link here.
wired.com/geekdad/2012/04/national-comics/Looks like DC is doing a series of 10 one shots to hilight some of the lesser (but hopefully interesting) characters in the new DCnU.
First up should pique peoples interest: a 1 shot by Jeff Lemire with art by Cully Hamner about a a former police coroner now going by the name Eternity who can bring people back from the dead.
From the cover shot, and the pitches it looks like a Vertigo-y/Edgy take on some of the fringes of DC.
Might be worth a drop in...
Comments
Im crossing my fingers for some interesting stories...
As for the idea behind Eternity, I think it's a really good one, and the fact that it's Lemire and Hamner means I'll definitely be picking up at least that one. That's the sort of revamp I like - taking an old concept that has gone unused for a while and putting more than just a new coat of paint on it, but an entirely new spin. Kid Eternity's been revived Vertigo-style before, of course, but I don't know how well that one ever really took, even with that Grant Morrison pedigree of the original mini-series. Forcing a new
Captain MarvelShazam on us seems just that, forced, because the old one worked well-enough, thanks, despite what the powers that be seemed to think. Hell, some say that about the whole New 52 project in general. But a character that's gone unused for so long, well, there's all sorts of potential there.Madame X, Rose and Thorn, and Looker are the other three.
At least DC is using their IPs, instead of another "Event" where Heroes turn on each other..
Yeah Im curious to see what the title means, especially since the only thing that uses the Nation/National name is DC Nation, which is their kids cartoon brand... and this does not sound like kids stuff!
Also, by calling it National Comics (an earlier name for what would later become DC), it gives the impression that these are very old characters being given a new spin (not sure if that is the case). It would be like if Marvel launched a title called Timely Comics. You would expect that would feature very old characters.
EDIT- And looking at the solicit, it does say "classic characters", so it seems that maybe that is the case. I had never heard of Eternity, but maybe it is one from back in the National days.
I'm guessing the use of the "National Comics" title for this new series has more to do with trademark renewal/protection than anything else, though.
I hope they are a bit more forgiving on month-to-month sales on this book as long as it has the occasional (financial) success.
I wonder if any other Quality characters will show up. Maybe a Black Condor/Rags Morales reunion? He did a nice Lou Fine impression once upon a time. Or maybe the return of Quicksilver/Max Mercury—his strip actually ran in National Comics (drawn by Nick Cardy). I’m sure Nick would be up for drawing a cover.
But more importantly, it means DC missed the boat on the title.