Outsiders #29 -- Didio Sinks to a New Low???

[cyberghostface]

What's all the fuss about?

When an internet message board troll who has practically made Didio-bashing a profession gets written into a DC Comics issue to be beaten and embarrassed, I think the people who published that product should be more ashamed than the target.

Honestly.

"Harold Winer".

Who goes on to become "Herald".

A shot at a message board poster who obsesses over D-level and lesser characters on the 'net, with the user name of Herald.

Who happens to be black just like the character in the book.

Who has gotten into arguments with DC Comics creators and had one say that he is well known in the DC offices, where he is regularly laughed at.

Sadly, if you remove this thinly veiled shot at a reader from the equation, the writing involved in making this "Harold Winer" character is even worse. But the thought process behind actually using 5 pages (and possibly more to come) to take a shot at a hater is just impossible for me to come to grips with.

We want to argue that the online fan presence is a vocal minority, right? I've actually started to embrace that idea more over the last year. But when members within that group can have such an effect on you that you have to devote pages to taking them down? Makes me wonder how much the people behind the scenes believe it.

Source

Seriously, how pathetic and immature is that? This is just like Joe Quesada inventing a Spider-Man villain called Dr. Box who tries to shrink Spider-Man's penis.

creator: dan didio,creator: don kramer,publisher: dc comics,title: outsiders

Comments

[punishermax]

WATCH OUT WONDER WOMAN! YOUR NEW VILLAIN, FARTSMELLER445 WILL CHANGE THE FACE OF COMICS!

NOW BEAT UP THAT JERK FOR MAKING FUN OF ME ON WOW AND CALLING ME GAY

[kd_the_movie]

Really if I was the "Herald" i'd have the greatest sense of satisfaction. A lowly internet poster out of millions gets to DC so much that Didio makes him a character in a book?

[kashmirkong]

Exactly. What Dido's done is told every troll on the internet that if you push their buttons the right way, they'll put you in a comic.

He's given them incentive if nothing else.

[chipsnopotatoes]

I'm sorry, I don't know the history of Herald and Dan, but I had to laugh at the first panel. Somehow, I can't imagine Didio writing the words "fashionista revolution" in his story. (I've not read anything else he's written btw)

Also, looks like they missed a typo there. When Lia talks to her asst about getting rid of the other woman, she says "Remindes..." instead of "Reminds..."

[zordboy]

"Didio Sinks to a New Low???"

Okay, my first reaction to that is, he had anywhere to go?

And there is still a serious issue here. It's all very well to right-off the complaints of whiny, obsessive fans -- but dismissing *every* complaint in this way makes you look ridiculously unprofessional. And also makes you teeter dangerous close to "You suck. Now give me your money for a product where I can insult you more". And it's just, so much fail. So much.

[zordboy]

"Write-off", not "right-off". I'm tired, leave me alone. :)

[big_daddy_d]

Actually I believe it's not that different from Quesada and the Spidey Brain Trust considering how they take their share of shots at those of us who are anti-One More Day/Brand New Day. Not to mention how they admitted to getting off on pissing off us fans and it's like..yeaa..purposely pissing off fans..that only works if you're a professional wrestler turned heel, because at least then fans still love and respect you. So yea..to be disrespectful on such a degree..wow. A lot of creators, and hell even entertainers of any sort, they forget that when all is said and done..fans make...or break you. If your work is crap, they will let you know. if they love it, they will let you know. A lot of them seem to forget this. I'm done with this rant..

[cyberghostface]

Wow, I can't believe I'm actually defending BND here...

BND has definitely taken its jabs at the fans, but there's a difference between poking fun at the reaction to the new status quo--I.E. "Oh, I was never married, May doesn't like redheads, etc" which are intended to rile up the fans opposed to the retcon--and singling out a specific person who doesn't like your work and degrading him in such an immature fashion.

So while the BND crew's actions certainly aren't laudable by any stretch of the imagination, they haven't sunk as low as Didio has. Yet.

[punishermax]

Look if they just would stop complaining they wouldn't be turned into imaginary characters that get beat up by super heroes.

They knew the risks.

[big_daddy_d]

Now on the other hand..to look at this in a possitive light.. whoever this Harold guy is... dude, at least you got drawn into a comic, which I'm sure is a personal wish among any of us. Also..Veritas..isn't that the name of that Illuminati-like group in Smallville?

One more thing though..why does he look like Steve Urkel?

[punishermax]

Counterpoint: He was drawn in a Dan Didio book

[shadowpsykie]

I don't get it.... i mean i know who everyone is assuming it is... don't think there is anyone online who dosent know who Herald is.

but there was a Herald before the internet "troll,"

but ae we forgetting Mal Duncan? Mal Duncan was the first Herald.

also isnt this Herald gay? (meaning Harold Winer?)

[suzene]

also isnt this Herald gay? (meaning Harold Winer?)

Assuming that it actually is a deliberate swipe at an internet poster, I wouldn't be surprised if that was intended to be an extra layer of insult. The level of maturity needed to take that sort of potshot in the first place wouldn't put it out of the realm of possibility.

[arbre_rieur]

I don't know... Considering DC already has this guy, complete with horn, this might have nothing to do with the Internet poster. The surname "Winer" does give me pause, though.

Was there anything in the new character's behavior that resembled the fan Herald?

[sailorlibra]

There are definitely worse fates. I mean, getting drawn into a comic book as a sympathetic, if ineffectual villain? I'd be okay with that. You may call me the Pink Penguin and my motivation is turning crazy after being stranded in the North Pole.* I can be the minor nuisance in Black Canary's hair for about ten minutes on an off day.

*I know, okay?

[leikomgwtfbbq]

I know, right? I'd love to be an ineffectual goofy villain or something. XD

[thanekos]

Harry Winer.

hee.

[starwolf_oakley]

I often say "Because Dan DiDio hates you, that's why." I'm not sure it's an Internet meme yet, but we can hope. I doubt I'll get a character named after me.

Although... there was that line in FINAL CRISIS where someone says "There is a god... and he hates us." Of course, they were talking about Darkseid, and I don't equate Dan DiDio with Darkseid... yet.

[aegof]

..It's not too hard to do, what with all the villains being easily read as Things That Are Wrong With Superhero Comics Today.

[nezchan]

What does it say when the only nearly sympathetic character in those scans is the one who they're taking a "shot" at? Seriously, everyone else is an asshole, no wonder he's bitter.

[jelly_ace]

What a story to tell the grandkids! I pissed off the DC Editor-in-Chief so much I made it to his comic book.

[kashmirkong]

I bet Dave Lizewski and the guy that spent $8500 to have his name in Nemesis are kicking themselves right now. At least the money went to charity.

Spider Jerusalem was right though: being a bastard works.

[goggle_kid]

[kashmirkong]

Congratulations! You're in the next issue now.

[kusonaga]

I don't see it. Sure, "Winer", but Herald's a character and concept that has been around a long time in the DCU, much longer than this troll has been. Heck, how many people online call themselves Herald? Give me a break, this sounds like somebody reading into things.

[grimmbear]

agreed. This is the updated Mal Duncan.

[ladyinred52]

Admittedly, the poster Herald always annoyed me to death, but if this is true, it is a little extreme.

[halloweenjack]

I'd be interested in reading some of his posts, if you could point us toward them. (If not, no big whoop.)

[crabby_lioness]

Internet Rule #1:

DO NOT FEED THE TROLLS!

[stubbleupdate]

When I read through this, I thought "this is a bit of a big reaction because somebody can't spell "reminds""

[halloweenjack]

This is just like Joe Quesada inventing a Spider-Man villain called Dr. Box who tries to shrink Spider-Man's penis.

I'm pretty sure that Box would laugh until he cried if this happened.

[foxhack]

Or he would happily retire to a home in the boonies.

[theanswer]

I think this is more based on Mal Duncan.

[grimmbear]

Yeah, pre-crisis Mal was given his horn just like this but it was actually Gabriel who gave it to him and it could summon the Titans from anywhere they were to Mal's side (among other things).

[foxhack]

Gosh darnit.

If this is so, then where's my Liefeldized persona?

Or Greg Land, has he traced a taxidermied fox yet? :p

[leikomgwtfbbq]

Man, now I totally want to see Land try his hand at furry art.

Just to see what happens.

[akodo_rokku]

Y'know all things considered, a Dr. Box story is not all that far-fetched.

[kashmirkong]

Especially since Marvel and DC rip off each others ideas to no end.

[daningram.insanejournal.com]

DC's instituted a policy wherein a biological relationship to anyone evil makes that person evil.

Frankly, I'd say they've hitten rock bottom with that. This is nothin'.

[jaybee3]

The sad thing is that even IF this wasn't a pot-shot at a specific reader when you combine it with Superboy-Prime who was turned from a heroic character into an whining strawman fanboy just so GJ can make a point and combined with the reaction to Lian Harper's death (where DC seems to think because fans were disgusted and emotional about killing off a kid, it was a good story, so they dismiss complaints about it), the automatic assumption is that it IS a pot-shot until proven otherwise.

Combine this with Marvel's Braintrust continually needling and being obnoxious to those who dislike BND, and you have to wonder. In an world where the comics readership is shrinking and aging, why do the people in charge of these companies (both of whom now have mega-corporate bottom-line overlords) do their best to alientate the readership they have left. It's so childish.

[liliaeth]

Yeah, I don't get that one either, before OMD I would have happily gotten the next generation of my family into comics. I would have bought Spidey stuff for my goddaughter, bought comics for my godson and done anything in my power to get both of them interested in Spidey and comics in general. Thanks to BND and the people involved's behavior around it, my cousin is now 16 and has no interest in comics and will never buy one, because I stopped offering him comics to read. at a time when it could have gotten him into them.

My goddaughter will now not be raised with Spidey toys, I won't even get her into Marvel Adventures, cause I wouldn't want her too disappointed later on. (that and I don't trust Marvel, esp with the reboot of Marvel Adventures)

In other words, their attitude hasn't just lost them one reader, it has lost them all the kids I could have gotten into comics as well.And I'm sure I'm not the only (god)parent, aunt, uncle, cousin, older brother/sister, ... who thinks this way.