Imagine my surprise when I checked my e-mail today and the Bleeding Cool “Lying in the Gutters” e-mail (formerly a rumor examining blog on another site, but now Rick Johnson uses it to sum up the latest postings at BC) to learn that there was another DC event. I mean, what are the odds?
Apparently Dan Didio, DC’s “editor”-in-chief, and official DC blogger Alan Segura thought it was such big news that DC’s official blog, The Source, split the news into multiple posts during the day. So what’s the new event? They’re calling it “Brightest Day”, a counterpoint to the current “Blackest Night”.
Any Green Lantern fan knows that both phrases are part of the Green Lantern oath:
In brightest day
In blackest night (I’ve also seen “darkest night”)
No evil shall escape my sight.
Let those who worship evil’s might
Beware my power, Green Lantern’s light!
Stirring, isn’t it? So what is “Brightest Day” all about? We don’t really know, or at least nothing official. It’s another event (yawn), starting in April after the conclusion of the current we-not-zombies “Blackest Night”(mare). Geoff Johns (speaking of nothing surprising) and Peter Tomasi are the writers snagged for this thing. Here’s what The Source has let go so far:
AS: In meetings I’ve heard BRIGHTEST DAY referred to, offhand, as DCU: REBIRTH. Being the sleuth I am, this leads me to believe it’s more than just a concentrated series, right?
DD: Definitely. BRIGHTEST DAY isn’t just a single book. Like BLACKEST NIGHT, it’s an event that happens across the entire DC Universe, affecting a number of titles.
Following BRIGHTEST DAY #0, we’ll be bannering a number of new and ongoing series with BRIGHTEST DAY, which will let readers know these books are key to the entire BD story.
In other words, more tie-in comics that claim to be part of the event, but based on what I’ve read by bloggers who have actually subjected themselves to this stuff, may or may not actually affect anything and will cause you to hunt down a whole bunch of books or read the trade stories in an odd order. (Amazons Attack, anyone?)
And “DCU: Rebirth”, huh? More adding of the dark cloud to the silver (age) lining? That’s what we’ve gotten so far. I’m expecting all the editor’s favorite characters best dead heroes to come back to life and…what? Like Hal and Barry, are they actually needed and will they be used for anything other than bad fanfic called “official”? If this meant a return to supporting casts, fun stories, and if this were the last “change (insert person’s life/location X) forever” event (which changes nothing and is only a pit stop to the next event), I might be more excited.
DD: TITANS is another series that will fall directly under BRIGHTEST DAY, with Eric Wallace and Fabrizio Fiorentino coming on board, starting with the TITANS: VILLAINS FOR HIRE SPECIAL and then the regular series. We loved the work the two of them did on INK, so we’re excited to see them build a new team of Titans, under the leadership of none other than Deathstroke, the Terminator.
Who the members are and how they affect the original Titans is a major part of the DCU’s story for 2010.
I rest my case, mostly because I’m too busy facepalming. Two of his group were named; the Tattooed Man and Cheshire. The former is one of the “darkened” characters (allegedly he’s better now, just like Dr. Rape Light), and the latter I’ve never heard of, but she’s supposed to have ties to the original Titans.
DD: JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA will also feature the banner, starting with April’s #44, but the characters that will be joining the team are still very much under wraps. Sorry, I’m usually not this secretive in the afternoon. Hope you understand.
Actually, no I don’t. In this case, however, it’s more like I don’t understand what he’s talking about? Didn’t they just shake up the JLA rouster already, in light of the new creative team, whatever is going on with Superman and Batman in their own books (is something keeping Wonder Woman out of the group besides writer/editor fiat?), and the whole WTH known as Cry For Justice? And now we’re going to get another shakeup in a matter of months? This is a monthly title folks, so that’s about 4-5 issues before a new shakeup. The Avengers have more time between roster shifts.
AS: (Cover artist David Finch, who just became DC exclusive is) great news. Now, I know I said I only had one questions. (Proofread!) But I lied. Earlier you mentioned that we’d be announcing some new titles bearing the BRIGHTEST DAY banner –what’s the deal with those?
DD: Well, since we’ve discussed so much today, I don’t want to reveal everything about the BRIGHTEST DAY books just yet. But readers should tune in for the rest of the week for more news on BRIGHTEST DAY and the DC Universe in 2010, right here on The Source.
That’s OK, Dan. What you’ve revealed already is leaving my hand mark on my face.
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