DC Universe relaunch in September 2011

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Tue May 31, 2011 2:33 pm

Not just a rumor any more.....

http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/201 ... ents_n.htm

Starting this summer, the publisher will re-number its entire DC Universe of titles, revamping famous characters such as Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman and others from its 76-year history for a more modern and diverse 21st century.
The first book to be released under this new era: Justice League No. 1, out Aug. 31, a series by writer Geoff Johns and artist Jim Lee that reunites the famous lineup of Batman, Superman, Green Lantern, The Flash, Wonder Woman and Aquaman.
Johns promises a focus on the interpersonal relationships within DC's trademark superteam. "What's the human aspect behind all these costumes?" he says. "That's what I wanted to explore."

So, the prognostications were correct......

In September, more than 50 more first issues will debut, introducing readers to stories that are grounded in each character's specific legend but also reflect today's real-world themes and events. Lee spearheaded the redesign of more than 50 costumes to make characters more identifiable and accessible to comic fans new and old.
"We looked at what was going on in the marketplace and felt we really want to inject new life in our characters and line," says Dan DiDio, who co-publishes DC with Lee. "This was a chance to start, not at the beginning, but at a point where our characters are younger and the stories are being told for today's audience."

For me, it will help me manage my comics list. I'll pick the 20 or so most interesting looking things of the 50+, get those, and not bother with the rest.

PLUS: Day & Date digital:

In an even more important move in the competitive comics industry, DC is making issues of all the renumbered titles available digitally via apps and a DC website the same day they arrive in comic shops. It marks the first time a major comics publisher has done so with its popular superhero titles.

The announcement of DC going "day & date digital" is a step in the right direction, as digital will get them access to a new audience (beyond the insular comic shop community), but they'll need to couple that with a more desirable price point than $2.99 per issue for the digital content, IMO.

EDIT: I'm keeping a list of solicits & images for all new titles as they are announced here:
http://www.comicbookpage.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1384

Chris Campbell · Post by **Chris Campbell** » Tue May 31, 2011 2:44 pm

The day-and-date news is HUGE. I may run out and buy an iPad now, and just cut back my DC print purchases to an absoulte core of books I've been buying forever, and buy everything else digitally. Ifffffff the pricing is right.

TNPredsFan · Post by **TNPredsFan** » Tue May 31, 2011 2:50 pm

The Day & Date Digital plan is bold, but it will only succeed if they stop charging print prices for digital comics. I, for one, refuse to pay $2.99 - $3.99 for a license to a digital file when I can pay the same price for something that I OWN. Heck, I refuse to pay $3.99 for a print comic.

Are we taking wagers now on how often the revamped Justice League will actually ship on time?

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Tue May 31, 2011 3:09 pm

TNPredsFan wrote: The Day & Date Digital plan is bold, but it will only succeed if they stop charging print prices for digital comics. I, for one, refuse to pay $2.99 - $3.99 for a license to a digital file when I can pay the same price for something that I OWN. Heck, I refuse to pay $3.99 for a print comic.

Absolutely. The price point for the digital comics can serve as an IQ test for the DC Marketing Dept.

If it's $2.99, they are morons.

If it's $1.99 then they are of average intelligence

If it's 99 cents, then they are geniuses.

Trev · Post by **Trev** » Tue May 31, 2011 3:14 pm

day and date digital is HUGE! I was sitting in the living room the other night reading a 4 Star Studios book on my ipad and thinking it would be great to pull up anything new there. Also in the middle of culling my collection in preparation for SDCC. New books in digital, esp. at 99 cents or so AND a good way to organize them and take them with me on my ipad? sold.

I love old books and physical copies are a huge part of my collection, but the majority of what I buy new? don't nec. need it to be physical.

really looking forward to this, having read the the first Flashpoint issue.

Only question I have is what this means for the previously announced JLI project. Was really looking forward to that.

Chris Campbell · Post by **Chris Campbell** » Tue May 31, 2011 3:17 pm

BobBretall wrote: If it's $2.99, they are morons.

If it's $1.99 then they are of average intelligence

If it's 99 cents, then they are geniuses.

Well put, Bob.

abysslord · Post by **abysslord** » Tue May 31, 2011 3:22 pm

Same old comics. I guess it would be more of a story if any renumbering every stuck. Has DC done as much of this as Marvel or is this pretty much new ground for them?

Do you think this will include Action Comics and Detective Comics? I think it's pretty cool to have two series in the 900s [detective's close enough]. To renumber those and lose almost 80 years of history ..... weird.

With all this being said, I'll sort of contradict myself and say I'm actually interested in this because I've just gotten into DC even though I've read comics off and on for 20 years or so. I've started reading Batman and some of his related titles and I'm enjoying them. If they truly reset all the books with reboots, I may pick up a few and see what I think.

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Tue May 31, 2011 3:25 pm

DC letter to retailers:

Bob Wayne wrote:To our comics retail partners,

In the time I've worked at DC Comics, I've witnessed any number of industry defining moments. But today, I bring you what is perhaps the biggest news to date.

Many of you have heard rumors that DC Comics has been working on a big publishing initiative for later this year. This is indeed an historic time for us as, come this September, we are relaunching the entire DC Universe line of comic books with all new first issues. 52 of them to be exact.

In addition, the new #1s will introduce readers to a more modern, diverse DC Universe, with some character variations in appearance, origin and age. All stories will be grounded in each character's legend - but will relate to real world situations, interactions, tragedy and triumph.

This epic event will kick off on Wednesday, August 31st with the debut of a brand new JUSTICE LEAGUE #1, which pairs Geoff Johns and Jim Lee, together for the first time. (Yes, this is the same week as FLASHPOINT #5.)

We think our current fans will be excited by this evolution, and that it will make jumping into the story extremely accessible to first-time readers - giving them a chance to discover DC's characters and stories.

We are positioning ourselves to tell the most innovative stories with our characters to allow fans to see them from a new angle. We have taken great care in maintaining continuity where most important, but fans will see a new approach to our storytelling.
Some of the characters will have new origins, while others will undergo minor changes. Our characters are always being updated; however, this is the first time all of our characters will be presented in a new way all at once.

Dan DiDio, Bob Harras and Eddie Berganza have been working diligently to pull together some of the best creative teams in the industry. Over 50 new costumes will debut in September, many updated and designed by artist Jim Lee, ensuring that the updated images appeal to the current generation of readers.

The publication of JUSTICE LEAGUE #1 will also launch digital day-and-date for all ongoing superhero comic book titles - an industry first.

On Wednesday, June 1st, this initiative is expected to be announced in a nationwide feature article, and we're hopeful the news will be picked up by media outlets around the world. Throughout the month we'll reveal more details of our plans with articles in both the mainstream and comics press and on June 13th the Diamond catalog solicitations for all of the September titles will be released, followed by the June 29th street date of the print version of Previews.

DC Comics will support this initiative with an innovative mix of publicity, promotional efforts and retailer incentives designed to maximize your opportunity to increase your DC sales. We will discuss additional details of these incentives when we get closer to solicitation later in June.

We'll be updating you more through email as September nears. But today, I hope your share our enthusiasm for this historic news!

Sincerely,

Bob Wayne
SVP, Sales
DC Entertainment

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Tue May 31, 2011 3:28 pm

abysslord wrote:Same old comics. I guess it would be more of a story if any renumbering every stuck. Has DC done as much of this as Marvel or is this pretty much new ground for them?

Time will tell. Lots of books have been rebooted to #1 over the years, but never everything line-wide.

I hope they just cancel Action & Detective (instead of renumbering them).

Then when they bring them back in a year or 2, just pick up #ing where they left off.

TNPredsFan · Post by **TNPredsFan** » Tue May 31, 2011 3:32 pm

BobBretall wrote:
If it's $2.99, they are morons.

If it's $1.99 then they are of average intelligence

If it's 99 cents, then they are geniuses.

Agreed.

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Tue May 31, 2011 3:47 pm

BTW,

I think I am going to buy every one of DC's #1s. I am not going to pre-order even a single one of the #2s.

I'll read the #1s as they come out and decide which ones earn a slot on my pull-list.

torchsong · Post by **torchsong** » Tue May 31, 2011 4:08 pm

I fourth (fifth) what Bob said re: Geniuses vs. Morons.

If they give me a digital book for 99 cents? Day and date? They may just have earned a regular customer. My wife's got the iPad. We have the Comixology account. We actually enjoy reading our books on them. Just give us a fair price on it and you'll likely have us hooked.

It all comes down to dinero for me...I have to buy Copic markers and art supply stuff...

amunptah · Post by **amunptah** » Tue May 31, 2011 4:10 pm

This is great news! Being a new reader, entering even part of the DCU is nigh on impossible.
I was at the largest comic store in the UK today, and spent an hour trying to find a mainstream superhero title to get into. Of course, there were the multi part stories, mini series and events to contend with. Then there were multiple titles for each character, with different numbering for each, stories split across three or four titles. It is a complete mine field for someone like me.
I like Batman, but trying to negotiate the labyrinth of ten or more titles is just too much. I am contented with just buying old trades and reading the current content years down the line.
Now everything is different! I will be sticking a load of DC stuff on my standing order come September. Hopefully they will avoid a Crisis-esque semi reboot and do a clean sweep.

abysslord · Post by **abysslord** » Tue May 31, 2011 4:35 pm

Here's a question though. Now that I know this information, why am I going to buy the next few Batman comics unless I'm really in love with it? Same goes for every other title.

And what happens with the junior titles? Are they really going to renumber Red Robin or Batman & Robin?

Only time will tell, but I'm seriously thinking of quitting all the DC until Sept. now, except Detective Comics because I've been loving Synder's run.

Oh yeah, and does Xombi get rebooted?

amunptah · Post by **amunptah** » Tue May 31, 2011 4:45 pm

I am more interested in reading Flashpoint now, but hope that the characters as seen there are not the versions in the reboot. I'd prefer a few character updates and continuity reboot to a drastic character overhaul.
I guess that a lot of DC titles are going to slump hard over the next couple of months, but Flashpoint will grow in popularity.