Letters to DC2 Showcase Issue 1

[Romans Empire]

Let us know what you think!

[Quester]

well to begin with my name is Robert Harding so instead of written by Legacy you now know my true name.
The other stories guys....there so cool. I love Blue Devil as well as I know nothing about him. Curfew was really fun aswell. Not read Supes yet so cant comment.

[HoM]

I'm going to look at each section seperately, easy enough:

Mechanical Dreams I give *** stars, because it just did nothing for me, it didn't grab me, but I've been wanting to see Cyborg in the DC2 since the Teen Titans debuted last year!

Curfew I give **** stars because wow, it was amazing. I love Batman, and I think the stories that aren't told from his view point are amazing. Some really good characterisation here, and it reminded me of Batman Begins ("Where'd he go?!" "Here...")... Amazing. That's all I can really think to say. Well done Kev!

Obit I give **** stars. This was really nice, a real cool reason to see Clark... And Superman's... Life story. You really grabbed me, and Superman really seems to be going back to Smallville this month, eh? Nice one, can't wait for part 2!

Hollywood Nights had all the right ingredients for a first parter. You give us a lot of set up, some nice characterisation, and just an all round classy tale. **** for Mr Elbe!

All in all, Curfew was my favourite installement of this issue, and if you keep up this quality and with a variety of tales like you have done, nothing can go wrong!

Thanks for taking the time on this, overall, a great debut issue! Great cover too, nice one Borize!

[>>Riz!]

Thanks Charlie.

I've read Mechanical Dreams and Hollywood Nights by now and have to say that both were good, although the Blue Devil story did grab me more.

I'll read the Superman and the Batman stories tomorrow...

[Quester]

I agree thus far...however it really does get better. I think....................

[Admin]

This issue was a, interesting cross-section of characters from across the DC2. I really enjoyed reading the issue as a whole, but will address each story seperately.

"Mech D": Rob, I am just thrilled for you that this story, which you've been sitting on for months and moths, has finally seen the light of day. I know it's a labor of love for you, and that it does indeed get better in the next installment. This part was a little slow, the prose a little too dense, and the mystery about the protagonist's identity takes the reader out of the story, giving them no one to latch onto--- I think people would have cared about this more if they knew who they were reading about.

"Curfew": Sid and Marty! The Krofts! Nice shout-out to a bygone era, Kev!

I don't usually comment on grammatical errors, but I have to point out that the writer has a tendancy toward irregular capitalization that can be extremely distracting to the story (seven in the first section alone: Mom, Dog, Winter, Dad, Nightmares, Zombie and Brick--- and I won't even mention the words that weren't capitalized, but should have been).

But that aside, this was a great story. It's always interesting to see Batman from someone else's perspective, and here we get not one, but two--- the thugs and the kid's. My favorite bit was how the kid, running home in a panic, kept catching glimpses of Batman behind him (who was just trying to make sure the kid got home safely).

A nice addition to the mythos of the Bat!

"Obit": Very interesting concept for a story, and nicely told. However, there are some continuity questions here. In DC2 continuity (as well as that of the DCU), Lana Lang did not have an abusive, alcoholic mother, nor a "Mary Jane Watson"- type childhood. Her parents did indeed die early, but Lana had a normal childhood, raised by her aunt, Nell. Nor does she (in our continuity and the DCU's both) discover Clark's secret--- as is revealed in my recent issue of Action Comics, only Pete Ross know's his best friend's secret (just as in the DCU). Because of this, we may have to classify this as an Elseworlds tale, and not in-continuity.

On one more note, if the narrator is speaking in the present day, he's mistaken about his age--- in present-day DC2 chronology, Superman is 31 (a fact that can be deduced from the Secret Files entry in the AOS forum)--- although, I suppose this story could take place two years in the future!

Very interested to see where this goes next!

"Hollywood Nights": My favorite story in this collection! I always liked Dan Cassidy, and I'm glad this story takes him back to his roots. Great first scene, showing a real understanding of things (I've been to Hollywood Blvd, and I can tell so has the writer). This is a nice bit of writing that places the reader right in the scene!

I sense a Mephistofelian deal in Dan Cassidy's future, and can't wait to see what happens next!

Lastly, but certainly not least, another brilliant Borize cover! There is such a grace and fluidity in your art, it just makes my eyes happy looking at it!

[batarang]

I guess I'll follow suit and address each story individually.

"Mechanical"-- I don't know much about Cyborg, and frankly I wouldn't have known it was him if I hadn't seen the cover. I know what you were trying to do with this, and there is a sense of creepy sterile mechanical atmosphere. My problem (which other people have touched on) is that the lead has no name and isn't given enough background to make him truly sympathetic. Maybe at this point the story's too mechanical but we'll see where this goes.

"Curfew"-- A nice tight little Batman tale told from a different point of view. Very cool to see the effect the bat has on other Gotham residents, especially the kids, who will only spread the news of this encounter and continue to grow his legend.

"Obit"-- Interesting take on the Superman/Smallville connection, from Clark's own POV. I like to read fresh approaches to these characters we've all (hell, even my parents!) grown up with. I agree this doesn't quite fit into continuity but maybe this title isn't a bad place to get this kind of different stuff out without slapping the "Elseworlds" tag on it. Smaller scale stories.

"Hollywood"-- I know nothing about Blue Devil, so this will be my full introduction to him. So far, so good. I like the characterizations and there's just a hint of supernatural menace so if that's where this is going I'll be a happy camper.

Overall I like this format as the doors are wide open to explore all avenues and (worlds? universes?) of the DC2. We'll get to see different writers and writing styles and maybe I'll even learn a thing or two about some characters that have only been in my periphery.

[Quester]

I really agree with that fact now that I look it at having not written it for a while and yeah...te other stories I have in mind are much more mainstream styled but I was trying to have this mechanical cold thriller but yeah...I could have introduced him sooner as a character. next post he gets a name.

[Crow]

Well it seems I may be in the minority here, but these are my thoughts.

First of all, I thought the issue as a whole was great. And I love a mixture of stories and characters that allows us to see various themes and talents in play.

First, Mechanical Dreams:

I actually loved this. I will admit that the story may be beginning slow paced and with little background on the character. We have little on anything about him, even his name. But for me, the faults pretty much end there.

When I read this I saw the level of detail and vision put in each sentence. Out of the stories, this one I was able to envision the most because of the descriptions and metaphors and the like. I could see Vic running as a champion, and at the same time feel what it was like to be that champion as he ran. I could feel the confusion when he was being recovered. I could feel the sadness after his mom died and he sat quietly in the car. It was all extremely vivd and well written.

I even enjoyed the ending, which should lead us to greater things.

All I have to say Robert is that don't lose your vision for the character and the world: that is very important. But do work on the focus of the plot, just a bit, as you're writing.

My personal fave.


Curfew:

Awesome work. As mentioned above, Batman works best, in my eyes, from an outside perspective. You can't have a man, nay an urban legend, without showing and proving what makes him an urban legend. Batman is based on fear in the cowerdly criminals in fights, but many a time when we read him he is not feared and getting his rear handed to him. So it was refreshing to see a tale like this which shows the human perception and how they take Batman.



Superman: Obit:

I thought it was good, but honestly it didn't grab me much. I think it's great and it's useful, but just not my cup of tea.

Blue Devil: Hollywood Nights:

I thought this was cool, well written, and fun to read. I didn't feel intrigued much, but because I curious to see how it develops I want to read more.

[Admin]

bloodmoon said:

When I read this I saw the level of detail and vision put in each sentence. Out of the stories, this one I was able to envision the most because of the descriptions and metaphors and the like. I could see Vic running as a champion, and at the same time feel what it was like to be that champion as he ran. I could feel the confusion when he was being recovered. I could feel the sadness after his mom died and he sat quietly in the car. It was all extremely vivd and well written.

Good points, Crow! I've always enjoyed Cyborg as a character, myself (though in recent years he's been extremely underwritten). I'd like to see him go somewhere in the DC2!

[Quester]

Gee thanks Crow and I knew Idle liked the character so thats cool. This was really a knew kind of writing style for me but I felt it fiitted the character and Crow, you really got out of it what I was trying to achieve. Other stories I have ideas for (for those of you interested) include an idea not yet written for DC2 Etrigan.

[Susan Hillwig]

Before the reviews, I want to say I like how you guys did the logo, with the DC2 icon standing in for the "O" in Showcase.

Mechanical Dreams: Interesting. While I think I know what's going on here, your way of delivering it is unique. Can't wait to see it unfold!

Curfew: Fell flat on me. Nothing more to say about it.

Obit: Again, fell flat. While the story wants to go somewhere, it just isn't making it. The best part was the intro about the dream.

Hollywood Nights: I was looking forward to this, and I wasn't disappointed! Just Cassidy interacting with the homeless man is a story in itself, no other scenes necessary...but I'm glad more is coming! Best of the bunch!

[starlord]

It's taken me a bit to write a response on this, sorry. I'll also do a story by story opinion.

Mechanical Dreams: I really thought the style was unique and something not seen on here yet. It honestly didn't draw me into the character much, but the style was pretty cool.

Curfew: Nice approach to how The Bat is seen in the eyes of others. It was a cute story for me.

Obit: Honestly, part one didn't really grab me, and yeah, part of it was probably the continuity questions. But I didn't really dislike it and will be back to read part 2

Hollywood Nights: Well first, "Hollywood Nights" is probably my favorite Bob Segar song of all time, so I was pretty much sold going into it. Seriously though, this was my favorite of the four. Cassidy was great and I can see that John understands this character. Can't wait to read the next part of this one.

All in all, great job everyone!

[Romans Empire]

A big thank you to everyone who has taken the time to reply to this issue and the individual stories within.

There are several reasons that this title exists here.

1) Have a place for stories involving the icon characters in the DCU outside of the regular or main titles.

2) Have a places for stories involving characters that might not normally get the spotlight elsewhere.

3) Have a place for new writers to Showcase their talents. This one is probably the big one for me. As DC2 has grown and our core writers have settled into their respective monthly titles there should be a place for new writers to break-in. It also will be a place for veteran writers to take a stab at characters they have have stories for but no place to tell them.

I believe this first issue accomplished each and every one of those goals and I am very proud of the collection of tales assembled here.

Mechanical Dreams

Roberts Mech dreams tale had been sitting on the shelf for some time with out a home. It's a great personal story and is told in a unique way. It's a complete tale that can only be appreciated once it's read in full. Yes it is broken up into 3 parts due to it's length, after next issue I think everyone will see the depth of this unique character study. Great job from one of our two first time writers this month!

Batman: Curfew

Kevin is another relatively new comer to DC2. Not only has he been putting out some great covers on Suicide Squad (fav of mine) as well as others, but also his work over on challengers has been exciting and intense. His upcoming run on Action guarantees to be chock full of excitement with a classic silver age flare. Here he was able to tell a complete tale in a small space. It was a unique and perfect story.

Superman: Obit

Julian is another first time writer here and I really feel he showed what he is capable of doing, right out the gate! I knew this tale would probably raise some eyebrows because of the premise.
I wasn't aware of what would quickly be pointed out as continuity errors in this story. (one of my many first time editor mistakes this week). When I first read this story I was so taken in by his ability to get inside Clark's head and tell a story that was very fresh and adds to the long and complex history of Superman. He has a great handle on what makes Clark tick and some of what may have gone on before the world met Superman. Will this tale be viewed as strict DC2 cannon? I am not sure that it ultimately matters but next issue will clarify some of the concerns that were brought up this issue.

Finally, it has to be said that Borize did a kick ass job on the cover! I couldn't think of a better way to Showcase the four characters involved or kick a new series!

[Romans Empire]

As for my small contribution to this issue...

Blue Devil: Hollywood Nights

Thank you for the kind words concerning this story so far. This is my first attempt at writing a character outside of the Suicide Squad. Blue Devil has always been a favorite on mine and I hope to give him the treatment he deserves here.

Plus this was the start of a bigger story that will slowly unfold throughout the DC2 that Dan Cassidy will have a big role in. For for the meantime I hope everyone enjoys his introduction into the DC2.

As for the comments on the story itself:

David: Never been to Hollywood. Just did some research cause I wanted it to seem real and not distract from the story. As for the Mephistofelian deal in Dan Cassidy's future thanks for noticing what I was going for but things aren't exactly what the seem.

batarang: This is my first attempt a somewhat mystical tale. The supernatural menace you make mention of does play a big role in things to come, but he won't be directly involved in this story beyond what has already been seen. Keep your eyes out because he will pop up elsewhere in the DC2 giving more hints to his ultimate agenda.

Crow: You will have a better idea of where this story is going next issue. The is plenty more to come in this story and the 3-parter that follows it 'Blue Devil The Movie'

Susan: I was worried that I wouldn't get enough of the main story in the first part but when my wife read it, she said leave it as is. The other scenes will work better by themselves in part two. I agreed with her and I am glad you do as well.

Brian: I carried over my tradition of using songs titles from the Suicide Squad. Hollywood nights is one of my favs too and it was just too damn perfect to pass up as a title.