A look ahead to 07 Article by aviewaskewed, 12:18 AM 10th Jan Disclaimer: The following column is entirely the opinions of the author (even at that we aren‘t sure), any similarity to the opinions of any other staff or affiliate of theendlesscrew.com is entirely coincidental and unintentional. Unless specifically noted otherwise, all creator comments have been gleaned from other sources and no creators have actually endorsed any aspect of this column. It’s the first column of 2007...yes, let’s just push that and not my long disappearance. God comics is so much white noise sometimes. Well, that and the holidays and enjoyment of gifts and enjoyment of liquor have screwed this column hard. I’m not sure how long we’re going on this one, I know it’s probably still vogue to do some predictions for the year…I don’t want to do that frankly, I don’t think there’s much in my tank for that, and I’ll probably get it all wrong, so I’ll just take a look at some things I’m looking forward to in the new year, or that I at least want to see for this year. JSA returns: This for me is great. Anybody who knows me knows how much I love the first super team, and everything I’ve heard about the direction for the new book has me positively salivating to check it out (I don’t get my comics stash but for once every couple months as long time readers will know), I also like the idea of making them the backbone of the DCU, and the idea that heroes are basically going to have to “pay their dues” working with the JSA before getting really sanctioned and going on to bigger things. The only potential fear I have here is that the Justice Society will eventually be treated like a revolving door for people to move on to “better” things. It’s a small fear as Geoff Johns captaining the ship makes me think we’re in for some great stuff, but I hope there will be more heroes sticking around in the JSA and making that “their team” then might move on to the Justice League or other ventures in the DCU. Shadowpact’s potential: I really like this book, but I think that has to do with a love for this concept, and a love for Bill Willingham’s writing. Not that I’m trying to say this book is bad, I think it’s worth a look if you’re a super hero fan, but it’s got that feeling right now to me like there’s a lot of potential here for this to become very special. I like that this is a super team filling a particular niche nobody else has, that’s exactly what a team should do, I also liked the cliffhanger of the last issue I read in which they were going to lay down the rules of conduct for the team. This is a book that I think is worth a watching to see if it really breaks out, hopefully DC will give it all the opportunities in the world to do so. Less crossovers/more meaning for them: Oh what a pipe dream this is. The stuff still sells muchly, but man, I really would like to have a point where the universe isn’t being rent asunder every couple of weeks. Marvel has in my mind been terrible with this because so many of their crossover events just smack of them wanting to have an event to compete with DC, but even DC is beginning to lose it’s charm with this for me, I can see that DC still obviously has some long term plans here, but what ever happened to just letting me read the books I like without having to get another two or three on top of it? That’s when I’m happiest as a fan, your mileage may vary. I don’t think I’ll be getting my wish anytime soon though as long as the money is still there for these. More new voices: I’m not bashing the creators we’ve got now, but it really seems to me a glass ceiling is developing at the Big Two, and across the industry, I know the cream shall always rise to the top, but I’d really like to see this be a year that some new voices really rise up and show us something new and interesting. I’m not thinking things are stagnating by any means, but the only way to stave that off is with fresh voices. Hopefully we find some. A “do more” Congress: Yes, not comics, but I’m really hoping the new incoming congress keeps true to it’s promises of reform and getting the job done right. I hope, but only time will tell. This column being more timely: A bit of a late new year’s resolution I’ve made is to really try and get my butt back in gear as it relates to my various responsibilities online here. I’ve never necessarily needed this site to be anyone’s first stop when they get online (though I am deeply honored if it is for some of you) I’ve just wanted it to be a place where if you stopped in and visited, you enjoyed the stay, and you had something interesting happening when you came. That hasn’t quite worked out for a variety of reasons, some beyond my control, some well within it. I’m going to try much harder to get back on the ball about this as we move into the new year and try and make some improvements around here. New voices to the site: hey, as ever, if you’d like to contribute to the site in some way, drop me an email or an IM or whatever and let me know! No idea is too outrageous as long as you’re passionate about comics, and willing to contribute some of your time with us here. This isn’t my site, it’s not Stafff’s site, it’s not the other staffers site, it’s everybody’s site, so if you think you can make it better, step up and do it! That’s about all I have for this week, hopefully I’ll have some ideas for next week here and we can get a slightly longer column going. Thank you very much for your continued support and patronage. Back to Rants