#wilsons!

[ruhigknight]

ALSO on subject of Joey Wilson portrayals, Rebirth Deathstroke’s talk about a character dying makes me worried for Joey there...I mean I have some issues on Rebirth Joey’s character but overall there’s things that Wolfman brushed up on in NTT but never did much with and Priest is treating him more of like a character than a plot device and I want to see where that Joey with a conscience goes esp now we have another homicidal version but on TV now

[ruhigknight]

You know I'm actually rather excited for "Slade the Superhero." Bracing myself for some emotional rollercoaster moments and waiting for reasons behind some WTF? elements but overall Priest is a capable author who can make this work: it's probably going to be a study on morality as well as another convoluted plan by Slade to spend time with his kids (which is another reasons I'm pumped: Wilson bonding). And you know it's not going to be permanent but it will be interesting. Especially the reasons for all those people have for joining Slade.

 And Terra. How? Is this your redemption too? Are you the Terra or a Terra? It does suck Wally left TT already when he was one of the few not deaged NTT members. Also remember when Joey and Rose were allowed to be on superhero teams and have friends? Good times, good times. And I'm happy Tanya is being remembered and her character being developed. That's another thing I hope from this is that DC might entertain the notion of another Titans branch for the characters who have outgrown TT or don't fit the TV synergy requirements for current TT or don't belong to whatever generation Titans is focusing on and ultimately have no other place to go. After Slade goes back to being the World's Deadliest Assassin that is.

Also laughing at how this is probably one of the more diverse team line-ups DC has so far: team consisting even number of guys and ladies. Half of the members are PoC and two of them are biracial to boot (Tanya could be too even). The two white guys on the team are both disabled in different ways and one of them is bi. 

[ruhigknight]

One of the both interesting and frustrating aspects of Rebirth Deathstroke being very "in media res" of the Wilsons' lives that we aren't sure what did happen and other details. Like yeah it's obvious Priest is basing it mostly off Wolfman's stuff with some tweaks and 98% of the stuff that happened to them in the previous two  volumes didn't happen but then there's how did Joey and Rose meet and why do they get along when they can easily not to ( tho not perfect as Etienne pointed out Rose treats Joey differently bc of his disability and Rose didn't bother telling  her brother his fiance is working for the organization that got Grant killed unless she probably suspects something else) not counting the fact they got along fine prereboot as we were robbed of relationship building before. Why is Rose emulating herself after her assasin dad and took her so long to try to go to know her mother's side? (And did I miss something but where is Lili)? How did Joey cope using a power that involves invading a lot of personal space and ntm adapt with his body being left dormant? what was his younger superhero years like? Which of course ties into their relationships with the Titans which will hopefully be explained during the Lazarus Contract if not even some in the Twilight arc. And how many other times did Slade (or even Addie) screw them over or actually be a parent to the kids? Then Priest writes things so intricate and when one question is finally answered another one or two more pops up......

[ruhigknight]

Deathstroke 15 spoilers

Goddammit Deathstroke is a rollercoaster. Like, it leaves us with a cliffhanger thinking Joey killed someone, reveals 8 issues later he didn't kill him and is tormented with guilt, and now guy dies from injuries and Joey not being able to get him to help in time....but he won't be dead for long bc comic books and their science. I like a lot of what Priest is doing, but man I hope we finish with the Ikon drama soon and have Joey focus on repenting and being a hero... I'm hoping that's what it is, nothing Priest has written in the book or his site to show he's taking Joey down OMG EVIIIL route again. Like continue showing him as a genuinely good person who wants to do good but screwed up big time and tries to make good and show he isn't his parents. Like if 03-11 writers actually focused on his Titans Hunt/Deathtrap angst but less demon possession/mental illness. And basically, not have him be the "good Wilson" in terms of "Good by Wilsons' standards" more or less what DC had Rose be pre-reboot bc her father was so evil and her brother was so crazy.

Also:

Rose why didn't you tell your brother that his fiancé wasn't what she seemed earlier?

And this book is doing Tanya justice and I really don't think Priest pulled her out of limbo to kill her. Why she's 16 now I have no clue and her trying to help Slade might be a weird, inverted take on his usual relationships with young girls but hopefully no romance...please lord. However, I know she's a relatively new part time hero but shouldn't Deathstroke's real face be well known?

And heh, "Twilight." And Slade's seeing eye attack dog.

[ruhigknight]

DC posted a Wilson Family Values page to fill everyone in on the messy Rebirth Wilson family history. It's informative and gives you the gist of the characters but the here's some weird hiccups:

It's about Rebirth history but here they mention pre-reboot continuity that Slade had Rose after the divorce instead of cheating on Addie in new continuity.

It makes it out both Joey and Grant were kidnapped when it was just Joey and Grant ran away before the kidnapping.

Also this line: Still, it would seem that duplicity is as much second nature to him as it is the rest of his family. Joey’s been spending his free time manipulating his fiancée and moonlighting as a vigilante named “Jericho.”...the only manipulation he's doing is him not telling her what he did to Ikon (&that's tearing him apart, idk that line just leaves out a lot of context) and insisting they get married sooner. And she knows about him being Jericho...and there's plenty she's not telling him either....(tho rest of it gets Joey's character right as long as isn't this "accidental mesh of continuities" thing)

Mentions Joey trying to distance from his toxic family by working at tech company but said company belongs to his mother. Or that's concealing a plot point? 

It mentions Rose had a stint with the Teen Titans but nothing if Joey was a member. Given we saw a young Joey in his original NTT costume I take he was a member at some point too and who ever wrote this made a mistake... and hopefully Rose isn't the only Titans member in the Wilsons this time around...

[ruhigknight]

DC talk: Detective Comics & Deathstroke thoughts

I really am grateful DC opted for twice-a-month shipping for some of their comics, especially Detective Comics and Deathstroke the two DC titles I'm most interested atm, as while the stories as whole are interesting and all it's just the books seem to be taking their time focusing more on the characters I'm most interested in, obvs Cass and Joey, so I'm glad waiting time's been cut in half. Also glad both may be getting more focus these upcoming arcs and certain questions surrounding them may finally be answered. Hopefully.

 It seems like they're returning Shiva to Cass's life one way or another which I am glad that (if she's her mother) at east will be consistent with her pre-reboot self even if, as many pointed out, who Cass's mother wasn't a big deal until the end of her series plus the NEw 52's different Shivas will be easier to explain away via legacies or characters sharing codenames. I can get distancing from the LoA with Cass might be better down the road for adaptation road blocks but I'm hoping parentage is consistent (still got some issues on how they handled David Cain tho). Cass's love of dance still being shown is beautiful however.

 Joey's I'm still a little unsure as his and Rose's stories understandably take a back seat to Slade's yet Rose's feel like they move faster (really those problems aren't so bad once in a tpb) and it feels there's more Priest is setting up with Joey other than what happened to his ex but also in regards to Addie and Etienne. Given the parallels this arc started off with similar to a Rose&Slade team-up earlier in the run maybe Joey and Slade will get quality time soon? On the speech box thing: lots of mixed feelings and not being disabled myself  I can't really put together much (iirc Priest said he of course wanted Joey to still be disabled but didn't want him to be treated as an "other.") but as long as they have Joey use ASL without it sometimes or even while "talking" like they have done a couple times in this run already that be neat. There's also the sad fact Joey's gotten such crappy writing in the past bc of people struggling (or not trying at all) to write a mute character...

I want to say more on Rebirth Joey as whole by but wANT TO WAIT TIL THIS ARC FINALLY WRAPS UP. Interview-wise and some details here Priest sounds promising and puts thought into his writing but Joey's got this monkey paw curse thing there has to be a catch. Ntm solicits saying Slade will lose someone close to him....

 Cass seems more or less her original self in rebirth but parts of her origins have become more heavy handed and her  relationships with Steph and Babs have been reduced or erased for Harper (who I like she's just stuck as a "replacement" for roles numerous characters can't fill post-New 52). & of course more focus of dancing for Cass

[ruhigknight]

Love is Love all around sounds like a wonderful book and most of the stories 've seen are touching but that Deathstroke one is so goddamn painful and infuriating I don't want to even begin that list of what's wrong