2012 Comic Book News Archives

February 21, 2012: MegaCon Report - DC Comics: The New 52 Panel

DC Comics By Billy Hogan.

Dan Didio, Co-Publisher of DC Comics, began MegaCon's Saturday panel about the New 52 by thanking all of the fans who came to the panel, which began at 10:30am. He then introduced the panel guests: Executive Editor Eddie Berganza, writer of All-Star Western and The Ray Jimmy Palmiotti, Batman artist Greg Capulo, writer of New Guardians Tony Bedard and writer and artist of Green Arrow and Superman Dan Jurgens.

Didio asked how many people enjoyed the New 52, and was answered with applause. Repeating a question he asked the audience of Friday's DC Panel, Dan asked for the readers who bought all 52 titles to stand. They received a round of applause as well, and Dan thanked all of the readers for jumping aboard.

Dan commended all of the artists and writers for all 52 titles. While a few titles didn't succeed, Dan complimented all of the creators involved for showing a high level of energy and commitment because they knew they were working on an exciting, huge project. He then thanked the readers for picking up even one title and making the New 52 a success.

Didio then proceeded to ask the panelists questions, beginning with Eddie Berganza. Dan asked Eddie what the process was of creating the New 52, and what the challenges were.

Eddie said that the first challenge was deciding what titles would comprise the New 52, then picking the creators from a large pool of talent. The staff needed to decide which titles DC's readers wanted to read.

Dan asked Eddie about the decisions to make the heroes younger and set up the five years later timeline.

Eddie said that the goal was to make the characters new and fresh and with a modern attitude, as in the case of Superman. DC wanted to make it easy for readers to jump aboard without having to know a lot of character history.

Didio moved on to Jimmy Palmiotti, who had co-written the popular Jonah Hex series which ended just before the New 52. Jimmy said that Jonah didn't change for the relaunch, except for putting him in Gotham City of the 1880's. Palmiotti credited Dan for coming up with that idea. That gave Jimmy and his co-writer, Justin Gray, the opportunity to come up with some crazy ideas, and work with the Batman team on the Court of Owls. The new book, All-Star Western, is unique in the fact that they get to keep Jonah the same, just put him in Gotham and see what insanity occurs. Another thing Jimmy enjoys is the opportunity to feature more Western characters in the backup stories. Some will be new characters while others will be older DC Western characters. His goal is to get people who had never read a Western comic book to pick it up.

Dan said that one of the other things DC wanted to do with the relaunch was to use books like All-Star Western and Demon Knights, set in the Middle Ages, was to show that the DC Universe has a long history and didn't just start five years ago with the age of superheroes, and without using time travel as a plot device.

Didio then featured Greg Capulo, who said that his work on Batman is his first for DC Comics. He had previously worked for Marvel. He had never dreamed that he would work for DC. Previous opportunities had never worked out before. As a child he had drawn Batman, so it was in the blood. The decision to switch publishers was one of the toughest ones he had to make, but the little kid in him said, "But it's Batman!" Greg said that now he's having the time of his life, although his first issue was tough because of stage fright. That was because he was launching a new Batman #1. He said that when he goes to a new title it's a learning process, getting familiar with the environment. The story tells him how it wants to be illustrated. He got comfortable with Batman around issue 3, and now he's having fun working with writer Scott Snyder.

Tony Bedard was next, who has worked with the Green Lantern characters for a number of years. It was a new challenge going to the New Guardians, since the various color Lanterns would be represented. While he wasn't able to use the most familiar Green Lantern characters, he's having fun establishing the histories of these lesser known Lantern Corps.

Dan talked about the Jamie Reyes Blue Beetle. Tony was intimated at first because he enjoyed the previous Blue Beetle series so much. He wanted to do something new and fresh without throwing away what the previous creative team had done with the character. Tony said that he used the first six issues establishing Jamie, and coming up, the character will be moving to New York and interacting with more of the DC heroes.

Dan Jurgens was featured next, beginning with his work on Justice League International. Didio asked him how he came up with the cast for the title. Jurgens said that the creative team began by mixing and matching characters until they came up with a team that would work. The intention from the beginning was to have the lineup fluctuate from the first forward. It was also important to have characters with differing levels of experience, put them together, stir the pot and let them take off from there. How JLI would differ from the Justice League would be that the International team would begin in the present, not five years ago as in the case of the League. The JLI would be working together for the first time, so that would create some interesting story possibilities.

Didio then asked Jurgens about his return to Superman. Jurgens began by saying that when he had talked with George Pérez, he was surprised when George said, "I can't believe I need reference to draw Superman." After beginning his run on the title, Jurgens said, "I can't believe I need reference to draw Superman." His first issue will be issue seven, with Keith Giffen as co-writer and Jesus Merino as inker, who Dan said was doing a knockout job on the art. The creative team's goal is to tell some wide open Superman stories that are fitting for the character, while doing some interesting for Clark and Jimmy. As for what's in store for Clark and Jimmy, Dan gave one word, "bedbugs."

Jurgens was asked by Didio how his approach to Superman will be different this time around. His answer was no spit curl, and of course the armor. Also important is to create a different visual language for the character. The Man of Steel still has a muscular stature, but he's a little slimmer and sleeker, with a face that is a little thinner.

Didio picked up on the last point, emphasizing that it was the goal to make the characters younger, with some experience, but not so much that they were doing things by the numbers. Give them some room to grow and expand from there.

Dan Didio turned over the questions to the audience. The first was about Power Girl's costume, and why the costume change. Eddie said that there would be a story point behind the new costume.

The next fan was a long time Superman fan, reading the Man of Steel's adventures since he was six. He felt that DC had taken away the magic from Superman. He felt that the company had walked away from everything they had established with the character before. The fan said that the new Superman costume resembled the Superboy Prime costume rather than the traditional Man of Steel's uniform. With Superman's 75th anniversary and the new movie coming up, he wondered which Superman we would have.

Dan appreciated the honesty, which is something he welcomes at all of the panels he does. He said that the new continuity doesn't throw away the past, but he hopes DC is adding to it. Didio pointed out that what made Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman special is that they have had the ability to adapt and change over the years, when so many characters that were published at the same time have fallen into obscurity. It's not DC's intention to do away with the traditional heroes. DC will keep their reprint editions coming. Dan said the goal was to keep the characters alive for a new generation.

The same Superman fan said that he has liked some of the previous reboots, like John Byrne's Man of Steel. The hardest part about the relaunch for him was the numbering, losing the chance to hit 1,000 issues.

Didio understood his reaction. He said the goal of the relaunch was to move forward, not look back. As he said at Friday's panel, the renumbering was to show that DC was serious about moving forward, and not leaving the door open to go back. The real goal was to reach 900 with the New 52.

Dan Jurgens jumped in, telling the story about two panels he was on after John Byrne's reboot was launched, and there was a storm of controversy about that move. Their concerns were the same back then as they are now, but Jurgens felt that things worked out okay for Superman. When Superman is done right, it's about approach, the character's sensibility, and finding what the core of the character is. When those things are handled, whether it's 1950, 1986 or today, that will be a good Superman story. Didio interjected that is why Jurgens is writing the title now, because he understands that. The Superman fan seemed satisfied with that answer.

An African-American man asked the next question was about why Cyborg was chosen for the Justice League. Eddie Berganza said that it was a color blind issue. He thought that Cyborg was a cool character and would make a great addition to the team. That was why he graduated from the Titans to the League.

The same fan also enjoyed Static Shock and Darkseid. Dan Didio said that the greater the villain the greater the hero. He has a big problem with superheroes stopping bank robbers because there are bigger threats for a superhero to face. Dan also hates seeing villains robbing banks using multi-million dollar equipment. There's a lot more that could be done with that type of equipment. As far as racial diversity, Dan said that it was the goal is to have the DCU reflect the diversity found in real life and in DC's audience.

Another question was about how reluctant DC is to kill characters after the relaunch. Eddie said that DC will continue a policy begun with Blackest Night, that dead meant dead. Death would no longer be a revolving door. Death was too easy of a plot device, but the heroes would still be fighting for their lives. Darkseid was a formidable villain, but Eddie said, wait until you see what Aquaman and Wonder Woman do to Darkseid. Didio said that he never thought that would ever be said about Aquaman, which brought some laughter from the audience. Dan added that in the New 52, dead stays dead.

A fan said he liked Aquaman and Animal Man, and asked how the writers and artists worked together to develop the relaunch.

Greg Capulo said that the writer had the lion's share of the responsibility. His goal was to bring a new look to Batman. Among the last Batman Greg had read was Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns. He had also seen all of the Batman films and TV shows. He used his lack of familiarity with more current Batman stories as an advantage. Greg put all of those past versions of Batman in a blender and came up with a character that would scare the bad guys. Capulo described his Batman as a slab of meat like a linebacker, but who was as sharp as a blade. He drew Batman's shape as something that would scare him in real life.

Jimmy Palmiotti added that the process involved communication and collaboration. The creative teams consulted with the editors and collaborated with each other, and he felt that is what has made the difference with the New 52.

Another fan said that he was enjoying the New 52 digitally on his iPad. The art was great. Dan said that one of the reasons that the art is so great is because Eddie Berganza has spent so much time putting the best creative teams together for all of the titles.

A female fan asked how the lineup of the new Titans was decided on, and what the roles of the Robins were.

Eddie repeated one of Dan Didio's sayings, that being a Robin was an internship. Each Robin had such a rich history that each one had a role to play. That made it fun to work with each Robin.

The same fan asked a follow up question about Superboy and why it was decided to restart his continuity at the beginning. Eddy said that instead of having to explain a back story to the character, it seemed best to start fresh at the beginning, and show it to the readers as it happened. Dan said that with so many changes to Superman, it made sense to start the other Superman characters from the beginning.

There was a question about how Nightwing fits in the relaunch. Dan Didio said that Nightwing was more defined by Batman than the Teen Titans. Eddie said that there will be glimpses into the early relationship between Dick Grayson and Jason Todd. Where to begin the character was decided by where to make the characters more accessible to readers without having to give them a history lesson.

Dan repeated something that Geoff Johns had said, that everyone in the room has continuity. The past will be revealed for these characters as the story allows.

Didio then talked with the writers. He asked Tony Bedard how he handled these concerns as a writer. Tony said that he felt the big moments still existed for the characters, like Blackest Night, but it doesn't need to be rehashed.

Dan said that with past reboots, part of the problem with them was the confusion which arose from what was kept of past continuity and what was set aside. He likened it to putting a square peg in a round hole. He said that is why the relaunch is looking forward, not looking into the past.

Jimmy Palmiotti said that with The Ray, the approach was to acknowledge that there were other Rays, but this is a new version of the character. With G. I. Combat, that was the same approach with The Unknown Soldier. With co-writer Justin Gray, Jimmy looked at what was great about the character, and how could they present it to a new audience. They acknowledged there were past Unknown Soldiers, but this was a new one.

A fan of Wednesday Comics asked if DC would be bringing that title back. Dan said that DC is considering it, but the editor on that title, Mark Chiarello, is now busy editing the Before Watchmen series.

The next question was about the development of the Court of Owls. Greg said that he developed designs for the backstory of the centuries long history of the Court of Owls.

A fan of the Batman book said he liked how "twisted" Greg and Scott were. He wondered if they had to curtail themselves when working together. Greg said that Scott is a very mild mannered guy with a wild streak. Capulo said that he takes what Scott throws him and runs with it, but they realize they're working with corporate owned characters.

Another question was if there would be a Blue Beetle and Booster Gold team up. Someone else echoed the sentiment. Tony said that there weren't any plans right now. While he thinks that it might happen in the future, the focus right now is to establish both characters without bringing in past continuity, and find a happy medium.

A fan followed up the question about dead is dead by asking how many times the Suicide Squad would kill Resurrection Man. Dan answered that with a group named the Suicide Squad, the Resurrection Man would make a great addition to the team.

The next person in the audience asked how DC handled criticism. Greg said that it's human nature to resist change, but with the New 52, if readers keep an open mind, they might find something they like.

Another fan said that he had been a comic book fan who had strayed away from the hobby, but the DC relaunch made it less intimidating to begin reading DC Comics again. Greg said, "Mission accomplished." Jimmy asked the guy's girlfriend what she thought about it, and she loved it.

The next question was how far in advance did DC pull the trigger and go all in to the relaunch. Dan said the whole process went smoothly, and the planning began at the beginning of last year. Jimmy added that he has known Dan Didio a long time, and one of the first things Dan said when he began working for DC was that he would like to begin the whole line again.

Another question was if Ralph and Sue Dibney would appear in the new DCU. Dan said that they don't know, and they don't announce things like that ahead of time so that DC can keep their options open.

The next question was about how the early issues of the New 52 seemed to be very adult, but later issues seemed to be written for a younger audience. Dan said that the goal was to make books for a wider audience, instead of making all 52 titles the same.

In response to a question about the Justice League, Dan Jurgens said that in future issues, the backgrounds of some of the characters of the JLI members.

Dan Didio said that the first question he ever asked at a convention was to Dan Jurgens about Booster Gold. Jurgens was surprised and asked if Didio asked, "What were you thinking?" to which Didio said, "Yeah, a little bit."

Rorschach asked the panel's final question, about how the trade paperbacks be affected by the New 52. They will be released beginning in May. The collected editions of the individual titles won't be published in any set patterns. DC's goal with the new collected editions will be to collect as much of a complete story as possible. Some might collect 6, 8 or more issues, depending on the length of individual storylines.

Billy Hogan



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