Vibe: Rebirth – For Real (sort of)

Vibe in FCBD: The New 52

Long-time Speed Force readers may remember an April Fools’ prank I did with the Irredeemable Shag of Once Upon a Geek and Firestorm Fan, “revealing” that Geoff Johns and Ethan van Sciver’s next project after revamping the Flash would be Vibe: Rebirth.

Three years later, Vibe did indeed turn up in the background of DC’s Free Comic Book Day offering, and he’s been making appearances on the animated DC Nation.

Today, in a CBR interview with Geoff Johns & Jim Lee, there’s this bit of news that should make Scipio of The Absorbascon happy:

As for what underused character he’d like to explore next, the answer was simple.

“Vibe!” Johns replied with a laugh. “They told me you can’t make Booster Gold work, and we made it work; you can’t make Aquaman work, and we made it work. I want to find the B character who everyone says is a complete waste of time, and Vibe is — he’s recent, he’s Detroit League and I have a soft spot because I’m from Detroit, so he’s my next challenge.”

Yes, that’s right: Geoff Johns wants to revamp Vibe.

Now if he can just get Ethan van Sciver on board…

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22 thoughts on “Vibe: Rebirth – For Real (sort of)

  1. Kyer

    I saw that DC nation short and face palmed. First time I recalled seeing the character and…yeah, was not love at first sight, sorry Vibe fans.
    Interesting comment there by Johns. He’s found another ‘project’. Does this mean that Aquaman is going to be left to sink or swim as Geoff gets down and dirty with the dance moves? -_-;; Who next…The Creeper?
    (Suspect somebody will be doing a web cartoon of a long line of Geoff ex favorites waiting to get into the DC Clinic For Jilted Loves.)

    Reply
    1. Martin Gray

      Hmm, that link just took me to some apparent admin business. Anyway, I’m looking forward to this – having followed Paco through his original JLA period, he grew on me. The kid had character.

      Reply
  2. Phantom Stranger

    Methinks this has more to do with the fact that Vibe is hispanic and DC is obsessed with promoting diversity in the new 52.

    Reply
    1. Kelson Post author

      I think if DC were really “obsessed” with promoting diversity, they would have put a little more effort into it. The New 52 would have been the perfect opportunity to really reimagine some of their top-tier characters.

      Reply
  3. Kyer

    Skuttlebutt is that the iconic newly-gay character will be Alan Scott.

    Now on one side I’ve read enough slash fanfic to not care all that much about this…I’ve read weirder a/u plots.

    On the other side I’m hoping Alan doesn’t make a play for Jay because part of me is still hoping Garrick gets reconciled with Joan….(and adopt Bart) call it the hopeless sentimental romantic in me…and as much as I like Alan and Jay as best buddies….

    No.

    I’d rather watch Vibe breakdance.

    Reply
    1. Stephen

      I’m on your side with this. Although, I wouldn’t terribly mind if Alan was gay, I’m gonna be annoyed if he and Jay become romantically involved.

      Reply
        1. Stephen

          *eye twitch* You evil twisted fiend! On a side note, it appears that Alan Scott is the new gay character.

          Reply
          1. Kyer

            Gotta get my evil deeds done somewhere. I did warn you earlier that I read slash and a/u fics….for…*dumdumdedum!*….FUN.

            Scans_Daily has also broken the news with more info…this rumor from a “strong source” at Phoenix Con. (Man, I really wish I could have gone to that.)

            Maybe Alan and The Pied Piper. They both dig green, right? (Now all the Rogue fans are twitching. I’m on a roll!)

            Reply
    2. Savitar

      Wally has been very high on some sites’ possibility lists for this new gay character. I’m hoping for anyone other than Wally. Alan, Vibe, Ryan Choi, anyone…..

      Reply
        1. Kyer

          True, Wally and Linda are *safe* from this blatant publicity manipulation being in mothballs and all.
          I really don’t get it; not like this would be the first gay character in the DC or even the DCnU. Like others have said, unless this is one of the Big Three…big deal.

          Reply
          1. Kelson Post author

            Blatant publicity manipulation? Give me a break. Someone asked a question at a con, they answered it vaguely (as con questions are often answered to avoid spoiling too many details), and we — the fans & media — can’t stop talking about it.

            It’s not like DC held a press conference or arranged an interview or sent out a press release to make the “announcement,” if you can call it that.

            Reply
          2. Savitar

            Someone at the con just beat them to the announcement, that’s all. Marvel has major hype over this hot topic at the moment. From what I understand, there is a new gay character that’s already been introduced in Nu52 Titans but he isn’t/wasn’t all that popular. Hence the major change right now.

            I wouldn’t call Wally safe from anything at this moment. What better way for Dido and Co to bury the West Family Legacy for good than turning Linda into Lyndon (as one Twitter poster figured it)?

            The fact that Wally rates so high a possibility on so many polls on so many sites is disturbing to me.

            Reply
  4. Kyer

    Kelson, I based that on the major gay marriage about to take place with Marvel’s characters. Seemed rather interesting timing for DC to have such an announcement.

    Really dislike the thought of any of the speedsters being gay simply because they used to be the ones (along with Supes and Ralph) that were reknowned for having really successful marriages. If Wally were to return and marry The Pied Piper (for example), I’d still buy the whatever it was book, but I’d be groaning quite a bit.

    Now, if Wally were to marry Superman, that would be an entirely different lightning bolt. Think of all the Flash/Superman races they could have! Granted, a lot of them would be based on getting to be the first one to the hot water after a battle…. 😛

    Reply
    1. Kelson Post author

      I still say if it were just a publicity stunt they would have made more effort to publicize it. The on-page reveal is apparently happening in an off-handed way in Earth-2 #2, which is focused on the Flash. Alan Scott being gay isn’t the focus of the issue, he isn’t even the main character of the issue. You’d think if this were a big “Look, we have a major-name gay character!” stunt, they would have at least put him on the cover or something.

      Interviews w/ James Robinson today:
      http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=38946
      http://www.newsarama.com/comics/alan-scott-is-gay-plus-more-gender-race-changes.html

      Pages from the issue:
      http://www.dccomics.com/blog/2012/06/01/the-mystery-is-over

      So maybe, y’know, it’s just something that they decided to do as part of re-imagining the character, and readers responded to it.

      Not that any of this has anything to do with Vibe.

      Reply

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