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We interrupt this thoughtstream of Yuletide take 4 and counting why do I do this to myself why why why why to bring you this comics cover I saw just now from the March solicits.
It’s the calm before the storm in issue #21. Beetle is dead, Max Lord has Checkmate and the hunt for Wonder Woman has begun. But Booster Gold has given up after losing another friend to Max Lord, and the JLI is left without a leader!
So here is my thoughts.
1. I am 90% sure this is a fakeout, because DC's trying to mine the Jaime Reyes property for tv-related opportunities, and so he is worth more as a story generator. At this point, comics death fakeouts bore me intensely (HOW many Marvel heroes are due to die this month?), and I am irritated to be presented with yet another one which seems targeted to rile up my emotions specifically (as I am a fan of Jaime).
And, to be honest, my emotions sort of are riled. Not that I'm worried for Jaime - he's a fictional construct who isn't in danger of anything except not showing up in team comic books for a few months. But I'm feeling a bunch of bad will towards DC, because of 2:
2. OTOH, I can't be *certain* it is a fakeout, because DC is very trigger happy when it comes to their characters of colour, and has a history of discarding them in favour of either focusing on either white dude manpain (and read that solicit, tell me it is not trying to hook you with Booster's manpain) or making story room for the return of white dudes. Seriously, DC treats their CoC like crap and I can't trust them not to be assholes in any particular case.
And, this is me being cynical, but I can't help but wonder if that's what they're hoping for. That *of course* it is a fakeout, but they are counting on their shitty track record when it comes to non-white-dudes to cause controversy, because no one can be *sure* they aren't drinking from the asshole well yet again. The only suspense value in this shocking twist comes from how willing you are to believe DC is would discard one of their most interesting new characters to earn a couple pages of Booster Gold looking sad.
Not that I'd have been willing to believe they'd drop a building on Lian Harper, last exciting essential event that will change comics forever.
Suspense via. cynicism and bad will. But it doesn't work long term, because of 3:
3. Let me tell you, if they *do* kill off Jaime Reyes? I am pretty much done buying comics for a while. I am close to being done anyway. I've been shopping around for fandoms. I have places to go.
I'd keep the FuckYeahAmandaWaller tumblr, because it needs to exist, but mostly I've been sticking around DC for Supergirl these last couple years, and her book just dumped its solid, enthusiastic, long term writer for a new writer I had, after researching his works, been looking forward to... and then lost the new writer as well. I guess it is back to musical creative teams, and wow I don't need new canon badly enough to go through that clusterfuck again.
DC Comics doesn't owe me anything. Not to make books I enjoy reading, or that are well written, or that star my favourite characters. Not to build online buzz by methods other dangling the threat of killing one of their only Latino heroes: a well meaning, sweet natured boy with a heart of steel. Not even to not go through with it.
But it's not like I owe them anything either. Not moneys, or advertising space, or benefit of the doubt. Not shutting up if they piss me off. Not even those quick and silly Photoshops when Solicit Monday comes around.
Weeeell.
Maybe one, this time.
It’s the calm before the storm in issue #21. Beetle is dead, Max Lord has Checkmate and the hunt for Wonder Woman has begun. But Booster Gold has given up after losing another friend to Max Lord, and the JLI is left without a leader!
So here is my thoughts.
1. I am 90% sure this is a fakeout, because DC's trying to mine the Jaime Reyes property for tv-related opportunities, and so he is worth more as a story generator. At this point, comics death fakeouts bore me intensely (HOW many Marvel heroes are due to die this month?), and I am irritated to be presented with yet another one which seems targeted to rile up my emotions specifically (as I am a fan of Jaime).
And, to be honest, my emotions sort of are riled. Not that I'm worried for Jaime - he's a fictional construct who isn't in danger of anything except not showing up in team comic books for a few months. But I'm feeling a bunch of bad will towards DC, because of 2:
2. OTOH, I can't be *certain* it is a fakeout, because DC is very trigger happy when it comes to their characters of colour, and has a history of discarding them in favour of either focusing on either white dude manpain (and read that solicit, tell me it is not trying to hook you with Booster's manpain) or making story room for the return of white dudes. Seriously, DC treats their CoC like crap and I can't trust them not to be assholes in any particular case.
And, this is me being cynical, but I can't help but wonder if that's what they're hoping for. That *of course* it is a fakeout, but they are counting on their shitty track record when it comes to non-white-dudes to cause controversy, because no one can be *sure* they aren't drinking from the asshole well yet again. The only suspense value in this shocking twist comes from how willing you are to believe DC is would discard one of their most interesting new characters to earn a couple pages of Booster Gold looking sad.
Not that I'd have been willing to believe they'd drop a building on Lian Harper, last exciting essential event that will change comics forever.
Suspense via. cynicism and bad will. But it doesn't work long term, because of 3:
3. Let me tell you, if they *do* kill off Jaime Reyes? I am pretty much done buying comics for a while. I am close to being done anyway. I've been shopping around for fandoms. I have places to go.
I'd keep the FuckYeahAmandaWaller tumblr, because it needs to exist, but mostly I've been sticking around DC for Supergirl these last couple years, and her book just dumped its solid, enthusiastic, long term writer for a new writer I had, after researching his works, been looking forward to... and then lost the new writer as well. I guess it is back to musical creative teams, and wow I don't need new canon badly enough to go through that clusterfuck again.
DC Comics doesn't owe me anything. Not to make books I enjoy reading, or that are well written, or that star my favourite characters. Not to build online buzz by methods other dangling the threat of killing one of their only Latino heroes: a well meaning, sweet natured boy with a heart of steel. Not even to not go through with it.
But it's not like I owe them anything either. Not moneys, or advertising space, or benefit of the doubt. Not shutting up if they piss me off. Not even those quick and silly Photoshops when Solicit Monday comes around.
Weeeell.
Maybe one, this time.
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Like. Did you know Brightest Day is still a thing which is happening?
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It is weird.
Also, apparently Death showed up in Superman recently.
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"Little man in a bowler hat" = Wally the God-boy? YESSS!!
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Except apparently, originality got shived and as you brought up, there's always the possible 'free publicity' over DC shafting yet another CoC.
I've reached the point now of pained laughter at the last 4-5 years of my life, how I rediscovered comics, hunted down my childhood favourites, got all excited, and then got to watch as an informed adult as they got treated worse than fertilizer.
Right now I'm trying not to think as a jaded so and so, but, what's with all the DEATH? Batman just died, they killed off a bunch of HoC/CoC a little bit ago to be replaced by white dudes, and now they want to go 'Jamie's Dead Oh Woe'. Isn't there anything else they can think to do with the characters but soap opera tear jerking?
All the stories they aren't telling - it's so damn sad, really this hole they're digging for themselves leading to lesser audience.
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Ah, but that is the A+ irony in the situation. Or something.
Right now I'm trying not to think as a jaded so and so, but, what's with all the DEATH?
Death Sells? Or at least gets people blogging? Although mostly this time they seem to be blogging at the level of "DC you fuckers I see what you did thar" rather than "Oh noes Jaime!"
I am not sure I am capable of not being jaded when you've got the "Death of Spider-man!" publicity floating around, and the current "Death of Oracle" thing, and the never ending event tie-in where everyone comes back from the dead (I mean, I do not read Brightest Day, but sometimes I notice it hasn't stopped happening)... yeah. Death isn't really a sensation anymore. It is a *cheap* spectacle, and Jaime, f'ex, is worth more than its fair value.
(...'Tho my actual fact first response to your comment was alarm that you were unfamiliar with Jaime Reyes. Is. Is this the case? Because o man never mind current goings on, Jaime is the best.)
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I really, really enjoyed a Latino hero though, with the South West having actual Latinos in it, and the story being about more than punching things.
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Well, okay, then I will cease my search for the "I. Am. A. DENTIST!" scene.
I just can't bring myself to spend money on either Marvel or DC right now.
Yeah.... :/ They are a pretty huge turn off.
Even I'm in a weird place right now with the superhero comics. I am not very interested in many of the stories they're putting out, but I still get fannish impulses.
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I get fannish impulses and OMG I should totally create my own heroes and write novel style stuff. And then y'know, the world hits mme with ten tons of ow. **shrugs** But who knows the future.
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...I've started writing the next sentence about 4 times now, so yeah. That's where I am.