Duke Thomas: We Are Robin, Signal Appreciation 2018

[Korath]

Always great to see some Duke love in fanart.

Also, I hope that Hill will do good with him in The Outsiders, it'll be his chance to shine and find a place in the wider DCU... but I would also like for him to become a kind of "Friendly neighborhood Bat". I'm watching a Let's play of PS4 Spiderman, and I really like his vibes, and I could see Duke having a little bit of this, if slightly more serious.

[DragonPiece]

Always great to see some Duke love in fanart.

Also, I hope that Hill will do good with him in The Outsiders, it'll be his chance to shine and find a place in the wider DCU... but I would also like for him to become a kind of "Friendly neighborhood Bat". I'm watching a Let's play of PS4 Spiderman, and I really like his vibes, and I could see Duke having a little bit of this, if slightly more serious.

I'm hopeful outsiders does well, because I don't know if DC would even do anything with him if that book fails.

[oasis1313]

I'm hopeful outsiders does well, because I don't know if DC would even do anything with him if that book fails.

I don't think we need to worry in that regard. DC has a severe shortage of black characters and they need more.

[lemonpeace]

I'm hopeful outsiders does well, because I don't know if DC would even do anything with him if that book fails.

That's my fear. Duke has the most to lose on this book because if this book fails the others will pop up other places, he won't. Hell, even if this book does good, if he doesn't get enough shine he will likely be relegated to this book indefinitely and eventually fade into obscurity. High stakes for Young Signal

[oasis1313]

That's my fear. Duke has the most to lose on this book because if this book fails the others will pop up other places, he won't. Hell, even if this book does good, if he doesn't get enough shine he will likely be relegated to this book indefinitely and eventually fade into obscurity. High stakes for Young Signal

I think Duke has a lot going for him--even apart from his race. Snyder still carries a lot of weight at DC, and he's not going to allow Duke to fall into the Ditch of Hate with Harper Row--it looks bad for his reputation to keep coughing up losers. He can always talk to Darlin' Dan Didio and make sure the right magic wands are waved for Duke.

[lemonpeace]

I think Duke has a lot going for him--even apart from his race. Snyder still carries a lot of weight at DC, and he's not going to allow Duke to fall into the Ditch of Hate with Harper Row--it looks bad for his reputation to keep coughing up losers. He can always talk to Darlin' Dan Didio and make sure the right magic wands are waved for Duke.

Given DC's track record with black characters, I'd hardly say that's something Duke has going for him. I mean, their most popular black character hasn't had a solo in over twenty years.

[oasis1313]

Given DC's track record with black characters, I'd hardly say that's something Duke has going for him. I mean, their most popular black character hasn't had a solo in over twenty years.

DC is doing better for black characters than it ever has before. Detective Comics is a star turn for Duke and getting him a lot of exposure.

[lemonpeace]

DC is doing better for black characters than it ever has before. Detective Comics is a star turn for Duke and getting him a lot of exposure.

That's debatable; name one legitimately cool moment Duke had in Detective. Most if not all of Duke's development has been sporadic, happening in We are Robin, All-Star Batman and his 3 issue mini. I guess 'Tec gave him some exposure but (as someone who is a Duke fan and reads anything he appears in) his cameos in Detective would not have sold me on that character if that was the only thing I saw him in. As for DC doing better by their black characters than ever, that's a pretty low bar and still pretty debatable. I can't say DC isn't putting in any effort at all but I also can't say they are doing a satisfactory job.

[oasis1313]

That's debatable; name one legitimately cool moment Duke had in Detective. Most if not all of Duke's development has been sporadic, happening in We are Robin, All-Star Batman and his 3 issue mini. I guess 'Tec gave him some exposure but (as someone who is a Duke fan and reads anything he appears in) his cameos in Detective would not have sold me on that character if that was the only thing I saw him in. As for DC doing better by their black characters than ever, that's a pretty low bar and still pretty debatable. I can't say DC isn't putting in any effort at all but I also can't say they are doing a satisfactory job.

Having the company's AWARENESS of the problem is a big deal. That means they HAVE to do something about it, they can't just sweep it under the rug. One perk is that black characters won't be killed off now, whereas they'd been cannon fodder for ages.

[Konja7]

Having the company's AWARENESS of the problem is a big deal. That means they HAVE to do something about it, they can't just sweep it under the rug. One perk is that black characters won't be killed off now, whereas they'd been cannon fodder for ages.

Exactly

In the past, DC could have gotten rid of black characters easily (and sometimes in horrible ways).

Now, however, they are not going to be able to disappear Duke so easily, because they do not want to convey a bad image.

So, in the case of Duke, which is a new character (so he is in a vulnerable position), his race is a protection at some level.

[J. D. Guy]

That's debatable; name one legitimately cool moment Duke had in Detective. Most if not all of Duke's development has been sporadic, happening in We are Robin, All-Star Batman and his 3 issue mini. I guess 'Tec gave him some exposure but (as someone who is a Duke fan and reads anything he appears in) his cameos in Detective would not have sold me on that character if that was the only thing I saw him in. As for DC doing better by their black characters than ever, that's a pretty low bar and still pretty debatable. I can't say DC isn't putting in any effort at all but I also can't say they are doing a satisfactory job.

Just wanted to drop in and add to the bold the following: small but relevant Zero Year intro, his "prologue" of sorts of the modern day Duke in Endgame, and his role in the Superheavy storyline. Still scattered, but these moments were absolutely relevant to Duke's character. Also, there's the Rebirth issue of Batman; that should count too, but the problem there is that it is a satisfactory issue that leads into nothing but disappointment. It's relevant to Duke's timeline, but I have reservations on it otherwise because of that.

[skyvolt2000]

Exactly

In the past, DC could have gotten rid of black characters easily (and sometimes in horrible ways).

Now, however, they are not going to be able to disappear Duke so easily, because they do not want to convey a bad image.

So, in the case of Duke, which is a new character (so he is a vulnerable position), his race is a protection at some level.

They already have a bad image when it comes to blacks.

When Duke is really your most successful black hero be it in his own book (Batman & Signal) or costarring (All Star Batman) or cameos (Batman/Detective)-there is an issue.
If I go by Amazon trade sales alone-HE is your face of black heroes. What does that say about Cyborg and the rest?

YOu got Vixen and she's an after thought thanks to Riri, Moon Girl & Shuri. The last one has the highest preorders of any Marvel book on Amazon.

Duke is not protected by his race. In what limited he as done-he made a place at the table with the grownups.

[lemonpeace]

Having the company's AWARENESS of the problem is a big deal. That means they HAVE to do something about it, they can't just sweep it under the rug. One perk is that black characters won't be killed off now, whereas they'd been cannon fodder for ages.

Exactly

In the past, DC could have gotten rid of black characters easily (and sometimes in horrible ways).

Now, however, they are not going to be able to disappear Duke so easily, because they do not want to convey a bad image.

So, in the case of Duke, which is a new character (so he is a vulnerable position), his race is a protection at some level.

I can kinda see what your saying but that's a really low bar. Like what does that really do for the characters? Ok, cool they're not getting killed but if you're keeping them alive to play second fiddle, be wallpaper or quietly retire, I can't say that's satisfactory enough to say his race affords him any real advantage. Again, while I can't entirely say they aren't doing anything at all with their black characters, I can't they are doing a satisfactory job; and I definitely can't say that their black characters' race affords them any real favor.

Just wanted to drop in and add to the bold the following: small but relevant Zero Year intro, his "prologue" of sorts of the modern day Duke in Endgame, and his role in the Superheavy storyline. Still scattered, but these moments were absolutely relevant to Duke's character. Also, there's the Rebirth issue of Batman; that should count too, but the problem there is that it is a satisfactory issue that leads into nothing but disappointment. It's relevant to Duke's timeline, but I have reservations on it otherwise because of that.

Yeah, those are relevant too, I was just pointing out how scattered his appearances and development has been. However, I also wouldn't say those are as pivotal to the character's development as the ones I listed. Like outside of Endgame and Zero Yero because they are the origin/roots of the character, you can read We are Robin, All-Star, and BaTS and get everything you need to know about Duke up to this point in time.

[oasis1313]

I can kinda see what your saying but that's a really low bar. Like what does that really do for the characters? Ok, cool they're not getting killed but if you're keeping them alive to play second fiddle, be wallpaper or quietly retire, I can't say that's satisfactory enough to say his race affords him any real advantage. Again, while I can't entirely say they aren't doing anything at all with their black characters, I can't they are doing a satisfactory job; and I definitely can't say that their black characters' race affords them any real favor.

I can say I'd LOVE it if I felt as secure about Dick Grayson's future as I am about Duke's. Yes, it IS cool not having to worry about your favorite character getting killed--especially now with Didio again reviving his hatred of Nightwing. Didio does not hate Duke and he's a beloved Snyder creation, which is very reassuring for a Duke fan like me. It's like living with Lucrezia Borgia and being guaranteed you won't be poisoned. There might be a Bendis out there just waiting to send Duke into the stratosphere. I have a lot of hope for Duke.

[the illustrious mr. kenway]

Hill's arc in Detective Comics felt like a backdoor pilot to a potential Outsiders run. Im guessing duke's arc was set up to be resolved there.