How The New 52 Broke DC Comics

Batgirl New 52
DC Comics / Adam Hughes

Simone's trouble with DC editorial was emblematic of wider conflicts that took place across the publisher throughout the New 52, with arguably the most significant coming when Haden Blackman and JH Williams ended their seminal run on Batwoman early because DC wouldn't let Kate Kane marry longtime love interest Maggie Sawyer.

Dan DiDio attempted to explain the reasoning behind the decision at SDCC 2013, and in doing so accidentally typified what made the New 52 such a miserable endeavour for so many readers: "Heroes shouldn’t have happy personal lives... That is our mandate, that is our edict and that is our stand."

DC's refusal to allow Kane and Sawyer to marry just summed up how thoroughly not DC the New 52 was. The whole reboot was an exercise in trying to be something different, whether that be aesthetically, tonally or narratively, but as the publisher would come to understand, it came at the cost of DC's identity, and ultimately, had to be changed yet again.

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Content Producer/Presenter
Content Producer/Presenter

Resident movie guy at WhatCulture who used to be Comics Editor. Thinks John Carpenter is the best. Likes Hellboy a lot. Can usually be found talking about Dad Movies on his Twitter at @EwanRuinsThings.