Congratulations to Geoff Johns for his promotion to DC Chief Creative Officer late last week. He's earned the title with his success over the past few years. Don't forget your good friend Booster Gold now that you're at the top, Geoff.
Harry posted on Feb. 22, 2010 at 10:41 AM
There is no doubt he earned it. The ultimate fanboy made good. I do wonder how long his classic superheroics style will last before going stale. But it does seem like the Dark Age of comics books has offically come to a close. I wonder, looking back, what will be the event that marks the transition from Dark Age to the new modern age?
tiggerpete posted on Feb. 22, 2010 at 7:01 PM
the publishing of Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E.? (Geoff Johns' first title) or maybe 52, I'm thinking 52 is a good bookmark for the transition.
Harry posted on Feb. 22, 2010 at 9:15 PM
I totally forgot about Stars and STRIPE! Now you made me want to go trade hunting. I like the transition point suggestion of 52. I just finished reading all four trades a couple of weekends ago. Despite a few flaws, it was a really entertaining story.
Other suggestions... How about Green Lantern: Rebirth? Too obvious? The rehabilitation of Hal has certainly had an impact on the comics scene. Perhaps the return of Barry Allen? That would be nice and cyclical. (Booster gets his own series? *wink*)
Boosterrific [Official Comment] posted on Feb. 23, 2010 at 5:51 PM
I love 52, but as the story of what came after, it really is the road map for the future, not a beacon of change or a nail in a coffin in itself. The story of 52 was spawned directly by Infinite Crisis, a story in which DC intentionally tried to bookend the past 20 years of continuity. The fact that Infinite Crisis is so self-aware should be taken as an indicator that the paradigm shift actually happened some time previous -- not as far back as Stars and STRIPE, but maybe GL Rebirth indeed, espcially given how GL-centric the moidern DCU is.
Harry posted on Feb. 23, 2010 at 11:53 PM
Very true. DC wanted Infinite Crisis the signal a beginning of their new age (return of the multiverse), just as Marvel is trumpeting their "Heroic Age" as a start of something new. But I am betting comic historians (how do I get that job?) will choose earlier time points for the end of the Dark Age and the beginning of this age. And those two points aren't necessarily the same event. Heck, Marvel's bankruptcy could be the end of the Dark Age. What's a major milestone post bankruptcy but pre GL Rebirth?
tiggerpete posted on Feb. 24, 2010 at 12:12 AM
I liked Identity Crisis, as it was what got me back into comics, but I don't remember if it is before or after GL: Rebirth, maybe JLA/Avengers? I dunno
Boosterrific [Official Comment] posted on Feb. 24, 2010 at 2:38 PM
Identity Crisis and GL: Rebirth were released at about the same time in 2004. Identity Crisis is as dark as comic books come, and really presaged the necessity of Infinite Crisis. JLA/Avengers is a good suggestion, published in 2003 and really celebrating all the ages that came before, a common theme in this modern age (Blackest Night, endless Crises, returns of Barry and Hal).
Harry, you become a comics historian by just running your mouth enough until people can't help but start listening. That's certainly how all those "experts" on cable news channels earned their credentials.
Harry posted on Feb. 24, 2010 at 9:35 PM
Hmmm... Maybe GL Rebirth and ID crisis will be viewed as similar to CoIE and Watchmen's relationship to the end of the bronze age and beginning of the dark age?
Glad to hear I am on my way toward Comics Historiandom!
tiggerpete posted on Feb. 25, 2010 at 10:47 PM
I just thought of something, wasn't New Frontier published right before GL:Rebirth? that seems a pretty good place to draw a line IMO
Harry posted on Feb. 27, 2010 at 2:19 PM
Very true. It does set the stage for the ongoing modernizing of the silver age we see in comics today. Arguably a revitalization of Hal and Barry before the Rebirth sagas.
Boosterrific [Official Comment] posted on Feb. 27, 2010 at 3:13 PM
I agree that the time and tone are right, but I am reluctant to accept that an historical story redefining the time line of the DCU is singularly indicative of the change to the New Silver Age, although I agree that the tone of the story did clearly set the stage for things to come. I suspect that we agree that we have identified the time period (2003-2005) of the tidal shift. Since more comics of more variety of styles have been produced in recent years, I think an increasing period of time must pass to make it clear in hindsight where the change was, and as a result, I suspect that the change is not seen clearly in any individual series. However, it should be obvious that the promotion of Lee (joining DC when Wildstorm was bought out in 1999) and Johns (who debuted Stars and STRIPE in 1999) are just rewards for DC creators who tangibly shepherded the direction of the DCU throughout the past decade.
Harry posted on Feb. 27, 2010 at 5:54 PM
Agreed on both accounts. (but I do enjoy debating the topic anyway - thanks!)
