Flashback time, kiddies, as we zoom back to 1993. DC was running an event through their annuals that year (what a concept!!): Bloodlines. It was pretty stupid, and you can obtain most of it through quarter bins these days. Long stories short: A goofy race of "space parasites" managed to (accidentally) transform a bunch of humans into brand new super-heroes. Yahoo!!
The "event" is largely forgotten these days, but DC seemed pretty proud of it at the time, and hopeful for the future of these guys (click to embiggen):
Yeah. A lot of winners, there. Pretty much a 1990s version of Dial H For Hero, a bunch of disposable heroes you come up with when you suddenly need to create 20+ new heroes via editorial fiat. Sorry, DC, not a breakout amongst the bunch...
Most of them are dead these days, killed by Superboy-Prime (& Geoff Johns) in Infinite Crisis. Still, they had more lasting impact on the DC Universe than anything out of Final Crisis, so we shouldn't judge...
Special note to Paul Levitz:
This guy had better turn up in your Legion, bro...
The "event" is largely forgotten these days, but DC seemed pretty proud of it at the time, and hopeful for the future of these guys (click to embiggen):
Yeah. A lot of winners, there. Pretty much a 1990s version of Dial H For Hero, a bunch of disposable heroes you come up with when you suddenly need to create 20+ new heroes via editorial fiat. Sorry, DC, not a breakout amongst the bunch...Most of them are dead these days, killed by Superboy-Prime (& Geoff Johns) in Infinite Crisis. Still, they had more lasting impact on the DC Universe than anything out of Final Crisis, so we shouldn't judge...
Special note to Paul Levitz:
This guy had better turn up in your Legion, bro...
They all crapped out except, of course, Garth Ennis' HITMAN. That this was da bomb.
ReplyDeleteSpecial note to Paul Levitz:
ReplyDeleteThis guy had better turn up in your Legion, bro...
Oh no he had better not!
If there's a character I've ever disliked more, I have granted myself the mercy of forgetting him or her.
Now, Matt, I sure Levitz could make a version of this character we'd find acceptable. I mean, "prodigious surfer-dude"--the stories just write themselves. Besides, with 3/4 of the team apparently living in the 21st century, the Legion needs some new blood...
ReplyDeleteSo, what percent did they get for Hitman, you think?
ReplyDeleteI'm going with an even seventy, myself.
Hitman was the only good thing that came out this abortion, Tommy Monahan was the $#!t.
ReplyDelete"Cardinal Sin" would be a really great name for a Metal band.
ReplyDeleteChiasaur...hard to say. Hitman's debut was in The Demon annual, and I never got the impression it was that popular a mag.
ReplyDeletePlus, 3 others (Anima, Gunfire & Argus) got short-lived solo mags, so presumably they received some support in the poll, too.
So I'm thinking 40%, at best.
Oh, god no. Jamm sucked. I only remember that issue because Timber Wolf gets zapped back to the 30th century, but the girl that brought him back in time is still in the 20th. So much for never leave a man (or woman) behind...
ReplyDeleteHitman may not have been a super seller but there are some VERY good and Very Funny stories there. There is even a good Superman story and some Batman appearances.
ReplyDeleteAlan
Jettblackberryx@yahoo.com
"Besides, with 3/4 of the team apparently living in the 21st century, the Legion needs some new blood..."
ReplyDeleteIsn't that how the problem got started? Besides, with Milestone and "Red Circle" being sucked into the DCU proper, I'd say they have more "new blood" that you can shake a Black Lantern (which DC swears isn't a zombie) at.
Jett--No argument. Hitman rocked, the most consequential (and quality) thing that came out of Bloodlines.
ReplyDeleteShadow--The DC Universe has new blood, but none of those newbies are joining the Legion anytime soon. Plus, Milestone has been very qietly under the carpet...
Bloodlines-one word-crap
ReplyDelete