The New York Times has a short piece on Identity Crisis in its Sept. 15 Arts Briefing column. Writer George Gene Gustines updates the plot so far (neatly avoiding the potential indignity of typing “Elongated Man” and seeing it run in the Times under his byline), runs some quotes from writer Brad Meltzer, and touches on some of the various reader responses. I’m guessing there’s much rejoicing over in DC’s publicity offices.
Johanna has already linked to George Grattan’s comments on DC’s publicity priorities. George wonders if DC might not expend some energy on titles that might actually need it:
“I say, let’s give the books that have a shot at drawing in and *retaining* new readers whatever cross-media exposure we can; whatever way presents itself to speak outside of the direct-market, comic shop ghetto, take it and hold on tight—especially for books that can attract those readers.”
At Near Mint Heroes, Shane wonders if the readers detecting misogyny in IC aren’t indulging in some fallacious logic. It’s certainly possible that some are. On the other hand, I think that, after noticing a large number of trees in one location (rape, murder, attempted murder, menacing), it’s fair enough to wonder if they might not constitute a forest.
Silver Bullet Comics looks at the first three issues, and writer Dave Wallace comes to this conclusion:
“Uneven it may be (there’s been something of an action deficit so far, Deathstroke being the only full-on superhero fight), and overwhelming for the uninitiated it can certainly feel, but when you compare what’s being done here to the comparatively lacklustre Avengers storyline – which Marvel are clearly hoping will buoy their summer takings – there only looks like being one runaway success. And for once, it isn’t Brian Michael Bendis.”
(In other SBC news, there is no Bendis backlash. Scroll down for it.)