The JLA Blog

USA Today (here and here) are reporting that DC are cancelling six low-selling books from the New 52 and are launching 6 new books to replacement them in May. The 6 for the can are Men of War, Mister Terrific, O.M.A.C., Hawk and Dove, Blackhawks and Static Shock. Not a terrible shock really, but I had a soft stop for the OMAC title. The loss of two prominent African-American led books (Static Shock and Mister Terrific) would have been a concern if they had been of suitably high quality. Both characters have great potential, but I didn’t see that realized in the New 52 books. Hopefully we’ll see Static back with Titans.

The six replacement series are more interesting. They are Batman Incorporated, Dial H, Worlds’ Finest, G.I. Combat, Earth 2, and The Ravagers. Of particular interest is James Robinson’s Justice Society series, now named “Earth 2″, and a companion title featuring the Earth 2 Power Girl and Huntress and their adventures trapped on the DCU Earth. Quoting from USA Today:

Parallel worlds have been in DC’s wheelhouse for a while, and they waited till the second wave to really get into the nitty-gritty of heroes from other Earths. Writer James Robinson reteams with the Justice Society for the new series Earth 2, which is being drawn by Nicola Scott, while Huntress and Power Girl are stranded on our world and want to return to theirs in Worlds’ Finest, written by Paul Levitz with art by George Perez and Kevin Maguire in rotating story arcs. “What does that mean to be exiles from that Earth 2?” [Bob] Harras says. “We thought it’d be a nice thing to bring this concept back and to really, as we did with the 52 initially, reconceive it and freshen it up.”

Batman Incorporated and Earth 2 should have real staying power. I’m more unsure about the others. I love the idea of Worlds’ Finest, but its success is really going to depend on the execution. The artists should ensure that, but its hard to tell nowadays. I wish the other titles well, but I remain to be sold on them.

The unanswered question: Is the Huntress in the current Huntress series the New 52 Huntress or is she the Earth 2 Huntress?

Comic book creators are almost universally freelancers and so exist outside of the insurance provision that many of us are lucky enough to take for granted. Therefore, there is a need for a support system to help those creators who find themselves in need of help. The Hero Initiative is that support. In their own words they are…

The Hero Initiative is the first-ever federally chartered not-for-profit corporation dedicated strictly to helping comic book creators in need. Hero creates a financial safety net for yesterdays’ creators who may need emergency medical aid, financial support for essentials of life, and an avenue back into paying work. It’s a chance for all of us to give back something to the people who have given us so much enjoyment.

This December the Initiative, in collaboration with DC Comics and legion of artists, have put together a fund raising project called the The Justice League of America 100 Project:

Backcover blurb: See 100 of comics’ greatest artists provide their take on comics’ GREATEST Super-Hero team – the Justice League of America! All these stellar artists drew original covers for DC Comics’ Justice League of America #50, which were auctioned off to benefit The Hero Initiative, the charity that provides for older comic creators in medical or financial need! Now they’re ALL collected her for the first time!

Hard cover and soft cover collections of the 100 are available from the Hero Initiative website. I fully recommend this collection as mine arrived in the post yesterday morning. There are a range of images from fully painted images so simple pencil sketches. My favourite probably has to be Mark Buckingham’s Aquaman and Atom piece.

Yes, you can see the each piece on the Hero Initiative website, but they look a LOT nicer in the real collection (nudge, nudge, hint, hint).

The auctions that the back cover blurb mentions are still on going. The first auction was on Dec 3rd at Meltdown Comics, but there are two more on Jan 20-22 at Tate’s Comics, FL and Feb 17-19th at Orlando Megacon. Details of which pieces are auctioned at which event are listed on the Hero Initiative website along with details of how to put down a proxy bid.