The DC/WB Video Game Struggle

Two days ago, I read (well, more like watched) an article debuting the Infinite Crisis video game trailer over at Comicvine (if you haven't seen it, watch it here). I've been hearing rumors about a video game that would focus on Infinite Crisis for a couple of years, and have always been mildly curious about what type of game it would be, what developer would tackle it, what platforms it would be on, and on what scale would I measure my disappointment when it finally came out. That being said, Warner Bros latest licensed product looks like it's already falling prey to the same recurring issues that seems to plague most of DC/WB's products. What do I mean when I say this?

Infinite Crisis is being developed by Turbine Inc (Lord of the Rings Online), a subsidiary of Warner Bros. The game is to be a Multiplayer Online Battle Arena game, which is fancy speak for your DotA and League of Legends style gameplay. Free to play PvP, arenas, and weapons, with an overlay of heroes and villains from the DC Universe. To me, this scheme is reminiscent of Mortal Kombat vs DCU: a Mortal Kombat style fighting game, with Mortal Kombat elements and an overlay of heroes and villains from the DC Universe, and then even the subsequent Injustice: Gods Among Us launching April fifteenth, which runs off of the MK9 engine, with an overlay of DCU characters that takes place in the DCU. "Overlay" being the operative word here. Seriously, you can pinpoint which DC fighters play like which MK fighters, as if they left the coding and just gave them new skins. I could keep going back further, with the Lego: Batman series, to DC Universe: Online, to Justice League Heroes to the 64, and any of their side-scrolling action games on handhelds to show how formulaic and bland WB Interactive games tend to be. There's no risk-taking, the project isn't melded properly to the medium, and as a result, the final product is mediocre at best.

I'm not saying all WB games are like that obviously, and I'm certainly not saying that all of the titles listed above are complete trash because of it (even though MK vs DCU is complete trash, and that's not up for debate). But imagine one company walked around just copying the style, method, and code for all of their games (action, adventure, rpg, rts, simulation) and then pasting under another genre and saying it was for comic books, or another genre entirely. It doesn't work that way, and it shouldn't work that way with our comics either, but WB continues to suck at this, and thus their games continue to be uninspired and lackluster in the grand scheme of things. I guess they take us for shmucks, and assume we'll throw our money at anything with a comic book label at it in any form. That's only half true.

The thing is though, I think, if you sprinkle comic book (or video game) themes on anything, you instantly have the power to make it more appealing and more engaging, but it's a double edged sword. You've just opened yourself up to a wave of new ways in which it can all go terribly wrong, terribly fast. "Comic book" hasn't translated into "campy" in a couple decades, so operating under the assumption that you don't need to work an entirely new strategy when developing a game or movie with comic book themes, and that you can get away with anything ruins us all, and you're going to piss a good amount of people off. Unsurprisingly, WB struggles with this same uninspired yet formulaic approach when it comes to most of their movies.
All of that being said, I have previously admitted to pre-ordering Injustice because MK vs DCU sucked so hard I'm hoping it will be good, and I have nothing to satiate my comic book hunger on the gaming front after Arkham City. This is a problem, and there could be solutions (and I like to suggest them so as not to be part of the problem), if WB would actually utilize the "active" in their "Interactive" namesake.

Instead of rehashing their same crap and making it obvious, would it kill them to actually get creative? If you don't want to let comic writers and creators on the creative team, then do something. I'd like to possibly see real "out there" stuff, with potential, like a DCU type rts. Make it a completely unique campaign, but also give one or two short storylines so that your players can command their favorite heroes and their "armies" through. This concept isn't too hard, since Leaguers and individual heroes are constantly interacting with their local police force, they generally have sidekicks or other heroes operating in their city or nearby that can be acting generals or even opposing forces at times, and obviously your villains would make for good opposition (especially when it's alliance time). I'd like to see action rpgs that take us through one or more of DC's Multiverse storylines, or just expands on the quirkiness of the other Earths, like the Search for Ray Palmer. That arc is killer, and I have yet to play a game that features it. Why!? That's nonsense! DC has a rich history, but even if they're trying to rewrite it (with the not-so-nu52) then get to work on something nsn52 related, but stop. Regurgitating. That. Same. Filth. Conclusion? I'm probably cancelling my Injustice pre-order...collectors anyway.

Seriously though you guys, stop, or I'm going to punch you in the throat.
-PR

Saturday Morning Sadness

So, no Young Justice OR Green Lantern. What ever are we twenty something college students here at the Panel suppose to do with our lives now?

I think the better question to ask is: How can this happen?

Ever since the cancellation became evident, Cartoon Network has been receiving waves upon waves of intense social media hatred, and countless pleas for the return of YJ and GLTAS. But Cartoon Network has been silent, except to say "Check out our new DC Nation Block featuring Teen Titans Go! and Beware the Batman." No thank you, Cartoon Network. 

It seems Cartoon Network only wants to add insult to injury (as if Teen Titans Go! wasn't bad enough), they've been showing TV spots advertising new Young Justice and GLTAS. (Is that SALT in my gash, CN?!). The worst part of this situation is ignoring the thousands of viewers who have expressed their displeasure about the YJ and GLTAS cancellations. It would be so simple for CN to explain the situation. In fact, it only takes one finely crafted paragraph. I won't feel any better about not seeing YJ or GLTAS on Saturday, but at least I won't think CN is cold.

But let's be fair, YJ never had a shot anyway. Cartoon Network pulled it from the air erratically. Ripped it from it's prime time slot for no reason. GLTAS didn't fare any better (I'm honestly not sure if it even had a prime time slot). The main reason for all of this seems to trickle down to one thing: merchandise sales. Would you go out with someone who has stood you up more than once? Hopefully you wouldn't, and I don't plan on watching CN (it's not me, it's you) or buying any of the merchandise that comes out of the two new DC Nation Block shows.

So, what are the chances for a YJ and GLTAS return? Here, they're trying to revive the series. The article is worth a read, but voting for the two series is down, as the website hosting them has gone into beta.

---Sushi

Emerald City Comic Con

The end of February and the beginning of March was a ridiculous whirlwind! But Emerald City was such a blast, it was worth it. It took me about a week to cover from the exhaustion and the jet lag (I currently live in Georgia, so it was a small trip). 

DC Panel

I ran around, met a ton of writer/artists that I admire, spent WAY too much money on goodies for me and my pals, and attended some panels. That's pretty much the life. 

Dark Horse Panel

Regretfully, I was too lost in the atmosphere to take very many photos. I failed miserably in that regard  which is a shame because I bought a camera for this event. You're probably wondering, "Who in the world has THAT problem at a Con?" Well, me. =/

Creepin' on Dan Didio

At any rate, another reason I'm writing this post is to announce a temporary hiatus from blog posts. It's crunch time at college, and graduation is looming.  I might be able to squeeze some in during and after spring break, but no promises. 

Besides, all my free time is going to be spent reading these free comics DC and Marvel are dishing out right now. 

---Sushi

I Drink Alone...And Draw

I bet you saw the title and you were like:

"Pencil Rogue, you crafty rascal, is that another Thorogood reference?"

I mean if you weren't thinking that I'm not going to blame you.  I mentioned I draw, right?  Because I do, and I did in my little "Meet the Panel" introduction.  I'm an aspiring comic artist in every sense of the word.  I eat, dream, and breathe the medium.  I'm practicing the craft every day trying to improve, hoping to get noticed in the near future (a lot of practice between/during class).  I'm handy with a pencil, decent with a pen, and am learning the frustrations of digital inking/coloring to get my own full comic going.  I'll be posting art here a bit.  Feel free to comment if you'd like, or if you'd like to see something in particular drawn - it's good practice for me anyway.  If you're an artist and have advice that'd be particularly fantastic (especially if you've got the digital thing down).

At the very least, you'll know I'm not full of crap.

I'm listening to George Thorogood, because I'm bad to the bone.

I couldn't think of anything better to name this post, but I am actually listening to George Thorogood.  So it's not 100% random.
I've been sick this week, which is why I've been AWOL, and Sushi is at Emerald City Comic-Con.  I get text updates from her about all the neat people she's running into, occasional pictures of favorite artists and writers or art, and it's hilarious to hear her complain about being lost while trying to find some person or another.  Then again, she does get to do that while I get to play catch-up on Studies of the Literature of the Americas...
Oh well.
What else? This page will be frequently updating Wednesdays and Saturdays.  Possibly one random day in-between, for the occasional ramble about how I just caved and pre-ordered the collector's for Injustice against my good judgement because apparently I just can't help myself.  Hope for the best and expect the worst, y'know? I'm going to Bat-beat the smack out of EVERYONE in the name of [in]JUSTICE.

I'm sure everyone's been caught up with Wednesday's scandalous affair by now?  I dropped Batman Incorporated around issue six, and I really intended to drop it after issue four, but I kept forgetting to take it off of my pull-list.  I wasn't going to put it back on the shelf - I take my pullbox contract seriously.  Batman Inc was a good pre-new 52 runs.  I wondered why they would attempt a brand new series knowing the new universe was just around the corner, but Batman was back in his badass, pinstripe suit, and there was work to be done.   Then the reboot happened and it's just felt like Batman Inc has been an empty husk of its predecessor. The writing is muddled; old and new readers have no idea what the flack is going on or why.  I mean do you really feel like you know why things are happening? Sure, Damian becomes Batman and all of Gotham is destroyed was the underlying theme (if you can call it that) but I never bought into it, and I never bought into the why?  Logically the next step was to kill him, right?  Whaaaaaat?

CREATIVE:
Art: Christ Burnham/Jason Masters
Written: Grant Morrison
Price: $2.99

Now I feel like I can't give a 100% knowledgeable review on issue 8 (since I'm missing issues) but I read it and I have to say, I was pretty displeased.  I'm not even pissed that they killed Damian, even though the little man is a good character and had years to grow outside of his "angry sidekick from psychopathic killer mother and borderline-psychopathic vigilante father" box.  It was the total blandness and general ineffectiveness of his death that's completely disappointing.  It was the first time I read a comic book and as I saw Batman holding Damian's limp body, I was already trying to calculate how long it would be before they brought him back, and I was glad.  That's how terrible it was.  Chris Burnham's art has never done it for me, especially in this issue where emotion was key.  The only emotion he ever manages to successfully elicit from me is hunger, because all I can see are giant, super-hero heads on Popsicle sticks and I'm trying to imagine if they're cherry flavored with bubble-gum eyes (and I would know, I buy them from the ice-cream man all the time).  Jason Master's art, despite being short-lived, was much more appealing.

Moves like Jagger.

"This is bulls*** I used to be Batman!"

Morrison's writing felt forced and flat; like hug your cousin and pretend you don't hate him forced.  Even the "sentimental" moment between Nightwing and Robin felt like a poorly executed chess move instead of emotionally charged writing, made more evident by how easily Nightwing is bird-swatted three pages later, down for the count, while Damian endures a hail of knuckles, arrows, and gunfire.

And the big finale?  I couldn't even feel anything.  I can't even say DC was going for shock value because for shock value you at least need an element of surprise, which they nixed weeks earlier by announcing Damian's death to everyone.  Nothing like the flip out I had day one in the series when I thought Damian took a bullet to the head.  I legitimately didn't feel anything until Damian asked crazy Talia a second time to call the Heretic off.  That was pretty powerful.  We all knew what was coming though, so now I'll just be waiting around for Damian to come back, even though he went out a total little boss.

"Don't worry, son.  Nobody stays dead in comics forever."

There's that and the Lazarus Pit, which could come into play even though it's already been used in a dead Robin situation before, but who knows?  Only time will tell what terrible effects this is going to have on the Batfamily (who was already in a bit of a pickle, with their fragile trust-issues from Death in the Family and whatnot) and Gotham itself.

PR Says: 1/5  Shame a bad little dude had to go out in such a lame way.  Sleep tight, little fella.