Franchise Re-Launch Blues

After several decades, DC and Marvel each has a wide array of team franchises. Many are perennials and have been in more or less constant publication for decades. Others have had periods of dormancy but managed to make successful comebacks with the right combination of concept and creators.

Both publishers also have team books that, despite many efforts to re-launch them successfully, never quite seem to get on track for the long haul. This despite that some have had numerous chances over the years.

Intellectual property rights are a valuable asset, so both DC and Marvel are motivated to revive dormant titles every so often, to protect their interests if nothing else. Other times an editor likes a certain creator pitch or thinks a particular event tie-in could be a successful launching point for a new take. But while some of these team book revivals have flashes of success, and possibly more than one solid iteration, both publishers have struggled to make these books viable on an ongoing basis.

Mild (and historical) spoilers ahead.

The Doom Patrol

With roots back to the early days of DC’s Silver Age, The Doom Patrol for years…