DC Comics announced a brand new imprint, Wonder Comics, that will be helmed by Brian Michael Bendis at New York Comic Con. After the announcement the imprint quickly came under siege.
At the DC Meet The Publishers Panel at New York Comic Con, Brian Michael Bendis revealed Wonder Comics, which will be “his personally curated line of teen-focused, in-continuity comic books scheduled to debut in early 2019.”
The line is expected to star Impulse aka Bart Allen, Superboy aka Conner Kent, and Robin aka Tim Drake. In fact, these three superheroes are expected to make up the nucleus of a brand new Young Justice team. Bendis is expected to write Young Justice with art by Patrick Gleason.
Other series underneath the imprint will include Naomi, Wonder Twins, and Dial H for Hero.
- NAOMI, which Bendis will co-write with David Walker (CYBORG), featuring art by Jamal Campbell (JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA: VIXEN)
- WONDER TWINS, written by Mark Russell (THE FLINTSTONES, EXIT STAGE LEFT: THE SNAGGLEPUSS CHRONICLES, DC Black Label’s SECOND SON) with art by Stephen Byrne (JUSTICE LEAGUE/POWER RANGERS)
- DIAL H FOR HERO, an updated take on the Silver Age classic series from the team of writer Sam Humphries (HARLEY QUINN, GREEN LANTERNS) and artist Joe Quinones (BLACK CANARY/ZATANNA)
The new imprint and announcement did not sit well with some folks.
Oliver Sava, who is a “freelance pop culture critic and journalist who covers comic books, television, and theater” called out Bendis and DC for not having any women on the imprint.
DC launching Bendis’ #WonderComics imprint without a single woman involved. Not like that word is associated with women or anything. pic.twitter.com/S9N2xOWqFE
— Oliver Sava (@OliverSava) October 4, 2018
This actually looks very fun and I’m enjoying Bendis’ DC work, but COME ON GUYS
— Oliver Sava (@OliverSava) October 4, 2018
These thoughts would be echoed by others.
These books sound potentially awesome, but agreed. Why is DC overall so unwilling to give female creators more work?
— Jeff Rothman (NYCC 1) (PTX 77) (@amazingjr87) October 4, 2018
Damn you’re really right! I’m hoping these aren’t the only three books and more are announced soon with non-male creators, but if that’s the case they should have planned that for the initial release!
— Angela Bassett’s Pool Boy (@kennykozmic) October 4, 2018
One Twitter user implied DC Comics only lets women write stories when they involve traditional female roles.
Hey, maybe if these titles had something to do with, you know, baking and cleaning and washing clothes and making sure the Man of the House gets a martini when he comes home, then maybe DC would assign them accordingly.
— Doc and Raider (@doc_and_raider) October 4, 2018
While most would criticize the lack of women, Mairghead Scott would call the name of the imprint “unfortunate.”
Huh. These titles seem designed to target teen male readership, which is a notoriously unprofitable market (as opposed to teen female readership which drives most non-Big 2 GN sales). An unfortunate name, but also a risky venture. I guess yay for trying to get boys to read more.
— Mairghread Scott (@MairghreadScott) October 4, 2018
What do you think about DC’s new imprint? Do you think there is a problem that there aren’t any female writers currently on the imprint?