So this starts this week. For those who don't know DC is pushing the DCverse forward a year.

 

So what are you guys going to be picking up? Going to try any new books?

 

I haven't collected for awhile. Due mostly to money and comic shops being out of the way. I figure this is a great point to jump back on and start getting some books again. I'll be getting Batman, Detective Comics and Teen Titans. I'll probably give Green Lantern Corps. and the Outsiders a try.

 

Though I'm already annoyed as Batman is starting off with an 6 part crossover between books.

Personally, I think I'll just start with OYL and branch out from there. OYL seems like the best place for me to figure out which series I should get into.

So what is this years hook? I remember back in 1996 DC went on a massive killing and costume change spree of its top stars of the day with Superman getting alot of backlash.

Here's a list of things I know about OYL:

 

~ Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman are not around for the year.

 

~ Apparently Dick Greyson becomes the new leading hero. Most speculation is that he takes on the mantle of Batman and Bruce Wayne gets put into Arkham. Its not assured he is, but it is assumed that to be the new hero everyone depends on, he would hafta take the mantel over of one of the big three and therefore Batman. Of course, he also proposed to Barbara Gordon (Oracle) before OYL, so I just thought I'd add that. Then again, he could dual superhero as Nightwing and Batman.

 

~ There is a Batwoman now. Her identity is unknown, but most speculation is that she likely is not Batgirl, Cassandra.

 

~ Supergirl and Powergirl become Nightwing and Firebird (I think that's the name). Both lose their powers of Kryptonian lore, and actually just are regular super heros now. Go figure.

 

~ There's also yet another Nightwing that's the leader of the newly reformed Outsiders. And its a he, and its most likely the revived Jason Todd. The Outsiders this time are a ruthless bunch that do jobs akin to warkeepers, and therefore seems like something Jason Todd would be good at. Why is Jason Todd allowed to be a hero? Fuck as if I know.

 

~ Kyle Raynor returns to his mantle of Ion. This is because Hal Jordan assumes the position of our Green Lantern, therefore, Kyle Raynor gets upgraded back to Ion.

 

~ All Flashes have been missing for the year, and speculation is there are no more after OYL (probably for some time, but likely to return).

 

~ Magic is no more, but something will replace it. I'd bet Ki will be the new one. Anyways, because there is no magic, lots of magic characters (which many are "b"s) aren't anymore.

 

~ Wonder Woman now will kill to get the job done. She also returns, I believe.

 

~ Sylina Kyle is pregnant and there is a new Catwoman.

 

~ Green Arrow becomes Mayor of Star City. So yes, he's fighting the corruption in both hats. Why does no one figure they are one and the same? Its the superhero misbelief kicking in. No way can the ordinary Mayor be the Green Arrow.

 

~ I believe its Robin (Tim Drake) that's on the lamb from the rest of the DCU, because he's been framed for murder. Likely to have some damn hard feelings towards the rest of the DCU after its revealed he didn't kill the person. Also supposed to have something akin to unsurpassed rage towards Titans (who pursue him, since he was one of their own). Or at least this is the speculation that its Robin who gets framed. Someone does at least, but it would likely be more interesting if its Robin.

 

~ Diana Troy return to the DCU is not meant to be short lived. Will be with the Titans.

 

~ The Gods of Olympus have left the Amazons pretty much to fend for themselves. Or so speculation has.

 

~ Superman isn't as revered as he used to be, and in fact is likely to be seen with scorn upon his return.

 

~ The Titans have aligned with Doom Patrol (which will stay like that in OYL).

 

~ The third Blue Beetle will apparently not be a joke (sans his joke-like costume) and actually have a place in the DCU as a respected hero (for how long remains to be seen).

 

~ Detective Montaya (again, I suck with names, so shoot me if I got it wrong) apparently sleeps with anyone and everyone. Especially some people you wouldn't suspect (this will also play into various stories) and also she's apparently leading front runner for Batwoman.

 

~ Now, I forgot to mention that yes, there ARE three people that could be using the Nightwing cowl during OYL.

 

And that's about all I can think of for the time being.

Damn, I might have to give the Robin book a try if that's the direction they'll be going with him.

Robin's apparently come into something of his own as of late, so if they really wanna make Robin be something that would probably be the best direction to go. Although, I doubt it.

I've enjoyed him a lot during the new Titans run. Never really felt like picking up a book of him solo. But the idea interests me enough to at least try out the first storyline or so.

This is assuming the rumor is right. It could also be Shazam, who's also killed someone during IC.

I checked the DC preview for his March issue and that's the direction they'll be going with him.

Also by the looks of 150, Robin seems to be getting his duds FINALLY updated.

Dorain pretty much summed it up. What happened throughout the missing year will be covered in a weekly series called "52"-52 weeks in the year dontcha know. The Question could be a major figure in it.

 

Also Checkmate is coming back and the supergirl/powergirl thing wont last long. Supes will also be in the Leigon of super heroes.

 

Ive been thinking about picking up Green Arrow, Supergirl and Teen TItans.

52 is also supposed to have a storyline that will build and cumilate that should have ramifications that you've probably been noticing in the DCU.

 

Also, Flash DOES return, but apparently whoever's wearing the Flash mantle at the start of #1 will not be the guy who's wearing it at the end. Or something to that.

 

During OYL, apparently Nightwing (that being Dick Greyson) will be moved into elite status. So yes, it won't just be Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman anymore. Its going to add Dick Greyson to the ranks. He finally gets promoted after so long.

 

Oracle apparently will be getting some feeling back in her legs, but worry not, she's remaining on as Oracle as she feels she's done a hell of a lot more as Oracle than as Batgirl, so cancel her as the new Batwoman. Birds of Prey will likely be moving from small time to an actual organization of heroines, as well as the Canary will not be the same as she was before.

 

Speaking of Batwoman, its not Cassandra Cain. She's supposedly alive, but will likely not be taking up her role of Batgirl or that of Batwoman.

 

Let's see what else have I scrounged up. Oh and Robin doesn't aquire new duds, he just updates the ol' ones making them a little flashier in color. So fear not Robin fans, just late at night I thought it was new duds, but its in fact not. Oh and word going round is whatever that deal that he's getting in 150, its pretty freaking sweet.

 

Kyle Raynor is Ion, but he's not sticking around Earth alot. Because of his uberness, he's supposed to be staying away from Earth. But we'll be getting good character stories about how the ordinary joe is now Superman-like. Yes, Ion is apparently at full power and is very near Superman like if not more so. At least Superman always WAS like he was, Kyle's never been like that, so it'll be interesting to see how he handles it.

 

Manhunter apparently switches sides, take that how you like. That's all I know, but from what I'm gathering there's two sides to being a superhero in the OYL DCU. One side of the superheros will not kill but will work towards getting the job done and criminal locked up, the other side will kill to get the job done. I'm assuming Manhunter falls into the other side.

 

Oh and Sweet, you were right on Question. S/he's been guarding Gotham City while Batman's been away for the year, so s/he'll hafta be a bigger time player.

 

And apparently the new Blue Beetle has some big secret. So big, even he doesn't know.

I stopped reading comics when it just got to be too aggrivating that just when you got into a character, someone else would take over the writing and completely change/retcon/fuck up everything you liked just so he could do something different.

Yeah, I know how you feel. Writers changing and massive crossovers are my big irritation in comic books these days. I miss the days when a writing team would be on a book for 5-10 years. Now it seems like the direction of a book changes every other year or so.

Not to mention comics had a period where they had their equvalent of Crash TV where people were having established superheroes doing shit completely out of character just for shock value or to "shake things up".

 

The whole mess with Spider-Man and Peter Parker and multiple timelines and different Spideys just made me throw my hands up and say "fuck it".

I was a big Spider-Man fan. But the first issue JMS did made me never pick that book up again.

Yeah, youre not alone.

 

Back to OYL: The Shadowpact will get their own book, complete with detective Chimp and everything.

 

Dorain, did you read all the major stuff from IC. Would you mind giving spoilers?

Picked up Detective Comics, JSA and the Outsiders today. Outsiders was kind of eh. JSA was fairly good.

 

But the real winner was Detective Comics. Not a lot happened but it looks like they're erasing all of the bullshit from the last several years. It's the Batman we all know and love.

;; To be honest, I'm probably not the best guy to ask about IC. I'm actually waiting for trade paper back on this, simply because I don't think I could wait as long as its taking to get IC.

 

But main spoilers of IC storyline:

 

~ Superman of E2 returns to make things right.

 

~ Alex Luthor of E2 (I think) is your primary villian.

 

~ Flashes disappear in the Speedrealm.

 

~ Powergirl turns out to be E2 Supergirl.

 

~ AnimalMan has powers he didn't know about. I don't know what they are.

 

~ Superboy of EP is Alex Luthor's lackey. He also kills some people.

 

~ Nightwing stops being a pansy (but that's more because of a certain writer who's doing Nightwing's comic than Nightwing himself) and Batman basically pushes him up to elite status.

 

~ Superman of E2 wants Batman to join him. Batman asks if Nightwing became a true hero, and Superman of E2 replies no (Nightwing of E2 is dead). Hence Batman says he would not join him.

 

~ Of course, we've also got the famed line from Batman to Superman was "The last time anyone respected you, Clark, was when you were dead."

 

I'm forgetting somethings, but that's some pretty big ones.

Alex Luthor's from Earth-3.

Thank you for the correction, cause I always get these different Earths messed up.

I only remembered because I happened to read Crisis on Infinite Earths over the weekend. His heel turn is rather lame though. So far Infinite Crisis seems like a total rehash.

 

Oh well. If this fixes the Bat-books I'm fine with it.

What do you guys think of the OYL books now that theyre out?

What do yall think of the OYL books now that theyre out?