WWC: DAY 2 - DC CRISIS COUNSELING PANEL

[MattBrady]

Featuring panelists Dan DiDio, Greg Rucka, VP of Sales Bob Wayne, and editor Joan Hilty, DC’s Saturday evening “Crisis Counseling” panel at WizardWorld: Chicago offered a little in terms of upcoming information, a touch in terms of teases, and more often than not, the phrase, “All will be revealed” to fans’ questions about upcoming stories, endings of stories, fates of characters, and more.

Some highlights from the generally good natured, but occasionally contentious panel…

Newsarama Note: like virtually all convention panels, “Crisis Counseling” contained more laughter than angry words, more good will than ill, and more honest explanations and clarifications being offered by panelists, with virtually no antagonism or ill will towards the audience. Again, the tone in virtually all panels at conventions is light (with occasional rough spots), and any perceived sarcasm, anger, or confrontational tone that readers may feel came across while reading a summary of the panel is often that – more perception than reality.

• Asked about the pricing for the upcoming weekly 52 series, which will fill in the gap between the end of Infinite Crisis and “One Year Later…” in the DCU titles, DiDio said that he would love to see all the issues priced at $0.99, and thinks that is a very good idea. DiDio turned the question over to Wayne who immediately countered with “bad idea.”

DiDio followed Wayne’s answer by saying that he very clearly understood the apprehension of fans who are looking at the coming weekly series, and stated that it’s his (along with the creative team’s) goal to make the series as enjoyable as possible to make readers feel that they’re getting their money’s worth and keeping coming back week-in, week out for the story.

Finally on this issue, DiDio asked the crowd how many were buying all four Countdown miniseries. Once he saw roughly three quarters of the hands in the room go up, he pointed out that effectively, they were buying a weekly series, given that it was four new monthly minis that all launched earlier this year, and that the idea of a adding a weekly series to their regular comic purchases may not be as foreign as they thought.

• In regards to what is coming up in OMAC, Rucka said that he’s heard from many readers wondering just how many OMACs there are across the DCU. “Issue #5 gives the full census,” Rucka said. “And it’s a lot more than you’re thinking.” Rucka and Hilty then commented that OMAC artist Ivan Reis was hard at work on a double page spread in issue #6 which shows a nearly full compliment of OMACS in full attack.

• Asked if there were any plans to bring the Ray Palmer, the Atom back in Infinite Crisis, DiDio said no, joking that “He’s still upset” about the events of Identity Crisis.

• Will the robot L-Ron be making an appearance any time soon? Rucka: “No comment, but I know what you’re thinking.” DiDio: I tought he’d been recycled and was part of like a dozen cars by now…”

• Asked if any books besides Legion of Super-Heroes will be unaffected by Infinite Crisis, DiDio listed Jonah Hex, Brave and the Bold, Plastic Man and the All-Star titles. “There is a group of product not tied into Infinite Crisis, DiDio said, but you have to understand what we’re doing here is world-building, and telling a story that affects the entire DCU, so it makes sense that every DCU title, in one way or another, will be affected.”

That said, DiDio said that he and his editorial and creative teams are being very careful in terms of making any and all tie-ins to the event meaningful, acknowledging that some “Red Skies” issues have slid through the cracks, and that you won’t see OMACs put into every DCU title just to produce a tie-in issue. “Unless it helps the sales,” DiDio joked.

• DiDio was asked to clarify his take on the generational aspect of the DCU and the need for the three icons of the DCU: Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman not to effectively age, however, they’re surrounded by characters who do. DiDio expressed that this aspect of storytelling with these kinds of characters is challenging, and then joked that that was the key of Batman storylines after “One Year Later…” – “Nightwing finally passes Batman, and is three years older than him. That’s the storyline – he’s full on with bring older, and starts calling Batman ‘Little Buddy.’”

Rucka: “And I’m writing the miniseries: Batman: Chum”

Continuing, DiDio expressed how difficult it would be line-wide if the three iconic characters started to age, joking that if the three would age it would be like something as bizarre as heroes becoming villains or “like someone signing an exclusive contract with Marvel after being with DC for two years.” DiDio feigned crying, and was comforted by Rucka, who said, “It’s all right…he’ll be back…he’ll be back” to the laughter of the crowd.

• With a new Crisis looming, would the Anti-Monitor be coming back? “No comment.”

• Asked about the permanence of death in the DCU, DiDio said that no one will see Su Dibny alive again, nor will anyone see Ted Kord. When the latter was met with a smattering of “boo”s, Rucka said, “There was a breeze blowing through his brain, and he was incinerated. How much clearer can it be?”

The crowd got a little contentious at that point, throwing up comments alluding to the “deaths” of Green Arrow, Green Lantern, and others who have since returned to the land of the living. This led Rucka and DiDio into a discussion of the use of death in DC titles, with Rucka saying that characters are never killed capriciously in good stories. In broadening the discussion, DiDio confirmed a fan’s question that Barry Allen would never return to the rolls of active, living heroes in the present day. While the ruling allows for Allen’s appearances in time-travel stories (such as the current Flash arc), DiDio said that with Barry, the Flash has seen a legacy developed, adding that he didn’t think anyone would argue with his assertion that Wally West has proven himself, in the 20 years following the original Crisis on Infinite Earths, to be the Flash much in the same way Barry Allen had for that generation.

• Clarifying the timeline for Infinite Crisis, 52 and “One Year Later…”, DiDio ran down the events: “In February’s Infinite Crisis #4, there is a moment that happens –something happens across the entire DCU. March’s books are then all set ‘One Year Later,’ Crisis ends in April, and 52 begins in May.”

• Asked about George Perez’s upcoming role with DC, DiDio repeated an earlier announcement that Perez would be drawing the alternate covers to all seven issues of Infinite Crisis (Jim Lee will be drawing the regular covers). Asked later about the status of Teen Titans: Games, the original graphic novel by Perez and Marv Wolfman the two began years ago, and were at one time working to complete, DiDio said that the GN is on hold for now.

• Gotham Central #37 will be directly tied to Infinite Crisis.

• Speaking of how the Countdown miniseries and other associated issues leading to Infinite Crisis will be collected, Wayne said that they will be collected in the coming months, and plans will be announced shortly. Speaking directly to a collection of the recent “Sacrifice” arc which ran through the Superman titles and Wonder Woman #219, and why the company opted to return to press on the four parts of the story rather than rushing a trade collection to press, Wayne said that reprinting the individual issues was the fastest way DC could get the material back on shelves and into people’s hands.

• Also in regards to Wonder Woman #219 DiDio said that just as they tried to get the word out to fans and retailers that the issue would be very important and shouldn’t be missed in regards to the build-up to infinite Crisis, neither fans nor retailers should miss JLA #119. “We’d suggest if there are retailers in the room,” Wayne said, “that you order at least as many copies as you do of OMAC or more.”

• When a fan pointed out that they felt that Villains United was missing someone, and asked where the Joker was (he has not been seen in the story, or even as one of the villains the Society approached in regards to membership), both Rucka and Hilty responded that it was a very, very good question. “Wait just a little bit,” Rucka added, “and you’ll be very glad you asked that.”

• Asked the scope of the end of Infinite Crisis and “One Year Later…” on the DCU line in general, DiDio said that there will be cancellations, as well as new series starting, with old series continuing, but with major changes. Wayne added that there won’t be any restarting Action, Detective, Superman, Batman or other long-running DC titles with a #1 just because they could if they wanted.

• In a final anecdote when asked about Max Lord being a Cyborg (revealed in a past issue of Justice League), DiDio said that, in early editorial meetings when DC editorial was beginning to plan out the drumbeats to Crisis, the editors had a meeting, with one of the purposes being to find a new leader for the offshoot of Checkmate shown to be led by Lord in Countdown and OMAC. Several names were tossed out, DiDio said, such as Sarge Steel, King Faraday, Mr. Jupiter and others, and then Max Lord was suggested. Many of the editors thought that the idea made sense, as Lord had been shown to have a mean streak and to have killed previously, but the idea of using Lord was tabled after someone said, in DiDio’s words, “Yeah, but wasn’t he a Cyborg nd wasn’t he taken apart?”

According to DiDio, the focus then shifted to Mr. Jupiter, an old Teen Titans nemesis, but the editors felt “Mr. Jupiter” sounded old fashioned, so the character’s handle was changed to “Mr. J.” This worked for a while, DiDio said, until they were working through the outline of Countdown (months before writing started or plans were finalized), and came to the conclusion.

”And we got to the part where Beetle is killed, and we all said, ‘Mr. J kills Blue Beetle.’” DiDio stopped to roll his eyes as the crowd laughed. “’Mr. J kills Blue Beetle?’ Not only does it have overtones of the Joker, but it just sounded stupid.”

This led the editors to give Lord a second look, and when the mention came again that Lord was revealed to be a cyborg…”We thought about that aspect of the story some more and then asked, ‘Did anyone read it?’ No. ‘Did anyone like the idea?’ No. So we moved ahead with Max as being a human, and having been a human, and not letting that small part of the past stand in the way of this story. We wanted what was best for Countdown, and for us, that meant that Max had to be a human.”

[Check out Newsarama’s continually updated 2005 WW: CHICAGO News Index for all the con coverage from Newsarama and CBR].

Newsarama.com's WizardWorld coverage is brought to
you in part by Tokyopop's Takuhai Online

[OMAC]

Thankyou! My question is answered! Max Lord isn't a cyborg after all

Also, why not call the 52 series (which is a working title): "DCU-52". It's got a ring to it.

[Marxist 64]

Originally posted by MattBrady
Finally on this issue, DiDio asked the crowd how many were buying all four Countdown miniseries. Once he saw roughly three quarters of the hands in the room go up, he pointed out that effectively, they were buying a weekly series, given that it was four new monthly minis that all launched earlier this year, and that the idea of a adding a weekly series to their regular comic purchases may not be as foreign as they thought.

I have a problem with that argument. Those mini series are only going to last for 6 months each, not a year, and the minis started in two different months, so they're only weekly for 5 months.

And even if 3/4 of the room put their hands up, I think at least 3/4 of that room would be the hardcore DC fans who are going to buy everything IC related, not a wide showing of the readership in general. However, I wasn't there so I don't know, but that has been my (if limited) experience of cons before.

[OMAC]

Originally posted by MattBrady
Neither fans nor retailers should miss JLA #119. “We’d suggest if there are retailers in the room,” Wayne said, “that you order at least as many copies as you do of OMAC or more.”

Retailers take note this time!

Originally posted by MattBrady
When a fan pointed out that they felt that Villains United was missing someone, and asked where the Joker was (he has not been seen in the story, or even as one of the villains the Society approached in regards to membership), both Rucka and Hilty responded that it was a very, very good question. “Wait just a little bit,” Rucka added, “and you’ll be very glad you asked that.”

Looks like the Joker's dead meat...

[Punchy]

No details on 52 price point

Other than that, this sounds cool.

[Jeffrey D. Smith]

I have a problem with that argument. Those mini series are only going to last for 6 months each, not a year, and the minis started in two different months, so they're only weekly for 5 months.

The point being, though, that there already is a de facto weekly series, and it's going to be continued on for another year.

And I think they know it's only going to sell to their hard-core base, that not a lot of casual readers will be picking it up. Their job is to convince their base not to ignore it.

[bluedevil2002]

Originally posted by Marxist 64
I have a problem with that argument. Those mini series are only going to last for 6 months each, not a year, and the minis started in two different months, so they're only weekly for 5 months.

No, it's still weekly for 6 months. OMAC and DoV started the last two weeks of April, and VU and RTW started the first two weeks of May. By the time the last #1 came out, the first #2 was a week away, so it's six months, but only five full calendar months, and two half-months.

[OMAC]

Originally posted by Punchy
No details on 52 price point

Nice to see that they wanted to do $0.99, but I'm expecting something in the region of $1.99-$2.50.

[spider985]

I am trying really hard to like these.

I am some what disappointed in DC, their efforts to have a coherent universe is slightly overkill methinks and to be honest not really that roginal either (Acts of Vengence in Marvel comics in 90s is effectively what villians united is).

Oh well, there's always vertigo which is constantly awesome and wildstorm.

[Punchy]

Originally posted by omac3000
Nice to see that they wanted to do $0.99, but I'm expecting something in the region of $1.99-$2.50.

$1.99 would be about £1.00 for me, I'd be down with that.

[ManofTheAtom]

Mockingbird=Joker

Mock, as in make fun of.... (and bird as in giving you the? lol)

Asked the scope of the end of Infinite Crisis and “One Year Later…” on the DCU line in general, DiDio said that there will be cancellations, as well as new series starting, with old series continuing, but with major changes. Wayne added that there won’t be any restarting Action, Detective, Superman, Batman or other long-running DC titles with a #1 just because they could if they wanted.

Nice to see that Superman is saved... unless he meant Adventures of Superman.

So if he won't relaunch Superman because of the high numbering, which Superman title is in danger of being canceled and replaced with confidential?

My vote, again, goes for Superman/Batman. It's not even up to 50 issues, so it's gone, gone, gone....

[Lord Ice]

Sounds to me like they haven't really decided on what the price of 52 will be. I'll get it, probably, no matter the price, but I hope it isn't too much.

[Johnny Smith]

Originally posted by Jeffrey D. Smith
The point being, though, that there already is a de facto weekly series, and it's going to be continued on for another year.

And I think they know it's only going to sell to their hard-core base, that not a lot of casual readers will be picking it up. Their job is to convince their base not to ignore it.

Sign me up for 52, Mr. DiDio!

[Gaye Alfonso]

The only Crisis counseling I need is the one that tells me how I'm going to pay back the loan I had to take out just so I can keep up with all these damn tie-ins.
So far the story has been very weak and a complete waste of money.

[punjeb]

I hope that (like with the late lamented Action Comics Weekly) DC offers a subscription/package deal. I doubt they will, but it would be nice.

[Sesshomaru]

Dont misunderstand i'm enjoying those so far , wich is an exploit as i was never a real DC fan outside of Batman stuff .
Still i'm a bit disappointed so far and expected more .

Maybe it will happen with the real Crisis and OYL .

[speedbaldwin]

Originally posted by Gaye Alfonso
The only Crisis counseling I need is the one that tells me how I'm going to pay back the loan I had to take out just so I can keep up with all these damn tie-ins.
So far the story has been very weak and a complete waste of money.

If that's what you think they why take out a loan so you can have all the tie-ins?

It's really rather simple: DON'T LIKE = DON'T BUY.

[zhstar]

All this stuff sounds exciting. I thought Wonder Woman 219 was the comic of the year and am really looking forward to JLA 119 and everthing else.

Comics for sale

[jpreader]

"This led the editors to give Lord a second look, and when the mention came again that Lord was revealed to be a cyborg…”We thought about that aspect of the story some more and then asked, ‘Did anyone read it?’ No. ‘Did anyone like the idea?’ No. "



Well, at least there's never been any intended ill will towards the Giffen/Dematteis League.

Whatever.

[OcCaM]

Like MOTA my thoughts were on Mockingbird being Joker. Hope not because that will ruin the story no matter what!

Ah well, it's still been a fun journey despite where the destination might lead.

[KET]

ZZZZZZZZ....looks like the mainstream DCU stays OFF my reading list for awhile longer.

[steve2275]

Originally posted by omac3000
Thankyou! My question is answered! Max Lord isn't a cyborg after all

Also, why not call the 52 series (which is a working title): "DCU-52". It's got a ring to it.

id buy that

[ManofTheAtom]

Originally posted by KET
ZZZZZZZZ....looks like the mainstream DCU stays OFF my reading list for awhile longer.

Loeb's gone, Supergirl won't last without him. Maybe DC will see what a bad idea it was to bring Kara back and restore Linda.

Have hope.

[mdonaghue]

Good to see there is not going to be a renumbering of the comics after OLY.

[adamcasey]

• Clarifying the timeline for Infinite Crisis, 52 and “One Year Later…”, DiDio ran down the events: “In February’s Infinite Crisis #4, there is a moment that happens –something happens across the entire DCU. March’s books are then all set ‘One Year Later,’ Crisis ends in April, and 52 begins in May.”

Infinite Crisis #1 is solicited for October, so it should be #1 October, #2 November, #3 December, #4 January, #5 February, #6 March, #7 April.

Did DiDio mean February's #5? That would make since if March is when the titles jump one year later.

Does this mean that for the rest of the Infinite Crisis mini, the characters will still be 'now' while their respective titles are one year later?