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DC Nation Panel Report from HEROES CON, Charlotte: NEW SERIES “CHALLENGERS FROM BEYOND” and FLASH SERIES CANCELLED! BY BRUCE MaCINTOSH
That’s right, DC Comics Executive Editor Dan DiDio revealed today from Heroes Con in Charlotte, Flash: The Fastest Man Alive will be discontinued after Issue #13. No reason was given for the termination of the series, in spite of the solicitation for Issues #14 and #15. However, the good news is that DC will starting a new series involving the Scarlet Speedster, called All Flash Special. It will be written by comics historian and one of the company’s most popular writers, Mark Waid.
DiDio held his usual Question and Answer panel, which was also attended by 52 Editor Michael Siglain (for the new Booster Gold, Black Adam and Four Horsemen series), artist Jamal Igle (Dan said, “who protects Nightwing from me.”), artist Phil Noto (Jonah Hex), and Coordinating Editor Jann Jones. Unlike most conventional panel discussions, Dan DiDio answers questions in rapid-fire fashion, covering as much ground as the audience requests.
The other significant “slip” from the loquacious one come in the middle of the panel, when someone in the audience asked, “Are Donna Troy, Jason Todd and Kyle Rayner going to be the new Challengers of the Unknown?” DiDio’s answer gave a bit of a preview of things to come: “I can’t talk about that… They will be more like the Challengers from Beyond.” So that is big news: Donna, Jason and Kyle appear to be destined to be Universe-hopping adventurers in a new title. It will be a series of one-shot titles, coming out soon. QUESTION: Is Countdown progressing the way that 52 was originally supposed to run its course? ANSWER: Yes, because it is tied into what is going on in the other DC titles, and has been completely planned in advance.
What affected 52 as the series progressed, was that it was telling the story of the “missing” year after Infinite Crisis and prior to One Year Later. In the year of Countdown everything will be taking place in the present time, concurrent the other DCU titles. “We are coordinating the DC Universe so that for the next year, it is moving in real time.” To that end, everything is being planned in advance exactly as it will be taking place in the entire Universe – unlike 52 which was a more organic process, and where some plot points changed over the course of the year.
This will not require the purchase of multiple titles, just to understand what is going on in the “big picture” of Countdown, but buying other titles will simply enrich the experience. “We want to make sure that Countdown is its own book, its own experience… but you might see it replayed in some other book… in hopes that you’d buy the other book.” QUESTION: Will we see an Earth-1? ANSWER: “New Earth” is the world we’re following…” with the main characters in the DC Universe. The other Earths are numbered, but they didn’t want to number the primary DC Earth where most of the titles take place. QUESTION: Did the Monitors come into being based on what happened with the Universes in 52? In other words, did what happened in 52 cause the creation of 52 different Monitors? ANSWER: “There is a reason…” and it will presumably be explained in future issues of Countdown. One thing that was decided very early on in plotting 52 was that there would end up being 52 different parallel Earths. QUESTION: Have all the items on Rip Hunter’s chalkboard in the first issues of 52 been addressed? ANSWER (from Michael Siglain): “Time is still broken.” So the remaining chalkboard items will play a part and be explained in future comics. QUESTION: Why kill the Question at the height of his popularity? ANSWER: He wasn’t a particularly beloved character at that time. Similar to the reaction to the death of Blue Beetle several years ago, “No one cared about the Question until we killed him.” DiDio, however, assured the audience that they tried to make the Question’s death as interesting as possible. He did hint that a new Montoya Question comic will be coming out soon. QUESTION: What happened to the promised Dr. Fate title? ANSWER: DiDio began to drop big hints about an upcoming new title (much to the chagrin of Jann Jones, whose job is to keep these things under wraps until everything is ready to be officially announced.) The title will be called Countdown to Adventure, which is going to involve “space” characters and stories. This title will involve the stories of Adam Strange, Animal Man and Starfire. Other storylines will involve Dr. Fate and Eclipso. QUESTION: Will Swamp Thing and Hellblazer ever be brought into the DC Universe proper? ANSWER: No. They do not want to bring characters and stories intended for mature readers into non-mature reader titles. QUESTION: More Doctor 13? ANSWER: “One of the best things that Brian Azzarello has ever written.” No plans for a new title based on the characters, but Brian did want to do something else eventually. QUESTION: Is the Wizard Shazam gone? ANSWER: Yes. “Captain Marvel has essentially taken the place of the Wizard. Captain Marvel Jr. will eventually be the new Captain Marvel, but will call himself something else.” QUESTION: Since he was constantly saying “52”, does Starman know what’s going on in Countdown, JLA and JSA? ANSWER: Yes, he’s not crazy. Siglain: “No – he’s fine!” QUESTION: Will we ever find out the missing story regarding Black Adam, that happened between 52 and Countdown? ANSWER: Yes. The new Black Adam series will explain everything. It will be written by Peter Tomasi and penciled by Doug Mahnke. QUESTION: Do you worry that DC is becoming too bound in continuity? ANSWER: “It’s important that everything is taking place in the same world.” It is not necessary to buy every title to understand what is going on or enjoy DC comics, but if you do, “you will get a much richer story.”
DiDio assured the audience that everything is being carefully planned. “We’re mapping out the multiverse,” and there will be “real rules about how it works and how the characters interact.” QUESTION: Will Barbara Gordon (formerly Batgirl, now Oracle) ever get her mobility back? ANSWER: “No. Oracle is an incredibly strong character, much more unique with who she is now…” DiDio stressed that he did not want to cheapen the character by suddenly having her be able to walk.
The next thing that happened was Bob Wayne, DC’s VP of Sales, called from the DC Nation panel at Wizard World Philly, which was talking place the same day. This is where Dan DiDio made sure to carefully verify that they were not supposed to disclose that the current Flash title was going to be cancelled. (This is DiDio’s humorous schtick where he reveals information that hasn’t yet been officially released.) QUESTION: Why does DC have a habit of bringing back old characters in the JSA, just to kill them off? ANSWER: The panel avoided addressing the issue of “killing off” JSA characters, but did reveal that there would be a significant storyline where they bring back a character in Issue #12 of the new Justice Society of America. QUESTION: What’s in store for the future of Kyle Rayner (Ion)? ANSWER: Resident Green Lantern expert Ethan Van Sciver stated that Kyle’s fate (along with several other things) would be revealed in Sinestro Corps #1, which will be out next week. “Big things happen to Kyle in Sinestro Corps #1.” QUESTION: Is Barry Allen coming back as the Flash? ANSWER: “The official answer is no comment.” QUESTION: Will JSA Classified continue to feature one team member at a time? ANSWER: The function of JSA Classified is similar to the old Showcase series back in the 50s and 60s: Test a character in a couple of issues to see if sales spike. If so, that character may merit their own ongoing series. He noted that Power Girl’s tryout early in JSA Classified sold very well. DiDio hinted, “We should do something with her soon.” QUESTION: What’s the point of Amazons Attack? ANSWER: “To entertain you!” But, DiDio noted, the it is a “must read book. It ties into every other thing in the DC Universe.” QUESTION: Is there any chance that there will be a solo tryout book for the Teen Titans, similar to JSA Classified? ANSWER: There will soon be a Wonder Girl mini-series, having to do with what comes out of Amazons Attack. There will also be a lot of Teen Titans “Year One” titles in the works. QUESTION: Are there any plans in the works for the 50th anniversary of the Legion of Superheroes? ANSWER: Yes. QUESTION: Will they explore the relationship between Batwoman and the Question?
ANSWER: DiDio placed his tongue firmly in cheek and answered, “God, I hope so.” But then added that the upcoming Crime Bible mini-series would deal with this couple. QUESTION: Will Ian Churchill be doing any more work to follow up on his art chores for Superman/Batman? ANSWER: Jann Jones noted that Ian will have some more work coming out soon. QUESTION: Will there be anything more on Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters? ANSWER: “We’re looking at doing more with those characters,” and it will somehow tie into the resolution of Amazon Attacks. QUESTION: Will there be more appearances of Hawkman any time soon? ANSWER: Yes – in Justice Society of America and JSA Classified. QUESTION: Will there ever be a Red Robin solo series? ANSWER: “He has to make it out of Countdown first!” QUESTION: Will there ever be a DC Zombies comic? ANSWER: No, they’ll leave the zombies to Marvel.
The final question was about the villain to watch in the near future:
Michael Siglain said the Joker; Jamal Igle declared,“I can’t say.”; Ethan Van Scivernaturally suggested Sinestro; Phil Noto stated Bizarro; and to wrap up the panel, Jann Jones added the rimshot, “Dan DiDio”.
Posts: 21381 | From: PA | Registered: Aug 2002
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I'm sort of glad that the Flash series is canceled. I liked the series well enough (and I've been reading Flash since the 80's relaunch), but it never found its footing.
I'm glad Waid is getting Bart again, maybe he can make something of all the changes. He's not Impulse any more, but not enough has been done (at least in the mind of this long time reader) to justify all the changes other than "the world needs an adult flash."
quote: QUESTION: Will Swamp Thing and Hellblazer ever be brought into the DC Universe proper?
ANSWER: No. They do not want to bring characters and stories intended for mature readers into non-mature reader titles.
This seems like such a strange statement at face value, especially regarding the content of some of the supposedly "non-mature" comics lately.
Posts: 662 | Registered: Jan 2002
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posted
That more histories is possible to write to Flash???
-------------------- ENTES Mohamad: "The magic is not eternal, only lives trapped in time and the rebirth of flowers. But if you destroy the flower, where go the magic?" Posts: 38 | Registered: Jan 2006
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DC Nation Panel Report from HEROES CON, Charlotte: NEW SERIES “CHALLENGERS FROM BEYOND” and FLASH SERIES CANCELLED! 
QUESTION: Have all the items on Rip Hunter’s chalkboard in the first issues of 52 been addressed?
The next thing that happened was Bob Wayne, DC’s VP of Sales, called from the DC Nation panel at Wizard World Philly, which was talking place the same day. This is where Dan DiDio made sure to carefully verify that they were not supposed to disclose that the current Flash title was going to be cancelled. (This is DiDio’s humorous schtick where he reveals information that hasn’t yet been officially released.)
ANSWER: The function of JSA Classified is similar to the old Showcase series back in the 50s and 60s: Test a character in a couple of issues to see if sales spike. If so, that character may merit their own ongoing series. He noted that Power Girl’s tryout early in JSA Classified sold very well. DiDio hinted, “We should do something with her soon.”
QUESTION: Will there be more appearances of Hawkman any time soon?
