5 reasons the New 52 sucks.

I have thought this for some time and keep forgetting to blog it, DC had a string of really good books recently the new Flash, The whole All Stars idea, Green Lantern hit his stride with the sinestro corps war, and even the spectrum lanterns that came after it. I was digging the new Doom Patrol, and even Superman's walk across America. But all good things must come to an end.  However most just end they don't get a painfully directed craptastic reboot that was the last nail in the coffin that made me give up comic collecting with the big two. So what is so bad about revamping the books to attract new readers? I mean some might even consider this a noble calling. Normally I would agree but Jim Lee and the staff at DC had their heads up their collective asses with this reboot. and here are 5 perfect examples.

5-The gay Green Lantern- I want to lead with this only because it may seem crass to complain about moving a character forward in this way as it is an impressive step towards equality. The idea of a gay Green Lantern isn't what bothers me here though. What bothers me is the hows and whys. so far we have had 4 (now 5) Earthborn Green Lanterns. In short more than any other sector Earth has a but ton of Lanterns. Add to this that the real reason for the decision to make a major DC hero gay was to steal the thunder of Marvel's wedding of Northstar, who was originally designed to be gay in the 1980s, but thanks to politics then was temporarily a space elf, until it was socially acceptable for marvel to pat them selves on the back for their forward thinking. Logically speaking in the DC universe Batman would be the logical choice. he has kept the advances of more women away where Superman, had Lois Lane, the Flash has Iris and each GL has had a serious relationship that seems hard to part, So why make a green lantern gay? simple it's a bit of a trick Alan Scott from the new Earth 2 comic line is gay. Allan Scott was the original golden age Green Lantern with a different power source (later ret-conned to connect with current DC) but to make Guy or John or Hal Gay might cause too much of a stir and Batman, no way so let's make it the most obscure version of a major character we can, a reboot of a golden age character in a technically alternate universe where it's effect are not part of current official DC Cannon. Way to show your pride DC!

4- Wait, She can Walk now?- Poor Barbara Gordon was effectively taken out of commission as bat girl in one of the few good examples of a change that stayed in comics. It was a brutal and terrible act, but it was nice not to see a comic company backpedal and say "It was all a dream," or "Now that we've rebooted, let's forget that corner we painted ourself into!" So she's back as batgirl, no real explaination I have heard, and no sign of her replacements.

3- Retconning Crap to fit the Movies- Why is this done other than to legitimize crap that made me so freaking annoyed at the movies. Why is Hal Jordan, serious space cop, now have to sound like he is a warmed over Ryan Reynolds character. Hal was 1000X cooler than that Van Wilder douche but hey if we make him more like Ryan Reynolds in the comic maybe people will forget that he was not a "perfect choice" to play the emerald gladiator. Also way to step up the writing now, I thought I was reading a comic about interesting characters not what would it be like if Van Wilder had a power ring.

2- Costume Changes- I think that it's one thing to subtly change costumes over time, the way many heroes have superman's "S" becoming more diamond shaped and stylized for example but much of the costuming changes here just seem unnecessary with an eye for busing up the look to make them more "futuristic" and at the same time very quickly less classic. then there is the other new superman from Action Comics, WTF man, just WTF.

1- Change, for Change's Sake: When has this ever been a good idea? "Let's make Steele more like Shaquille O'Niel" Yeah gangbusters!  Many writers may have good even great ideas of where to take the DC universe next I really liked the premise of Flashpoint and enjoyed the specral lantern sagas, but to just one day put a whole new coat of paint down and ignore what has come isn't evolution it's a callus and cheap attempt to line your coffers and set up a me too JLA movie with a new continuity that the "Kids" will get Changing Captain Marvel's name to Shazam (awesome now he can't even say his own name without transforming) Making Superman and Wonder Woman DC's new "power couple" and adding all of Jim Lee's Wildstorm characters into DC cannon for no other reason then to net him some more money. This isn't the actions of one of the greatest comic companies of all times, this is corporate market speak destroying what fans hold dear, hence I voted with my wallet and I doubt I am alone there..