DC Comics Overhauls Superheroes

With the proliferation of big-budget superhero movies, it’s easy to forget about the pulpy comic books on which the characters are based.   But it seems many people have: sales of comics are way down.   As fanboys have become fanmen, publishers are desperate to find new – and younger – readers.  
So this month, DC Comics – the home of Superman, Batman, and dozens of others – is overhauling its entire lineup of superheroes.   They’re called the “New 52.”   All the old classic storylines have been thrown out the window.   Clark Kent and Lois Lane?   No longer married.   And that’s just the tip of the Kryptonite.  
“I think they’re just throwing a lot of stuff at the wall to see what sticks,” says Tom Adams, owner of Bergen Street Comics in Brooklyn.  
He tells Kurt Andersen that while the reboot has boosted sales considerably, he still worries about the long term trends.  “I think [DC] should be writing comics that are a little more geared toward the smart 12 year old,” Adams says, “as opposed to the smart 20-45 year old who’s reading [the same] comics that he’s been reading for years.”
What do you think? Do the revamped heroes work for you? Tell us in a comment below.

Slideshow: Inside Bergen Street Comics and the “New 52”