers of DC Comics and a Chief Creative Officer, as well as heads of Sales/Marketing/Business Development and Finance/Administration. Diane Nelson, President, DC Entertainment, made the announcement today.
The new senior executive team includes Jim Lee and Dan DiDio, who have been named Co-Publishers of DC Comics, and Geoff Johns, who will serve as Chief Creative Officer of DC Entertainment. Additionally, John Rood has been named Executive Vice President, Sales, Marketing and Business Development, and Patrick Caldon will serve as Executive Vice President, Finance and Administration. Each of these executives will report directly to Nelson.
Will everything look better under the sparkling light of Brightest Day?
DC has released more information about the upcoming Brightest Day event. It’s definitely going to be a company wide event, and it may just change some of your favorite titles for the better.
Maybe.
Barry Allen kicks Wally West and Bart Allen to the curb in 2010
While DC has maintained Wally West and Bart Allen would continue to play a big role in the Flash Universe – there were statements made that BOTH Wally and Barry would continue to be the Flash – Dan DiDio quashed those claims in an interview with Newsarama. DiDio stated that Barry would be the only Flash in 2010, as the Wally West back up stories, and the Kid Flash title have both been dropped.
When Johns brought Green Lantern back, at least Guy Gardner and Kyle Rayner had the Green Lantern Crops to return to where we could follow their adventures (and you HAVE been following their adventures, haven’t you?), but for long time Wally fans, not having any Wally content is going to be a little hard to manage. I think most comic book readers today know Flash only as Wally West, much like many think of Timothy Dalton as James Bond, or Tom Baker as the only Doctor Who. Yes, they may be aware of a Flash named Barry Allen, until his recent resurrection, most have probably not taken the time to go diving in the back issue bins in hopes of reading his adventures.
While the Flash: Rebirth series has been hyped, and has received a fair amount of press and praise, unless DC is able to do something radically different with Barry and get Flash fans on board for the long haul, the Flash series just might have some speed bumps it will have to overcome in 2010.
Really? No Wally West?
Another Blackest Night event in between Blackest Night event
If you’ve been wondering what is going on with Blackest Night, and why there is a skip month in the series, EIC Dan DiDio spelled it out yesterday at the Baltimore Retailer Summit.
Cover to The Outsiders #26 revealed
DC Comics has unveiled the cover to The Outsiders #26 by artist Philip Tan. Tan and DC Executive Editor Dan DiDio are taking over the title in January. But then again, you already knew that.
DiDio writing The Outsiders
DC’s executive editor Dan DiDio came out the other day to announce that he would be the new regular writer of The Outsiders beginning in January, and he’s bringing Philip Tan with him to do the art.
“This is an exciting time for me both personally and professionally. I have been a fan of The Outsiders since their inception and with Pete Tomasi moving on to some very exciting projects in 2010, I have been afforded the opportunity to work with some of my favorite characters. Most importantly, this also gives me the chance to work with the immensely talented Philip Tan, and together I hope we can meet and exceed all expectations for this series.â€
DiDio is taking the safe route by taking on this title, as the sales numbers are slipping, and if it turns into a complete disaster, at least it’s one of the titles that isn’t prominent on the radar.
The changeover occurs with The Outsiders #26.
Quote of the Week: Mark Waid on Dan DiDio on 52
Man, I knew there was a reason Mark Waid was one of my favorite people. In an interview with Ain’t It Cool News, Waid spilled the beans on nearly every company he’s ever worked for.
“The biggest challenge [of 52] was actually, wisely, kept from us by [editor] Steve [Wacker]. EIC Dan Didio, who first championed the concept, hated what we were doing. H-A-T-E-D 52. Would storm up and down the halls telling everyone how much he hated it. And Steve, God bless him, kept us out of the loop on that particular drama. [Editor Michael] Siglain, having less seniority, was less able to do so, and there’s one issue of 52 near the end that was written almost totally by Dan and Keith Giffen because none of the writers could plot it to Dan’s satisfaction. Which was and is his prerogative as EIC, but man, there’s little more demoralizing than taking the ball down to the one-yard line and then being benched by the guy who kept referring to COUNTDOWN as ‘52 done right.’”
I think this is a fascinating look at the company, and actually puts a lot of what is going on into perspective. You’ll want to read the entire article, as there are enough quotes that can be pulled that would fill a month of Sundays worth of Quotes of the Week.
And if you are interested, we did our own little interview with Mr. Waid a while ago, where he hints at some of these things…