Posted in: Comics, Recent Updates | Tagged: dc comics, Paul Levitz

DC Comics: One Year Later

Published Thu, 09 Sep 2010 07:00:46 -0500

Today is one year to the day since Paul Levitz announced his resignation as President and Publisher of DC Comics.

At the time it was presented very much as Levitz stepping down to take a more creative role in comic books. Since then it's been reinterpreted as Paul being pushed out by Warners as a result of the reorganisation of the company, or see his role rapidly reduced, but negotiating himself a very decent separation deal, including working on Legion for the foreseeable.

So what has changed since? Well, basically money. Fiscal responsibility. There's more of a financial element to decisions than there might once have been. So a number of attempted expansion projects at DC have been curtailed, such as money-draining CMZ and Zuda lines – and Vertigo has seen a series of books and projects dropped that may have otherwise survived. But there's that heavy overhead of DC weighing on people's shoulders too. Marvel make more books for less money – and charge more for them too. Something has to give.

There are changes in taste too. A number of superhero titles at DC feature content that would be more traditionally suitable at Vertigo. Except there is no place for them there anymore, Vertigo stripped of its DCU-based and superhero characters, focusing now on original work.

Watchmen 2, a project that could never have been conceived under Paul Levitz, did the rounds at DC. It's not happening now, but it was aggressively pursued – more on that later today. But it does let you know there are no sacred cows any more. And with Hellblazer: Shoot being published, Levitz' concerns over content issues are being lifted one by one. In the current climate, League #5, Elseworld Eighty Page Giant, Superman Beer Bottle and more would have avoided pulping. The original Authority artwork and dialogue would have stayed. Midnighter would have kissed Apollo in Jenny Sparks. The Frank Quitely/Alan Grant Lobo book would have been published. And there is no way on earth The Boys would have been allowed to leave DC, let alone kicked out on its arse. The Black Dossier would also have likely have been published with far fewer problems too. They're talking about reprinting Flex Mentallo. Hell, maybe we'll get Rick Veitch's final issue of Swamp Thing. If they could find the right imprint to publish it. That would probably be the biggest signal, if such a signal were needed, that Things! Have! Changed!

For some this means challenging and creative opportunities at DC that they never had before. For others, the devil they knew, a certain security, has been taken away. And while they may have lost a man who pitting groups against each other to see who won, and who gave you enough rope to hang yourself, before pulling the trapdoor at the last moment, they have gained Dan DiDio who, well let's say, concerns himself at every level of the process.

After all, DC Comics is in the spotlight of Warner now. What was seen previously as pussy-footing around over licensing at the company, as well as stalling various project has turned into balls-to-the-wall franchise creation with Green Lantern, and with Flash to follow, kicking off what Warners have called major expansions of their DC brands. Yesterday I was told that Warners are seeking two billion dollars in new investment and much of that is based on the successful exploitation of these brands.

And that's where DC Comics have headed as well, their superhero titles all tying together into one major and continuing story, jumping from crossover to crossover, hand in hand in tentacle. Stan Lee used to talk about superhero stories having "the illusion of change", DC has followed Marvel in "the illusion of spectacle", promising each time of a major story that will have real impact across the universe, until the next story that will have an even greater impact. Everything is now a summer blockbuster, all the time. And if it's not, then the sales drop. So what's a publisher to do?

Any reticence to go digital has now been dumped. Date-and-day comics are now available from DC on the iPad and iPhone, something Levitz resisted. And there can only be more to come – Bleeding Cool has already reported on download codes to be printed in DC titles.

But overall when it comes to making big changes, DC seems to be pulling the plaster off at an excruciatingly slow speed causing much pain and leaving office morale at rock bottom right now. Resignations are replaced with temporary staff as the will-they-won't-they-move-West still remains in decision limbo. Certain staff report a dread of coming into work.

But DC will gain new people and projects too, as things begin to settle. This is no illusion of change. Change hurts. Especially when stretched out like this. But without it, nothing ever gets better.

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