On The Shelf: An end of an era

The repackaging of DC Comics and its subsidiary brands continues.

DC, which acquired Mad Magazine several years back, leading to first the Fox series, MadTV, then Cartoon Network's 15 minute Mad animated series, rebooted the venerable satire magazine back to #1 last year, moving to a bi-monthly format that included an issue guest-edited by music satirist and long time fan of the magazine, "Weird" Al Yankovic. It was no longer cheap by any standard, as the cover price rocketed to $6 per issue, due to the usual suspects (rising paper costs, etc.).

But, come August, Mad will leave store shelves in places like Walmart, CVS, Rite Aid, etc., and while there were initial reports that DC would continue the book with reprints, and continue the traditional specials, August's issue 9 will, in fact, be the final original issue, after 68 years of publication.

I'd say now, mascot Alfred E. Neuman has reason to worry.

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A few years ago, Mark Russell had pitched a reboot of DC's short-lived 1970's political satire-drama, Prez, and was promised a 12 issue limited series. Russell only got halfway before DC pulled the plug, perhaps amid pressure from certain people in positions of authority outside of the industry. Russell, instead of using original protagonist Prez Rickard, created a completely new, female lead.

With Prez cancelled, Russell forged on, undaunted, becoming one of the hottest writers in comics. He's been entrusted with some familiar licensed properties, including Red Sonja, The Flintstones, & The Lone Ranger, to positive response.

Then came word last month that his revamp of the Wonder Twins was being expanded from 6 to 12 issues, along with Sam Humphries' reboot of Dial H For Hero, both of which will finish now in February 2020 (the twins will get a month's vacation in August). In a way, this is DC rewarding Russell for his perseverance. If that's the case, why not let him finish Prez?

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Russell's religious satire, Second Coming, finally arrives next week from Ahoy Comics. We'll have a full review in the next On The Shelf.