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Us Ronnie Raymond ones that is?:

Originally posted on Newsarama.com
At the Studio Phoenix website, writer Dan Jolley has announced that he will be leaving DC’s Firestorm with issue #13, due in stores in May.

On the site’s messageboard, Jolley posted:

“Tonight seems like a pretty good opportunity to drop some more news on you, in light of the announcement of Bloodhound's cancellation earlier today.

”What do you get when you combine a number of new projects for me, one of which is immense in scope and totally beyond anything I've done before, with DC's plans to "re-think" one of their titles?

”My farewell. Issue #13 will be my last one of Firestorm.

”I'm leaving at a really good place, though. ‘Learning Curve,’ the arc that just started, will be wrapped up with a great big bow, and I'm very pleased with what DC and I were able to accomplish. I'll miss the book -- I had some things coming up that I was tremendously excited about -- but I have total faith in [editor] Steve Wacker to shepherd this title along and make sure it's great.

”I'll be talking at length about my new projects pretty soon (as soon as a couple of them are cleared for discussion, that is), but you can get a little glimpse of one of them at www.fc9.net. It's a book called "Hell, Michigan," and I'm having a blast with it.”

In the ensuing discussion Jolley said that the current Firestorm, Jason Rusch, would still be in the series after his departure.
link to article
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Could this mean the return of Ronnie as Firestorm? If so, count me in as picking up this title. Hell, I'd even buy the back issues to complete the collection.

Haven't read much of Jolley's work, but I'll give it a chance anytime, as long as it doesn't make one of my favorite heroes get replaced by an unknown.

<fingers crossed>

No Ron in lead, no buy from me. That said, return him to the place he deserves and i am there. Jolley could have written it and i would have been there. I think he really suffered a disservice in what the editor was doing. There was just toooooo much love for the Ron character to crap on it like the editor and Didio did.

Hopefully, they haven't damaged the book so much that it is beyond saving. Now if only they could get George to draw it again, like he did in some of the backups in Flash.

DiDio has said on several occasions that he's committed to the new Firestorm. What this means for the old one, I don't know.

Have you seen any of the recent ads for upcoming FIRESTORM issues?

SPOILERS!!




FIRESTORM #11

Written by Dan Jolley
Art by Dale Eaglesham & Wade von Grawbadger
Cover by Matt Haley

With the threat of Killer Frost eliminated, Ronnie Raymond - the original Firestorm - joins current Firestorm Jason Rusch just in time for an attack by Multiplex and Typhoon!

Outdoor Miner:

It means we'll have ten years of Jason Rusch being promoted as the "one, true" Firestorm, with occasional time-travel stories featuring Ronnie Raymond and Martin Stein to (unsuccessfully) appease long-time fans, finally culminating in a mini-series called "Firestorm: Rebirth" which brings back Ronnie Raymond and explains that it was the Russian guy from the later issues of the original Firestorm series who was really killed in Identity Crisis.

I'm still reading FIRESTORM, but Jason is just SO unlikeable a character. Jolley's done a poor job at building sympathy/empathy with the lead character. Not a good sign.

Bring on Ronnie, I say!

I am looking forward to Ronnie as well. I was surprised at the end of last issue. I was expecting to see Firestorm with boobs.
Bring em back.. Ronnie needs to live.

Firestorm with boobs? You mean that great lil run on Dr. Fate from about twenty years ago? Wait, no, it can't have been that long ago, can it? Nah, gotta be maybe fifteen at the most.

Oh, you meant firehawk, right?

Well, Stuart Moore is taking over, and i am sure he will do a fine job, but if it ain't ron, i ain't there. harsh, but dats what ah want.

Saw the cover on #10 today, and YEP! There's Ronnie! I'll have to flip through a copy when I get to the other CBS this weekend...

I really have a feeling that Ronnie is gonna be like the professor was and be Jasons guide. I wouldnt mind Ronnie being in the book for that but I would like to see him back in action again.

So 11's out today... do you guys have any idea what Ronnie's doing back? Spoil away, I'm not buying this.

I read the posts on the DC MB link...

So, apparently Ronnie is taking over Prof. Stein's old role.

Y'know what, it makes sense. It's a natural evolution, and the next best thing to having the Ronnie character as Firestorm. Actually, we DO have the Ronnie character as Firestorm.

Plus it resolves that nasty "Jason kills or endangers the life of whomever he merges with to become Firestorm" thing.

I'm pleased to hear Jason finally stands up to his bastard jackass father.

The jury's still out on this book for me... I still have yet to be WOWed by it. I'll give these new developments 4-6 issues to change that.

No Ron no buy from me either.

Some characters it's the concept that makes them popular. Some it's the actual character.

Firestorm was always about Ray for me. So what the guy isn't a teenager anymore. Characters in that age range of 21 to 25 are very interesting to young readers. They are in that post college Reality Bites...don't have a job atmosphere.

Hm...so Ronnie is back, but a la Professor Stein?

...

Ok, I'm intrigued. I'll have to remember to buy this when I go this weekend, and see how it goes from there. It's not exactly what I want, but it's inching closer. I'll wait on picking up the back issues until I'm sure I'm going to be around for the long haul (if there is one).

I'll pick up 10 and 11 this weekend. Sounds... better than what we've had so far.

How's Jamal Igle's art? I seem to remember him from the second NEW WARRIORS series... if that's him, he's all right... certainly better (IMO) than CrisCross.

I do like this idea as an advancement for the Firestorm character. The Raymond/Stein combo was played out; wasn't Ronnie having all sorts of trouble forming Firestorm because Prof. Stein was an unwilling participant? Going back to the original format would be as lame as Byrne's DP reboot. I like the idea of Ronnie being the guiding voice, having grown from the headstrong embodiment.

We'll see, but this is the most hoeful I've let myself feel since the relaunch.

Dale Eaglesham's doing #11, apparently.

Even better... I know I like Dale's art.

I read # 11.

Looks like you "No Ron No Buy" folks will be adding a new comic to your pull list!

FINALLY. The hook that has pulled me into this book. I'm here for the foreseeable future, no more doubts.

Firestorm is now-- to me-- the most unique character in the mainstream DCU. He's Jason AND he's Ronnie.

Sometimes he'll be the Ronnie Firestorm-- when Ronnie's expertise is needed, which I suspect will be IMMEDIETELY if the final page is any indication, and sometimes he'll be the Jason-F-Storm. They're able to swap out at will.

There is even speculation that they'll be sharing the non-powered body as well. Now THAT is a kewl take that opens up a million possibilities.

Brilliant hook, I think.

Agreed.

I'm here, I'm happy and I'm officially buying Firestorm again. Thank you, DC. Just...thank you.

It was great. I haven't read anything with Jason yet, but I like the character a bit already and am willing to give him a big chance, knowing that Ronnie is in the book.

The play b/t Ronnie and Jason was great too--Ronnie willing to put off the meeting with his Dad to go stop trouble and Jason's reaction to it was perfect.

The possibilities really do seem endless now, and I'm looking forward to them. Knowing that we'll not only be able to have Ronnie around, but also see "Ronnie-Firestorm" and "Jason-Firestorm" is hella-kewl.

Firestorm's back . Me too.

SPOILERS FOR # 13 FOLLOW!!!!


Well frag.


Looks like you "No Ron No Buy" folks can drop the book again.

I'm a little pissed off myself. What was the whole point of that bringhim him back just to dismiss him thing? STUPID, all of them stupid!

And just like that, I'm GONE.

Let's not be too hasty people.

Just picked up the new issue #14. With a new writer and artist.

I was impressed. A pretty quick new status quo for Jason that works. I love the businesses next to STAR Labs Detroit. I like this new setup. I'll stick around another 10 issues or so. Two years seems like a good number.

Who says Ronnie is gone?

Check out the next to the last page of #14. There's a ball of energy in the sky ... and it says:

Ron ... Ronald ... Firestorm?

Which means it's either Ronnie or the Prof.

I like this book a LOT. Dan did a great job, and Stu is off and running.

I guess that means that people's reviews of the title in this thread will determine if I buy the comic or not!

The official 'Ron or Gone' club is now in effect!

CK, Lash and Vu, I'll need you to point me in the direction of these subtlties!