If I could control the DC movie universe...

So two things,

First, I haven't posted in a bit due to some personal craziness that is good I've just been crazy busy.  Second,  I recently have been in conversation with some fellow comic book fans on what DC should do on the heels of the Man of Steel (the trailer looks great) and the coming Justice League movie.  Now, in the interest in transparency, I did spend about a month or so this summer writing a script for a Justice League movie. (anyone reading this that knows someone in Hollywood, I'd love a lead...)  Now, until I register it, I won't be devolving specific details, I will, in the interest of this post, go through some rules that I think that Warner Brothers and DC Comics should adhere to in planning out their movie universe, and that I used to writing my script.  So here we go:

1. Be inspired by what Marvel has done but don't copy it.  I think the most important thing is for DC to see how Marvel has had success and do something different instead of copying them.  They could have a story of the Justice League fighting Darkseid's shock troopers and parademons but how different is that from the Avengers.  My theory and suggestion is do something different. Which bring us to some specifics of doing something different.  
2. Cast - Go Big and Go Diverse.  I think that most non-fans know at least 5-6 of the Big 7 - most of my students know or have some knowledge of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern and Aquaman, so there is no origin movie needed before the movie for most of them.  Most people have not heard of most of the Avengers cast before the individual movies- but DC doesn't have to worry about that.  So I say, go with the Big 7 - and add on recognizable characters from other DC proprieties like John Stewart, Hawkgirl, Cyborg and Starfire- popular characters from DC cartoons and whom also bring diversity that the Avengers sorely lacked.  Use some of the not as well known characters as the point of view characters.  
3. Villains - Don't go big army with one bad guy aka Loki and the Chitarui.  Instead go with a villain trying to bring Darkseid to Earth, and work in maybe a more power house or powerful character to fight characters like Superman or Wonder Woman or use, ala New Frontier, Dinosaur Island to occupy our heroes.  Use Darkseid or an equally powerful villain at the end for the whole team to fight and barely win. 
4. Counter-government - While at the end of the Avengers, the team turns against SHIELD control, I'd say work it the other way - The League wants nothing to do with Waller, resists government control and Waller is trying to manipulate them.  They are also seen by the governments as both guardian angels but potential threats.  
5. Not the bickering type - Whedon thought was that the Avengers shouldn't exist and the Loki was trying to pull them apart.  The Justice League should be the gathering of heroes who don't have time to bicker (but can make jokes) but have to work together due to the threat of the event.  
6. Prior Relationships - I think it's ok to establish that certain characters have a previous unseen relationship - Superman can have met Wonder Woman, or have worked with Batman, or Batman might have worked with Flash on case before- but to keep those interactions few for two reasons - 1. not to loose audiences on the backstory and 2. the idea of young characters making up the Justice League.

So that's the movie, but after the movie, I'd have the movie universe go in a few directions.  I would keep the solo movies to certain headline characters, Flash, Wonder Woman, ect.  One of DC's strengths is the idea of legacy and family of these characters, which allows a franchise of movies focusing on different generations of characters under the same 'famil' or 'legacy'. I would also use the Justice League movie to set up some team movies- If Cyborg and Starfire are in the Justice League, have them spin out to a Teen Titans movie.  Maybe have a character find themselves on another Earth where Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are dead, and they have to work with other heroes against a threat.  Or even have Batman start a pro-active black ops teams to work in the shadows whereas the League is very public.  

I'd also take advantage that there are plenty of properties that would work well TV.  Arrow is ok-good, better than the 1st season of Smallville in my opinion, but I think Arrow and any other DC (or Marvel for that matter) property would do better on either a network like USA or FX (or even HBO or Starz or Cinemax) which allows for mature storytelling and also need less episodes in a season.  Arrow has already suffered from too many filler episodes or filler in episodes.  While I understand fans concerns that shorter seasons of shows Game of Thrones feels to compact, I would follow the format of Doctor Who.  12-16 episode seasons should fulfill the need for compact/tight story telling but also give the room to not feel too compact.  

So there you go - perhaps later, I'll list exactly what the plan would be for the movie universe....

Comic Reviews that I Forgot Cause I Used Comixology

So I wanted to review 4 comics that I have downloaded in the last two weeks - using Comixology, which I have found to be a great app on my iPhone.

Green Lantern Corps #0 - Good issue.  I enjoy the set up of Guy both on Earth before he gets a ring and as a rookie Lantern. Unlike the #0 issues for Green Lantern and Green Lantern: New Guardians this was a true flashback to what Guy's history in the new 52 universe is.  B+.

Batwoman #0 - I got this series for the 1st arc in the New 52 and liked it.  The second arc with two different artists (Amy Reeder's great art only lasted one issue) and the non-linear style of story telling with jumping back and forth in weeks between different plots was confusing enough to make the cut list.  However, this issue makes me want to give #13 a try.  It feels so much that it could slip into the Detective Comics arc by Williams and Rucka (which was amazing).  A+.

Birds of Prey #0 - Interesting.  I like the set up of Canary's husband at the end and how Canary and Starling met, but Batgirl/Babs shouldn't be there if it was 1 year ago.  However, if what the writer meant was a few months before the start of the New 52, then it could work.  Anyways, besides that distraction, it was a decently good issue.  However, Canary now being connected to Team 7 really doesn't allow BoP to go farther back than 5 years for an origin.  B-.

Blue Beetle #0 - I haven't picked up Blue Beetle since the first issue and I really enjoyed this one.  It gave us a history of the scarab and the Reach, their interactions with the Green Lanterns and an obvious upcoming subplot with the New 52 version of Lady Styx (who to me seemed to be a character with a lot of potential that was never used properly) B.

Comics Reviewed for 9/19/12

Here are my reviews for comics September 19th:

Marvel:

Daredevil #18 - Another great issue.  I love how Waid is weaving great past runs on DD from Brubaker, Bendis and Diggle to craft a great story where Matt must confront his current mentality with his past mistakes.  Love Samnee's art and love the developing rift between Matt and Foggy. A.

New Mutants #49  - The end of the Fear the Future story line - which I think would have been really good if not for the very sketchy art.  I'm sad to see the series go especially since I'm pretty sure X-Man and Blink the two non-New Mutant members of the team are on the bubble to make it into a book in MarvelNOW. B-.

Avengers #30 - This title continues to disappoint with it's A vs. X tie ins.  I get that this is the relationship that Bendis has established, and while I love new couples in comics, I'm so not interested in what feels to me the same conversation we have heard from every couple Bendis has written.  C.

DC Comics:

Wonder Woman #0 - Really enjoyed the throw back nature of the book as well as the set up for future interactions between Diana and War.  Also one of the few books that flashed back to the main characters childhood/teenage years.  One comment I read on twitter remarked that the book basically stated that a male deity was a better teacher than all the female Amazons.  However, with the exception of Zeus and Hera, Azzarello's Greek Gods don't feel as 'gendered' to me as other characters do. A.

Justice League #0 - This was the culmination for the the back ups in Justice League recently and was the origin of Shazam in the New52.  I like how Johns and Frank has done so many similar things with the Shazam but different enough that makes him more than a magic Superman.  A.

Nightwing #0 - Great issue.  Fantastic way to modernize Dick's circus origin, making him a little older and giving him a backround that would make sense why Bruce would allow him to be Robin.  Also liked the New 52 first Robin costume. Loved the homages to what's come before and the introduction to Lady Shiva.  A+.

DC Universe Presents - Here's the thing - I really bought this comic for the Mr. Terrific story by James Robinson.  I enjoyed it a lot.  The others- OMAC and Blackhawks were interesting, Deadman was ok, Hawk and Dove was boring.  C.

Red Hood and the Outlaws #0 - Really the Jason Todd origin story.  Really enjoyed the modernization of his origin, the hint of a possible Todd sibling, and the Joker back up which makes us wonder if it's true and what are the Joker's plans for Jason in the upcoming 'Death of the Family' story line.  And like Dick, I enjoy Jason's Robin costume in the New 52. B.

Supergirl #0 - Recently, I picked up the first 7 issues of this series.  And while slow, I really enjoyed the arc (sure it could probably have been in 4-5 issues).  Without reading issues 8-12, I really dug and enjoyed this issue.  Thought it gave answers but increased the mystery around Supergirl and her parents and what happened to their home or Argo City after Krypton's destruction. A-.

Green Lantern: New Guardians # 0 - I tried the first few issues of this title, and while I love Kyle Rayner, the art and some of the dialogue pushed this title to my drop list.  However, with the upcoming Green Lantern crossover "The Rise of the Third Army" and the promise of a different line up of different colored Lanterns, I figured I give it a try.  And I really enjoyed it.  Great art and good story.  I really enjoy Carol's new and more appropriate Star Sapphire uniform and really enjoy the dynamic between her and Kyle.  A.

Marvel Now! Wave 2

 Recently, Marvel has released a second wave of 4 teasers for MarvelNow! #1's, followed about two weeks later with what the teasers were for new titles.  I posted earlier about what I expected the teasers might mean, so I figured I'd comment on the information released and also comment on what I think is yet to come with MarvelNow!

First off is a new Thunderbolts title.  The most recent Thunderbolts was government sponsored team of villains being used on dangerous missions.  The idea is to use these villains in situations that could be fatal in exchange for time off their sentence and in hopes of rehabilitation.  That title has morphed into Dark Avengers, and with MarvelNow! the team will be lead by USAgent and be comprised by former villains masquerading as heroes who were brought together by Norman Osborn.  This title, will feature a team of anti-heroes who seem not to be working in the shadows.  Red Hulk (General Ross), the Punisher, Venom (Flash Thompson), Elektra and Deadpool are the openeing roster and more have been promised. Written by Way, and art by Dillon, this an interesting enough concept.  I also think that Red Hulk and Venom have been Avengers, but their lethal activities which we would presume in this book, would seem to see a departure from both on being Avengers.

The next book is Avengers Arena, which seems to have a large amount of teenage heroes who have been kidnapped and will be fighting for survival.  This will star heroes from Runaways, Avengers Academy and other teenage heroes and might work well as a mini-series that sets up a book about the teenage heroes.  However, as an ongoing, to me it seems to have no real direction and frankly, I'm not very interested.


The third book is Cable and X-Force.  It seems that Cable wakes up after Avengers vs. X-Men and gathers a team.  However, this team is caught at a site where people with anti-mutant feelings are massacred.  I'm interesting to pick up the first issue based on the team and what the hook might be.  It seems that the team will be opposed by the Uncanny Avengers as well.  Also, there is a rumors of a second X-Force book too.

Just announced today is Uncanny X-Force which was teased with the word Killers.  The first line-up is said to Psylocke, Puck, Sprial and Storm.  Why or how Storm is on a team that kills seems to be very unlike who she is as character.  Weird.  I'd like to hear more before I figure out if to pick up the first issue.


My one grip with the books other than Avengers Arena just seeming dumb, is that for both Thunderbolts and Cable & X-Force, the starting roster is not very diverse, which can only hope, will change.  I also believe we will see a third round of teasers, most likely before the MarvelNOW! Point 1, and will tease what seems to be Bendis on Guardians of the Galaxy, Loeb on Nova, Gillen and McKelvie on a New Young Avengers book and Nick Spencer, I'm betting, will be writing a Secret Avengers book with Nick Fury Jr (the new African-American Nick Fury) on the team .  Thought I'm hoping it might be Bendis on Secret Avengers and Spencer on Guardians....?

Comic Reviews for 9/12

Here are my reviews of this week's comics:

Marvel Comics:

Avengers vs. X-Men #11 - Wow.  This was huge.  Big comic book death which makes more head lines with casual fans and people who are somewhat familiar with the X-Men.  To fans, the character has 'died' before and really hasn't been a huge part of the X Universe for a while.  However, the character's death will most likely set the X Universe on a direct course of integration with the rest of the Marvel Universe and the killer will most likely have a huge redemption arc in Marvel Now!  Great art and pretty well written, however like many cross overs (especially Marvel) this is a 12 issue series that could have been 5-6 issues. A-.

The New Avengers #30 - I've said before that I have been disappointed with most of the Avengers side AvsX tie ins.  This comic, however, was good in that I enjoy this team of Avengers and the action juxtaposed one's characters decision (which frankly has been a sub plot in NA for what feels like the last 5 years).  However, the fact that this subplot has taken so long, and that this issue seems to take place after Avengers vs. X-Men is somewhat confusing.  B-.

Uncanny X-Men #18 - Pretty good.  Great art and shows the behind the scenes action of Cyclops and White Queen during the fight in AvsX #11.  It certainly gives a very different view of what seemed to be one of the two big betrayals in AvsX.  B.

Wolverine and the X-Men #16 - First, I love this series.  However, I am sick to death of the Hellfire club.  It is so unbelievable that these kids are like this.  I can believe Damian Wayne is deadly cause he was trained since birth, or Val Richards is super-smart cause she is a mutant.  But these kids annoy me like that Loeb had Tommy Elliot arrange the death of his parents when he was like 9.  If they were teenagers, it might be more believable.  I just find them annoying.  C.

Uncanny X-Force #31 - I enjoy that Remender is going out with a huge bang, in what feels like the satisfying conclusion of all he has done in this book.  I love that it opens with what seems to be the death of one character and the transformation of another.  Great issue, glad to see the book is back on track.  A.

Winter Soldier #10 - Great issue.  The death of a long time Marvel character by an mind controlled reformed villain.  I see this as what will become the Winter Soldier being by himself by the end of the arc.  Unlike Captain America, Brubaker is going out with a bang and some huge stuff on this title. A+.

Fantastic Four #610 - Great issue.  Unlike most of the recent issue, this is the first part of two parter that deals with subplots that Hickman has been setting up, but does a good job of introducing it to new readers.  A.

Captain America #17 - Wow.  This book has taken such a huge nose-dive its really too bad.  It just seems that all the life has been sucked out of the book - trying to close out his run but with no creativity or passion.  D-.

DC Comics:

Shade #12 - Amazing.  Great writing, great art.  Shade's origin.  Loved it.  A+.

Batman # 0  - I liked this a lot.  I felt the main story was cut short and didn't like that is was to be continued in 2013.  I did like the revision of Bruce's history away and return to Gotham in the New52.  All the classic elements are still there but just revised enough to have a younger Bruce in the present day and also show Bruce operating in a more modern way even when he came back.  I loved the back-up and also gives fan a good idea of the ages of major Bat characters. A.

Batgirl #0 - Again, this is a revision of Bab's New 52 history.  Again, big changes from before, but I liked it a lot. Benes' art is at times awkward but I did enjoy maintaing the core of who Bab's is and sets up James Jr. as what I expect to be Bab's Moriarty in the 2nd year of the book.  B+.

Demon Knights #0 - I really enjoyed this issue.  I know it is a retconning of what was established in the #1st issue but done so well I really don't care.  I'm very interested to see how the sub plot of Merline, Lucifer, Etrigan and Morgaine plays out. A.

Team 7 #0 - This is a classic introduction story.  While I enjoyed the characters and their introduction, I wish that there was a something of a specific threat that sets up where the book is going in the first year. B-.

MarvelNOW! & New52 - Diversity

 So recently Comic Book Resources posted an article written by Brett White that talked about the lack of women in the promo images of Hickman's upcoming Avengers run.  It is a great article and I encourage that if you have not read it, do so here: http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=40849
In fact, between the Avengers promo image and the Uncanny Avengers promo image, the lack of the women in Avengers teams as part of MarvelNOW! seems very lacking.  And yes, Marvel has not revealed the lineup of New Avengers or if Secret Avengers exists in MarvelNOW!, and both Hickman and Rick Remender have stated that the teams revealed in both of these images are not the final roster, one has not only wonder about the disproportionate amount of women, but also the disproportionate amount of racial diversity on these teams.  The article remarked that in the Avengers promo there was 3 women to 11 men ratio, and in U.A. there is a 2 to 4 ratio.  As far as racial diversity, there is a 2 to 12 ratio in the Avengers promo and a 0 to 6 ratio in U.A.   Avengers Assemble, while written by a woman, promises at first, a 2 to 4 ratio as it comes to gender.

It seems, that unfortunately that diversity when it comes to gender and race are a large problem for both Marvel and DC.  Recently, DC has announced a new Justice League title, Justice League of America, that 'takes the place'  of Justice League International.  Now, of the 3 original Justice League titles, and even with JLA, DC worst JL title when it comes to diversity is their flagship book: Justice League( of a roster of 7, one woman and one African American male).  When it started, Justice League International was 4 to 4 ratio when it came to gender and was, as it's name implied, internationally diverse in nature.  Justice League Dark also was pretty even gender wise, and recently has become more racially diverse.  Even the new Justice League of America has a roster of 9, with three women(one of whom is Japanese), Hispanic and Arab American members, and a Martian ;)  Justice League seems to be becoming more diverse in their second year, with Mera and Element Woman as well as the Korean American Ryan Choi scheduled - but we will see.

What boggles my mind is why writers today do not tap more into the diversity of both the Marvel and DC Universes.  I feel, that DC is doing a better job, but they need to do so in their flagship titles, not just their off shoot titles.  And Marvel....why Black Panther is not on that Avengers promo is beyond me.  Hickman has pretty much guaranteed from his work on Fantastic Four that T'Challa will be in the Avengers.  That along with great Avengers that are not white males: Monica Rambeau, She-Hulk, Mockingbird, Daisy Johnson, Storm, Jocasta, Valkyrie, Jewel, Mantis, Moondragon, Silverclaw, 3-D Man, Living Lightning, Firebird, Firestar, Lionheart, War Machine, Tigra, Sersi, Crystal, Rage, Marrina, Hellcat to name a few.  So again, there are plenty of Avengers characters, as well as X-Men and Fantastic Four characters that could be on this Avengers team and frankly that they aren't is a shame and waste of an opportunity.

Marvel Now! Part 2 - Creative Teams & Read List

I've discussed a lot about MarvelNow! and what new books I'm going to pick up the 1st arc or the 1st issue of, and what books I'll be dropping.  As of now, my pull list will look something like this:

Books I'm Keeping:
Wolverine and the X-Men
Daredevil
Hawkeye

1st Arcs of New Books:
Avengers
New Avengers
Uncanny Avengers

1st Issues of New Books:
Fantastic Four
FF
Indestructible Hulk
Captain America

However, what I'm also excited about is books that have either a creative team change or change of characters in already established books.  Two such books are Red She-Hulk and Avengers Assemble.  I've heard great things about Jeff Parker's run on Hulk, but the Red Hulk and his alter ego of Gen. 'Thunderbolt' Ross never really drew me in.  However, changing the shift from the Red Hulk to the Red She-Hulk (Ross's daughter, Betty Ross, who is the green Hulk's 'ex'-wife) interests me.  Also it seems like she is on the run from the heroes of the Marvel Universe (most likely avenging the death of her father in the last two issues of Avengers vs. X-Men - my prediction) - which, again, is very enticing to me.  The 2nd title, Avengers Assemble is by a writer I like, De Connick and with art by Stefano Caselli -whose art I love.  I'm hoping that this title soon looses most of the movie roster and rotates in more classic Avengers.
I'm also looking forward to the end of the first arc of certain books as well.  Sometimes, writers feel the need to at least have the first arc or two focus on the character on an adventure by themselves in some new locale or situation.  However, usually after this first arc, the writer feels that they have given their character enough time to be introduced to the readers to start to bring in other characters and situations from the larger universe it resides in.  Tow such books are Captain Marvel and World's Finest.  Captain Marvel is a book I picked up the first issue of and had a lot of problems with it's art.  I've heard good things about it's 2nd and 3rd issues, and am going to pick the issue where former Captain Marvel, Monica Rambeau, shows up, and give it another chance.  I have had similar issues with World's Finest: I enjoy the concept of the book and most of the flashback sequences I have read, but am not taken by a.) Power Girl's current duds and b.) the first villain and plot of the 1st arc.  I really enjoyed the #0, and am planning on picking up the arc which has Huntress (Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle's daughter from an alternate earth) interact with main DCU Gotham characters such as the current Robin (Bruce Wayne and Talia Al Ghul's son).