Erin posted on Sep. 7, 2020 at 5:11 PM
I've seen a number of people feeling this way about current comics lately and talked about it some. I do think a big part of it is lack luster writing in general, I'm reading old back issues and noticed a big change. Relationships between characters aren't nearly as close, take the bat family for example. Ever since the New 52 I've never got the impression their a group of people that actually like each other during events. Most of the time (with the exception of a few solo issues that actually have on panel bonding) I get the impression they barely function as a unit. I'd love to see them just hanging out, watching a movie or even eating dinner together. To have them work on their problems together instead of ignoring them.

More storylines get affected by editorial mandates to the point many plots under one title are dropped even though it makes no sense in the story. Beloved characters are tarnished with little reason besides apparent bias (Wally West comes to mind.) Fan favorites (like Harley Quinn) are given a big push even if the new direct doesn't make sense because there's not nearly enough build up.

I've heard that DC will invest more in digital comics and reduce prices. Which would be awesome if it's true. I don't get as many comics and I'm considering dropping altogether after next month. At least until I hear something that might interest me with the rumored big change happens next year. If it involves writers who's style I don't care for I'm not picking anything up but if not I might give it a change if it sounds interesting enough. I was disappointed by Marvel to the point I became apathetic to it and dropped everything. I'm getting close to that with DC.

Bea posted on Sep. 8, 2020 at 2:23 PM
Your comments definitely match how I've felt recently. I don't feel like I've given up on comics though so much as they've given up on me.

Admittedly, its been a while since comics were probably aimed at my demographic as I got into comics in my early teens around the end of the original Crisis (my first DC Comic was actually Booster Gold #6 - it had an origin story and Superman in it so seemed like a good starting place) but I'm not sure who they are aimed at now for the most part. It doesn't often feel like kids given some of the stuff going on in them. DC in particular seems to be going through a prolonged phase of everything must change/break down/be bleak with no status quo or direction. The stories I had hoped for with Rebirth DC's aim of making things more hopeful and fun again were only with us for a short time. We had an excellent Superman by Tomasi and Jurgens that was fun again with some nice Booster guest appearances where Booster acted like Booster. We had the return of friendship in the Titans with Wally West back. That's all gone now it seems and its back to no one trusting each other and a dash of 90s darkness from what I can see from the few I've purchased. I really struggle to justify the expense of buying new comics these days given most times it just set me up for disappointment and with no local comic shop where I am anymore it makes it harder to flick through one on the rack and find something that appeals. I have to take a risk from a write up as to whether to order it online. As for digital, they are definitely overpriced and maybe I'm a luddite but I do miss that feel of a new comic book in hand. The alternative of buying collected editions from the Bronze Age and post-Crisis age do at least offer satisfying stories though I do worry about the pricing structure for some of the collections. At least we had a great Booster collection out recently and at the start of the year we did get the Conglomerate in a nice collection.

I do really enjoy your blogs and this website. Hope the mid-year crisis blues pass for you and all of us soon. It's been an odd 2020.

Jordan N. posted on Sep. 8, 2020 at 6:17 PM
You are definitely not alone. I resonated with what Bea and Erin shared as well. I haven't bought a brand new comic in years it feels like (maybe not since Booster's appearance in Action). That will change though with his upcoming appearance in Batman Beyond. I spend most of my time buying collected editions being put out reprinting older material or digging through back issues to fill in gaps in my collection (been grabbing a lot of JLI & JLE issues that I was missing). I especially like finding DC Comics from the 70's and 80's. This not especially easy to do here in the Philippines where I currently live. I sure miss walking into my LCS back in the US!

I think may Bea makes a good point that so much of comics today don't seem to be aimed at children, but they also aren't aimed at the older fans who grew up with comics. The decision-making is perplexing, and their continual chase after the elusive "new fan", although necessary for future survival, often seems poorly thought out, ironically short-sighted, and editorially strangled to death. And it feels like most of the pros who've worked in comics for the past couple of decades have been slowly weeded out, often in favor of celebrity hires from other mediums, rather than slowly raising up and honing new writers from within the comics community. I tend to keep my nose in the back issues because when I look at the current rack, it is abysmally depressing. Heroes don't act like heroes, characters don't act consistently with their historic portrayal, and continuity has largely been jettisoned.

But through it all, we will always have Booster to look back to and enjoy. He really should be a model for comics today of how to introduce a new character who stands on his own, how to grow that character over time, and how to even shift his status quo without losing what makes the character special or ignoring his history. Truly Booster Gold is the best character find from the past 35 years.

Grabs Granite posted on Nov. 8, 2019 at 12:13 PM
That's a thing of beauty.

Jonny posted on Nov. 8, 2019 at 10:19 PM
Booster Gold running a (likely failing) political campaign sounds like an amazing story frame. Wish DC would give Booster a solo series again.

Kevin Munson posted on Jul. 22, 2019 at 11:18 PM
Of course Booster wont get credit for his bravery in HIC. After all he is, The greatest hero you've never heard of.

Also I think the moral of HIC was to not be afraid to reach out for help. King did a terrible job explaining that, and I too hope he never writes BG again.

To give King some credit. I really liked Swamp Thing Winter Special.

 Boosterrific [Official Comment] posted on Jul. 23, 2019 at 12:03 AM
Even though I personally dislike his work, many other people do -- he's won 2 consecutive Best Writer Eisner Awards, after all -- and I can live with that.... so long as he keeps away from Booster Gold.

Cort posted on Jul. 23, 2019 at 2:30 AM
He writes well sometimes and then other times you get HiC which was a bloody mess. Also his handling of Booster in The Gift in Batman was awful and contrast to Action Comics Booster Shot arc entirely. Still can't buy Bane hacking Skeets. Yeesh!

Ithildyn posted on Jul. 23, 2019 at 8:37 PM
Apparently Booster is coming next month to the DC Legends phone game thingy I don't play and didn't know about until it popped in my newsfeed today. He's got this (game original, I presume) costume that is vaguely reminiscent of football gear. No iconic collar again, sadly.

BoosterFett posted on Jul. 25, 2019 at 6:05 PM
I actually play DC Legends, and I will probably be dropping real money for the first time for Booster Gold shards. The game features a regular and Legendary outfit for each character it releases (The Legendary outfit is unlocked when you get the character to Legend status, of course). I'm hoping that that is the (normal) outfit and the collar will be part of his Legend outfit!

 Boosterrific [Official Comment] posted on Jul. 25, 2019 at 11:05 PM
If you get screenshots, let us know!
Trackback: http://www.boosterrific.com/news.php?date=2019-07-24&Hands-On-Legend