DC Is Ending The New 52

[drew]

cant say we didnt speculate on this possibility but it still seems sudden
http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/02/06/ ... ew-52?read

While the New 52 imprint is going away, the story continuity will remain the same, so this is not another reboot or a return to the pre-New 52 DC Universe.

As of June 3, the post-New 52 publishing line will consist of 24 brand new comics, and 25 ongoing comics that will continue without a break in their numbering. Guess “The New 49” just doesn’t sound as good.

“This heralds in a new era for the DC Universe which will allow us to publish something for everyone, be more expansive and modern in our approach and tell stories that better reflect the society around us,” said DC Entertainment Co-Publisher Dan DiDio in a press release. “Whether you’ve been a DC fan your whole life, or whether you are new to comics – there will be a book for you beginning in June.”

This relaunch will come after the end of April and May’s Convergence event, which sees different universes from DC’s multiverse brought together by Brainiac for a grand, devastating experiment.

[drew]

Post convergence DC may look like this title-wise, according to same IGN article:

new titles:
•Batman Beyond by writer Dan Jurgens & artist Bernard Chang
•Cyborg by writer David L. Walker & artists Ivan Reis and Joe Prado
•Dark Universe by writer James Tynion IV & artist Ming Doyle
•Doomed by writer Scott Lobdell & artist Javier Fernandez
•Harley Quinn/Power Girl by writers Jimmy Palmiotti, Amanda Conner & artist Stephane Roux (4 issue mini-series)
•Red Hood/Arsenal by writer Scott Lobdell & artist Denis Medri
•Starfire by writers Jimmy Palmiotti, Amanda Conner & artist Emanuela Lupacchino
•We Are Robin by writer Lee Bermejo & artists Rob Haynes and Khary Randolph
•Justice League of America by writer/artist Brian Hitch
•Bizzaro by writer Heath Corson & artist Gustavo Duarte (6 issue mini-series)
•Bat-Mite by writer Mark Russell & artist Ben Caldwell (6 issue mini-series)
•Omega Men by writer Tom King & artist Barnaby Bagenda
•Mystic U (tentative title) by writer Alisa Kwitney & artist Mauricet
•Section Eight by writer Garth Ennis & artist John McCrea
•Dr. Fate by writer Paul Levitz & artist Sonny Liew

ongoing titles:
•Action Comics by writer Greg Pak & artist Aaron Kuder
•Aquaman by writer Cullen Bunn & artist Trevor McCarthy
•Batgirl by writers Cameron Stewart, Brenden Fletcher & artist Babs Tarr
•Batman by writer Scott Snyder & artist Greg Capullo
•Detective Comics by Brian Buccelato & artist Francis Manapul
•Batman/Superman by writer Greg Pak & artist Ardian Syaf
•Catwoman by writer Genevieve Valentine & artist David Messina
•Deathstroke by writer Tony Daniel & artist Tony Daniel
•Flash by writers Rob Venditti, Van Jensen & artist Brett Booth
•Gotham Academy by writers Becky Cloonan, Brenden Fletcher & artist Karl Kerschl
•Gotham By Midnight by writer Ray Fawkes & artist Juan Ferreyra
•Grayson by writers Tim King, Tim Seeley & artist Mikel Janin
•Green Arrow by writer Ben Percy & artist Richard Zircher
•Green Lantern by writer Robert Venditti & artist Billy Tan
•Harley Quinn by writers Amanda Conner, Jimmy Palmiotti & artist Chad Hardin
•Justice League by writer Geoff Johns & artist Jason Fabok
•Justice League United by writer TBD & artists Travel Foreman, Paul Pelletier
•Lobo by writer Cullen Bunn & artist Cliff Richards
•Secret Six by writer Gail Simone & artist Dale Eaglesham
•Sinestro by writer Cullen Bunn & artist Brad Walker
•New Suicide Squad by writer Sean Ryan & artist Carlos D’Anda
•Superman by writer Gene Luen Yang & artist John Romita, Jr.
•Superman/Wonder Woman by writer Peter Tomasi & artist Doug Mahnke
•Teen Titans by writer Will Pfeifer & artist Kenneth Rodafort
•Wonder Woman by writer Meridith Finch & artist David Finch

[SpideySavestheDay]

First impression...
- No weekly series?
- Geoff Johns is down to one book; Cullen Bunn is at 4.
- No art by Jim Lee or Ethan Van Sciver
- Batgirl and Gotham Academy appear to have been DC testing the waters to move part of the main line towards a younger audience.
- No New Gods or Multiverse books besides Earth 2.
- Return of the DC mini-series

[drew]

First impression...
- No weekly series?

I hope a batman eternal two is coming for a summer launch against secret wars...

"In this new era of storytelling, story will trump continuity."

i am not sure if this is a good thing or not

[JohnMayo]

While the New 52 imprint is going away, the story continuity will remain the same, so this is not another reboot or a return to the pre-New 52 DC Universe.

I haven't had time to read the articles yet. Is DC just retiring the "New 52" brand/banner or is there something more to it than that? Which of the new titles are set on which other Earths?

[fudd71]

I haven't had time to read the articles yet. Is DC just retiring the "New 52" brand/banner or is there something more to it than that? Which of the new titles are set on which other Earths?

It looks like the only thing really announced as going away is the New 52 branding, the remaining books will keep the old numbering per the press release

Beginning June 3rd, the DC Comics line of comic books will consist of 24 brand-new series that will begin at issue number one, as well as 25 on-going, bestselling fan favorite series that will continue without a break in the issue numbering.

There doesn't seem to be too much information on what Earths different books are set on or even if there will be a multiverse.

While there are certainly a number of these new books I am interested in and will check out, I could see my DC reading and comic reading overall going down substantially. If they can fine a way to bring in new readers and young readers with these books, great! But if they lose old fans and fail to bring in the new, younger fans that is a recipe for disaster.

[drew]

Is DC just retiring the "New 52" brand/banner or is there something more to it than that? Which of the new titles are set on which other Earths?

this pull quote from the IGN article mentions: "In this new era of storytelling, story will trump continuity." which may or may not mean the end of the '5 year limit' ridiculous notion from the 52 era

While there are certainly a number of these new books I am interested in and will check out, I could see my DC reading and comic reading overall going down substantially. If they can fine a way to bring in new readers and young readers with these books, great! But if they lose old fans and fail to bring in the new, younger fans that is a recipe for disaster.

they may be skewing younger-could also mean more elseworld/alt stuff, too soon to tell but it sure is interesting though

[JohnMayo]

The "story will trump continuity" bit has me a little concerned. The two don't have to be at odds.

[drew]

I wonder if they disregard too much continuity less and less of the stories will matter so why bother

[JohnMayo]

I wonder if they disregard too much continuity less and less of the stories will matter so why bother

That is my basic concern. If continuity doesn't matter and continuity is just the accumulation of stories, then the stories themselves don't matter.

I'm all for not being a slave to continuity but I don't think continuity prevents good stories nor do I think good stories prevent continuity.

[SpideySavestheDay]

I'm kind of curious about the September event. Will it continue? Should DC have an event when only 12 of the 25 ongoings were at the beginning of the New 52?

[drew]

I'm kind of curious about the September event. Will it continue? Should DC have an event when only 12 of the 25 ongoings were at the beginning of the New 52?

wow i didnt realize it was down to just twelve

[JohnMayo]

I've got 18 of the original 52 titles as remaining:

• Action Comics (2011)
• Aquaman (2011)
• Batgirl (2011)
• Batman (2011)
• Batman and ... (2011)
• Catwoman (2011)
• Detective Comics (2011)
• Flash (2011)
• Green Arrow (2011)
• Green Lantern (2011)
• Justice League (2011)
• Justice League Dark (2011)
• Red Hood and the Outlaws (2011)
• Supergirl (2011)
• Superman (2011)
• Wonder Woman (2011)

While I don't recall hearing Red Hood and the Outlaws was ending, the two new titles of Red Hood/Arensal and Starfire make me think it will.

[fudd71]

The article actually lists the 25 continuing books.

12 that have gone on unchanged since the launch of the New 52:
Action Comics
Aquaman
Batgirl
Batman
Catwoman
Detective Comics
Flash
Green Arrow
Green Lantern
Justice League
Superman
Wonder Woman

3 that were titles of the New 52 but have been relaunched with a New #1 since:
Deathstroke
Suicide Squad
Teen Titans

10 on going that were not part of the first launch of the New 52:
Batman/Superman
Gotham Academy
Gotham by Midnight
Grayson
Harley Quinn
Justice League United
Lobo
Secret Six
Sinestro
Superman/Wonder Woman

[JohnMayo]

Then I guess Justice League Dark, Red Hood and the Outlaws and Supergirl are ending without no real fanfare.

Given the Red Hood and the Outlaws seems to be splitting into two titles (a Red Hood/Arsenal title and the Starfire title), there isn't much need for an announcement.

The quiet disappearance of Justice League Dark and Supergirl is a little surprising.

Supergirl is selling around 22,675 which is not great sales but should have been strong enough sales to keep it around a little longer.

Justice League Dark was around 20,225 which is just above the mythical 20,000 danger zone. These days, DCU titles tend to get a lot closer to 10,000 before ending. Justice League Dark is outselling Green Arrow by a dozen or two units and that title is sticking around but getting yet another creative team.