DC - Reboot Or Not?

Official word from DC is that it's not rebooting their entire universe. It's a simple retooling of certain elements.

Costumes are minor, sure they change all the time. Origins too, taking new technology into account so Batman never drove a 1950's convertible and Lois Lane never had to run to a phone booth to place a call.

Giving a one-armed archer two organic arms again? A paraplegic that returns to running across rooftops? De-aging every single character over 20? Getting rid of all but a single Batman after the fuss caused over making more of them? Those are reboots.

New details have emerged since I started writing this. Such as the covers for the Superman-family of titles. I must say, there are more things for me to not like about this reboot, than there are things for me to like.

My favourite titles in the still-current universe are: Booster Gold, Gotham City Sirens, Titans. Those are the ones I read first. None of them are getting a new number one. All of the associated characters are being moved into other books. Justice League International, Catwoman, Suicide Squad, Justice League Dark, Deathstroke, Red Hood And The Outlaws...

Then there's the costumes most of those characters are getting put in. I'm fine with Poison Ivy's more-covered look and Catwoman's the only character to have absolutely no changes to her outfit. Harley Quinn is now like a goth hooker, Deathstroke is more armoured than Hulkbuster Iron Man armour and Booster Gold has some really strange alterations to his costume that lasted since the 80's (sans the collar).

Speaking of costumes, Superman is now going to be wearing a suit of armour? When his skin, even his eyeballs, can deflect bullets? If it's not armour, it's certainly not made of the same stuff as his old costume. It shines and has piping, showing Ma Kent has more fashion sense and ability than Old-U Ma Kent...

Story-wise, there are few if any details. They don't want to give away the storylines that they are opening up with. Of course this makes it hard to tell if you're going to buy the books, so you can't place orders with your Local Comic Book Shop... And by shuffling creative teams around, they make it hard to stick with the creators you like on the books you like.

Apparently, most of continuity will be left in place. They'll likely bring Pa Kent back to life again, reset Power Girl's origin (for the tenth time) to -not- be a left-over from another universe...

We'll have to keep an eye on this - because we can't stop it from happening. All we can hope for, is the best.

Really great place to see the covers for the DCnU books: http://girls-gone-geek.com/2011/06/10/the-dcnu-cover-gallery/