The man deserves a proper send-off, after all

[kingrockwell]

By now, you've prolly heard that Greg Rucka's leaving DC for the foreseeable future to work on other projects. ComicsAlliance has a really good interview on the subject.
And saddened as I am by the news, he's left us a considerable body of work to appreciate. So instead of dreading the prospect of a future without him, let us celebrate the good we have from the past.

Mostly, Greg, I just wanna say Thank You. For the clever, tightly-plotted stories, for the snappy dialogue, for all of it. But especially for respecting the characters and loving them as much as we do.

For Helena


For Sasha


For Renee


For Lois


For Amanda


For Kate


For Josephine


And especially for Diana


For all of these and more, Greg, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you. It has been an amazing ten years and we are better for it. You gave it your all and it shows. I wish you the best in your future endeavors, and look forward to whatever you have next for us.
Just remember that there'll always be a place for you on our pull list, and don't be a stranger!

Scans from Batman/Huntress: Cry For Blood #2, Adventures of Superman #627, Crime Bible #4, Detective Comics #860, Wonder Woman: The Hiketeia, and Checkmate v2 #'s 3, 9 and 22

Comments

[From: birdofprey]

This post made me choke up a bit. Thank you. And thank you, Greg Rucka, for everything. You'll be greatly missed.

[From: big_daddy_d]

Something..in my eye.

[From: suzene]

As much as I like Gail's writing, Rucka's is still the only Wonder Woman run I own in full. Damn, that was good Diana.

[From: isilweth]

*is resolutely not crying* Yes, absolutely, yes. Thank you for this post and thank you to Greg!

[From: bluejaybirdie]

Yes, to everything in this post, times one hundred. And as an aspiring reporter, I love his Lois and her journalistic integrity especially.

[From: shadowpsykie]

this Lois Lane made me like her even though she is a lady. (Not sexist, i just like da Men :)

[From: irrelevant]

Amazing women written damned well, and by a guy at that. Something you don't find often in comics.

*salutes* We'll miss you, Greg.

[From: benicio127]

He writes a fabulous Babs and a gloriously nutty Harley, too.

[From: jeyl]

I don't know. It's hard to wish someone good luck when something he works on is doing so good for both him, the company and the fans that he just outright quits it. Not just the project, but the whole darn company. This stuff cannot look good on your resume.

What happened? Was it the money? Creative control? Too much praise? I know nothing lasts forever, but Batwoman isn't exactly the type of character who's been around for ages, and most studios wouldn't give her type of character her own solo story let alone any hopes of it succeeding. And when it does, that's it? At least when Gale left Wonder Woman to do other things, they already had another writer taking over for Wonder Woman. But here, it sounds more like Batwoman is going to be left in the sidelines or be outright abandoned. I need to know more before I can wish him luck in other projects that, if they're successful, he might just abandon as well.

Again, I don't know the whole story, but what I do know isn't painting a good picture. If someone wishes to enlighten me on why his departure and leaving a character like Batwoman in a bleak uncertain future is a good thing, I'm all for it.

[From: kingrockwell]

Creative control, maybe with a dash of internal politics, and if someone'd made me write Blackest Night: Wonder Woman, I wouldn't doubt that I'd be in the same position. The bridges aren't exactly burned, though. He's not saying "never again" so much as "not for now".

The whole thing isn't about Kate, it's despite her. In the interview he says that he'd love to keep writing her, but that this was something he had to do. And we can't say for sure that there isn't anyone lined up to pick up the torch in his absence, though the franchise of Wonder Woman and Batwoman aren't quite as comparable, Wondy will never be cancelled because a creator walks away from her (what's more, i sincerely doubt JMS came aboard because Gail left, it was prolly the other way around). All I can tell you there is I'm desperately waiting for the July solicits to see if Kate or Nee are anywhere in sight (and Kate might be, but i really doubt Nee will, which makes me so so so sad)

Ultimately? The way it all boils down? Good for Greg, prolly not so good for us. I can't say for sure. Still waiting on those solicits.

[From: jeyl]

"The whole thing isn't about Kate, it's despite her."

I kind of figured that much out. When it comes to characters who have a different orientation that are not used by the most if not all the recognizable mainstream comic book heroes, it's pretty awesome that Greg was able to cement Kate into her own 'thing' that didn't come with that stupid 52 press business.

@Gargoylekitty: "Basically, it just seems he wants to have more time to work on his own stuff"

That's fine. I'm not saying he should commit to this character if he doesn't want to. I just wish his departure wasn't done in a way that leaves Batwoman's (and Nee's) future in doubt. Especially after all they were able to do with her character. It just sucks.

[From: shadowpsykie]

i am pretty sure i read that Johns or Didio said that this is not the end for Kate... so (though to be honest i dont know exactly WHERE that was stated....)

Hopeful....

[From: gargoylekitty]

Yeah, J.H. Williams* said on his blog that "DC is firmly committed to this character(Kate Kane)." But it doesn't seem he knows much beyond that.

*Why the hell did I write Johns before? Should go to bed.

[From: lencannon]

I'm pretty sure they're planning a Batwoman series once Detective returns to Batman stories.

[From: kingrockwell]

They were at least, but how those plans have derailed since Rucka's left, especially with the June solicit saying that Kate and Nee'll both be back in 'Tec for July, I really couldn't say. This is why I'm so anxious for July solicits.

[From: gargoylekitty]

What happened? Was it the money? Creative control? Too much praise?
According to him? "There is no drama here, folks. It is as it appears. I’m stepping away from DC to pursue different opportunities. Nothing more nefarious than that. Nothing less sinister. Time is a commodity that is as precious to me as it is rare, and there’s simply not enough of it."

Basically, it just seems he wants to have more time to work on his own stuff, time that I'd imagine is eaten up a good deal by working for DC. Personally, I can't fault him for that.

[From: lilacsigil]

This is a wonderful post. Thank you.

[From: benicio127]

This is awesome.

[From: daningram.insanejournal.com]

Agree on all but Waller. Rucka's Waller was standard fair, lacking any grey as a character and happened to be Checkmate's biggest roadblock, despite having the best track record against meta-terrorism.

[From: thebigapricot]

Great post. The very short list of writers that I trust with female characters at DC has been reduced by one. At least Helena has Gail and the Wall has Gail and Ostrander. But I just don't know who will write Kate and Renee like he did. At least I'll still have Stumptown to get my Rucka fix.

[From: kingrockwell]

Andreyko? Maybe? You might know better than I do, since I've only read Streets of Gotham back-up.

[From: thebigapricot]

I would give Renee to Andreyko without question. I think he's perfect for the character. I think he'd be good for Kate Kane, too but he's only written one book at a time, so I am not sure he's the workhorse that Rucka was. I have no idea where he stands with DC right now with Kate Spencer's back-up going away. The only thing he's done outside of that recently was a fill-in on Gotham Sirens. You should try and pick up Manhunter series run on eBay, it's terrific.

[From: kingrockwell]

I'm kinda hoping the Manhunter's ending to free Andreyko's schedule for Kate and/or Nee. We'll have to see.
also, first sentence? i see what you did there

[From: punishermax]

I will remember you......

Will you remember me...


~star wipe~

Don't let your liiiiiiife...pass you by...

~strums guitar~

Weep not for....

~single tear falls down cheek~

the meeemmmooooriiiieeess...

[From: shadowpsykie]

LOL this made me laugh, part in that it was so cute... but i seriously saw some one in my head sitting by a window with images of Kate Nee Sasha (ect) flashing through there minds, and the song playing as the tear drops to the ground in a splash and within the splash we see more images of said women.....

what.....?

im very imaginaitive :)

[From: punishermax]

A very special Lifetime music video....

[From: howlingforever]

This post is excellent. Thank you.

[From: kingrockwell]

Your user name is excellent!

[From: 3goodtimes]

I applaud this wonderful post.

I'm really going to miss his presence in DC, but I look forward to whatever he decides to write in the future.

That interview was fabulously done.

[From: halloweenjack]

Thank you.

[From: 3goodtimes]

Wanted to come back and quote this because I seriously could not agree more:

Stop buying event books. Event books keep happening because you guys keep buying them. They do. You guys are eating your own tail. You don't get to then say, "I hate events" and then buy them. And there's this war now of escalating events now between Marvel and DC... and there's a part of me that kind of longs for the day when you could have a run of 12 issues of "The Flash" and have it just be 12 issues of "The Flash."

Yes pls. I mean, sometimes events bring less-used characters I love out of the ether, which is wonderful, but I wish DC would do an every-other-year thing with events at the very least. Or something along those lines.

[From: cloud_wolf]

That's a really good interview. Please staple this to the foreheads of everyone in the comics industry.

[From: neo_prodigy]

FUCK!!!! I didn't know about this. I couldn't read the interview yet. Too painful. Who's taking over Detective Comics?

[From: kingrockwell]

That's the worst of it, we don't know yet! David Hine (can't remember who the artist is!) has a fill for April and May (Rucka and Cully still doing the Question back-up for these), then Denny O'Neil and Dustin Nguyen are doing an oversized issue in June. June's solicit says Kate and Nee return in July, so I have no idea if that's still true and who'll be the creative team if it is!

I've got much anxiety over here, Neo. Much anxiety.
July solicits can't come soon enough.

[From: neo_prodigy]

I think this calls for a series of follow up posts. I mean damn. I don't even know where to start.

I'm reading the interview now and like everyone has said.

1. Rucka is a badass.

2. He's telling it like it is in this interview.

3. Detective Comics is one of the best comics out now period (and you know I love me some Renee as well)

4. One of the best comics out period features two ass-kicking lesbians.

Where the hell are those July solicits?!!!!!

[From: kingrockwell]

Motto really to all of this!
I know there's a bunch of other Rucka characters I'd have included here, but had a particular theme I was after (sorry Vic, sorry Khalid). I would totally welcome others to jump in! Rucka had an amazing decade's worth of stuff he's given us, and we should be celebrating it!

Oh, looked it up and Jeremy Haun's doing the art for Hine's two issues.
He's rather good, actually. Been doing the art on the Manhunter back-up from Streets of Gotham.
And it's apparently a follow-up to Arkham Reborn with the same creative team. ...Didn't really read that one.

[From: seawolf10]

Actually, I'm not impressed with his writing of Waller there. Prisoners aren't redundant. One might know something another won't, or be more likely to crack under interrogation, or serve as a useful way to compare/cross-check info -- if they tell you two different stories, one of them's probably lying.

And Waller's supposed to be smart enough to know that.

[From: jlbarnett]

Nice in general, but I root against Checkmate on principal and wish Superman was there when Diana accepted that stupid Hiketeia thing.