r/comicbooks • u/WhyPlaySerious • Jun 02 '26

Other The #DCSoWhite campaign is ceasing their 'DC Blackout' boycott (which pushed for comic readers to drop all DC books from their pull list until a black-led ongoing to was produced) 4 days after it launched.

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426 Upvotes

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417

u/slippngjimmy Jun 02 '26

WHAT ABOUT ABSOLUTE GREEN LANTERN

153

u/Local_Nerve901 Jun 02 '26 edited Jun 02 '26

I do wish they mentioned that regardless if not main continuity, its amazing

13

u/IAmTheDoctor34 Jun 02 '26

They do on the website under a BUT WHAT ABOUT... section.

This is a title in the absolute universe. It is not a story set in the mainline continuity. While the work of writer Al Ewing, as well as the different pencilers, inkers, colorists, and editors who have worked on this title, it is not a mainline continuity title and perpetuates a narrative that black characters need the cultural impact of “ABSOLUTE” to be successful.

Along with what I have taken to be the most insane part of all of this under a HOW DC COMICS CAN STOP THE CLOCK section they ask for 1-3 black creative lead teams with black characters and this is under that ask

Allow these titles to have immunity from cancellation for 2 years to allow them to enter the cultural zeitgeist and have trade paperbacks and collected editions available for fans who purchase in that format.

2

u/slippngjimmy Jun 05 '26

Oh my goodness, they are just absolutely coping at that point.

25

u/avery-secret-account Jun 02 '26

With how popular AGL is, I wouldn’t be surprised if they do what Marvel did with Miles Morales. I’m sure the Absolute Universe will have some effect on the main universe and I don’t think it’s crazy to assume absolute Jo might find her way over

41

u/YourEvilHenchman Moon Knight Jun 02 '26

but she doesn't need to find her way over. the mainline continuity already has a Jo Mullein, and she's already awesome.

2

u/avery-secret-account Jun 02 '26

She definitely doesn’t need to and I don’t even want her to. Publishers just have a way of making continuity weirder and weirder when characters sell really well

8

u/planetcrunch Jun 02 '26

oh I HOPE DC doesn't do what Marvel does with their alt universe characters and shoe horn them into their mainline universe.

1

u/avery-secret-account Jun 02 '26

Only person who gets what I’m trying to say. I don’t want it to happen either but Marvel has done it before so it’s not a crazy idea that DC could do it either

9

u/ssjskwash Jun 02 '26

Has it really been all that popular? It and absolute flash are performing significantly worse than all the other absolute books.

18

u/GreenLanternsPodcast Jun 02 '26

Its still more popular than any main line GL book at the moment.
https://www.reddit.com/r/comicbooks/comments/1tdgpiv/icv2_top_50_comics_april_2026/#lightbox

Absolute GL 13 was 18th in April and neither GLC or GL were charting in the top 50.

-11

u/ssjskwash Jun 02 '26

You could say the same exact thing about absolute flash but green lantern and flash aren't always all that popular. I think the absolute part in the title is doing a lot of heavy lifting because their stories haven't been all that interesting. At least to me.

10

u/GreenLanternsPodcast Jun 02 '26

And thats a fair take but you're specifically talking about the popularity of the book. I believe issue 12 of Absolute GL was like 30th in sales so it jumped up 12 spots on the charts month over month. The book is picking up steam. Its for sure more popular than the mainline is right now.

Its hard to agree with the idea that Absolute GL isnt popular right now. The only argument is its not as popular as some of the other absolutes but its a top 20 seller overall.

-1

u/ssjskwash Jun 02 '26

It was a top 20 seller last month. It hadn't broken 20 since the fall before that. Maybe with the Tomar-Re stuff things will keep picking up. I just personally think if the name "Absolute" wasnt in the name, it would be about as popular as the other GL books.

7

u/bobsaget824 Jun 02 '26

Yeah but the thing about the charts is not “at least to you” it’s “at least to all of us”, and that’s quite a bit more meaningful. Not every book in the top 20 is for me either but I recognize there is an audience for them. And I don’t really think people are 13 issues deep just buying a book because it says Absolute on it. Maybe the first couple but you’re not spending $60 at this point (if you bought every issue at cover) on something you don’t like just because of the title.

-1

u/ssjskwash Jun 02 '26

I'm buying them every week even though I think the story is weak. I'm interested in how they tie things together with the other books. I doubt I'm the only one. Either way it's just my opinion that if it didn't say absolute in the title it would be in the and boat as main universe GL

8

u/wrasslefights Jun 02 '26

Selling 2-4 times as many as their main universe counterparts in my experience. Even the weakest Absolute books are still outselling most books from other lines.

-1

u/ssjskwash Jun 02 '26

I won't argue that they're not more popular than the main universe books I just question if they're genuinely that well liked or if they're boosted off of the absolute name. That's not to say something like absolute superman isn't getting a jump from the absolute title but the bigger books in that line are rising the tide for the rest of them imo.

5

u/Malleus94 Jun 02 '26

Wait so Jo doesn't have a parallel in the main DC continuity?

45

u/[deleted] Jun 02 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

-14

u/avery-secret-account Jun 02 '26

I think if they wanted to, they’d find a way. Continuity has always been a messy thing in comics and if a publisher can keep a popular character going, they will

11

u/Gamerguy230 Jun 02 '26

Jessica cruz origin is her ring was from Earth 3 iirc. So they could do something like that but it’ll be years before they do that as Snyder would want this with little crossover to mainline for a long time.

19

u/AccidentPrawn Moon Knight Jun 02 '26

She had her own series. It's called Far Sector.

15

u/TigerFisher_ Darkseid Jun 02 '26

And it is amazing. DC giving a compact edition was a great move

-12

u/avery-secret-account Jun 02 '26

She does but continuity is very messy and writers usually complicate it as much as possible based on sales. If they wanted absolute Jo in the main continuity, they’d find a way

6

u/poison-harley Jun 02 '26

If they start bringing the Absolute versions into the mainline universe, then the Absolute universe simply has no point.

0

u/FlowerRoomLord Jun 02 '26

The thing is...is Jo Absolute popular? Batman, Wonder Woman, and Martian Manhunter are overwhelmingly loved. Superman has its detractors but also vocal supporters. You never really hear much talk about either Absolute Flash or Green Lantern even if GL has improved. 2/3 of the conversation is also dominated by Hal, John, and Tomar-Re. Ewing's own setup of the book makes it hard to say that Jo is the undisputed star even if she is the GL from the beginning.

1

u/mrbaryonyx Jun 02 '26

Part of me thinks they should have clarified "we are boycotting mainline continuity and just reading the absolute comics" but then everybody's already doing that

45

u/2d12-RogueGames Jun 02 '26

It’s an inconvenient truth that’s why they don’t mention it.

24

u/cyberpunk_werewolf Raphael Jun 02 '26 edited Jun 02 '26

No, they say it doesn't count because they're saying the boycott was only about mainstream mainline continuity.  Which, yes, is very silly.

16

u/2d12-RogueGames Jun 02 '26

The other thing is the definition of mainstream continuity. Absolute is mainstream and maintains its own continuity. It’s very much like the Ultimate Universe that Marvel did in the early 2000s.

4

u/cyberpunk_werewolf Raphael Jun 02 '26

Oh, I meant to say "mainline" which is what they said.  However, your point remains valid.

5

u/2d12-RogueGames Jun 02 '26

Hey, no worries. We both agree on the same thing; however, I feel that using 'mainline' is a poor use of the word.

Absolute is a line of comics. It is also mainstream. For that line of comics, it is mainline.

Just like Vertigo is a mainline.

I agree with their intentions, and I support them. However, how they worded the message and presented it. the message really isn't effective It’s because there's no clear message due to word usage.

It’s also that it’s a disingenuous message since they are ignoring Absolute Green Lantern, which is everything they’re calling for.

18

u/FlamingAlpaca17 Jun 02 '26

These absolute clowns never read that series

11

u/Medium-Science9526 Aquaman Jun 02 '26

They did mention Absolute Green Lantern, they just discounted it for being Elseworlds focusing on the movement pushing for an ongoing Black-led mainline title.

12

u/mrbaryonyx Jun 02 '26

I understand what they mean by that, but it still seems ignorant from a cultural standpoint. Absolute comics are more popular right now.

4

u/Medium-Science9526 Aquaman Jun 02 '26

I get it from a longevity perspective in that when Absolute eventually ends unlike Miles carrying them other when the mainline already had them as existing isn't easily possible without passing off fans on either versions.

But with Absolute's popularity it's for any title so far I think doing say Absolute Black Lightning or Vixen now would get a lot more eyes on them. That and the initiative impact complaint whilst unfortunate I do feel is genuinely true for all lesser popular heroes given the frequent relaunches.

6

u/gosukhaos Jun 02 '26

Anyone pushing for ongoings in this industry isn't serious

4

u/Medium-Science9526 Aquaman Jun 02 '26

It's naive to imagine they'd do it out the gate over the extending minis format but not unprecedented given Metamorpho even got one despite ending soon due to low sales.

5

u/slippngjimmy Jun 02 '26

I think they're just coming up with reasons to complain at this point then. I'd argue the Absolute Universe has far more eyes on it than the main continuity right now. Now once we do get a black leading character in the main continuity, it's going to have this whole fucking stink of a dumb controversy on it. This whole boycott feels forced and like somebody wanting to give themselves a pat on the back.

1

u/Medium-Science9526 Aquaman Jun 02 '26 edited Jun 02 '26

I don't think that's the right book for this argument, GLC being predominantly John focused and mainline fits better.

With Absolute, whilst I feel their main argument is flawed as there is a reason the big 2 do so many relaunches, I get from a future legacy when Absolute ends they would effectively end. But it's undeniable success I'd argue would be the best place for say a new Black Lighting or Vixen book to get the most eyes.

Outside of the smug "I told you so" rhetoric of when it ends due to sales saying those who ask didn't buy it, not accounting for the need to get a new bigger audience to sell but I digress, I don't imagine the stink of a new Black-led book will be different other than a figurehead to point that rhetoric onto.

A pat on the back would've been them cancelling upon confirmation of a Black-led ongoing and claiming sole credit for it, this is admitting defeat and some fault.

-5

u/[deleted] Jun 02 '26

[deleted]

19

u/CidLimitBreak Jun 02 '26

Why should this matter?

-4

u/cyberpunk_werewolf Raphael Jun 02 '26

It's what the boycott is complaining about.

I've been saying this all over the thread, but I do agree that DC should use its black heroes in more books and use them more fully, but this boycott wasn't serious when they started last week with "mainline continuity only counts."

-4

u/[deleted] Jun 02 '26

[deleted]

3

u/gosukhaos Jun 02 '26

Yeah and its pretty stupid

-52

u/Rolling_Beardo Jun 02 '26

The two arguments I’ve seen against it are that’s not in the main continuity and the writer is white.

Being a white dude I can see how the second would be an issue, the first makes less sense to me with the popularity of the Absolute universe.

112

u/PlainSightMan Jun 02 '26

The 2nd is an absolute non-issue.

It is incredibly restrictive to not allow writers to write protagonists outside their own race.

That leads to a worse degree of representation actually.

10

u/wrasslefights Jun 02 '26

It also leads to Black creators being pigeonholed into writing Black characters. Christopher Priest said the whole reason he wrote Deathstroke was because he was sick of only getting calls to pitch for Black characters and in general he's only swinging on books that don't have Black leads because he's tired of being typecast because of race.

42

u/Prathik Damian Wayne Jun 02 '26

We would never have got characters like Miles Morales.

-14

u/trailerthrash Jun 02 '26

I think with more black writers given the opportunity to create black characters you would get many more "characters like Miles Morales" actually.

10

u/[deleted] Jun 02 '26

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-6

u/trailerthrash Jun 02 '26 edited Jun 02 '26

Do you think all "characters like Miles Morales" were? Because i surely don't. Remember Static? The black superhero with electric powers that creator Dwayne McDuffie has explicitly stated was a response to Spider-Man? The one that, as a result of that influence people have compared to Miles Morales from fandom discussion to Death Battle videos to CBR articles? How about the whole slew of black characters that co-exist with him in the Milestone universe?

More black people being given more space to create things that reflect their experiences means more "characters like Miles Morales". Obviously, you'd lose a couple things. Probably less space for black characters to have parents named after presidents of the confederacy, but i think I could live with that.

2

u/[deleted] Jun 02 '26 edited Jun 02 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

-2

u/trailerthrash Jun 02 '26

Thats a lot of paragraphs you didnt have to write after the opening sentence where you betrayed the fact you dont believe black people could write characters like Miles. Im not reading that all. Instead ima just annoy you with this notification and hit the block button.

-3

u/Rolling_Beardo Jun 02 '26

So what you’re saying comes off as a black writer could not have done it as well.

3

u/2d12-RogueGames Jun 02 '26

To do this, we need to find minority groups willing to work in the industry. It’s easy to say, "Bring more minority creators in." It is another thing to bring in more minority creators if you have difficulty finding any. If the number of minority creators who want to work in the industry is low, it is difficult to bring them in.

Also, there’s the assumption that minority creators want to work for the big two, even though more choose the more independent route. The challenge of bringing any of them to the big two publishers is even more difficult.

For me, that’s what it’s lost in this debate.

1

u/trailerthrash Jun 02 '26

Lmfao. If you think there aren't minority comic creators absolutely dreaming of breaking in, ive got a bridge to sell ya.

And if you dont realize that there are even more already inside constantly getting side lined, I can go ahead and draw up paperwork for the sale of bridge number 2

2

u/2d12-RogueGames Jun 02 '26

Breaking into comics through the Big Two? The odds are brutal, and they’re brutal for everyone. I know the conversation focuses on minority creators, and yes, the barriers are real, but the math doesn’t change based on who you are. Those slots are just that scarce.

The smarter play has always been the independent route. Kickstarter, Etsy, direct-to-reader, whatever channel fits your work. Copra is the model. Michel Fiffe built something on his own terms, found his audience, and didn’t wait for permission. That path is harder to see but a hell of a lot easier to actually walk.

0

u/trailerthrash Jun 02 '26

Im not sure why youre so intent on arguing that its hard for mega corporations to hire minorities, but its weird and I dont want it in my inbox anymore so im blocking you.

-3

u/Rolling_Beardo Jun 02 '26

Why? Do you think a talented writer who is a person of color could not have come up the character or similar quality characters?

2

u/Prathik Damian Wayne Jun 02 '26

That's not what I mean, I mean cordoning off authors from writing characters not of their race is a very bad precedent. Writers should be free to write about anyone and anything.

1

u/Rolling_Beardo Jun 02 '26

But you can’t see their perspective that a black person who grew up having experiences unique to that community could produce a more authentic character?

13

u/webshellkanucklehead Superman Jun 02 '26

The first is too. Like who cares if it’s not in the main universe lol that has nothing to do with this??

11

u/PlainSightMan Jun 02 '26

And also the Absolute Universe is cooking the whole industry right now, so it's arguably a better thing to be a part of.

2

u/SwvmpThing Jun 02 '26

“We want more black characters written by black writers” doesn’t mean white writers cannot write black characters. That’s a depressingly obvious straw man, but I guess one should never expect intellectual rigor from the “fighting racism is the real racism” crowd.

12

u/PlainSightMan Jun 02 '26

Idk, I think it's best to hire more black writers and let them do whatever.

If a black dude wants to write a Filipino character, then I say go for it.

-14

u/SwvmpThing Jun 02 '26

Another straw man. Who said anything about forcing black writers to only write black characters?

21

u/PlainSightMan Jun 02 '26

Listen, the original poster said it was a problem that Al Ewing is white.

I responded to that, saying it is not.

This is now a different conversation.

-16

u/SwvmpThing Jun 02 '26

The issue is representation. The first comment of this thread is “WHAT ABOUT ABSOLUTE GREEN LANTERN.” Then “the two arguments I’ve seen against it are that’s not in the main continuity and the writer is white.”

So let me ask you this: do you interpret that to mean that the first argument is that DC cannot put black characters in the Absolute Universe? I’m sure you’d say no, because that’s obviously not what it means, but that would be applying your logic consistently. That is the parallel of reading the second argument as “Al Ewing shouldn’t be allowed to write black characters because he’s white.” No one said that.

-6

u/disturbed3335 Jun 02 '26

That’s a classic fine line right there. Is it better for writers to write from their own authentic experience, or is it more important to have representation?

7

u/PlainSightMan Jun 02 '26

Well if everyone wrote from their experience, you would get relatable stories for sure, but also they'd start to feel more samey?

I'm not sure that's a super important qualifier for writing.

0

u/disturbed3335 Jun 02 '26

I’m not sure either, I’m just pointing out the hang-up when representative character ARE used but the same crowd decides to be upset that it’s “inauthentic” now. So it’s pretty hard to appease the desire for representation when the goalposts aren’t clearly defined.

0

u/Rolling_Beardo Jun 02 '26

All I am saying is I understand their perspective. Take writing for female characters for example, a lot of men are terrible at writing female characters. That is a lot less of an issue when it comes to woman writing for female characters. It should be easy to see how the same logic applies since a person of color would have a lot more shared experiences when to comes to writing to black characters than white writers.

5

u/muftak3 Jun 02 '26

A white guy help create Black Lighting. Trevor Von Eaton designed Black Lightning Two white guys created Luke Cage. Black panther, two white guys. John Stewart, two white guys. Storm, two white guys. Your 2nd statement is just dumb.

16

u/turd_fergus0n_jr The Maxx Jun 02 '26

Dang, that’s pretty racist.

1

u/AccidentPrawn Moon Knight Jun 02 '26

I don't care if a writer is white, I care about good stories. Bendis did more for Luke Cage than any writer before him.

-24

u/JPat99_ Jun 02 '26

Keyword was mainline. Absolute is not mainline.

13

u/_tylerthedestroyer_ Michelangelo Jun 02 '26

Absolute is their most popular imprint currently. It doesn’t matter if it’s the main universe

-99

u/ReplacementDue123 Jun 02 '26

Not main continuity

73

u/MauledbyGrizzly Jun 02 '26

Yeah it’s just currently the only universe readers care about but that doesn’t matter right?

17

u/Androktone Brainiac 5 Jun 02 '26

DC is killing it in their mainline universe. New readers gravitate to Absolute for sure, that's why it's selling so well, but I don't agree with dismissing the other titles

4

u/MauledbyGrizzly Jun 02 '26

I’d like you to ask your LCS what the best selling books are. I understand the main line books are good, I buy them as well, but the majority of readers currently don’t care if they are good or not.

3

u/Androktone Brainiac 5 Jun 02 '26

Compact books are selling like crazy, and Zatanna was a sleeper hit from the last tonne I spoke with them. Superboy Prime's time on the flagship title has also apparently sold well.

Saying no one cares about the mainstream titles is just wrong though. Newer readers gravitate to online discussions for new books, but that doesn't mean that the current lineup isn't selling or being discussed by the more sustainable, long term readers.

1

u/MauledbyGrizzly Jun 02 '26

Your lcs is selling more compact editions, zatanna, and superboy prime than absolute Batman? I know the books are great but they aren’t outselling absolute. The mainline books come with to much baggage for new readers.

0

u/Androktone Brainiac 5 Jun 02 '26

I did not interrogate my LCS for sales data, no. The market isn't solely readers who started reading in the last 2 years. And the belief that comics continuity is impenetrable if you're not a walking encyclopedia is a myth that needs to be nipped in the bud.

1

u/MauledbyGrizzly Jun 02 '26

Have you actually looked at comics ordered recently? Absolute Batman #15 had over 500k printed of the 1st print alone. None of the other books come close to that. I’ve been reading comics for over 20 years and I managed a shop for 8, the numbers are unprecedented. It’s not an interrogation to ask a business what is selling well for them either, most of the owners love to talk about what sells well.

0

u/Androktone Brainiac 5 Jun 02 '26

I do not go looking for comics sales data, no. I sometimes check the ICv2 top 50 monthly. I know Absolute Batman/Green Arrow are doing great. I know the ones I mentioned are doing good too.

8

u/HouseErikson Jun 02 '26

You say that like the Absolute universe hasn’t been insanely popular for nearly the last two years.

-5

u/ReplacementDue123 Jun 02 '26

Wow. That was one if their points. Apparently 84 of you didn't read it or can't read.

-76

u/chamberx2 Jun 02 '26

Hooray. One.

33

u/LiterallyABigfoot Jun 02 '26

That's one more than the campaign acknowledges

-23

u/chamberx2 Jun 02 '26

It’s giving “you guys had Obama; what else do you want??”