Death and the DC Universe…again

I don’t enjoy this part folks. I don’t like taking my favorite comics universe and complaining about it. However, part of the reason for this blog is to give a voice to my frustrations, and the “Death of DC” article had to be written, if only for my own sanity. And it just doesn’t stop!

First, there’s this act of ultimate stupidity!

One of these days I’ve got to gather a collection of facepalm pics like other blogs. I’m going to need them for this whole post. Yeah, Bleeding Cool posted the three-panel scene, which granted includes this statement from Kyle:

…I know your spirit’s out there, Alex, and I’m sorry for what you went through…you’ll always be in my heart because your love helped make me a better man. And I’ll honor that for as long as I live. But you (referring to Nekron’s abomination) I won’t!

So we still haven’t let go of this. OK, neither have I (since Alex’s death was the reason I didn’t pick up Kyle’s series).  I know what they were trying for, but with me they haven’t succeeded. The whole Blackest Night debacle has been a major spotlight on how cheap death is at DC, just being used for shock value.

Oh, but the fun doesn’t stop there. I wish it would, but there’s still the aftermath, and the 12 characters allowed to come back. Like Aquaman. DC hasn’t known what to do with Aquaman for years, which is what led to his death. In the more serious NotSilver Age DC Didio, Johns, and their like-minded compatriots are putting together (does that make Grant Morrison their Bob Haney?), I see less usability. Then again, they seem to just want the Superfriends back, so they can make them “better”. (Like Barry’s new origin story.)

Also, why Jade? To play third wheel for Kyle and Soranik? And who the heck is “Osiris”? It wasn’t until I saw the name in that list that I ever thought to look him up in DC Database. I never heard of him.

Oh, they’re bringing back Max Lord, too. Why? I think more fans would like to see Sue Dibney and the Elongated Man back, or Ted Kord, the second Blue Beetle. Slag, why not just bring the evil Dr. Light back, too? He was a Black Lantern. And what happened to the current Firestorm with what appears to be the return of Ronald Raymond? Check out a few comments from the “Wondercon” panel. It won’t tell you anything worth a slag.

“That is going to be featuring all the (resurrected) characters, but mainly Aquaman,” Johns says of Brightest Day #0.
“The story is about ‘why these 12?’ and what they’re going to accomplish, both good and bad,” Johns adds.
“Maxwell Lord is back, and he basically makes the entire world forget that he existed, except these four characters: Booster Gold, Fire, Ice and Captain Atom,” Johns says. “They’re on a manhunt, and no one believes them.” “So once again they look stupid,” Winick adds.

The only reason any of these characters are back is because the usual suspects want them back. That’s the only reason. But the one that caught Four-Color‘s Ari Green was this one.

Robinson: “Can I just say that there are characters that I wish came back that didn’t, but Ted Kord died a true hero’s death,” saying that bringing him back might diminish that.

Ari’s response:

Uh oh, I do believe I found a boo-boo there. Ted Kord, rather than try to stop the out-of-character Max Lord and company from gunning him down, sought help instead from other heroes who turned out to be too busy to help him, and didn’t even put up any kind of fight when finally confronted by Lord. Just what exactly would be diminished then? Now I know Robinson has really lost it.

And Johns is really making a fool out of himself, after he not only brought back Barry Allen, whose death in 1985 actually meant something (and even characterized him absurdly as though he were a pagan deity), but also soiled his background and childhood with a forced retcon where the Reverse-Flash changes his history.

To be more specific, Ted is shot in the head by Maxwell Lord for failing to see Max’s “vision”. Just shot like a dog. Barry Allen, on the other hand, sacrifices himself to save the multiverse in quite possibly the most epic death in DC’s history. (Take that, Superman/Doomsday!) But Johns likes Barry (or at least his version) and doesn’t care for Blue Beetle #2, so hello Barry, sucks to be you Ted.

“How did you decide who’s dying, who’s coming back?” Johns: “Everyone came back because there’s a story to tell. Deadman’s the anomaly. He’s the weirdo of the bunch. He doesn’t really like being back. He gets hungry now. But he’s a main focus.”

“If you look back at Blackest Night #8, you’ll see there’s something different about Deadman than everyone else that came back,” Johns adds.

I didn’t think there would be anything dumber than the characters they’ve killed off (Lian) but bringing Deadman back to life? DEADMAN? His whole gimmick is that he’s dead. HE’S SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD!

Speaking of Lian:

“Star City will be the most important city in the DC Universe,” Johns says.

I don’t even know how to respond to that? Go read the “Death of DC” three-parter.

A fan asked if any parts of Blackest Night was supposed to be funny at all. Johns said that even though it was horrific and dark, it was also colorful and ultimately supposed to be fun.

“Did you bring back these heroes just to kill them off again? And please don’t say ‘read and find out!'” Johns: “I’m not going to say anything.”

I think there’s a handprint on my face. Oh, wait. It’s mine!