In Defense of Dan DiDio Part 3 of 2

   OK. So, Dan DiDio, executive editor of DC Comics, recently said the following over at Newsarama: 

But as we say, we’re not reverting to anything – we’re continuing a story. There are no reboots taking place. This is building on the existing stories and continuity of the DC Universe and giving us the chance to examine our characters in a new light by using characters that are familiar to everyone. There’s a reason that Hal Jordan is Green Lantern, which we’ve explained time and time again in his own series, and there will be a clear understanding of why Barry Allen is the Flash as we move on through Rebirth. 

   I think that this exemplifies one of DiDio's main problems in his interactions with DC fans: he tries to justify business decisions by explaining them as storytelling decisions. I'm sorry, Mr. DiDio, but we all know that these characters aren't real. Well, most of us know. And since they are not real, when you say that "there's a reason that Hal Jordan is Green Lantern" you aren't saying what you think you are. My inference is that you are suggesting that there is an intrinsic truth being developed by Green Lantern comics that justifies the publishing decision to bring Hal Jordan back to life/a regular series (something about a special destiny...I really can't understand that mythology no matter how hard I try). 

 

   Now, it only makes sense to have a STORYTELLING reason to explain Hal's return. But it doesn't mean that there isn't the possibility of writing stories where John Stewart has the special destiny and the regular series. I get the sense that Mr. DiDio is implying that there are reasons that have nothing to do with publishing that explain why John Stewart is not the star of Green Lantern every month. Now, I get that there is a balance between art and commerce, but Mr. DiDio seems to try to make us blind to the commerce part.

   DC has given the book to someone other than Hal Jordan before. They even made up an entirely new character back in 1994 with Kyle Rayner. That, like the choice to put Hal Jordan back in the starring role, was in large part a business decision: in both cases, Green Lantern wasn't doing very well, and they wanted to shake things up dramatically. What I think Mr. DiDio should be saying is that, within the comics themselves, story logic will support a publishing decision. There will a "clear understanding of why Barry Allen is the Flash" in the comic - in other words, Barry's return will be given an explanation within the bounds of the pages of Flash: Rebirth. But reason will be different than the EDITORIAL reason to bring Barry back from the dead. Which is, let's be honest, to sell more comics.

   

   DiDio's other problem is in the inaccuracy of his language. It's fine that he's reverting the DCU back to an older status-quo. It's his call. He's the executive editor. But he is reverting. When you go back to the way things were, that is pretty much the definition of reverting. He's trying to have his cake and eat it, too. Revert back to the "iconic" DC heroes while continuing to hold on the to continuity that DC has been trying so adorably to make sense of since the 80s. 

   It's not that the ideas are bad ones. It's that the man seems to have trouble explaining them. Or maybe he just doesn't think we'll notice.

PS - Is anyone else a little annoyed by how much lighting Barry Allen seems to be generating? Why does he shoot off sparks when he's crouching?