The Bullpen

[VinceB]

It's about damn time.

What think ye about this series? Hopeful? Disgusted? Ambivalent?

[Papercut]

I would describe my first reaction as both curious and hopeful.

The only issue I would have is that is based on this comment by Didio:

• "And just like in our world, there are moderate beliefs, there are conservative beliefs, there are liberal beliefs. There are Republicans and Democrats. The process and what the various political beliefs and parties stand for remain the same."

I understand that the need to limit the number of political perspectives to mirror the current national political landscape, but I just hope that they don't boil the parties down into the stereotypical caricatures that you see spring up when "real" politics are addressed in most entertainment mediums. There are many flavors of Democrats and Republicans and Independants out there (not to mention how complex some of the bigger issues are) so it'll be curious if they pick the platforms and personal attributes of the real-life candidates or just try to amalgamate the party they represent. I think they'll be leaving themselves open to criticism either way, but that's part of the fun, eh?

Since this is also commentary on the process and how/why people choose to participate, my biggest hope is that it DOES introduce the political process to younger comic readers who may not have been interested in the process before. I'm hoping it's enlightening, educational and most of all, accurate for those reasons -- and who knows, maybe it'll actually make a difference to someone out there. What else could you want (er...besides a good story, right)?

So that's my $0.02 this early in the AM....

[Equinox]

I could see this as being readable if the concept is played out in one-issue, one-and-done stories and not over the course of the several issues.  While its a concept that has not really been done before, part of the reason that it hasn't in the past may be that comics publishers didn't think it would sell many books. 

[Wood]

I'm curious, that's for sure. I think it has the chance to be a massive train wreck which is always fun, and I struggle with understanding why DC would bother with this, particularly setting it in the main DCU. But I'll sure as hell tune in and look forward to seeing how they plan to tackle this.

Between Liefeld handling the Rapture and DCU handling the election; comics are delving into those oh-so-taboo subjects we're never supposed to discuss at social gatherings.

[Equinox]

Between Liefeld handling the Rapture and DCU handling the election; comics are delving into those oh-so-taboo subjects we're never supposed to discuss at social gatherings.

Yeah, but are these topics the "Elephant in the Room" that you don't want to mention because they haven't been tackled before or because they're just too damn embarrassing to admit having spent hard-earned money on?

[Wood]

Not sure I follow?

[Equinox]

Not sure I follow?

Politics and religion as straight-up topics tend to polarize people, sometimes in negative fashions because people take each one very personally.  Mainstream comics approach to each subject seems to skirt the fringes of the subjects without really getting up in anyone's face about their deep personal feelings.  Independent books have had no problem cutting right to the heart of the matter because, IMHO, they are trying to be controversial in order to bring more attention to them and as a result, increase their sales.

It'll be interesting to see how much "reality" DC infuses their mini with.  I'm guessing not that much...

[Wood]

Not sure I follow?

Politics and religion as straight-up topics tend to polarize people, sometimes in negative fashions because people take each one very personally.  Mainstream comics approach to each subject seems to skirt the fringes of the subjects without really getting up in anyone's face about their deep personal feelings.  Independent books have had no problem cutting right to the heart of the matter because, IMHO, they are trying to be controversial in order to bring more attention to them and as a result, increase their sales.

It'll be interesting to see how much "reality" DC infuses their mini with.  I'm guessing not that much...

A small part of me hopes this becomes incendiary so DC can do what it should and can DiDio. Time for some new blood at DC Editorial.

[DGoodhart]

Well, my own hope is just to actually see something that is balanced out there, and not just in the way that both sides are presented, but being presented in such a way that you might actually get a little insight to the other side... When they said that Winnick and Willingham have opposing views, I thought that was a good first step (though I kind of fond it a little hard to believe that there's any comic writers out there with any sort of conservative views)...

[Equinox]

Politics and religion as straight-up topics tend to polarize people, sometimes in negative fashions because people take each one very personally.  Mainstream comics approach to each subject seems to skirt the fringes of the subjects without really getting up in anyone's face about their deep personal feelings.  Independent books have had no problem cutting right to the heart of the matter because, IMHO, they are trying to be controversial in order to bring more attention to them and as a result, increase their sales.

It'll be interesting to see how much "reality" DC infuses their mini with.  I'm guessing not that much...


A small part of me hopes this becomes incendiary so DC can do what it should and can DiDio. Time for some new blood at DC Editorial.

Really?  See and I actually have been enjoying how he's handled things in general at DC.  There have been missteps to be certain, the most recent of them being Countdown.  But as a whole, I think I've enjoyed how he's brought the company forward during his tenure.

...And if anyone is true to the basic tenet of a politician, namely be something for everyone, that person would be Didio.  He tries to engage and challenge the readers, but at the same time is always trying to avoid pissing them off.  Pissed readers don't buy books...

[El Dave]

Here's how this is going to happen. Two heroes are going to have a difference of political opinion which is going to spill over into a public fight. The supervillains wil take this time to attack, and the heroes will have to put aside their differences "for the good of the people". When it's all said and done, the heroes will be bestest friends again and there will be some footnote about how both sides should, blah, blah, blah, rainbows.

[Equinox]

Here's how this is going to happen. Two heroes are going to have a difference of political opinion which is going to spill over into a public fight. The supervillains wil take this time to attack, and the heroes will have to put aside their differences "for the good of the people". When it's all said and done, the heroes will be bestest friends again and there will be some footnote about how both sides should, blah, blah, blah, rainbows.

How about "Superman vs Super-Delegate"?  "Watch out Big Blue, he's about to use his "Caucus Vision" on you!" 

[VinceB]

Not enough time for this topic in episode three. I'm sure it will come up in the next one...

[Wood]

As I said over at Marvel Noise,

Last night we put a hot one in the can!