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It's summertime! And leave it to Joe Singleton to provide us with an amusing beach scene (Click the picture to view full-size).
This month's magazine is a work in progress. I am slowly recovering from an upper respiratory infection that was bacterial in nature, but should have been called "Captain Trips." Fortunately for me, and perhaps for you, I am recovering.
In my week and a half hiatus from anything internet, I got reaquainted with the fine trashy court shows and the "who's yo babydaddy?" talk shows. That was just about my speed for the way my brain was processing things at the time.
Then I felt better, got online and checked out the latest comic news. Oh noes!11!1 DC is rebooting everything to make it relevant to a younger, hipper crowd! Gaaaaaaah! They are ruining my comics! I'll nevah read another <insert comics name here> comic again! Blah blah blahdity blah!
Seriously people? My years as a registered nurse has taught me a couple of things. People generally do not like change and try to torpedo stuff long before they see the finished product. In addition, bright people (and I am firmly convinced that the average comics reading public is far brighter than the general public) tend to over react.
Look, I have sacred cows in the Legion of Superheroes. Things that I think should not be touched, no matter what. I believe that Saturn Girl and Lightning Lad should remain together, no matter what reincarnation DC cooks up. The closet romantic in me believes that that love should endure the various destructions of the universe/multiverse. When DC starts to fail in that book, they either a) change the character's personalities so much that they are unrecognizable or they b)split them up. I do believe that DC needs to be careful, because we who actually read these comics have an emotional investment, and in some cases, the fans know the characters better than DC does. Looking at what I have read, if DC successfully pulls off this massive reboot, it will make a ton of money. If it fails, they'll try something else to make a boat load of money. I'd advise DC to really examine where their sacred cows are, and to respect them. Because if they don't, they will lose readers. They need to examine what is working in their current books and to build upon them.
For example, if we are going to be "relevant" and appeal to a "younger audience," for God's sake don't make Superboy 14 years old and Lois Lane his attractive, black 7th grade journalism teacher who Superboy has the hots for. In your great haste to update your comics line, don't crank out changes that will alienate your fan base. It might get you some transient publicity, but in the long run, you'll alienate the fans that have stuck with you through some pretty crappy Big Events.
So no, gentle fan people, this is not the end of the DCU as we know it. I know I am reserving judgment until I see what they are actually up to. You should too. If you dislike what you read then, then you should write DC and complain. I'm not going to give DC some free publicity by ranting and raving now and you shouldn't either. They do this stuff to generate excitement, and negative excitement will do. I look forward to seeing what they come up with in their reboot.
Well, there's my rare soapbox! We have some great stuff in this issue. Rather than ramble on about it because I am already long winded, I suggest you take some time and look around. I am sure that you will be glad that you did! We are always happy that you are here!
Sheryl Roberts
Editor, The Collector Times
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