Legion World Forums LEGION COMPANION Dr. Gym'll's Cultural Rarities New52: Here's what I'd do, how about you?

Given a Cosmic Treadmill and a chance to rewrite history, with myself in charge of the New52 relaunch, here are the 52 titles I would have launched, including how I would have rebooted each character.


1. ACTION COMICS
No changes, I'd have commissioned exactly what was produced.

2. ADVENTURE COMICS
A title to feature the non-super-powered heroes of the DCnU – Cave Carson, El Diablo, the Sea Devils, Rex the Wonder Dog – in rotating arcs.

3. AGENT LIBERTY
A Tea Party anti-hero, much in the mold of the Superman from Action Comics #1, except that instead of taking down greedy corporate landlords, he makes it his mission to root out government corruption.

4. ALL-STAR COMICS
A book in which the characters and creative teams are determined by fan votes on the DC Comics website.

5. AMBUSH BUG
Because ya gotta have some fun.

6. AQUAMAN
No real changes from the DCnU look, except that I'd want to incorporate some of the fantasy aspects attempted in the Sword of Atlantis series. I don't feel like we've ever had an Aquaman series where the underworld setting was the co-star is should be.

7. BATMAN
No real changes from the DCnU book, except among the Robins, as noted elsewhere.

8. BATWOMAN
Pretty much as published.

9. BLACKHAWKS
I'd have recast the Blackhawks as Earth's first line of defense against extraterrestrial threats, operating from a secret base on the dark side of the moon.

10. BLACK LIGHTNING
Few changes to the classic '70s iteration of the character, other than to use the '90s costume.

11. BLUE BEETLE
Few changes to the DCnU book, other than as noted in Teen Titans, below.

12. THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD
A war book, with three eight-page stories, each by a different creative team, each set in a different era, but all exploring a similar theme, i.e. A soldier is given an order he finds unconscionable, what does he do?

13. CHALLENGERS OF THE UNKNOWN
The classic team, plus June, funded by an eccentric billionaire to explore the many conspiracy theories that permeate the web. Which are bunk and which are true? It's the Challs' job to find out.

14. THE DAILY PLANET
Basically, a Superman Family book, most often featuring Lois and Jimmy, but often others, such as Perry, Cat Grant, Steve Lombard, etc.. Using the storytelling technique on display in DCnU Superman #1, in which the narrative is from the reporter's article, this would feature characters and situations as varied as your daily paper. Being a reporter myself, I promise this book would have almost limitless potential potential.

15. THE DANGER PATROL
A reboot of the Dingbats of Danger Street. We all know what it's like to idolize super-heroes, but what would it be like in a world where super-heroes are real?.

16. DEADMAN
No changes. Quantum Leap meets Dead Like Me. How can you go wrong?

17. DETECTIVE COMICS
As much as I liked the recent #1 issue, I would have asked for a DCnU Year One treatment, a la Action Comics.

18. FANTASTIC WORLDS
Stories set on the different worlds of the United Planets. See my LSH entry.

19. THE FLASH
No changes to the current book, other than I'd have freed Iris from being a Lois Lane close by rebooting her as a hard-nosed, by-the-book detective, forcing her to be a foil for Barry in a David & Maddie Moonlighting kind of way.

20. FREEDOM FIGHTERS
I've always loved the Earth-X, the-Nazis-won-WWII concept, so I'd reboot the Quality Comics heroes here, circa 1952.

21. GOTHAM CENTRAL
I believe there's a place in comics for the police procedural. This book needs a second try.

22. GREEN ARROW
I'd have rebooted Ollie as a Native American environmentalist, thus a real "green" arrow, whose mission is to wage war on those who'd destroy the environment.

23. GREEN LANTERN
Few changes, except that, in my view, the test pilot civilian career has never quite worked. There are just too few story possibilities there. Instead, I'd make Hal a test pilot not for Ferris Aircraft, but for Area 51, with Carol as one of the scientists on staff there.

24. HAWKMAN
It's time here for a COMPLETE reboot a la the Silver Age. I'd lose both the Carter Hall and Katar Holl versions and remake the character as an Hispanic developer, Carlos Julia. I'd then do a spin on the Hulk/Ghost Rider/Demon motif by having him merged somehow with the Mayan Hawk diety in charge of ushering in the 2012 apocalypse, which he awoke rely while clearing the rain forest for his subdivisions. The end of the world can be delayed only so long as Carlos remains the dominant personality in the merger.

25. HOUSE OF MYSTERY
A mystery book starring the Dibney's as a husband-and-wife sleuthing team. In this iteration, I'd have Gingold make Ralph two-dimensional, e.g. the Thin Man. I'd also make this a $3.99 book by featuring Zatanna in a second feature.

26. JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
Led by Superman, DC's "cosmic" heroes and powerhouses, fighting the big, earth-shattering crises.

27. JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA
Led by Batman, DC's more earthy, street-level heroes.

28. KAMANDI, LAST BOY ON EARTH
I LOVED the Wednesday Comics strip. This would be more of that.

29. LEGIONNAIRES
Members of the LSH in rotating solo stories.

30. LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES
I'd reboot the Legion in a 30th century where faster-than-light travel has not been invented. Instead, every planet, moon, dwarf planet and many asteroids have been terraformed (including floating cities in the clouds of the gas giants), with humans bioengineered for survival on each world. However, even with 120+ worlds in the United Planets, the system is getting as over-crowded as today's Earth, leading to more than enough conflict to fuel any number of storylines.

31. THE METAL MEN
Loved the Giffin/Maguire version. More of that.

32. THE MIGHTY ATOM
People like tiny super-heroes, as evidenced by the survival of Doll Man until very late into the Golden Age. I'd try again with Ryan Choi, making Ray Palmer his professor and confidant and maybe co-inventor of the shink-tech. I'd only lose some of the Ivytown as uber-weird hub, which, I think, derailed the last series.

33. MYSTERY IN SPACE
A Martain Manhunter series. I want to lose the weakness to fire thing, and depower him some, limiting him to shape-shifting and density control. I'd also establish that J'Onn was a the protector of this space sector back when the Guardians used human Manhunters, and give him a Fugitive-like mission by having him hunt the mysterious one-eyed man who knows how to send him back to his own time.

34. NIGHTWING AND FLAMEBIRD
Jason Todd and his female sidekick. Since TPTB seen intent on keep Jason, I'd establish that he was Batman's first Robin, but that the partnership did not work out, in part because Jason was too old and set in his vengeful ways. He then went off to become Nightwing while Batman tried again with a younger ward.

35. PLASTIC MAN
It all depends on nailing down the right creative team.

36. SEAL TEAM SIX
Real-world super-heroes, a modern era Easy Company.

37. SENSATION COMICS
Basically, Birds of Prey, an all-chick comic.

38. SERENITY
Because I can.

39. SEVEN SOLDIERS
Rich Man, Poor Man, Begger Man, Thief, Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief - each with an iconic occupation or power. i.e Crimson Avenger, the rich newspaper publisher; Green Arrow, the Robin Hood poor man, Shining Knight, with his vow of poverty dependence on others, Heat Wave, the firefighter with a criminal past, Captain Comet, the phd astronaut, Skyman, the high-flying Senator and Vigilante, the modern cowboy AND Indian.

40. STARGIRL
I like Courtney, just not crazy about STRIPE. I'd reboot her as essentially the same person, but maybe as the granddaughter of Ted Knight.

41. STRANGE ADVENTURES
Adam Strange, still as an archeologist, who discovers ancient technology beneath the Sphinx. But instead of sending him to an alien world, these zeta-beams send him hurtling through time. A crystal he grabbed just before the first jump tells him where to be to catch the next zeta beam, but not where it's going. All he can do is keep trying to be where one is when it hits, in hopes the next time jump will take him home.

42. SUICIDE SQUAD
Nothing wrong with the classic version, I think, fat Waller and all.

43. SUPERBOY
First, I want the classic silver age logo, to set this character apart. Other than that, I think the clone angle has been pretty well locked in, so there's not much we can do with that. Since the DCnU Superman is younger, though, we may be able to successfully ship Kon off to the Kents.

44. SUPERGIRL
The basic premise of the DCnU version, at least from the press reports, given the scant evidence in the first issue, is a keeper. Certainly, a Kyptonian who arrived on earth as a teen instead of as a baby would behave much differently. I'd have Superman send her into the future to train with the Legion as he did - the better to acclimate to human culture given a technological base closer to the world she knows. However, because Kara needs a lesson in humility even stronger than the one he learned in his Legion initiation, Superman would make Kara join the Substitute Legion. I might even make the Subs academy cadets, with her in the geekiest of four houses. Basically, it'd be Harry Potter meets Glee, in the future, with super-powers.

45. SUPERMAN
No changes. DCnU book is good to go.

46. TEEN TITANS
I'd set this book on Earth-4, with all of the traditional Charlton heroes rebooted as teens, like Blue Beetle.

47. TOMAHAWK
Because I'm a sucker for Revolutionary War stories.

48. THE UNEXPECTED
Simple concept - Pick a quality creator, or creative team and say, "GO, do what you want, knock my socks off, give me something totally new and unexpected.

49. WEIRD WESTERN TALES
A rotating cast of DC's classic Western characters.

50. WONDER WOMAN
I like the horror/fantasy angle of the DCnU book, it just needs to be better executed.

51. WOW COMICS
The Fawcett title, set on its own world of wonder and whimsy. As with Plas, the proper creative team is key.

52. YOUNG ROMANCE
A romance book, but set in a comic book store, where the focus is on the attempts of its employees and patrons to find romance in typical Geeksville fashion. Basically, a book about the readers of the other 51 books, with a special brand of humor they will appreciate.

I don't see this information in the rest of this post. What do you want to do with the Robins?

I would love it if there was a Soviet team to act as their foil during the Cold War. Maybe after the Cold War smaller nations could make appearances too.

Fixed. Basically, I'd establish Jason as the first, very short-term, Robin who went off to become Nightwing, have the current Robin be Dick Grayson, and debut Tim as one of Dicks more inquisitive classmates.

I'm still hoping others will chime in. Given the power, what would your 52 titles be?

Wow, PoFo, I've no idea what I would do with a whole 52, but I would have:

1) Birds of Prey with Babs, Huntress and Dinah (and probably Lady Blackhawk) all still in it. Hopefully still written by Gail.

2) Suicide Squad written by Ostrander and featuring pretty much his old line-up.

3) Batgirl starring Stephanie Brown and written by Bryan Q. Miller.

4) A revival of Mystery in Space which reimagines Space Ranger and also possibly features characters like Adam Strange and Captain Comet. Replaces either Red Lanterns or GL: New Guardians.

5) Secret Six continues with Gail and Calafiore. Replaces Red Hood & the Outlaws.

Those are a few off the top of my head. More to come as I think of them.

I don't think you have to be a Tea Partyer to want to root out government corruption. But otherwise having a hero who focuses on government corruption and wrong-doing is a good idea.

Alright, here are the beginnings of mine...

1) More Fun Comics Ambush Bug hosts this book (think of the old House of Mystery) and it would feature all out fun stories set in and out of the DCU.

2) All-Star Western Basically what they are doing with the title now.

3) SHAZAM: The Adventures of the Marvel Family Picking up where Jeff Smiths story left off. In it's own contiinuity outside the main DCU.

4) Our Army at War WWII Book featuring Sgt. Rock as it's usual main feature, and starring other WWII characters/concepts as backups, switching for an arc or two When warranted.

5) Adventure Comics Starring a rotating cast of characters. The Challengers of the Unknown, Cave Carson, The Sea Devils, etc...

I am not sure how a Justice Society would work in the New DC. From my understanding they are having it that Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Flash, et. al. first appeared 5 years ago and that they are the first superheroes.

If you did a Justice Society book, I would set it on good old Earth-2. I don't like having the JSA & the JLA on the same Earth. I mean if there is a major crisis happening (which it is wont to do for both groups) would either team sit it out because the other one has it?

for other new titles, I can't think of any.

Quis, you do know that an upcoming book by James Robinson and Nicola Scott that will be exactly this has already been announced as upcoming, right?

6) Justice League International Set on the Charlton characters earth. Booster Gold joins them as team leader when he travels to the past to become a hero. The standard Charlton heroes are on the team.

7) Justice League of America Standard stuff here, nothing much different than what we are seeing. Big 7 plus a few extras.

8) Justice Society of America Set in modern day, legacy characters (Stargirl, new Hourman, etc) exist, moving them to Earth 2.

9) Infinity Inc Nuff Said...I'm gettin the band back together. Easy to do when you can ignore the crap that has happened to them. Oh yeah, they're all still alive as well.

10) Suicide Squad The Secret Six have gone underground and Waller (the real one) sets Task Force X back up to find them...thing is, Deadshot has some ideas of where they went, as they left him for dead.

11) The Secret Six They have been devastated by internal conflict and are on the run. Catman, Savage, Ragman, Major Disaster, Boomerang (Owen Mercer) and The Red Hood (Jason Todd)

No, I did not.

Well, now ya do!

What do I do?

12) The Legion of Super Heroes More on this later. Actually going to mix things up a bit, vary the ages and membership.

13) Mystery in Space Captain Comet highlights this space book. Ventures throughout the DCU having adventures with the likes of the Omega Men, and L.E.G.I.O.M.

14) House of Mystery Ralph and Sue Dibney solve all sorts of mysteries, normal and bizarre from their home base in Opal City...and yeah, Ralph is The Elongated Man.

15) The Blue Devil This is the one that I would have the most fun with. Same basic back story, and he lives in the House of Weirdness, which is actually a gateway to all the alternate universes. Adventures with anyone, anywhere...and anytime. Kind of like what they did with Booster Gold and the time stream...but with a twist. Also, when he travels to another 'universe', he becomes who he is there. If he never had the accident that bonded him to the suit...he's normal, if he has died...think Deadman type action.

16) Action Comics Just like they did in their reboot, this would be the adventures of Superman as a young hero learning the ropes.

17) Superman Clark Kent is no more. Superman no longer uses a secret identity. His war on crime has left him no time for a second life...but at what cost.

18) Detective Comics Batman as a young, not so jaded crime fighter. He still makes mistakes and has a lot to learn.

19) Batman Batman, the Dark Night. The Detective. The man that strikes fear into the hearts of criminals.

20) Batman and Robin Batman training his son Damian, to be the newest Robin...but can he help the boy overcome the lessons he learned at the hands of Ra;s Al Ghul and the League of Assassins?