Those of you in the geek-know have likely already heard about DC Comics' plan to relaunch 52 of their titles with brand-new #1 issues this summer, in an effort to create accessibilty for new readers and make more money and keep the icons of the DC Universe fresh by making the same characters they've been telling stories about for 70+ years now younger/slightly different. Which is fine. Reboots happen. I'm actually excited for whatever Superman book Grant Morrison will be on and the fact that Geoff Johns is finally going to write Justice League, if only because getting Johns on the book means that the League won't be plagued by the "You can't use the Big Guns" problem that's been derailing stories since about issue 13 of the last run. If Geoff Johns wants someone on the Justice League, they'll be on the Justice League, regardless of whether or not they've been tossed through time or stationed on New Krypton. And with the line-up problem solved, maybe we'll actually get some decent League stories that don't have to bend over backwards to tie into every other book in the DC Universe.
What I'm not excited about, though, are the costume redesigns. Just look at a couple of those things up there. What's up with Wonder Woman's weird armband and choker? And why did her shirt lose a good three inches of height from this design to the one up there? Okay, I'm not actually naive enough to not know the answer to that question, but still.
I can get over the Wonder Woman thing though, and the Flash's chin guard, and Cyborg kind of looking like a mechanical Incredible Hulk, and even Superman getting a new S symbol with straighter, "more modern" lines (which some may recall has happened before). But what I can't get over, what I will not forgive, is the high v-neck collar adorning three out of the first seven redesigns we've seen.
What I'm not excited about, though, are the costume redesigns. Just look at a couple of those things up there. What's up with Wonder Woman's weird armband and choker? And why did her shirt lose a good three inches of height from this design to the one up there? Okay, I'm not actually naive enough to not know the answer to that question, but still.
I can get over the Wonder Woman thing though, and the Flash's chin guard, and Cyborg kind of looking like a mechanical Incredible Hulk, and even Superman getting a new S symbol with straighter, "more modern" lines (which some may recall has happened before). But what I can't get over, what I will not forgive, is the high v-neck collar adorning three out of the first seven redesigns we've seen.
I'll admit, at first they do look kind of cool. Aquaman's I would actually keep. GL's is pretty decent too. But it's when you get to Superman, and you realize that they're just handing these things out to every superhero like they're the tragic death of a family member or something, that I start to get annoyed. Superman is timeless. Superman has been around for over 70 years. The high v-neck collar has not and will not be around for over 70 years. And does anyone really think that Superman (or his mother) would take the time to create a high collar on his costume? Why? Because he thinks they're an excellent fashion choice? It's just silly.
I give it a year, maybe two, before Superman's high v-neck goes the way of Electric Boogaloo Superman and Armored Knock-Off Batman. It's a little costume choice, sure, but it's a really dumb one, and artists are gonna have to keep remembering to draw it. Eventually, I think they'll just phase it out rather than bother with remembering it. Or at least I hope so.
*Jim Lee may have said that in some meeting sometime during the planning of Reboot '11, but I have no idea if he really did. A dark, perverse part of me hopes so though.
I give it a year, maybe two, before Superman's high v-neck goes the way of Electric Boogaloo Superman and Armored Knock-Off Batman. It's a little costume choice, sure, but it's a really dumb one, and artists are gonna have to keep remembering to draw it. Eventually, I think they'll just phase it out rather than bother with remembering it. Or at least I hope so.
*Jim Lee may have said that in some meeting sometime during the planning of Reboot '11, but I have no idea if he really did. A dark, perverse part of me hopes so though.
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