WHY EXACTLY WAS DIDIO FIRED? HERE ARE SOME DETAILS...
Here's the text of Bleeding Cool's reasons why DiDio was fired. It confirms what Newsarama had reported (DiDio reported to work as normal on Friday morning (yesterday), began his day posting on DC's retailer-only Facebook page, and took meetings with comics talent) because DiDio was abruptly fired at 10:30 yesterday morning (LA time) and then meetings were held with DC staff to alert them of this.
https://www.bleedingcool.com/2020/02...ave-dc-comics/
Bleeding Cool now understands that yes, DiDio was fired this morning by Warner Bros at 10.30am PT in their Burbank offices and he left the building straight away. I am told by sources close to the situation that he was fired, for cause, for 'fostering a poor work environment' – as evidenced, as we previously stated, by significant departures at the publisher by editors. Dan DiDio has a reputation of being a micro-manager from some, for being very involved in projects from others. And DC Comics was heading towards a big change in its publishing programme – one aspect of which was the much-rumoured 5G – or Generation Five. Which would have seen DC's major figures Bruce Wayne, Clark Kent, Diana and more aged out and replaced with new characters taking the roles of Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman as part of the new DC Timeline. And some folk at DC Comics were very much against this. But opposition never worried Dan, after all he was at constant odds with the direction the company line was pushed for pretty much his entire career as Publisher, and was always was striving to put comics first, as he saw it.
But in recent months, there seemed to be editorial backtracks on the direction given, details changes and a general sense of frustration that the clock was ticking and that nothing was being done. We saw a rapid departure in DC editorial of Pat McCallum, Alex Antone, Molly Mahan, Rob Levin and others. Could this have been a factor?
So Why Did Dan DiDio Leave DC Comics Anyway?
Certainly, DiDio's departure was a surprise – to him as it was everyone else. I understand that it was internally announced at a series of small staff meetings at Burbank today. Though no one seems to have told the executives attending ComicsPRO, who had to read about it on Bleeding Cool on their mobile phones – and who sharply exited the conference as a result. Jim Lee is the remaining Publisher and CCO at DC, and so will be steering the ship for the foreseeable future. Is it too late to change the upcoming C2E2 panel Meet The Publishers to the singular now?
Also at ComicsPRO, there was a lot of discussion amongst retailers about DiDio's firing, with comic book writer Scott Snyder's name being mentioned a lot as a factor. Internally at DC Comics, Snyder was seen as someone opposed to what was being planned with 5G, and thought it could harm retailers.
Snyder and DiDio were not eye-to-eye creatively, but I understand that Snyder merely wanted to keep his upcoming Death Metal comic book as far away from 5G/Generation Five as possible, intending to use the series to celebrate DC's 85 years to date, rather than anything forward-looking. This frustrated DiDio's plans to introduce 5G with Death Metal. And as a result, mentions of Death Metal were taken out of the planned Generation Zero: Gods Among Us story for Free Comic Book Day.
It is now possible that DC's Free Comic Book Day offering may change again as a result, even though it is up for FOC this weekend. But all this is being worked out in real-time this weekend at Burbank.
As of now? According to people working on it, 5G is still launching in October. In what shape or form, I haven't a clue.
This was my 1300th post.
Last edited by Comic-Reader Lad; 02-22-2020 at 10:20 AM.
Really have to wonder what the impact of Didio’s departure will be on 5G, given that event is already unfolding in current books (starting with Wonder Woman #750). If remaining writers/editors were against it, will the aging up of the trinity in favor of replacements get dialed back? And was Didio’s championing 5G part of the problem?
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Barry and Hal aren’t going anywhere, anyone who thinks otherwise is deluding themselves. I say that as someone who likes Wally more than Barry.
Less Titans burial.
Anyway they will probably scrap the replacement part of 5G and aging.
That's wrong.
This is pretty much a signed confession.Originally Posted by Dan Didio
From the start he wanted to bring back Barry Allen. First in Infinite Crisis with Bilson/Dimeo of the old Flash tv show writing the book. That fell through and we got Bart as the Flash. Then with Lightning Saga. Which again fell through and ended with the return of Wally. Then finally with Final Crisis and Flash Rebirth. In other words Didio is the prime mover behind the return of Barry Allen. In that he championed for the return of Barry. For example in FC, it was originally suppose to be a Barry from another universe (like the Aquaman in FC) and that was changed because of Didio.
Last edited by Bruce Wayne; 02-22-2020 at 12:00 PM.
It might be. Except for the story that EVS had to push hard to get Barry brought back and nearly had to twist Didio's arm, and Didio is well known for taking the heat on decisions even when he had nothing to do with them. That guy thrives on confrontation and debate and loves being at the center of it. As a manager I appreciate his willingness to take the blame so his employees didn't have to, even if the man took things way too far and often antagonized the fanbase just for the sake of trolling.
Maybe Didio did fight for Hal and Barry's return. Maybe he just took the credit/blame. In either case, while I don't think either were necessary directions, both Kyle and Wally had fallen on hard times and their sales were low, so I can't say it was a *bad* decision either. Not the one I would have made; I'd have left them both dead. But I don't think its a foul ball either, just a play I wouldn't have made.
"We all know the truth: more connects us than separates us. But in times of crisis the wise build bridges, while the foolish build barriers. We must find a way to look after one another, as if we were one single tribe."
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