Big news erupted when Brian Michael Bendis announced the end of his nearly 20 year run at Marvel comics (making Dan Slott the new champion over at Marvel as far are longevity goes). This sent ripples across Geekdom, and Legion of Super Heroes fans have been going nuts wanting the news to be followed soon by an announcement that he is going to be picking up the long-absent LSH book in "Rebirth" or otherwise.
Of course, DC has teased a planned return of the Legion ever since Rebirth came along. Saturn Girl has turned up in Arkham Asylum, and we've all been waiting for a pay off ever since.
Now, here's a little bit of insider info that may make the Bendis dreams fade:
I have been assisting with an upcoming book from Two Morrows Publishing about Mike Grell. As such, the book focuses on his many years and works (Legion included). As a part of the book, I interviewed a few of Grell's collaborators, including Dan Jurgens. Jurgens was super nice, and when I asked him what he might like to see Grell come back and do at DC, he was particularly fanboying out on the notion of Grell doing Legion again. Jurgens then said that DC had plans for the Legion that were in the works already, and such a throwback series would not really be in the offing.
I take that to mean that DC already has someone on Legion and at work. At least I hope. If there's no work being done yet, and Bendis is the guy to write it, we're still a LONG time away from seeing it on shelves. And I personally think the sooner the better.
Which brings me to that Jim Lee Tweet that came out a few months back that hinted that he was courting Jonathon Hickman to come to DC from Marvel too. This was before the Bendis talk, but Hickman's name has come back up after the Bendis announcement.
Legion fans went ape over the idea of a Hickman Legion, and if those parts have been in motion for a while, that means we're closer to a Legion return, which I am all for.
So I'm team Hickman on this.
I loved Bendis's work at Marvel, which was saying something since Marvel has been consistently a mess for the past 8 or so years. His recent Iron Man was the only worthy book they had going (outside of the Star Wars line).
DC has not been all that great either, but they have pulled out of the downward spiral that was New 52, Convergence, and DC You (Eww). New 52 was to be a fresh start. It didn't have much shelf life though. A short flirtation of old dudes pretending to be hip and up with the cool kids gave us DC You (Eww) which was a smoldering pile of dung.
Then Rebirth. And all is finally right with the DC U.
Quietly Marvel relaunched a ton of titles around that time too. Uncanny Avengers was OK, and I picked up several series, which I quickly lost interest in. In his time there Hickman took passes at the Fantastic Four, as well as Avengers and spear-headed the latest Secret Wars.
Marvel is now trying to course correct again, and are having little success. They seem too busy making movies to focus on the source material. DC is making movies too, but for whatever reason, they are having a harder time getting off the launch pad. However, in the publishing end, they are hitting it out of the part (finally.)
So, it only makes sense that as Marvel's publishing ship is listing, the top talent over there are getting a little woozy and looking to jump ship and swim for safe shores. I can't blame them really. DC Comics is where its at these days for creators. Marvel is trying to figure out what they want to be it seems, and are throwing everything against the wall to see what sticks. Classic numbering is following DC doing the same on their big titles, hoping to suddenly cash in on "legacy" fans as opposed to trying to constantly attract new kids with shiny issues one.
When the likes of Bendis and Hickman leave Marvel does it start a major exodus of others? (Of course John Romita Jr jumped to DC a while back and that created some major fandom ripples).
Is this on the level of Jim Shooter going to Marvel? Carmine Infantino going to Marvel? John Byrne going to DC?
I feel like this has similar potential of being another industry "scandal" of talent jumping.
Who is next?
Will anyone from DC be lured to Marvel? Can you imagine Geoff Johns suddenly forsaking DC for Marvel?
What could Marvel do to fix their creative problems? Are they speed dialing Byrne or Chris Claremont? Frank Miller returns to Daredevil? Mike Grell gets his bucket list title and does Captain America? Howard Chaykin taking on the depravity of Tony Stark in Iron Man?
Of course, those suggestions are backward looking, while DC is firmly pointed forward. Rebirth would indicate new life, while Marvel's "Legacy" approach seems to be about looking backward, which would allow for such moves.
Maybe they should hire me to help them sort this stuff out. I'd put John Byrne back on Fantastic Four, give Grell Cap, and have Frank Miller return to Daredevil in a heartbeat.
Nuff said.
And I would buy all those books. Something I can't say about Marvel, nor have been able to say for about 5 years.
Perhaps it is long past time for shake ups and shifts between the "Big Two."
And honestly, short of Dan Jurgens actually getting Mike Grell to draw a Legion re-launch in disco Legion attire, I couldn't be more excited to hear the Legion getting shoved to the front of the speculation line as high-calibre names are bandied about.
Just get to it already!
Welcome Hickman and Bendis. DC is going to be a great home for you both. The Legion awaits, Justice Society awaits, and both could be well-served by two such writers taking the reigns.
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