DC teases readers about Linda Danvers
Reader Ealperin tipped me off to this news:
Question to Dan Didio at Hero Con, posted to Newsarama on June 21:
“Q: When will we see the Linda Danvers Supergirl again?
DD: This month.”
She’s appearing in Reign in Hell #1. What “appearing” means I do not know. I’ll have to track down the torrent the week after the issue comes out (July 30). They’re not tricking me into buying an issue that may be a complete hoax ;-)
Reading the Question and Answer panel at that con, I’m reminded of how much I hate the way the superhero comics industry works. The constant hype is downright stressful. Series change creators continuously, like that’s a logical way to run a serial; tie-ins to multiple other series force you to buy multiple books just so you know what’s going on, and woe to anyone trying to buy or read the series years later; endless earth-shattering events, big name female characters’ series being cancelled and merged into male characters’ series (this time it’s Catwoman); endless mini-series and one-shots that tie into an “event”; and the most cracktastic and badly written fanfiction you will ever see, published and excused as “Elseworlds” (see: “Whom Gods Destroy”).
DiDio announced that there will be a new creative team moving on to the Supergirl title shortly, and that the series will tie in more directly with Action Comics and Superman in the future. A major storyline that will encompass the three titles will begin, according to DiDio, in October.
When I was last reading Supergirl, she was involved in a storyline crossing over with the Legion and Action series too. It’s kind of funny to hear them saying the exact same thing a year (if that?) later - I never even finished the last “major storyline” because it was getting too much of a hassle to follow so many books!
I think the thing that bugs me most about the industry (aside from the crazy white boy privilege) is the way you have to devote so much time and energy to keeping up with what’s being published. I understand perfectly well why they integrate the dozens of books so much: it’s the best way to get people to buy things they never would otherwise.
Q: What do you think about Beau Smith’s challenge of going for an extended period of time only publishing stand-alone stories?
DD: I think it’s a great idea – but people wouldn’t buy them. Didio noted that there’s a good idea there, but the trick is to tell stories that flow from issue to issue, story to story. To illustrate his point, DiDio singled out “Brave and the Bold” as a high quality book that’s telling good stories, that, as writer Mark Waid has said on many occasions, seems not to be what the market wants now.
I only bought the issues starring my favorite character, so I can understand why sales are lackluster. I don’t actually care about every single character in the DCU, or even a lot of them. So why would I buy a series with a revolving door of characters? I was just glad Supergirl didn’t appear in a lot of issues so I wouldn’t *have* to buy very many issues ;-)
It probably seems bizarre to the boys running DC ‘n’ Marvel, but I really dislike having to follow the hype machine. I actually don’t want to hear about the “big, new, exciting” storylines coming to my favorite series. I’d much rather read them as they come out without being spoiled and having my opinions already formed before I get the issue. The hype and constant “You gotta buy this issue!! It’s super-terrific and the artist is HOT HOT HOT!!” wears very thin after a while and takes much of the fun out of things O_O
Also, Power Girl is getting her own series (this fall), illustrated by Amanda Connor - that will make many people happy! Didio didn’t say whether it’s a real, i.e. ongoing series though.
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