Hosive

i love the concept of a weekly comic….a massive, epic storyline that is grown week to week but in the us, only dc has attempted to produce weekly comics.  rival marvel has critiqued dc’s efforts…asked when they will try one they responded-”we don’t do comics weekly….we do them strongly”.  and i would have to admit that the dc efforts have left me bored. the first massive 52 week series called 52 was ok with lots of high minded story threads but ultimately not compelling enough. the second attempt, countdown is widely seen as a disaster. i gave up on this year’s offering, trinity, after 3 issues because of fears of mediocrity…and i would rather spend my money on writers i know i will like and that i trust. which leads us to….

…the current superman line written primarily by two of my favorite writers, geoff johns and james robinson. i’m a batman guy….not a superman guy but if these guys are writing, it matters very little what the subject is. overflowing with ideas, they have gone weekly with the storyline….new krypton…about a lost city of krypton replanted on earth with 100,000 kryptonians now inhabiting the planet but without any of the humanity of superman.

this is the focus of the mythos of superman….is superman super or man? what makes him superman? this storyline will explore kin who only have super but lack the soul instilled in clark kent by his adoptive parents…they have the powers but not the accompanying heart. what difference will that make?

this series inadvertently poses the obvious question….why do weekly comics have to be a year in length?….this story line will take place roughly over three months and be done. so perhaps they can tell great weekly stories without the insane, contrived format of dragging the plot over 52 issues.

the weekly episodes are also getting some great art by mega-artist alex ross who’s painted superhero work commands thousands and mind boggling tens of thousands. his work gracing the covers shows the commitment to pull out all the stops to make these issues memorable. i hate it when creators only go through the motions and slap things together.

alex ross is also involved in the other weekly storyline flowing out of both the justice society of america and the classic kingdom come series. when the original kingdom come series ended, alex ross and co-creator mark waid had more ideas about the futuristic universe but time limited them from pursuing the projects together so the company followed other ideas to capitalize on the money making moment. but alex still had his ideas….so together with geoff johns, they plucked the kingdom come superman and brought him into the mainstream dc universe to see what would happen. the series puts on display alex’s ideas that have never seen print until now.

alex ross even writes and pencils a full issue of superman as well as providing covers for the event. the superman special is breath taking….almost anything alex draws is magical.

i’ve always loved the heroes of the justice society….these are not the cool heroes but the washed up old heroes….these are my father’s father’s superheroes…and the trick is writing these old heads in a way that’s relevant. they play on the themes of nostalgia and legacy…having the older characters mentor the next generation of heroes.

the roster of characters is extensive as geoff johns keeps creating and revamping characters….each with a history and a storyline….proving that great writers can take “old” characters and do something great with them. there are no bad characters, only bad writers. i have collected stories with these characters since the 80’s and they have a special place in my heart so i am glad that dc is giving them the attention. however, as i go to print, geoff johns has announced that he is leaving the title. we’ll see who replaces him.

meanwhile, i hope geoff johns and alex ross do more weekly comics strongly.