Yesterday, news broke that Grant Morrison would be leaving two big titles at DC Comics, and my not write superhero books again.
In an interview with Comic Book Resources, Morrison stated he would be leaving Action Comics after issue #16, and would exit the popular Batman, Inc. after issue #12. As Morrison moves to writing Happy! with Image Comics, he commented that he is more or less done with the superhero genre.
“after that I don’t have any plans for monthly superhero books for a while. “Multiversity” is eight issues and I’m 30-odd pages into a Wonder Woman project but those are finite stories.
“I’m not saying that I’ll never write superheroes again. It’s just that my relationship to them has changed especially after finishing the book and I’m not sure if I want to maintain the same kind of relentless level of production…
“I think I’ve kind of worked through everything I’ve ever felt about these characters. It was a bit like going to the psychiatrist and lying on the couch for just long enough to realize “What was I thinking?” [Laughs] I don’t know. I know there are plenty of different ways to use them, but right now I feel like I’m coming to the end of a long intensive period where I was talking about certain ideas using the language of superheroes, if that makes any sense. I want to try out some new ideas and explore the opportunities that keep coming up to write novels and screenplays.”
There are probably a number of people who are upset about this announcement, but considering Morrison has spent a better part of the last 15 years working on superhero comics, I can understand the need to move to something new.
What is interesting is this is another writer that seems to be moving to more creator owned only titles and projects.
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Another interesting thing that kinda goes along with this is that Robert Liefeld on his twitter today (7/24/12) said that he was going to be close behind Morrison in leaving as well. Which is kinda too bad. I’ve read some of the Savage Hawkman and Deadpool. Both aren’t terrible stories. So yeah it just goes to show anybody that writers/creators are wanting to do their own things on their own terms. Needless to say it is an exciting time in comics these days.
I wondered how long this would take to happen. I think I saw the first cracks in the armor back when All Star Batman and Robin went on infinite hiatus. I can’t say yet if Grant Morrison is one of the greats – it’s too soon for that – but, like Frank Miller, he took staid and stale superhero franchises and shook them up and got people reading them again. At times, Morrison seemed to be making changes just to poke loyal readers in the eye like “Everybody hates Bat-Mite so I, ha ha, am going to bring back Bat-Mite!” in much the same way that George Lucas inflicted Jar Jar Binks on his faithful followers. Yet when he wasn’t busy behaving like an egotistical asshat, he produced some stunning and thought-provoking work, in an industry that doesn’t seem to be interested in stunning and thought-provoking work. I wish him luck in his latest venture, and whether you hate his work or love it, superhero comics will only be poorer without him.
All-Star Batman and Robin’s infinite hiatus is directly related to Jim Lee’s increased responsibilities at DC, rather than anything involving Frank Miller. Dan Didio has confirmed that he has the last few scripts sitting in his desk.
Can’t say I’m sorry to see him go. His stories are so convoluted that I always felt like I was walking into the middle of a movie (and not a good movie).
Another lost creator for Superman. Between the “Superman” title which can’t seem to keep a creative team on it. And now this, it just feels like Superman for the new 52 wasn’t really planned out very well. I personally think that they bet everything on Grant Morrison’s take, and a lot of people has Ashen’s view of his run, and it just killed it. Thankfully there’s Smaillville Season 11, but they better get their act together before next summer.
I think this is exciting. I’m a big Grant Morrison fan, but his work on Action Comics and Batman Incorporated lately does feel fatigued.
The move to more creator-owned comics seems great. Image and Dark Horse are both doing a goodjob on that front… Manhattan Projects, The Massive, Chew, Mind Mgmt, these are some of the most exciting comics out there today, with a lot more energy than what’s coming out of the Big Two. Hopefully, more risk-taking is in the future of comics.
YAAAAAAAYYYY!
(i’m sorry, did i type that out loud?)
Kinda glad to see this happen. The man has done amazing work in the past – that I cannot deny. But Action really felt like something he just didn’t know how to handle or wield. And honestly, I don’t particularly care for a writing style that has me completely confused, flipping back pages to try to figure out what the heck I missed – only to find out it was never there (Batman RIP, I’m looking at you here). I can appreciate the different take and direction he wanted to take the characters, but the writing style was just too over the top and just plain weird to suit me.
Unfortunately, not sorry to hear about this. Haven’t really been enjoying Action Comics. Think it’s time to go back to something like the Invisibles again, that’s where he shines.
I think its time for Matthew and Steven to revisit there thoughts on Grant Morrison on the Podcast. I’ve gotten the impression both your points of view have changed since that original episode.
I found this a while ago, it seems like Morrison has been thinking about this for a long time.
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/grant-morrison-on-the-death-of-comics-20110822
Sad to see him go, even on his worst days a Morrison comic had more ideas in it than a years worth of other writers work. I wish him the best luck with whatever projects he’ll be doing after this.
I think that drawing the conclusion “Grant Morrison is done with superhero stories” is a pretty big reach, based on reading that article. It sounds like he’ll do his own stuff for a few years, but I fully expect him to come back and reimagine another big Marvel/DC character. In 2025 we’ll be reading a bizarre Captain America saga that draws a thread through McCarthyism-the Cold War-the Internet-reality television-corporations.
Action Comics is one of my favorite parts of the new DC (with Batman and Wonder Woman) so I am very disappointed that he is leaving.
I am really, really going to miss him — especially in Action Comics.
With Morrison, his writing tends to polarize the readers. Either you love him, or you hate him — or both.
I really enjoyed his early work on Batman, but felt Final Crisis was a waste of my time and money.
He’s a scary looking fellow, isn’t he?
I never liked his stuff!
Never bought it.
Bye, bye!
I was happy, until…
“I’m 30-odd pages into a Wonder Woman project…”
DAMN IT!