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KC on the frontier

by KC Carlson

DC: The new Frontier: The Deluxe Edition

Consider this a Public service statement in behalf of Darwyn Cooke (yay!) as well as DC Comics (boo hissssssss…). I shouldn’t have to do this if DC Comics’ advertising department would do its task as well as properly promote one of their extremely finest collected books, by providing actual details of what’s included in it. I would have liked to have this info months back when the book was very first solicited (and you had to order it), however now the book is really out, so here’s the lowdown on the new DC: The new Frontier: The Deluxe Edition.

But first, a short publishing history of the book. Conceived, written, as well as drawn by Darwyn Cooke, DC: The new Frontier was originally published as a six-issue comic book miniseries in 2004. So prominent was the series that it was quickly collected into two trade paperbacks in 2004 as well as 2005. The conclusive (oversize) version: DC: The new Frontier: The absolute edition complied with soon after in 2006. then it was adapted as the second original DC animated feature; Justice League: The new Frontier was created direct to video in 2008. I’ve previously written about Justice League: The new Frontier at Comics worth Reading. You can likewise discover out more about DC: The new Frontier: The absolute edition there, where it was named one of the very best books of 2006.  If you want more detail on the actual story as well as background as well as why it’s so important, please click those links.

Justice League: The new Frontier DVD

Here’s a mini-recap: It’s the transitional story of many of the DC characters set in the real-time limbo between the DC Comics’ golden as well as Silver Ages — without you having to understand anything about the “ages of comics.” It begins in 1945 as well as ends (in epilogue) in 1960, with both John F. Kennedy’s “New Frontier” democratic national Convention nomination Acceptance Address as well as the legendary formation of the Justice league of America. Hal Jordan is the focal character, however we likewise see lots of other DC heroes, supporting characters, as well as cult heroes who likewise served, however never truly got their possibility in the spotlight. It’s Darwyn Cooke’s like letter to genuine heroism, respect for the traditional characters of the age (as well as their real-life creators), as well as a laser-focused comprehending of this important transitional period in America. Hal Jordan is the “star,” however the storylines including The Losers (WWII characters) as well as a Cooke-invented version of Steel are heartbreakingly devastating.

(And for those geeks who want to know, technically, the story exists outside of “standard” (whatever that means these days) DC Continuity, although the story was just recently assigned to “Earth-21” in the recent “Guidebook” problem of DC’s Multiversity. So he most likely didn’t recognize at the time, however Cooke produced his extremely own DC parallel universe. Let’s hope only he’s enabled to play with it.)

DC: The new Frontier: The absolute Edition

DC: The new Frontier went on to win awards for both its original publication as well as particularly for the absolute Edition, including several Eisner Awards, Harvey Awards, as well as a Shuster award to Cooke for outstanding Canadian Comic book Cartoonist (Writer/Artist).

THE DELUXE EDITION

Bottom line, it appears that this new DC: The new Frontier: The Deluxe edition includes whatever (including the slipcase artwork — it’s under the dust jacket) that was in the now officially out-of-print absolute Edition. That includes:

Paul Levitz’s Introduction

the additional story pages that Cooke added particularly for the absolute Edition

the cover gallery

the extremely detailed annotations, including Cooke’s commitments to comics’ early storytellers

an extensive sketchbook

Behind-the-Scenes notes

design sketches as well as pictures for the new Frontier action Figures

and a choice of chances & ends called Frontierland.

Justice League: The new Frontier Special

It likewise includes (not originally in the absolute Edition) the entire contents of the 2008 Justice League: The new Frontier special by Cooke as well as his pals — which includes stories about Superman & Batman, Robin & youngster Flash, as well as question lady & Black Canary, in addition to a look at the Justice League: The new Frontier animated video. As a special treat, the Deluxe edition likewise includes a new 2014 introduction that explains precisely why this special came to be. It likewise explains why you shouldn’t miss the Special’s Rip hunter introduction page, which quite clearly explains Cooke’s genuine feelings about something I brought up a few paragraphs ago. Not to be missed.

This book has much more than DC’soriginal solicitation directed out.

As far as I know, that’s whatever The new Frontier-wise ever produced… eeeexcept for a short King Faraday story originally published in Solo #5 (2005) that truly doesn’t have a great deal to do with the DC: The new Frontier other than the setting, however Cooke identified it “A new Frontier Thriller”. perhaps he meant the Kennedy “New Frontier” rather than the DC one. Either way, if you’re upset that the story isn’t in DC: The new Frontier: The Deluxe Edition, you may want to ask yourself exactly how you can own any type of deluxe edition of DC: The new Frontier as well as not already own Solo #5 (which is all Darwyn Cooke material, if you didn’t know).

TOUGH CHOICE!

The cover to the second new Frontier trade paperback

So which version — the absolute or the Deluxe — is the best? They are totally different reading experiences. The absolute is physically larger as well as printed on slick, coated, white paper stock. The Deluxe is smaller (and easier to hold for prolonged reading). It’s printed on a lighter weight (but durable) recycled paper stock that’s not rather as white (or coated) as the Absolute. I believe the Deluxe offers a more intimate reading experience.

Let me put it to you this way: The absolute is like seeing your preferred action movie (superheroic or not) on a 3-D IMAX screen with great sound. as well as the Deluxe is like curling up in bed watching your preferred traditional film on TCM on your reliable, however not so hi-tech, old TV. With some hot chocolate (or perhaps a hot toddy…).

Whichever you choose, just checked out it. You won’t regret it.

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KC CARLSON: Tries to re-read DC: A new Frontier at least when a year.

WESTFIELD COMICS is not accountable for the stupid things that KC says. particularly that thing that truly irritated you. It’s just like an itch you can’t scratch, isn’t it…

Purchase

DC: The new Frontier: The Deluxe edition HC