You have just become DC's Co-publisher what do you do 1st?

With Dan out the door what would 'you do once you got promoted?

1.Bring back Vertigo.

2.Get the Earth 1 books back on track (LOSH Earth 1,anyone?)

5.Get Wildcats and The Authority series going

6.A new Legends of The Dark Knight and DC Presents.

1. Restore Wally West

2. Revise JSA on Earth 2 and make them in their 40s or 50s.

3. Fix Nightwing, Donna Troy and that generation.

4. Restore the real/true Legion of Super Heroes.

5. Restore Vertigo.

Fire Bob Harras.

1. Figure out a way to scrap almost everything from Flashpoint onward. Keep the few things I actually like.
2. 3 chicks at the same time

keep it a bean, I have no idea what that role would mean or what it's limits are but i'll just throw out my ideas

the theme: forward never back
[LIST][*]reach out to the McDuffie estate and renegotiate a new arrangement to get Milestone up and running as soon as possible, with Denys Cowan and Christopher Priest on the flagship titles, and loading the roster up with a crop of creative teams that are as diverse as possible. whether they exist on their own earth or in the DC universe is tbd[*]no more "love letter to comics" or nostalgia-heavy stories for a good long while, if someone wants the old shit they can read our old shit [*]change is good and death/retirement means they are dead or retired in the main continuity, if a character dies they are not allowed to come back willy-nilly, those characters are now relegated to out-of-continuity stories if you wanna use them. sorry alfred but R.I.P my guy[*]everyone has to adhere to what came before them, no more rolling back character designs or development because you want to tell a story a certain way and thing fans don't notice; they always notice and it muddies the waters.[*]every story and every character needs to have a set ending in mind and that ending needs to be honored by EVERYONE[*]limit Batman and Superman to their titles and Justice League, Action and Detective are now anthology series to showcase characters who don't have titles[*]more standalone stories, stories should reference other stories because they exist in the same world but not every title needs to be a slave to the continuity of the larger universe. tell wonder woman stories over here, aquaman over there, vixen stories over there, etc.[*]If they are popular in wider media they need a book with their name on it and everything needs to be done to keep that book afloat so long as they are in the cultural zeitgeist. there are zero reasons Black Lightning should be in its third season and the character not regularly have a title to his name[*]less america centric stories and more demographic diversity on the page period. I don't care what some troll on twitter, or a neckbeard on youtube, or some old hat fan has to say, if there is ever more than a week where every title we release has only white, cis, straight and american (or american-focused) heroes/faces, someone is about to lose their book. my first title is Vixen who is long overdue for an ongoing or a solo in general.[*]find a new roll out and production strategy because we need to find away to get books in the hands of the right readers effectively[*]start scoutin and courting manga creatives to tell elseworld and potentially some in-canon stories[/LIST]

A more balanced approach. I would give more importance to ips like metal men, doom petrol.. Etc. Jsa will be the prime team. Split the continuity into generations(which already done) and split the batmen and superman of different eras also this time(wonder woman doesn't need that) . Names don't matter for me characterisation does. No 5G though. Maybe when it's a dc actually earned.

I wouldn't have a character beatup everyone else just cause they are popular. Characterdriven storytelling would be encouraged. I would also give more importance to publishing books with start, middle and end. These books will be entirely writer driven. They will get to decide things.i would give importance to story as much as art. Fast paced biweekly comics like in rebirth if possible will be encouraged.

This is a good question.

1. Give both the JSA and the Titans their own books again. And treat them like the JLA or Batman. If the books don't sell as well as they should, keep pumping talent into them to try to make them work.
If/when Bendis ends his run on Legion, do the same with it, as well.
The DC Universe is just as robust and varied as the Marvel Universe, it just doesn't show it enough.
DC needs more core team books that are immune to cancellation.

2. Work towards building strong fan support again. Cultivate what fans are still here. The best 'new' fans are the ones brought in by the established fans that want to share what they like with friends. Give those readers something they want to share with others and get excited about.

Idk, what do they do? Determine direction?

First thing? Probably hire the best, smartest, and most creative minds in the industry, come up with a unified vision of the brand, and empower them to execute that vision.

I'd greenlight a solo ongoing monthly book for Vixen with the quickness, and I'd add her to the roster of the flagship Justice League book.

Then I'd send the writers of the new Vixen ongoing book and the Justice League writer some zoology books so that they can go crazy with showcasing Vixen's versatile powers.


I'd also give John Stewart his own solo ongoing book, and he'd still be on the roster of the flagship Justice League book.

Well, the timeline's already a good start, but instead of making it exact years, I'll change it simply to be a list of events that happened with no exact years or defining the age for the characters, so they can be immortal since they're branded characters.

Next would continue promoting the higher selling comics, be it by LCS, DC's digital store and Comixology, Walmart and regular book stores. Accumulate them, see who's buying what where, and prioritize the highest-selling first.

For example, if Justice League sells higher digitally and Batman sells higher to LCS, but both are available in both digital and hard copy and Batman's number is highest, then the main priority is Batman.

Another example, if Harley's merch is the higher selling, but her comics don't, then I'll pull back on her comic appearance, but keep churning out a variety of merch, and only increase her comic appearance if there's a sale increase in the comic that's already available since merch sales don't always translate to the comic itself.

Next, about media synergy, instead of making comic fits to other media that's popular, I'd publish a guide on what to read if you're interested in comics after watching the other version since those media portrayals are based on certain classic comics anyway. The guide will include the books to start and then end with current comics.

Marketing will emphasize what's talked about at the moment. If people are talking about Batman, market Batman. If it's Harley, market Harley. The number of books or appearance don't have to increase, the story doesn't have to change, but the ad does. It's like saying, hey, this is what they're doing at the moment, just in case you want to jump in.

So the idea is not changing comics to fit other media, but taking advantage of other media version's popularity to make it easy for more readers to jump into comics. That's why the guide is important.

Anyway, those are from the publishing and marketing side. How the story is handled is another matter.

I would deliver a speech telling writers that it's ok for characters to be happy, and that the money will come if the stories are good. No longer will drama and death be mandated and passed down to writers who have to take blame and hatred of upset fans on behalf of editors and executives. Also, I would issue a formal apology to John Rozum for how poorly he was neglected and ignored during a Static Shock run that was stripped from him, for how awful it was to keep his name on the title despite the fact that we didn't give him a genuine chance to actually write the book, and for the negative effect that run has had on his career.

First? Quietly and steadily try and gather up and reconnect skilled and competent writers in fully stocked “stables” for the entire DCU. Artists are good... but writers determine much more consistency of quality. Anyone who had a bad relationship with DC under Didio’s reign who has good rep and a lot of skill? Yeah, get them back on speaking terms and listening in case they want to come back.

Second? Establish a moratorium on hard reboots and retcons for a while - instead, make sure people in the same franchise families meet every few months and cooperate to build cohesion in their books and assist each other in story direction; the general idea is to mimic the inter-connectivity of the Bat books in the 90’s and 00’s. Timeline issue will be group decisions for the families, and broadly approved by chief editorial officers... but no mandates on what can or can’t even in continuity.

Third? Restructure book releases as overlapping “seasons” instead of as pure monthly releases, and share top tier talent with lower tier characters - if, say, Scott Snyder has a Nightwing story idea and a Cassandra Cain story idea, he does the Nightwing book first, then stops after an arc to do the Cassandra Cain story, the goes back to Nightwing, etc. “Tier 1” books may continue to be monthly - like Batman, TEC, Action comics, or Superman if they’ve got the numbers for it - while “Tier 2” are properties that could maybe evolve into Tier 1 with enough consistency - Nightwing, a Wally West Flash book, etc., and Tier 3 will always be trying smaller more cult-favorite heroes to see if they can get a Tier 2 book.

No rules on weddings.

No mandated deaths.

No mandated priorities for what characters can or can’t be featured.

You know those new/old worlds revealed in DOOMSDAY CLOCK? Let's go revisit them in some detail. I *really* want to know what's going on in the world of Earth-1985.

[color=red]Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)[/color]

Quit. I’m not qualified for that job.

I'd hire a number of consultants to help me figure out feasible ways to start earning most of the comics income outside of the direct market while substantially increasing sales.

[QUOTE=Ulysses;4848971]Quit. I’m not qualified for that job.[/QUOTE]

^the only real answer to this question for anyone on this forum

Partial reboot the universe and erase all the sidekicks. Updated sensibilities. Wally will just start his career at 18 but Barry is still going.

But publish books using the Earth's made in Doomsday clock too.

[QUOTE=lemonpeace;4849247]^the only real answer to this question for anyone on this forum[/QUOTE]

Boring answer for a wish fulfillment thread though, haha!

I guess I'd split up the books into different universes more?

You'd have for example, a Batman book that carries over more of the character's history, and one that's more like... Batman Classic, less focus on the heavy continuity and more on just having fun and cool stories that any fan can pick up and understand. I'd do that with every character that already has more than one book. Superman gets to split up into something more like what Bendis is doing with the growing son and the United Planets, and one that's more like Triangle Era or the Bronze Age. Justice League splits between whatever is going on in the current series, and something more like the Satellite era. Etc.

Books like Legion, JSA and Teen Titans get cancellation immunity. If sales are down, don't cancel the title, just change the writer / artist team.

1. Fire Bendis
2. Put Jurgens back on Superman
3. Cancel all books that sell under 40,000.
4. Reduce all characters to one book initially with the exception of Batman and Superman. (no 13 Harley Quinn titles)
5. Have a three year "no event" rule.
6. Reprice all comics back at 2.99 and use news print paper.
7. If any creators use their twitter to insult fans, they will be warned once and then terminated.
8. No hires based off ethnicity or gender, you have to have a track record of selling lots of books to get hired.
9. Bring back letters to the editor in each book.
10. Realize that it is the majority of the fans who pay for the books and listen to them for what they want....then provide that! Don't waste time listening to a vocal minority on twitter. Crazy thing about business, give the majority what they want and you should be successful.
11.Nightwing is Dick Grayson again.
12. 5G...never discussed again.
13. Tom King is let go...and offered a free 12 years of therapy.
14.No variant covers

Those are just a couple of ideas.

[QUOTE=Buried Alien;4848969]You know those new/old worlds revealed in DOOMSDAY CLOCK? Let's go revisit them in some detail. I *really* want to know what's going on in the world of Earth-1985.

[color=red]Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)[/color][/QUOTE]

Except, what will be the difference?they have made earth-0 into Earth-1985. I would rather they visit Earth-2.

Earth 0 is cluter earth with real time. Earth 1985 is pre crisis Earth 1 with no merge or anyone dying from Crisis.

Relegate Geoff Johns to non-continuity/flashback stories. While talented, he's not moving the industry forward constantly drawing from better stories 30 years ago.

[QUOTE=lemonpeace;4848788]
[LIST][*]limit Batman and Superman to their titles and Justice League, Action and Detective are now anthology series to showcase characters who don't have titles[/LIST][/QUOTE]Good plan. Detective could be Tim Drake's book (it has been handed over to Batwoman before, so why not a Robin?), and Action could be Conner's. The more recent Robin and Superboy (Damian and Jon) would each also have a book, named after their codenames.

[QUOTE=manwhohaseverything;4849967]Except, what will be the difference?they have made earth-0 into Earth-1985. I would rather they visit Earth-2.[/QUOTE]

I have known and felt the difference with every atom of my comics-loving soul for the past thirty five years.

[COLOR=RED]Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)[/color]

Put PAD on Aquaman. Or Johns back on it

[QUOTE=Digifiend;4850315]Good plan. Detective could be Tim Drake's book (it has been handed over to Batwoman before, so why not a Robin?), and Action could be Conner's. The more recent Robin and Superboy (Damian and Jon) would each also have a book, named after their codenames.[/QUOTE]

Well teen titans is Damian's book and Legion is Jon's, honestly Bendis did a good job with the first 5 issues of young justice and after that was awful and Tim's new identity was so badly done...

Fire Harras, get some fresh perspective in that office.

Create two edicts: One, tell the Generation 1-4 story as was indended, just without the replacement 5G eventuality. The stories just continue from that platform from then on out, with all the history.
Two, create a secondary line re-creating Earth-1. This imprint starts the a new DC Earth from scratch. The young classics, with lots of freedom to shape them in new ways. The historical line is told in an imprint titled DC-0, while the secondary one is in a line called DC-1. The former would naturally be a larger line because of its longevity and larger cast.

After those edicts, I follow Ulysses' model and quit so they can hire someone more qualified, and all they have to do is follow those two things. :)

[QUOTE=Buried Alien;4850654]I have known and felt the difference with every atom of my comics-loving soul for the past thirty five years.

[COLOR=RED]Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)[/color][/QUOTE]

I didn't mean to hurt your sentiments. All i am saying is tthat, major changes (except for maybe superman) has been changed back. Yeah! Except for dead parent of barry. Kinda ironic they turned the freakin superman into everyman. They did the reverse with barry.

[QUOTE=Dazai_Osamu;4850775]Well teen titans is Damian's book and Legion is Jon's, honestly Bendis did a good job with the first 5 issues of young justice and after that was awful and Tim's new identity was so badly done...[/QUOTE]Not for much longer. We already know Damian's leaving the Titans, go look at the April solicits. And if 5G's meant to make Jon the new Superman, he won't be staying with the Legion for very long either.

Though that's not the topic of this thread. This is about what you'd do if you're in charge. And I don't think those characters should be limited to team books.

[QUOTE=Sacred Knight;4850792]Create two edicts: One, tell the Generation 1-4 story as was indended, just without the replacement 5G eventuality. The stories just continue from that platform from then on out, with all the history.
Two, create a secondary line re-creating Earth-1. This imprint starts the a new DC Earth from scratch. The young classics, with lots of freedom to shape them in new ways. The historical line is told in an imprint titled DC-0, while the secondary one is in a line called DC-1. The former would naturally be a larger line because of its longevity and larger cast.

After those edicts, I follow Ulysses' model and quit so they can hire someone more qualified, and all they have to do is follow those two things. :)[/QUOTE]That Earth-1 thing sounds like the Ultimate Universe. That's what New 52 should've been. An alternate continuity, not a reboot.

resign and push Karen Berger into the job

Well, I would bring back the following books:

Brave and the Bold
DC Presents
DC Showcase
World's Finest
Trinity
Elseworlds
Sensation Comics

Brave and the Bold would be for Batman, Superman or Wonder Woman to team up with other heroes in the DCU.
DC Presents would be for those characters who don't have a monthly (or bimonthly). They'd be standalone stories/comics that could be repackaged as graphic novels.
DC Showcase would be an annual event where original characters could be introduced, or to show off new talent on the publishing level.
World Finest features Batman and Superman
Trinity features BM, SM and WW, of course.
Elseworlds can feature any thing relating the the multiverse (including a JSA from "Earth 2"), or beyond.
Sensation Comics would be WW's second book.

My goal would be to dramatically decrease the universal storylines. Use and focus on each character in their own series and make those strong and popular series. Then once strong characters and series exist, there will be a real demand from people who WANT to read teamups and not those who feel they HAVE to read them. And yes, DC has done some of this, but the focus has been on multiversal fixing plots which seemingly never end.

1)Give barry and Wally a solo each
2)Pair this current Lanterns;Hal and Kyle,Guy and Jessica,Baz and John and restore the Green lantern franchise to prominence.
3)getting rid off young justice and that generation(tim and co)
4)established generations:
1)JSA
2)JLA
3)original Titans(Dick and wally)
4)outlaws(Jason and roy)
5)teen titans(Damien,Jon,Wallace,Jay and Iris)basically everyone has a family connection to the JLA.
6)the only Bat Family members are Dick,Jason,Damien,Barbara and Alfred
7)Restore Icon with statistic shock as the flagship
8)Make earth one books come more frequently
9)hire by merit and results if you don't sell you are out
10)event comics every 5 to 7 years and let the lines flow.

[QUOTE=Digifiend;4850843]Not for much longer. We already know Damian's leaving the Titans, go look at the April solicits. And if 5G's meant to make Jon the new Superman, he won't be staying with the Legion for very long either.

Though that's not the topic of this thread. This is about what you'd do if you're in charge. And I don't think those characters should be limited to team books.

That Earth-1 thing sounds like the Ultimate Universe. That's what New 52 should've been. An alternate continuity, not a reboot.[/QUOTE]
Yup, Ultimate is the most recent example. But the larger inspiration is DC's own old model, Earth-One and Earth-Two during the pre-Crisis era.

I would experiment with distributing DC Comics in unconventional locations outside of comic stores.

Movie Theatres
Streaming Services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime
Supermarkets (beyond Walmart: Target, Safeway, etc)
Vending Machines

Not all of this is going to work, but I feel it's the only shot to make the comic book "floppy" format mainstream and accessible again, as comic stores are dwindling down, and most likely going the way of the dinosaur in the next few decades.

There would initially be three titles available, both retooled as anthology series:

Action Comics

A title set in the future where the original Teen Titans have replaced their mentors

Featuring

Wonder Woman (Donna Troy)

The Flash (Wally West)

Batman (Dick Grayson)

Adventure Comics

A title dedicated to the teams of the same future era of the DCU

Justice League
Teen Titans
Suicide Squad

These titles will all be self contained and be made as cheaply as possible as to be sold for the lowest price possible.

Tough one. Hmm...first thing I'd do would be to have a flunky clean out Didio's office. Then I'd also take the one next door and either have a wall taken down, or a door put in. And a wet bar. Big screen too. Then I'd have the best DC collectibles shipped to my office...you know, for inspiration. Then I'd see if I could expense a vacation to someplace tropical to the company.

Then, after settling down in the luxury recliner I put to office expenses, and settling my Golden Parachute, and prank calling Ben Affleck, I'd maybe start thinking about that whole comic book thing. I'm sure I can work it out though.

Restore the Pre New 52 DCU with some alterations

Fire Bob Harras and Brian Bendis before they do more harm

Retire the Batman Who Laughs

Undo Wonder Woman killing Max Lord if they haven't done it already

Bringing back characters who should never have died

Update C and D level characters

As for the direct market all ongoing will be canceled in favor for select few prestige format Black Label miniseries starring older versions of the classic characters. Each series will have a popular, uncontroversial creative team that has a history of high sales

Batman
Written by Robert Kirkman and Drawn by Todd McFarlane

Superman
Written by Mark Millar Art by Joe Quesada

Wonder Woman
Written by Brian K Vaughan Art by Fiona Staples

JSA
Written by Kurt Busiek Drawn by Alex Ross

Legion of Superheroes
Written by Jonathan Hickman Art by Greg Capullo