Posted in: Comics | Tagged: c2e2, Comics, dc, entertainment, rebirth

Let's Liveblog The DC Universe: Rebirth Panel At C2E2! – Fans Walk Out At Mention Of Rucka Leaving Wonder Woman

We have Bleeding Cool reporter Jeffrey Herron on scene…. go Jeffrey!

The room is packed for a Friday.

Dan Didio kicks off the Rebirth panel with stating DC incorporates feedback from fans, takes time to ask what folks are enjoying re: Rebirth

Didio asks fan if his Nightwing shirt is "a statement."

"The fun part is talking about the characters and the stories." Didio admits they'd gotten away from the fan base.

Julie and Shawna Benson are up first, discussing their first book: Batgirl and the Birds of Prey.

The goal was to regain lost sensibilities of BoP. Goal was to bring back concept of Barbara Gordon as Oracle and restoring the trinity.

Big theme for BoP is "family." Benson sisters feel these characters are better heroes together and want to show that.

Rucka acknowledges Liam Sharp's design for Cheetah helped make everything click on The Lies.

Rucka states they are 2-3 issues out from everything resolving, they "will see if we can stick the landing."

Didio asks how much Sharp coordinated w/ Nicola Scott. They discussed how the gods would be depicted for consistency, how to handle reveals.

Sharp again states that when they got to Cheetah, it had a significant impact on the book.

Sharp did not know how much he would fall in love with Diana. "And it happened very quickly. There's a lot of richness there."

Now onto Nightwing. Didio and Seeley acknowledge the power of going back to the blue costume.

Seeley: Dick is a guy defined by his relationships with others in the DCU.

Grayson was like Dick's "college education." Nightwing is about his life as an adult. Telling adult life milestones through the filter of Dick.

Didio introducing Dan Jurgens. "The reality is most people's Superman is your Superman."

Jurgens talks about wanting to be sure he has something new to bring to Superman. The addition of young Jon helps him do that.

Jurgens: "A Superman that reflects more eras" than the one he worked on previously.

Tynion on Detective: cites the early 2000s as a cohesive line with synchronicity that he wanted to draw upon.

Tynion trying to craft a "team book," not just an ensemble.

Detective is the place DC gets to play with the cast they slowly cultivated, like recently returned Spoiler and Cass Cain.

Tynion mentions "Intelligence," the upcoming arc this summer about St Dumas.

Now onto Orlando and Justice League of America.

Orlando: JLA about takin optimism of Rebirth and bringing that into a movement.

JLA is Batman learning to bring in and trust others.

Orlando hints here is a reason Lobo is here on a team that is decidedly mortal.

Switching gears to Supergirl, Orlando tried to create something that would welcome fans of various iterations of the character.

"Everything that the show does right" is central to the character.

After summing up the first year of Rebirth, it's back to the fans in the audience for questions and comments.

A Black Canary fan thanks the panelists for their treatment of the character and the optimism of the line.

Didio on double-shipping: they wanted to bring people stories more quickly. Admits the schedule comes at a cost.

Didio calls on Rucka to speak first, who reasserts his departure. "I can't do this pace for another year."

Fans literally walk out at mention of Rucka leaving WW.

Rucka had a plan for the first 25 issues, accomplished it, did not want to reduce level of quality by continuing on.

Rucka again cites other projects as a conflict for staying on the book. If he doesn't work on those books, artists don't eat.

Rucka clarifies he is "stepping away" and "not leaving" WW, teasing potential return at some point.

Tynion speaks to the double-shipping schedule after doing weekly books for two years prior to launch.

"It definitely kicks my butt some months." However, he appreciates being able to tell stories it would normally take years to do.

Sharp felt the schedule was slightly different for them given the "tone" and approach the team took.

Sharp feels his art and Scott's juxtaposed well. Doesn't know how he would've felt about the schedule without the two-narrative approach.

Rucka says you'll be very confused on WW's conclusion if you are trade waiting. Recommends reading them chronically instead.

"From a format standpoint" you can do things you couldn't otherwise do, like spotlight secondary characters, says Jurgens.

The Bensons smile as Didio reminds everyone they are NOT on the twice-monthly schedule.

What is coming in their second year of Birds of Prey?

Didio asks Bensons to give their year two pitch to the fans.

More ladies will be added to the book, which as we know is Catwoman and Poison Ivy.

Didio insisted they reveal the spoiler to get fan approval.

Raptor will be back in Nightwing, says Seeley.

"I spoil everything, but now I force you guys to do it," jokes Didio.

Seeley jokes about Grayson wearing a furry loincloth.

"The other thing I want to do is tie this back to Grayson." Spyral will be back.

Helena could be showing up in Nightwing soon.

A villain from Bloodlines coming to Justice League of America: Terrorsmith.

8-11 new characters coming in JLA

Expect a Ray-focused arc as well as a trip to the microverse.

Fan asks how the decision was made to "abolish" the New 52 Supes. Didio bounces it to Jurgens. They tried to find the version working best.

A fan mentions the interconnectivity of Rebirth and asks about the coordination.

The Bensons say everyone focused on finding their own footing first.

Tynion notes working closely w Bennett for Batwoman, what he calls a "sister book" to Detective.

The heart of the two books with nice "in unison."

Fan asks about impact of WW returning to mainstream media. Rucka says, "The movie is going to kick ass."

Says the impact is not "enslaving" to them as creators. Feels he and Liam had the perfect time to work on the character w film, anniversary

Final question: if Rebirth is about getting back to the heart of the DCU, what plans are there for Shazam and Martian Manhunter?

"There's still a lot of story to be told," Didio says. The important part is to get it right.

Love him or hate him, Dan Didio works a room. Everyone is successfully hyped about DC Rebirth.

That's all, folks!

UPDATED!

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