We explore the fan reaction to Dan Didio’s exit from DC.
25th February 2020
A little over a week ago, Dan Didio, probably one of the most vocal personalities in the comic industry, was asked to leave DC Comics where he had worked for nearly eighteen years, eventually being named co-publisher, along with Jim Lee. Whilst I had been aware of some of the issues at DC over the years, in terms of the allegedly competing editorial, I deemed a lot of these to be folly for gossip, which is not something I necessarily enjoy writing about or really even entertaining. I don't think it's helpful. Whilst personal, private conversation is one thing, plastering your views over the internet is another. And I think regardless of how private your conversations are, people's feelings get hurt easily. But I digress. Surprised as I was that Didio departed DC, I was even more surprised at the reaction to it. For the most part, Twitter was filled with consoling words from comic creators who had met and worked with Dan over the years. But the fan reaction, seemed, by and large, to be something completely different. Instead of any kind of thanks for the years of books that he'd shepherded through at DC, or at least any polite regard, the fans instead took the opportunity to attack and complain (mostly about New 52). I have to be honest, it kind of shocked me.
For clarification, I have to admit that I was no fan of the New 52 either. I've been a Batman reader for some thirty-three years, so of course, this was the title I chose to start my New 52 journey with. It didn't chime with me, despite Scott Snyder's skill as a writer and I ended up trading in my entire N52 Bat-Run. I didn't try much of the other N52 output at the time, largely due to budgetary restrictions. Essentially, I was skint. That I'm now trying to dip back into that period starting with Brian Azzarello & Cliff Chiang's Wonder Woman run should tell you everything about hindsight. I'm also beginning to re-read that period of Batman for a future podcast, which means having to re-buy the books in trade again, so more fool me. Whilst the books weren't my bag anymore (I wouldn't buy Batman comics again until Rebirth), I didn't feel any great need to write to Scott Snyder or Dan Didio and tell them I didn't like what they were doing. Truth be told, I grew up in the age of the now-vanished letters pages, so I wouldn't have known how to reach them, except through those and I’m just not that mean-spirited. Twitter was still fairly new and unknown territory to me and I sure didn't have their email addresses. And even if I did, what would I say? 'Sorry guys, the books are not my cup of tea, can you do anything to fix it?' Or how about 'Hey, you guys have made me make the choice to quit reading comics'?
But this was the attitude of fans when the Didio news broke. Their mood was hostile, even gleeful. Focusing on what they felt Didio had taken away from them during his time at DC and not on the fact that he'd been a tireless champion for the medium. During his time there, prices had stayed low (and in fact still are low, with only the higher-quality bound books and highest-profile titles going above $3.99). He also oversaw what was probably the largest reboot in a major publisher's history, whatever you feel about its success. His decisions laid the groundwork for Brian Michael Bendis to make the move from Marvel (itself a massive coup). The hostility and upset of comic fans over Didio made me think: What are we entitled to when we buy a comic?
Well, the first and most obvious answer is just that. A comic. And within that, at least 22 pages of art and story. It might be good, or it might be bad. But that's the risk you take with any sight-unseen commercial art medium. We don't have the right to scream at the creators of that art online, or in real life for that matter, or to scream at the publishers for their heads. We've got what we paid for. A comic book. Whilst my sympathies are with anyone who invested in a long-term continuous story, only to see that story take a turn they don't like, we always have the option to stop buying the comic. Yes, this is seemingly against the grain for comic collecting, a hobby where completion is the key to happiness. But it's better to tie it off at the wound rather than keep bleeding out. And as the medium does become more expensive, you're better off saving when you can. Don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating that you don't buy comics. But ending your financial commitment to a book is a perfectly acceptable protest if you're not enjoying it. Taking creators to task online is not. Neither is gloating if the creators you're unhappy with are removed from the book or if the book is cancelled. That, after all, is someone’s career. Someone's rent. But not getting book A gives you a chance to look at books B, C, D, and beyond. This may broaden your tastes and introduce you to something new. Also, the barrage of online screaming at or even about creators and books is not a good look. It isn't making you any more appealing to the community.
Not continuing with a particular line or title seemed to give a license for fans to utter a new complaint. 'You made me want to stop reading comics, Dan' went the cry. To which, I say poppycock. Only you can make you stop reading comics, either in their entirety or just those from a particular publisher. But with the diversification of publishing, most labels now have sub-labels that are more than worth their salt. This means you can still stick with the publisher and not get the books that are thrilling you anymore. Most of the comic-reading audience is still comprised of adults. Surely we can be honest with ourselves and say that maybe part of the reason we stopped reading was just... that we wanted or needed to stop reading? It's OK to stop for a bit and take stock. Most of us have piles of unread comics waiting for us. I wrote as much a couple of weeks back. Stopping for a while may give you that much-needed chance to catch up and sort out what you really want to carry on reading. Obviously, it's difficult. You've invested time and money into something that you love. But the type of stories that you love will come back around.
We've also got to think about the kind of legacy and environment we're leaving online. Social media is a hostile environment if you want to be moderate and calm. It seems that anger is not only sanctioned but a requirement. We need to think about what we want to get angry about. I realise there are genuine issues for some people with comics and the industry. And that there are things that do need to change. But to scream about the comics themselves because characters we love aren't featured or move in a direction we don't like? That's the nature of commercially available art. It's not all gonna be gold. Think about how much it really upsets, in the grand scheme of things. If we really want to 'Be Kind' that's going to have to extend to feelings about art, too,