Originally Posted by
Dzetoun
You have certainly identified a big challenge for the Grayson folks. How and if they navigate it will be telling.
I think Seeley, King, and Doyle are basically truthful about their respect for the character and their preferences with regard to how they would like to see him develop. I say basically because there is always some level of spin and manipulation involved in dealing with the public. It's the nature of art and business as much as of politics, and of course both art and business include a large amount of politics. And, of course, writers and editors will always approach the fictional universe from a different perspective than readers and fans. Still, as I say, I think Seeley, King, and Doyle really would like big things for Grayson.
But, given the realities of their business coupled with the structure of the DCU that has built up over the years, it's a big project to move a character into a much more prominent position. Here I have to speak from personal experience, but in my line of work I have watched as many major projects have arisen to great hope and hoopla only to gradually fall apart and come to very little, if anything. Oh, often the people involved are genuine enough in their intentions and enthusiasm. The larger organization may even be more-or-less honest in its expressions of support. But time moves on, practical difficulties emerge as the needs of the project impinge on other activities, political problems inevitably appear for all sorts of reasons, personnel changes as people retire or get promoted or take other jobs, newer and shinier things come along to distract allies and upper leadership, and the inertia of existing arrangements turns out to be far stronger and reinforced by far more factors than anyone expected. Then, as you watch, one by one promises get broken, intentions fail, and goals first diminish then are abandoned altogether.
All of which is to say that it isn't fair on the evidence to accuse anyone of cynicism or lying about DC's intentions for Grayson. But people taking a doubtful or even a jaundiced view of the situation are scarcely being silly. The next year should give us some valuable information. When we have these discussions in June 2016, it should be much clearer whether DC is really on the path they have talked about with regard to Grayson, or whether this is yet another case of high hopes and good intentions sliced and diced by reality.