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Seems that way.

As I often try to explain, I know you can't equate quality with numbers. In theory, a magazine could be published by a billionaire for 1,000 issues - and 800+ of them could be awful. It doesn't necessarily mean there is quality.

But, I mean, in the late 90s, I remember picking up a Batman issue. I think it was in the 700s. I read it and thought, 'Hmmm, I wonder if my stepfather would have read this.' The sense of history was great. I was holding a title which had clocked up 700+ issues - which meant before I was even born, my stepdad - or anyone - would have been reading early titles.

Now, I may well have fucked up the maths here, but FANTASTIC FOUR #1 was released in November 1961. Assuming I haven't fucked up the maths, then if the title was still running, and there hadn't been reboots/relaunches, would I be right in thinking that a November 2016 FF issue would be something like #660? Imagine that. The number #660 isn't particularly special, but it'd take just a few years from that point for FF to reach a 700th issue. Wouldn't that be great?

Maybe I obsess over numbers too much, but "mileage" has always had that effect on me. I remember picking up 2000 AD #954 (mid-90s) and just thinking, 'Wow, it's been a while since I read this title, but it's really going places.' I guess I'm just impressed with the number of issues some titles have. ;)

On the other hand, as part of their "Rebirth," DC HAS restored ACTION COMICS and DETECTIVE COMICS to legacy numbering as both approach issue #1000.  I'm still not buying any of their books (except for things like the new DARK KNIGHT or Neal Adams' COMING OF THE SUPERMEN)...but at least I'm checking them out!  I believe they're TRYING to right the ship.

I have to give them credit--if I want to buy a SUPERMAN or FLASH comic, they are clearly distinguished on the racks.  BATMAN had the same creative team for four years there--almost unheard of these days.  If I look at the Marvel section at my local comics shop, it just looks like a big mess!  I have no idea which is the THOR book or which is the main GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY book.

If you remember some of my previous posts here over the last year or so, this is a big switch for me!  I had a lot of good things to say about Marvel (DAREDEVIL was great, and I had at least four other subscriptions) but I felt DC was just a big glossy mess.  Since the "Hail Hydra," Earth merging, and widespread "replacement" secret identities, I have given up on Marvel.  But DC at least feels like they're getting on a better track, and I'm looking for books I can jump on.  Restoring SUPERMAN to the continuity that JB started makes that the best contender.

And if you go to Barnes & Noble, you will see a LOT of softcover DC reprint editions from DC's Silver and Bronze Ages (Perez's WONDER WOMAN, THE NEW TEEN TITANS, personal favorites like the entire 70's runs of THE JOKER and BLACK LIGHTNING, JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA from issue one, etc.) all of a sudden--something they have mostly avoided for decades!  They are no longer hiding their history--another good sign.

Still, it was nice to see so much of the past brought forward into the present for readers to enjoy.

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It would work great. That was always my favorite New Universe book. I always liked Gruenwald's Marvel books, even when they felt more like DC books. And Paul Ryan was always solid.