Broken Frontier

It’s the start of a new week and already there’s some serious comics hashtagging happening on Twitter.

Social media adepts already know that Gail Simone isn’t averse to starting discussions (we pointed it out last week), and now the writer has launched one labeled #topthreedcnu, asking comics fans to share their top 3 books debuting this fall as part of DC’s The New 52 initiative.

#topthreedcnu generates hundreds of responses from comic fans… but the answers weren’t what you’d expect. A look at the sales charts would have you place your bets on Green Lantern, Justice League and Batman. Had you done so, you would’ve lost all your money to the bookies. Up to this point, a surprisingly low number have picked the obvious titles featuring the DC stalwarts. Does Jim Lee returning to monthly comics no longer guarantee the #1 spot on the charts? If the fans voicing their opinion on Twitter are any indication, the answer is no, and there’s a better chance for Animal Man or Firestorm to beat out the mighty JLA.

The early trends indicate that:

a) There’s a whole lot of interest for the second and third-tier titles such as Demon Knights, Blue Beetle and Stormwatch. The reason why may very well lie in the words of @FizzVsTheWorld, who tweeted: People are tired of the repackaging of the same old as "new."

b) Scott Snyder’s star is burning bright and that Grant Morrison hasn’t lost his magic touch.

c) Lots of people can’t wait to read Batwoman and Batgirl. Or are pissed about Oracle being gone.

My #topthreedcnu is, in no particular order:

- Action Comics: because Grant Morrison only wanted to write Superman if he could write him how he wanted, and it looks like it’s finally happening.

- Mr Terrific: because I really love that the character and Eric Wallace did him justice on Checkmate and JSA vs Kobra. It’s about damn time Mr. T gets his own ongoing.

- Swamp Thing: because… see what I said above about a certain Snyder, Scott.