Dan Didio: Hero or Goat?

[David]

Personally, I think he's doing a pretty good job. He seems to hire good talent, there seems to be a direction and a plan to the DCU these days (though sometimes the writers don't deliver), and it was under his watch that comics began to appeal to me again...

Which is not to say there hasn't been misteps, but overall, I think he's been good for the company (and the industry, at least as far as I understand it).

He reminds me a lot of Joseph Volpe, the former General Manager of the Met, actually.

[Romans Empire]

I agree with everything Dave said.

I would also add that he understands that it requires a smarter business sense when approaching comics these days. Of course when comics are looked at from a business pov thats when some of the mis-steps have occurred.

But the man brought back Manhunter which I doubt would have happened under anyone else's watch. ;D

I enjoy listening to the Podcasts from the various comic-cons and hearing him talk on the panels. He does bring excitement and has delivered more often then not.

[HoM]

I've always said he was one of the best things to get DC off their arses, and I stand by my comments!

[arcalian]

Unless I am totally wrong about one of the events of 52, Dan Didio will be the cause of my ceasing to read DC comics.

I understand the allmighty dollar and the bottom line. I also understand that heroes should be more than just that.

That's all I will say. I would be here all day talking about it otherwise. Anybody who knows anything about my posts on this board know where I stand.

[Romans Empire]

I understandyour feelings Jay based on other posts. I am still way far behind on 52 so I am not sure what you think will happen that will force you to quit on DC and blame Didio though?

And destroying DC? Really?

[arcalian]

The specific event will be the fate of Terra 2.

Destroying everything that makes DC worthwhile, yes.

Let me just shut up now. Probably for the best.

Why the name change, btw?

[Romans Empire]

Ahhh yes Terra! How could I forget?

Though the worthwhileness of DC could be debated you know my stand on that so I will leave it be...for now!

As for the name change, It is just temporary but it has to do with with my new found love for Cassandra Ford, at least in small part.

[HoM]

Wait... Destroying everything that makes the DC worthwhile?

I think he's made the DC worthwhile once more! After years of crappy crossovers and aimless books, he brought a distinct vision to the entire company! Without him, the DCU would be a hollow shell of what it once was. He brought a greatness that has been lacking since the late 80s.

So what if he *sniff* killed Ted Kord?

[arcalian]

After years of crappy crossovers, we get totally nightmarish ones instead.....no, I said I was shutting up. And I am.

[HoM]

Nightmarish?

Well, to each their own.

[David]

houseofmystery said:

Wait... Destroying everything that makes the DC worthwhile?

I think he's made the DC worthwhile once more! After years of crappy crossovers and aimless books, he brought a distinct vision to the entire company! Without him, the DCU would be a hollow shell of what it once was. He brought a greatness that has been lacking since the late 80s.

So what if he *sniff* killed Ted Kord?

Fellas, let's be careful not to assert our opinions as objective fact. Arcalian has an opnion no less valid than Charlie's, and we all allow our different perspectives to color that opnion (if, for instance, Hawkman had been killed in IC, I would probably have a mad on for Didio).

In short, it's fun to debate, but let's do it respectfully.

And did Didio kill Ted Kord? It looked like Max Lord to me. Okay, maybe it was Greg Rucka. Bottom line is, Blue Beetle was never so beloved while he was alive, and now people are buying a quality comic book called Blue Beetle (which respects Ted's legacy). And I'm a big JLI fan (I've got a complete run)!

As for Terra II, I honestly have no idea who she is, why she inspires such fandom, or why she would be involved at all in 52, but if she does meet her final fate, wouldn't that be the responsibility of Johns, Waid, Rucka and Morrison, as well? Maybe they're trying to make the character viable again... Aren't Palmiotti and Gray coming out with a new Terra mini?

[David]

arcalian said:

After years of crappy crossovers, we get totally nightmarish ones instead.....no, I said I was shutting up. And I am.

I have to agree here, to a point. Identity Crisis was a bit grim, and while I enjoyed the premise and idea of Infinite Crisis, I thought the execution and the end left a lot to be desired. It seems to me like they are saving something for later down the road.

On the other hand, I really enjoy 52, and about half of the re-launches are pretty good, too (JLofA, JSofA, The All-New Atom, Blue Beetle, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Freedom Fighters) and some are, at best, ill-advised (the Flash, Trials of Shazam, Hawkgirl, Aquaman).

[Susan Hillwig]

I'm reluctant to lay everything I do and don't like about the post-IC DCU at the feet of Didio. While he does oversee the whole shebang, there's also a lot of editors, writers, and artists who have a hand in it. Some bad stuff we've seen is the result of poor planning, like the first NIGHTWING arc OYL -- he was supposed to die, so I think they just slapped any old thing together at the last minute and didn't care you crappy it was -- and other missteps have been corrected, albeit slowly, like Cassandra Cain's fall from grace.

There are unfixable points, of course, like the multitude of deaths over the past year, but the best way to object to stuff you don't like is to not buy it. I dropped LSH when they rebooted again because I thought it was a stupid move and I haven't regretted it one bit. I didn't buy 52 because I didn't think it would matter much in the long run (and it would cost me about $150) and I'm not sorry I've missed the bloodbath. I'm not planning on buying Countdown, either, no matter how "important" they say it is.

For me, the best thing to come down the pipe in the past 2 years is Jonah Hex, and I only give Didio partial credit for that -- he may have greenlighted it, but Jimmy & Justin and all the artists they've brought on the book are the ones doing the work, and doing it well. Birds of Prey is great as well, but it's never been bad under Gail Simone's watch, before or after OYL, so Didio gets zero credit for that.

In short, put me down as ambivelent. There's too many cooks involved here to pinpoint who put that funky taste in our DCU stew.

[brigante133]

Had it been between hero or goat i would have chosen goat purely because i've never heard anyone referred to as a goat and that would please me greatly but all in all, the dude is not sitting back and watching things happen and despite his misteps (yeah like the Nightwing arc) he seems to be trying to push the company forward for whatever that's worth. He could be a real jerk and do whatever the heck he wants no matter what the fan's say but youc an't really accuse the guy of not listening I think, just poor judgemenet sometimes and he's only human... unless he could be a goat in which case....

[Romans Empire]

I think it is way to easy to blame the boss when things go wrong but its even easier to overlook them when things go well. It may not be your fault but it's always your responsibility. Being the boss sucks. This I know.

[arcalian]

Susan: Not buying what you don't like, I agree entirely.

Brian: Well I'll say this, you and John are the two most tolerant and understanding bosses I've ever had.

[Romans Empire]

arcalian said:

Susan: Not buying what you don't like, I agree entirely.

Brian: Well I'll say this, you and John are the two most tolerant and understanding bosses I've ever had.

Yes not buying what you like is a good way to go for sure. But I can see the flip side when you use to buy a title you loved and have to wait until someone pulls there head out of their a** and return it to its former glory *CoughFlashCough*

As for being a boss Jay, I would say we are more partners and I have the better end of the deal. Trust me I am in charge of almost 200 people back in the real world and sometimes tolerance is the last thing I have at work! I love my job but I would rather spend all my time with the wonderful people here but the pay really doesn't pay the bills you know?

[redhood305]

Dan Didio a goat?

That doesn't happen to mean Greatest Of All Time does it?

I wouldnt call him a goat, but I also wouldn't call him satan either. I think he's doing an okay job.

Michael Jordan, there's a goat...

[brigante133]

i thought he was a bull.. you are blowing my mind.

[starlord]

I agree that he isn't perfect and dropped the ball a few times, but who hasn't in their life time.

I do think he's the best thing to happen to DC in a very long time, and I too came back to DC around the time he took over.

And Jay, I'm not a boss by any stretch of the imagination, nor do I want that title. I'm just trying to have fun and entertain when I can, I'm just lucky to get to work with people like you, and others, who have a love for these characters and this site.

[goldk]

What I want to know is why no one pays attention 'till there's some earth shaking crisis. Why can't the character just go through his life and come to realizations to change instead of having it shoved down his throat. Superman Batman and Wonder Woman, had to have the infinite crisis to bring them back, didn't they? Wasn't that what that was all about? Wasn't it? Who can tell anymore when the writing is all obtuse and circular so it can be a mystery and keep you guessing...I don't want to guess, I want a story. It's like Cary Bates story back in the day....last page, oh wait superman has solved the problem. He did it while you weren't looking and here's how he did it. GAH! (credit that exclamation to Charlie btw.) I agree with Susan, I'm not buying 52, why should I? Haven't we already seen the ramifications of that story in the current titles? 52 happens in the year that Superman Batman And Wonder Woman are gone....guess what, they're already back, and where are the changes? Maybe I just don't get it. Boy did I digress, anyway. Do I blame Didio for my dislikes? Maybe blame is too harsh a word. Lets just say that good or bad isn't he the one responsible?

[arcalian]

Well said, Goldk. Well said.

As for why the crisis and the charaters cant just go through their lives? We know the answer to that one. Sales.

[HoM]

No, it would be boring crap.

Yeah, because I want to watch Superman rescue kittens. And make toast. And talk with his wife.

I want to see him fight DOOMSDAY/DARKSEID/PARASITE/BIZARRO/ZOD/LUTHOR! I want to see him kick ASS!

I want good stories!

And, in my opinion, that's what I'm getting!

[arcalian]

Oh come on HoM. There's a difference between fighting Bizzaro and Luthor, and having some character development while at it on the one hand, and the big-crossover-where-unneccesary-bad-stuff-happens-to-drive-up-sales-which-is-justified-by-it-being-"epic" on the other.

[starlord]

Well, if anything, Didio has everyone talking. LOL!

But when it comes to character assassination, really, who's done a worse job: Dan or Joe? I think there's a good discussion for each. Personally, what Joe has done is far worse then Dan, but that's just me.

What I love the most about comics (and many other art forms) is that there are so many people who really enjoy such a variety of stuff, that it makes for interesting discussions. Of course you have to begin with the idea that there is really no right or wrong answer. It's all very subjective.

[goldk]

I'm all for the big kick ass issues when necessary but when they happen all the time doesn't it kinda water them down. Character first. Then when the big kick ass almost have to die to save the world issue happens, I might give a crap about it. One of my all time favorite stories, "For the Man Who Has Everything" First 3/4 of the issue was all about character, then the last 1/4 was KICK ASS !

[brigante133]

yeah but that's alan moore roy. do you really think EVERY writer can write a story on par with alan moore?

[Crow]

Can anyone tell me why Nightwing was "supposed to die" both in the real life DC company and in the comics storylines? What's up with that?

[arcalian]

bloodmoon said:

Can anyone tell me why Nightwing was "supposed to die" both in the real life DC company and in the comics storylines? What's up with that?

Aside from "Didio wanted him to", I don't know. I do know that having both Dick and Conner bite it, that both Clark and Bruce were supposed to be badly affected by it. Oh yes, ISTR Didio saying something at a convention about how he didn't want all three Robins "bunching up" under Bruce and running the risk of making him get older.

The reason it didn't happen was not because of fan outcry, as the fans didn't know anything about it until after it was over, but because the writers of IC formed a united front and told Didio, "No!" (This is also one the reasons I blame Didio more than, say, Geoff Johns.)

KillerSeaMonkey said a number of interesting things that I'm not gonna debate; been there, done that, didn't bother with the t shirt. *Tries to say something about the second Terra, but stops himself in time.*

What can I can I say....oh yes, for frame of reference. Terra 1 first appeared in 1982, at which time I was nine years old.

Edit: My reply to KSM is apparently a cross-post. D'oh.

[brigante133]

really i was negative five and even i realize how uncool she is..

besides like I said she is just a blatant ripoff of geoforce.