The optimistic Comic Bloc starts wondering what other DC books are about to hit the chopping block:
“Quite a few books being cancelled from DC. What do you think is next? I’m scared for Jonah Hex and Blue Beetle, and I don’t see Infinity, Inc. staying long.”
“Didio says Hex pulls in enough in trades to make it worthwhile to keep publishing it. I think they’ll limp it along for another two years or so, certainly until the movie comes out and they see what sort of effect it has on sales. Blue Beetle is on the fence and Infinity, Inc is almost certainly DOA.”
“Sadly, I think two books that I really love but are dealing with some creative team changes (Checkmate and Blue Beetle) were already doing poorly in sales, but with the changes, I think the deaths of these books in close at hand. Pretty sad times.”
“Yeah, BoP is showing the signs. It hasn’t reached critical yet, but the continueing slide is worrisome. But my guess is if it gets canned, it’ll be canned next year.”
“What’s cancelled next? Checkmate. Before the end of the year. I don’t know what’s keeping Infinity, Inc. going, really, but I’m willing to support it until they cancel it. It is getting kinda weird though. They keep cancelling books but they’re not really launching anything to replace them. Kinda makes you wonder.”
“Looks like it’s time for another DC Implosion! Back in the 70s DC cut tons of titles all across the board at the same time. Could happen again.”
“Not for nothing, Jake, but I’m not a huge fan of speculating about books being cancelled. Sometimes that can become a self-fulfilling prophecy - if people think a book is about to get the axe they’re less likely to give it a try. I’d hate for something I said to turn away a potential reader that might help keep a book afloat. I do hope both DC and Marvel start giving their low sellers a little more rope. I really think it takes time to build an audience for anything that isn’t tied to one of the big franchises. I had planned to jump on board All-New Atom, for example, with Remender taking over, but probably won’t bother now that it’s getting the axe. Likewise I’m enjoying The Order quite a bit, but it’s being axed before really having a chance to find its sea legs.”
Wait, the Atom hasn’t been announced as being cancelled, has it? Is that some kind of ironic joke about self-fulfilling prophecies…?
April 16th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
Yep. Cancelled with this week’s solicits.
April 16th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
I really don’t know much about much of the goings-on, but I wonder if some of those books like the 52 and Countdown spinoffs help subtract from the little attention DC ongoings are already getting.
April 16th, 2008 at 11:20 pm
I don’t think Blue Beetle’s going to get canceled any time soon. Not with Jaime appearing in Teen Titans, Brave and the Bold, Tiny Titans, and the Batman: Brave and the Bold television series. Not to mention the trades were recently named one of the top ten graphic novels for young adults by the ALA.
Yeah, the sales are really quite low, but DC’s really pulling for this book. As well they should. It really is a great series and one of the only books I consistently buy.
April 16th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
According to Remender himself (regarding Atom’s cancellation with issue 25):
“I knew it was on it’s way to being canceled when I came on. We had a great idea for a story that could start in The Atom and then spin out and cast a wider net so we did. The thing it turns into will be announced soon I think. Stick around though, I think the Atom stuff gets better and better before it sets us up for the next event.”
… (and then in reply to another question):
“I’ll be writing the thing this leads into, yeah. I took this on knowing it was done for but also knew what it would turn into would be amazing. I’m also super excited about this arc, it gets bigger and bigger and he gets smaller and smaller.”
April 17th, 2008 at 9:36 am
I haven’t seen it actually reported here, but comments on the small story about content changes for Superman #676 (on the main page, along the side bar) report that Superman Confidential has been axed, after a very short and (at least in the first arc) extremely crappy run.
Can’t say I’ll miss the book, as I dropped it like a hot potato after it was announced the opening story arc would get delayed. That was the final straw for a book I was hating almost from the get go…
The opening arc was slow, ponderous, and inexplicably bad. Sentient kryptonite? Since I never finished the arc I don’t know how that turned out exactly, but it sure seemed stupid. Jimmy Olson was, what, about 12 years old in that story? And the lengthy sequence of Supes getting beaten down by that group of baddies after he lost his powers was just over the top and wholly unnecessary.
Considering how quick the book got yanked, I’m guessing it never got any better. At least Batman Confidential improved with the Wrath story, but generally speaking the “Confidential” line should’ve stayed that way: Kept secret, never to be seen.
April 17th, 2008 at 9:53 am
I guess we can expect either Nightwing or Robin to get canceled next.
Since Morrison confirmed that Bruce Wayne wont be Batman after the Batman RIP storyline and one of those two has to take over, it wouldnt make since to keep two costumed identities.
They cant make Jason Todd the new Batman because no one would buy the damn books.
April 17th, 2008 at 9:55 am
“The sky is falling@! The sky is falling!”
April 17th, 2008 at 10:20 am
Care to elaborate, Alan?
April 17th, 2008 at 10:36 am
Well, with Final Crisis and its multitudes of minis surrounding it, I’m sure they’re cutting some fat, but number of comics produced will probably stay the same. Plus, once FC closes, there’s sure to be a number of series launched out of it.
I have a feeling that BB will be around for a little while and I’m just happy the Manhunter came back.
April 17th, 2008 at 11:52 am
None of the cancellations bother me, but I will be sad if, as many ae speculating, J’onn J’onzz is killed off in Final Crisis. That’s one “cancellation” we don’t need, even though the character has been so badly mishandled lately.
Maybe they’ll kill him, and then find some funky Martain way for him to be revived/reincarnated as the REAL J’onn J’onzz again.
April 17th, 2008 at 11:54 am
For those who aren’t aware, there’s a slight change to Catwoman as well.
It actually has one more issue to go, confirmed by Pfeiffer.
It went and pulled a JSA Classified. So that one won’t be gone until Aug.