Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Two Down...

From DC's June solicits:

THE SHIELD #10
FINAL ISSUE...



THE WEB #10
FINAL ISSUE...



Well, back in November I predicted the over/under was 6 months before DC cancelled the Red Circle titles. 4 months later, there we are...the under wins.

Milestone? Punted. Red Circle? Cancelled. T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents? It's been nearly 9 months since DC announced they had acquired the rights, and since then not a hint of a scintilla of any news on any actual publication of anything, new or reprint.

Back in August, I wrote, "I predict dismal, flaming failure followed by a thorough under-the-carpet sweeping for DC's attempts to integrate 3 disparate continuities into their recently re-convoluted universe."

Mission nearly accomplished. I hate it when I'm right.

So, what's the over/under on the First Wave universe?

9 comments:

Gary said...

Yeah, I didn't think they'd kick around too long so didn't bother picking them up. I might if they're collected but see how it goes.

First Wave? Again, I'll wait for the trades.

AlanBryan2112 said...

I never cared for Milestone nor had an interest.
It seemed like "oh look Black Heroes for Black People". Good Grief
Red Circle. Archie's Heroes have been trotted out again and again. Never works.
T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents? I read reprints and some a few new stories from a small company in the early 70s but I have no interest in this bunch either. Had it not been for Wally Wood I don't think they would be so fondly remembered either.

AlanBryan2112 said...

First Wave? I am a HUGE Doc Savage fan but the comics seldom stick with him.
The Spirit. Love the classic stuff.
Batman with guns? Hate it.

I'll Byrne and maybe buy the trades.

Diabolu Frank said...

I got excited about Dynamite Entertainment buying Vampirella, not because they've ever published anything I cared for, but just because that's one less property for DC to ruin forever. DC Comics is like the big Hollywood stars or studios who buy the rights to something just to make sure no one else can use it.

All I've got to say about Red Circle is that they sold it on JMS, and they got their just desserts for the bait and switch.

Milestone never had very palatable art, came out at the wrong time, and hid some nice stories inside plastic bags. I liked Hardware.

First Wave is so been there, done that. I'm so tired of the thirties and forties. I'd love a really strong, politically-charged, paranoid '50s or '60s thing. Even the '70s or '80s could be fun. "The Greatest Generation... of Super/Pulp Heroes!" No. Go away. You bore me.

Mark Engblom said...

"T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents? It's been nearly 9 months since DC announced they had acquired the rights, and since then not a hint of a scintilla of any news on any actual publication of anything, new or reprint."

I remember attending a DC panel at the 2003 San Diego Comic Con where they announced they'd acquired the rights to the THUNDER Agents, so they've been doing nothing with them for even LONGER than 9 months!

Yeah, most of us jaundiced fans didn't give the Red Circle stuff longer than a year, but I have to admit the aborted Milestone plans surprised even me. There seemed to be enough hoopla to result in at least a few projects here and there, outside of their brief cameo in a Justice League story. It would be interesting to get the behind-the-scenes story on that particular fiasco.

snell said...

Mark--I wonder if the 2003 announcement was regarding just reprint rights, as that's when DC started publishing the T.A. Archives (now sadly out of print).

The 2009 announcement was specifically for new stories, to be set in the DC Universe...

notintheface said...

I had to agree with Frank that much of Milestone's art wasn't really my cup of tea, with a really notable exception - M.D. "Doc" Bright. Seeing his art with Milestone's paper stock and coloring made me appreciate his stuff more. Now he joins guys like Norm Breyfogle and Greg LaRocque in my personal "why don't they get more work?" artist category.

Paul Nolan said...

Did your prediction include the Launch of the Mighty Crusaders titles coming July or August, featuring Web & Shield

DC aren't giving up on these characters yet.

snell said...

Actually, Nolan, the Mighty Crusaders is coming in May, before the final issues of Shield and Web, and is a 56-page one-shot. So no launch at all (unless, of course, there's been some announcement I haven't heard yet). I'll stand by my prediction until proven otherwise, because there's nothing in DC's recent behavior to indicate that they wouldn't give up on these characters.