That being said, I really do like the book. I hope it's selling better since its "relaunch"!

just one nit to pick with ya': just because a character i write has an opinion doesn't necessarily mean that opinion is mine. that's the fun of writing (and acting, too) : you get to play with characters that are different from you.

thanks for readin'!

marc andreyko
writer, "Manhunter"

I would just rather writers left them alone, as they don’t play well in the fantasy world of superheroes. But that’s just me.

I think they work great for heroes - a huge faceless villain* with infinite resources and an easy understandable motive - making money, no matter what cost.
It's like having commies as villains all over again, but without having to worry about them collapsing over night.

Throw in the fact that in the real world you can trace a lot of things people dislike about modern life to them (just like you can with governments and commies) and you've got a villain made to last.

Also, it's not like this is a modern thing - corporations have been used as villains since the 70's in comics**. The only difference now is that it seems more topical due to Haliburton and the like.

*Like Hydra - you can take out the head man, but another will just replace it.

** If not 70's, then definitely the 80's.

As those that run them are legally obliged to raise the share value for the shareholders, any way they can, there aren't any good one's - even if the CEO wanted to be a good chap, if it didn't make more cash for the shareholder at the end of the day, he couldn't do it.

Also, as America is being run by an administration that likes to look out for corporations - be it cronyism or a smart free market policy - it kind of makes sense that writers are going to write about them.

Damage Control, when not written by Millar/Bendis, is a good company in th MU.

It's really I think, just the basics of storytelling....either a company is going to be allied with a hero, being the bad guys of the story. Otherwise, why would they be in the story at all?

Those are good examples, but, as you point out, all of the corporations are run or intimately connected with superheroes, who are "good" and therefore would never run "evil" businesses. But I'll shut up now!

I'll agree with you that comics have been pretty anti-corporate -- probably partly because a lot of writers and artists have had strained relationships with the companies that employ them -- but I can think of a few more.

Danny Rand, the Iron Fist, is head of his own corporation. The Immortal Iron Fist #16 would be a good read, to demonstrate.
When Morrison was writing X-Men, he had X-Corporation operating in a positive capacity, world-wide.
Then there's the Taylor Foundation, from the various incarnations of the New Warriors. Admittedly there've been shady moments for them but overall I'd say they've been seen as a positive force in their storyworld.

If your rejoinder is "ok, yeah, but they're still connected with superheroes," that's telling, isn't it? There's still enough space within the superhero mythos FOR corporations. It's a small space, but it's there.

Even that, though, feels pretty flimsy. Would seem that you could pin the murders on another third party, even if not the Joker. But then again that does get back at the moral dilemma of Batman, and finding that line that he's unwilling to cross.

As I've said before re: corporations in comics, I'd just like to see a corporation that isn't connected to Tony Stark or Bruce Wayne but is still not a horrible entity. If we can have nuanced portrayals of heroes wrestling with ethical choices (and we do, occasionally), there's no reason to simply say, "Oh, look - it's a conglomerate! They spread evil throughout the world!" Don't even bring it up if that's all you have to say on the matter.

Getting deeper. The Joker says "Oh sure, I killed these people and those and those...but I didn't kill those 3 people." and suddenly there's investigations and cover ups and so forth.

Yes, he was in WW2, but he's been active since. He was the guardian of magic. He was the White King of Checkmate. He's been a modern JSA member for some time.

How many stories have there been when the JLA goes around and gives everyone communicator devices?
Hell, Johns and Morrison has gone to great pains to have everyone know who everyone is in their secret IDs...how about a phone tree? Looking at the art, it appears they got the JLA, JSA, Teen Titans and Shadowpact. That's 4 phone calls. But instead, they what, go to Congress to have the draft activated? And it's by postal mail? (As Jade appears to be in the group, and she's dead, no, I will say that Congress seems more able to get stuff done in the DCU than in real life).

Doesn't he own a TV network? How about just going on the news and saying, All superheroes, please go to the hall of justice.

This was Morrison thinking "Hey, here's a clever idea!---I'm sure no one will have read where I'm swiping it from---I'll use it even if it makes no sense!"

It's illogical because its never satisfactorily explained why Batman has to take the blame for the people Harvey killed. Half the city is in chaos, there's boats about to be blown up, buildings are collapsing around peoples ears and its all down to the Joker - but for some odd reason, Batman has to take the rap for the handful of people Harvey killed when they could have just as easy pinned them on Joker and nobody would have said anything (especially as at least one person Harvey killed was a mob guy, and its well known by that point that Joker is into ripping them off and killing them where possible).

That's what I don't get.

Just some copout scene where batman says he must look like the villain for Harvey’s image, and Gordon backing him up by saying he’s going to tell the police batmans CRAZY and hurting cops for shits and giggles. lame.

not hurting cops for shits and giggles, KILLING cops for shits and giggles. Batman took the blame for all of Harvey's murders. I don't think anybody in Gothom is going to care much for the specifics when the paper headlines they read proclaim, BATMAN: MURDERER! Even if they're just crooked cops and gangsters, people are just going to want to see Batman caught. I don't see what's so illogical about that.