Thread by @GailSimone

Okay, I have just a fun, somewhat silly, somewhat serious thought that I would like to share with fans of @DCComics.

The disclaimer is, I know this isn't very likely. And I know there are reasons not to try it.

But it came to mind recently and I thought I'd share it.

1/

There have been several times in the past where, for whatever reason, the audience for superhero comics shifted. Whatever the reason, it's happened several times over the past seventy years.

In those cases, companies often shifted focus to include other genres.

2/

There were definite eras where a deliberate attempt to foster interest came in the form of romance, horror, monster, Western, martial arts, sword and sorcery or other such titles came from not just Marvel and DC, but from the other companies producing mainstream comics.
3/

So we come to a thought. Some of these drifts sold very well. But eventually, Marvel and DC returned to the center, to where now, superheroes are almost all they publish.
Which is fine, it's their specialty.

But it brings to mind an interesting idea.

4/

Now this bit happened mostly before I was a regular comics reader, there are others out here who will know this history better than me. But there was famously a time when DC tried to expand their line beyond superheroes, even before the full direct market was in force.

5/

They decided to try to replicate Marvel's success with Conan and Red Sonja, and other pulpier characters. I BELIEVE they had lost the Tarzan license, not sure about the Shadow.

But they wanted to have a pulpier line.

So they did.

6/

Their 'Adventure Line.'

7/

Now, when I saw this ad, I became a little obsessed, and I started looking for them at garage sales and quarter bins when I could get to a comics store. These books ran from okay to great.

Beowulf and Warlord were really good, Stalker was fun, had great potential.

8/

Kong was beautifully drawn, Jack Kirby himself drew some JUSTICE, INC. issues. Tor was lovely but with a bit of a forgettable story.

The point is, they were an attempt to draw an audience that might have gotten bored of superheroes, or were never into them at all.

9/

Warlord was the line's only real success, I believe, went on for years and became a classic.

The rest became victim of an 'implosion' before they even really had a chance to grow an audience.

10/

So, it is probably a little ridiculous to really consider taking inspiration from a failed publishing venture.

But I keep thinking. Right now, a LOT of readers say they have crossover and variant fatigue. And reboot fatigue.
Can't blame them at all.

11/

And if you look at what has been hugely successful outside of superheroes, it's stuff that fits into the adventure genre, with horror or SF or fantasy flavors. Things like the Walking Dead, Saga, even Star Wars to some degree, and a LOT of manga.

12/

I wonder, if people who still love comics and love the DC and Marvel universes wouldn't really enjoy some thrilling adventure comics. Get some great pulpy writers, some hotshot gritty artists...

...and make ADVENTURE comics.

13/

I wonder if they could make an imprint like that go. Independents have built an audience with that genre.

Because DC already HAS a ton of characters that could be brought into a line like that, characters that show up in DCU stories, but maybe were born in other genres.

14/

I mean, here are a few off the top of my head.

15/

WARLORD

Created and overseen by the great Mike Grell. Bring it back in the post Game Of Thrones/Lord Of The Rings era. Update the Cold War backdrop. This title had a fanbase of its own for YEARS.

16/

LADY SHIVA

In a time when there were few female or Asian badass characters at either company, she could make Batman stand down with a glare. She TAUGHT the Question and the Black Canary. Martial arts espionage stories all over the world. Say her name with CAUTION.

17/

STAR HUNTERS

This was a weird series, but with a cool premise. The STAR HUNTERS were infected with a virus by a vicious corporation, that kills them if they set foot back on Earth. So they travel the galaxy looking for the loophole that will let them go home!

18/

OR update any of these for today...

Crimson Avenger, Kamandi, Rima, Hercules Unbound?

I realize some of these are a little dated as is, and I realize that DC has decided to focus on the core characters.

But they have SO MUCH incredible IP that is very tv- and movie-friendly.

If they did one less crossover event, they could have an ADVENTURE line.

20/

After I post something like this, I always get 'experts' who want to tell me why these things wouldn't work, and that's fine, I get it.

But one hit book can float an imprint long enough for other books to catch on. It's happened many times in the past.

21/

And people love the familiar, but they also want to try new things. And there ARE a lot of readers out there who are fans of a particular company or universe.

Think of how many adventure films and television series there are.

We could do that.

22/

That's my point, just wondering if an ADVENTURE line, focusing on gritty thrilling sexy action could be viable. I know a LOT of creators who LOVE working on that stuff (I'm one of them).

Anyway, thinking out loud. What other non-superhero DC property would you like to see?

23/

As an aside, I am a sucker for pulp stories, as you can probably tell by my Sonja/Conan/Tarzan/Claw/Stalker/BeowulfWestern adoration. I stick those genres in my comics every chance I get. :)

end/

PS. It's interesting to see how many creators have already said they'd love to do this.

PPS. I love this pulpy DC stuff so much I put a bunch of these characters (Claw, Stalker, and Beowulf) in my Wonder Woman run, drawn by the great @aaronlopresti!