Founded in 1993, Milestone Media managed to wrangle an excellent deal with a DC Comics that was eager to diversify its lineup. Milestone’s creators had virtually total control under their deal with DC and retained the rights to all the characters they created, and controlled merchandising rights as well. Unfortunately the Milestone comics were launched into a comic book marketplace that was already swooning from the effects of heavy speculation, and coupled with difficulties in reaching much of the potential audience for its comics featuring diverse heroes, the result was declining circulations that led to the demise of Milestone Media’s comics division in 1997.
According to The Washington Post, the new Milestone Media "will be working with a wide array of companies--both different publishers as well as other media companies," this time around. Milestone 2.0 plans on reviving Icon, Hardware, and Static Shock as well as introducing new characters and developing new artistic and writing talent--and don’t be surprised if the company’s efforts are spread throughout a number of different media including comics, animation, and video games.
While admitting that there is now a far greater diversity among comic book characters thanks to recent decisions to create a black Captain America, a half-black, half-Puerto Rican Spider-Man, a black Green Lantern, Batwing, and plans for an African-American Power Girl, Cowan told The Post that there is a big difference in impact between giving an African-American character the mantle that had previously been worn by a Caucasian and creating a superhero with an origin, powers, and goals that reflect the minority experience. As Cowan put it, "There are all kinds of challenges that are facing people of color--that part hasn’t changed. What has changed is, there are a lot more characters of color in comics. What we feel is now, Milestone is necessary because of the types of characters that we do, and the viewpoint that we come from."
So far there is no schedule slated for the publication of new Milestone comics, but Cowan told The Post that Milestone will have new visuals to display at the San Diego Comic-Con in July.
