Thought Balloons and Other Junk

Yes I know its 2012

Yes I know "The New 52" has been published for close to a year now

Its a long story..My story...My history actually as a reader of DC Comics and why its led to that title above.Why I feel I have to give up and pretend that DC doesn't exist anymore.I don't expect that if anyone reads this they'll agree or even understand my reasons but I feel the need to write it down anyway.I guess that's what blogging is and I hope this first essay is the only extra long one I write.Now if anyone does ever read this please leave a comment .No cursing mind you but again I don't expect agreement..

So...the beginning then

When I was 4 my parents, sister and I moved from Philadelphia across the bridge to Palmyra,NJ. Now the family my parents bought the house from did like most take nearly everything with them.But they left an old wooden bureau that must have belonged to one of their kids.In the bottom drawer I still vaguely remember finding what I guess was my first "treasure".Two comic books, both from about 2 years earlier, no covers and in pretty poor shape. One was a Detective Comics where the villain was Blockbuster and the other was a Wonder Woman. Now I had both of those for years until they and a bunch of my other comics got ruined in a flood in the basement. Those 2 comics though were the beginning. I couldn't even really read yet but I was hooked. Later when I got a whole 1.00 a week allowance my mother would take me to our local news agency and on the bottom few racks there were comics.At that time regular comics were 35 cents about to go to 40.With my huge allowance I could get 2 comics one time and three the next or I could splurge and get a 1.00 comic World's Finest or Superman Family.

As time passed I got older, comics prices went up but I would try other companies.I would buy some Marvel,Archie,Comico,Now or Continuity but at heart I was a DC guy.The first major change happened in 1985 when DC decided to "simplify" their line.Now as a story I greatly enjoyed Crisis on Infinite Earths it was parts of its aftermath I didn't care for.Aside from the deaths or retcons out of existence which while I understood I didn't like my main problem was what was done to Earth-2. First the JSA was exiled to Valhalla and then my favorite book All-Star Squadron was cancelled to make way for Young All-Stars which quickly degenerated into possibly the worst book I ever read.Over the years I enjoyed the good stories and endured each succeeding event or continuity change.

But last year...

Decimation

Thousands of stories...Hundreds of characters...Gone...Never happened...Never existed...Wiped away for the New 52

I know comics aren't real.Neither are the characters, but part of why I read comics or books or watch TV shows are the characters and how they act, interact and change.

Hal Jordan and Oliver Queen were best friends..Now they're virtual strangers

Billy Batson's a jerk and Dr. Sivana looks like Lex Luthor

and I tried but I guess I just don't get it.How is any of this better?

I thought maybe there was a glimmer of hope.Earth-2 and World's Finest were announced with James Robinson and Paul Levitz writing.And then I read them.If others liked them I get it but for me..That's not Earth-2. That's not Jay Garrick.That;s not Power Girl.It all just reminds me of what DC just threw away.

Rebooting.. Reimagining...Revitalizing...I'm tired of all the Re's. DC wants new readers.I understand but they've lost this old one.I want to enjoy what I read not just miss what's gone, what's thrown away as easily as a used napkin.I guess I'm too old because I don't believe that change is always good, that gimmicks and hype are the answer to all.

So..Goodbye JLA,JSA,Legion et al and goodbye to the last of my childhood memories.Well, I've still got some of my old books.That will have to be enough.

Thought Balloons and Other Junk

Sunday, March 17, 2024

It's been a long time away.....

Friday, June 1, 2012

DC Comics 1934-2011 Rest in Peace

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Mission:Improbable