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Gladiator fights were the phenomenon of their day – a celebration of courage, endurance, bravery, and violence against a backdrop of fame, fortune, and social scrutiny. Today, over 6 million people flock every year to admire the Colosseum, but what took place within those ancient walls has long been a matter of both scholarly debate and general interest.

The post 11 facts you may not have known about Roman gladiators appeared first on OUPblog.

Hellblazers, it looks like The CW is coming to your aide, or at least providing you with one last go with your favorite leading man. Announced today by the network at the Television Critics’ Association’s press-tour, Matt Ryan will be reprising his role as John Constantine in a one episode guest-appearance on Arrow‘s fourth season […]

After NBC failed to pick up its DC Comics adaptation Constantine for a second season, fans (dubbed “Hellblazers” by the cast and crew) were rallying in support of another network potentially bringing the show back to life elsewhere. The CW was considered the biggest wish-list target after rumors of a SyFy channel pickup were debunked.

Today, showrunner Daniel Cerone put all those hopes to rest, as he posted the following statement on his twitter account:

I promised I’d share news when I had it — sadly, that news is not good. The cast and writers of Constantine are being released from their contracts. The studio tried to find a new home for the show, for which we’re forever grateful, but those efforts didn’t pan out. I’m sorry, I wasn’t provided any information on the attempts to sell the show elsewhere. All I can report is that the show is over.

Many ingredients went into this TV series. From the dedicated cast that breathed these characters to life, led by Matt Ryan as the comic-made-flesh embodiment of John Constantine, to the exceptionality talented crew that put unreal images on screen, to the original Hellblazer writers and artists who gifted us a universe.

As a general principle, writers don’t choose a writing career to achieve stardom. Whatever demons or insecurities drove them to find freedom of expression through written words generally keeps writers comfortably obscure behind their words. Nor do people choose writing as a means to financial freedom. I’d venture to guess that most who set out to write professionally never receive a paycheck for their hopeful scribbles or key strokes.

In fact, nobody I know ever chose a writing career — it chose them. You write because that’s what you do. Like breathing, it just happens and you have to do it and you just hope that someday somebody out there notices what you’re trying to say.

If that’s the dream of writers, than the writers of Constantine lived the dream, because we’re leaving behind wild and passionate fans who believe in and were moved by what we tried to do. To leave such a significant, dedicated and active fan base on the table — that’s the real sadness. You all deserve many years of the series we set out to make, and we’re disappointed that we couldn’t deliver that to you. The good news is that Constantine will live on for years in many more forms. But our time as caretakers has ended.

If nothing else, I thought Matt Ryan was a pretty great John Constantine. Season 2 was reportedly going to have more delving into the mystic corners of the DC Universe as well, so if the Justice League Dark movie never takes off, it may be a while before we get another shot at seeing characters like Doctor Fate and The Spectre on screen.

– Avengers: Infinity War, which it’s been revealed will have a grueling nine month production schedule (it is two films after all), will also be shot completely in IMAX using IMAX and ARRI’s next gen 2D digital camera. This marks the first time a Hollywood feature film has ever been shot completely with IMAX cameras and utilizing its larger aspect ratio.

Here’s a statement from the Russo Bros on this announcement:

The intent with the Infinity War films is to bring ten years of accumulative storytelling to an incredible climax. We felt that the best way to exploit the scale and scope required to close out the final chapter of these three phases, was to be the first films shot entirely on the IMAX/ARRI Digital camera.

Some select action scenes of Captain America: Civil War will also utilize the IMAX camera and format.

– This week, the broadcast networks are finalizing their pick-up decisions and what will make it onto the Fall and Spring schedule. Supergirl, for example, was picked up for a full series order yesterday by CBS, while iZombie was also renewed by The CW. The Flash and Arrow have also already been renewed for their second and fourth seasons respectively.

Now, all eyes are on ABC and NBC, as the former will be making its decisions regarding Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (which will surely be renewed) and Agent Carter (where things are far more uncertain), while the latter holds the final fate of Constantine in its hands.

My prediction? Agent Carter gets renewed for another short season, while Constantine finally sees its long-expected axe.

But even Powers got renewed, so I guess anything could still happen.

– 20th Century Fox has revealed the cover art for the upcoming X-Men: Days of Future Past “Rogue Cut”, which will include 17 minutes of additional footage, including all of Anna Paquin‘s sequences that were cut from the theatrical release:

– We’re only a week away from Mad Max: Fury Road hitting theaters across the country. While critics are still embargoed at this point, there’s a lot to be excited about, which I elaborated on a few weeks previous. Here’s a new featurette for the film:

– Here’s the new poster for Ant-Man, which is sadly pretty underwhelming, though that’s kind of par for the course with most blockbuster movie posters these days. Floating heads, so many floating heads!

– And in fun stuff, it looks like Captain America vs. Crossbones has started early:

Don’t underestimate the benefit of awe. Take time to be amazed by things. By anything. By everything.

— Chris Evans (@ChrisEvans) May 7, 2015

@FrankGrillo I’m amazed you can read. Be honest, your kids are helping you sound out the words. — Chris Evans (@ChrisEvans) May 7, 2015

@ChrisEvans I can read the hospital report for you after wake up from that that little snooze your gonna take hero boy.

— frank grillo (@FrankGrillo) May 7, 2015

I’m really looking forward to Civil War.

When people talk about saving John Constantine, usually it’s a hopeless task, as the scouser magician’s soul has long been consigned to hell for his many sins on earth. But another campaign to save Constantine is under way—and this time it’s fans attempting to keep his TV show going past a 13 episode commitment despite middling ratings.

Arrested Development has plans for a fifth season on Netflix, Twin Peaks will see you on Showtime twenty-five years from the 1991 series finale, and Yahoo Screen will bring Community closer to its promise of #sixseasonsandamovie, airing new episodes this spring. It’s a golden age of fan campaigns with the ability to resurrect dead and mostly-dead shows with measurably vocal fan bases. It’s a golden age fans of NBC’s Constantine are counting on, as the last of the series’ 13 episode initial run airs this Friday, February 13 at 10pm. The network has halted any further production on the show, prompting fans to organize on Twitter and Facebook under the hashtag #saveconstantine in support of its renewal — whether on NBC or another network entirely.

Fan campaigns to save television shows are nothing new, with the late sixties fan campaign to save the Star Trek original series largely credited as the first of its kind. Still, there does seem to be a trend in the growing power of fan campaigns to have an impact on programming, even those who represent much smaller audience shares than the high-profile efforts of yesteryear, prompting fledgling networks to pick up where network and even cable channels have left off.

So what does all this mean for fans of Constantine, starring Matt Ryan as trench-coated demon hunter John Constantine? Do they feel a campaign to save the show, based on the long-running DC/Vertigo series Hellblazer, has a better chance of being saved now than it would have 10 years ago? “They definitely are more successful — especially with social networking being the way it is,” said Breanna Conklin, who has been active in the campaign to #saveconstatine since NBC confirmed in late November they would stop production on the series. “I am in a few nerd groups on facebook. You’re able to spread the word to like minded folks and your friends within a few seconds. Social media gives awareness that wasn’t available to us ten years ago.”

The #saveconstantine effort began to gain momentum when a slick-looking website, saveconstantine.com, went up in December. In addition to links to the petition and fan communities, saveconstantine.com offers a detailed description of the importance of the recently introduced Twitter TV ratings model from newly-formed group, Nielsen Social. An off-shoot of the more traditional Nielsen ratings, Nielsen Social “identifies, captures and analyzes conversation on Twitter in real time for every program aired across over 250 of the most popular U.S. television networks, including Spanish language networks, as well as over 1,500 brands” according to the company website.

The challenge for Constantine fans is to ensure that their awareness of the need to campaign for the continued life of the series is leveraged in a way that speaks both to NBC and their advertisers. It’s not enough to simply prove there’s interest in Constantine from the hallowed 18-49 age demographic; advertisers need to ensure that ad placements can actually have an impact on that demographic. As television consumption proliferates on an increasingly diverse group of content platforms, strong same-day viewing ratings don’t necessarily show advertisers that their ads will be seen instead of fast-forwarded on a DVR viewing post-broadcast.

It’s a challenge the organizers of the #saveconstantine effort hope to meet by being better educated on the increasingly complex world of network tv ad buys. “It’s a big group effort,” said Allison Gennaro, one of the campaigns many organizers. A fan of the Hellblazer comics, Gennaro became involved in the campaign upon hearing “NBC had capped the airing to just 13 [episodes],” which she took to mean the show was “in trouble” but also that the “ratings might not be meeting the NBC demo of choice.” Hoping to convince NBC not to cancel the series, the #saveconstantine organizers publicized a petition for the show to get a second season across social media platforms in late November. The petition cites a “38% bump in the ratings and an 87% viewer retention rating (after Grimm) with the introduction of The Spectre” as evidence of the viability of the series which currently boasts over 20,000 signatures.

The description on saveconstantine.com explains the impact live tweeting Constantine episodes can have on the Twitter TV ratings. The site believes the live tweets “denote that a show has a consistent and loyal audience,” and may show advertisers they “are being rewarded for their investment in the network…so if you want to save Constantine, please watch, tell your friends, and tweet.” Gennaro cultivated a group of Constantine fans through a mailing list to help push the #saveconstantine hashtag and live tweet campaign. “We even threw Friday night twitter parties before the show to trend and gain attention,” she said.

Fan campaigns of the past relied on letter writing, placing ads in trade magazines like Variety, even buying billboards to plead for their respective shows. While Constantine fans have also employed letter writing and email to NBC executives in this campaign, their informed approach in targeting advertisers and leveraging their consumer power is in step with more recently successful ‘save our show’ campaigns. In 2009, Wendy Farrington began a campaign to save another NBC series with supernatural overtones: Chuck. Her game-changing approach acknowledged the fact that the show enjoyed better ratings on off-network viewing platforms and galvanized fans of the series to support a major advertiser of the show, Subway.

According to a 2014 article by Christina Savage for Transformative Works and Cultures, which examined fan-run ‘save our show’ campaigns, on the day of Chuck’s season finale hundreds of fans went to their local Subway and bought a $5 foot-long sandwich featured on the series via product placement. They then left behind comment cards explaining their purchase was in support of Chuck. Savage explained that by “focusing on Chuck as a business transaction, fans used their knowledge of the industry” to support their effort. Shortly thereafter, NBC ordered 13 more episodes of the series. Savage wrote: “co-chairman of NBC Ben Silverman said that this campaign was one of the most creative he had seen, and as a result, Subway would increase its presence within the show.”

John Constantine may not eat at Subway, but fans of the demon exorcist are invoking similar brand marketing powers with their #saveconstantine efforts. Only this time, the fans themselves are the product. By targeting Nielsen’s Twitter TV ratings specifically, Constantine fans “become valuable social ambassadors for programmers and advertisers alike as they amplify content and messaging through their social spheres,” Nielsen Social wrote in a an article posted in September. But will it be enough to push NBC to order another season of Constantine? Could it make the show attractive enough to warrant a rumored move to sister-network Syfy, which has released several high-profile interviews with network executives seeking to return the channel to it’s Sci-fi/fantasy genre roots? NBC president Jennifer Salke told IGN in January that “we wish the show [Constantine] had done better live. It has a big viewership after [it airs] in all kinds of ways and it has a younger audience, but the live number is challenging.”

We spoke with Dr. Balaka Basu, a professor specializing in pop culture and fan studies at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte about the viability of the type of campaign #saveconstantine is waging. “Campaigns helped to save Chuck and Roswell, and gave Firefly fans closure in the less-than-successful Serenity,” she said. “ I think the key was demonstrating an understanding of how television economy works. With Chuck, for instance, fans literally gave their monetary support to the chain sandwich shop Subway…this demonstrates a comprehension of the relationship between advertisers and television producers.”

Fans like Miguel Gonzalez Cabañas, who lives in Madrid, show the global reach of the #saveconstantine fan efforts. He calls Constantine “the best series with a paranormal plot” on television. He, along with Allison, Breanna and the thousands of other fans who make up the campaign to #saveconstantine will be redoubling their efforts tonight: tweeting their support for the show before, during and after the season finale. But beyond the comic book fanbase, beyond charismatic lead Matt Ryan or the show’s arcane mythology: what is it about Constantine, or any other fan-campaigned series, that produces this kind of fan advocacy? “Whether it’s a show like Constantine, where many fans came into the show already in love with the character,” says Dr. Basu, “or shows like Buffy and Angel, where they were allowed to fall in love over the duration of the show, it’s really when the characters feel like real people that you don’t want your relationship with them to end, ever. And that’s been true since the days of Star Trek.”

Happy Monday everyone! Hannah and I took today off from our regular gigs, but I didn’t want a few of the more interesting headlines to pass us by…so, let’s take a look at what’s causing a buzz in the entertainment side of things.

– According to TVInsider, Jamie Alexander is returning to Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. reprising her role as Lady Sif from the Thor films and her guest appearance in the first season of the ABC series. Alexander will guest star in the second episode of the midseason, where Lady Sif will be struck by amnesia after a massive battle with a yet to be revealed villain. Though executive producer Jeffrey Bell states that the memories that she hangs onto will prove very important in the on-going Inhuman-based subplots of the series.

– Over the weekend, OK! Magazine (via SpoilerTV) reported a rumor that Angelina Jolie (Unbroken, In the Land of Blood and Honey) was offered $20 million dollars by Marvel Studios to direct their upcoming Captain Marvel feature. This rumor caused a bit of a stir online, but let’s face facts, Marvel has yet to offer any director that kind of payday and it’s hard to imagine they’d start doing that now ($20 million dollars was Christopher Nolan‘s take for Interstellar for example). Most sources I’ve spoken with in trying to follow up on this report state that the rumor is fiction. The one thing it gets right is that Marvel is likely looking to hire a female filmmaker for the property, and that is a very exciting prospect.

– Another unsourced story (from Cinelinx) floated around yesterday that NBC/Universal, in the wake of not renewing Constantine for a second season, would be moving it to SyFy and renaming the series Hellblazer. It’s a great idea, yet I wouldn’t get my hopes up. Sadly, barring a sudden surprise renewal announcement, the upcoming finale is likely the last you’ll seen of John and company.

– Production on X-Men: Apocalypse continues, and Bryan Singer, ever the busy tweeter/Instagrammer, has posted a photo of interest:

I know. Old door. But there’ll be something new behind it. #XmenApocalypse

A photo posted by Bryan Singer (@bryanjaysinger) on Feb 9, 2015 at 9:59am PST

It sounds like the Danger Room is returning if I were to hazard a guess.

Photo: NBC

When NBC’s take on DC/Vertigo’s chain-smoking anti-hero struggled in the ratings, the network halted production on Constantine after 13 episodes. Middling critical response and a terrible time-slot (Friday nights at 10 pm) didn’t help its cause, and the question became when/if NBC would ever air those remaining episodes after its mid-season finale capped out at the 8th episode.

Fans of the series took to social media with the #SaveConstantine hashtag, trying to stave off what seemed like the inevitable cancellation of the new series. Even executive producer Daniel Cerone got in on the grassroots action.

If nothing else, NBC has provided a stay of execution today, as the show’s official Twitter feed has announced Constantine‘s return on January 16th at 8 pm, where the 5 remaining episodes will air.

Will a new time-slot provide a shot in the arm or will it just be a fulfilling of an obligation? Time and viewership will tell.

Constantine’s production has been halted at 13 episodes, Deadline reports, but it may not be gone for good.

While NBC recently made a similar decision on freshmen comedy series Bad Judge and A to Z, I hear the circumstances are different. While Bad Judge and A to Z had been de facto cancelled, Constantine remains in contention for a second-season renewal.

NBC had to make a decision whether to keep Constantine in continuous production with little ratings information. While the series began production on a standard fall premiere production schedule, its launch was delayed until late October when NBC’s Friday genre block usually debuts, so the network had to make a call whether to order additional episodes after only four episodes had aired vs. at least seven, which is the norm for freshman series.

Yes, tonight is the night—the third of DC’s fall TV shows debuts on NBC at 10 pm EDT, Constantine starring Matt Ryan as the man, Harold Perrineau as Manny the angel, Charles Halford as best bud Chas, and in the pilot, Lucy Griffiths as the companion, Liv. This role is changed in future episodes to Angelica Celaya as Zed. (In a few stills, Liv bears a striking resemblance to Liz from Garth Marenghi, so perhaps this was for the best.) Also on board eventually, Jeremy Davies, Joey Phillips as Nergal, Miles Anderson as Dr. Roger Huntoon, Michael James Shaw as Papa Midnite. and Emmett Scanlan as Detective Jim Corrigan, who may become the Spectre if pasty white legs become a thing.

The show is brought to you by DC expert David S. Goyer and Daniel Cerone whose credits include Charmed, The Mentalist and the first few (good) seasons of Dexter. Cerone is a DC fan and claims that there will be something of the feel of Dexter, which would be okay if it’s the GOOD Dexter.

I’ve had the rough cut of the pilot kicking around for a while but haven’t wached it…I’m told what airs is quite a bit different so I’m happy seeing it with those of you who stay home on Friday night.

If you want to know more about Constantine and his comics history—and I do mean more— Abraham Reisman has written a near definitive guide, with quotes from Karen Berger, Peter Milligan, and even the guy who made Constantine Hellblazer, Jamie Delano, who wrote the first 44 issues of wha would become the Vertigo flagship.

Readers were enchanted. “There was a great buzz about Constantine,” Berger said, recalling the letters she’d receive from fans. “Alan very deftly planned him as this character who kind of drifted in and drifted out, leaving clues for something ominous and impending.” Which is, of course, the core of what keeps readers of superhero comics coming back to any given series.

Nearly all the subsequent Constantine writers I spoke to remembered how those Swamp Thing issues gripped them — especially because he gave so little away about his origins or what he knew. “You know that quotation from Moby-Dick, ‘It is the easiest thing in the world for a man to look as if he had a great secret in him’?” writer Mike Carey said. “That’s how Constantine was in Swamp Thing.”

Flavorwire offers five Hellblazer stories to read before the show, and they’re the ones you’d expect—Delano, Gaiman, Ennis, Azzaello, but a nice shout out to the Mike Carey standalone graphic novel.

Hellblazer ran for 300 issues and it’s definitely one of the great horror comics, even given the uneven nature of the various runs. Whiel the TV show is poised to put it more into the popular culture, or sink into oblivion, nothing will change my view of the comics, yadda yadda. I’m trepidatious over how “network” TV will treat this subversive character but is there even such a thing as network TV any more? And comcis have held their own as a culural force now. Let’s face it, you could NEVER EVER get away with casting Keanu Reeves as Constantine any more, and I guess that’s progress of a sort. Reviews have been middling, but it’s only the first episode.

I’ve rounded up some stills from the show, but before we get into that…here’s a few of the classic comic images, four by Glenn Fabry’s whose cover run was phenomenal and one by Leonardo Manco.

And the new version:

liv goes liz

DC Entertainment now has four shows on TV (which might just be another milestone on the way to “peak geek”)!  To help new viewers “read all about it”, DC has published a free ebook listing core titles from their extensive backlist.  (Kinda like an “After Watchmen” guide.)

Prepare yourself for the upcoming DC Comics 2014 Fall TV schedule with these essential reads featuring The Flash, Green Arrow, John Constantine and the men and women of the Gotham City Police Department. This is a list of suggested further graphic novel reading for fans looking to learn more about these dynamite characters before they explode onto the TV screen!

You can download the free Nook version here.  Amazon has the Kindle edition here.  And the ComiXology edition.  Or perhaps you prefer iTunes.  And Google Play.

(It might be “guided view” and not work on some web browsers…  so I’m running the bibliography below.)
The titles are from the past thirty years of DC Comics, so some are pre-New 52, some are Vertigo.

— +++ —

The Flash

Flash: Rebirth
Geoff Johns
On Sale Date: May 3, 2011
$14.99 USD, $17.99 CAD
168 pages
Trade Paperback
9781401230012, 1401230016

Summary: The epic story of Barry Allen’s return from the dead to reclaim his title as The Fastest Man Alive is collected in hardcover.
Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Sciver, the writer/artist team behind the blockbuster GREEN LANTERN: REBIRTH and THE SINESTRO CORPS WAR, create an explosive, jaw-dropping epic that reintroduces Barry Allen, the modern-age Flash. But how will Barry Allen find his place in the twenty-first century?

— +++ —
Flash Vol. 1: The Dastardly Death of the Rogues!
Geoff Johns
On Sale Date: January 17, 2012
$14.99 USD, $17.99 CAD
228 pages
Trade Paperback
9781401231958, 1401231950

Contributor Bio: Geoff Johns, a Detroit native, brings a Hollywood sense of story-telling to comics. After working as an assistant to Richard Donner (director of LethalWeapon, Superman and many other great films), Geoff has brought his considerable writing talent to comics. For DC he has written Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E.S., The Flash, the enormously popular JSA with David Goyer, helped revitalize Hawkman with James Robinson and the comics event BLACKEST NIGHT.

Summary: The Flash races out of BLACKEST NIGHT and into the first graphic novel collection of his new monthly title written bycomics hottest writer Geoff Johns (BLACKEST NIGHT, GREEN LANTERN). The all-new adventures of The Fastest ManAlive start with “Case One: The Dastardly Death of the Rogues!” Barry Allen, The Flash, runs back to his life in Central City, but when one of the Rogues turns up murdered under mysterious circumstances, it’s up to The Fastest Man Alive to not onlysolve this bizarre crime, but protect those that are still targeted by the elusive killer. This storyline ties directly into BRIGHTEST DAY, the direct follow-up to the biggest comics event of 2009, BLACKEST NIGHT.
— +++ —
The Flash Vol. 2: The Road to Flashpoint
Geoff Johns
On Sale Date: October 2, 2012
$14.99 USD, $17.99 CAD
128 pages
Trade Paperback
9781401234485, 1401234488

Contributor Bio:
Geoff Johns is an award-winning writer and one of the most popular contemporary comic book writers today. Johns is the author of The New York Times bestselling graphic novels Aquaman: The Trench, Blackest Night, Green Lantern: Sinestro Corps War, Justice League: Origin, Superman: Brainiac and Batman: Earth One which hit #1 on the bestseller list. He is also known for transforming Green Lantern into one of the most critically and commercially successful franchises in comics.

Johns was born in Detroit and studied media arts, screenwriting, and film at Michigan State University. After moving to Los Angeles, he became an assistant to Richard Donner, director of Superman: The Movie. He and his mentor Donner later co-wrote Superman: Last Son featuring the return of General Zod.

Johns has written for various other media, including episodes of Smallville, Arrow and Adult Swim’s Robot Chicken, for which he was nominated along with his co-writers for an Emmy. He is the Chief Creative Officer of DC Entertainment and resides in Los Angeles, California.

Summary: The race towards FALSHPOINT continues in this Flash collection from comics’ hottest writer Geoff Johns and artist Francis Manapul!
Make way for Hot Pursuit – the latest speedster to come out of the Speed Force! He’s here to make sure no one breaks the speed limit – hero or villain! This hardcover collection of THE FLASH #8-12 leading up to the epic events of FLASHPOINT follows Barry Allen and the family of speedsters, as they try to discover Hot Pursuit’s identity and what he’s doing in Keystone City! This volume also features the origin of Barry Allen’s greatest foe, Professor Zoom! Eobard Thawne’s story is just beginning-and he intends to finish it with The Flash!
— +++ —
The Flash Vol. 1: Move Forward (The New 52)
Francis Manapul, Brian Buccellato
On Sale Date: August 20, 2013
$16.99 USD
168 pages
Trade Paperback
9781401235543, 1401235549

Contributor Bio:
Francis Manapul is the artist and co-writer of The Flash, which is part of DC Comics—The New 52. His previous work for DC Comics includes books such as Adventure Comics, Superman/Batman, and The Legion Of Super-Heroes. His work has been published in various publications from the likes of Aspen Comics, Editions Delcourt, Top Cow Productions, and Devils Due just to name a few. Manapul was a TV Presenter on SyFy’s Beast Legends, in which he and a team of scientists and adventurers traveled the globe in search of scientific data to create mythical beasts. Manapul was born in Manila, Philippines and currently calls Toronto, Canada his home.

Brian Buccellato started in comics as a colorist for the Marvel/DC crossover Punisher/Batman and went on to color for all major publishers including work on Uncanny X-Men, Superman, The Flash and many others. Brian began writing as part of The Story Company, collaborating on a number of screenplays. While working for Top Cow, he started his comics writing with The Darkness, before teaming with Francis Manapul to co-write The Flash for DC Comics. He also writes and illustrates the creator-owned title Foster.

Summary: Struck by a bolt of lightning and doused in chemicals, Central City Police scientist Barry Allen was transformed into the fastest man alive. Tapping into the energy field called The Speed Force, he applies a tenacious sense of justice to protect an serve the world as The Flash!
The Fastest Man Alive returns to his own monthly series as part of the DC Comics—The New 52 event with the writer/artist team of Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato. The Flash knows he can’t be everywhere at once, but he has seemingly met his match when he faces DC Comic’ hottest new Super Villain, Mob Rule, who really can be everywhere at once!
As Mob Rule wages a campaign of crime across Central City, including an electromagnetic blast that plunges the city into darkness, The Flash learns the the only way he can capture Mob Rule and save Central City is to learn how to make his brain function even faster than before—but as much as it helps him, it also comes with a steep price.
This volume collects issues 1-8 of the monthly series.
— +++ —
The Flash Vol. 2: Rogues Revolution (The New 52)

Francis Manapul, Brian Buccellato
On Sale Date: February 11, 2014
$16.99 USD, $19.99 CAD
176 pages
Trade Paperback
9781401242732, 1401242731

Contributor Bio:
Francis Manapul is the artist and co-writer of THE FLASH, which is part of DC Comics-The New 52. His previous work for DC Comics includes books such as ADVENTURE COMICS, SUPERMAN/BATMAN, and THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES. His work has been published in various publications from the likes of Aspen Comics, Editions Delcourt, Top Cow Productions, and Devils Due just to name a few. Manapul was a TV Presenter on SyFy’s Beast Legends, in which he and a team of scientists and adventurers traveled the globe in search of scientific data to create mythical beasts. Manapul was born in Manila, Philippines and currently calls Toronto, Canada his home.

Summary: A New York Times Bestseller!

Struck by a bolt of lightning and doused in chemicals, Central City Police scientist Barry Allen was transformed into the fastest man alive. Tapping into the energy field called The Speed Force, he applies a tenacious sense of justice to protect an serve the world as The Flash!

The Flash’s Rogue’s Gallery are back—but they are more powerful than ever and they’re each looking to take down the Fastest Man Alive! Who is behind their sudden organization and why are they also after their former leader, Captain Cold? The Flash must think fast if he can outrun and survive their attack!

Collects issues #9-12, #0, and Annual #1
From the Hardcover edition.
— +++ —
The Flash Vol. 3: Gorilla Warfare (The New 52)
Francis Manapul, Brian Buccellato
On Sale Date: August 19, 2014
$16.99 USD, $19.99 CAD
176 pages
Trade Paperback
9781401247126, 1401247121

Contributor Bio:
Francis Manapul is the artist and co-writer of THE FLASH, which is part of DC Comics-The New 52. His previous work for DC Comics includes books such as ADVENTURE COMICS, SUPERMAN/BATMAN, and THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES. His work has been published in various publications from the likes of Aspen Comics, Editions Delcourt, Top Cow Productions, and Devils Due just to name a few. Manapul was born in Manila, Philippines and currently calls Toronto, Canada his home.

Summary: In his hometown of Central City, The Flash—a.k.a. Barry Allen—is constantly deflecting the criminal schemes of his Rogue’s Gallery. Money hungry, cunning and powerful, these villains have the Scarlet Speedster running at a pace faster than even the world’s fastest man is used to.

But when Gorilla Grodd and his army descend on Central City, The Flash will have to contend with a threat he’s not used to: murderous, ruthless and without principle. With mammoth strength and mind-control powers, Grodd will not stop until he conquers the city with its heroes blood on his hands. Knowing full well he cannot defeat this new foe alone, The Flash will have to turn to his former enemies, the Rogues, if he wants to keep himself and Central City alive.

THE FLASH: GORILLA WARFARE is the third hardcover graphic novel from the best-selling creative team of Franics Manapul and Brian Buccellatto. Collects THE FLASH #13-19.
Collects issues #9-12, #0, and Annual #1.
— +++ —
The Flash Vol. 4: Reverse (The New 52)
Francis Manapul, Brian Buccellato
On Sale Date: August 19, 2014
$24.99 USD, $28.99 CAD
176 pages
Hardcover
9781401247133, 140124713X

Contributor Bio:
Francis Manapul is the artist and co-writer of THE FLASH, which is part of DC Comics-The New 52. His previous work for DC Comics includes books such as ADVENTURE COMICS, SUPERMAN/BATMAN, and THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES. His work has been published in various publications from the likes of Aspen Comics, Editions Delcourt, Top Cow Productions, and Devils Due just to name a few. Manapul was born in Manila, Philippines and currently calls Toronto, Canada his home.

Francis Manapul is the artist and co-writer of THE FLASH, which is part of DC Comics-The New 52. His previous work for DC Comics includes books such as ADVENTURE COMICS, SUPERMAN/BATMAN, and THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES. His work has been published in various publications from the likes of Aspen Comics, Editions Delcourt, Top Cow Productions, and Devils Due just to name a few. Manapul was born in Manila, Philippines and currently calls Toronto, Canada his home.

Summary: The fourth volume of Brian Buccellato and Francis Manapul’s New 52 breakout hit – The Flash!

A mysterious and powerful Speed-Force killer has left a trail of bodies in his wake and only Barry has the power to stop him. But when the killer stays one step ahead of him, Barry finds himself face to face with the Teen Titans and Kid Flash for the first time. All this will lead to a confrontation with the Flash’s most deadly foe, The Reverse Flash!
Collects THE FLASH #20-25, and #23.3: REVERSE FLASH.
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Arrow

Arrow Vol. 1
Marc Guggenheim, Andrew Kreisberg, Mike Grell
On Sale Date: September 24, 2013
$16.99 USD, $19.99 CAD
208 pages
Trade Paperback
Comics & Graphic Novels / Media Tie-In
9781401242992, 1401242995

Contributor Bio:
Marc Guggeinheim is award-winning multi-media writer, having scribed film, television, prose, video games and comic books. His television credits include Arrow (co-creator), Law & Order, Jack & Bobby, CSI: Miami and Brothers & Sisters. His best known comic book work includes AQUAMAN, SUPERMAN/BATMAN, THE FLASH, JSA, and Amazing Spider-Man, Young X-Men and Supreme Power.

Summary: Spinning off directly from the hit CW television series ARROW comes the Emerald Archerer in these digital-first adventures! Show creators Andrew Kreisberg and Marc Guggenheim team with some of the industry’s best artists, including Mike Grell (GREEN ARROW: THE LONGBOW HUNTERS), Phil Hester (GREEN ARROW: QUIVER) and others to fill in the gaps between episodes of one of TV’s hottest new series.

Collects Arrow #1-6 and #1 Special edition.
— +++ —
Arrow Vol. 2
On Sale Date: May 20, 2014
$16.99 USD, $19.99 CAD
192 pages
Trade Paperback
Comics & Graphic Novels / Media Tie-In
9781401246037, 1401246036

Contributor Bio:
Marc Guggeinheim is award-winning multi-media writer, having scribed film, television, prose, video games and comic books. His television credits include Arrow (co-creator), Law & Order, Jack & Bobby, CSI: Miami and Brothers & Sisters. His best known comic book work includes AQUAMAN, SUPERMAN/BATMAN, THE FLASH, JSA, and Amazing Spider-Man, Young X-Men and Supreme Power.

Summary: Spinning out of the hit CW television show, these digital-first chapters, written by show creators Marc Guggenheim and Andrew Kreisberg, fill in the gaps between the television show and the comics. This volume explores the mystery of what really happened to Deadshot after his dramatic showdown with Oliver during season one of Arrow!
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Green Arrow: Year One
Andy Diggle
On Sale Date: April 14, 2009
$14.99 USD, $17.99 CAD
160 pages
Trade Paperback
9781401217433, 1401217435

Summary: Oliver Queen has been a faithful member of the Justice League of America and defended Star City with his trusty bown and an arsenal of deadly arrows for years-now thrill to the definitive tale of how he became Green Arrow!

Queen is a frivolous playboy with little care for anyone or anything-apparently even himself. But when he’s double-crossed and marooned on a jungle island, he finds that he does care about something: justice!
— +++ —
Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunter
Mike Grell
On Sale Date: September 18, 2012
$14.99 USD, $17.99 CAD
160 pages
Trade Paperback
9781401238629, 1401238629

Contributor Bio: Mike Grell is a comic book writer and artist, who’s career has spanned over 5 decades. Grell’s first work for DC Comics was in 1973 on SUPERBOY and LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES. He would go on to write or illustrate ACTION COMICS, BATMAN, THE FLASH, GREEN LANTERN/GREEN ARROW and WARLORD. He would also go on to create cult-favorite hero JON SABLE FREELANCE in the 80’s, as well the mini-series GREEN ARROW: THE LONGBOW HUNTERS.

Summary: A new edition of Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunters collecting the 3-issue 1987 miniseries. Oliver Queen gives up his trick arrows and settles down in Seattle with Dinah Lance. But Ollie’s world collides with one of unspeakable violence involving the beautiful and mysterious archer known as Shado.
— +++ —
Green Arrow: The Archer’s Quest
Brad Meltzer
On Sale Date: September 18, 2012
$14.99 USD, $17.99 CAD
176 pages
Trade Paperback
9781401200442, 1401200443

Contributor Bio: Brad Meltzer is a name that is instantly synonymous with the term “creative visionary.” Raised in Brooklyn and Miami, this graduate of the University of Michigan and Columbia Law School had received 24 rejection letters for his first novel, The Tenth Justice, before it was published and became an instant New York Times bestseller. Since then, each of Meltzer’s subsequent novels – including The Inner Circle, Dead Even, The Zero Game and The Book of Lies – has matched that prestigious honor, with The Book of Fate earning particularly notable distinction by debuting at No. 1. The first comic book Brad ever read was Justice League of America #150 in 1978, when he was seven years old. Needless to say, it changed his life, and he has reciprocated in kind, authoring critically acclaimed DC comics such as GREEN ARROW: THE ARCHER’S QUEST and the wildly successful suspense thriller IDENTITY CRISIS. It is even more fitting that in 2006 he would go on to write the World’s Greatest Super-Heroes who so indelibly inspired his love for comics, and as a result garner himself an Eisner Award in the process.

Summary: By New York Times #1 Best-Selling novelist and writer of IDENTITY CRISIS Brad Meltzer, comes the critically acclaimed GREEN ARROW: ARCHER’S QUEST.

Oliver Queen is back as Green Arrow, and with his former sidekick Arsenal at his side, he’s setting off on an adventure that will test his courage and bring formerly hidden facets of the Green Arrow legend to light.
— +++ —
Green Arrow Vol. 1: The Midas Touch (The New 52)
J.T. Krul
On Sale Date: June 5, 2012
$14.99 USD, $17.99 CAD
144 pages
Trade Paperback
9781401234867, 1401234860

Contributor Bio:
J.T. Krul is an American comic book writer whose first comic work was at Marvel Comics, writing X-men Unlimited. He has since made quite a name for himself in the comic industry, writing the majority of books at Aspen MLT including Fathom. His recent projects include Captain Atom, Green Arrow, Teen Titans, Blackest Night: Titans, Titans, Justice League: Rise And Fall for DC Comics.

Summary: The Emerald Archer returns, relaunched for a new generation of readers!

The masked vigilante Green Arrow is used to looking for trouble, but now trouble’s come looking for him! Enter Rush and his gang of thrill-seeking trust fund babies, buying their super powers and treating the world as their playground. Along with their rotting man-monster Midas and the assassin Blood Rose, Rush plans to kill a super hero live on the Internet. Even with his cutting-edge weapons and tech from Q-Core, the odds are stacked against Green Arrow!

From Dan Jurgens (Superman), J.T. Krul (Captain Atom), Keith Giffen (O.M.A.C.) and George Perez (Worlds’ Finest), this latest chapter of Green Arrow is a can’t-miss event!
— +++ —
Green Arrow Vol. 2: Triple Threat (The New 52)
Ann Nocenti
On Sale Date: January 29, 2013
$14.99 USD, $17.99 CAD
160 pages
Trade Paperback
9781401238421, 1401238424

Contributor Bio: Harvey Montecillo Tolibao was born in June 1981 and raised in Malaybalay, Bukidnon, Philippines. At the age of 10, Harvey dreamed to become a comic book illustrator. He grew up collecting Pinoy Klasiks such as ALIWAN Horror Komiks, Tagalog Komiks, Romance, Kick fighter, Kidlat, Terminator, etc. He likes collecting foreign comics like Jim Lee’s X-Men, which also serves as one of his inspirations.

Summary: The stress of running a multi-billion dollar corporation and being the guardian of Star City has frayed Oliver Queen’s last nerve. When he encounters the genetically modified triplets known as “Skylark” during a mission, Queen, entranced by their beauty and the new techonology they give him, agrees to meet their “father” King Leer.

King Leer’s fortress, buried deep within a frozen moutainside, hides the true nature of his work, genetically modifying animals of all species – including humans – in order to take over the world. His work is funded by the gold mine he has seized and rules the native people through starvation by polluting the enviornment. Can Oliver Queen stop King Leer before he releases his creations
upon the world, or will he end up as one of Leer’s experiments?
— +++ —
Green Arrow Vol. 3: Harrow (The New 52)
Ann Nocenti, Freddie Williams II
On Sale Date: September 17, 2013
$14.99 USD, $17.99 CAD
144 pages
Trade Paperback
9781401244057, 140124405X

Contributor Bio:
Ann Nocenti is thrilled to be back in comics, writing CATWOMAN and KATANA for DC Comics. She wrote for Marvel Comics in the late-1980s, writing Daredevil, editing the X-Men, and creating the characters Longshot, Typhoid, Spiral, Blackheart and more. Nocenti teaches filmmaking at the Indigenous Film Circle in Norway, to Native Americans in Tulsa, and in Haiti for two years. Her journalism has appeared in Details, Utne, HEEB, Stop Smiling, PRINT, Filmmaker, Scenario, and more. She has written about Baluchistan (The Most Expensive Road Trip in the World, Best Travel Writing 2008). Her feature script Taking Chances was produced in 2009. Her work can be found at her website annienocenti.com.

Summary: Green Arrow is losing everything: his fortune, this company Q-Corps and maybe most importantly, his valuable arsenal. Even as Oliver Queen’s grip loosens and what’s left of his personal, professional and superhero lives, the hits keep on coming. The villainous Harrow threatens the Seattle waterfront, running guns into the city and threatening lives. As Ollie flails into a downward spiral, can he still protect his town?

Also included is the tie-in to HAWKMAN: WANTED. Green Arrow helps an uneasy ally in the Savage Hawkman, as he evades a chasing Thanagarian cops. But is Hawkman a framed hero? Or a villain?

Collects GREEN ARROW #0, 14-16, THE SAVAGE HAWKMAN #14 and JUSTICE LEAGUE #7./
— +++ —
Green Arrow Vol. 4: The Kill Machine (The New 52)
Jeff Lemire, Andrea Sorrentino
On Sale Date: March 25, 2014
$16.99 USD, $19.99 CAD
208 pages
Trade Paperback
9781401246907, 1401246907

Contributor Bio:
Award-winning Canadian cartoonist Jeff Lemire is the creator of the acclaimed monthly comic book series SWEET TOOTH published by DC/Vertigo and the award winning graphic novel Essex County published by Top Shelf.

Now one of DC Comics cornerstone writers, Jeff was prominent in the publisher’s recent “New 52” line-wide relaunch as the writer of ANIMAL MAN and FRANKENSTEIN: Agent of S.H.A.D.E. He has also written the monthly adventures of SUPERBOY and THE ATOM and is set to tackle JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK.

In 2008 Jeff won the Schuster Award for Best Canadian Cartoonist and The Doug Wright Award for Best Emerging Talent. He also won the American Library Association’s prestigious Alex Award, recognizing books for adults with specific teen appeal. He has also been nominated for 5 Eisner awards and 5 Harvey Awards.

In 2010 Essex County was named as one of the five Essential Canadian Novels of the Decade. He currently lives and works in Toronto with his wife and son.

Summary: Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino begin their ground-breaking saga in the fourth volume of Green Arrow!

A mysterious villian called Komodo knows Oliver’s secrets and uses them to rob Oliver of all his wealth and his company. Now on the run from this seemingly unstoppable force, Oliver finds himself in a mystery involving the island where he first became Green Arrow and his father! Everything will change for the Emerald Archer in this new beginning for the character.

This volume collects Green Arrow #17-24 and 23.1
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Suicide Squad?  (Ah… part of “Arrow”.)  (And soon to be a Major Motion Picture)

Suicide Squad Vol. 1: Kicked in the Teeth (The New 52)
Adam Glass, Federico Dallocchio
On Sale Date: July 10, 2012
$14.99 USD, $17.99 CAD
160 pages
Trade Paperback
9781401235444, 1401235441

Contributor Bio:
ADAM GLASS is a writer and television producer, whose credits include co-creating, writing and producing the hit CW show Supernatural. Other writing credits include Cold Case, Blue Collar TV, and The Cleaner. He currently is writing Suicide Squad for DC Comics, and previously worked on the Flashpoint: Legion Of Doom mini-series for DC Comics.

Summary: A New York Times Bestseller!

As a part of the acclaimed DC Comics-The New 52 event of September 2011, writer and co-creator of the CW show Supernatural Adam Glass rolls out an all-new team of death-row super villains recruited by the government to take on missions so dangerous-they’re sheer suicide!

The story begins with the Suicide Squad defeated, imprisoned and being interrogated about their newest mission. Harley Quinn, King Shark, Deadshot and company must make it out alive without revealing who’s pulling the strings behind their illegal operations. Who will be the first to crack under the pressure? More importantly will they make it all out alive?
— +++ —
Birds of Prey Vol. 1: Trouble in Mind (The New 52)
Duane Swierczynski
On Sale Date: September 18, 2012
$14.99 USD, $17.99 CAD
160 pages
Trade Paperback
9781401236991, 1401236995

Contributor Bio:
Duane Swiercynzski is the author of several novels including the Edgar-nominated and Anthony Award-winning “Expiration Date,” as well as “Fun & Games,” out now from Mulholland Books. He also writes comics, and thrillers with CSI creator Anthony E. Zuiker.

Summary: One is wanted for a murder she didn’t commit. The other is on the run because she knows too much. They are Dinah Laurel Lance and Ev Crawford – a.k.a. Black Canary and Starling – and joining them are the villainous Poison Ivy and the heroic Batgirl and together, as Gotham City’s covert ops team, they’re taking down the villains other heroes can’t touch. They are the Birds of Prey.
— +++ —
Deathstroke Vol. 1: Legacy (The New 52)
Kyle Higgins, Simon Bisley
On Sale Date: August 14, 2012
$16.99 USD, $19.99 CAD
192 pages
Trade Paperback
9781401234812, 140123481X

Contributor Bio:
Kyle Higgins is a New York Times Best Selling writer whose work includes BATMAN: GATES OF GOTHAM, Supreme Power, and DEATHSTROKE. After spending two years at the University of Iowa, Kyle transferred to Chapman University where he co-wrote and directed a superhero noir titled The League, about the 1960’s superhero labor union of Chicago. The film opened doors at Marvel Comics, where Kyle co-wrote his first two books with Alec Siegel (Captain America Theater Of War: Prisoners Of Duty, and Avengers Origins: The Vision). Kyle is also a co-writer of The Nightrunner (with David Hine), whose story was featured on The Daily Show with John Stewart. At present, Kyle is helming NIGHTWING as part of DC’s The New 52.

Summary: As a part of the acclaimed DC Comics-The New 52 event of September 2011, Slade Wilson once ranked as the world’s greatest mercenary. But when his reputation starts to slip, and when a mysterious briefcase enters the equation, the man known as Deathstroke decides to carve a bloody, gory swatch across the DCU in a quest to show the world what exactly makes him the best.
This volume collect issues 1-6 of Deathstroke, part of the DC Comics-The New 52 event.
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Gotham

Gotham Central Book 1: In the Line of Duty
Greg Rucka, Ed Brubaker, Michael Lark
On Sale Date: March 15, 2011
$19.99 USD, $23.99 CAD
240 pages
Trade Paperback
9781401220372, 1401220371

Summary: Gotham City: a town teeming with corrupt cops, ruthless crime lords, petty thieves … and just a small handful that would oppose them. Grizzled veteran Harvey Bullock, Captain Maggie Sawyer, detective Renee Montoya and the GCPD are the law force that stands between order and complete anarchy. Gotham’s Finest work around the clock to not only keep the world’s most psychotic criminals off the street… but also cleaning up the mess left behind by Batman’s one-man war on crime.

Written by critically acclaimed authors Ed Brubaker (Captain America) and Greg Rucka (52, DETECTIVE COMICS), this Eisner Award-winning series follows the detectives of Gotham City’s Special Crimes Unit as they navigate the against the city’s greatest villains — in the shadow of Batman himself. Collects issues #1-10.
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Gotham Central Book 2: Jokers and Madmen
Greg Rucka
On Sale Date: July 12, 2011
$19.99 USD, $23.99 CAD
288 pages
Trade Paperback
9781401225438, 1401225438

Summary: Witness the gritty side of the Gotham City Police Department from their perspective, as they take on psychotic criminals like The Joker and grudgingly look to The Dark Knight for help.
This volume collects two cases of the Gotham Special Crimes Unit. First, The Joker terrorizes the city at Christmastime when he begins randomly executing people with a rifle, and no one from the Mayor on down is safe. A second story focuses on an old case and unfinished business for disgraced detective Harvey Bullock.
— +++ —
Gotham Central Book 3: On the Freak Beat
Greg Rucka
On Sale Date: October 25, 2011
$19.99 USD, $23.99 CAD
224 pages
Trade Paperback
9781401232320, 1401232329
Contributor Bio: Ed Brubaker is one of the most acclaimed writers currently working in comics. After working at DC Comics for many years on titles such as GOTHAM CENTRAL, BATMAN, SLEEPER, and CATWOMAN, Brubaker moved to Marvel, where he took over Uncanny X-Men and Daredevil, and jump-started Captain America into its most exciting ongoing storyline in years. Brubaker’s work also includes The Immortal Iron Fist (with co-writer Matt Fraction), and the creator-owned Criminal, drawn and co-created by Sean Phillips. Brubaker has won the Eisner Award for Best Writer the past two years in a row, and Criminal won for Best New Series in 2007.

Summary: This volume collects two separate cases of the Gotham Special Crimes Unit. Detective Renee Montoya investigates the disappearance of important evidence amid a gang war and travels to Keystone City in an attempt to unveil the truth about Officer Kelly’s strange mutation. Plus, the dead body of Robin, the Boy Wonder is found on the streets. Now the detectives of Gotham Central must try to solve the mystery of his death while dealing with his former associates, Batman and the Teen Titans!
— +++ —
Gotham Central Book 4: Corrigan
Greg Rucka
On Sale Date: May 1, 2012
$19.99 USD, $23.99 CAD
224 pages
Trade Paperback
9781401231941, 1401231942

Contributor Bio: Greg Rucka is a thriller novelist who became one of the premier writers for DC Comics in the last decade.

His work on Batman brought fresh attention to the character and the inhabitants of Gotham City. Additionally, he won the Eisner award for best story with Gotham Central’s “Half a Life.” His other DC credits include Adventures of Superman, Checkmate, Detective Comics, O.M.A.C. Project, Supergirl, and Wonder Woman. He was one of the co-writers on DC’s first weekly series, 52. His Oni Press graphic novel, Whiteout, was released as a feature film in 2009. His recent series of Batwoman stories in DETECTIVE COMICS garnered widespread acclaim, and is collected this summer in
BATWOMAN: ELEGY.

Summary: Witness the gritty side of the Gotham City Police Department from their perspective, as teens dressed as Robin the Boy Wonder start turning up dead.
In this final hardcover collection of GOTHAM CENTRAL, the dead body of Robin the Boy Wonder is found on the streets. Now the detectives of Gotham Central must try to solve the mystery of his death while dealing with his associates, Batman and the Teen Titans.

From the Hardcover edition.
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Batman: Year One
Frank Miller, David Mazzucchelli
On Sale Date: January 10, 2007
$14.99 USD, $17.99 CAD
144 pages
Trade Paperback
9781401207526, 1401207529

Summary: A New York Times Best Seller!

A deluxe trade paperback edition of one of the most important and critically acclaimed Batman adventures ever, written by Frank Miller, author of THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS!

In addition to telling the entire dramatic story of Batman’s first year fighting crime, this collection includes reproductions of original pencils, promotional art, script pages, unseen David Mazzucchelli Batman art and more.
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Batman: Earth One
Geoff Johns, Gary Frank
On Sale Date: August 19, 2014
$12.99 USD, $15.99 CAD
144 pages
Trade Paperback
9781401232092, 1401232094

Contributor Bio:
Geoff Johns is an award-winning writer and one of the most popular contemporary comic book writers today. Johns is the author of The New York Times bestselling graphic novels Aquaman: The Trench, Blackest Night, Green Lantern: Sinestro Corps War, Justice League: Origin, Superman: Brainiac and Batman: Earth One which hit #1 on the bestseller list. He is also known for transforming Green Lantern into one of the most critically and commercially successful franchises in comics.

Johns was born in Detroit and studied media arts, screenwriting, and film at Michigan State University. After moving to Los Angeles, he became an assistant to Richard Donner, director of Superman: The Movie. He and his mentor Donner later co-wrote Superman: Last Son featuring the return of General Zod.

Johns has written for various other media, including episodes of Smallville, Arrow and Adult Swim’s Robot Chicken, for which he was nominated along with his co-writers for an Emmy. He is the Chief Creative Officer of DC Entertainment and resides in Los Angeles, California.

Gary Frank, a native of Bristol, England, began his comics career working on various titles for Marvel UK before entering the American comics scene as the penciller on Marvel’s Incredible Hulk. Frank then
came to DC Comics where he was the original artist on BIRDS OF PREY and pencilled the adventures of SUPERGIRL. He has also worked on WildStorm’s GEN 13 as well as his creator-owned series Kin. Frank,
along with writer Geoff Johns, has worked on the bestselling titles SUPERMAN: BRAINIAC, SUPERMAN AND THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES and the New York Times #1 bestseller, BATMAN: EARTH ONE.

From the Hardcover edition.

Summary: A #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Batman is not a hero.

He is just a man.

Fallible, vulnerable, and angry.

In a Gotham City where friend and foe are indistinguishable, Bruce Wayne’s path toward becoming the Dark Knight is riddled with more obstacles than ever before. Focused on punishing his parents’ true killers, and the corrupt police that allowed them to go free, Bruce Wayne’s thirst for vengeance fuels his mad crusade and no one, not even Alfred, can stop him.

In the tradition of the #1 New York Times bestselling Superman: Earth One, writer Geoff Johns and artist Gary Frank re-imagine a new mythology for the Dark Knight, where the familiar is no longer the expected in this long-awaited original graphic novel from DC Comics.
— +++ —
Batman: Gordon of Gotham
Dennis O’Neil, Chuck Dixon, Klaus Janson
On Sale Date: September 30, 2014
$19.99 USD, $23.99 CAD
288 pages
Trade Paperback
9781401251741, 1401251749

Contributor Bio:
Dennis O’Neil began his career as a comic-book writer in 1965 at Charlton, where then-editor Dick Giordano assigned him to several features. When Giordano moved to DC, O’Neil soon followed. At DC, O’Neil scripted several series for Giordano and Julius Schwartz, quickly becoming one of the most respected writers in comics. O’Neil earned a reputation for being able to “revamp” such characters as Superman, Green Lantern, Captain Marvel—and Batman, whom O’Neil (with the help of Neal Adams and Giordano) brought back to his roots as a dark, mysterious, gothic avenger. Besides being the most important Batman writer of the 1970s, O’Neil served as an editor at both Marvel and DC. After a long tenure as Group Editor of the Batman line of titles, he retired to write full-time.

Summary: Gotham City Police Commissioner Jim Gordon stars in this new collection of crime stories from the 1990s that stars the colorful, determined cops of Batman’s home town.

Collects BATMAN: GORDON OF GOTHAM #1-4, BATMAN: GCPD #1-4 and BATMAN: GORDON’S LAW #1-4.
— +++ —
Batman No Man’s Land Vol. 1 (New Edition)
On Sale Date: December 13, 2011
$29.99 USD, $35.00 CAD
544 pages
Trade Paperback
9781401232283, 1401232280

Summary: After suffering a cataclysmic earthquake, the U.S. government has deemed Gotham City as uninhabitable and ordered all citizens to leave. It is now months later and those that have refused to vacate “No Man’s Land” live amidst a citywide turf war in which the strongest prey on the weak. As gangs terrorize the ravaged populace, the Scarecrow uses a church relief project as a real life lab to test his experiments in fear. But with the return of the vigilante, Batman, and the appearance of an enigmatic new Batgirl, justice returns to Gotham.
— +++ —
Batman Vol. 4: Zero Year-Secret City (The New 52)
Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo
On Sale Date: May 13, 2014
$24.99 USD, $28.99 CAD
176 pages
Hardcover
9781401245085, 1401245080

Contributor Bio:
Scott Snyder is the bestselling and award-winning writer of Batman, Superman: Unchained, American Vampire and Swamp Thing as well as the short story collection Voodoo Heart. He teaches writing at Sarah Lawrence College, NYU and Columbia University. He lives on Long Island with his wife, Jeanie, and his sons Jack and Emmett. He is a dedicated and un-ironic fan of Elvis Presley.

Summary: In this first volume of the critically acclaimed ZERO YEAR storyline, the #1 New York Times bestselling creative team of Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo present an astonishing new vision of the Dark Knight’s origin—and his first encounters with the Riddler, the Red Hood, and others!

Before the era of superheroes began—before the Batman spread his wings to protect the innocent and punish evil—Gotham City’s prodigal son, Bruce Wayne, had been missing for years. But this was exactly the cover of darkness Bruce needed. Patrolling Gotham’s streets, in a series of disguises, he began a career as faceless vigilante.

Collects BATMAN issues #21-#24.
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Batman: The Long Halloween
Jeph Loeb, Tim Sale
On Sale Date: October 11, 2011
$24.99 USD, $28.99 CAD
384 pages
Trade Paperback
9781401232597, 1401232590

Contributor Bio:
Jeph Loeb is an Emmy award nominated and Eisner award winning writer/producer living in Los Angeles. In television, his many credits include Smallville, Lost and Heroes and in film, Teen Wolf and Commando. In comics, he is best known for his work with the supremely talented artist and partner-in-crime TIM SALE on BATMAN: THE LONG HALLOWEEN, SUPERMAN FOR ALL SEASONS,CATWOMAN: WHEN IN ROME for DC as well as Daredevil Yellow, Spider-Man Blue and Hulk Gray for Marvel.

Tim Sale is not only the artist for the numerous collaborations with Jeph Loeb listed above, but has also worked on DEATHBLOW, BATMAN: LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT, Grendel, Wolverine/Gambit: Victims, Billi 99, Amazon, and various other projects. He had the distinct honor of being the first creator chosen for the artist spotlight series SOLO.

Summary: Taking place during Batman’s early days of crime fighting, this new edition of the classic mystery tells the story of a mysterious killer who murders his prey only on holidays. Working with District Attorney Harvey Dent and Lieutenant James Gordon, Batman races against the calendar as he tries to discover who Holiday is before he claims his next victim each month. A mystery that has the reader continually guessing the identity of the killer, this story also ties into the events that transform Harvey Dent into Batman’s deadly enemy, Two-Face.
This edition includes original 13-issue series as well as four additional story pages cut from the original series, which are presented fully colored and restored to their place in the story. Also featured are sketches and an introduction by the director and writer of The Dark Knight Rises, Christopher Nolan and David Goyer.
— +++ —
Batman: Dark Victory (new edition)
Jeph Loeb, Tim Sale
On Sale Date: February 18, 2014
$24.99 USD, $28.99 CAD
400 pages
Trade Paperback
9781401244019, 1401244017

Contributor Bio:
Jeph Loeb is an Emmy award nominated and Eisner award winning writer/producer living in Los Angeles. In television, his many credits include Smallville, Lost and Heroes and in film, Teen Wolf and Commando. In comics, he is best known for his work with the supremely talented artist and partner-in-crime TIM SALE on BATMAN: THE LONG HALLOWEEN, SUPERMAN FOR ALL SEASONS,CATWOMAN: WHEN IN ROME for DC as well as Daredevil Yellow, Spider-Man Blue and Hulk Gray for Marvel.

Tim Sale is not only the artist for the numerous collaborations with Jeph Loeb listed above, but has also worked on DEATHBLOW, BATMAN: LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT, Grendel, Wolverine/Gambit: Victims, Billi 99, Amazon, and various other projects. He had the distinct honor of being the first creator chosen for the artist spotlight series SOLO.

Summary: Collecting BATMAN: DARK VICTORY #0-13, this epic continues the story of THE LONG HALLOWEEN. It is early in Batman’s crimefighting career, when James Gordon, Harvey Dent, and the vigilante himself were all just beginning their roles as Gotham’s protectors.

Once a town controlled by organized crime, Gotham City suddenly finds itself being run by lawless freaks, such as Poison Ivy, Mr. Freeze, and the Joker. Witnessing his city’s dark evolution, the Dark Knight completes his transformation into the city’s greatest defender. He faces multiple threats, including the seeming return of a serial killer called Holiday. Batman’s previous investigation of Holiday’s killings revealed that more than one person was responsible for the murders. So the question remains: who is committing Holiday’s crimes this time? And how many will die before Batman learns the truth?
— +++ —

Constantine

John Constantine, Hellblazer Vol. 1: Original Sins
Jamie Delano, John Ridgway
On Sale Date: March 8, 2011
$19.99 USD, $23.99 CAD
304 pages
Trade Paperback
Comics & Graphic Novels / Horror
9781401230067, 1401230067

Summary: The very first Hellblazer collection ORIGINAL SINS is available in a new edition that includes John Constantine’s appearances in SWAMP THING. This is the first of a series of new HELLBLAZER editions starring Vertigo’s longest running antihero, John Constantine, England’s chain-smoking, low-rent magus.
This first collection is a loosely connected series of tales of John’s early years where Constantine was at his best and at his worst, all at the same time.
— +++ —
John Constantine, Hellblazer Vol. 2: The Devil You Know (New Edition)
Jaime Delano
On Sale Date: January 3, 2012
$19.99 USD, $23.99 CAD
264 pages
Trade Paperback
Comics & Graphic Novels / Horror
9781401233020, 1401233023

Contributor Bio: Born in 1954, Jamie Delano has made a diverse, cross-genre contribution to the comic book medium, scripting—over some 25 years—both original works (World Without End, Tainted, Ghostdancing, Hell Eternal, Cruel and Unusual, Territory, Outlaw Nation) and publisher-owned properties (Captain Britain, Dr. Who, Night Raven, Hellblazer, Animal Man, Batman, Shadowman). He is currently practicing for retirement, living in semi-rural England with his partner, Sue.

Summary: These are the stories that set the tone for John Constantine’s mystic misadventures.
— +++ —
John Constantine, Hellblazer Vol. 3: The Fear Machine (New Edition)
Jamie Delano
On Sale Date: June 26, 2012
$24.99 USD, $28.99 CAD
240 pages
Trade Paperback
Comics & Graphic Novels / Horror
9781401235192, 1401235190

Contributor Bio:
Born in 1954, Jamie Delano has made a diverse, cross-genre contribution to the comic book medium, scripting-over some 25 years-both original works (World Without End, Tainted, Ghostdancing, Hell Eternal, Cruel and Unusual, Territory, Outlaw Nation) and publisher-owned properties (Captain Britain, Dr. Who, Night Raven, Hellblazer, Animal Man, Batman, Shadowman). He is currently practicing for retirement, living in semi-rural England with his partner, Sue.

Summary: In THE FEAR MACHINE, John Constantine looks for a way to reconnect to humanity-but how can such a man ever find inner peace? Constantine finds himself encamped with a new-age pagan group that’s tapping into their own psychic abilities-but a defense contractor is out to exploit their powers. Is the company’s aim just political, or is it something much more sinister?
This volume collects issues 14-22 of the original series.
— +++ —
John Constantine, Hellblazer Vol. 4: The Family Man
Jamie Delano
On Sale Date: November 20, 2012
$19.99 USD, $23.99 CAD
288 pages
Trade Paperback
Comics & Graphic Novels / Horror
9781401236908, 1401236901

Contributor Bio:
Born in 1954, Jamie Delano has made a diverse, cross-genre contribution to the comic book medium, scripting-over some 25 years-both original works (World Without End, Tainted, Ghostdancing, Hell Eternal, Cruel and Unusual, Territory, Outlaw Nation) and publisher-owned properties (Captain Britain, Dr. Who, Night Raven, Hellblazer, Animal Man, Batman, Shadowman). He is currently practicing for retirement, living in semi-rural England with his partner, Sue.

Summary: Collected for the first time in chronological order and featuring stories by fan-favorite writer Grant Morrison (BATMAN INC, FINAL CRISIS) and the legendary Neil Gaiman (SANDMAN, AMERICAN GODS), FAMILY MAN continues the arcane adventures of Vertigo’s chain-smoking magician John Constantine. In this volume, Constantine attempts a vacation after recent events, but as usual, things don’t go as planned. Plus, Constantine must uncover the mystery of the murderous Family Man.
— +++ —
John Constantine: Hellblazer Vol. 5: Dangerous Habits (New Edition)
Jamie Delano, Garth Ennis
On Sale Date: May 14, 2013
$19.99 USD, $23.99 CAD
352 pages
Trade Paperback
Comics & Graphic Novels / Horror
9781401238025, 1401238025
Contributor Bio:
Born in 1954, Jamie Delano has made a diverse, cross-genre contribution to the comic book medium, scripting-over some 25 years-both original works (World Without End, Tainted, Ghostdancing, Hell Eternal, Cruel and Unusual, Territory, Outlaw Nation) and publisher-owned properties (Captain Britain, Dr. Who, Night Raven, Hellblazer, Animal Man, Batman, Shadowman). He is currently practicing for retirement, living in semi-rural England with his partner, Sue.

Irish-born writer Garth Ennis is the acclaimed author of the PREACHER graphic novel series, and also has written numerous JOHN CONSTANTINE: HELLBLAZER graphic novels, as well as THE AUTHORITY, THE BOYS, WAR STORIES, PRIDE AND JOY and other titles.

Summary: This new HELLBLAZER collection features several tales never before collected, including a look at John Constantine’s rough and tumble childhood and the beginnings of his unique skills. Then, in some of the earliest stories from PREACHER writer Garth Ennis, John Constantine is dying. As a sorcerer literally haunted by the demons of his past, John is no stranger to mystic bedevilment or supernatural horror. But it’s his chain smoking that ultimately brings death to Constantine’s front door. John Constantine has lung cancer. Though condemned to hell, Constantine continues to laugh in the face of this all-too-serious world.
— +++ —
John Constantine, Hellblazer Vol. 6: Bloodlines
Garth Ennis, William Simpson
On Sale Date: September 3, 2013
$19.99 USD, $23.99 CAD
400 pages
Trade Paperback
Comics & Graphic Novels / Horror
9781401240431, 1401240437

Contributor Bio:
Irish-born writer Garth Ennis is the acclaimed author of the PREACHER graphic novel series, and also has written numerous JOHN CONSTANTINE: HELLBLAZER graphic novels, as well as THE AUTHORITY, THE BOYS, WAR STORIES, PRIDE AND JOY and other titles.

Summary: It’s not often that John Constantine, the world’s greatest magician, has been able to be content. Years in the making, his occult knowledge and shrewd judgment are hard-won and paid for in blood-his own, his friends’, and that of innocent caught up in the never-ending arms race of would-be sorcerers chasing power. But after saving the world a few times and beating both the Devil and lung cancer, Constantine is finally starting to feel ahead of the game. However, between investigations of a grisly serial murderer and strategies against the Lord of Hell, John has no time to rest.

Collects issues 47-50, 52-55 and 59-61 of the signature Vertigo series by PREACHER creator Garth Ennis.
— +++ —
John Constantine, Hellblazer Vol. 7: Tainted Love
Garth Ennis, Steve Dillon
On Sale Date: January 7, 2014
$19.99 USD, $23.99 CAD
320 pages
Trade Paperback
Comics & Graphic Novels / Horror
9781401243036, 1401243037

Contributor Bio:
Garth Ennis has been writing comics for twenty years, initially for British titles like 2000 AD and Crisis, then for various American publishers. As well as PREACHER, his credits include HELLBLAZER, HITMAN, WAR STORY, ADVENTURES IN THE RIFLE BRIGADE, KEV, BATTLER BRITTON, The Boys, Battlefields, Dan Dare, 303, The Chronicles of Wormwood, Crossed, Streets of Glory, Dicks, The Punisher, Fury and The Pro. Originally hailing from Belfast, Northern Ireland, he now resides in New York City with his wife, Ruth.

Summary: John Constatine celebrates his fortieth birthday alongside his friends and loved ones, including Swamp Thing and Zatanna, and the love of his life, Kit. However, things never burn bright too long for John Constantine, and he soons finds himself at his lowest point ever. Drunk and homeless, John must pull himself together if he is going to survive against the King of the Vampires, who comes looking for his blood.

Collects HELLBLAZER #62-71, HELLBLAZER SPECIAL #1, and VERTIGO JAM #1.
— +++ —
John Constantine, Hellblazer Vol. 8: Rake at the Gates of Hell
Garth Ennis, Steve Dillon
On Sale Date: June 10, 2014
$19.99 USD, $23.99 CAD
384 pages
Trade Paperback
Comics & Graphic Novels / Horror
9781401247492, 1401247490
Contributor Bio:
Irish-born writer Garth Ennis is the acclaimed author of the PREACHER graphic novel series, and also has written numerous JOHN CONSTANTINE: HELLBLAZER graphic novels, as well as THE AUTHORITY, THE BOYS, WAR STORIES, PRIDE AND JOY and other titles.

Summary: John Constantine heads towards a final showdown with a revenge-crazed Satan during a raging race riot, and in addition to desperately trying to save his dwindling number of living friends, Constantine also has one final reunion with his lost love Kit.

This re-cut volume features Garth Ennis’ and Steve Dillon’s final JOHN CONSTANTINE, HELLBLAZER arc, collecting issues #78-83 as well as the special one-shot HEARTLAND.
— +++ —
Constantine Vol. 1: The Spark and the Flame (The New 52)
Jeff Lemire, Renato Guedes, Ray Fawkes
On Sale Date: February 18, 2014
$14.99 USD, $17.99 CAD
144 pages
Trade Paperback
9781401243234, 1401243231

Contributor Bio:
Award-winning Canadian cartoonist Jeff Lemire is the creator of the acclaimed monthly comic book series SWEET TOOTH published by DC/Vertigo and the award winning graphic novel ESSEX COUNTY published by Top Shelf. He also writes ANIMAL MAN, FRANKENSTEIN AGENT OF S.H.A.D.E. and SUPERBOY for DC Comics.

In 2008 Jeff won the Schuster Award for Best Canadian Cartoonist, and The Doug Wright Award for Best Emerging Talent. He also won the American Library Association’s prestigious Alex Award, recognizing books for adults with specific teen appeal. In 2010 Essex County was named as one of the five Essential Canadian Novels of the Decade!

Recently named one of Wizard magazines 25 “rising stars”, Jeff is also hard at work on a new graphic novel for Top Shelf called THE UNDERWATER WELDER, due in 2012. He currently lives and works in Toronto with his wife and son.

Summary: The star of JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK and HELLBLAZER—the longest-running Vertigo series—is unleashed in his own DCU title! Liar, cheater, manipulator…John Constantine is all of these, and yet he uses these skills and more to protect the world from the darkest corners of the DC Universe.

Collects Constantine #1-6
— +++ —
Constantine Vol. 2: Blight (The New 52)
Ray Fawkes, Renato Guedes
On Sale Date: August 12, 2014
$14.99 USD, $17.99 CAD
144 pages
Trade Paperback
9781401247478, 1401247474

Contributor Bio:
Ray Fawkes is a Toronto-based fine artist and writer of comics, graphic novels, prose fiction, and games. Ray’s work ranges in styles from introspective, dreamscape narrative to bombastic slapstick. He is an Eisner, Harvey, and three-time Shuster Award nominee, and a YALSA award winner for “Possessions Book One: Unclean Getaway”. His recent book, “One Soul”, debuted in July 2011 to critical acclaim, including a starred booklist review, and was nominated for the 2012 Eisner award and 2012 Harvey award.

Summary: The star of JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK and HELLBLAZER—the longest-running Vertigo series—John Constantine has suffered a major loss at the hands of a former protégé. With his vault of mystical weapons now in the hands of his greatest enemies, John Constantine must battle with Sargon and the Cult of the Cold Flame with all he has left—his wits!
— +++ —
Justice League Dark Vol. 1: In the Dark (The New 52)
Peter Milligan, Mikel Janin, Ryan Sook
On Sale Date: October 16, 2012
$14.99 USD, $17.99 CAD
144 pages
Trade Paperback
9781401237042, 1401237045

Contributor Bio:
Irish writer Peter Milligan joined Vertigo with SKREEMER in 1989 which led to several other works including SHADE THE CHANGING MAN and ENIGMA. For the DC Universe, he has written Batman in DETECTIVE COMICS and is acknowledged as the driving force behind the Knightfall event. He began his comics career with England’s 2000 AD, notably its Bad Company serial. He was named one of Entertainment Weekly’s “it” writers in 2002. Currently he is the writer of HELLBLAZER and RED LANTERNS.

Summary: As a part of the acclaimed DC Comics – The New 52 event of September 2011, a new type of super-team must come together when supernatural forces threaten the DCU – Justice League Dark!
The witch known as The Enchantress has gone mad, unleashing a wave of chaos that not even the combined powers of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and Cyborg can stop. Shade the Changing Man, Madame Xanadu, Deadman, Zatanna, Mindwarp and John Constantine may be our only hope – but how can we put our trust in beings whose very presence makes ordinary people break out in a cold sweat? Critically acclaimed writer Peter Milligan brings together an unorthodox team for the most unnatural threats. With stunning art by up and coming star Mikel Janin, Justice League Dark Vol. 1 visits the unexplored corners of the DCU!
— +++ —
Justice League Dark Vol. 2: The Books of Magic (The New 52)
Jeff Lemire, Mikel Janin
On Sale Date: July 16, 2013
$16.99 USD, $19.99 CAD
224 pages
Trade Paperback
9781401240240, 1401240240

Contributor Bio:
Award-winning Canadian cartoonist Jeff Lemire is the creator of the acclaimed monthly comic book series SWEET TOOTH published by DC/Vertigo and the award winning graphic novel ESSEX COUNTY published by Top Shelf. He also writes ANIMAL MAN, FRANKENSTEIN AGENT OF S.H.A.D.E. and SUPERBOY for DC Comics.

In 2008 Jeff won the Schuster Award for Best Canadian Cartoonist, and The Doug Wright Award for Best Emerging Talent. He also won the American Library Association’s prestigious Alex Award, recognizing books for adults with specific teen appeal. In 2010 Essex County was named as one of the five Essential Canadian Novels of the Decade!

Recently named one of Wizard magazines 25 “rising stars”, Jeff has also written a new graphic novel for Top Shelf called THE UNDERWATER WELDER. He currently lives and works in Toronto with his wife and son.

Summary: New York Times best selling author Jeff Lemire takes over Justice League Dark and just when you thought it couldn’t get darker…

Vampires across the world have gone berserk, attacking anything with a pulse. Fearing her apocalyptic vision of the future has come to pass, Madame Xanadu mobilizes the team to intervene. But everything the Justice League Dark members know about how to slay a vampire is useless, for the world has changed.
— +++ —
Justice League Dark Vol. 3: The Death of Magic (The New 52)
Jeff Lemire
On Sale Date: February 4, 2014
$16.99 USD, $19.99 CAD
192 pages
Trade Paperback
9781401242459, 1401242456

Contributor Bio:
Award-winning Canadian cartoonist Jeff Lemire is the creator of the acclaimed monthly comic book series SWEET TOOTH published by DC/Vertigo and the award winning graphic novel Essex County published by Top Shelf.

Now one of DC Comics cornerstone writers, Jeff was prominent in the publisher’s recent “New 52” line-wide relaunch as the writer of ANIMAL MAN and FRANKENSTEIN: Agent of S.H.A.D.E. He has also written the monthly adventures of SUPERBOY and THE ATOM and is set to tackle JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK.

In 2008 Jeff won the Schuster Award for Best Canadian Cartoonist and The Doug Wright Award for Best Emerging Talent. He also won the American Library Association’s prestigious Alex Award, recognizing books for adults with specific teen appeal. He has also been nominated for 5 Eisner awards and 5 Harvey Awards.

In 2010 Essex County was named as one of the five Essential Canadian Novels of the Decade. He currently lives and works in Toronto with his wife and son.

Summary: Transported to another dimension by the Books of Magic, Tim Hunter and Zatanna awake in a world where magic once ruled in peace until mad scientists banned magic and forced all of the magical creatures underground in exile.

Tim soon finds out that his ancestors are tied to this world and that only he, through the Books of Magic, can free the “Wild World.”
Unsure of what transpired when Tim and Zatanna disappeared, the remaining members of JLD, with the help of Tim Hunter’s father, manage to transport themselves to the “Wild World” and soon find that the rules of magic here are very different and very deadly.

This volume collects issues #14-21 of Justice League Dark.
— +++ —
Justice League Dark Vol. 4: The Rebirth of Evil (The New 52)
Jeff Lemire, Mikel Janin
On Sale Date: August 26, 2014
$16.99 USD, $19.99 CAD
208 pages
Trade Paperback
9781401247256, 1401247253

Contributor Bio:
Award-winning Canadian cartoonist Jeff Lemire is the creator of the acclaimed monthly comic book series SWEET TOOTH published by DC/Vertigo and the award winning graphic novel ESSEX COUNTY published by Top Shelf. He also writes ANIMAL MAN, FRANKENSTEIN AGENT OF S.H.A.D.E. and SUPERBOY for DC Comics.

In 2008 Jeff won the Schuster Award for Best Canadian Cartoonist, and The Doug Wright Award for Best Emerging Talent. He also won the American Library Association’s prestigious Alex Award, recognizing books for adults with specific teen appeal. In 2010 Essex County was named as one of the five Essential Canadian Novels of the Decade!

Recently named one of Wizard magazines 25 “rising stars”, Jeff is also hard at work on a new graphic novel for Top Shelf called THE UNDERWATER WELDER, due in 2012. He currently lives and works in Toronto with his wife and son.

Summary: The Justice League Dark team is called into action by Wonder Woman in hopes of finding Pandora’s Box, which may hold the only answers to save an ailing Superman. Not about to let the Seven Deadly Sins escape from Pandora’s Box, The Phantom Stranger pleads with the remaining members of the Justice League to stop Wonder Woman before she accidentally puts an end to the world as they know it.

This volume collects Justice League Dark #22-29.

— +++ —

Welcome to TGI-FOC, a weekly feature at The Beat about comics on Final Order Cut-Off (FOC) and bits of the retail process that don’t merit a full column. I changed the name, for reasons. It’s a thing now.

RECOMMENDATIONS

It’s come up recently, so here’s the quick rundown of how I sell and recommend comics. First rule? Every comic is someone’s favourite. From AXIS to Tarot to Lumberjanes and beyond, there’s someone out there who is going to be blown away by the contents of a random comic. The goal, as always, is to match the comic to the audience, and to offer as little commentary as possible – unless asked point blank for an opinion. There’s a huge difference between “what’s this book about” and “what do you think of this book” – though in my experience, very few retailers and readers realize this. The amount of times I’ve heard people answer “what’s this book about” with “it sucks” is staggering, and it makes me sad. What if the person is the type who’d enjoy something you wouldn’t? When giving a recommendation or warning a potential reader of the dangers of reading, context is always key – which brings me to the second rule: always, always, always find out what a person likes before handing out recommendations. Do this by asking about their likes outside of the medium. It’s the best way to get the full range of a person’s likes, and it does a hell of a lot more for you than “I like Batman” or “I guess Saga is pretty good”.

Something to avoid? Recommending comics because you over ordered, or ordered lots. When you’re asked for a recommendation, someone is trusting you to help them out, not yourself. And sure, you might move a few copies of the book you over ordered, but at what price? If the customer doesn’t like the book, you’re going to have a harder time trying to sell them books in the future. Forget about the short term gain, and build a relationship that will help sustain your business. This is the reason why I never recommend books like AXIS to new readers – even if they’re looking for a book that has “a little bit of everyone in it”. A book like AXIS, you recommend to the folks who live and breathe Marvel, and the smattering of others who would be interested in the kind of bombastic story presented within. By and large, this kind of customer has a working knowledge of comics and a bit of the history – or at least enough to get them through the story with little incident. You would never, ever toss a new reader straight into the deep end, unless you knew they liked a bit of a challenge and like to troll Wikipedia (I have a few customers like that).

Anyway, there’s something out there for everyone, and little is accomplished by tearing down without context, at least as a retailer.

MARKETING

I’m not sure what the deal with October is, but I’m pretty sure the comic companies are trying to drown me in product. The first two weeks of the month have been weighed down with a lot of product, and after going through the FOCs for the last few weeks, I’m pretty sure we’re not going to see lighter weeks any time soon. The one good thing? The torrent of product gives me a lot of material to work with when it comes to talking about comics and marketing.

First, a big thumbs up for IDW’s push of V-Wars.

What you have there is a picture of the first trade (just $9.99), a value priced rerelease of the first issue ($1), and the clearly marked start of the second story arc. That’s a pretty good way of making sure anyone can try and continue to buy the series with relative ease.

Elsewhere, DC’s digital division hit the nail on the head by having the print editions of Flash: Season Zero #1 and Arrow: Season 2.5 #1 hit the stands just before and on their premieres respectively. People who were already excited about both shows found additional product, and others who didn’t know the shows were on or coming back were made aware. DC went the extra mile with Arrow by offering the first issue of Year One for a dollar, and having a great jumping on point in the character’s regular DCU ongoing (with one of the show runners acting as co-writer). As for The Flash, a solid effort was put in, but man, having a “Year One” story available for Barry Allen in the DCU would have been a great move, even if it was just the start of a mini set in current continuity.

As it stands, DC has been having a digital sale on a bunch of great <em>Flash</em> reads over at ComiXology, and has been doing so since the show premiered, so that’s pretty cool.

On the other hand, I’m not exactly sure what DC’s plans are for Constantine. I know they’re going to have a dollar book available when the show hits the airwaves, but where’s a good place for new fans to drop in on an ongoing? As it stands, my go-to is going to be recommending the newly minted Hellblazer trades and move things from there, but it hurts that I can’t point new readers in the direction of something currently in motion. The most recent issue of Constantine was an Earth Two tie in, which would only beget more questions than answers, and the collections of his current series throw him headlong into a big, messy crossover in the second trade. That’s not really an ideal situation, but it’s what’s there.

Though hey, points for the digital team for once again noticing a good marketing opportunity and plugging Constantine into the first issue of Injustice: Year Three. Again, the more ideal thing would be to have something with less baggage, but adding the character to one of their biggest digital successes certainly can’t harm things.

INCOMING

A couple of things to look out for on this week’s FOC for both retailers and readers alike:

Matt Fraction and Christian Ward’s ODY-C is on the list this week for shipping in late November. The reason for the big gap? Fraction and Ward are opening the thing with an eight page fold out. They wanted it to be larger, but apparently they’re jutting up against the edge of what can be done. Anyway, if you’re interested in a psychedelic gender-swapped version of Homer’s Odyssey – or know of anyone who might be – make sure your orders are placed sooner rather than later. (Spoiler alert: this is going to be crazy and wonderful and why wouldn’t you want such a thing?)

Also: Kurt Busiek and Ben Dewey’s Tooth and Claw #1 is on the list. 44 pages of stunning artwork, digging deep into an anthropomorphic fantasy world filled with magic and gods and all sorts of wonderful things. People who have read Astro City and things like Arrowsmith know that Busiek puts his all into his creator owned book, and the man’s imagination left unbridled is a sight to see. Ben Dewey’s art is some pretty next level stuff, and they’ve got the Eisner award winning Jordie Bellaire handling the colours – which means it will also be one of the best looking books on the stands at the beginning of November. Oh, and it’s just $2.99. A bargain!

***

TO BE CONTINUED…

And that will have to do it for this week. Real Thanksgiving is happening this weekend in Canada, wherein we celebrate the fact that an explorer didn’t freeze to death. Seriously, that’s why we celebrate it. And what’s more Canadian than celebrating the fact that you haven’t already frozen to death?

Anyway, prep for the holiday and the various festivities means this is short and late. Such is life. Until next time.

by “Harry Lime Jr.”
[Several of this fall's comic book TV show pilots are floating around out there, and one of our informants got a copy and sent us their impressions. Here's a look at CONSTANTINE which debuts on NBC this Fall.]

Out of DC Comics three new shows, Constantine might have the most uphill battle but not because of the quality of the show. The pilot episode is phenomenal, horror and the occult spiked with dark humor. In essence, it’s pure Hellblazer.

Since this is not an official review I’m strictly going to speak on my impressions from watching the pilot episode. The first thing you’ll notice is that the previous film is long gone here, whether that is good or bad is a matter of opinion. Here, NBC is getting John Constantine as the comic book fans know him. Matt Ryan IS the dirty blond Brit, whose self deprecating humor endears him to us within minutes.

The supporting group is set up to revolve around Constantine which is what you want when you name the show after your title character. Jeremy Davies (LOST), Lucy Griffiths (TRUE BLOOD), Harold Perrineau (The Matrix) all fit together so well as a cast they round out John Constantine’s character without stealing the focus.

Constantine’s look is a Vertigo comic brought to life combined with the necessary television aesthetic to be on a network like NBC. It’s a testament to how far the comics medium has come that a major network is willing to bet on a show that looks “comic booky” and that is far from a bad thing. For anyone concerned about getting a toned down version of the comic book series, rest easy now, while there will always be somethings you can’t get away with on over-the-air television, Constantine gives you the horror moments a show in this genre commands in suspense more than gore.

The pilot itself does a fine job of not being heavy on exposition, instead betting on developing a chemistry with the audience. Hellblazer was never a series I regularly followed, and have only read John Constantie’s JL Dark adventures, but I’m on board for this series. I’m excited for the potential setups we see in the first episode. It doesn’t spoil the story of the pilot but I will say at one point the Liv Aberdine character was holding the freakin Helmet of Fate in her hands. Constantine has a tremendous amount of potential. Hopefully, Goyer and his team will understand that a successful show based on a comic needs to bring in as much from the books as it can. With that being said, I want to see Swamp Thing and Deadman in this series at some point because they’d fit like a square peg in the square hole—perfectly.

Out of the three new DC shows, Constantine has the biggest challenge ahead because NBC has a different standard of what a successful show should do in ratings. While the show wouldn’t be out of place on the network, the broadcaster itself has had trouble with its identity in recent years and prematurely canceling good shows before they’ve had a chance to land an audience. Constantine could definitely bring together two audiences, those in and out of comics, if pushed right. With shows like Grimm already in their line up it would definitely be in good company. The big question is if Constantine can balance a show for the general television viewers while still keeping familiarity for the core audience.

Now that we’ve seen all three of the new pilots, it’s easy to see what DC is doing on TV that Marvel isn’t. DC isn’t putting their characters in second tier shows, they’re selling their characters into the genres different networks want on television.  A dangerous risk but, judging by how great and unique Flash, Gotham, and Constantine have been, one they appear to be pulling off well.

The first three minute look at Constantine, the upcoming NBC series based on the Hellblazer comics, has been released and there is good and there is bad.

I liked the callouts to actual comics, like the insect covered call of the very first issue, and the angel winged Mannym as played by Harold Perrineau. OBviously there were a lot of Glenn Fabry covers floating around on the set. THe story is set in NYC which I guess I can live with — filming in London would have been too expensive. The actual filming looks like Vancouver, but that’s typical.

I was only half convinced by Matt Ryan as Constantine. He looks the part but his line reading were as stiff as frozen maple syrup. And I know a Scouse accent would be unacceptable on American TV, but Ryan’s native Welsh accent came through most of the time. I guess most people expect him to sound like the Geiko Gecko (Cockney) but I’m sure this will grow on me.

The action looked Vancouver TV level, but faithful to the feel of the book. So rest assured when it debuts on Friday nights this fall I’ll be there to set my DVR!

Wow what a week for DC’s tv properties! iZombie, The Flash and Constantine have ALL been picked up for series commitments! The Flash, which is a spinoff of Arrow, will air on The CW, as will iZombie, based on the Chris Roberson/Mike Allred Vertigo book of the same name. And NBC has ordered Constantine, based on the famed Vertigo comics. Score another one for The Original Writer!

iZombie will be helmed by Veronica Mars Rob Thomas and Diane Ruggiero. Arrow’s Greg Berlanti is running The Flash as well while Geoff JOhns wrote the pilot, which I’m sure made him very very happy. David Goyer is running Constantine, which stars Matt Ryan as the rumpled demon fighter.

NBC’s also passed along the first still from Constantine which features Ryan and Lucy Griffiths, and doesn’t look stilted or posed at all. Also: trenchcoat rumbledness is wayyyyyy too low. Work on that, Smithers.

Harold Perrineau and Charles Halford are also in the cast.

This is a pretty stunning sweep for Warner’s TV unit, and reinforces why investing in the Vertigo imprint is still a good idea from a development viewpoint. It’s also a nice riposte to Marvel’s dominance in the movie sphere.

This week, everything isn’t coming up MIlhouse, but it is coming up Warner Bros./DC TV.

TweetOpening remarks are a prerequisite to talking about the final Vertigo issue of the imprint’s longest running series, the only from Vertigo’s original armada to last nearly so long, and a series which, totaling its original DC imprint and Vertigo lifespan, has lasted for 25 years. The series’ past and future are apt to be [...]

This Day in World History - Control of the Roman Empire was in the balance when the armies of Constantine and his brother-in-law Maxentius clashed near the Milvian Bridge, north of Rome. Despite having a smaller army, Constantine triumphed—a victory made secure when Maxentius drowned in the Tiber River while trying to escape. Constantine’s victory left him in command of the western half of the Roman Empire—but it also had more significant consequences.

An important new biography, Constantine: Roman Emperor, Christian Victor, by Paul Stephenson is previewed in Publishers Weekly: "Stephenson, a historian at the University of Durham, successfully combines historical documents, examples of Roman art, sculpture, and coinage with the lessons of geopolitics to produce a complex biography of the Emperor Constantine. Rather than the divinely guided hero of legend who singlehandedly brought pagan
Rome to Christian orthodoxy, Constantine is depicted as very much a product of his political environment. Recognizing the growing influence of the Christian Church, he adapted the generally pacifist faith to the Roman "theology of victory " and created a newly militant Christianity that would sustain his rule. Constantine wisely sought to impose religious toleration on the diverse Roman Empire while discouraging "trivial " disputes among the Christian faithful. Stephenson examines the variety of religious beliefs in the early fourth century with emphasis on Mithraism, a pagan mystery cult practiced by pre−Constantine soldiers, and on the bitter divisions within victorious Christianity that ultimately led to the Council of Nicaea. Constantine is revealed as a master politician who, while delaying his own baptism for reasons not fully explained in the text, became the ruler of both church and state."

“Hey everyone. We’ve had quite a few updates for the third book in our series, Call of the Huntress, so I thought it would be a good idea to make a list of what we’ve previewed so far.”

“That’s a great idea Shannon-sama!”

“Thanks, Hoshi! Okay, our first preview was By the Light of the Stars which is the story of the Warrior of the Night battling reptile-like monsters called Carcs.”

“Yucky. I don’t like monsters.”

“The second update was a four-part series called the Plot Against the Vicereine, about a noble in Aventar who gets attacked by evil assassins. Here’s Part One, Part Two, Part Three, and Part Four.”

“The Vicereine seems like she’s real strong. I hope we don’t have to fight her.”

“Yeah, but she gave that little boy a silver coin even though the price of the flower was a lot less. I think that was really nice.”

“Yeah! That was nice, huh? I wonder what a cruss ring is though.”

“So how come you decided to do a preview roundup today?”

“Guess.”

“Ooh! You’re gonna have another preview?! Realeeeee?”

“Check back later today everyone! A brand new exclusive preview from Book Three of our series Call of the Huntress, right here. See ya then!”

“Don’t miss the new preview! Ja minna!”

LadyStar™ Call of the Huntress is Copyright © 2007 Heavy Cat Multimedia Ltd. All Rights Reserved
Read Part One
Read Part Two
Read Part Three

Reina picked her way down the wooden stairs outside the Inn. It was approaching late evening, but the bustle of the marketplace continued by the light of dozens of lanterns, torches and the occasional roasting fire. The boy she had encountered before dinner was still waiting outside expectantly.

“A lily for the madam? A lily for the madam?” the boy said enthusiastically. Reina stopped and looked down at him. He seemed completely undaunted by her dark robes or cowl. He was filthy, but had managed to wash some of the accumulated grime from his face.

Orphaned, no home, and selling stolen lilies, Reina concluded without speaking. A guard pushed past two large inebriated stablehands and waved his hands at the boy, who cowered.

“That will be your last warning!” the guard shouted, then froze at the sight of the Vicereine. The officer lowered his hands almost in a gesture of surrender. Reina stood regally and looked the guard over once, fixing on his boots. She picked up her staff as an old woman might pick up a broom, reached out with its tip and tapped his right boot a few times as if testing a loose floorboard.

“The Captain will be most unhappy to find his men wearing second-hand boots,” Reina said, tilting her head sarcastically as if trying to get a better look at a confusing object. “I’ve heard tales of boots that look exactly like a Square Guard’s for sale in the curio shop.”

“Handsome replicas, madam,” the guard replied, then swallowed nervously. Reina looked up. One corner of the guard’s mouth rose sheepishly.

“Indeed,” Reina said, drawing the word out. The guard could not see her raised eyebrow.

“What is your price for this lily?” Reina turned back to the boy and indicated the flower at one edge of his wooden box.

“Three cruss rings,” the boy replied, his voice shaky as he glanced at the guard.

“Three? My boy, this lily.” Reina leaned down and pointed with emphasis. “This light-colored lily right here was but two rings before dinner. Have lilies become so rare between appetizer and dessert that I should pay another ring?” The boy hesitated. Reina held her jaw tightly. Finally the boy inhaled sharply.

“The price is three cruss rings for one lily,” he said as fast and as bravely as he could.

The Vicereine stood back up straight and reached across her waist with the opposite hand for her coin purse.

“You’re an honest bargainer,” Reina stated flatly. Then she presented the boy with a bright silver monarch. The boy’s eyes widened as he watched. The priceless rings on each of the Vicereine’s slender fingers gleamed in the light of the Inn’s lanterns. She carefully placed the coin in his flower box, then leaned close and spoke quietly.

“Do not spend this precious coin, but keep it for a worthy day. Perhaps on that day honesty such as yours will return to the streets of Aventar.”

The boy looked up and nodded as he handed Reina her flower. She carefully took it, stood up straight and nodded. The boy smiled and Reina turned to the guard.

“I look forward to that day, officer. Don’t you?” Reina asked as she slowly carried her flower up the slight incline of the marketplace street. The guard’s expression changed to that of someone caught stealing something of little value, then he glanced down at his right boot.

Kenesh dared not move. He had almost become the shadow that concealed him. He could hear the tapping sound of the Vicereine’s staff and the sound of her robes dragging on the stony ground as she slowly passed an empty flax cart a few blocks east of the marketplace. A massive smooth-bladed knife dripped with lethal poison at his side. The streets of the east square were dimly lit, and the flat aroma of a cooling potter’s kiln hung damply in the air of the narrow alley Reina approached.

Reina slowly came into view and Kenesh took immediate note of the twin iron chains around her waist. They were the rare and unique badge of station of the scribe arcanists, and if Kenesh could make off with them…

“Donation for the food, er, for the poor, my lady?” a small wiry man stammered, rattling a cup with one hand and pretending not to be able to see as he wandered across the Vicereine’s path. Reina stopped and inhaled as she prepared a reply, then her instincts shouted “danger.”

Kenesh Drun struck with both speed and savagery. He reached around Reina’s head with his right hand, and his heavy metal claw raked across the Vicereine’s cowl. It was an attack meant to blind his victim and expose them to his blade. But Reina did not turn, nor did she appear affected by the slashing of four razor sharp hooks across her face. Having no time to change strategies, Kenesh drove his knife into Reina’s back. He failed to notice the subtle change in the consistency of her robes until a grotesque snapping sound jarred his single-minded focus. A screaming lightning bolt of pain shot up his left arm as he lost his balance, stumbling to his left. The two pieces of his poisoned knife clattered to the ground as he fell.

Nako howled his best attempt at a battle cry and attacked frontally, holding his much smaller knife over his head, blade down. Reina reached out with her off-hand and caught Nako’s arm at the wrist as he drove his knife down towards her chest. Reina turned slightly to one side and twisted her grip. The turn pulled Nako off balance and very nearly broke both bones in his wrist. His knife fell out of his hand as Reina threw him to one side. Nako crashed face-first into the far brick wall, knocking crates to the ground and scattering the tin plates stacked on them.

By now Kenesh was back on his feet. He hesitated for a moment in alarm, realizing the darkness splashed across his left hand was not blood, but his poison. Before he had even a moment to be grateful for the protection of his gloves, Reina turned. Her entire body seemed to radiate an immensely powerful energy even as it absorbed what little light remained in the alley. Kenesh felt the blood in his spine turn to ice as the Vicereine’s narrow eyes became visible from under her cowl, slowly brightening to the enraged color of glowing blood.

She began to speak, but her words seemed to be alternately miles away and right next to Kenesh’s ears. Her many voices formed an ocean of shadows beneath them and the alleyway began to warp and shift around the darkening figure he faced.

Whispers from another place reached into his mind. They spoke of cold and friendless places, where pain flowed across the ground like a spiderweb of tiny rivers. They pried into his consciousness muttering foulness he could have scarcely imagined in his most craven avarice. Kenesh felt his throat tighten and he scrambled to escape, but his body refused to obey his one overwhelmed attempt at a rational thought.

Hidden corners of his being began to drip with shadow, and slowly began to strangle the light from his vision. He had to get away.

A high pitched night-piercing screech tore through the air as Kenesh ran over the gate bridge towards the swamp. Something horrid pursued him. He could run all the way to the edge of the swamps, but he knew he would never get away. Never. Yet still he ran, even as his hair turned white and fell from his head, taking the skin off his skull with it. He put his hands up to his face and screamed forever.

Nako wheezed and reached up with both hands to pull at Reina’s grip as she lifted him off the ground by the throat. His face bulged in pain as Reina held her twisted staff to one side and spoke words of such power that each syllable threatened to weaken the stonework of the nearby buildings. Nako’s skin began to darken and still the Vicereine tightened her grip. Her voice lowered to a whisper as Nako’s eyes fell back into his head and his hands fell limply to his sides.

Reina contemptuously threw the rotting skeletal remains of the defeated assassin against the wall, shattering the brittle bones into dozens of pieces, each of which continued to decay as she turned back to Kenesh, whose ghostly face remained frozen as the screams continued to echo through his rapidly deteriorating mind.

She took a step forward and stopped. Kenesh seemed to notice suddenly and scrabbled backwards. He was unarmed and there was nowhere to run. Reina picked up the broken blade of Kenesh’s knife from the stony floor of the alleyway, then continued approaching him as she examined it. Kenesh pushed back, his shoulders scraping the brick wall as he got to his feet. Reina stopped inches away, her hands covered in the poison from the blade. Her slender hands seemed to heal themselves just as quickly as the poison ate through the skin of her bluish fingers.

Kenesh knew better than to say a word. Reina leaned close and spoke evenly through gritted teeth. Kenesh held his breath, looking down at the shadow obscuring all but her chin.

“I was inventing poisons four hundred years before your grandfather learned to walk,” Reina spat the last word contemptuously as she turned away, dropping the useless piece of the knife on the ground.

“Do you know what it feels like to have a part of your body die while still attached to living flesh?” the Vicereine asked, stopping in the center of the alley.

Suddenly Kenesh felt as if every nerve was being drained through the sole of his left boot. He collapsed instantly as a cold, burrowing agony pierced the entire left side of his body. He looked down, eyes wide, and wailed until he nearly felt the inside of his throat burst. What was left of his left foot was nothing more than a putrified weight attached to a limb so infected that the very thought of moving it made his nerves boil over with pain. The Vicereine waited patiently for Kenesh’s howling to subside.

“Now you know.”

Kenesh panted as he failed to regain his balance. He leaned against the brick wall, a cruel cold sweat tormenting his parched tongue with a salty tang.

“Who sent you?” Reina asked. Kenesh did not answer. He could scarcely breathe.

“Answer me, or the agony that is now infecting every limb of your being will see two harvests before death releases you from it.” The Vicereine stood resolute, still seeming to dim the nearby lights with her mere presence. Kenesh stirred, preparing to draw a breath with which he might have managed a cough.

“The Merchants Guild?” Reina answered for him. “What plan did you hatch with those overfed hyenas? Did you expect to waylay me with your robber’s club like some baker of bread, and have me leaning against the alley semi-conscious while you fumble with your shriekbat venom and help yourself to my coinpurse?” Reina looked up at a nearby streetlamp. “Pity. I was in a fine mood before all this, too. I had a nice meal this evening. They served me cornbread.” She glanced back to Kenesh. “I like cornbread, don’t you?”

Kenesh sputtered and inhaled reflexively. Reina waited for a moment, then asked.

“Do you wish to be free of this curse?”

Kenesh attempted to nod his head, but instead his shoulders convulsed. His breathing was becoming slightly stronger.

“You will return to whichever of those fattened vermin sent you and inform them that the Vicereine sends her regards.” Reina lowered her voice to a menacing tone. “You will also inform them the blood of the next assassin sent after me will be used to dye my boots.” Reina turned to leave.

“You have one hour,” she said.

Kenesh’s next cough rattled alarmingly and with immense effort he slowly sat up and rasped a response.

“But it is two days ride.” Kenesh coughed the last words.

Reina stopped and slowly crouched to the alley floor to retrieve her light-colored lily. Then she continued along her original route.

“You have one hour.”