Dear DC

I just finished watching Green Lantern and Young Justice on television, on this beautiful Saturday morning.  I like Green Lantern and I'm actually starting to like Young Justice a lot more.  It had Captain Shinypants on it, and  they actually mentioned Guy!  Didn't show him, but they mentioned him. 

But what really caught my eye was one of the shorts that played during the commercials, wherein they pondered the true meaning of "Super Friends".  It had all my favorite lesser characters, who pointed out that Batman won't take them to the airport, or feed their fish, and what is the real meaning of friendship, if Superman won't lend you a couple of bucks?

I laughed of course.  And then, I choked up a little bit, because they showed Ted Kord, and Booster Gold, and Plastic Man, and ALL of the Flashes, and Hawkman and Hal and Kyle. Kyle!  And Ralph Dibny and a ton of other characters, ALL of whom I miss terribly.  And it hit me. 

WHY CAN'T I READ ABOUT THEM ANYMORE?

DC, you have a huge stable of fabulous characters, that you aren't even using.  You have either "shelved" them, or killed them off for no good reason other than for a brief moment of shock.  Actually, killing people off is no longer a shock.  It is a shock if you manage NOT to kill somebody for a change! 

You created these characters, told stories about them, and made us care about them.  So why do you chose to slap me in the face, by disposing of them?  Yes, I know they aren't "real".  But you can say that about any literary creation.  But that doesn't change the fact that people remain fans.  You are raining on my parade and I am getting quite annoyed.  I've mentioned this a few times in the past, but nobody seems to be listening.

I understand that I as a middle-aged woman am NOT your target audience.  I admit that I deserted you for a few years while I was spawning, but I DID come back, and not only did I come back, but I spent a crapload of money buying all those back issues.  For that matter, I spend a crapload of money on your products every single goddamned week.  It's starting to add up. 

I am not a 20 year old male.  I'm better.  I've probably got  a LOT more money than a 20 year old male, who is blowing through his college loans, that he'll never be able to pay off.  I'm solvent.   I have disposable income, and I am more than happy to throw those dollars at your company.  I not only buy comic books, I buy action figures. I buy Wonder Woman Barbies.  I buy T shirts.  I blog about you and give you free publicity.  I tell everyone at work about how fabulous you are, and then they go out and attend your movies.

And lately, it feels as though I am giving a whole lot more than I am getting.

I want my continuity back.  I have been mostly satisfied with the recent reboot, some of the books have been excellent.  But that doesn't mean that I want to give up decades of continuity.  I spent a LOT of time and effort learning that continuity.  I ENJOY that continuity.  And most of all, I enjoy so many of those characters that you have seen fit to sideline for no good reason. 

Those kids that you are trying to reach on the Saturday morning cartoons?  The loved the Brave & the Bold.  They like the shorts.  They want to read about those characters too.  You NEED those kids.  And frankly, you need us old farts too.  We are the ones who love all that Silver Age stuff.  The average 20 year old male, only seems to want to see carnage and boobs.  I am referring of course to the average 20 year old male...not the intelligent and handsome ones that read my blog. 

So...I am asking you nicely.  Please bring back the REAL DC Universe.  Bring back Ted Kord, and Ralph and Sue, and either of the Rocket Reds, and G'nort, and Hawkgirl, and Peej and the Justice Society.  Bring back the original Doctor Polaris and Carface and the Secret Six, and Hippolyta and all of the Amazons, and Wally and Linda and their kids, and Bart, and Cass and Stephanie, and Oracle and Zinda, and LOIS LANE for God's sake!

Does everything have to be so bloody and dark all of the time?  It's comics, there is fighting.  I understand that.  I love a good kick to the face.  But I want to see characterization too.  And a PLOT once in a while.  Good villains, and a good story and good art...is that too much to ask for?  And stop breaking up marriages and romances!  Sheesh!

Well, I've said what is on my mind, and I don't imagine it will have much effect.  But still...since I am still sending a goodly amount of money your way every week, every month, every year...it would be nice to feel that I'm getting some return other than a kick in the teeth.  Once in a while.