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?

[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.

[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..

[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?

[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?)

[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?

[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.

[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.

[goggle_kid]

[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.

[ladyinred52]

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

[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.

[theanswer]

I think this is more based on Mal Duncan.

[foxhack]

Gosh darnit.

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

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

[akodo_rokku]

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

[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.