All Star DC Comics
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
All Star is an imprint of ongoing comic book titles published by DC Comics that began in 2005. DC has so far published two titles under the All Star banner, featuring Batman and Superman, with a third expected to start in 2007.
The premise of the imprint is to partner DC Comics' top tier characters with the most popular and acclaimed writers and artists. The creators have access to all elements in the characters' histories and to present their interpretation for a modern audience that have had not read these DC characters' comics previously, or had not seen them lately. The creative teams are not beholden to any previous and present continuities, and will tell stories that feature "the most iconic versions of these characters".
The project has been compared to the Ultimate line of Marvel Comics, which was a successful attempt to re-introduce Marvel's most popular characters to younger readers by presenting new, updated versions unburdened by decades of convoluted plotlines.[1] There are several differences between the two imprints, though. While the Ultimate titles have closely interrelated storylines, of the two All Star series so far released, there has been no effort to make them conform to each other or indicate they exist in the same continuity. Another is that All Star does not seek to introduce brand new versions of the characters so much as to present them in unhindered continuity. Although Robin's origin is rebooted in this imprint, this will not necessarily be the case for other All Star titles.
Some observers have pointed to the return of DC's major film franchises as an impetus for All Star. "No one can doubt that some kind of continuity shedding is necessary with Superman and Batman coming to the big screens," the website Comicon.com wrote. "Moviegoers entertained by these films would find the current comics storylines impenetrable[2]".
Contents |
[edit] Current or upcoming titles
[edit] Ongoing titles
- All Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder is the first title to come out of the All Star imprint. It premiered on July 2005. The first story arc featured artist Jim Lee and writer Frank Miller. This series features stories set in the early stages of the career of Batman, beginning with his recruitment of Dick Grayson as his sidekick Robin. Vicki Vale, Black Canary and Superman also appear. It is rumored that after Jim Lee leaves that former Batman Artist Neal Adams will take over art and plotting duties while Miller will stay on for writing the dialog.
- All Star Superman premiered on November 2005. The creative team of writer Grant Morrison and artist Frank Quitely are set for a twelve-issue run. Morrison states that this series will "strip down the Man of Steel to his timeless, essential elements".
[edit] Upcoming Titles
- All Star Wonder Woman was recently confirmed[3] by Adam Hughes, who will do both drawing and writing on it. The title would be launched in 2007.
- All Star Green Lantern was recently confirmed at the 2006 Chicago Wizard World, no details have been mentioned[4]
- All Star Batgirl was recently confirmed at the Toronto Comic Book Expo. Geoff Johns and J. G. Jones will work on the first six issues. it will be a monthly series. [5]
[edit] All Star Continuity
The All Star titles are self-contained, despite sharing a label. Each story within each book has the option of also having its own continuity, without ties to previous stories.
[edit] All Star Batman & Robin, the Boy Wonder
Miller has stated that All Star Batman & Robin, the Boy Wonder is in the same continuity as the other storylines in his "Dark Knight Universe" which consists of Batman: Year One, The Spawn/Batman crossover, The Dark Knight Returns, The Dark Knight Strikes Again and the upcoming Holy Terror, Batman![6]
[edit] All Star Superman
All Star Superman has not been stated to be tied down to a specific continuity like All-Star Batman and Robin, the Boy Wonder[7].
[edit] All Star Batgirl
The upcoming All Star Batgirl title is confirmed to not take place in the continuity of All Star Batman and Robin, the Boy Wonder[8].
[edit] References
- ^ www.popmatters.com
- ^ www.comicon.com
- ^ forum.newsarama.com
- ^ www.comicon.com
- ^ forum.newsarama.com
- ^ comics.ign.com
- ^ forum.newsarama.com
- ^ Johns on "All Star Batgirl"
[edit] See also
- Ultimate Marvel - a Marvel Comics imprint preceding All Star with a similar purpose.
- DC Comics
[edit] External links
- "DC Takes the Ultimate Chance on All-Stars", Comicon.com, December 21, 2004; a report on the announcement of the All Star imprint
- "All Star Superman #1", by Neil Kenyon, PopMatters, January 6 2006; review that compares and contrasts All Star and Ultimate lines
