Red Circle

I've got a question for the readers out there: am I the only one reading the Red Circle books? I don't care one way or another. I'm really enjoying them, but I'm not going to tell you that you should buy them (especially since they're $3.99 books in this economy).

I'm reading them, and I'm wondering if anybody else is as well. If you are do you like them? Hate them? Do you like the main stories or the backups? Are you interested in the additional stuff coming down the pipeline?

Or have you never touched a Red Circle book and plan to keep things that way? Inform me, friends.

The Web

Y'know, it's funny... Of all the Red Circle characters I thought for sure I was going to like The Web the least. I wasn't sure about his costume or his motives. I didn't think I would hate the Web... I just thought it would be fair to middlin'.

But things have a way of surprising you. I know that's happened with me and the Web. When I started reading the story I felt exactly how I thought I'd feel (and certainly exactly the was JMS wanted me to). I didn't like the Web much nor did I particularly care.

But when I read the Web's final broadcast:

"There's been a slight change in plans for summontheweb.com. If your problems can be solved easily, if you have your own money, your own resources, or your own fame... Don't use that website. Use it if your situation is hopeless. If there's something so awful, so terrible that you can't even tell your own... Your own family. If you're afraid in the dark, if the shadows are closing in on you, and there's nowhere else to turn... Go to the Web. Go to the Web. I'll be waiting."

And that did it for me. If the ongoing can hit me in the gut in the same way even half the time then I'll pick up every issue.

Really, when it comes to comics this is the best feeling in the world. There's nothing like picking up something you don't expect to like... And being blown away.

Independence Day

It's the 4th of July! If you're inclined to celebrate do so with The Shield, one of the first patriotic American super-heroes!

The Red Circle

Yesterday I talked a little about DC's propensity to launch new ongoings without any "trial balloons." In the process I mentioned the two Red Circle ongoings that have been announced.

I stand by what I said about the Red Circle books. That said, I think they have been doing an excellent job creating interest in the characters. The DCU Blog has been consistently promoting them, and I think the one-shots/mini-series that's coming out is a great way to kick off and gauge interest in the characters.

I'm also loving the Daily Planet articles that they'v been using a ads. They're a very clever way to create additonal interest in the characters and their one-shots.

That said, I'm still disappointed in the decision to announce ongoings without even waiting to see how the one-shots do. I think it's a problem because, well, they've decided to run the Red Circle books in the "co-feature stable of titles." That mean each book will have a main feature (the bulk of the story) and a co-feature (a smaller back-up story).

Why decide that now? After all, they don't know which characters will be particularly well received. Right now the books are slated to be The Web/Hangman and The Shield/Inferno. But here's the problem: I've found the Web to be pretty uninteresting. Hangman, on the other hand, fascinates me. What if other readers feel the same way? What if Inferno turns out to be the breakout star of the entire Red Circle? Will they be able to rearrange things? Or will they be stuck with something that doesn't work and have to cancel it all?

This is the problem with launching ongoings without gauging interest. Maybe DC knows something I don't. Maybe they know exactly why they're organizing the Red Circle line in that way. I just wish they'd tell us what they're thinking...