|
Sign the Petition to Save J'Onn J'Onzz
Click here to leave a comment and sign the Petition
and get banners to help promote the campaign.
Click here to download and distribute the
Save J'Onn and the Superheores
PRESS RELEASE
Click here for the
Save J'Onn J'Onzz
ARCHIVES
Fans of the Manhunter from Mars respond from across the comics web.
 In a somewhat surprising turn, Take Me... But Don't Kill J'Onn is receiving a range of responses at comics blogs and forums. From critical commentary to unreserved reverence, J'Onn J'Onzz fans and comics commentators are speaking their mind, voicing a resounding majority support for saving the life of the Martian Manhunter.
At Daniel Best's 20th Century Danny Boy:
An Open Reply to Michael Netzer
Daniel Best responded with a hard hitting and passionate exposition outlining why he doesn't hold much hope for the plea to help change a decision on the fate of J'Onn J'Onzz.
Meanwhile you know, better than I do, that the following will happen: 1] DC will kill off the Manhunter because it'll mean an instant sales spike. Nothing that is said, or done, will change that, hey - the more people who complain the better. As I've just said, if you whinge, they will kill it. If you cry, they will laugh. And they will count the dollars you give them.
...
How do you change any of this? Here's the hot wire to the head - you can't. Offering your services up to the title, even for free, won't change anything. Indeed the opposite - they'll just get you to draw the death scenes. Hey, as much as I'd love to see you back on a mainstream title, and it'd be almost too cool to see you revisit a title that you once drew, let's face it, if God Himself appeared before the DC brass and offered to pencil the title, with Neal Adams and Jim Lee inking it and Frank Miller writing it, DC would still ask for the character to be killed off. That they could boast a creative team of Miller-God-Adams-Lee would only be cream. So if God can't save J'onn, what chance have you got?
I'm dead curious to see what comes from this. Keep spreading the word and see the result. I can see it now, a phone in poll,
"You Decide Who Lives & Who Dies: Aquaman or J'onn J'onzz"
While Batman artist extraordinaire, NORM BREYFOGLE, also chimed in with a comment:
Danny, your above blog was utterly hilarious, extremely well written, and insightful. You made an obvious point (the cinicism of DC Comics vs. the transparent immaturity of much of fandom) with real panache.
Netzer's plea for the "life" of a fictional character owned by a soulless corporation illustrates either his naievte, his delusions of grandeur, or some more covert intention (as Michael himself virtually admits to in his response immediately following your blog).
Michael, I hope all your dreams come true.
At Frank Lee Delano's The Idol-Head of Diabolu
Mike Netzer: "Take Me... But Don't Kill J'Onn"
Frank has written a thoughtful and insightful blog entry. While not enthused about waging a crusade, he analyzes the events surrounding this effort with humbling perception and directs a call for DC Comics to sieze an opportunity.
In recent months, Michael Netzer has made a new name for himself. First, there was the Messiah business, which raised his profile considerably. Next, there were some notable cries of ageism, but publishers have no use for a Norma Ray type, so that track was wisely abandoned.
Finally, and most slyly, there has been the cultivation of a relationship with the internet comic community. How canny is it to rate repeated mentions in one of the most read columns in comics, "Lying in the Gutters," without even having any major projects in the pipeline? Netzer first rates an appearance as part of a gag strip Johnston circulated, then entangles himself in a rumor Johnston reported in the same week as the strip's public appearance, only to assure a follow-up mention in the next week's column. If there were a betting pool, that would be easy money, and that's brilliant marketing of the sort Mark Millar utilized to become one of the hottest writers in comics after years in obscurity. We all know talent isn't nearly so important in this industry as connections, visibility, and marketability.
Netzer is clearly aware of these factors, and is in the process of manipulating them masterfully. DC Comics don't just need Michael Netzer as an artist, but as a guide toward much needed positive spin. He's certainly shown more of a gift for the skill than DC marketing over the past couple years.
Now look here: even with absolutely nameless talent and the company of seriously under-performing "Brave New World" spin-offs, the last "Martian Mannhunter" series sold in the 40K range for most of its run. Before the writing torpedoed the title, the last Manhunter ongoing series debuted to exceptional numbers as a JLA spin-off.
The character has some inherent value these days, but it has yet to be fully exploited. It seems to me pairing a veteran as pleasing to the eye as Netzer with a hot writer that has an affinity for the character on short term duty (Morrison, Waid, Giffen) followed by a veteran or upstart with cache (Matt Fraction, Phil Hester, Peter Milligan, Joe Casey, J. M. DeMatteis, Peter Tomasi, Tony Bedard) could pan out far better than the slash-and-burn technique of a character death.
Wouldn't it be poetic to marry a character and creator that are both historically undervalued and dismissed into a team that caught fire (pun intended?) More importantly, when your greatest success stories of the past year have been reconstitutions of classics (Green Lantern, JLA, JSA, Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman) rather than deconstructions (Wildstorm, Teen Titans, Birds of Prey, Brave New World titles,) what kind of bloody fool must you be to continue a Scorched Earth policy?
At Millarworld Forums:
Ogul: Man, I hope they aren't serious about messing with J'onn. You just can't have a Justice League without J'onn being a part of it.
Jefferson l.o.b Sergeant: Netzer with Ostrander as the writer of a new Martian Manhunter ongoing works for me. If not ostrander, I am sure Morrison wouldn't mind kicking the series off.
Bob Mitchell: Brilliant stuff Michael, class as ever.
Todd Gross: Michael, I would love to see your campaign be successful but if it isn't, you may have an opportunity to draw Martian Manhunter: Rebirth in a few years.
Aris: As long as they change him back to looking like he does above.
John Brook: Yes please. no more dark blue suit abomination, I like my Martian half naked.
Miqque Loveland: There are several charaters that need to be gone (Nightwing and the various Robins, as well as Lois Lane, to name a few off the top) but not our Manhunter. He needs to go to some sort of overt agent watching the plotting of covert organizations by using his powers.
Jay T: Brilliant work Mr Netzer. After seeing this and his two pages in LitG, why aren't the big two not hiring this man for new projects??? Also I'm a big J'Onn fan too (I quite dig his new costume) I hope Rich is wrong about this one and they don't kill him off - c'mon you DC bigwigs, get him back in the JLA!
Eric Schaefges: J'onn is and has been since I started reading DC (the morrison JLA), my favorite character (my email address for years was manhunterfrmmars). It has seemed to me, though, that all of his solo adventures suck. But he was so awesome in the cartoon and in Morrison's JLA that i'd hope they'd realize it's the writers, and not the character, who are broke. Also, the new design is completely unappealing - while it would be a fine 'new' character, its too Iron Spidey - not what you want in a martian manhunter.
Neil Bradbury: Ostrander's run is quite good. Also the story the distiguished Mr Netzer refers to in his post.
At The Howling Curmudgeons
Bring Me the Cape of J'onn J'onzz
Greg: Michael Netzer is always an interesting dude, and I sympathize quite a bit with his plea to DC. There are some claims in there about his influence on the depiction of J'onn that I'm not qualified to evaluate, but I don't doubt that his short run was still highly influential. Netzer's a fine artist then and now.
Jason Fliegel: Well, you certainly can't accuse Mr. Netzer of having a self-esteem problem. I don't really care much what happens in Final Crisis. The status quo of the books may be different, and it may be something closer to the DC of 30 years ago, but the quality of the stories will be exactly the same as they are now -- some good, some bad, some in-between. I prefer the continuity of 1978 to the continuity of 2008, but I'd rather read a good book set in 2008 than a mediocre book set in 1978, and no matter how many Crises they do, that's not going to change.
Carl Fink: "Won't give 'em a dime." From your mouth to Paul Levitz's ear.
Greg Morrow: What Netzer's post brought to mind was Steve Englehart's reminiscences about his Detective Comics run, which was apparently the starting point for Batman for everyone else in every medium ever since.
Doug: I remember being intrigued by this short-lived series at the time, but IIRC, it felt like it was going to lead somewhere but ended up essentially as a one-off story. The Martian Manhunter had exiled himself from Earth, and at the end of the story (which appeared in World's Finest #245 in a Superman/Batman story with Curt Swan art) he remained off Earth. As Netzer recalls, he did bring the brow back here--pulling J'onn out of his "green Telly Savalas" period. My theory about Rich Johnston's rumor on the deaths of Martian Manhunter and Aquaman is that Dan DiDio picked up a random issue of a comic--in this case, Adventure #449--and decreed that everyone inside should be killed. Unfortunately, upon opening the comic book, he discovered that Aquagirl and Flash were already dead, Green Lantern has only recently been resurrected, and Aqualad was presumed dead not too long ago. That really only left Aquaman and the Martian Manhunter, although Tempest probably ought to watch his back, anyway.
David Oakes: How about B&B #28? J'onn and Arthur are the only two original Leaguers not to be killed and ressurected. Heck, J'onn was just pushed through a "Grim and Gritty" phase as well. Not that I think DiDio is enough on the ball to want to consciously level the playingfield in time for Morisson's denoument. But I do think a subconscious "Let's kill all the bitches" niggling may be at work.
At Gail Simone's CBR/YABS Forum
Michael Netzer's Open letter to DC Comics - Save MARTIAN MANHUNTER!
the4thpip: Take Michael Netzer instead! I'd buy it.
Gail Simone: WE LOVE YOU, MICHAEL NETZER! This is going to sound pathetic, but I never 'got' J'onn until I wrote him. The same thing to a lesser degree with Superman, the Mad Hatter, even Wonder Woman to a smaller degree still. I never really ADORED them until I had to write their dialog and then it was just BAM, instant love. Devin Grayson told me the same thing about J'onn. It's not that I think I'm so brilliant, all the great stuff was already there, it's just that I'd never taken the time to look inside his head. Now I adore him.
Lester C: Michael your art, as always, is simply breathtaking.
The Ray: J'onn is awesome. I don't know why anyone would get rid of him.
JKCarrier: While J'onn has never been one of my favorites, I would certainly love to see Michael Netzer "back in the saddle" again... make it so, DC!
Stamen: WOW. What a great, heart-felt letter. I hope they do it.
Corrina: Hey! I bought those issues off the spinner rack. One quick look at the artwork, which was breathtaking, had me remembering. A very belated thank you, Mr. Netzer.
Danny ACAB: The stunt now is to work out just how they'll kill him and even better people should be betting on when and how they'll bring him back. Death in comic books has lost all impact. The best thing Mike can do is to leap on board the bandwagon and start thinking of just how to kill the Martian Manhunter. However when a committee start deciding that a character must 'die', then it's the sign of a creative team, or a publisher via it's editors, bereft of ideas. Roll on Netzer!
Cedardryad: I love J'onn and I'm totally up for him being saved. Thank you Michael, thank you so very much. I do hope they listen to your request. I say start up a petition, I'll gladly sign it.
At Comics Bulletin Forum Formely Silver Bullet Comic Books
Take Me... But Don't Kill J'Onn
Thom Young: Hi, Michael. It's good to see you around. I enjoyed the two-page piece you did with Rich Johnston that he posted in "Lying in the Gutter." I'm also not for killing off the Martian Manhunter. I just want his "all-new look" to go away.
Dave Wallace: Which would surely be easily done, for a shapeshifter... I think that the woman on that cover must be responding to the [new] costume rather than the bullet.
At Newsarama
Comic-Reader Lad: I remember that 3 issue run in Adventure Comics fondly, and I always thought J'Onn was a cool character when I read those JLA reprints drawn by Mike Sekowsky. He's a very powerful character -- a combination of Superman, Chameleon Boy, Phantom Girl, and Saturn Girl plus he's a detective like Batman -- and a writer with a good imagination would be able to make good use of his powers and skills in a variety of interesting situations.
I hope Rich keeps following the story. I'm curious to see if this has already been decided at DC and there's no turning back.
BillyZoom666: That was a cool piece. I'm a fan of JJ. I hope they don't kill him, or if they do, at least make it mean something. Please, for the love of god, make it mean something.
I am MODOK: With Ted Kord dead, J'onn is now my favorite character in the DCU. I used to like Captain Atom a lot too...whoops.
KingOfCities: They already killed off J'onns personality. Burying the body is just follow-thru at this point.
GratefulFred: I gotta agree with this. J'onn is my favorite DC character, but he needs to be restarted from scratch at this point.
Equinox:I'd hate to see J'onn go. As far as DC powerhouses go, he's always been my favorite, second only to the Big Red S. Superman and Martian Manhunter have always been a one-two punch in my mind. There was a small mini comic packaged with the old Super Powers action figures, and with the Dr. Strange figure was a comic where Superman and J'onn tried to kill Fate while under serious mind control. Fate restored them, but not before those two did some hardcore damage. Ever since then they've gone hand in hand in my opinion, and killing J'onn is a bad, bad move.
At Rich Johnston's CBR/LITG Forum
The Things Rich Makes Me Do...
SUPERECWFAN1: Ha ha ha ha..... love it.
Sign the Petition to Save J'Onn J'Onzz
Click here to leave a comment and sign the Petition
and get banners to help promote the campaign.
Click here to download and distribute the
Save J'Onn and the Superheores
PRESS RELEASE
Click here for the
Save J'Onn J'Onzz
ARCHIVES
|
