If I Rebooted the DCU (Part Three)

With DC Comics reboot of their entire universe with 52 new first issues now underway I continue to take a look at what I would do if I rebooted the DCU.

Where I could I kept ideas DC wanted to explore in the relaunch (when not incredibly stupid like Voodoo), and even included titles I’m personally not all that high on but characters I know have a devoted fan base. You’ll find I’ve also kept far more of the current titles than DC’s proposed reboot, and brought back a few personal favorites as well.

There are a few titles I’ve assigned specific artists and writers for, but for the most part I’ve left those as open spots to be filled. If you’ve got ideas, please leave a comment. You’ll also find that more than a quarter of my choices focus on female leads. Most of the teams on this list have female characters, and two are made entirely of the ladies of the DCU.

Part One examined most of the DCU’s big names (other than Batman) which make up the core of the DCU such as Green Lantern, Flash, Superman, and Wonder Woman. Part Two focused on the Bat-titles. Part Three examines most of the team-based titles. And Part Four will wrap everything else into one final list with DC’s magic titles and few other familiar faces as well.

Now on to Part Three…

Justice League of America
writer Geoff Johns, artist Jim Lee

Duh. Yeah, DC’s trademark team gets a spot here with Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Hal Jordan, Barry Allen, Zatanna, Hawkgirl, and Aquaman. I’d also keep several characters around for supporting members such as Green Arrow, the Atom, Vixen, and Firestorm. DC plans to relaunch the team with Geoff Johns and Jim Lee. I’m okay with that, but would be open to other choices as well.

Justice League International
writer Dan Jurgens, artist Aaron Lopresti

Of course there’s a JLA, but I’m totally on-board with DC’s decision to bring back the JLI. The team would be made up of the core of the team from Justice League: Generation Lost with a few additions from the old JLI (and one very special improvement by me). The team would include Booster Gold, Jaime Reyes, Fire and Ice, Guy Gardner, Rocket Red, Captain Atom, Wally West, and Hoppy the Marvel Bunny (c’mon, you know you want it!). Supporting characters would include Batman, Martian Manhunter, Mister Miracle, Oberon, Power Girl, and Black Canary. DC has chosen Dan Jurgens to write the title, which is a fine choice, given Judd Winick‘s job with Generation Lost he would be my first choice, but I’ve already got him penciled in on his fair share of other titles so Jurgens makes sense here. I’d also issue an open invitation to Keith Giffen, J. M. DeMatteis, and Kevin Maguire to do any number of one issue stories or short arcs from time to time.

JSA
writers Geoff Johns and David S. Goyer

Geoff Johns, in my opinion, was never more successful than his work with Davd S. Goyer in relaunching the JSA and making the Justice Society of America cool again. I’d give the pair back the team they used so well including Hawkman, Doctor Fate, Stargirl, Captain Marvel (Billy Batson), Hourman, Alan Scott, some version of the Sandman, and Wildcat. Supporting characters would include Liberty Belle, Mr. Terrific, Jay Garrick, Doctor Mid-Nite, Atom Smasher, and the Spectre. Oh, and I want to see Billy and Coutney on a first date.

Teen Titans
writer J.T. Krul, artist Nicola Scott

I’m perfectly happy with the team of Teen Titans that ended the previous volume including Superboy, Wonder Girl, Kid Flash, Raven, Ravager, and Beast Boy led by Red Robin. Supporting characters would include Miss Martian, Solstice, and Robin. J.T. Krul can keep writing the title and Nicola Scott can draw it (and anything else in the DCU she wishes, I just love her art!).

Birds of Prey
writer Gail Simone

The adventures of Black Canary, the Huntress, Lady Blackhawk, and Oracle continue (without Hawk and Dove). Supporting characters would include Big Barda, Manhunter, and Batgirl. Gail Simone, of course, would get first crack at the team, but I’d be open to a fresh take on the characters as well.

Batgirl and Friends
writer Bryan Q. Miller

Okay, the title still needs work. Led by Stephanie Brown, the team of Batgirl, Stargirl, Miss Martian, Supergirl, and Bombshell introduced in Batgirl #23 get their own title here. Since he put the team together, I’m going to give writer Bryan Q. Miller first shot at this one.

Secret Six
writer Gail Simone, artist Nicola Scott

Gail Simone’s team of misfits isn’t going anywhere if I can help it. Catman, Deadshot, Scandal Savage, Ragdoll, and Jeannette and Knockout are back. I’ve enjoyed his storyline, but I’d let Bane move onto other things. Supporting characters would include Black Alice, King Shark, Calendar Man (with his calendar cape!), Cheshire, and Talia al Ghul. Jim Calafiore has done a good job since taking over the art of the comic, but I still miss Nicola Scott’s take on the characters.

Nightwing and the Outsiders

One thing that was made perfectly clear by Dick Grayson‘s stint as Batman is that he needs a team to lead. I’d cherry pick the combined rosters of the now defunct Titans and Outsiders to create a new team of Outsiders for Nightwing. My team would include Metamorpho, Black Lightning, Cyborg, Katana, Starfire, Geo-Force, Red Arrow, and Halo.

Stormwatch

DC plans on bringing Stormwatch into the DCU under writer Paul Cornell and artist Miguel Sepulveda. I’m intrigued enough by the idea to give it a chance.

Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew
writer Roy Thomas, artist Scott Shaw

Let’s admit it, you’re amazed it took me this long to get to Captain Carrot and the Amazing Zoo Crew, aren’t you? Oh yeah, if I’m rebooting the DCU Captain Carrot, Pig Iron, Ally-Kat-Abra, Yankee Poodle, Fastback, and Rubberduck, are all coming back with a new comic by the two men who created them: writer Roy Thomas and artist Scott Shaw. Let the puntastic adventures of furry animal super-heroes commence!

Green Lantern Corps

Hal Jordan gets the main GL title (which I discussed in Part One of this list), meanwhile this title focuses on other members of the Corps such as Guy Gardner, John Stewart, Arisia, Kilowog, and others (preferably with as little of Kyle Rayner as possible).

Doom Patrol

Although I’ve enjoyed their tales from time to time, I’ve never been the biggest fan of Doom Patrol. However, I know they have a devoted following and a newly rebooted DCU is certainly a big enough place to allow them their own little corner to thrive.

The Brave and the Bold

I’d bring back the classic team-up title (with a Batman and Green Arrow story to kick things off). This is a title that would benefit from a rotating group of writers and artists giving us classic team-ups, modern team-ups, team-ups over the ages (Golden Age and Modern Age versions of the same character together), and wacky team-ups (like say the Doom Patrol and The Amazing Zoo Crew!) you wouldn’t get anywhere else.