Seth and I were talking about DC’s planned reboot of its comic lines after we saw X-Men: First Class with Y and Joy tonight at the Kent University Plaza Theater.
After I got home, I saw this article by George Gene Gustines on the New York Times that discusses the scope of DC’s plans:
Audacious. That is the best way to describe the recent DC Comics announcement that it was renumbering its entire DC Universe line of comics: by September 52 series will have begun anew, each with an issue No. 1.
This move by DC is intended to give the comic publisher’s major titles a fresh start for new readers to catch up. Looked at from another angle, it is a stunt to revitalize the lines and grow the circulation.
I haven’t read many comics in recent years. I did read all of the Sin City comics before the film came out. I also read all of Frank Miller’s Bat Man before the Nolan’s reboot of the film version of that comic line. Personally, I haven’t been interested in keeping up with the latest story lines by the major comic publishing houses. Perhaps this is partially due to a lack of time on my part and not necessarily a reflection on the quality of the comics. However, I don’t think this major decision of issue continuity and character redesign results in long term rewards for the comics. Perhaps this isn’t the ultimate goal of DC. They need to sell comics and a windfall in the short term may sustain the company for a time. On the other hand, this move by DC might grow the number of comic readers. Also, I think they are smart to release digital issues on the same day as print releases.
Good luck to DC on this bold move!
Dynamic Subspace 