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Subject: My detailed DC Line-Up *THIS ONE INSTEAD*
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Posted by Rimes on September 24, 1997 at 15:41:57:

In Reply to: Absolute Power posted by Goldenager on September 23, 1997 at 13:43:07:

: : Fantasy Situation #498:

: : Jeanette Kahn keels over one morning after one too many bran muffins, throwing the DC staff into panic. An hour later, your phone rings. It's the folks from Warner Bros., who have been lurking on these boards for awhile and noticing your intelligent and thought-provoking posts. They want you to be the new publisher of DC Comics.

: : What would you do? Would there be radical changes? Would you do nothing? Who would you fire? Who would you hire? What would you do in order to compete with your higher-selling but trashy competitors? Or would you be satisfied with quality over quantity?

I'd make radical changes that I feel would restore DC to the company it once was. At the same time, I would be careful not to alienate the people reading the titles already. For that reason, I would not try to do something like un-do Crisis. But I would try to publish comics that would appeal to those (like myself) who disliked DC's changes and line-up after Crisis.

Here is an alphabetical list of what my DC line-up would consist of, not counting mini-series (Vertigo & Helix titles not listed, but I would keep publishing the ones already being done, as long as sales and quality justified it):

ACTION COMICS:
The title would be restored to its former prominence on the cover-logo. Keep having Supes as the lead-feature, obviously, but since he has so many titles already, this one can have a back-up feature or two starring The Atom or Firestorm or somebody.

ADVENTURE COMICS:
Not sure what I'd put in this anthology title. Could be non-superhero stories, war stuff, westerns, spy stories, jungle, you name it. Or it could be a place for a new or forgotten superhero to be the lead feature, while someone like King Faraday or The Human Target is the back-up. Numbering begins with #490 (ignoring the digests).

ADVENTURES IN THE DC UNIVERSE:
I'd cancel all the other superhero cartoon books and just leave this one, which would occasionally have cartoony Superman & Batman stories, to appease the fans of the cancelled books.

ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN

ALL-STAR WESTERN:
An anthology series featuring stories of DC's western heroes including, occasionally, Jonah Hex. I think Cinammon had potential that was never realized, and could be a lead feature here. Artists would include people like Gil Kane, Tim Truman, and Gray Morrow.

ANIMAL COMICS:
Working-title for an animal anthology series, both funny animals in humor stories and adventure animals in dramatic stories. As I've stated before, I'd want DC to put Hoppy, Krypto, Rex the Wonder Dog, and other animals in their own stories in an animal anthology. This would be perfect for younger readers.

BATMAN

BATMAN FAMILY:
I'd cancel Azrael, Catwoman, Nightwing, and Robin and put them in this rotating anthology series. Other Bat characters like Batgirl, The Huntress, and even The Joker could have stories in this comic. Numbering would start over from #1, not pick up where the old 1970s Batman Family's numbering left off. Frequency could probably be bi-weekly.

CARTOON NETWORK PRESENTS:
I would probably eventually cancel "Flintstones & The Jetsons" & "Scooby-Doo" and put them as an occasional feature in this anthology series.

CHALLENGERS OF THE UNKNOWN:
Print it as long as sales warrant then drop it. If necessary, they could move into "Mystery In Space" or something.

CHAMPION SPORTS:
In the 1970s, DC published two series about sports: Champion Sports and Strange Sports Stories. Those series, however, had a tendency to get into some kind-of lower-profile sports. I would tend to stick with the most popular professional sports (basketball, etc.) and emphasize the action. Someone who draws like Neal Adams would be perfect for this. I've seen some Japanese comics that were about sports that could even be translated & reprinted for such a series. That would cut down costs on such an experimental title.

DC CLASSICS PRESENTS:
An inexpensive (99-cents each?) series reprinting rare or important comics from every DC era. They could even have it in B&W, as long as it's cheap to buy. They could also finally print a bunch of those Cancelled Comics Cavalcade-type stories here, instead of just letting them sit in the vaults. I'd look forward to finally seeing Ditko's unpublished Shade the Changing Man #9!

DETECTIVE COMICS:
This would still star Batman, of course, but I think the title "Detective Comics" should be bigger than Batman's name on the cover, and have some (primarily non-superhero) mystery-detective back-up stories now and then, to appeal to mystery fans.

THE FLASH

FLASH FAMILY
:I'd probably cancel Impulse and put him in this title instead. It could have solo Impulse stories, Jay Garrick stories, untold Barry Allen stories, and other Flash-related characters.

G. I. COMBAT:
Servicemen were served for decades by many military comics published by DC & other companies. Now what are these servicemen reading -- Lobo?? I'd immediately revive G.I. Combat and have as an editor someone who was more interested in the military than in superhero-type comics! It would be an anthology title. Stories would include those about Sgt. Rock, The Unknown Soldier, and other DC war heroes... as well as short stories with non-continuing characters. Numbering begins with #289.

GREEN LANTERN:
This would be a rotating series, with different GLs headlining depending on the story. One issue Kyle might star, the next issue would star Guy, a three-issue Hal & Alan team-up story, etc, etc. Hal wouldn't necessarily have to be brought back from the dead right away -- "untold tales" would work for awhile to make Hal more interesting. Maybe a "young Hal" back-up series to interest young readers. There could be more than one storyline per issue, too, involving different GLs. Publishing frequency could be changed to bi-weekly so Kyle fans wouldn't feel too short-changed by the change.

HITMAN:
Print it as long as sales warrant then drop it.

HOUSE OF MYSTERY:
A mystery/horror anthology. Probably no host this time around. Short stories mainly, with probably no connection to the DCU. Aimed at general readers, not comics fans. Stories and art by the best in the business. Maybe should be a bi-monthly when it starts out, then move to monthly frequency if successful. Not sure if the numbering should begin with #322 or not!

JACK KIRBY'S FOURTH WORLD:
As long as Byrne (or Walt Simonson, or some other talented Kirby-inspired artist who would do it right) wanted to keep it going. Otherwise, I'd probably cancel it and try to find a place for The New Gods to occasionally appear.

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA:
Just try to have the stories be clear and the writing and artwork be new-reader-friendly.

LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES:
I'd cancel the other Legion title; too many titles can be confusing.

LOBO:
Print it as long as sales warrant then drop it.

LOONEY TUNES:
I would probably cancel "Animaniacs" & "Pinky and the Brain" and occasionally put them in this anthology series if anyone misses them.

MAD Magazine & MAD Super Specials

MAN CALLED A-X:
Print it as long as sales warrant then drop it.

MORE FUN COMICS:
I'd turn this into a largely humor-oriented comic aimed at younger readers, based on the name. There could also be dramatic stories, too. A bit like a golden-age comic...or the old Beano. An all-around, all-ages comic that has a bit of everything. In fact, there could be some stuff by alternative cartoonists in here, with the creators keeping the rights. And stuff by people who do newspaper comic-strips. Numbering begins with #1.

MYSTERY IN SPACE:
A cross between horror, mystery, and science-fiction. An anthology title containing short stories, not necessarily part of the DCU. Maybe put The Spectre, Dr. Fate, The Phantom Stranger or some other strange cosmic character in here as an occasional lead (or even host!). Numbering begins with #118?

RESURRECTION MAN:
Print it as long as sales warrant then drop it.

SHOWCASE:
This series would try-out concepts for new comics and also present one-shot full-length comics for characters not seen in their own titles (or at all!) in a long time. Captain Carrot could get a try-out book here, to gauge reader response. Numbering begins with #105. It would be nice if this could be a 99-cents title!

SOVEREIGN SEVEN:
Print it as long as sales warrant then drop it.

STARMAN:
Keep it going because Goldenager likes it.

STRANGE ADVENTURES:
This anthology title would a home for DC's more cosmic or star-faring characters. I think Hawkman and Adam Strange would be good candidates to start this title off. There would also be occasional issues devoted to new science-fiction ideas, or even adaptations of prose s.f. I'd like the numbering to begin with #245, where the original series left off, although it might make more sense to start with a #1.

SUPERBOY:
Keep it going. If it ever flops, he can go into Superman Family.

SUPERGIRL:
Ditto.

SUPERMAN

SUPERMAN FAMILY:
Rotating series of stories focusing on Super cast-members like Jimmy Olsen and Lois Lane (hey, they used to have their own comics series, you know, and I miss them!). I'd cancel Steel and put him in here, too. Numbering would start from #1, not the old series' numbering.

TEEN TITANS

WEIRD Magazine:
I would want this to become a regular quarterly featuring new material eventually instead of just Big Book reprints. And find some way to get the price down a tad. This is a great mag for a general non-fan readership. Marvel and Warren had some success with B&W magazines in the 1970s...now it's DC's chance to take advantage of that abandoned market.

WEIRD WAR TALES:
I'd have to revive this series, beginning the numbering from #125. This anthology series would have short weird stories not necessarily part of the DCU, tales of The War That Time Forgot, G.I. Robot, Creature Commandoes, etc.!

WHIZ COMICS:
After Power of Shazam reaches #50, I'd want to cancel it (if sales warranted) and replace it with this new anthology series starring members of the Marvel Family, both solo and together. Numbering would start over from #1. Other old-time heroes like Bulletman could also have stories in this series, like a Golden-Age comic. (Hey, if Big Bang can do it, why not DC?) More self-contained stories with a less-serious look, aimed at general readers.

WONDER WOMAN

WORLD'S FINEST:
This would be a 48-page monthly comic with Aquaman as the lead feature and Green Arrow as the second lead, and maybe someone like Blue Beetle as a back-up strip. Both Aquaman & GA would lose their own titles as a result of this. It would probably make more sense for these two to be in Adventure rather than here (both had long runs in Adventure in the past, especially Aquaman), but I want to leave Adventure open for some non-superhero strips. Numbering begins (although I'm torn here) with #1.

XERO:
Print it as long as sales warrant then drop it.

YOUNG LOVE:
This would have some short love stories, but also a continuing-serial that, if successful, could spin-off into its own title. Romance comics need to make the venture into endless, continuing stories. (I picture someone like Gray Morrow doing this. He can draw realistically very well -- check out his Vigilante and Jonah Hex. If any comics dramatist comes along to interest ordinary readers, he'll have to draw like Gray Morrow.) This series would take its cue from the popular romance paperbacks and novels which sell so well. Maybe try some full-length historical romances, too. And have stronger female leads. Numbering probably should begin with #1.

Misc:
I'd also like to see DC put out some series translating and/or reprinting some of the best comics from around the world. A lot of interesting stuff has been done through the decades from England to Japan that many American fans never get the chance to see. These could be published as separate mini-series, sometimes in B&W, depending on the comic.

Almost forgot. I think it would be good for DC to have little one-page strips like they did during the Silver-Age. Henry Boltinoff gag strips, or educational pages. Not in every comic, obviously, but in particular ones where it wouldn't be out of place, especially those comics aimed at younger or general non-fan readers.

Rob


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