What Makes a Hero? Look to the Skies and the Shadows.

People are flawed. People are limited. The average person may have good intentions but is only capable of so much and will only do so much. But a hero? A hero will do more, simply because he or she can. Every major comic book hero has an edge, whether it’s superhuman powers or vast resources, but what makes them a hero is how they put their advantage to use.

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Ronn Blitzer

What Makes a Hero? Look to the Skies and the Shadows.

When DC Finally Brought it All Together, Only to Let it Fall Apart

The goal of forming a cohesive universe with separate characters that still felt connected as part of a grander story began to come to fruition in 2004 for DC Comics.

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Ronn Blitzer

When DC Finally Brought it All Together, Only to Let it Fall Apart

The Crazy 90s or Are Fresh Starts Really Better for New Readers?

The year was 1993. I remember it like it was yesterday. Well, maybe not yesterday, but last week at the latest. My mother came home and handed me a copy of Adventures of Superman #500.

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Ronn Blitzer

The Crazy 90s or Are Fresh Starts Really Better for New Readers?

Merrily We Troll Along

First!
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Ronn Blitzer

Merrily We Troll Along

For Fans, By Fans

If there’s one entertainment industry that listens to its fans, it’s comics. From the vote that killed Jason Todd to panels at comic-cons, comic creators and publishers have looked to their readers for inspiration and guidance, as well as approval and criticism.
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Ronn Blitzer

For Fans, By Fans

Following to the Ends of the Sea

In the recent past, a transition has taken place. Creators have become more and more high-profile in the comics industry, occasionally eclipsing the notoriety of the subjects of their works.
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Ronn Blitzer

Following to the Ends of the Sea

What does “Iconic” Mean, Anyway?

Several years back, after Dan DiDio started overseeing DC Comics, it was said that he wanted to get back to the more iconic versions of different characters. (more…)

Ronn Blitzer

What does “Iconic” Mean, Anyway?

Will Things Get Worse Before They Get Better?

Digital music and movies are a way of life these days. If a person wants a new song or album, chances are they’re downloading it from iTunes or Amazon. If they want to watch a movie, it’s NetFlix or on-demand via their television providers. (more…)

Ronn Blitzer

Will Things Get Worse Before They Get Better?

Could Digital Comics Revitalize the Collectors’ Market?

Back in the 90s, the comic collecting market was booming. People realized that their parents’ old books from decades past were worth big money because of their rarity. Back issues were selling for thousands of dollars.  But that all changed.

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Ronn Blitzer

Could Digital Comics Revitalize the Collectors’ Market?

Power Rings, Retcons, and Rebirths

Some characters and titles have gone through retellings of their histories or manipulations of certain elements of their past in order put a fresh spin on an old concept (Superman) or to set the record straight when their backgrounds have become so convoluted that major reconstructive surgery has been necessary to make sense of it all (Power Girl, Donna Troy). But no franchise is as rooted in retcons like Green Lantern. Some make sense and fit in perfectly with the past, others make no sense at all and seem to ignore continuity altogether, but all have been integral in enriching the world that the characters inhabit, opening doors for a multitude of stories in the process. (more…)

Ronn Blitzer

Power Rings, Retcons, and Rebirths