I've been reading comics published by DC Comics since 1974. Yes, I admit it. I never grew up. I am the the comics equivalent of the Toys 'R Us kid.
To give a little historical background, 1974 was the year that President Richard M. Nixon resigned as a result of the Watergate scandal, gas shortages gave birth to the 55-mph speed limit, and work began on the Alaska pipeline. According to www.thepeoplehistory.com, gas was 55 cents per gallon, average rent was $185/month, the average U.S. yearly salary was $13,900, and a new car would set you back $3,750.
For me as a ten-year-old, it was the year that the four-color heroes of DC Comics' superhero titles entered my world of reading. Looking back, I can see why my mother hated seeing me read comics. I was already a voracious reader and at that point in time comics were still seen as more of a gateway to reading. I had read most if not all of the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys titles published up to that point -- several of them multiple times -- and I was just a few months away from reading my first adult novel, an Ellery Queen mystery (A Fine and Private Place) that I picked up at the local library because the paperback's cover intrigued me.
Yet it was in the pages of Superman #281 (the first appearance of Vartox), Wonder Woman #215 (during WW's 12-trials period for readmission to the Justice League of America), The Flash #230, and Batman #259 (co-starring The Shadow!!!), among others, that I was able to escape the rather ordinary life of a kid who lived on a farm. It was also the year I was introduced to my favorite super-hero team of all time: The Justice Society of America. That was the year that it was discovered that the Sandman's sidekick, Sandy the Golden Boy, had become "The Creature in the Velvet Cage" (Justice League of America #113).
In the nearly 42 years since I read my first DC titles I've seen characters launched, relaunched, and relaunched yet again. DC simplified their multiverse into a single universe in 1985's Crisis on Infinite Earths (and that ended up creating continuity problems that plague DC's characters to this day). Superman and Wonder Woman were given fresh starts beginning in 1986. Batman was refashioned into a more obsessed crimefighter. Jason Todd, the second character to use Robin as a superhero sobriquet, was given a totally new origin, killed off in a call-in poll, and then eventually brought back as a violent anti-hero. After Crisis, DC created Legends, fought off an Invasion, faced Zero Hour, an Infinite Crisis, and a Final Crisis, and survived -- for lack of a better term -- the Flashpoint paradox before entering the New 52 with their iconic characters now younger and essentially starting over for a new generation.
It's clear that DC desperately needs a rebirth of some sort. What they need to do, in my ever-so-humble opinion, and what they will do, however, are two different things. My wish list for what I hope to see come to pass includes:
1. The original super-team reborn. The Justice Society of America made its debut in 1940's All-Star Comics #3 and was tied to the heroes' World War II-era origins until 2011. When DC launched Earth 2 in 2012, the heroes of that parallel Earth shared the names of the legendary superheroes but little else. It's been hinted that the original conceit of the JSA, including its World War II beginnings, is going to be restored but with a twist -- the heroes are going to find themselves flung forward in time so that the characters themselves will be young and not a group of centenarians who should have retired decades ago. Ironically, the time travel bit was used to explain the disappearance of the Seven Soldiers of Victory, whose team members were largely forgotten by 1972, as seen in Justice League of America #100-102.
2. Iconic versions of characters brought back. The Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman seen the past few years have not necessarily been the heroes they'd been prior to 2011's New 52 launch. The popularity of titles like Titans Hunt and Superman: Lois and Clark is surely helping DC realize that fans would like to read stories featuring the original Titans line-up and a married Superman. And speaking of iconic versions, can I add a vote to undo the death of Nora Allen? Tragedy doesn't have to be the impetus for every character making the choice to be a hero. Barry Allen became a hero because it was the right thing to do. His tragedy came years later when the Reverse Flash killed Barry's wife, Iris. Is it too much to hope for that at least one hero lives an ordinary life outside of the costume? And I would love to see a return to a more classic (i.e. 1970-1985 Darknight Detective interpretation) of the Batman. You know, more focused, less obsessed and/or psychotic.
3. Give Jack Kirby's New Gods a rest. Introduced in 1971, Kirby's New Gods were self-contained for the most part until 1986's Legends miniseries. Though part of the Superman mythos from the beginning of the characters' history -- Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen was one of the titles Kirby used to tell his Fourth World saga -- for the most part the New Gods was a self-contained concept. Sure, Mister Miracle co-starred with Batman in The Brave and the Bold, Funky Flashman was seen in Secret Society of Super-Villains, the New Gods were featured in the JLA/JSA crossover for 1980, and Darkseid was the villain in the Legion of Super-Heroes classic, "The Great Darkness Saga." (I'm not including the Super Powers miniseries that were created expressely for the purchase of selling a line of action figures/toys.) Starting with the publication of Legends, however, DC has pushed Darkseid as the big bad of the DC universe/multiverse. Overexposure, like familiarity, breeds contempt.
4. And, speaking of overexposure, need I mention anything more than "Batman"? When the New 52 was launched in 2011 the Bat-world was at the center of 14 titles, if I remember correctly, including All-Star Western starring Jonah Hex, who found himself roaming around Gotham with an Arkham. It looks like Batman and his "family" are going to have a large number of titles after Rebirth. <sigh> I know Batman is popular, but can we dial it back just a bit, DC, and give some other characters a chance in the sun?
5. More fun. I've been enjoying the Paul Levitz/Sonny Liew/Lee Loughridge Doctor Fate series. It's had its share of serious moments, but seeing Khalid Nassour trying to figure out how to best use the power of Fate often brings a smile to my face if only because Nabu isn't much on helping/guiding our young hero on his journey, instead preferring to be cryptic and just a bit snarky. And while "fun" may not be the best word to describe Swamp Thing, I am having a blast with Len Wein's return to his seminal creation. Sugar and Spike as young adult private investigators. Bat-Mite. Bizarro. How about another Ambush Bug miniseries?
I could go on. I'm not holding my breath that anything major is going to change at DC. I hope I'm surprised with Rebirth and that heroes become heroes again, a light in a dark world.
As I re-read this before hitting the "publish" button, I stop for a moment. Maybe it's me who needs a Rebirth, a step back from the cynicism and darkness that permeates most modern pop culture. (And isn't it ironic that the Rebirth announcements are being made Easter weekend, when Christians joyfully celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead? But perhaps that's a discussion for another time.) Maybe it's time for me to walk away from comics and not look back. That hasn't been easy in the past, so I doubt it'd be any easier now.
Maybe it'll be easier after I read the Rebirth announcements from DC Comics later today.
