I don’t write often, mostly because my fellow partners in Unshaven Comics chain me to the art desk. But like that wonderful passage “opinions are like assholes, everyone’s got one”, I have an opinion. Mostly on legacy characters in comics as of late. With the return of certain characters in the recent Blackest Night story conclusion, one of my favorites makes a comeback.
I like it when comics are progressive enough to acknowledge that characters are getting older and that younger people need to step up. They take over a mantle and live up to the predecessor, sometimes even surpassing them. That should be the mark of truly great comic character with Legacy. Allowing somebody else to fill the role and seeing if they do it better.
Captain America carries a gun now? So what. Dick Grayson is Batman? Seems like a natural progression. At some point, I hear the wonderful line at all Cons: "That’s not my Batman, Superman, Spiderman, Captain America, Etc...”


You're right, it’s not.
I’m a Firestorm fan from years back. It took me years and a couple cons, but I’ve managed to collect the whole first series, including the five part mini that was part of DC’s Explosion in 1978. (DC’s “Implosion” of that same year, dubbed such by the fans saw several new characters including Firestorm canceled.)
He was then placed in the Justice League as a background player. After a couple years, he gained enough popularity to get a second shot. He returned to his own series for a great long run from 1982 - 1990. He appeared in several team books as a backup character again from then on. During the Identity Crisis storyline, Firestorm is killed and the powers transfer to a new host.
I loved it.
I didn’t like that they “killed” Firestorm, but I did like that they gave a new character a chance to play around with the powers. Jason Rusch is an early 20 something African American. He’s going to college (or trying to) and struggling to get a job. He’s become the Peter Parker of the DCU for awhile. The everyman I related to, Jason on many levels grew and I with him during some of his more “real” troubles. (Job, girlfriend, family issues, etc.) He spoke to me at my demographic as somebody I could relate to.

Ronnie Raymond is the original host of Firestorm and he’s been around since 1978. They wrote him to be a product of his time as a teenager and then later as an adult during the 90’s. He was a popular jock getting by on a C – D average in life. When he “died” as Firestorm, he was in his early 30’s. He’s returned from the dead (in Brightest Day) and now seems to be depicted as same age as Jason. What the HELL?!?!
Jason was learning to use his powers in effective ways to further the development of Firestorm as a character. Ronnie didn’t know what he was doing half the time and he even said so.
Ronnie Raymond is not my Firestorm, Jason Rusch is. But when it comes time for a new character to be Firestorm, I’ll gladly step aside and let them play in the sandlot.

My point with this long back story is not to show my love of the character, but my love of continuity when it comes to legacy. 

Is Bucky now Captain America? Awesome, I can relate to Bucky now because he’s depicted as being mid to late 20’s. He’s insecure on being this icon and making the best of a shitty situation. I love that Bucky is being HIS Captain America and not everybody else’s. Steve Rogers was pushing 40? 50? He was stuck in his ways already as this World War Two vet with WW2 values.
Wally West was a hell of a Flash and in some people’s opinion, better than Barry Allen. But Wally made a mark as the Flash HIS way and for that, the Legacy of the Flash is that much greater.
Dan Garrett, Ted Kord and Jamie Reyes are or have been the Blue Beetle. Jamie is the current “Beetle” and tries to live to the legacy of the previous two. In fact, within his limited series, Jamie made it a point to preserve the legacy of Ted Kord through his actions as the Blue Beetle.
When a different person becomes a character icon, it offers up a breath of fresh air creatively for the writer/artist, as well as for the character itself. We as a comic community need to embrace change. Otherwise we’re all just waiting for that forgotten hero to punch a wall wearing a super ring that crashes the time/space continuum bringing about another secret crisis war.
What are your thoughts on Legacy characters?
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