If I was placed in charge of DC and Marvel Comics, these are the changes I would implement throughout both companies.
REBOOT THE ENTIRE LINE OF COMICS
All storylines currently in progress would be wrapped up, the worst-selling/extraneous titles would be cancelled, and the best-selling figurehead titles would receive complete and total reboots, starting over with brand new issue #1s. The slate would be wiped completely clean; there would be absolutely no “have my cake and eat it too”-styled reboots ala Crisis on Infinite Earths or Nu52.
THE CHARACTERS WOULD AGE AND EVOLVE IN REAL TIME
No more compressing decades worth of storylines, sliding the timeline, or utilizing cosmic resets to preserve the _status quo _and keep the characters static while the world(s) around them changes. One year of storylines in the real world would approximate one year of events in-universe – no exceptions. As the readers age, start careers, get married, have children, and eventually die, so to will the characters in the books (The mortal ones with average human lifespans, anyway.).
LIMIT THE NUMBER OF TITLES FOR ANY SPECIFIC SUPERHERO
So that means Batman, Superman, Spider-Man, the X-Men, etc. only get one or two titles each; no more three-five-seven-nine+ titles for anyone.
NO MORE SHARED UNIVERSE(S)
Basically, each superhero would exist in his/her title as if s/he was the only superhero in existence; allusions to other superheroes in other titles would be done in only the vaguest of ways, and guest appearances/crossovers would be rare and more-or-less considered out of continuity.
ALL MAIN TITLES WOULD BE WRITTEN FOR AN ALL-AGES AUDIENCE
Brutal violence, gore, sex, and profanity would no longer be allowed. All primary superhero titles would be written so as to appeal to adults and children both. All the R-and-X-rated stuff is to be reserved for miniseries published outside of the main titles.
NO MORE "WRITING FOR THE TRADE"
Character and story arcs can go on indefinately, but specific storylines must be resolved within one-to-four issues; no more decompression.
CROSSOVER EVENTS WOULD BE RARE
There would be no more of this annual “events that shake the world/galaxy/universe/multiverse” crap. Events would be very rare events --one every seven-to-ten years or so. Furthermore, events would be written so as to be standalone miniseries; there would be no tie-in miniseries/storylines or interference with the main titles.
IF A MAJOR/SUPPORTING CHARACTER IS TO DIE, IT MUST BE WITH DIGNITY
Deaths likes this one
are all well and good when used sparingly, but deaths like this one
http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/1601/611/1600/308107/infinitecrisis1_21lo.jpg
are completely unacceptable and absolutely anathema.
NO OVERPOWERING CHARACTERS
Characters must have limitations so that they can be reasonably challenged. In other words, Superman can’t move planets or travel at/past the speed of light, Wolverine can’t regenerate from atomic explosions, Batman can’t beat everyone with enough prep time, etc.
I felt I’d revise/expand this.
NO CLUTTER EARTHS
A revised version of the “NO SHARED UNIVERSES” rule. Team-ups between superheroes are okay within reason, but there should never be a single continuity packed with hundreds of thousands of superheroes. 'Cause c’mon, what worth’s Captain Marvel when Superman’s right there?
NO RED HULKS, RAINBOW LANTERNS, ETC.
It’s stupid.
ALL SUPERHERO CONTINUITIES WOULD EXIST WITHIN A SINGLE MULTIVERSE
No more extraneous multi-multiverses. One multiverse consisting of 3000 universes is sufficient. Why 3000? Because 52 is laughably restrictive, and infinite horrifically redundant.
THE X-MEN UNIVERSE WOULD BE SEPARATED FROM THE REST OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE
They
are praised and honoured, while they
are feared and reviled. What’s the difference? The former gained powers accidentally, the latter were born with theirs.
Makes no sense and never did.
THERE WOULD BE THREE MAIN IMPRINTS — “LEGENDS”, “LEGACIES”, & "TIMELESS"
Legends: Titles under this imprint would feature the classic superheroes, chronicling in real time their lives and exploits from the '30s, '40s, '50s, '60s, and onward.
Legacies: Titles under this imprint would feature contemporary superheroes, chronicling in real time their lives and exploits now, in the early 21st century.
Timeless: Titles under this imprint would be subject to comic book time. Here is where readers go for simple, accessible, continuity-light, one-and-done stories where the characters remain fixed and unchanging.