Back in the 80s, writers didn't crowd team books with too many characters
I own the first 2 issues of the old Omega Men series from the mid-1980s written by Roger Slifer, and saw something in the intro he wrote that can tell what's wrong with the approach used by Geoff Johns, if he put too many characters into the JSA, particularly in the latter end of its run:
What stands out for me here is the part where Slifer tells how he promised artist Keith Giffen that not all of the 100 or so Omegas who could appear in the series would have to appear all at once in any given issue. At that time, it was partly because having so many in one issue all at once could make it difficult for the artist to handle. In Johns' case, he'd stuff only so many cast members into a single issue because he seems to think that everyone needs immediate exposition, a problem that also tainted the abortive Green Lantern movie.
To build a good story, whether in a team book or a solo series, it pays not to crowd too many characters into the script, because they can't all be focused on and given introductions all at the same time.
What stands out for me here is the part where Slifer tells how he promised artist Keith Giffen that not all of the 100 or so Omegas who could appear in the series would have to appear all at once in any given issue. At that time, it was partly because having so many in one issue all at once could make it difficult for the artist to handle. In Johns' case, he'd stuff only so many cast members into a single issue because he seems to think that everyone needs immediate exposition, a problem that also tainted the abortive Green Lantern movie.
To build a good story, whether in a team book or a solo series, it pays not to crowd too many characters into the script, because they can't all be focused on and given introductions all at the same time.
Labels: dc comics
