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Posts tagged dc comics
Superman/Wonder Woman: Boning and Flying!
So yesterday DC announced that Wonder Woman was getting a second book for the first time in 61 years. YAY!
Oh, it’s in a book with Superman. That will focus on the couples’ relationship.
I thought Zack Smith’s comment was spot on:
So what will this book be about? The writer has been busy answering questions on Twitter including this one
But what does that mean? Oh, you know what it means!
Oh my.
The reaction to the book has been mixed although the people who don’t like MY thoughts on it have been quite clear because they’ve been all over me in the comments, Twitter and in comics forums.
In the end, of course, it’s all about sales. And apparently DC Comics has decided that feminist icon or not Wonder Woman is in the end best presented as the girlfriend of someone and both boning and flying their ways into your hearts and wallets.
Hello Kitty/DC Comics Merchandise Mash-Ups Coming Next Year
Sanrio has signed a deal with Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and DCE a new line launching next year which will have Hello Kitty dress up like DC Comics superheroes. The line will include all kinds of merchandise including clothing, accessories and even food.
This seems to be another example, as in the Target commercial posted this morning, of DCE and WB aggressively pursuing the female dollar anywhere but the comics the characters are appearing in.
(Source: licensing.biz)
Target Animates the Justice League in New TV Commercial
Earlier this Spring DC Comics and Target announced a deal that would put Justice League licensed merchandise into Target Stores. The range of merchandise was wide; housewares, clothing and toys. At the Target near me there is two aisles of stuff some of which I’ve shown. Of course, I was happy to see that Wonder Woman was getting prominence and had her own line of merchandise.
Yesterday a Target commercial with the Justice League showed up. And it reflects the dichotomy Kelly and I discussed with Heidi MacDonald of the Beat last week about DC Comics and the female audience. MacDonald’s says, as she’s said before, that the Warner Bros. has deemed DC Comics a “boy brand” and “dedicated safe space” for male readers and that any attempt to attract females would alienate their core demographic.
It’s an interesting theory and certainly DC Comics has done enough stuff through the years to that you can scratch your head and think, “do they really even want women reading this stuff?”
But then you see this commercial which while clear targeted (no pun intended) and the power purse strings of women makes you wonder what the heck the brand is? Is it “hey moms, give your son a safe space from girl cooties?” because I’m not getting that here especially with the last shot of the “mom” and Wonder Woman walking away together. Or maybe this is just how DC sees Wonder Woman - a licensing money maker for “GIRL POWER” in everything but comics where she’s in her own title she’s basically in an ensemble cast and is Superman’s SUPER girlfriend in another?
Who knows? And, honestly, it really does feel some days like “who cares?” too. But it IS fun to Wonder Woman and her team animated.
The Brilliance of DC Comics’ Marketing Synergy!
Man of Steel is the biggest non Batman superhero hit movie they’ve had in … I don’t know how many years. And the movie did really well in the demographics drawing in a demographic of 44% women. Compare that to Ironman 3 whose opening weekend had an audience that was 31% female audience.
Most people attribute much of that bump to Amy Adams playing Lois Lane. If you’ve seen the movie you know that it keeps to the canon as far as their relationship since before the mishegas started in the new 52. The kiss the two shared was shown almost a year ago at SDCC so I’m not spoiling anything.
So in the brilliant marketing synergy that is DC Comics, today they announced a new Superman book. Oh wait, make that Superman/Wonder Woman. Hitting in October and exploring the “budding relationship” according to IGN.
SYNERGY!NOT!
Wonder Woman, the most iconic female superhero in comics, finally has a second book for the first time in 61 years and it’s second billing to her boyfriend and in a book where she’s making out with him on the cover.
I said it when the first announced this relationship and I’ll say it again - they are boiling down this character to a romantic interest for a dude. Why can’t she have her own relationship in her own book?
My head and my desk are unfortunately today in a relationship as painful as the one below.
Happy Father’s Day to the Dads of DC Comics!
Today is Father’s Day so if you have a dad or someone you think of as a dad and they love you and you love them, I hope you have a good day. To celebrate I am once again offering my apologies to Dr. Seuss and offering a poem for the day.
(ahem)
There are dads who stealthy
Lois Lane Link-a-Rama!
Man of Steel is out this week and it has inspired lots and lots of posts on the Lois Lane. Here’s a few you may want to check out.
I went to J-School because of Lois so I really enjoyed this piece by journalism professor Michele Weldon on why she loves Lois.
Forget the Man Of Steel. Krypton Shrypton. The Woman of Words is who I have always wanted to emulate. I love Lois Lane.
Go give it a read.
The Atlantic has an interesting piece Esther Zuckerman “Lois Lane and the Case for the Female Superhero Movie.“She’s seen the movie; I haven’t so I can’t really discuss her view of Lois but I agree with the idea that female superhero movies are a good thing. Don’t read the comments. Or rather do if you want to see the kind of dudebro comments that deserve DRAMATIC READING!
Yahoo has a story on how the dynamic between Lois and Superman has been changed for the better in the movie. The title of the piece, “Lois Lane’s ‘Man of Steel’ Makeover: How is Superman’s Squeeze Different?” is regrettable but it does have some interesting thoughts.
MTV Splash asked a bunch of comics folks including yours truly about the importance of Lois Lane. “Pretty important” is a good indicator of the responses except in the comments where a block of text that hurt my eyes seems ready for a DRAMATIC READING!
The National Post takes a look at the history of Lois Lane in comics and movies. It focuses a bit too much on the Silver Age of Super Dickery but does make a good case that Canadian women do best by Lois. Can’t argue that Durance and Kidder are good evidence of that.
Unfortunately Entertainment Weekly chose to NOT mention either women in their big cover story on Superman in the media. How do you mention Glenn Ford when writing about Superman: The Movie and not Margot Kidder? Or Smallville and not Durance. Or Adventures in Superman and not Coates or Neill? But yet they chose to mention Kate Bosworth in their blurb on Superman Returns which would have made sense if followed by the words, “worst casting of Lois ever.” That story is not online.
And if you haven’t popped over to read Women Read About Comics’ carnival on Lois Lane, I can’t think of a better time to do it.
Stephanie Brown Disappears From Latest Scribblenauts Demo Video
Earlier this week at E3 video of the upcoming Scribblenauts DC Unmasked Game revealed that Stephanie Brown, a character who, let us say has had some challenges whenever she has appeared over the last year and half, would indeed appear. The game had been promoted as featuring every character in the history of DC but, you know with the coloring and after the fact excising of Ms. Brown from comics, fans of the character might be a tad … pessimistic and, at times, looking for conspiracies.
But not this time because lo and behold there she was dressed as a “scary villain” with her name was on screen and glimpses of her blonde hair and costume to confirm it.
This images, courtesy of BC, show the game’s character Maxwell in a specific scenario. Note the giant popcorn box in the upper right hand side. Note Damian Wayne. Note the character Mr. Hyde. To scare Mr. Hyde the character of “Scary” Stephanie Brown is called.
and wait for it …
You can see the video sequence here - forward to about 16:22 seconds.
There was much joying in the world from those of who have affection to said character. And some razzing on Twitter for a certain DC executive who may or may not.
And then yesterday there was more video footage of the game released on GameInformer.
And it contains or rather doesn’t contain something … curious.
What’s Next for DC Movies: WB “Tire Kicking” a Wonder Woman Movie
Man of Steel is out this week, of course, and the Wrap is talking to unnamed sources at Warner Bros. about their strategy to leverage their superhero IP.
Studio head Jeff Robinov has stated on the record that this will be the studios biggest grossing film which means Superman needs to gross over a half a billion dollars. (I doubt it will).
The source also feels good about the MOS
“It re-establishes franchise in a huge way,” an individual close to Warner Bros. said to TheWrap about the Superman reboot. “If it does well, Warner Bros. can do Justice League including Superman, Superman vs. Batman and another Superman.”
But what about Wonder Woman you ask?
Did you really think that would be anytime soon? The source says the studio is ”kicking the tires on films for Wonder Woman and Aquaman.”
Warner Bros.’ plan would be to release two “Man of Steel” films before moving on to the “Justice League,” a project everyone at Warner Bros. unofficially acknowledges is being developed.
Let’s see Man of Steel sequel in 2015, Justice League in 2016 and you have to fit a Batman reboot in there as well and then Wonder Woman if Aquaman or Green Lantern don’t come first.
So “tire kicking” really means don’t even think about a Wonder Woman movie before 2017.
Oh well there’s always the possibility that she’ll get a TV show.
(Source: ies)
DC Lets Superman Fans Get Unique Stuff and Help a Good Cause
It’s a Super Week with Man of Steel flying into theaters and Superman Unchained bounding in to comic book stores and streaking on to devices.
If you are a Superman fan it is, I assume, a gold star week. And with that in mind DC has a charity fund raiser going on for it “We can be Heroes” initiative over on Indie Go Go with lots of tempting super stuff.
There’s a price for everyone from a break on digital comics to, for the aspiring comic artist, a $1200 private portfolio review with Jim Lee plus some other stuff so check it out.
Comics to Buy this Week, June 10 - The “It’s Scott Snyder’s World and We Just Read It” Edition!
This is a big week for DC with the debut of a long awaited series and the start of a highly antipated arc in its top selling book.
Superman has had some challenges in the new 52 driven mainly by the creator turnovers. Today he gets a new title, Superman Unchained, and a new superstar team - Jim Lee and Scott Snyder. The issue has a movie like opening that immediately telegraphs that Snyder has a hand on the character. Make that characters as Lois shows up here as well and Snyder gets her in her quick appearance. There’s a also a big reveal in the final pages to get you to come back next month. This one is priced $4.99 which includes Jim Lee double page and full page splashes but it also includes a few pages from Dustin Nguyen as well. The issue goes quickly but if you’re looking for a good Superman action story in the new 52 you’ll want to pick this up.
Snyder also has Batman #21 out today which is the start of a major arc, ZERO YEAR, that takes a new look at Batman’s early career. This one, of course, has to live in the shadow of Miller and Mazzucchelli’s Batman Year One.
Snyder’s approach to date on Batman has to be been to fill in pieces of history while working with what’s there. He takes a bit more freedom here but it’s worth it. You get to see a young Bruce Wayne as Batman and the start of an interesting arc. I knew Snyder was good when he started writing Batman in the new 52. Capullo, on the other hand I had my doubts about. Those are gone. Capullo has turned in probably his best work to date. You’re going to want to read this a couple of times to savor his work. The book also has a fun back-up drawn by Rafel Albuquerque and written by Snyder and James Tynion that continues the high energy of the book’s main story. Pick this one up.
And in the final Trilogy of Snyder this week he and Albuquerque team up for an American Vampire one-shot. This is the highest priced item of the week - $6.99.
If you are not a fan of corporate comics which I guess is as good a name as any for DC and Marvel, than you also have two first issues from others.
With Locke and Key winding down, Joe Hill is kicking off another new comic - Thumbprint. This is a three issue mini-series focused on a female private just back from an army stint.
If you were a fan of Umbrella Academy or a reader of Dangerous Days or/and are a fan of Becky Cloonan than this book is for you.
Marvel has Kelly Sue DeConnick teamed-up with herself for this mini-series featuring her two titles - Captain Marvel and Avengers Assemble and it features a hybrid of best of her work on the two titles. DeConnick seems to be the one person who has cracked the code on the bringing the tone of the Avengers movie into comics. Combine that with the lovely character work she has done with Carol Danvers and you have a good read.
Suicide Squad is still a violent book featuring Harley Quinn in the awful new costume but now its a well-written violent book with new writer Ales Kot on board. Said costume should be ignored on that not very pleasant cover to take a look at what Amanda Waller looking more like her old self in the corner. You have to sometimes look past the bad to see the good, so ignore the cover and jump into the book.
Yes, the boob window is back full time, all the time and on this cover it does what it does best.
I’m still reading this. Sadly not many of you are. Nocenti’s style is better fit here for me than in Catwoman.
Also out this week are the floppies for two of DC’s best digital offerings - Smallville and Li’l Gotham. If you aren’t reading on line, I encourage you to pick both titles up.
I’m broke after this week. What’s on your list?
E3 Brings Glimpse of Rare, Thought Extinct Toxic Creature
The big E3 show is this week and it brought new footage from the DC Comics branded Scribblenauts game which claimed to have every DC character ever in it or something like that.
But given the benching and haircoloring inclinations of SOME folks at DC there was much speculation if the Scribblenauts world could handle the toxity of certain characters.
Apparently it can as video has been revealed of one Stephanie Brown who it seems now has the superpower of appearing in TV i.e. Young Justice and games but not in print or digital.
Below we have Scary Stephanie Brown, hair of blonde and suit with twinge of purple both as yet unrecolored. Wally West as Kid Flash was glimpsed in the round of publicity for this game. Cass Cain should pop up soon.
A Review of Man of Steel!
This is it. This week Warner Bros. doubles down, let’s it ride and throws the dice with the debut of Man of Steel.
The concensus is that the future of DC Entertainment is riding on how this movie does - Heidi MacDonald also said it in her visit to 3 Chicks this week.
That’s a lot of baggage to carry even for the Man of Steel.
The movie has got to please the critics, the soothsayers on Hollywood grosses, the movie goers and the fans of Superman … and Lois Lane.
And that latter is where I have I have a first review!
New 3 Chicks Podcast Up with Guest The Comics Beat’s Heidi MacDonald
There are really three chicks on this lastest edition of 3 Chicks Review Comics as we have Heidi MacDonald of Comics Beat on for a fun interview. Heidi talks about what the heck is up with DC Comics and gender, how important Man of Steel is and gives us some great suggestions for comics.
Kelly and I review two comics this week - the first issue of the Wake by Scott Snyder and Sean Murphy and the first issue of the third volume of Kick Ass by Mark Millar and John Romita, Jr.
What did we think? You’ll have to listen!
And BECAUSE YOU DEMANDED IT, a dramatic reading of a dudebro rant about how womenz got their comics in his peanut butter or something like that. If you’ve been reading the blog this past week, you might know who the honorary is.
And if that wasn’t enough, Kelly and I talk about FOREVER EVILLLLLLLL, the new DC multi title crossover coming in September.
So please stop and give a listen and please leave a comment - we appreciate your listening but comments make us feel loved (or hated)!
Sonic Offers Justice League Toys Again - Forever Evil Style
Sonic Drive-in restaurants, they of the roller skates and the shakes, is once again offering DC Comics toys in their kids meals.
Looks like Superman, who is busy at Carls Jr. for Man of Steel, is left out of this promotion.
But there is a new addition this round - just as the comics are going to put a focus on villains, so are the Wacky Packs! Not only do kids get Batman, Green Lantern and Wonder Woman they get Joker (full face edition) Sinestro and Cheetah!
Here’s a look at the cheetah “Tater”
A little bit tamer than one appearing on the cover of Wonder Woman 23.1 in September.
Li’l Gotham #12: Can I get a Tattoo of this Comic?
It’s Father’s Day in the wonderful world of Dustin Nguyen and Derek Fridolf’s Gotham where characters I love still exist. To celebrate this holiday there is a meeting of two dads - one good and one, not so much.
But more importantly it means their daughters meet.
Look, it’s Oracle!
How great and perfect is that dialogue? It is so the Barbara Gordon and her Dad from Simone’s Birds of Prey.
Share a table? But who what other Dad and Daughter would that be?
(Source: ign.com)
