Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Reboot possibilities for the Elongated Man & wife.

As sources have been informing this day (check the Bleeding Cool article, for instance), after the Flashpoint event ends, DC is restarting its entire line with 52 #1 issues. The change will also reset the continuity and focus on the main heroes at early points in their careers... Which means that there's a big chance for Ralph and Sue, along with Blue Beetle II the original Question and other characters like Rocket Red No. 4, the Ventriloquist & Scarface, Black Mask, the Fiddler and the KGBeast, to return from death without even needing to resurrect. I really, really hope so.
While Ralph was not seen in Flashpoint #1, a mysterious "Elongated Kid" appeared in Flash #9, part of the prologue of the event. Let's hope that means something good for the Dibnys. At least we know that the Elongated Man is still in the mind of Geoff Johns.

Update
Among the list of titles DC has revealed for September, we can notice the following changes:

1. Barbara Gordon can walk and is Batgirl again!
2. Roy Harper (a.k.a. Speedy, Arsenal or Red Arrow) recovered his right arm.
3. Arnold Wesker, a.k.a. the Ventriloquist & Scarface, is alive.
Covers to Batgirl #1 (by Adam Hughes) and Red Hood and the Outlaws #1 (by Kenneth Rocafort), and alternative cover to Batman #1 (by Greg Capullo).
These changes, specially Wesker's return, open the door for the Elongated Man and Sue, the original Question, Blue Beetle II, Rocket Red No. 4, Freedom Beast, Black Mask, Copperhead and the KGBeast to return.

So, the big question is: Are Identity Crisis and 52 still in continuity? Personally, as much as I love those stories, I hope not. If they don't get to be part of the new continuity, it would be like having a cake and eating it too. Those great stories would still be part of a past continuity, but we get some classic characters back in the current one. It's just a matter of crossing fingers now.

Update - Jun 9th
Along with a team that could give nightmares to Marilyn Manson, the Elongated Kid seems to be making a comeback in the upcoming Teen Titans #1.

Is this good? To me, it all depends. If he turns out to be Billy Warner, the classic Elongated Man #1 fan from the silver age, I might become a fan (despite not liking the uniform); if that's Ethan Kramer, I hope he doesn't survive the first issue. I'm sorry, but I'm just not into Diet Coke or I Can't Believe It's Not Butter, I dislike replacement legacies.

I'm still hopping we get to see the real Nick and Nora Charles of DC Comics alive.

Update - Jun 15th.

Well, it seems like it's not going to happen after all. In an interview with Comic Book Resources DC's Editpr-in-Chief Bob Harras and DCU Executive Editor Eddie Berganza, revealed that events like Identity Crisis are going to form part of the new continuity:

Berganza: Right. Just because we're starting with new #1s doesn't mean we're getting rid of the history attached. A lot of those big, important storylines are remaining in tact. What happened in "A Death In The Family" stays true, and so does "Blackest Night," "Brightest Day," "The Killing Joke"...
Harras: "Identity Crisis." Again, this is a well thought out process before we went forward.
I think 52 is also likely to be part of it. What was done with the Ventriloquist and Arsenal seems to indicate that Robinson's stories might not be part of the DCnU, though. So it seems like we're back to crossing fingers for more those promised ghost Dibnys cameos or a resurrection...


Update - Sept 13th.

Here's a nice post about it by Bill D. from Trusty Plinko Stick:

Friday Favorites: The Elongated Man (and Sue, of course)

"If you read superhero comics, you know DC spent the last few years being very, very unkind to the Dibnys (...) However, as they're quick to remind everyone, DC's running a whole new (or at least really, really revised) ballgame right now. Some of the old continuity remains, a lot of it seemingly doesn't. Seems to me that some of the more unpleasant bits could easily be swept under the rug, don't you think? Come on, DC, give us back Ralph and Sue"...