Comments on: DC shows off The Shield

By: Roger Caminiti

Roger Caminiti — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 00:35:21 +0000

It does seem that everybody is into this kind of stuff lately. Don’t really understand it though, but thanks for trying to explain it. Appreciate you shedding light into this matter. Keep it up

By: Issac Maez

Issac Maez — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 18:31:40 +0000

23. I do not even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was good. I don’t know who you are but definitely you’re going to a famous blogger if you aren’t already Cheers!

By: knight online

knight online — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 12:44:19 +0000

Actually, I know some pretty cool teenagers too, so I’ll withdraw that last statement. Stay in school, eat your greens, be good to your mamma.

By: Phil Latter

Phil Latter — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 01:03:00 +0000

To add to the above, I’m wondering WHY oh why is DC making Inferno a major character in the new DC version? He’s always been a minor character. I’d much rather see The Fly, The Web (and puh-lease don’t mess with The Web’s classic costume),The Black Hood, The Fox, The Comet (in his red and blue duds with the mask and visor), and of course The Shield! I approve of this new Shield version, which isn’t very different from the 1940′s version!
But, see, I’m also greedy! I’d also like to see the Lancelot Strong Shield, who many of you will recall is a different character entirely than the Shield depicted above….

Phil Latter

By: Phil Latter

Phil Latter — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 00:51:57 +0000

The MLJ’s original boots and gloves in the 1940′s, were powder blue, so white is close. But me, I prefer powder blue. I never liked the ear coverings on The Shield’s uniform, so taking them off, as on this new illustration, is fine.
On the original 1940′s outfit, the red and white vertical strips went all the way to the bottom of the groin, which, I think looks better. Doing it this way looks kind of like what they did when they modernized the Hal Jordan Green Lantern outfit.

But all in all, I like this design, except for the gloves being white.

I hope DC doesn’t tinker too much with the other Mighty Crusaders’ costumes, otherwise, MOST all Mighty Crusaders fans (who HATED the DC/-Impact version of the Mighty Crusaders, decades ago), will detest this new version, too. Are you listening, Dan Didio? I hope so, because Mighty Crusaders fans are going to WANT to like this new version.
DC, please don’t blow it!
Thanks!

Phil Latter
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Canada

By: captainzero

captainzero — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 23:34:52 +0000

Yea, I think this will be the BEST revival,yet!!

(Don’t let me down…JMS, Dan, and DC!!)

By: Polymath76

Polymath76 — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 20:37:30 +0000

I loved these characters when they re spawned under the Impact Comics imprint years back, especially the Fly and the Black Hood. Hopefully this incarnation will get more support that that line did way back when.

By: AYRES

AYRES — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 18:19:15 +0000

Hey look it’s a character who looks like his new costume is not too far off his original who may have influenced Alex Ross’ new Captain America design , and hey you know what here goes a bunch of people complaining if his costume is relevant in comics today ,Lets say for that matter Give Batman a trenchcoat and take off the cape , Hey Supes your red underwear is on the wrong side of your pants,Hey guys don’t get me wrong I’m all for comics having a mordern approach (story ,costume, whatever) and hey speak up when you have a though but lets see how the story plays out.

By: johnjohn999999999

johnjohn999999999 — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:31:55 +0000

This Shield design looks more like pajamas than a real serious battle suit; certainly there is a need for some separation of colors between the red strips and the pant, possibly with some gold angled belt not to take away the point shield aspect, and not to look so much like sleepwear. Maybe some knees protection would improve the look as well

By: Shawn Kane

Shawn Kane — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 12:45:01 +0000

My part of the “it’s a comic, get over it” argument is more of the idea that when something comes across as “it wouldn’t be like that in the real world”, fans start ripping costume designs and want massive casualties in a superhero fight. The point of reading comics is escapist fiction that doesn’t happen in the real world, cheesy costumes are part of that. I’m sorry if I think its okay for a hero to have a cape and that a fight between Ben Grimm and the Hulk had no fatalities but thats how I like my comics. And if a character is patriotic and is supposed to love America, let him wear a variation of the flag.

By: Jon

Jon — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 08:53:44 +0000

Might have looked forward to this, but the hold-up with The Twelve mini-series has made me skeptical that this will come out like they say it will. The Twelve should finish before this should have even been announced.

By: captainzero

captainzero — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 07:43:00 +0000

He’s THE SHIELD!! He’s Returning!! Great!!! Costume’s fine..great as far as I’m concerned.(OK, I wished he was wearing blue trunks..but the costume’s fine.)
I’m soooo waiting for the return of The Red Circle characters.
Yea, and I’m waiting to see The Hangman and The Web, too!! The Inferno looks verrrry interesting and … I’m really waiting for THE MIGHTY CRUSADERS!!
(AND…Mr. Justice, The Wizard, The Fly, Steel Sterling, The Black Hood,… can’t wait!!)
Count me “in”!!

By: Herowatcher

Herowatcher — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 03:10:38 +0000

JMS and the artwork definitely has me interested in picking up the four part series. I just hope these characters, and eventually the Milestones too, end up on a seperate Earth.

By: E-Mann

E-Mann — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 23:47:47 +0000

Who gives a crap if the costume is bad?
All I am worried about is the writing…no such thing as a bad character,just bad writing.
Hope this is good.

By: grott

grott — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 23:41:36 +0000

CRIS, I agree with almost all of your above post. I think that extreme arguments on either side about how these characters should look are pretty pointless. I think that to take the phrase you quote above and make a positive statement out of it, I would take out the ‘just’ and say ‘It’s a comic book, get over it!’ To me there’s no ‘just’ about it. I embrace this stuff for what it is, I’m not ashamed of it. I don’t apologize a bit for my love of superhero comics, and I think that the over the top look of the characters is part of what can make superhero books so much fun. To me this is modern mythology, these are stories that can or should stand up with stories of Greek Heroes and adventures out of Norse mythology. Of course I am looking at this through the eyes of my kids, who are very young and looking at comics and heroes through innocent and non-jaded eyes, and to them, people running around in capes and tights and knocking bad guys’ heads together is about the coolest thing there is. Wow, I had a point there somewhere, I’ll stop now, sorry.

By: Jim8ball

Jim8ball — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 23:17:14 +0000

I think this is just another attempt for DC to bring in more readers and be more diversified. Unfortunately, as with a lot of other things at DC it will get the initial push and then get lost in the back wash of whatever “52 Infinite Blackest Zero Hour Secret Final Trinity Crisis” and it’s multitude of spin-offs that they deem will sell more comics. That or whatever tragedy has befallen Batman or Superman this week.
I’m not bitching about the Shield or his costume, I was never a fan. I just think that this character’s time has come and gone and no matter how recognizable the character may be, I just can’t see The Shield carrying a series for more than a year (or two at best) in today’s market.
If you don’t like this representation of the Shield or the costume, then try Vertigo comics or the WALKING DEAD! There are lots of good books out there to spend your hard earned Burger King bucks on!

By: thearrowcave

thearrowcave — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 22:11:48 +0000

The Shield was first patriotic hero and while I prefer his second uniform I think this is a nice updating of his uniform a’la the recent Hal Jordan update.

In fact I think Alex Ross borrowed from the MLJ Shield who predates Cap by a year for his most recent design. And what’s wrong with red, it appears to be the same proportion as the blue on Cap’s uniform?

What I did find interesting is the choice of Inferno as the fourth character. I thought for sure it would be the Black Hood.

Anyone know who represents Saiz? I may want to buy a page or two of this book.

By: CRIS

CRIS — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 21:28:26 +0000

I really hate the tried-and-true “it’s just a comic book, get over it” argument. If they’re just some frivolous useless thing to you, why do you read them? You must lead an empty life if you do things you don’t care about.

Also, let’s face it; jeans, Doc Martins, and t-shirts are about as practical against super-villains as spandex is and about as ridiculous. Therefore, I don’t see how anyone has room to talk. Besides, it’s not a logical argument to say, “Oh, you think the Shield’s costume sucks? Well so does Superboy’s! You’re stupid!” It’s inane and childish.

Personally, I was a huge fan of his Impact incarnation and am super-excited he’s coming back in action. I agree, though, that the costume needs a slight update. It’s just not a very flattering design. I’m sure, though, that it WILL be updated. If JMS takes the same tack he took with the Twelve, the Shield will “get with the times,” so to speak. I can’t wait to see this in action.

By: jimflint67

jimflint67 — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 20:58:54 +0000

Hmm. Well, unlike others here that seem to think that a “patriotic” flag waving is the ultimate in gouche, I quite like it. “Uhhh, its nothing that hasn’t been done in Captain America in the last forty years.” So. Maybe some folks don’t like and don’t read Captain America, but might like this.

I did a humor piece for a blog as a sample of writing for just a thrice weekly 500 word piece. The first thing they said was to be outrageous and controversial. And since it is much easier to be outrageous and controversial when you go negative, I can’t help but think that a lot of the snotty attitudes about anything new that someone thinks they have read before stems from that teen snot ADD attitude that so many places seem to have. Its supposed to be hip and cool, kinda like every role Ryan Renolds plays. But like in the movie Waiting, at some point, people everywhere just want to shout “We know, you are hip, cool, edgy…now shut the hell up.” to paraphrase. “Oohhh, look at me, I’m Hip, Snide, and disinterested. I’m bored.”

And I seem to recall a saying “Bored people are boring.”.

Here’s an idea, dare to be different. Dont’ be disaffected. Try to spread a little joy and enthusiasm. Dare to actually BE different than the umteen thousands of other bored, disaffected snotty commentators out there.

Now, I liked the Impact comics, and I thought Shield was done very well. It was the first new line of comics other than the big two that I genuinely tried to follow into a new universe. And it had some good stuff in it until the creators that started it all left for greener pastures.

The Shield wasn’t the “uberpatriot” character, but a military grunt that actually defied his superiors and went on the run with the suit. He was trained, did what was right, and thought for himself. That would most definately get him courtmartialed when he defied orders in the real military, but it worked well as a comic story.

I hope we get a level of storytelling out of the new shield book that does as well if not surpasses the Impact book. DC could use a good patriotic character. I would love to see him run into Skyrocket from Busiek’s Power Company run. Heck, for that matter, I think she would make a good JLA character.

By: Cameron

Cameron — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 20:20:39 +0000

The only thing wrong with the costume IMO is that its pretty generic. It doesn’t stand out in a good or bad way it just kinda is. It will be interesting to see how they play the characterization with this guy and how ppl will inevitably compare him to cap. its going to be tough for him to survive especially with captain americas book being so good right now…

By: davy

davy — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:02:40 +0000

The costume is okay, I guess, if a bit generic. It looks quite a lot like Super-Soldier, the Amalgam version of Cap and Superman (I wonder if, when DC/Marvel designed Super-Soldier, they used Shield as their template?).

Anyway, the shield on the chest is quite striking, but I can’t shake this nagging feeling… the white gloves & boots are about the stupidest design choice I can think of. Dirty, dirty hands and feet all day long. His tailor should have warned him of that (or had been fired for suggesting white boots/gloves in the first place)

As for the generic “patriotic war-torn” image: YAWN. That could be practically any Captain America cover from the past 60 years. Regardless of the history of this character, this book is coming out in a market where Captain America is THE patriotic hero. So if this book hopes to carve out its own path, it needs to do better than this.

(5th attempt at posting — damn you crappy blogging software!)

By: grott

grott — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 18:41:04 +0000

Looks pretty good to me, I love the old Archie heroes. Does anyone know if this is them in the modern world or back in WW 2?

By: charles david haskell

charles david haskell — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 18:09:28 +0000

IT WILL BE INTERSTED TO SEE IF THE RED CIRCLE LINES WILL BE AROUND IN 2015. I HOPE THAT THERE WILL BE INTERESTED VILLAIN THAT WILL GIVE THE HEROES A RUN FOR THEIR MONEY. MAYBE THE RED CIRCLES WILL ESCAPE THE THE IMPACT FATES. GOOD LUCK TO THE FUTURE. YOUR TRULY CHARLES DAVID HASKELL

By: Tyler

Tyler — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 17:58:49 +0000

The boots are really lame. Otherwise, the costume really isn’t that different than 97% of other superheroes now.
I’m not terribly interested in the red circle stuff, but I didn’t think I’d be terribly interested in the twelve either…

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 17:44:09 +0000

Actually, I know some pretty cool teenagers too, so I’ll withdraw that last statement. Stay in school, eat your greens, be good to your mamma.

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 17:35:33 +0000

My apologies to 20-somethings, I meant teen angst, because I think it’s obvious that the people whining about the look here have got to me maybe 17, tops.

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 17:33:20 +0000

I love that there are people who come on a comic book message board to complain about what a superhero is wearing. If it riles you up that much to look at a picture of a character that was created in the 1940s, you really need to move on and do something else, because you don’t have the capacity to accept one of the very basic conventions of the superhero genre. Just because you think comics should bend to your taste doesn’t mean they’re going to. Move on and let people have fun while you go wallow in your 20 something angst and pessimism.

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 16:34:13 +0000

The Twelve where are thou?

p.s. I cannot login on the main board, what’s up Newsarama?

By: BigBandit

BigBandit — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 16:29:13 +0000

Don’t get me wrong. I’m NOT some bloviating, venon-spitting anti-American.
But I’ve really really grown to HATE these images of propaganda-soaked flag-bearing-swinging-blowing-flapping… etc etc. Give it a F%#@ing rest already! There’s waaaaay more to this great country, that can be represented graphically, than a flag.

Anyway, moving on in life…

By: jsf

jsf — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 16:26:02 +0000

Dude’s the original patriotic superhero, pre-dating Captain America by quite a few months … been looking forward to seeing new stories told about him since the original Red Circle publications during the ’80′s.

For anyone who doesn’t like the costume: go read the Boys and shut it. Once someone is portrayed having super-powers no one has the right to complain about “realism”.