tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356274990802224870.post4846944152630756629..comments2019-10-05T04:48:52.168-07:00Comments on The Forty Year-Old Fanboy: On the introduction of a very specific change to a major characterVinnie Bartiluccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12031831695722239873noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356274990802224870.post-31343404928886239372012-05-21T14:25:45.008-07:002012-05-21T14:25:45.008-07:00As I said to Mike, I can, and have, gone on about ...As I said to Mike, I can, and have, gone on about that whole mess with Ralph and Sue at length, and often. 52 did a good job of putting a happy ending of sorts to the story, but I'd be happy to make it have never happened.<br /><br />The way I see it, the new Earth 2 characters are indeed brand new, as opposed to the classic JSA some of us (raises hand) were expecting. So even though Alan Scott had a wife and two kids (Jade and Obsidian) in the old DCU, no such history exists here. Hourman had a son who became the second Hourman, so by that argument, he too would be out of competition.<br /><br />If they want to really make the change a major part of the story, this'd be a good way to do it. I envision Scott to be like Richard Branson or even Steve Jobs in this world - a celebrity, as well as an actual shrewd businessman. If sich a character were gay, they could really make a difference with public opinion.<br /><br />Besides, did you see Alan in issue 1? He's GORGEOUS!Vinnie Bartiluccihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12031831695722239873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356274990802224870.post-35174721492591889072012-05-21T13:57:57.338-07:002012-05-21T13:57:57.338-07:00I agree that it might be one of the Earth Two hero...I agree that it might be one of the Earth Two heroes. It will give DC editorial an out (so to speak) as they can easily retcon the whole place next reboot (2014, isn't it?).<br /><br />I dropped most of the New 52 with after the initial issue or two, so can't really speak from direct knowledge on the characters. Making Ralph gay would be a complete mistake and a slap in the face of old fans. Again, I don't mind changing a character in such a fashion, but Ralph & Sue were the one married couple that had such a good marriage. Bad enough doing what they did with Dr. Light and that whole thing. Wouldn't you think Dr. Mid-Nite or Hourman might be chosen rather than Alan?Steve Chaputhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05125192472002278757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356274990802224870.post-72302708404789030112012-05-21T09:18:52.180-07:002012-05-21T09:18:52.180-07:00OK . . . second guess: Mercury from The Metal Men....OK . . . second guess: Mercury from The Metal Men.<br /><br />And yes, bringing back Maqgie Sawyer wouldn't be a bad idea either. She made an excellent "Commissioner Gordon" type for Superman.<br /><br />(Which brings me to my third guess: Amanda Waller.)<br /><br />"I've got to assume there IS a lot of Hispanics down there (El Paso), tho."<br /><br />Oh, one or two. A few at least.Michael Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11808166630399508232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356274990802224870.post-61268568355168193182012-05-21T08:49:23.516-07:002012-05-21T08:49:23.516-07:00Do NOT get me started on what happened to Ralph an...Do NOT get me started on what happened to Ralph and Sue, we'll be here all day.<br /><br />I really liked the Blue Beetle book, specifically the issues written by Jon Rogers, and I don't know enough about the area to know if making him Hispanic was a logical move or not. I've got to assume there IS a lot of Hispanics down there, tho.<br /><br />About the only reason I wouldn't think Constantine would work is first off, he's primarily in the Vertigo titles. They've practically said that the John in JLA Dark isn't the same one as in the Vertigo books, but surely people consider them the same. And I'd think John's such a rascal and rousdower that he's likely had sexual exploits that make mere homosexuality seem tame.<br /><br />No, I think it'll be one of the proper heroes, not just a supporting character or anything.<br /><br />But while we're on the subject, would it be so bad an idea to re-introduce Maggie Sawyer, easily the most positive LGBT had for years? And that was twenty damn years ago, when it was REALLY taking a risk to do so.<br /><br />But yeah, I think it'll be at least a solid B-lister, as i think all the A-listers on New Earth have already appeared. But doing it on Earth-2 gives them a chance to really experiment with the idea, and not have it affect past continuity in any way.Vinnie Bartiluccihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12031831695722239873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356274990802224870.post-83221831231869670462012-05-21T08:21:48.121-07:002012-05-21T08:21:48.121-07:00Interesting.
I only follow a (literal) handful of...Interesting.<br /><br />I only follow a (literal) handful of blogs. One of them is written by a person whose views I usually have no trouble dovetailing with. But, as with so many of us, he does possess a few raw nerves, and gay characters in comics is a hot button topic I've long since learned to tiptoe around (if not scream and outright run away from) with hi. Needless to say (for example) he and I have Exchanged Words concerning Archie Comics.<br /><br />He apparently hasn't yet heard of this recent development from DC Comics, so your announcement sort of serves the same purpose as seeing a large spiral formation develop in the Atlantic. I'd best put up the storm windows. Regardless of how underplayed DC runs this, there're going to be howls of "shoving the homosexual agenda down our throats".<br /><br />(Right now I could make a comment to the effect that I'd be content with a life where the worst thing that got shoved down my throat was homosexuality . . . but my Zen Master says the lesson for today is Simplicity.)<br /><br />Ah me.<br /><br />Since circumstances have required the dropping of most of our DC reading, I cannot make a reasoned guess as to who the Character In Question will be. And, even if I was able to read each and every title, I'm not that much of a gambler. All I can go on is whatever instinct for commerce (and survival) that I possess and, along with that, employ a process of elimination. For instance, if it turns out to be either Superman or Batman then I hope DC's invested in some good fire insurance (as well as personal bodyguards).<br /><br />Another reason I wouldn't gamble: my head's sort of wanting to play a wild card scenario here and go with John Constantine. And yes, some people will tell me that Constantine's married. And I'll reply yes and we're talking about J*O*H*N C*O*N*S*T*A*N*T*I*N*E.<br /><br />Your choice of Alan Scott's a lot safer and more sensible (two things which I've seldom been accused of being).<br /><br />On Ralph Dibny: I've never quite forgiven DC for taking perhaps the sweetest marriage in comics and flushing it down the toilet.<br /><br />On Blue Beetle: a Hispanic version didn't bother me so much as the location ("He's in El Paso so let's make him Hispanic"). It's rare for me to trumpet the area where I'm currently living, but South Carolina possesses an extremely healthy Hispanic (and Brazilian) population. Texas, on the other hand, still has a rather lively German community, but I doubt you'll see a comic book character from Texas named Schmidt or Friedrichs.<br /><br />And it's cool. I'll gingerly pass this blog back over to you now, Vinnie. Everybody calmly sit down. Smoke 'em if you got 'em. Save the Texas Prairie Chicken.Michael Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11808166630399508232noreply@blogger.com