"Predicts" may be a bit strong. But in last week's interview with Josie Campbell for Comic Book Resources, former Justice League: Generation Lost and current Batwing writer Judd Winick does hint that the JLI has a future after their cancellation.

CBR: While the JLI are in [Batwing] with issue #12, has the cancellation of "Justice League International" affected the story you're telling at all? Or is what you're doing unaffected as it is specific to your book?

Winnick:The script was written before the announcement. Even though the book is being canceled, I don't think the JLI is being disbanded so much as we're not publishing a book about it. I can't tell you how it's being wrapped up, y'all will just have to read the JLI title. In Batwing, we will leap in as a team, and Batwing as a member.

As mentioned, the Booster Gold-led JLI appearance in Batwing #12 is scheduled for an August 1 release. That's the same day that the final issue of Justice League International hits the stands, but don't expect the events of Batwing to provide significant illumination on the resolution to Dan Jurgens plans for the JLI. From the same interview:

CBR: Turning to your other series, while Batwing appeared in Gotham for "Night of the Owls," the next issues will see him operating on an international level and teaming up with Nightwing and the JLI. Did you talk a lot to Kyle Higgins and Dan Jurgens about their characters?

Winick: No. In this case we're doing it through editorial. This isn't a crossover so much as it is just using the characters. I know Kyle a little bit, mostly through Scott Snyder, so through editorial we asked if it was cool. But it goes to a larger issue tact we're taking at DC. We're trying to be better in paying attention to continuity, but at the same time not being so slavish to it we're not producing story.

Standalone adventures without slavish devotion to continuity? I think I can support that concept (partially because I don't really want Judd Winick anywhere near my favorite characters' continuity).

Comments (3) | Add a Comment | Tags: batwing comicbookresources.com continuity dan jurgens josie campbell judd winick justice league justice league international kyle higgins

This is not your father's JLI.

Can you spot the one character who seems to be enjoying himself here, as though he knows something you don't? Hmm?

The 5-page preview for Justice League International #10 is up at Newsarama.com, and it looks like we'll finally start getting some answers about just who bombed the United Nations four months ago. Will these answers come just in time to see the end of the Justice League? Pick up JLI #10 this Wednesday and find out.

Comments (7) | Add a Comment | Tags: newsarama.com previews

Hey, Booster Gold, no more JLI? Back to the basics!

David Branstetter, creator of Strawman Comics, posted his image of "classic" Booster Gold drawn for Bouserthedog on his Deviant Art site. In his words:

The joke here is that Bouserthedog asked for the 80's version of Booster Gold. Seeing how Booster Gold is aware of future events I thought it would be funny if he was commenting on his own costume change.

As bad as they were, some of Booster's terrible 1990s costumes were still better than his current DCnU costume. *shudder*

Comments (1) | Add a Comment | Tags: costumes david branstetter deviantart.com fan art strawmancomics.com

There's nothing funny about the DCnU. Maybe that's part of our problem with it.

Last week's poll question: If the New 52 JLI were to be reborn, which model would you prefer it follow? (49 votes)

Earlier this month, thwp.net interviewed Dan Jurgens about his career and his interests. That led to the following exchange:

Q: If the Booster Gold character wasn't a superhero, what line of work do you think he'd be best suited for?

A: He'd probably go back to being an athlete, most likely trying to catch on with a NFL team. Or... he'd be on some kind of reality show!

With the cancellation of Justice League International, it now looks like Booster could indeed be looking for a new job. That leads us to this week's poll question.

Comments (3) | Add a Comment | Tags: dan jurgens justice league international polls reboot thwp.com

L. Vincent Poupard has written an article for Yahoo TV detailing the "Unique Challenges Facing Syfy's 'Booster Gold'." Among the issues that Poupard lists are the fact that Booster is a newer, relatively unknown character with no actual super powers. It strikes me that those same factors are not liabilities but assets.

Booster Gold has been around for 35 years, which is the same age that Wonder Woman was when Lynda Carter donned her tights for television. Superman was only 2 when he got his first radio show. That allowed the shows's writers some leeway in inventing the character's adventures. This also let an inexperienced audience to grow along with the Man of Steel. Many of the elements of that show eventually found their way into Superman's comics, and have served Superman well for decades since.

Having no super powers shouldn't be a detriment to a super heroic television show, either. Fans of police shows already know that nothing adds drama like life-threatening situations for the protagonists. Without super powers, Booster is as mortal as anyone else. That eliminates the needs for plot devices like Kryptonite or complicated death traps. Better still, it makes Booster more relatable to an audience which also must deal with moral choices and physical limitations.

Yes, there are unique challenges facing a Booster Gold television show. No television budget -- on SyFy or anywhere else -- can reproduce the work of the artists that have given us alien invasions, Vanishing Point, or even flying robot sidekicks. Considering that Michael Jon Carter is both gambler and thief who is selfish and conceited, will audiences even want to see a show about a self-appointed "hero" whose moral compass doesn't always point north?

Accepting these facts allows us to prepare for the changes needed for Booster to succeed on television. As the character himself has proven, one man's liabilities can become his own opportunities. If any character can overcome his own hurdles to stardom, it would be Booster Gold.

Comments (3) | Add a Comment | Tags: essay l vincent poupard syfy television yahoo.com