(Everybody's Talkin' About) DC Comics-The New 52, Early Tuesday AM Edition

As I type this blog post, the halls of 1700 Broadway are mostly quiet. Quiet, that is, save for the sounds of Jim Lee and Geoff Johns doing another round of morning radio interviews.

With less than 24 hours to go before tonight's midnight launch of DC Comics-The New 52, the press coverage continues to roll in. Among the late night/early morning highlights?

* THE ADVOCATE has an exclusive preview of BATWOMAN # 1.

* Check out Grant Morrison's interview with FAST COMPANY. As the internet noted last week, Grant provides some of the best pull quotes in the comic book industry and his FAST COMPANY interview is no exception. The feature also comes with an exclusive page from ACTION COMICS # 1, which shows Superman transforming into Clark Kent.

* Jim Lee was interviewed by the HOUSTON CHRONICLE.

* TIME OUT CHICAGO interviewed local retailers about DC Comics-The New 52 and the impact of digital on the comic book industry.

Oh and those morning interviews?

Here's a rundown of who Geoff and Jim will be talking with this morning:

8:40-8:50 am--WOCM-FM (OCEAN CITY RADIO)

9:00-9:10 am--WELI-AM (ARTFORD RADIO)

9:15-9:30 am--KRCL (SALT LAKE CITY RADIO)

9:30 – 9:40 am--KNX-AM (LOS ANGELES RADIO)

9:40-9:50 am--WKXL-AM (CONCORD RADIO)

10:10 – 10:20 AM--KFXR-AM (DALLAS RADIO)

10:20-10:30 AM--FOX NEWS RADIO (NATIONAL RADIO)

To be continued...

Tags: 
action comics, batwoman, DC Comics-The New 52, Fast Company, Geoff Johns, grant morrison, Houston Chronicle, jim lee, The Advocate, Time Out Chicago

Buzz and anticipation for DC Comics-The New 52 continues to build

This Wednesday, 8/31, DC Comics-The New 52 will officially kick off with the midnight release of Geoff Johns and Jim Lee’s JUSTICE LEAGUE #1. Over the past few days, the excitement and chatter leading up to the just-around-the-corner launch of DC Comics-The New 52 has been amplified. Here’s a look at some of the highlights.

THE NEW YORK POST ran an exclusive preview of BATGIRL #1 (in stores next week). "It’s tremendously exciting to see her smiling on the cover of her own hit book finally, ready to kick ass against Gotham City’s worst monsters," series writer Gail Simone told NEW YORK POST. This exclusive 5-page preview of BATGIRL #1 is the first of many high profile previews running over the course of the next few weeks (but don’t worry – we’ll be linking to all of them on THE SOURCE for your convenience).

USA TODAY has a slew of exciting features. Head on over to their website to read their extensive coverage of the launch of DC Comics-The New 52, watch a new video interview from San Diego Comic-Con with DC Entertainment Co-Publisher and JUSTICE LEAGUE artist Jim Lee, read an interview with DC Entertainment’s SVP of Digital, Hank Kanalz, about the same-date initiative and see an exclusive preview of FLASHPOINT #5.

THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS ran a piece on the launch of DC Comics-The New 52, with quotes from DC Entertainment’s Co-Publishers, Dan DiDio and Jim Lee. The article touched on various aspects of DC Comics-The New 52, including the addition of Cyborg to the Justice League team. "Cyborg is the 21st Century superhero," JUSTICE LEAGUE writer Geoff Johns said. "By telling Cyborg's origin story as part of the origin of the Justice League, we put a spotlight on one of DC’s greatest characters. He's part man, part machine. He's us. When we text or connect to the net with our smart phones and iPads, when we use technology as an extension of our daily life we are by definition a cyborg."

THE BOSTON HERALD featured a story on the kicking off DC Comics-The New 52. “Any time you do something like this,” Dan DiDio explained, “there’s always a level of risk. To improve the quality of material, we had to change the look of the characters, make them younger and accessible and bring new sensibilities to our storytelling.”

UGO has compiled a guide to DC Comics-The New 52, which chronicles all the changes being heralded in. Learn about costume redesigns, day-and-date and more here.

Keep checking back to THE SOURCE as we link to more coverage and exclusive previews in the days and weeks ahead.

Tags: 
DC Comics-The New 52, new york daily news, new york post, The Boston Herald, ugo, usa today

Counting down to DC Comics-The New 52: A note from John Cunningham

So I’m sitting here in my office when in strolls David Hyde, our V.P. of Publicity.

“Hey JC, I really need your New 52 blog post.”

“Sure, David, no problem. When is it due?”

“Um…today.”

“I thought I had until Monday?”

“Um, John…it IS Monday…”

Which brings me to The First Point To Make About Comic Book Publishing As It Relates to The New 52:

1. Time Is Merely A Concept.

Here in DCE Marketing, time is a fluid and dizzying concept---any given question can address books that came out a year ago, books that came out last week, books that will come out this week, or books that will come out in 2012.

That is what makes today so special. We may not know what day it is---OK, I may not know what day it is---but we are all fully aware of what August 31th means. It marks the day that we—and by that I mean ALL of us---creators, DC staff, retailers and fans---make history.

Which brings me to The Second Point To Make About Comic Book Publishing As It Relates To The New 52:

2. It Takes A Village (Of Crazy People)

If you are a Jim Lee fan or a Geoff Johns fan or a Justice League fan, that’s why you buy the book. And as John Rood said earlier today (see, I read THE SOURCE!), our job is to remove barriers, and if we are doing that job correctly, not only will you get the comic, but you won’t even know that we were there. So on this day only, on the cusp of launching a new series, I ask you to think about the (literally) hundreds of people who touched JUSTICE LEAGUE #1 in one way or another to get it into your hands. It starts (and ends) with Jim and Geoff, but along the way there are inkers, colorists, letterers, editors, production folks, printing folks, internal DC departments, distribution staff, retailers, media people---literally hundreds of people--- who touch that single comic book in some significant way when it launches. That is crazy, really.

And that’s what we all are doing with an ENTIRE LINE OF 52 BOOKS.

And you know what? It’s really the coolest thing I’ve been involved with in my career, and the most awe-inspiring. Every one of those folks has worked with a frenzy and a focus and a sense of coordination rarely seen in this business.

And now it’s (again) almost time. Can’t wait for you all to see these great books!

John Cunningham

Vice President of Marketing

Tags: 
DC Comics-The New 52, john cunningham

Counting down to DC Comics-The New 52: A note from Bob Wayne

Hi there. Bob Wayne here, DC’s SVP – Sales. In the time I've worked at DC Comics, and in the time I’ve been reading comics before that, I've witnessed a number of industry defining moments.

The debut of the Justice League of America in The Brave & The Bold. The launch of the “New Look’ Batman. The comic shop-only version of New Teen Titans. The Dark Knight Returns. Watchmen. Arkham Asylum. Batman: Hush. Green Lantern: Rebirth. (Yes, amazingly, I’m only mentioning DC-related defining moments… Of course, I’m in Sales. And I mentioned projects by two of my bosses… Because I’d like to stay in Sales…)

And of course there are my continuing discussions with DC Legal over the rights to the phrase “Wayne Manor”….

This week’s debut of The New 52 is the biggest, most sweeping change to date. Our characters have often been updated, because our characters are always evolving. But this is the first time all of our characters will be presented in an exciting new way all at the same time.

It all begins at 12:01am on Wednesday, August 31st with the JUSTICE LEAGUE #1. It’s a great read and a lot of fun. I‘m sure of it … I already have a copy here in my office. (Yes, there are some cool perks to this job…)

Just make sure you read FLASHPOINT #5 first. That issue has a great double-page spread that is a really cool bridge into The New 52. Conveniently, it’s also on sale at 12:01am on Wednesday, August 31st. (I did mention I’m the SVP-Sales, didn’t I?)

So get in line now…. And after you read them, let us know what you think.

And please take a look at OMAC #2 in October… Trust me on that one….

Best,

Bob Wayne

SVP - Sales

Tags: 
bob wayne, DC Comics-The New 52

Counting down to DC Comics-The New 52: A note from John Rood

You can count on these 52.

And I can count on the dozens of folks here at DC Entertainment.  It is an honor to work on the Sales, Marketing & Business Development team, which also includes the areas of Franchise Management, Interactive, and Publicity.  Across the DC Comics, Vertigo, and MAD brands.

Many title pages on your new #1’s read, “DC Comics Proudly Presents.”  That’s how we feel today about DC Comics – The New 52.  Pride.  I am so proud, along with our creators and my colleagues and our thousands of retail partners, to present these stories and characters to you.

What we have set out to do, from a Sales & Marketing standpoint, is to make it all bigger and make it all easier for you, no matter who you are.

A favorite definition of Marketing I came across years ago is “removing barriers to a sale.”  So if a barrier was displaced readership, we have tried to remove it – with fresh storytelling and clear narratives so anyone can jump (back) aboard a given title.  So if a barrier was access, we have tried to remove it - with increasing new sales opportunities (i.e. new customers via new platforms) without jeopardizing our crucial core.  So if a barrier was retailer resources, we have tried to remove it – with the most aggressive incentive and co-op program ever.  So if a barrier was consumer awareness, we have tried to remove it – with a big and innovative advertising/publicity campaign.  So if a barrier was price, we have tried to remove it – with keeping all standard issues at $2.99.  So if a barrier was system morale, we have tried to remove it – with a collaborative and optimistic approach to all that we do.

Many in the industry are under the wrong impression that we want to “win the month” at all costs with sales of DC Comics - The New 52.  Sure, we’d love to get our books into more hands than ever before, profitably.  But it’s most important that any industry growth comes in an additive manner, so that all publishers may succeed.  To be clear – DC is not a market-share-chaser.  If we were, we would not be creating a quality lasting direction across a controlled number of titles.  We would instead be flooding the market with over 200 titles a month, changing your prices with abandon, killing off a character every quarter or so, and/or randomly announcing decimal-pointed event-ish thingies.  We haven’t.

So raise a glass – a real physical glass that feels good to the touch and is a lasting part of your collection, or one of those corny little drinking apps you’re temporarily enjoying on your mobile device – to DC Comics – The New 52.

We are just getting started, but we are sure proud of our recent steps.  And we sure do appreciate you being on this trip with us.

Thank you all very much.  See you in the stores.

John Rood

Executive VP-Sales, Marketing and Business Development

Tags: 
DC Comics-The New 52, john rood

Counting down to DC Comics-The New 52: A note from Dan DiDio

You might not know this, but I am not a very patient person. I couldn’t  wait till Christmas morn to open gifts, never knew the need to savor a fine wine, and on most days, fast food isn’t fast enough. So, as you could imagine, the anticipation for the midnight kick-off of FLASHPOINT #5 and JUSTICE LEAGUE #1 is killing me. Even though its less than two days away.

When we decided to re-launch the entire line, I couldn’t wait to get started. There were books to be assigned, costumes to be re-designed, and continuity to be... reconsidered. I was on the phone daily with Jim Lee and Geoff Johns on the direction, look and tone of the new DC Universe, and an hour didn’t seem to go by without having Bob Harras and Eddie Berganza in my office, or me in theirs, to look over the latest sketches and scripts submitted. And when I wasn’t with them, I spent the time with Mark Chiarello talking covers and costumes, or getting the latest update from John Rood on the Publicity and Marketing juggernaut they had planned. And no day would ever be complete without me checking in with Bob Wayne for the latest sales numbers, which was particularly annoying to him since the comics weren’t even solicited yet.

So here we are, less than two days away. Costumes are locked, scripts are polished and all the first issues complete and ready to be shipped. My mom told me time and again that good things come to those who wait, and I feel like I’ve been waiting for this moment my entire life. This is going to be spectacular.

Dan DiDio

DC Entertainment Co-Publisher

Tags: 
Dan DiDio, DC Comics-The New 52

“There is no denying the genius of Jack Kirby.” – Dan DiDio

If Jack Kirby were still alive, today would have been his 94th birthday. The King, as he is fondly referred to as, impacted the comic book industry in monumental ways.

To celebrate, we thought we’d catch up with some of the writers who are bringing new life to some of Jack’s classic characters in DC Comics-The New 52. With contemporary representations of characters such as OMAC and Etrigan the Demon, Kirby’s legacy lives on and is as strong as ever.

“There is no denying the genius of Jack Kirby and the effect he has had on comics through history. And to this day, many of his great creations still exist today and stand the test of time,” said O.M.A.C. writer Dan DiDio. “Of all the series Kirby created at DC Comics, OMAC is one of the ones nearest and dearest to my heart. The manic nature of the story telling and the wild futuristic setting are some of his best, and in working with Keith Giffen on the new OMAC series we hope to bring that same level of creative energy and excitement to our book.”

“Jack Kirby's vast creative imagination stretched in all directions,” DEMON KNIGHTS writer Paul Cornell told us. “In The Demon he gave free rein to his gothic inclinations, that wonderful way he has with a gnarled tree branch at night. He made Etrigan angry with the world and his status in it, and let loose his wonderfully different way with words in the Demon's rhymes. We've kept almost everything, to be honest. Well, we've given him some armor, and now he only rhymes sometimes, but this is still Kirby's guy. You don't meddle with that stuff.”

In case you missed it yesterday, check out the two exclusive teases we posted yesterday on THE SOURCE of O.M.A.C. #1 and DEMON KNIGHTS #1.

Happy birthday, Jack!

Tags: 
Dan DiDio, DC Comics-The New 52, Demon Knights, jack kirby, OMAC, paul cornell

A First Look at Acclaimed Artist Jill Thompson’s take on THE SHADE

Acclaimed artist Jill Thompson is joining writer James Robinson for issue #8 of his upcoming 12-part THE SHADE miniseries, starring the former-villain-turned-reluctant-hero from Robinson’s STARMAN series. The special standalone issue — set in Paris in the early 1900s — is something Robinson wrote specifically for Thompson. And even though the issue’s still months away, we’ve got a first look at her work.

“James wanted to work with me, and I wanted to work with him. We ran into each other and he said that he had a specific project with me in mind – which is ultimately how this issue came about,” said Thompson.

“I'm thrilled to be working with Jill, after loving her work for so many years in Sandman and Invisibles, as well as her own creations such as Scary Godmother and Beasts of Burden,” said Robinson. “I feel fortunate to have her among the talented artists on this book and I love her wonderful interpretation of the Shade.”

THE SHADE miniseries starts in October, with #8 on sale next May. To tide you over until then, check out our first look at Thompson’s art from #8.

Tags: 
Fan Expo Canada, James Robinson, jill thompson, The Shade

The Justice Society

There's been plenty of speculation about the Justice Society in The New 52 – and we can now confirm that they will, in fact, be back! As with everything else with DC Comics - The New 52, however, there's a significant twist. What is it? We're not saying. Just. Quite. Yet.

"It's everything you want, but not what you expect," promises Eddie Berganza, DC Comics Executive Editor.

Stay tuned to THE SOURCE as this develops, as they say.

Tags: 
DC Comics-The New 52, eddie berganza, justice society

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