arbre_rieur: (Default)
arbre_rieur ([personal profile] arbre_rieur) wrote in [community profile] scans_daily2011-09-07 10:05 pm
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Dr. Holland's Opus



Four pages from SWAMP THING 1...

At the start of the issue, we find Alec Holland working as a construction worker, trying his hardest to ignore his past. Occasionally, the Green makes mild attempts to reach out to him, but he ignores it. One day, Superman shows up to check in on him.





"...right now, I just don't want to be found."

One night, he wakes up in his motel room to find himself being stalked by stalks.



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wizardru: Hellboy (Default)

[personal profile] wizardru 2011-09-08 12:20 pm (UTC)(link)
So between this and Hawk and Dove, we've solidly established that the new DC is still the old DC....except when it's NOT? I was kind of excited that the new titles meant everything had been reset....and now it's clear that editorial has fallen asleep at the wheel.

So either everything has already happened in continuity or it hasn't...in which case what was the point of this exercise? How new reader friendly is introducing a Hawk and Dove in media res or a Swamp Thing that talks to a Superman who remembers a major 20 year old story arc and references it? Yes, they waste time doing info-dumps...but that's not really the same as an interesting story. This was supposed to be an opportunity to reset everything...instead they've done another half-assed job, with new and old readers bound to be totally confused about the rewritten continuity (like when Superman and Batman weren't original members of the Justice League, fr'ex).
arbre_rieur: (Default)

[personal profile] arbre_rieur 2011-09-08 12:51 pm (UTC)(link)
It's only confusing if you cling to preconceptions based on the old continuity. Just treat it as you would one of the various adaptations that starts in media res, like the YOUNG JUSTICE or THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD cartoons, and it should work out fine. For example, in the Joker's first appearance in BATMAN THE ANIMATED SERIES, he and Batman already know each other. There's clearly already a history there.

But what is that history? Is it like the one in the comics? How closely does it match? The answer to those questions is, "It doesn't matter. You don't need to know those details to enjoy the present day stories." Same with the history of the new DCU.

[personal profile] darkknightjrk 2011-09-08 03:30 pm (UTC)(link)
THANK YOU, for saying so clearly what I've been thinking this whole time. I mean, I'm going to miss some elements that are no longer in play, but that doesn't seem to mean to me that the new continuity is so contradictory and hard--it's only that way if you want it to be.
wizardru: Hellboy (Default)

[personal profile] wizardru 2011-09-08 05:46 pm (UTC)(link)
I grok what you're saying, it just makes me a little crazy. Not explaining the history of Batman and the Joker isn't a big deal. They are, quite literally, household names. They were then and are now. Deadman and Dove being in a relationship? Not as much.

This makes me irritated (and perhaps unreasonably so) because it seems to be feeding directly out of Brightest Day, not starting from scratch with stuff already going on. It strikes me as a wasted opportunity...not because I care about Dawn and Deadman being an item, but because of all the continuity problems that just threw themselves up in my face...for little or no benefit that I can see.

On the other hand, it may just be Liefeld rage. :)
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