Monday, December 07, 2009

Earth One = DC Comics' Ultimate Line?

Back when All Star Superman and All Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder launched (what... three or four years ago now?) I wondered if the new All Star line was supposed to be DC's answer to Marvel/Disney's Ultimate universe of books. The way it was described - top-notch talent, stories set outside of regular DC universe continuity, a slowly growing set of titles - sure made it sound that way.

But then the delays began, and before long DC stopped talking up their All Star offerings and even told us not to hold our breaths waiting for the previously-teased All Star Batgirl (never materialized), All Star Wonder Woman (ditto) or any of the other hinted-at titles. As the first run (Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely on All Star Superman) wrapped up, no further issues were mentioned. We're still waiting for Frank Miller and Jim Lee to complete ASBaRtBW, all these years later. I was never sure whether the horrendous lateness of those two titles did the idea in, or if the sales didn't match expectations (in fact, I think both sold well), but something definitely grounded the line.

And now we get this announcement today: an Earth-One series of original graphic novels, starting next year, and featuring some of the biggest DC superheroes in their own - brand new! - continuity. With another wave of top talent assigned, such as J Michael Straczynski, Geoff Johns and Gary Frank, it's sounding awfully familiar to this jaded fan. I hope it's different this time, but it's hard not to be skeptical after the All Star debacle. Oh well, at least DC keeps trying to get it right...

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