Due to poor sales, DC Comics has announced from their website “The Source” that they will be cancelling six titles all of which will conclude with their eighth issue in April.
I will review these titles, get some backstory of the original universe, compare with the new universe and talk about why these titles failed.
The titles are:
Blackhawks- by Mike Costa
Hawk and Dove- by Sterling Gates
Men of War– by Ivan Brandon and Matt Kindt
Mister Terrific– by Eric Wallace
O.M.A.C.- by Dan Didio and Keith Giffen
Static Shock- by Scott McDaniel
Blackhawks: This title has deep, rich comic history. The original team, who first appeared in Military Comics #1 (August 1941) and last appeared in Blackhawk #273 (November 1984), was a long-running series, a film serial, a radio series and a novel. The comic book was published first by Quality Comics and later by DC Comics. The series was created by Will Eisner, Chuck Cuidera, and Bob Powell. The Blackhawk Squadron, usually called the Blackhawks, are a small team of World War II-era ace pilots of varied nationalities, each typically known under a single name, either their given name or their surname.
The New 52 Blackhawks is set in the present day with no appearances of prior Blackhawks, although there is a new "Lady Blackhawk”. The book shares the setting of the rebooted DCU continuity set up by the Flashpoint miniseries.
The New 52 Blackhawks was very much written like G.I. JOE which was a mistake by DC to even go this route because the Blackhawks were very unique and were not even in comparison to G.I JOE. I understand it’s a new universe and DC probably did not want to connect too much to the old universe but when dealing with iconic characters it might have been better that this title to have not seen the light of day or at least have been postponed until the New 52 universe was established beyond a year and then DC could of pursued it.
World-building is very important, as DC has announced that is their goal for the second wave but, it should have been the goal for the first wave. Blackhawks failed because its stories had no connection or dire effects on the New Universe.
Hawk and Dove: In this new series, Hank and Dawn resume their superhero activities in Washington, DC, with some assistance from Deadman. The original team from the old universe was brothers Hank and Don Hall. After Don had lost his powers, the new Dove, Dawn Granger came into possession of them. In the New 52 continuity, Dawn Granger also has a tenuous romantic relationship with Deadman, and has appeared in the team comic Justice League Dark. So I can only assume that one or both of these characters should be turning up in Justice League Dark in the near future. When I heard that Hawk and Dove were part of the New 52 line-up I felt that these two characters never had enough popularity to pull off their own series and should be guest characters or part of a team and unfortunately I was right.
Men of War: In the old universe Sgt. Frank Rock is a fictional infantry non-commissioned officer during World War II in the DC Comics Universe. He first appeared in Our Army at War #83 (June 1959), and was created by Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert. The New 52 version of Sgt. Rock was actually pretty well written as it pursued present day warfare. I really have no gripes with this title and its a shame it’s being cancelled. Here is hoping Men of War goes out with a bang.
Mister Terrific: There were originally two versions of Mr. Terrific. The Golden Age's Mister Terrific was Terry Sloane, a self-made millionaire whose photographic memory, Olympic-level athletic skills, and mastery of the martial arts made him a virtual Renaissance man. The next version of Mister Terrific was Michael Holt, an equally talented man who holds five black belts, has won the Olympic Decathlon and holds many degrees and doctorates in a wide spectrum of fields. While contemplating suicide after the accidental death of his wife and unborn child, he was met by the Spectre, who told him about Terry Sloane. Inspired by Sloane's life story, he took the name "Mister Terrific" and later joined the current Justice Society of America. The New 52 character also named Michael Holt, is a super genius but the problem is the old DC universe character worked and the new one does not. The old Mr. Terrific could be everywhere at once, play chess against multiple adversaries and was an excellent trainer. The New 52 Terrific is written poorly as it just never gets off the ground for me.
O.M.A.C.: Now this was a very interesting read as DC was smart to resurrect Jack Kirby’s character which was known as OMAC in the old universe(Buddy Blank, the One-Man Army Corps) created in 1974 by Jack Kirby and published by DC Comics and was their answer to Marvel’s Captain America. In the New 52 version Kevin Kho has become an unwilling participant in a war between Checkmate and Brother Eye as he is transformed into the One Machine Army Corp known only as O.M.A.C. I was very pleased with this take on the character and the artwork was a great homage to King Kirby. It’s a shame it did not catch on. The cast of supporting characters such as Sarge Steel, Psi-Fi Man and Max Lord was a nice surprise and the good news character will turn up very soon on FRANKENSTEIN, AGENT OF S.H.A.D.E. They should push the finale to nine issues (Devil Dinosaur and Machine Man’s run under Jack Kirby lasted only nine issues and were very well written) as Kirby used to end some of his titles by that number. O.M.A.C. was my favorite of all of these titles.
Static Shock: In the old universe Static was a member of the Teen Titans. An original character from DC's Milestone Comics imprint, Static first appears in Static #1 (June 1993) and was created by the late Dwayne McDuffie and John Paul Leon. In the New 52 the brilliant, slightly awkward high school student Virgil Hawkins transforms into the cocky electromagnetic hero Static! Static writers tried too hard to copy Spider-Man and just like Mr. Terrific, Static never gets off the ground and is boring from the start.
Bob Harras, DC Entertainment Editor-in-Chief says “Many of the characters from our canceled books will appear in DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 titles, and in some very surprising ways.” “We’re developing stories that reach from cultures around the globe to parallel worlds. We’re just getting started.” “The ‘Second Wave’ is all about world-building.”
DC Comics has announced that in May of 2012 six New 52 Second Wave titles will be replacing these cancelled titles.
The new titles are:
BATMAN INCORPORATED– Writer: Grant Morrison. Artist: Chris Burnham. The acclaimed ongoing writer of ACTION COMICS, Grant Morrison, presents a fresh take on BATMAN INCORPORATED, in which the Batman brand is franchised globally in preparation for a major international threat.
EARTH 2– Writer: James Robinson. Artist: Nicola Scott. The greatest heroes on a parallel Earth, the Justice Society combats threats that will set them on a collision course with other worlds.
WORLDS’ FINEST– Writer: Paul Levitz. Artists: George Perez and Kevin Maguire. Stranded on our world from a parallel reality, Huntress and Power Girl struggle to find their way back to Earth 2. Perez and Maguire will be the artists on alternating story arcs.
DIAL H– Writer: China Miéville. Artist: Mateus Santoluoco. The first ongoing series from acclaimed novelist China Miéville, this is a bold new take on a cult classic concept about the psychological effects on an everyman who accidentally gains powers to become a hero.
G.I. COMBAT– Writer: J.T. Krul. Artist: Ariel Olivetti. Featuring the return of a classic DC Comics series, THE WAR THAT TIME FORGOT, along with rotating back-up stories and creative teams – including THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER, with writers Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti and artist Dan Panosian; and THE HAUNTED TANK, with writer John Arcudi and artist Scott Kolins.
THE RAVAGERS– Writer: Howard Mackie. Artist: Ian Churchill. Spinning off from TEEN TITANS and SUPERBOY, this series finds four super powered teens on the run and fighting against the organization that wants to turn them into super villains.
EARTH 2 will be very interesting as we finally get to see that earth's Justice Society of America! The month of May will be very interesting to see how these titles compete in the market as the writers will have their hands full. DC’s world-building plans in the second wave have to be successful in order to keep the readers interested.
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