Monday, November 1, 2010
New week, new attitude.
I'm now over my hatred for Justice League: Generation Lost #12. It seems clear that there is a generational divide on this issue: long-time JLA readers felt betrayed but younger fans enjoyed the story. Since the industry really needs all the new blood that it can get (and opposing the change has done nothing other than make me feel old), maybe it's time to embrace the change. Especially since Marc-Oliver Frisch's latest 6 months sales reviews of DC Comics at Comics Beat.com indicated that recent across-the-board sales were about as bad as it gets.
If letting a hack like Judd Winick make Ice a patricidal amnesiac increases sales for a series that I otherwise enjoyed, I should probably either quit reading comics or quit my bitching and get on board the bandwagon. It's a new 52-verse, and if Booster can be reborn with a new purpose, so can Ice. Maybe the change can earn a little buzz and drive some sales.
See? Like Booster, I can be a team player when I have to be.
| | Tags: august 2010 comicsbeat.com marc-oliver frisch sales
KMD posted on Nov. 1, 2010 at 12:25 PM
Fascinating to say the least. It's pretty clear the two "Blackest Night" issues did nothing to bring in new readers. It's also clear that "Generation Lost" and "Vanishing Point" have done little to boost Booster's sales either. <br />Some of the numbers are not surprising. "Mighty Crusaders" was a flop but so were the Red Circle books. DC did nothing to promote "The Web" and "The Shield" so that can't be a surprise. The JSA related numbers can't be much of one either. Did the All Stars need their own book? Did Magog? I think Power Girl has enough fans to survive a while longer and it does have its own niche.
Boosterrific [Official Comment] posted on Nov. 1, 2010 at 3:44 PM
I agree, KMD. I believe that history is pretty clear: event crossovers will drive up book sales in the short-term only. We should be thankful that BOOSTER GOLD hasn't suffered significantly from any notable falloff thanks to it's temporary $4 price hike.
BoosterPowershot posted on Nov. 1, 2010 at 11:20 PM
Booster Gold is my favorite superhero. Power Girl is second. The fact that both of these have hit below the 20K mark now is distressing.
Lissbirds posted on Nov. 2, 2010 at 1:13 AM
Interesting perspective. I like your attitude towards Generation Lost #12. Hopefully I can move on, too. What bugs me most is that the comics industry isn't self-aware and losing touch with its fans. The weird thing is, I'm a new reader. (But I read JLI first, so I guess that puts me in the old category.)
Boosterrific [Official Comment] posted on Nov. 2, 2010 at 2:00 AM
I recognize that a slavish devotion to continuity can be a detriment to story telling, and I'm willing to accept changes to characters that provide genuine development. However, I just really don't appreciate unnecessary, 180 degree about-faces to the history of a character in the middle of a story, especially when the change appears to serve no purpose other than to fill an issue or two of a series that is off the rails. In other words, I am and always have been opposed to change for change's sake.
I suppose if I had faith in Winick to pull this story out, and make this seemingly abrupt change organic, I wouldn't be experiencing such grief over the death of the character that I knew as Ice. However, Winick's track record of disregarding established characters has never earned anything but my scorn. So I naturally expect only the worst from this sudden, unexpected story development. (I'm not by nature an optimistic person.)
Friday, October 29, 2010
Let's finish the week the way we started it: with a site update. In addition to several new items in the "other media" section, the latest content added to Boosterrific.com is a visual family tree:
Sure, this family tree could be considered entirely unnecessary given the scope and breadth of the rest of the site. But once upon a time, Erin requested it. And if there is anything that Boosterrific.com is all about (other than Booster Gold), it's the fans! So enjoy.
| | Tags: erin starlight family tree website update
Shawn posted on Oct. 29, 2010 at 5:52 PM
Looks good, Walter, thanks for putting in the time and effort
Cnd posted on Oct. 29, 2010 at 6:37 PM
Wowowow, Brainic 5 babysat Rip? XDXD
Erin posted on Oct. 29, 2010 at 6:55 PM
Not what I was expecting but lots of fun. I love how it ties into all the series Booster was a part of. But the best part has to be having Rip Hunter TIme Master listed as a babysitter and being babysat by Brainiac 5. Thanks for doing this!
Morgenstern posted on Oct. 30, 2010 at 5:52 PM
Did Rip not have a brother (i.e. Booster a second Son)?
Erin posted on Oct. 30, 2010 at 9:27 PM
Do you mean Daniel Hunter from the post-crisis Time Masters mini series? He was Rips' cousin when Hunter was his real name.<br /><a href='http://exploringthetimelab.blogspot.com/2009/10/time-masters-mini-series-characters.html'>http://exploringthetimelab.blogspot.com/2009/10/time-masters-mini-series-characters.html</a>
Boosterrific [Official Comment] posted on Oct. 31, 2010 at 9:23 PM
Just because he is Rip's Cousin doesn't mean that he's related to Booster Gold. I chose not to include characters from the TIME MASTERS series until we know more about Rip's true (read: retconned) past.
BoosterPowershot posted on Nov. 1, 2010 at 12:30 AM
Very, very nice!
Lissbirds posted on Nov. 2, 2010 at 1:15 AM
Ooooh, love it! It looks like it took a long time to make, but it paid off.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Last week a new DeviantART group was founded in support of everyone's favorite hero, Booster Gold. The community, whose gallery already contains some really impressive artwork, can be found at boosterrific.deviantart.com. Disclaimer: despite the really spiffy name, that group is completely unassociated with this website other than our shared appreciation for DC Comic's Corporate Crusader.
| | Tags: deviantart.com
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Russ Burlingame's latest "Gold Exchange" column is up at Newsarama.com. Burlingame has been very busy lately, having recently married. We can all be thankful that despite the delay he has at least posted his conversation with Dan Jurgens over Time Masters: Vanishing Point #3 before issue 4 is released tomorrow. Better late than never.
UPDATE: Also at newsarama.com, Burlingame has posted a catch-up with J.M. DeMatteis over Booster Gold #36 and #37. It's not especially enlightening, though it does demonstrate that DeMatteis seems unaware of the events in 52 that returned Booster to prominence. Make of that what you will. You can read the article here.
| | Tags: dan jurgens j.m. dematteis newsarama.com russ burlingame time masters
TGB posted on Oct. 26, 2010 at 6:14 PM
Off-topic: New Superman look. Hate.
ncllcn posted on Oct. 26, 2010 at 10:35 PM
Good interview, I've been waiting for Waverider and the Linear Men to get some mention now I'm really pumped for the next Time Masters. Also I agree the new Superman look is dumb. Though I liked when he had the long hair/mullet back in the 90's and almost everyone I've talked to did not, so who am I to judge.
Boosterrific [Official Comment] posted on Oct. 26, 2010 at 11:23 PM
As I recall, that Super-Mullet was really popular (an controversial) back in its day, as youth loved it and established readers hated it. I suspect that the new Superman look will be the same way and be just as durable. I stopped getting excited over costume changes years ago. (Costume changes that aren't Booster Gold related, I mean. Bring back the collar already!)
BoosterPowershot posted on Oct. 27, 2010 at 1:25 AM
I can't totally fault J.M. on not knowing what went on with 52. Booster's part was interesting, but confusing as hell. I am not at ALL familiar with the Waverider character, and all this nonsense about missing seconds or something was a cool concept that just NEVER explained itself for me. Also, I read 52 AFTER I started reading BG Vol. 2, and I was led to believe that 52 had much more Booster-prominence that it really did. His biggest limelight is near the end of the series, and by this point it was so damn confusing I had to just simply read it for the sake of finishing it.
Superman posted on Oct. 28, 2010 at 9:57 AM
Sorry, but what's "The New Superman look"?
Boosterrific [Official Comment] posted on Oct. 28, 2010 at 2:21 PM
This week DC published SUPERMAN: EARTH-ONE with a very emo Superman. The mainstream press picked up the news and ran with it. Read more and see pictures on DC's Source blog here: http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2010/10/28/a-few-links-of-note-superman-earth-one-take-three/. I don't care for it myself, but I don't mind DC trying to reach a new audience outside of continuity.
