Back in the Habit: DC's Issue Delay Problems

Recently, it was revealed that the final issue of DC's current line-wide event, "Forever Evil", would not be released until the middle of May. This will make the issue, which was originally solicited for release this month, 2 months late. Considering that this book started back in September and some fan complaints that the story had been slowly paced, it appears that "Forever Evil" really is lasting forever. Now, sometimes the finales major comic events do get pushed back. Some examples include 2010's "Siege" and 2012's "Avengers vs. X-Men", both from Marvel and both only a month late. But two months to wait for the end of a big story can make some fans agitated or lose interest. In my own time as a comic reader, this isn't my first time dealing with a story I'm invested in and have to wait long periods of time to see what happened next.

The first occasion where my reading has been plagued with delays was when I was 14 back in 2005, and a highly anticipated series had just begun: "All Star Batman and Robin, the Boy Wonder", by Frank Miller and Jim Lee. Before DC had started the Earth One graphic novel series, the All Star line was their original attempt at trying to emulate Marvel's Ultimate line, which reimagined characters for the 21st century, of which I am still a reader of that line's Spider-Man title. As Spider-Man was my favorite Marvel character, Batman was my favorite from DC, so I just had to get the "Ultimate Batman" book, especially since it was by two legendary Batman creators. The first issue was out in July, second in September, and the third was set for October. However, the third issue would end up being released in September. Issue 4 wouldn't come out until May of 2006, and after that, a whole year went by before issue 5 would be released in 2007. By then, the series was able to put out an issue on a bi-monthly basis, until #10 was released in 2008 before going on hiatus. It was then announced the story would be wrapped up in a 6 issue miniseries called "Dark Knight: Boy Wonder." That announcement was 4 years ago, and the story has gone unfinished ever since. Now even though the All Star line has been defunct in favor of the Earth One line, the fact that Miller and Lee's story is still left hanging can be frustrating to the readers who spent 4 years waiting only to collect 10 issues. At least finish it up as a graphic novel Is it the best Batman story? No, but it's so bad it's entertaining, like a Michael Bay movie, but better. You have to see some of the hilarity in the story. I mean, this series gave us the infamous "Goddamn Batman" line in #2, not to mention the epic trolling of Batman on Green Lantern in #9.

 



DC's not the only company that has issue delay problems. The Spider-Man line had it's share of problems between 2006-2007. Some of the delays were originally because of Marvel's "Civil War" event, which affected Spider-Man prominently. "Civil War" had many delays that the Spider-Man aftermath story, "Back in Black" also had to be delayed as to avoid any spoilers before the main series had ended. Eventually the Spider-books got back on schedule until the controversial "One More Day" story. The 4-part story was supposed be take place in August of 2007 with each part coming out one week after another, but would end being released one part a month, and wrapping up in December. Considering the bullshit Marvel had been putting Spider-Man through, from his unmasking, to Aunt May getting shot, and having his marriage dissolved via a deal with the devil, it was like I just wanted them to put the webhead out of his misery.

Now back to DC and Batman. In 2010, DC was preparing to bring back Bruce Wayne, who had apparently died in "Final Crisis" but actually sent back in time, to the present day DC Universe. Here was the initial plan:

• Grant Morrison would be behind the story in the pages of the miniseries "The Return of Bruce Wanye" and his current ongoing series "Batman and Robin", both to wrap up things up in September of that year.
• October would be a "bridge" month, releasing a series of one-shots called "Bruce Wayne: The Road Home", featuring Bruce interacting with members of the Bat-family since his return, wrapping up in the Morrison-penned "Batman: The Return."
• November would be the start of the "Batman Incorporated" era, which Bruce would star in a new book of the same name, as well as his new solo book "Batman: The Dark Knight", while Dick Grayson would also be Batman in the pages of "Batman", "Batman and Robin", and Detective Comics.

What ended up happening? The final issues of Morrison's books would end up being released in November as well as "The Return" and "Batman Inc." era books, while the "Road Home" one-shots were still released in October. But even after that, the Batbooks were still plagued with delays, specifically the books starring Bruce. While "Batman Incorporated" had its share of problems meeting a release date, the real problem was with the "Dark Knight" book, which released only 5 issues before the span of 9 months before being relaunched as part of the New 52. Frankly, it was a mess.

Now before I move on to the New 52 era, let me get to the common thread between why all these stories were delayed: the artist.

• Jim Lee on "All Star Batman and Robin, the Boy Wonder"
• Steve McNiven on "Civil War"
• Joe Quesada on "One More Day"
• Frazer Irving on "Batman and Robin" #13-16
• David Finch on "Batman: The Dark Knight"

Don't get me wrong, I like good art, but when that good art leads to a story getting erratic schedule and affecting other books, it can make fans impatient and stop caring.

When the New 52 started, some of the "problem" artists like Lee and Finch were placed on books such as "Justice League" and "Batman: The Dark Knight", respectively. Neither of them were met with any huge delays, as a point that DC wanted all their books to be released on a scheduled basis. This makes me think that Lee and Finch had their books finished well in advanced.

For almost 3 years now, DC has been able to keep things constant. However, the first signs of trouble started when the "Batman/Superman" Annual was supposed to be released in January, but would end up being released in March. As that annual was supposed to wrap up a story in the main book, it caused some more delays for the book as well as "Worlds' Finest", as the books were crossing over with one another in a 4-part story called "First Contact", with the last half being delayed a month from its original release. Well technically, DC currently lists part 4 to be out March 26 and part 3 to be out April 16. I'm not the only one who sees the problem there, right? DC's not dumb enough to let that happen, right? I really hope not.

Not only that, but those aforementioned "problem" artists seem to be falling back into old habits. Currently, Jim Lee has been working on Scott Synder's "Superman Unchained" book, and while the ninth and final issue was originally solicited for April, DC's website currently lists #8 to be released in May, with #9 nowhere to be seen and likely to be resolicited. Now, I'm going to give that book's problems a pass because even though it's part of the New 52, it's more or less self-contained.

We now get what brought on this new write-up. "Forever Evil" artist David Finch, on the other hand, gets no pass. The guy had originally been on "Justice League of America", but had to be pulled after #3, apparently not only to work on "Forever Evil", but so DC could get the series out on time to crossover with the other League books for "Trinity War." And unlike Lee on "Superman Unchained", "Forever Evil" is affecting other ongoing series as a comic event should. Because of the delays of the main series, books that are to be affected in the aftermath of the series, are also delayed, including "Justice League", as well as the final issues of "Justice League of America" and "Nightwing." Even though the Nightwing book hasn't tied in to "Forever Evil", the after effects of whatever happens to the character in Forever Evil #7 will play out in the book's final issue.

Again, I have nothing against good art, but when delays on one book affect others, it's a problem. I mean, "Forever Evil" is DC's first major event since the relaunch of its line, and they are totally botching things up when the final issue is 2 months late. Yeah, I understand wanting to have the best art on an event book, but the artist on that book also needs to be dependable. There are good artists that can make sure a book is out on time. I cite other DC events "Blackest Night" and "Flashpoint." Ivan Reis and Andy Kubert were both able to get their respective books out on time, and both had great artwork.

Let me just say that I am purely speculating the reason behind the delays on "Forever Evil", but with David Finch as artist on that book, and his own history of book delays, I don't think I'm wrong to think he's the cause of the problem. All I'm hoping for DC to do is learn from this ordeal, and when their next event comes around, that they take precautions to make sure to get the issues out on time.