By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 2/12/2016
"52" is the lucky number at DC Comics, and with the (once) New 52 reaching their 52nd issues, it's time to celebrate with a series of variant covers, because as far as we know, a NEWER 52 might be on the way.
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 2/11/2016
"The series ending doesn’t mean you won’t see Starfire pop up in other places!"
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 1/24/2016
What, exactly, is #Rebirth?
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 11/3/2015
The Comics Beat recently sat down with DC Comics' biggest stars to talk about their epic run on BATMAN and the future of the series as Greg goes on hiatus to work with Mark Millar.
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 10/29/2015
Author Cullen Bunn has just announced his departure from Aquaman via a Reddit Ask Me Anything session held yesterday. The story was picked up by CBR, as the Big Two writer also confirmed a lost Green Lantern crossover. “I will be ending my Aquaman run with issue 48,” Bunn said on AMA, surprising readers. After […]
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 5/28/2015
So…while you were away DC Comics just rebooted their Universe. I know, I know, DC does this all the time. The last specific instance being in 2011, when this whole New 52 business first started. However, yesterday’s Convergence #8 revealed the publisher’s ulterior motives for the event.
Minor Information Update: 8:30
This might sound completely ridiculous, but it turns out that DC was actually trying to utilize their huge crossover to simply do some maintenance on their current Multiverse policy. So…the Multiverse is now back with new versions of old characters along with the full Multiverse concept, the difference is that all of these worlds have evolved for the aforementioned new characters. The Multiversity Guidebook #1 seems to be more important than ever, as the company is now trying to bring that series into effect with the various worlds introduced inside of it.
Of course, the publisher loves telling event series that are born out of huge sweeping changes to their line. One of the most notable and influential stories being the seminal Crisis on Infinite Earths by George Perez and Marv Wolfman. Since then, the DC has attempted to pay homage to that story time and time again. However, Flashpoint, and the New 52 did mark a time of exploration with them — albeit a tumultuous time in comics that ended up splitting comics fandom in two towards their opinions of DC. In fact, Convergence #8 featured a pair of splash pages highlighting some of the different Earths that were saved by Brainiac in the big event.
The planets with updated characters from the Multiverse include the Pre-Crisis Universe, the New 52 Universe, a gender swapped Universe, a Bizarro Universe, Earth 2, an Ultra Comics Universe, Captain Carrot’s Universe, a place for the Charlton characters, a world for Kamandi to roam free as the last boy on Earth, and more.
Yet with Divergence now being imminent as the next upcoming DC reboot, the company is really attempting to give comics fandom exactly what they want. The House of Batman and Superman are experimenting with new looks for each character and shedding some light on their older and newer established properties. DC is always stronger when they take advantage of their already established canon. DC is over 75 years young, which is exactly why spinning concepts like Prez with new cultural context is likely going to payoff for the comics creators.
With a Multiverse filled with characters both old and new, comics fans should honestly be excited about what is coming next — even if the event that got us here (Convergence) seemed to be too wrapped up in editorial policy to contain a story that stood it’s own ground as a great comic book.
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 4/21/2015
With Convergence, aka Atlas Moving Vans, now rolling out in the DCU and the New 24 about to launch, several websites have taken a look back at The New 52, which launched in September of 2011 and super-charged the comics industry. As I’ve written several times before, the pr for the New 52 immediately lifted the entire comics industry with more customers coming into stores and finding a lot of new comics to read. Call it the Millennial Rush. The debut of Saga #1 six months later hooked those who were just nibbling and he rest is history: record breaking sales.
While the New 52 was a commercial success, the books themselves were a mixed bag. The entire initiative was put together so quickly that a lot of books ended up being “beauty pageants” where several writers pitched at the same time, and some of them even thought they had the gig until the very last second. People were butthurt right from the gitgo. While the number of books — yes, 52 — remained steady for quite a while, the creative teams soon started resembling a game of beach blanket bingo, people came and went with revolving door frequency and sales generally stayed on a “general attrition” trajectory.
But there’s no denying that the New 52 was the most successful and audacious launch of the “modern” comics era…whatever you call that. (Definitions in the comments are welcome.) Or at least since the Ultimate line.
There were 68 titles; 20 of them lasted all 40 issues; 12 of them will make it past Convergence. (Titles with an asterisk are the ones moving on to the Nü DC:) Action Comics*, Aquaman*, Batgirl*, Batman*, Batman and Robin, Batwoman, Birds of Prey, Catwoman*, Detective Comics*, The Flash*, Green Arrow*, Green Lantern*, Justice League*, Red Hood and the Outlaws, Red Lanterns, Suicide Squad, Supergirl, Superman,* Swamp Thing, Wonder Woman*.
As you can see the titles that made it are the titles you’d expect in the core DC line. Surely no one expected to see Red Hood and the Outlaws make it to the 52 finish line, but then the New 52 saw many strange things, like the resurgence of Scott Lobdell’s writing career, a brief resurgence for Rob Liefeld’s writing career, and scores of foreign artists with hard to spell names filling in all over the place.
A couple of sites have more in depth looks at the legacy. Steve Foxe at Paste magazine has a Talking Dead-style In Loving Memory: All 68 DC Comics That Have Come and Gone Within the New 52 slideshow with EVERY WRITER AND ARTIST that worked on the books. God bless.
The New 52, for all of its initial commercial success, has often had a rocky relationship with critics as well as longtime fans up in arms over changes to decades-old characters. Nearly four years after its debut, DC is using its cross-country corporate move to Burbank, California as an opportunity to officially end the New 52 banner and do another reshuffling, wrapping up all but 25 of its current ongoing titles and debuting 24 new series in June once the Convergence crossover wraps up.
Kelly Harrass at Panels on Pages has an even more in depth history in two parts, here and here with such bleak notations as the following:
In its 30 issue run, Suicide Squad had 4 writers and 16 artists.
In this climate, it’s hard to look at the fact that only 12 of the original 52 survived and say that there’s anything wrong with that number. It’s not like DC is a failure. Books just get cancelled more often now. I’d be interested to see how many Marvel series that were going when the New 52 started are still running. We’re just seeing shorter volumes these days.
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 11/17/2014
DC-s announcements for products shipping in FEbruary are out today and here’s the WHOLE thing! what will you try What will make you cry?
THE MULTIVERSITY: MASTERMEN #1
Written by GRANT MORRISON
Art and cover by JIM LEE and SCOTT WILLIAMS
1:10 B&W Variant cover by JIM LEE
1:25 Variant cover by AARON KUDER
1:50 Variant cover by YANICK PAQUETTE
1:100 Variant cover by GRANT MORRISON
On sale FEBRUARY 18 • 48 pg, FC, $4.99 US • RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with five covers. Please see the order form for more information.
Superstar writer Grant Morrison joins legendary artist Jim Lee on Earth-10 for one of the most dynamic, action-packed issues of this entire world-shattering series – THE MULTIVERSITY: MASTERMEN!
Imagine a world where the Nazis not only won World War II but went on to direct world culture for the next 60 years with the help of an orphaned, alien super-weapon known as Overman! But hope is not lost! Rising from the ashes of oppression are a diverse band of heroes raging against the fascist regime – a band of heroes known as THE FREEDOM FIGHTERS!
What nightmarish parallel worlds haunt the dreams of Overman? Who is the mysterious figure called Uncle Sam? And when the dust settles, will the actions of Phantom Lady, Black Condor, Human Bomb, Doll Man and The Ray be enough to stop Leatherwing, Blitzen and the other “heroes” of Earth-X?
Learn all this and more in this exciting issue that acts as chapter seven of the critically acclaimed MULTIVERSITY storyline.
THE MULTIVERSITY DIRECTOR’S CUT #1
Written by GRANT MORRISON
Art and cover by IVAN REIS
On sale FEBRUARY 25• 64 pg, FC, $9.99 US • RATED T
The first monumental issue of THE MULTIVERSITY is back in this new Director’s Cut Edition, presenting Ivan Reis’s pencil artwork! This special comes polybagged with a 26.5” x 30.5” version of the sensational Map of the Multiverse poster, designed by Rian Hughes from Grant Morrison’s notes! Also included are preliminary character designs by Morrison and Reis, and more!
JUSTICE LEAGUE #39
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art and cover by JASON FABOK
HARLEY QUINN Variant cover by DUSTIN NGUYEN
1:25 Variant cover by BABS TARR
On sale FEBRUARY 18 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US
Retailers: This issue will ship with four covers. Please see the order form for details.
“The Amazo Virus” concludes with haunting consequences!
This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.
JUSTICE LEAGUE UNITED #9
Written by JEFF LEMIRE
Art by NEIL EDWARDS and JAY LEISTEN
Cover by ANDREW ROBINSON
HARLEY QUINN Variant cover by MIKEL JANIN
1:25 Variant cover by MATTEO SCALERA
On sale FEBRUARY 11 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with three covers. Please see the order form for more information.
“The Infinitus Saga” continues as the team joins the Legion of Super-Heroes, a Thanagarian war fleet and a Rannian war fleet to battle the endless forces of Infinitus!
EARTH 2: WORLD’S END #18
Written by DANIEL H. WILSON, MARGUERITE BENNETT and MIKE JOHNSON
Art by JACK HERBERT, ROBSON ROCHA, PAULO SIQUEIRA and JORGE JIMENEZ
Cover by GUILLEM MARCH
On sale FEBRUARY 4 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
As Apokolips burns, Green Lantern falls – and the Earth is left unprotected.
EARTH 2: WORLD’S END #19
Written by DANIEL H. WILSON, MARGUERITE BENNETT and MIKE JOHNSON
Art by TYLER KIRKHAM, EDDY BARROWS, EDUARDO PANSICA and JORGE JIMENEZ
Cover by GUILLEM MARCH
On sale FEBRUARY 11 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Superman and Power Girl team up to turn the tide in the fight with Darkseid’s Furies.
EARTH 2: WORLD’S END #20
Written by DANIEL H. WILSON, MARGUERITE BENNETT and MIKE JOHNSON
Art by JACK HERBERT, ROBSON ROCHA, EDUARDO PANSICA and JORGE JIMENEZ
Cover by GUILLEM MARCH
On sale FEBRUARY 18 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Apokolips’s plans for Earth-2 are finally revealed, leaving the heroes in shock!
EARTH 2: WORLD’S END #21
Written by DANIEL H. WILSON, MARGUERITE BENNETT and MIKE JOHNSON
Art by TYLER KIRKHAM, EDDY BARROWS, PAULO SIQUEIRA and JORGE JIMENEZ
Cover by ANDY KUBERT
On sale FEBRUARY 25 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Does Oliver Queen hold the answers to saving Earth-2?
EARTH 2 #31
Written by DANIEL H. WILSON and MARGUERITE BENNETT
Art by ANDY SMITH
Cover by KEN LASHLEY
On sale FEBRUARY 4 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Dr. Fate makes his powerful presence known on Apokolips!
JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #39
Written by J.M. DeMATTEIS
Art by ANDRES GUINALDO and WALDEN WONG
Cover by GUILLEM MARCH
HARLEY QUINN Variant cover by JOE QUINONES
On sale FEBRUARY 25 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for details.
The JLD is reunited! But being lost in the timestream could not prepare them to confront the living embodiment of time itself. And she’s hungry…
DEATHSTROKE #5
Written by TONY S. DANIEL
Art by TONY S. DANIEL and SANDU FLOREA
Cover by TONY S. DANIEL
1:25 Variant cover by LEONARDO MANCO
On sale FEBRUARY 25 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for more information.
Deathstroke vs. Batman – with Harley Quinn stuck in the middle! The most intense, brutal battle in the history of The New 52 takes place in this issue!
THE FLASH #39
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI and VAN JENSEN
Art and cover by BRETT BOOTH and NORM RAPMUND
HARLEY QUINN Variant cover by AMANDA CONNER
Blank variant cover
On sale FEBRUARY 25 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with three covers. Please see the order form for details.
Barry Allen is trapped in the Speed Force while an impostor wreaks havoc at home! Can The Fastest Man Alive make it back in time to put things right?
GREEN ARROW #39
Written by ANDREW KREISBERG and BEN SOKOLOWSKI
Art by DANIEL SAMPERE and JONATHAN GLAPION
Cover by BRYAN HITCH
On sale FEBRUARY 4 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Green Arrow versus Seattle! The odds don’t look too good for Ollie in this issue!
INFINITY MAN AND THE FOREVER PEOPLE #8
Written by KEITH GIFFEN and DAN DIDIO
Art by TOM GRUMMETT and SCOTT HANNA
Cover by DANIEL HDR
On sale FEBRUARY 18 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Killsandra! Enchanthrax! Thumpa! They’re the Femmes Fatales, and they’re Aagog’s revenge on Big Bear and the team! Led by Sweet Leilani, even if their attempt to capture Mark Moonrider fails, Beautiful Dreamer is still headed into their deadly clutches!
KLARION #5
Written by ANN NOCENTI
Art by TREVOR McCARTHY
Cover by RAYMOND BERMUDEZ
On sale FEBRUARY 11 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Coal’s buddybots are making people happy. Happier than they’ve ever been before. So why is Klarion on a mission to destroy all buddybots? Why is Klarion willing to lose his new friends to obliterate the friendly little bots? An all-battle issue as Klarion battles Zell, Piper, Noah and Rasp!
JUSTICE LEAGUE 3000 #14
Written by KEITH GIFFEN and J.M. DeMATTEIS
Art and cover by HOWARD PORTER
On sale FEBRUARY 4 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Beetle and Booster! Fire and Ice! The Injustice League! Etrigan the Demon! Not to mention the Justice League (no, not that one, the one we’re doing). C’mon, people, we’re bending over backward here! At least meet us halfway – maybe flip through the issue at your local comics shop?
SECRET ORIGINS #10
Written by CAMERON STEWART, BRENDEN FLETCHER, DAN JURGENS and CAITLIN KITTREDGE
Art by STJEPAN SEJIC, IRENE KOH and SEAN CHEN
Cover by BRYAN HITCH
On sale FEBRUARY 25 • 48 pg, FC, $4.99 US • RATED T
Get ready for The New 52 origins of Batgirl (written by Cameron Stewart and Brenden Fletcher with art by Irene Koh), Firestorm (courtesy of writer Dan Jurgens and artist Sean Chen) and Poison Ivy (coming your way from writer Caitlin Kittredge and artist Stjepan Sejic)!
LOBO #5
Written by CULLEN BUNN
Art by REILLY BROWN and ALISON BORGES
Cover by BEN OLIVER
On sale FEBRUARY 4 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
As Lobo grows closer to preventing the destruction of Earth, an old foe returns and reveals Lobo’s role in the destruction of his home world.
SECRET SIX #3
Written by GAIL SIMONE
Art by KEN LASHLEY
Cover by DALE EAGLESHAM
1:25 Variant cover by GARRY BROWN
On sale FEBRUARY 4 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for details.
Her name is Strix. What is her secret?!
THE NEW 52: FUTURES END #40
Written by BRIAN AZZARELLO, JEFF LEMIRE, DAN JURGENS and KEITH GIFFEN
Art by STEPHEN THOMPSON
Cover by RYAN SOOK
On sale FEBRUARY 4 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
All stories converge as Brainiac and the Blood Moon arrive at the Futures End!
THE NEW 52: FUTURES END #41
Written by BRIAN AZZARELLO, JEFF LEMIRE, DAN JURGENS and KEITH GIFFEN
Art by SCOT EATON and SCOTT HANNA
Cover by RYAN SOOK
On sale FEBRUARY 11 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
The Justice League splits into teams to battle the dual threat of Brainiac and the Blood Moon, while the Batman team and Mr. Terrific try to take down Brother Eye – in the present and the future!
THE NEW 52: FUTURES END #42
Written by BRIAN AZZARELLO, JEFF LEMIRE, DAN JURGENS and KEITH GIFFEN
Art by JESUS MERINO and DAN GREEN
Cover by RYAN SOOK
On sale FEBRUARY 18 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Will Brainiac’s arrival be the catalyst that dooms the DCU to the future seen in issue #0? Brother Eye makes his move, and humanity may become collateral damage.
THE NEW 52: FUTURES END #43
Written by BRIAN AZZARELLO, JEFF LEMIRE, DAN JURGENS and KEITH GIFFEN
Art by ANDY McDONALD
Cover by RYAN SOOK
On sale FEBRUARY 25 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Major fallout from last issue’s shocking demise of humanity’s one hope against apocalypse!
NEW SUICIDE SQUAD #7
Written by SEAN RYAN
Art by ROB HUNTER
Cover by JUAN FERREYRA
On sale FEBRUARY 11 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
As Deadshot recovers from serious injuries in Belle Reve prison, Black Manta struggles to keep the team’s current mission in China from imploding. But after they’ve awakened the country’s newest super-weapon, the whole team – including Harley Quinn and Reverse-Flash – won’t all be coming back.
STAR SPANGLED WAR STORIES FEATURING G.I. ZOMBIE #7
Written by JUSTIN GRAY and JIMMY PALMIOTTI
Art by SCOTT HAMPTON
Cover by DAVE JOHNSON
On sale FEBRUARY 25 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
G.I. Zombie and Carmen find themselves up against the biggest terrorist threat ever, and it’s in the heart of our country. Can two stand a chance against thousands, or is all lost as the United States of Apocalypse begins?
TEEN TITANS #7
Written by WILL PFEIFER
Art by KENNETH ROCAFORT
Cover by BENGAL
HARLEY QUINN Variant cover by SEAN “CHEEKS” GALLOWAY
On sale FEBRUARY 18 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for details.
There’s a monstrous evil lurking in the bowels of S.T.A.R. Labs! Can the Titans save the day before they become another experiment?
TRINITY OF SIN #5
Written by J.M. DeMATTEIS
Art by YVEL GUICHET and JASON GORDER
Cover by GUILLEM MARCH
On sale FEBRUARY 18 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Trapped within the Box of Redemption – and on the world contained within – the Trinity makes a desperate attempt to escape before the evil Nimraa unleashes a power that will bring all reality to an end!
WONDER WOMAN #39
Written by MEREDITH FINCH
Art and cover by DAVID FINCH and BATT
HARLEY QUINN Variant cover by PHIL JIMENEZ
1:50 B&W Variant cover by DAVID FINCH and BATT
1:100 Variant cover by DAVID FINCH
On sale FEBRUARY 18 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with four covers. Please see the order form for details.
Wonder Woman returns to Paradise Island, and she’s in for a surprise: The Amazons have chosen a new queen to lead them! The identity of this new queen will send shock waves through the entire DC Universe! Guest-starring the Justice League and featuring the introduction of Diana’s craziest new cast member in, well, ever!
SUPERMAN #39
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art and cover by JOHN ROMITA, JR., and KLAUS JANSON
HARLEY QUINN Variant cover by AMANDA CONNER
1:50 Variant cover by SHANE DAVIS
1:100 Variant cover by JOHN ROMITA, JR., and KLAUS JANSON
On sale FEBRUARY 25 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US
Retailers: This issue will ship with five covers. Please see the order form for more information.
This emotional story reveals a rarely seen side of The Man of Steel as an ordinary person, as the super-star team of Geoff Johns, John Romita, Jr. and Klaus Janson continue their epic run on the series!
This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.
ACTION COMICS #39
Written by GREG PAK
Art and cover by AARON KUDER
HARLEY QUINN Variant cover by NICOLA SCOTT and DANNY MIKI
1:25 Variant cover by JUAN JOSE RYP
On sale FEBRUARY 4 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with three covers. Please see the order form for details.
The terror from Smallville has spread across the globe, and now Superman must make a sacrifice to save it! Don’t miss the final chapter of “Horrorville”!
SUPERMAN/WONDER WOMAN #16
Written by PETER J. TOMASI
Art and cover by DOUG MAHNKE and JAIME MENDOZA
HARLEY QUINN Variant cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL
On sale FEBRUARY 11 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US
Retailers: This issue will ship with three covers. Please see the order form for more information.
Superman and Wonder Woman come face-to-face with the newest arrival to The New 52: MAGOG!
This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.
SUPERGIRL #39
Written by K. PERKINS and MIKE JOHNSON
Art and cover by EMANUELA LUPACCHINO
HARLEY QUINN Variant cover by JOE BENITEZ
On sale FEBRUARY 18 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for details.
All-out war breaks out on Crucible over the fate of Superboy, as Kara faces new and old enemies.
WORLDS’ FINEST #31
Written by PAUL LEVITZ
Art by JED DOUGHERTY
Cover by YILDIRAY CINAR
On sale FEBRUARY 11 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
“Signs” of the Apocalypse? Death and destruction are increasing on Earth-2, and only the watchful eye of Batman sees how the patterns fit. Can he persuade Superman to take precautions before the price becomes very personal?
BATMAN ETERNAL #44
Written by SCOTT SNYDER, JAMES TYNION IV, RAY FAWKES, KYLE HIGGINS and TIM SEELEY
Art by ACO
Cover by ETHAN VAN SCIVER
On sale FEBRUARY 4 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
One of the only people who knows what truly happened at Arkham Asylum is about to escape Gotham City…but not if Batman gets to him first!
BATMAN ETERNAL #45
Written by SCOTT SNYDER, JAMES TYNION IV, RAY FAWKES, KYLE HIGGINS and TIM SEELEY
Art by JAVI FERNANDEZ
Cover by ETHAN VAN SCIVER
On sale FEBRUARY 11 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Nothing in his experience with cutting-edge technology could prepare Batwing for a battle against the vengeful spirits who’ve taken control of his armor!
BATMAN ETERNAL #46
Written by SCOTT SNYDER, JAMES TYNION IV, RAY FAWKES, KYLE HIGGINS and TIM SEELEY
Art by ALESSANDRO VITTI
Cover by ETHAN VAN SCIVER
On sale FEBRUARY 18 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Is Batman eternal? Perhaps…but only one of the Dark Knight’s foes truly knows the meaning of the word!
BATMAN ETERNAL #47
Written by SCOTT SNYDER, JAMES TYNION IV, RAY FAWKES, KYLE HIGGINS and TIM SEELEY
Art by JUAN FERREYRA
Cover by ETHAN VAN SCIVER
On sale FEBRUARY 25 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
In the new order of Gotham City, Selina Kyle holds all the cards…and now it’s up to master spy Julia Pennyworth to steal them back!
BATMAN #39
Written by SCOTT SNYDER
Backup story written by SCOTT SNYDER and JAMES TYNION IV
Art and cover by GREG CAPULLO and DANNY MIKI
Backup story art by DUSTIN NGUYEN
HARLEY QUINN Variant cover by JILL THOMPSON
1:25 Variant cover by ANDY KUBERT
On sale FEBRUARY 11 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US
Retailers: This issue will ship with four covers. Please see the order form for details.
“Endgame” part 5. The Joker is back! The penultimate issue of the Clown Prince of Crime’s horrifying return! Plus, in the backup story, the inmates and Mahreen finally learn the truth about The Joker!
This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.
BATMAN/SUPERMAN #19
Written by GREG PAK
Art by ARDIAN SYAF and SANDRA HOPE
Cover by ARDIAN SYAF and DANNY MIKI
HARLEY QUINN Variant cover by J.G. JONES
1:25 Variant cover by JOE QUINONES
On sale FEBRUARY 18 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US
Retailers: This issue will ship with four covers. Please see the order form for more information.
Superman and Batman have learned the devastating truth behind the identity of the unseen terrorists they’ve been pursuing. But will they recover in time to stop them from killing more innocents?
This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.
BATGIRL #39
Written by CAMERON STEWART and BRENDEN FLETCHER
Art by BABS TARR
Cover by CAMERON STEWART
HARLEY QUINN Variant cover by CLIFF CHIANG
On sale FEBRUARY 11 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for details.
For months, Batgirl’s been hounded by an unseen threat claiming to be the “real” Batgirl…and the truth of her enemy’s identity will shock her to her very core!
BATMAN AND ROBIN #39
Written by PETER J. TOMASI
Art and cover by PATRICK GLEASON and MICK GRAY
HARLEY QUINN Variant cover by EMANUELA LUPACCHINO
On sale FEBRUARY 18 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for more information.
Has Damian Wayne become something more than human? And how do you control a reckless child who now has super powers?
ARKHAM MANOR #5
Written by GERRY DUGGAN
Art and cover by SHAWN CRYSTAL
On sale FEBRUARY 25 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
The insanity of Arkham Manor floods the streets of Gotham City!
GOTHAM ACADEMY #5
Written by BECKY CLOONAN and BRENDEN FLETCHER
Art and cover by KARL KERSCHL
On sale FEBRUARY 4 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
This month’s assignment: Uncover the hideous secrets of Gotham Academy’s North Hall! Also: smooching?!
GOTHAM BY MIDNIGHT #4
Written by RAY FAWKES
Art and cover by BEN TEMPLESMITH
On sale FEBRUARY 25 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
Dr. Szandor Tarr is far from what anyone would consider social, but will it turn out he’s more at home with an insect monster savaging Gotham City than he is with the Midnight Shift?
GRAYSON #7
Written by TIM SEELEY and TOM KING
Art and cover by MIKEL JANIN
HARLEY QUINN Variant cover by DAN PANOSIAN
On sale FEBRUARY 4 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for details.
Grayson and Helena must battle their old foes, the Fist of Cain!
DETECTIVE COMICS #39
Written by FRANCIS MANAPUL and BRIAN BUCCELLATO
Art and cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL
HARLEY QUINN Variant cover by DAVE JOHNSON
1:25 Variant cover by YUKO SHIMIZU
On sale FEBRUARY 4 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US
Retailers: This issue will ship with four covers. Please see the order form for more information.
Can Batman put an end to Anarky once and for all? Or will the citizens of Gotham City even let him try?
This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.
HARLEY QUINN #15
Written by AMANDA CONNER and JIMMY PALMIOTTI
Art by CHAD HARDIN
Cover by AMANDA CONNER
HARLEY QUINN Variant cover by MARCO D’ALFONSO
1:25 Variant cover by AMANDA CONNER
On sale FEBRUARY 25 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with three covers. Please see the order form for details.
Harley was certain she could have it all: She could be the world’s best landlord, protect Coney Island from the scum of the Earth, woo Mason Macabre, work her day job as a psychiatrist, volunteer at the puppy shelter…but that’s a whole lot of spinning plates, and eventually they’re bound to start breaking! What happens when a psychopath cracks up? Is it possible for Harley to go even more insane?!
HARLEY QUINN VALENTINE’S DAY SPECIAL #1
Written by AMANDA CONNER and JIMMY PALMIOTTI
Art by JOHN TIMMS
Cover by AMANDA CONNER
Variant cover by AMANDA CONNER
Blank variant cover
On sale FEBRUARY 11 • 48 pg, FC, $4.99 US • RATED T
Retailers: This issue will arrive in stores with three covers. Please see the order form for details.
Love is in the air in New York City! The planet’s richest bachelor, Bruce Wayne, is in town for a charity auction – and the highest bidder gets a date with Mr. Tall, Dark, and Brooding! Good thing Harley Quinn just came into some money (please, whatever you do, don’t ask how). But can Bruce really spend a night with Harley without her learning how he spends his nights?
CATWOMAN #39
Written by GENEVIEVE VALENTINE
Art by GARRY BROWN
Cover by JAE LEE
HARLEY QUINN Variant cover by JIM BALENT
On sale FEBRUARY 25 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for more information.
Will Selina save Gotham City? Or will she burn it to the ground?
BATWOMAN #39
Written by MARC ANDREYKO
Art by GEORGES JEANTY
Cover by RAFAEL ALBUQUERQUE
On sale FEBRUARY 18 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
The mystery of Red Alice! Is Batwoman’s sister truly reformed?
RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #39
Written by SCOTT LOBDELL
Art and cover by R.B. SILVA
On sale FEBRUARY 18 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
As Arsenal and Red Hood confront their demons, Starfire is out for blood when she hunts down the person responsible for her recent addiction. But will her act of vengeance help her – or destroy her?
GREEN LANTERN #39
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI
Art by ADMIRA WIJAYA
Cover by BILLY TAN
HARLEY QUINN Variant cover by MIKE McKONE
On sale FEBRUARY 4 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $3.99 US
Retailers: This issue will ship with three covers. Please see the order form for more information.
Hal Jordan returns to Oa knowing he has to face the consequences for defying the Templar Guardians during “Godhead.” But whatever the Guardians have planned for him pales before the true threat the Corps will soon face. Hal’s about to learn that sometimes fighting for the greater good comes at an even greater personal cost.
This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #39
Written by VAN JENSEN
Art and cover by BERNARD CHANG
HARLEY QUINN Variant cover by JASON PEARSON
On sale FEBRUARY 11 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for details.
As John Stewart and his team try to root out the criminal network that has overtaken the homeworld of Lantern Feska, they discover the planet is imperiled by a far darker, deadlier force. An enemy with an ancient hatred of the Corps. An enemy that seeks to cast all the universe into shadow.
GREEN LANTERN: NEW GUARDIANS #39
Written by JUSTIN JORDAN
Art by DIOGENES NEVES and MARC DEERING
Cover by KYLE STRAHM
On sale FEBRUARY 18 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
With the Templar Guardians still on Oa, Kyle faces the very real prospect that his life may soon come to an end. The love of Carol Ferris alone can’t save him, and the foundation of the cosmos hangs in the balance.
RED LANTERNS #39
Written by LANDRY WALKER
Art by J. CALAFIORE
Cover by SCOTT HEPBURN
On sale FEBRUARY 25 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
The rage left behind on Earth following the Atrocitus War is spreading and in danger of erupting at any moment! Guy is determined to purge the world in order to save it, but can a man looking to die stop a primal force on a heavily populated planet?
SINESTRO #10
Written by CULLEN BUNN
Art and cover by BRAD WALKER and ANDREW HENNESSY
HARLEY QUINN Variant cover by IAN BERTRAM
On sale FEBRUARY 25 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for details.
Sinestro’s siege of Warworld has gone badly, and now Mongul is more powerful than ever. The leader of the Yellow Lanterns still may have a trick or two up his sleeve, but then, so does the planetary dictator with a grudge.
SWAMP THING #39
Written by CHARLES SOULE
Art and cover by JESUS SAIZ
On sale FEBRUARY 4 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
“The Machine Queen” part 5! The Swamp is dead. The machines rule the planet. Alec Holland’s greatest foes are arrayed against him, and the few allies he has left have gone into hiding. It is the end…unless the Swamp Thing can return to the beginning, to fix his greatest mistake.
BATMAN ’66 #20
Written by ROB WILLIAMS
Art by RUBEN PROCOPIO
Cover by MICHAEL ALLRED
On sale FEBRUARY 25 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED E • DIGITAL FIRST
Gotham City has a new hero in town: Joker Man! Can it be? Has the Clown Prince of Crime now become a comedic crimefighter? This new Joker seems to be sincere about lassoing the lawless by rounding up all the criminals, including some of his former allies! In fact, he’s so good at it that the citizenry wonders if they still need Batman and Robin at all!
MORTAL KOMBAT X #2-3
Written by SHAWN KITTELSEN
Issue #2 art by DEXTER SOY
Issue #3 art by IGOR VITORINO
Covers by IVAN REIS
#2 on sale FEBRUARY 11
#3 on sale FEBRUARY 25
40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • DIGITAL FIRST
Now shipping twice monthly! In issue #2, Scorpion and his newest companion set off in deadly pursuit of Raiden! Meanwhile, as the daughter of Johnny Cage and Sonya Blade, Cassie Cage thinks she’s seen it all. But when she finds herself in an illegal MMA deathmatch, Cassie must decide if she’s ready for her first taste of Mortal Kombat!
Then, in issue #3, as the civil war in Outworld rages on, Kotal Kahn suffers an unimaginable loss and enlists the power of the Kamidogu to avenge his fallen ally. But will blood magic make Kotal powerful enough to take down Outworld’s champion? Enter: Goro!
ARROW SEASON 2.5 #5
Written by MARC GUGGENHEIM and KETO SHIMIZU
Art by JOE BENNETT, CRAIG YEUNG and SZYMON KUDRANSKI
Photo cover
On sale FEBRUARY 11 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T • DIGITAL FIRST
An old ally returns as the clash with Brother Blood reaches its climax! Plus, a new enemy rises!
THE FLASH SEASON ZERO #5
Written by ANDREW KREISBERG
Art by MARCUS TO
Photo cover
On sale FEBRUARY 4 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T • DIGITAL FIRST
What’s a day in the life of the Fastest Man Alive like? Find out from the point of view of none other than Arrow’s Felicity Smoak!
INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US YEAR THREE #9
Written by TOM TAYLOR
Art by BRUNO REDONDO, MIKE S. MILLER and others
Cover by NEIL GOOGE
On sale FEBRUARY 4 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T • DIGITAL FIRST
The new Deadman tracks down The Spectre but makes a shocking discovery. Meanwhile, Trigon launches an attack on Superman, and not even the power of Wonder Woman is enough to help. Plus, the identity of Superman’s secret protector is revealed.
INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US YEAR THREE #10
Written by TOM TAYLOR
Art by BRUNO REDONDO, MIKE S. MILLER and others
Cover by NEIL GOOGE
On sale FEBRUARY 18 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T • DIGITAL FIRST
A world-shattering magical battle is under way, involving some of the most powerful beings in the universe. Batman, Constantine and the Birds of Prey launch a full out assault on Swamp Thing and his allies. And Batman has a final good-bye with the last person he’d expect.
HE-MAN: THE ETERNITY WAR #3
Written by DAN ABNETT
Art by POP MHAN
Cover by STJEPAN SEJIC
On sale FEBRUARY 25 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
High above the Sands of Time, She-Ra leads Stratos and an aerial squadron in search of the Eye of Chrono. Their mission is jeopardized by the appearance of Catra, Scorpia and a Horde Army! Will the Princess of Power defeat these women from her past and retrieve the Eye? The Eternity War is just getting started!
SENSATION COMICS FEATURING WONDER WOMAN #7
Written by ALEX DE CAMPI and AMY CHU
Art by NEIL GOOGE and BERNARD CHANG
Cover by SHANE DAVIS
On sale FEBRUARY 18 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T • DIGITAL FIRST
In “Venus Rising,” Diana’s conflicted about her current mission: She agreed to represent the Justice League as the first space station for harvesting Venusian fuel gases is brought online. But her arrival doesn’t go smoothly – and then, kaiju attack! Plus: A combat pilot gets a little help from Wonder Woman as a routine reconnaissance mission turns deadly in “Rescue Angel.”
INFINITE CRISIS: FIGHT FOR THE MULTIVERSE #8
Written by DAN ABNETT
Art by EDUARDO FRANCISCO, SZYMON KUDRANSKI and CHRISTIAN DUCE
Cover by CARLO PAGULAYAN and JASON PAZ
On sale FEBRUARY 18 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T • DIGITAL FIRST
The first mission comes to an end as the battle to save Nil reaches its conclusion. Facing impossible odds against Nightmare Brainiac and his legion of Nightmare Metallos, the heroes’ only hope is to reignite the defenses of the Monitor’s tower. And the person they have to rely on to do this is none other than Lex Luthor of the Gaslight World!
SMALLVILLE SEASON 11: CONTINUITY #3
Written by BRYAN Q. MILLER
Art by IG GUARA, MARCELO DI CHIARA and JULIO FERREIRA
Cover by CAT STAGGS
On sale FEBRUARY 11 • 40 pg, FC, 3 of 4, $3.99 US • RATED T • DIGITAL FIRST
An alien device streaks toward Metropolis and the Watchtower. As Chloe freezes in fear, her friends rush to her side! And no man escapes the Manhunters – but will Nightwing find a loophole?
ALL-STAR WESTERN VOL. 6: END OF THE TRAIL TP
Written by JUSTIN GRAY and JIMMY PALMIOTTI
Art by CLIFF RICHARDS, STAZ JOHNSON, JOSE LUIS GARCIA-LOPEZ, FABRIZIO FIORENTINO and DARWYN COOKE
Cover by DARWYN COOKE
On sale MARCH 25 • 144 pg, FC, $14.99 US
Now back in the Old West, Hex finds readjusting to his old life a bit more difficult than he expected – especially when he finds out that there’s an impostor calling himself Jonah Hex! Collects issues #29-34.
EARTH 2 VOL. 5: THE KRYPTONIAN HC
Written by TOM TAYLOR and DANIEL H. WILSON
Art by NICOLA SCOTT, TREVOR SCOTT, EDDY BARROWS and EBER FERREIRA
Cover by ANDY KUBERT
On sale APRIL 15 • 176 pg, FC, $24.99 US
A new super being named Val-Zod has appeared – and the heroes of Earth-2 must convince him to help them in one last, desperate attempt to stop Kal-El. Can they band together in time to prepare for Apokolips and the forces of Darkseid? And can Val-Zod become the hero they need him to be? Collects EARTH 2 #21-26 and EARTH 2: FUTURES END #1!
BATMAN VOL. 6: THE GRAVEYARD SHIFT HC
Written by SCOTT SNYDER, MARGUERITE BENNETT and JAMES TYNION IV
Art by GREG CAPULLO, DANNY MIKI, ANDY KUBERT, DUSTIN NGUYEN, DEREK FRIDOLFS, ALEX MALEEV and others
Cover by GREG CAPULLO
On sale APRIL 29 • 224 pg, FC, $24.99 US
In these tales from BATMAN #0, 18-20, 28, 34 and BATMAN ANNUAL #2, look back to the early days of the Dark Knight, then see the impact of the wake of the death of his son Damian! Plus, has Batman’s worst foe become…Bruce Wayne? This title also includes three pivotal chapters from the epic ZERO YEAR storyline, and a chapter that ties in to BATMAN ETERNAL!
HARLEY QUINN VOL. 2: POWER OUTAGE HC
Written by AMANDA CONNER and JIMMY PALMIOTTI
Art by AMANDA CONNER, JOHN TIMMS, DAVE JOHNSON, STEPHANE ROUX, CHAD HARDIN, PAUL POPE, MARCO FAILLA, DAMION SCOTT and others
Cover by AMANDA CONNER
On sale APRIL 8 • 208 pg, FC, $24.99 US
The first rule of Skate Club is…you do not mess with the Mistress of Mayhem! Harley stumbles across an underground fight club where big money equals big body counts! She’s in…and she’s making Sy Borgman her agent. Plus, what would happen if the demented Clown Princess of Crime visited the most popular comic con out there? And Harley attempts to rescue Poison Ivy – with smelly results! Collects HARLEY QUINN #9-13, HARLEY QUINN: FUTURES END #1, a story from SECRET ORIGINS #4 and the star-studded HARLEY QUINN INVADES COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL: SAN DIEGO #1!
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA VOL. 2: SURVIVORS OF EVIL TP
Written by MATT KINDT
Art by DOUG MAHNKE, TOM DERENICK, EDDY BARROWS and others
Cover by KEN LASHLEY
On sale MARCH 4 • 192 pg, FC, $16.99 US
As the smoke clears from TRINITY WAR, the JLA is dead, betrayed by one of their own. But Martian Manhunter and Stargirl live to fight another day, only to find themselves trapped on an alien world under the control of a group of Super-Villains. Collecting issues #8-14!
JUSTICE LEAGUE VOL. 5: FOREVER HEROES TP
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art by IVAN REIS, JOE PRADO, DOUG MAHNKE, JESUS MERINO and others
Cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO
On sale MARCH 11 • 168 pg, FC, $14.99 US
In these tales from JUSTICE LEAGUE #24-29, the Crime Syndicate hunts down the few heroes foolish enough to challenge them – including Dick Grayson! But Owlman has other plans for Nightwing…and Ultraman!
SUPERMAN/WONDER WOMAN VOL. 1: POWER COUPLE TP
Written by CHARLES SOULE
Art by TONY S. DANIEL, MATT BANNING, PAULO SIQUEIRA and others
Cover by TONY S. DANIEL
On sale MARCH 18 • 200 pg, FC, $16.99 US
Collecting the bold new series that looks at the relationship between The Man of Steel and the Amazon Princess! Some say love is a battlefield, but where Superman and Wonder Woman are concerned – it spells Doomsday! Collects issues #1-6 of the new blockbuster series.
WONDER WOMAN VOL. 6: BONES HC
Written by BRIAN AZZARELLO
Art by CLIFF CHIANG and GORAN SUDZUKA
Cover by CLIFF CHIANG
On sale APRIL 1 • 160 pg, FC, $22.99 US
In this final WONDER WOMAN volume by Brian Azzarello and Cliff Chiang Olympus must fall, and its rightful ruler must be restored. Wonder Woman is locked in desperate battle with the First Born with the destiny of immortals at stake in these stories from WONDER WOMAN #30-35 and a story from SECRET ORIGINS #6.
DC ENTERTAINMENT GRAPHIC NOVEL ESSENTIALS AND CHRONOLOGY 2015
Cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL
On sale JANUARY 28 • 128 pg, FC, FREE
Get ready for the latest edition of the DC ENTERTAINMENT GRAPHIC NOVEL ESSENTIALS AND CHRONOLOGY, newly updated for 2015! This Free catalogue includes DC’s 25 Essential Graphic Novels, plus reading guides to each DC imprint, reading orders and more! Did we mention it’s FREE?
Retailers: Quantities may be limited. There is no freight credit for this item.
BATMAN ‘66 VOL. 3 HC
Written by JEFF PARKER, ART BALTAZAR and FRANCO
Art by JONATHAN CASE, DARIO BRIZUELA, TED NAIFEH, DEAN HASPIEL, PAUL RIVOCHE, CRAIG ROUSSEAU and WILFREDO TORRES
Cover by MICHAEL ALLRED
On sale APRIL 22 • 160 pg, FC, $19.99 US
In this third BATMAN ‘66 collection, The Dynamic Duo face The Joker, The Penguin, the Queen of Diamonds and a Bat-Robot of their own making…that may put Batman and Robin out of a job! Collects issues #11-16.
ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN VOL. 3 TP
Written by JIM KRUEGER, PETER MILLIGAN, MAX LANDIS and others
Art by NEIL EDWARDS, GABRIEL RODRIGUEZ, JOCK, PHIL HESTER, EVAN SHANER and others
Cover by EVAN SHANER
On sale MARCH 25 • 224 pg, FC, $16.99 US
This third volume of ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN continues to feature the best creators in comics and entertainment presenting their takes on the Man of Steel in stores from issues #11-17! Includes appearances by Toyman, Lobo, The Joker, Lex Luthor and more!
BATMAN BEYOND: JUSTICE LORDS BEYOND TP
Written by KYLE HIGGINS and CHRISTOS GAGE
Art by THONY SILAS, DEXTER SOY and others
Cover by KHARY RANDOLPH
On sale MARCH 11 • 176 pg, FC, $16.99 US
Wonder Woman is back, but what secret is she hiding? Meanwhile, Batman’s journey through the dystopian world of the Justice Lords takes a deadly turn as he faces Lord Superman! Collects BATMAN BEYOND #9-12.
0 Comments on DC December Announcements in Full: The Suiciders and more as of 11/18/2014 3:27:00 AM
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 8/22/2012
Recent tweets seemed to indicate that Rob Liefeld and DC were not exactly on the same page on the books he was writing at DC. HEre’s the tweets of the last 10 minutes:
Just finished sending my thank you’s to DC personnel. Officially got off the DC52 treadmill this morning…
Scott Clark will be replacing me p. Deathstroke. Marat will continue the work on Grifter…I had a great time at DC.
I believe in what DC is doing, but had to preserve my sanity.
The 0’s are my last issues. Thanks for all the love.
I walked off all 3 books. Can’t wait to see any attempts to spin. I have every email.
This is the 4th time I quit in the last 4 months. This time it will stick.
Liefeld
Rob Liefeld: I have no idea of the long term fates of any of these titles; that’s well above my concern. I was asked to spice these books up and we managed to jump every book with issue #9. If you chart each book from their launch, each was having a rapid fall sales wise. It’s over at ICV2, listed under “actual” sales. We stemmed the bleeding and the patients are healthier now, albeit in a very competitive market that favors what I deem the 1% — Batman, X-Men, Spider-Man, Avengers. No variants, no incentives. We are doing it with story, character…the old fashioned way.
Developing.
UDPATE: You’ll want to just keep it locked on Liefeld’s twitter, but it seems the usual cause was the culprit: Editorial interference.
Reasons are the same as everyone’s that you hear. I lasted a few months longer than I thought possible.
— robertliefeld (@robertliefeld) August 22, 2012
Massive indecision, last minute and I mean LAST minute changes that alter everything. Editor pissing contests… No thxnjs
— robertliefeld (@robertliefeld) August 22, 2012
Last week my editor said ” early on we had a lot of indie talent that weren’t used to re-writes and changes..made it hard”. Uh, no, it’s you
— robertliefeld (@robertliefeld) August 22, 2012
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 8/17/2012
It’s nearly a year later, and retailer Brian Hibbs is first out of the gate with an analysis of the New 52, a year later and he says it was good. An attached chart shows all the books up significantly for the year, and more importantly, as Bob Wayne promised at Comic-Con last year, the New 52 actually enlarged the pie with some new readers: What most impressed me a year ago was the sheer number of “lapsed” comics readers coming back into the store for the first time in a decade-plus — there was tons of sampling being done, and a truly significant number of those new customers have seem to stuck. I’m sorry to universalize from my individual experiences, but I can’t think of a clear and unambiguous way to measure this in the national sales charts, but in my individual store, customer transaction counts (basically: every time the register is popped, to make a sale) are up 20%. I also have about 20% more subscriber customers than I did a year ago — and exceedingly few (like “I can count them on one hand” few) new “DC-specific” subs that were opened had to be chased down for payment or cancelled.
What I see is that a lot of new customers came into the market looking at the DC reboot, and they didn’t only buy DC comics — they saw the wide wide range of material that’s available, and discovered new favorites. The entire Direct Market is up, directly counter to the general experience of all other print media, and this at the same time that major expansion to digital was announced, providing virtually every comic on sale in print and on line at the exact same time. John Jackson Miller calculates that Direct Market year-to-date sales through July are up 18.5%. Can you name any other print media where this is anything close to true in the year 2012?
Hibbs admits he was wrong in his initial skepticism, and his analysis goes counter to our own Marc-Oliver Frisch who has generally been a half-empty kind of guy in his analysis of the ensuing sales trends. But I tend to side with Hibbs on this.
Even though the editorial roll-out was a rushed, jury-rigged thing, the marketing on the New 52 was incredible, and they basically sold the plan brilliantly. More importantly in what Hibbs writes, when the lapsed readers came back to the stores, they found a cornucopia of great new titles from ALL publishers, including the shelves bursting with new graphic novels from new creators. New new new!
The pie got bigger.
Now, Hibbs being Hibbs, he does have some reservations, mostly about there being too much weak product at the bottom of the charts, and also re the creep back towards crossover land:
I’m also growing a little concern at DC’s large push towards direct crossover stories — something beginning in “Stormwatch” and ending in “Red Lanterns,” or whatever, because while I recognize the “world building” nature of that, most customers really do resent being asked to buy multiple books in order to follow a story. I think it’s a trend that needs to be looked at very carefully, because it is dangerous directly crossing a 25k seller over with a 40k seller — you’re more likely to net l
15 Comments on How the New 52 saved comics, last added: 8/17/2012Display Comments Add a Comment
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 4/23/2012
Last week Buzzfeed, the hugely popular “viral” media site, went on a photo tour of DC’s offices, including a slideshow that we now can’t find that included shots of publicity VP David Hyde’s office. EDIT: It was on CNET, that’s why. Which was ironic, since early last week it was announced Hyde was leaving DC.
Well apparently, while on that tour someone held open the ultra-secret notebook of Watchmen art, which was handcuffed to Bob Wayne’s wrist at the retailer summit week before last. Here’s a bunch of concept art and stuff but not the “Rorschach’s face in the clouds” page other alluded to.
We’re not going to spotlight all the art except Amanda Conner and Lee Bermejo, Conner because she’s the one who’s sticking closest to the original, and Bermejo because he’s quietly become one of the best mainstream artists working in the last few years with his Joker and Batman: Noel graphic novels.
Our opinion: this all looks like nice stuff. Very nice. Nice enough to sell your soul?
No.
But see next post.
Meanwhile, Buzzfeed has also been made privy to “leaked”photos from the New 52 Second Wave.
How exactly are these “leaked” when someone stood there with the notebooks open? Is it like the moment in the adoption agency when the nice lady tells you she can’t legally tell you who your birth parents are and then leaves the room with the file open on her desk? Did Buzzfeed use their secret spy glasses to take the pictures? Did David Hyde hold the book open before packing up his things?
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 2/10/2012
How many statistics can one news day handle? DC has just released results from their Retailer Survey which they launched in conjunction with the New 52. As we noted at the time, the survey was aimed at gauging interest in each and every New 52 title, as well as general readership demographics. As such, it represents the most comprehensive reader survey a comics company has made in some time. While it’s very New 52-centric, it does reveal a lot. While DC has released their own bullet points, which we’ve shown below, ICv2 has more info and an interview with John Rood. You’ll want to head over there and digest the whole thing. But here’s the broad picture:
• The launch of DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 galvanized the traditional fan base for superhero comic books: male readers, who were already—or have at one time been—comic book fans.
• The survey results are not a reflection of all comic book readers or the broader audience for graphic novels. This was a survey of consumers who specifically purchased DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 comic books, either in print or digital format.
• DC COMICS: THE NEW 52 appealed mainly to avid fans and lapsed readers. More than 70% of those surveyed categorized themselves as avid fans who visit the comic book store every week. More than a quarter of in-store consumers were lapsed readers. The survey indicates that 5% of those polled identified themselves as first-time, new readers.
• More than 50% of DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 readers were between the ages of 13 and 34. And more than 50% of in-store DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 consumers had an annual income of $60K or less. The data supports and arguably validates our philosophy of holding the line at $2.99 which DCE is committed to maintaining.
• The majority of titles generated strong interest and likely reader retention.
• Avid Fans purchased up to 20 titles out of the 52 titles.
• Digital: of dual mode readers, digital is far from replacing print.
• Impulse buys: Up to four-in-ten respondents reported that a NEW 52 title they were interested in (at a physical store location) was out of stock. Nearly two-thirds made a spontaneous purchase.
ICv2 has much more on the print-vs-digital metrics, backing up Rood’s contention that digital is still “additive”:
Interestingly the survey did indicate that 57% of the digital readers did read print comics, while just 16% of the print readers had purchased or read digital comics. Also of interest are the top reasons that readers preferred one format or the other. Digital readers preferred reading comics digitally because they provided immediate access (which could mean that many of these readers don’t have access to a convenient comic shop), and they also like the convenience and easy storage and portability of digital comics. Print readers listed collectibility as the primary reason they bought physical copies, but they also expressed a dislike of reading comics onscreen. Rood told ICv2 that the redemption of the digital codes in DC’s
15 Comments on DC Retailer Survey results: older, male, middle-class, avid, last added: 2/12/2012Display Comments Add a Comment
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 2/8/2012
You may recall an ongoing blame battle between writer John Rozum and artist Scott McDaniel over the New 52 launch title STATIC. Rozum was the first of the New 52 creators to walk, and revealed it was because of creative differences with McDaniel. Now McDaniel has told HIS side of the story — in a 15,000 word novella that covers every moment of every conference call in minute depth. McDaniel says he has never written anything before, but he seems to have a great future as a court reporter.
There’s a ton of “he said/he said” going on in the post.
Looking back on the situation, I think John simply felt there was nothing he could contribute. I solved most of the story issues to Editorial’s satisfaction, not him, and he was relegated to scripting a novice’s plots. And that infuriated him.
For my part, I am ashamed of being so angry. I am not ashamed of the work I contributed, but of the manner in which I offered it at this time.
And again, I hurled no expletives, or personal insults or insults of any kind. I simply refused to lay down before the master, instead making him earn each step.
Reading the two together – and parsing out the passive aggressiveness in both – what becomes clear very quickly is a creative mismatch between McDaniel and Rozum’s sensibilities, as well as a horrendous breakdown in communications between editorial and the two creators; instead of there being any smoking gun of “He Said He Said” gossip or controversy here, it just seems sad and a wasted opportunity all round. Static Shock deserved better.
Again, Harvey and I were very concerned about the sales trend on STATIC. Please recall this topic from earlier in my statement. This historic sales trend is no joke. It's real. Sales cool. Harvey and I feared that, as retailers were preparing to order #4 through #6, if they didn't see evidence of real story momentum and something important and cool happening that would attract additional readers, they would not change their historical ordering patterns and the book would simply slide into cancellation, if not by issue #6, then maybe by #8 or #10. Again, John expressed a contrary opinion. To him, that stuff wasn't worthy of consideration – only story mattered. And he was gonna bring the story.
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 1/27/2012
Ending some speculation, DC released an updated schedule for New 52 collections, and even the red shirt six titles that already joined the hall of heroes WILL be collected in their entirety — all eight issues of Omac, Static Shock, etc, will be collected. Nice move there, actually.
JUSTICE LEAGUE VOLUME 1: ORIGIN HC Writer: Geoff Johns Artists: Jim Lee and Scott Williams Collects: JUSTICE LEAGUE #1-6 $24.99 US, 176 pg
ANIMAL MAN VOLUME 1: THE HUNT TP Writer: Jeff Lemire Artists: Travel Foreman, Jeff Huet and John Paul Leon Collects: ANIMAL MAN #1-6 $14.99 US, 144 pg
BATMAN VOLUME 1: THE COURT OF OWLS HC Writer: Scott Snyder Artists: Greg Capullo and Jonathan Glapion Collects: BATMAN #1-7 $24.99 US, 176 pg
JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL VOLUME 1: THE SIGNAL MASTERS TP Writer: Dan Jurgens Artists: Aaron Lopresti, Matt Ryan and Marco Castiello Collects: JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL #1-6 $14.99 US, 144 pg
GREEN LANTERN VOL. 1: SINESTRO HC Writer: Geoff Johns Artists: Doug Mahnke and Christian Alamy Collects: GREEN LANTERN #1-6 $24.99 US, 160 pg
CATWOMAN VOLUME 1: THE GAME TP Writer: Judd Winick Artist: Guillem March Collects: CATWOMAN #1-6 $14.99 US, 144 pg
STORMWATCH VOLUME 1: THE DARK SIDE TP Writer: Paul Cornell Artists: Miguel Sepulveda and Al Barrionuevo Collects: STORMWATCH #1-6 $14.99 US, 144 pg
GREEN ARROW VOLUME 1: THE MIDAS TOUCH TP Writers: J.T. Krul, Keith Giffen and Dan Jurgens Artists: Dan Jurgens, George Pérez, Ignacio Calero and Ray McCarthy Collects: GREEN ARROW #1-6 $14.99 US, 144 pg
WONDER WOMAN VOLUME 1: BLOOD HC Writer: Brian Azzarello Artists: Cliff Chiang and Tony Akins Collects: WONDER WOMAN #1-6 $24.99 US, 160 pg
BATMAN, DETECTIVE COMICS VOLUME 1: FACES OF DEATH HC Writer: Tony S. Daniel Artists: Tony S. Daniel, Ryan Winn and Sandu Florea Collects: DETECTIVE COMICS #1-7 $24.99 US, 176 pg
RED LANTERNS VOLUME 1: BLOOD AND RAGE TP Writer: Peter Milligan Artists: Ed Benes, Rob Hunter and Diego Bernard Collects: RED LANTERNS #1-7 $14.99 US, 160 pg
BATWOMAN VOL. 1: HYDROLOGY HC Writers: J.H. Williams III and W. Haden Blackman Artist: J.H. Williams III and Amy Reeder Collects: BATWOMAN #0-5 $22.99 US, 144 pg
MISTER TERRIFIC VOL. 1: MIND GAMES TP Writer: Eric Wallace Artists: Giancarlo Gugliotta, Wayne Faucher, Scott Clark, Dave Beaty and Oliver Nome Collects: MISTER TERRIFIC #1-8 $16.99 US, 192 pg
FRANKENSTEIN AGENT OF SHADE VOLUME 1: WAR OF THE MONSTERS TP Writer: Jeff Lemire Artist: Alberto Ponticelli Collects: FRANKENSTEIN, AGENT OF S.H.A.D.E. #1-7 $14.99 US, 160 pg
STATIC SHOCK VOL. 1: SUPERCHARGED TP Writer: Scott McDaniel and John Rozum Artists: Scott McDaniel and Andy Owens Collects: STATIC SHOCK #1-8 $16.99 US, 192 pg
LEGION OF SUPERHEROES VOLUME 1: HOSTILE WORLD TP Writer: Paul Levitz Artists: Francis Portela, Walter Simonson and Dan Green Collects: LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #1-7 $14.99 US, 160 pg
BATMAN AND ROBIN VOL
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 12/7/2011
Oh that old New 52 gang…the memories. But it’s breaking up so fast. Over on Twitter, writer Paul Cornell confirmed that he was off STORMWATCH with issue #6, but
I’ll be staying on Demon Knights and Saucer Country, but #6 is my last issue of Stormwatch. Thanks, everyone, and good luck to Paul Jenkins.
The new STORMWATCH writer is Paul Jenkins, but he’s only been confirmed for two issues.
When a scientific experiment tears a hole in the barrier between dimensions, miners from a forbidden universe arrive to steal Earth’s gravity! Can Stormwatch—with their ranks depleted after recent cataclysmic events—find a way to repel alien excavators that shred our reality with every touch?
“The Stormwatch crew can’t ever catch a break — no simple threats like bloodthirsty monsters or world-dominating supervillains to stop, it’s always some mind-cracking knot that Apollo, Midnighter and the rest of the crew have to untie,” says editor Pat McCallum. “This time out, Stormwatch have to solve the puzzle of dimension-stepping gravity miners, creatures so alien they’re not even technically alive. The last stand of humanity or, as Stormwatch calls it, ‘Monday.’”
Being among the “Edge” comics, there’s a certain freedom to experiment about this. One of the things I really liked about the Authority, Stormwatch and Planetary comics back in the day was that they could take things further. We’re still keeping that type of swagger. It’s a very attitudinal book. It’s kind of in-your-face. That kind of “looking down on the rest of the universe” is very attractive about Stormwatch. So that’s very much part of this.
It’s very fast-moving as well. We jam a hell of a lot into that first issue. There are lots of characters, there’s lots of action, there’s lots of locations. It’s sort of immediately obvious that this has a real point.
It’s at the crux of a lot of things for where DC is going to be in September. It’s a bit of a kingpin book. It united a lot of things.
Although STORMWATCH was part of the original Jim Lee Wildstorm universe, it’s kind of drifted into the “English dude” part of the universe–you can’t spell “English dude” without EDGE — having been revamped mostly by UK writers, since Warren Ellis gave it an electric prod up the arse back in the day. What English writers might step in for Jenkins once his two-issue run ends?
Also, it’s pretty clear now that the New 52 is going to be all about very, very short runs unless you are hitting right away.
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 12/5/2011
The new 52 Universe is getting even more diverse with the return of Steel, who returns in ACTION #4 by Grant Morrison and Rags Morales. In addition to teaming with Superman in the main story, the “John Henry Irons” of the DCU will get his very own 8-page back-up by Sholly Fisch and Brad Walker. And he’ll be back for another back-up in ACTION #7.
Created as one of the “variant Supermen” during the Death of Superman story, Steel had a pretty good comics run in the ’90s, getting up to issue #52 of his very own series — until he had the misfortune to star in a movie. With Steel by basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal. the film is considered one of the very worst superhero movies of all time. Since then he’s appeared as a back-up character here, there, and everywhere.
Despite the cinematic setback, Steel has always been a pretty cool character, so it’s about time he returned.
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 11/29/2011
Our review copy of THE NEW 52, the $150, 1216-page collection of EVERY SINGLE NEW 52 #1 issue has arrived. Future uses: pressing flowers, anchoring papers during hurricane. This thing is HEAVY. And big. We’ve shown it here next to a cup of coffee for size reference.
Meanwhile, James Robinson is on Twitter drumming up support for the non New 52 Shade which is selling badly and in danger of cancellation. Which, if it had been a New 52 book, would probably be selling as well as Batwing or OMAC.
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 11/10/2011
Over on their blog, DC has announced the rollout for the New 52 collections. Instead of dumping 52 trades in one month, they will be staggered from May-November, with 7 or 8 books released a month. Justice League, Batman, Green Lantern, Detective, Batman & Robin, Batgirl, Batwoman, Batman: The Dark Knight, Aquaman, Green Lantern Corps, Green Lantern: New Guardians, Action, Superman and Flash are all getting hardcovers; the rest get TPBs.
Missing from the list: Wonder Woman.
UPDATE: It’s been noted that these erroneously list Scott Snyder as the writer for STORMWATCH when it is in fact Paul Cornell.
JUSTICE LEAGUE VOL. 1 HC Writer: Geoff Johns Artists: Jim Lee and Scott Williams Collects: JUSTICE LEAGUE #1-6 $24.99 US, 176 pg
ANIMAL MAN VOL. 1 TP Writer: Jeff Lemire Artists: Travel Foreman, Jeff Huet and John Paul Leon Collects: ANIMAL MAN #1-6 $14.99 US, 144 pg
BATMAN VOL. 1 HC Writer: Scott Snyder Artists: Greg Capullo and Jonathan Glapion Collects: BATMAN #1-7 $24.99 US, 176 pg
JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL VOL. 1 TP Writer: Dan Jurgens Artists: Aaron Lopresti, Matt Ryan and Marco Castiello Collects: JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL #1-6 $14.99 US, 144 pg
GREEN LANTERN VOL. 1: SINESTRO REBIRTH HC Writer: Geoff Johns Artists: Doug Mahnke and Christian Alamy Collects: GREEN LANTERN #1-7 $24.99 US, 176 pg
CATWOMAN VOL. 1 TP Writer: Judd Winick Artist: Guillem March Collects: CATWOMAN #1-6 $14.99 US, 144 pg
STORMWATCH VOL. 1 TP
Writer: Paul Cornell
Artists: Miguel Sepulveda and Al Barrionuevo
Collects: STORMWATCH #1-7
$14.99 US, 160 pg
GREEN ARROW VOL. 1 TP Writers: J.T. Krul, Keith Giffen and Dan Jurgens Artists: Dan Jurgens, George Pérez, Ignacio Calero and Ray McCarthy Collects: GREEN ARROW #1-6 $14.99 US, 144 pg
BATMAN: DETECTIVE COMICS VOL. 1 HC Writer: Tony S. Daniel Artists: Tony S. Daniel, Ryan Winn and Sandu Florea Collects: DETECTIVE COMICS #1-7 $24.99 US, 176 pg
RED LANTERNS VOL. 1 TP Writer: Peter Milligan Artists: Ed Benes, Rob Hunter and Diego Bernard Collects: RED LANTERNS #1-7 $14.99 US, 160 pg
BATWOMAN VOL. 1: HYDROLOGY HC Writers: J.H. Williams III and W. Haden Blackman Artist: J.H. Williams III Collects: BATWOMAN #1-5 $22.99 US, 144 pg
MISTER TERRIFIC VOL. 1 TP Writer: Eric Wallace Artists: Giancarlo Gugliotta, Wayne Faucher, Scott Clark, Dave Beaty and Oliver Nome Collects: MISTER TERRIFIC #1-6 $14.99 US, 144 pg
FRANKENSTEIN, AGENT OF S.H.A.D.E. VOL. 1 TP Writer: Jeff Lemire Artist: Alberto Ponticelli Collects: FRANKENSTEIN, AGENT OF S.H.A.D.E. #1-6 $14.99 US, 144 pg
STATIC SHOCK VOL. 1 TP Writer: Scott McDaniel and John Rozum Artists: Scott McDaniel and Andy Owens Collects: STATIC SHOCK #1-6 $14.99 US, 144 pg
LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES VOL. 1 TP Writer: Paul Levitz Artists: Francis Portela, Walter Simonson and Dan Green Collects: LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #1-7 $14.99 US, 160 pg
BATMAN AND ROBIN VOL. 1 HC Writer: Peter J. Tomasi Artists: Patrick Gleason and Mick Gray Collects: BATMAN AND ROBIN
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 9/28/2011
As you all may know, there is a mystery 53rd title listed on the new DC/Nielsen survey, the little known but much admired NERAK. Although it has received much less attention than any other New 52 title, many feel it is the best of the bunch, with a sensitivity and universal message of hope and friendship rarely seen in the comics.
However, DC has not yet seen fit to release any art from this book to the media. So please, let’s show the world how great NERAK is — send your leaked pages and covers to comicsbeat at gmail.com. We’ll run the best of ‘em!
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 9/26/2011
Oh it just won’t go away. And in a minute I’ll explain why. First, here is perhaps the most worrying response to the Starfire-is-an-emotionless-sexual-predator outcry, from Shortpacked!
This will not end well.
(Link from Dan Goldman.)
Deviant Art’s fresh-bottled extols the joys of wearing a transparent bikini as a means of expressing self-esteem. Click the ink for the whole cartoon.
If a woman is confident and sure of herself when she has a transparent bikini, it is only fair the boys get to enjoy themselves as well.
(Via Kevin Melrose)
Just as a reminder, the actual colorist of the book, Blond, broke confidentiality and revealed that Starfire was originally supposed to wear a transparent bikini. And other folks have recalled that the issue was the subject of some office controversy.
All of this was a conscious editorial decision born of discussion, at some point. And before you go jumping to conclusions, both CATWOMAN and RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS have female editors. (CATWOMAN is edited by Rachel Gluckstern and assistant Rickey Purdin; RED HOOD by Bobbie Chase and assistant Katie Kubert.) From what we’ve heard, this is a pretty top-driven editorial move, so its not clear how much say individual editors have on books. Still, the idea that two members of a superteam can share the same emotionless predator has now been established to show just…how modern and emotionless they are. Is this a plot point for the rest of the series?
For example in THE WALKING DEAD, Rick Grimes’ best pal and deputy, Shane, has a relationship with Rick’s wife Lori while they both thought Rick was dead, which becomes a huge plot point for the TV series. (Robert Kirkman ended the situation much more quickly in the comic; even he admits that the TV show version is much more compelling.) Powerful emotions like desire and jealousy make for strong stories that people want to follow.
So if you’re going to do this
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 9/22/2011
Yesterday’s Week 3 New 52 books brought the usual array of reactions, and in particular two pages from Red Hood and the Outlaws and Catwoman caused much consternation and tweetering. The usual suspects — ComicsAlliance , Blog@ and DC Women Kicking Ass were all up in arms over two admittedly icky characterizations — Starfire as a cosmic bimbo and Catwoman as Batman’s arch-enemy with benefits. Andrew Wheeler has the most astute write up:
The third page also gives us the title of the issue, ‘And Most of the Costumes Stay On’. This is your final clue that you are not imagining things; this is consciously and conspicuously an exploitation comic. This is a comic that emphatically sensationalises sex to stir up its audience.
This is also the same day that WONDER WOMAN #1 by Brian Azzarello and Cliff Chiang came out, and this is definitely one of the best reviewed New 52 books yet, and from where I sit, it’s a home run. Azzarello–who was not the first person you’d think of to write Wonder Woman–has nevertheless come up with a fresh, thoughtful approach. In interviews, he keeps comparing it to a horror book, but it is only if you think AMERICAN GODS is a horror book. I’m wary of making the Gaiman comparison because it sets off all kinds of warning bells, but by whatever means, this is an updated version of the classic book about a vulnerable young human caught in the machinations of powerful supernatural forces — think THE DARK IS RISING for grown-ups…with Wonder Woman as Merriman.
DC keeps making crude overtures to the teen girl reader demographic with references to Hunger Games and Twilight (the latter for Superman!) — but this is the book they should be pushing for that demographic. Or, to be really really obvious about it…this is a Vertigo book.
And the critics have noticed, like Kelly Thompson at CBR:
Azzarello doesn’t spend a lot of time in Diana’s head, or learning about her origin, or fussing with what may (or may not) have come before, and it’s a great decision. We are plunged into the action: gods being manipulative gods, magical protectors, prophesized rivalries, mythological pregnancies, mortals in dire straights, and Diana kicking ass and taking names. The story stands on its own powerfully without a mess of back-story or history lessons and is confident in both its plot
15 Comments on Was Catwoman worse than Wonder Woman was good?, last added: 9/22/2011Display Comments Add a Comment
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 9/20/2011
§ As announced yesterday, JUSTICE LEAGUE #1 is going into a fourth printing, this time with a blood-red sky variant edition of the simpering Wonder Woman cover by David Finch. In addition, all 12 books coming out this week are already sold out from Diamond: BATMAN, BIRDS OF PREY, BLUE BEETLE, CAPTAIN ATOM, CATWOMAN, DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS, GREEN LANTERN CORPS, LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES, NIGHTWING, RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS, SUPERGIRL, and WONDER WOMAN.
§ The writers of the of the Supergirl book, Mike Green and Michael Johnson, talk about it at USA Today and reveal that it is actually…aimed at a girl audience.
Much of DC’s reasoning behind the relaunch is to appeal to people who aren’t traditional male fanboys, and Green feels Supergirl appeals to a broader audience simply because she is a real girl in a real predicament.
“We’re really excited about the opportunity to hand this book to a female reader who is into things like The Hunger Games. This is a strong character with her own point of view,” says Johnson, whose new IDW Star Trek series also debuts Wednesday.
The creators also wanted Supergirl to look appropriate to a teenage reader. There’s a reason behind her new tights, which is teased in the first issue, and gone are older versions of the character wearing midriff-baring tops and short skirts.
§ Both CBR and iFanboy have been running polls and statistics on pull lists to give some idea of what books readers are actually enjoying, or thinking they will enjoy. The Trouble With Comics gang is reviewing all the new #1s, along with everyone else on earth. J. Caleb Mozzocco looks at the December solicitations.
§ A
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 9/19/2011
It was a magic moment but it could never last — The New 52 creative standing together tall and proud, the best and the brightest ready to rescue the comics market. But already, the new gang is breaking up, just like at the end of Grease.
Last week it was John Rozum, writer on STATIC SHOCK, announcing he was leaving, for reasons unknown.
Now, JT Krul is out as Green Arrow writer, as revealed in the solicitations for December, Krul will be replaced by Keith Giffen as writer on GA, however he’s staying on the Captain Atom relaunch and a new project, which also exemplifies the spirit of the New 52. Krul confirmed the moves on his Facebook page:
Hey everyone! Effective as of issue #4, I will no longer be writing Green Arrow. As many of you know, Oliver Queen is one of my favorite characters in the DC Universe, so this decision was not easy to make. Getting the chance to do the fall of Green Arrow and my run during Brightest Day was a dream come true, and I was excited to bring a new yet familiar take on Green Arrow in the new 52. But, I’ve been writing him for a few years now and an opportunity came up that I really wanted to tackle. I had to make a choice. In a way, my decision to leave is more a testament to how incredibly thrilled I am about Captain Atom. I don’t think I’ve been more excited about a project. Working with Freddie Williams is amazing and I really think it’s among my best work at DC to date. It was a tough call – like picking a favorite child.
I can’t talk about my new project just yet, but it perfectly exemplifies what DC is all about with the New 52 – taking the best characters in comics and presenting them in new and exciting ways. The ability to think outside the box, take chances, and tell different kinds of stories is why it’s a great time to be writing for DC Comics.
For sure, I’ll miss Oliver Queen – and working with the likes of Dan Jurgens, George Perez, David Baron, and Dave Wilkins – but I’m sure the Emerald Archer will be in good hands for more globe-trotting, James Bond, high adventures.
And, at the very least, I got to include my version of the boxing-glove arrow.
GREEN ARROW #4
Written by KEITH GIFFEN and DAN JURGENS
Art by DAN JURGENS and GEORGE PEREZ
Cover by DAVE WILKINS
On sale DECEMBER 7 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
It’s a Tokyo showdown! At an international tech expo that caters to the likes of WayneTech and Queen Industries, party crasher Green Arrow finds himself in the sights of a mystery woman bent on taking down “evil” corporations – like the one Green Arrow owns!
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 9/19/2011
After some comments on Twitter surfaced, TEEN TITANS artist Brett Booth has confirmed that a new titan to appear in issues #3 is an openly gay teen named Miguel Jose Barragan, a.k.a. Bunker. Scripter Scott Lobdell wrote:
His real name is Miguel Jose Barragan. He was raised in a very small Mexican village called El Chilar. He was very loved by his family and the village as well — and they were as accepting of his homosexuality as they were to his super powers when they first manifested. To that end he grew up in an angst-free environment. He was born out of the closet and so he has a very refreshing outlook on life.
We wanted to show an interesting character who’s homosexuality is part of him, not something that’s hidden. Sure they are gay people who you wouldn’t know are gay right off the bat, but there are others who are a more flamboyant, and we thought it would be nice to actually see them portrayed in comics. Did we go over the top, I don’t think so. I wanted you to know he might be gay as soon as you see him. Our TT is partly about diversity of ANY kind, its about all kinds of teens getting together to help each other. It is a very difficult line to walk, will he be as I’ve read in some of the comments ‘fruity’? Not that I’m aware of. Will he be more effeminate than what we’ve seen before, the ‘typical’ gay male comic character, yes. Does it scare the shit out of me that I might inadvertently piss off the group I want to reflect in a positive way, you’re damn straight (pun intended!)
Then again, the DCU has a lot of gay fans and readers and maybe they’ll embrace Bunker as a new icon. Gay comics reader Fanboi writes at Heroes’n'Hunks:
I won’t know how I REALLY feel about this until I read it, but as a prime example of the demographic he’s afraid of “pissing off,” I’ll say I have no problem with the concept as long as he doesn’t become a painful stereotype. Basically, I’m interested and far more excited about the release of Teen Titans #1 because of this, but since he won’t show for a few issues, it is a wait and see situation for a true opinion.
A number of people have already made the inevitable GLEE reference – calling him a Hispanic Chris Colfer with super powers. That PARTICULAR combination is sure to draw the interest of many, the admiration of some and the ire of a few sides. I’ve noticed (both in GLEE comments here and elsewhere) the general dislike that the “nelly queen” type in general (or Colfer specifically – personally I
17 Comments on New Teen Titan is out and proud — but will gay readers embrace him?, last added: 9/19/2011Display Comments Add a Comment
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 9/15/2011
They may not be quite as hot as Missoni knit miniskirts, but the New 52 comics have been experiencing a lively afterlife on eBay due to various shortages. However, what will happen to the market when an “official” error printing gets out there?
DC just announced they will replace some copies of GREEN LANTERN #1 which have a printing error — a big green circle over Sinestro’s ear.
RETAILER ADVISORY: PRINTING ERROR ON SOME COPIES OF GREEN LANTERN #1
DC Comics has received reports of a printing error on the front cover of some copies of GREEN LANTERN #1 (JUL110218). The flaw is an irregular green loop that appears above Sinestro’s ear.
Please check all of your copies for the flaw and report any flawed copies as damages to Diamond by Monday, September 19. DC is working to pull copies printed for other markets to replace the damaged copies, but we need to know the size of the problem and we need to audit our existing inventories to avoid sending out additional flawed copies.
Replacement copies will be scheduled to arrive in stores October 12, the same day issue #2 is scheduled to arrive in stores.
The error seems to be fairly widespread with some stores reporting about a quarter of copies with the green ear circle. Maybe it’s just some new kind of power ring?
All in all, we’d rather have that sweet Missoni cup and saucer set.
Does this mean it’s over and I can start buying DC Comics again?
Let me see if I’ve got this straight: they’re remaking covers from 51 issues ago? Is the ouroboros of nostalgia that tight behind us already? How long before they just start remaking the same comic every month?
My better half says: “Stop trying to make ‘fetch’ happen!”
Boring! Who cares. Another lame idea from the DC management that needs to be replaced ASAP! Is it any wonder that DC is in trouble. I will not be ordering any of these covers for my store. Sheesh!