I love comics, DC in particular, so when I see some repeated bonehead moves, I just gotta say something about it. Let's start with Grant Morrison. He seems to be one of DC Comics' "go to guys" these days and nothing could be sadder. His published interviews always come across like he thinks he's the only person capable of writing anything worthwhile in comics. Wrong, Grant! I have to question if Mr. Morrison has blackmail pictures of DC executives Paul Levitz and Dan Didio having sex with donkeys, or if he's providing them with the same substances that I believe he must be using to write most of his stories. The problem starts higher up though. DC Vice-President Dan Didio has always talked about the importance of the "Trinity," in the DC Universe (Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman), so what does he do to prove it? He removes Superman from his own book and his second title ACTION COMICS, and removes Bruce Wayne as Batman (and from DETECTIVE COMICS). Aside from the fact that things like this are unoriginal, having been done before, it completly contradicts statements he makes. So, let's bring this point back to Grant Morrison. Morrison is a writer who writes "heady and trippy" ideas that many confuse with genius, all the while showing that he doesn't get the characters he's writing, often eschewing good characterization in favor of making things fit his personal interpretation of his protagonists to tell a story. Mistake! Comics are a monthly serialized medium and continuity needs to be taken into account... unless you're constantly rebooting. Grant doesn't get that comics are also a visual medium because most artists who work with him don't seem to be able to show a good flow of the scripts he writes. Oh yeah, I know that he and Frank Quitely have "dazzled" people with ALL STAR SUPERMAN (the acronym A.S.S. seems to fit), but that's an out of continuity excuse for Morrison's mental masturbation in the comics medium. Most of the time, reading a Morrison penned comic will leave you wondering just what the hell you read and how it doesn't even make sense in its own context. As a result of his "wunderkind" status, DC has allowed him to write Bruce Wayne out as Batman, effectively changing that Bat-status quo, which yielded the unfortunate cancellations of CATWOMAN, NIGHTWING, and ROBIN to name a few, just to appease Morrison's plans for Batman... which includes a seemingly embarrassing return to the feel of the Adam West TV series in the new BATMAN AND ROBIN comic. Is your head spinning yet? Dan Didio even let Grant pen the company's mega-crossover FINAL CRISIS which most people hated, didn't understand, and effectively changed nothing of substance in the DC Universe with the exception of the death of the Martian Manhunter. Batman's "death" doesn't really count because we all KNOW he'll be back, most likely after BATMAN AND ROBIN hits issue 12 (can anyone say "Captain America?"). At least that's my prediction. Didio even joked at a couple of conventions, asking the crowds if they understood what FINAL CRISIS is all about. If you have to ask..... and then Judd Winick, one of the worst writers in comics gets the BATMAN title to write. WTF?? Is DC intentionally trying to ruin one of its cash-cow characters? At least DETECTIVE COMICS has weathered the Grant Morrison storm by making Batwoman headline the book with great scripting by Greg Rucka and gorgeous art by J.H. Williams! As soon as Bruce Wayne comes back, please keep Grant Morrison forever away from DC's established superheroes.
So now let's take a look at the Superman books. Supes gets shut out of his two books in favor of putting him in WORLD OF KRYPTON maxi-series. Why couldn't this story been told in the pages of SUPERMAN and ACTION COMICS? How does any of these decisions make sense. ACTION is now being headlined by D-listers Nightwing (not Dick Grayson) and Flamebird. Lame! Of course this translates into problems for the JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA comic, which has suffered from lackluster stories due to editorial policies affecting the book. The JLA is always at its most popular with the "Big Seven," and at the very least its "Trinity," and once again, what's going on in the Bat and Super books have affected this flagship title. TEEN TITANS has been sucking too from lack of direction and the removal of Robin, Superboy, and Kid Flash, but at least there's hope that it will recover soon as two of those afore mentioned characters are back in the land of the living (look for a later column griping about death in comics).
However, all is not bad, as Geoff Johns has made GREEN LANTERN a must read (can't wait for BLACKEST NIGHT!) and has returned Barry Allen as the FLASH! Making GL a great book is hard considering that its lead Hal Jordan has always been a boring character, but Johns tells such a great story, that Hal's lack of personality is not a hindrance. Last but not least, we have Gail Simone and Aaron Lopresti on WONDER WOMAN, which for my money is DC's best book currently. YES, you read that right! WONDER WOMAN has been consistently amazing since Simone took control of the Amazing Amazon. Gail is crafting story arcs that are exciting, action-oriented, filled with subtext, and generally leave your mouth hanging open in awe. One wonders (no pun) why no one else has gotten Diana so well. That's not to say that others haven't, but not like this. If you're not reading this book, do yourself a favor and start. Lopresti's art on the series has such a strong flow that you almost feel the action in your body.
Well, let's hope that DC gets their act together and fast! Next column: SPIDER-MAN!
