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KC Carlson by Keith Wilson
by KC Carlson
Batman, Incorporated #0
Just last week, DC Comics announced their upcoming “0 Month”. In September, all their routine titles will be suspended for one month’s time. They are being replaced with special problems — all numbered #0 — that will expose the so-far untold origins of the heroes of the new 52 (or other new 52 secrets, if the character’s origin has already been told).
This is a quite great idea. A great deal of DC fans (especially us older ones) have been scratching their heads wondering exactly how all these new concepts as well as ideas somehow comprise a cohesive as well as inventive fictional “universe”. I understand I’ve been confused about a great deal of things in the new 52 comics.
Zero hour #0
In fact, it’s such a great concept that DC has already done it when before — in 1994, in books on sale in August as well as September. That “Zero Month” was the comply with as much as that year’s huge DC event, Zero Hour: dilemma in Time, where the DC Timeline shifted. (At the time, we thought, course-corrected.) The DC world Timeline still had a number of anomalies from the original dilemma on infinite Earths from 1985-86, so our Zero Month was designed with three different objectives. First, it would offer a contemporary retelling of the title character (or team) trick origin, as well as second, either reestablish the surrounding details (settings, gadgets, supporting characters, etc.) of each series or introduce new ones. Third, as well as most importantly, it would provide a starting point for interested new readers.
A MONTH OF ZEROES
Flash #0
Note that we called it “Zero Month”. I believe we thought about “0 Month” however eventually rejected that version since it didn’t “read” properly. That’s something headline writers announcing the new version obviously agreed with, as I kept seeing it as “Zero Month” last week almost everywhere however the DC blog (The Source). (Hopefully they’ll come around soon…)
I state “we”, meaning myself, as an editor at DC in 1994, as well as Dan Jurgens, the main innovative force behind Zero hour itself. Zero hour had an unusual birth, as Dan as well as I really suggested similar projects the exact same week. Mine was less about content, more about structure as well as marketing. Dan’s proposal made up for that, however that’s getting ahead of the story. I suggested the weekly, counting backwards (for increased remarkable tension) numbering idea for the book.
Legion of Super-Heroes #0
I likewise mentioned in my proposal that there were lingering continuity issues in the DCU, still unresolved by the Crisis, challenging by other, major, continuity-evolving projects since then. For instance, I recall there were great deals of concerns at the time about Hawkworld — a radical rethink of Hawkman as well as his backstory/history — as well as exactly how it in shape in (or didn’t). Also, unknown to fans at the time, I (as LSH editor) was dealing with a radical rethinking of the legion of Super-Heroes continuity (ultimately called “The Reboot” by fans) since it had ended up being especially knotty in the preceding few years. Being editorially selfish, I wished to include that title as part of whatever the next huge DC “event” was going to be, since the legion was mainly left out of (or had wildly contrived) tie-ins to previous DC “events”. So I likewise suggested that the next event have major time-travel elements.
AND since it was going to largely be dealing with time as well as continuity , I likewise suggested that after the event, DC should do a special origin problem of each character/title, to ensure that each innovative team might have a shot at retelling the new, conclusive (until the next time…) origin of the character(s) they were working on. At the time, other publishers were making waves with special #0 problems of their new titles. I suggested that DC do an entire month of #0 problems as well as phone call it “Zero Month”. later on, somebody else (probably Dan) came up with Zero hour for the title of the actual event, based around the Zero Month event, in addition to the countdown to Zero Hour’s #0 issue.
Wonder lady #0
Back then, I typed up the proposal, provided it to executive Editor Mike Carlin, as well as really hoped for the best. A couple of days later, he appeared at my door saying, “You’re not gonna believe this…” as well as handed me some papers. It was a proposal from Dan Jurgens for the next DC “event” project, as well as while I don’t keep in mind all the details, the primary emphasis was on smoothing out DC’s continuity issues as well as doing (because Dan’s likewise a huge LSH fan) an event including some major time-travelling elements. Obviously, there was much more to it than that, however that’s what instantly jumped out at me.
Being from the Midwest (as was Dan, as well as ZH inker Jerry Ordway), I believe my reaction was “Wow! holy Cow!” Carlin just smiled as well as stated “I believe you have a phone contact us to make.” I called Dan, whom I understood a bit bit however hadn’t dealt with yet, as well as we both agreed there had been some type of cosmic alignment that had us both believing about similar projects. The rest was comics history.
PUTTING everything TOGETHER
Hawkman #0
Once we (meaning DC) agreed to proceed, I was excited to see this all come together. As a reader, I had realized that many of the DC characters hadn’t had their origins retold for a while, as well as it would be fantastic to see present innovative teams take their shots at it. Unfortunately, not whatever about that very first Zero Month worked out in addition to it might have.
I almost made a brain-dead error in the fundamental idea of suggesting an origin for each title — I neglected to account for the truth that both Superman as well as Batman had several books. So here’s my long-delayed public say thanks to you to the innovative teams on those titles for coming up with amazingly innovative methods of making each of their different zero problems different without being repetitive.
Superman: The guy of Steel #37
I provide special thanks to Jon Bogdanove for his cover of Superman: guy of Steel #37, where he drew Superman encountering several time-displaced Batmen — all drawn in the style of the original artist associated with each private version. There’s a Bob Kane version, a Frank Miller version, a Dick Sprang version, as well as so forth. It’s my preferred cover of the whole Zero hour event, since it so remarkably spells out the whole idea of Zero hour — celebrating the old while redefining the new. This was one of those wonderful pieces of artwork that gets passed around the offices all the time when it arrives. All you hear in the halls that day are variations on “OOOOOHH!” as well as “WOW!”
Jon Bogdanove’s companion piece to the guy of Steel cover.
Bog was almost instantaneously commissioned to create the “mirror image” version of the cover — Batman surrounded by lots of Supermen. A Joe Shuster Superman, a Curt Swan Superman, a Neal Adams Superman… you get the idea. While that a person wasn’t utilized as a cover, it ultimately surfaced as a two-sided promotional poster for Wizard magazine, backed with the multi-Batmen cover. much coolness.
NUTS as well as BOLTS
Starman #0
Five new concepts/titles spun-out of Zero Hour: Fate, Manhunter, Primal Force, R.E.B.E.L.S. ‘94 (replacing L.E.G.I.O.N. ‘94), as well as Starman. Those series’ very first problems are really #0 issues. likewise introducing during Zero Month was Xenobrood #0, with the Zero Month trade gown (a decision I fought since it had no tie-in to Zero Hour, however I lost that argument). extreme Justice introduced three months later with a #0 problem (but no Zero hour trade dress). It’s sometimes included in lists of Zero hour launches, however it truly shouldn’t be.
One final Zero Month title was published 14 years (!) after the original event, courtesy of none other than Dan Jurgens. Booster Gold #0 (2008) evoked the old Zero Month cover aspects with the exact same special semi-metallic ink logo that graced all the other covers. in that #0 issue, he retroactively inserts himself into the events of Zero Hour. That’s rather a trick, since he originally very first appeared in the DCU two years (1986) besides that. Time travel am fun!
Batman #0
39 zero problems were published during that very first Zero Month back in 1994, a few of them for characters as well as ideas that few keep in mind today. It’s now 18 years later, as well as DC’s going to be creating 52 brand new #0 problems — four of them introducing brand-new series — most of them with the intent of clearing up the origins as well as the mysteries of the DC Universe. just like the original Zero Month.
Best of luck to them from a survivor of a previous DC continuity! (Shhh, don’t tell DC! I’ll be dead within seconds!)
These #0 problems will be listed in DC Comics’ next (September) solicitations.
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KC CARLSON: born on Earth-1. Rocketed as a kid to Earth-2, where he was fascinated by new/old characters, as well as gained the power of remembering arcane understanding of no industrial use. transferred to Earth-X where he battled Hitler as a teenager. Stayed away from Earth-3 since that location was f-ed up, however truly enjoyed his time on Earth-12. ultimately ended up on Earth-Prime with a damaged Cosmic Treadmill in his closet, which got him a task as an editor at DC Comics. later ended up being trapped on Earth-247. Was obviously destroyed up until he reappeared in a battle where numerous heroes died for no apparent reason as well as he got punched in the deal with by a crazy youngster in Superman pajamas. Dejected, his present whereabouts are unknown.
Classic comic covers from the Grand Comics Database.