Exclusive previews of DC Comics-The New 52

Can’t wait until next Wednesday? Check out some exclusive previews to get you through the weekend:

BLASTR, part of the SyFy online network, has the first look at SUPERBOY #1 written by Scott Lobdell and drawn by RB Silva and Rob Lean. This preview answers the question, "Is SUPERBOY a science experiment gone wrong?"

And SCIENCEFICTION.COM features LEGION LOST #1 written by Fabian Nicieza and drawn by Pete Woods. The legionnaires have traveled from the 31st century to the present, but have they already failed their mission?

Pick them up September 14th!

Batman 101 Digital Comics Sale – This Weekend

Don’t miss this weekend’s BATMAN 101 Digital Comics sale featuring 101 issues on sale for only $.99 each.  On September 10-11, you’ll be able to add acclaimed comics starring The Dark Knight to your digital library.  Bestselling storylines spotlighted in the sale include BATMAN: YEAR ONE by Frank Miller and David Mazzuccelli, BATMAN: HUSH by Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee and BATMAN: THE LONG HALLOWEEN by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale . Buy the original BATMAN # 1 from 1940 and DETECTIVE COMICS # 27 (featuring the first appearance of BATMAN) to see where the legend began and to celebrate the release of the all-new BATMAN # 1 and DETECTIVE COMICS # 1 as part of DC COMICS - THE NEW 52 this month. Visit read.dccomics.com to purchase these and other amazing issues.

Batman 101 Digital Sale issues include:

Batman Begins

  • Detective Comics (1937-2011) #27-33
  • Batman (1940-2011) #1-4

Batman: Year One

  • Batman #404-407
  • Batman: The Long Halloween #1-13

Dark Times for The Dark Knight

  • Batman: The Cult 31
  • Batman: Death in the Family – Batman #426-429
  • Batman: Hush – Batman #608-619
  • Batman: Heart of Hush – Detective Comics #846-850
  • Batman: Knightfall V. 1 – Batman #491-497, Detective Comics #659-663
  • Batman: No Man’s Land
    • Batman No Man’s Land #1
    • Batman Shadow of the Bat #83-84
    • Batman #563-564
    • Detective Comics #730-731
    • Legends of the Dark Knight #116

The Batman Family

  • All-Star Batman & Robin the Boy Wonder #1
  • Batman: Black and White #1
  • Batman/Catwoman: Trail of the Gun #1
  • Gotham Central #1
  • Batman and Robin (2009-2011) #1-6
  • Superman/Batman #1

The Never Ending Battle

  • Dark Knight Returns #1
  • Batman Beyond (1999) #1
  • Batman Beyond (2011) #1

The City He Protects

  • Batman: Arkham City #1
  • Batman: Gates of Gotham 31
  • Batman: Streets of Gotham #1
  • Planetary/Batman: Night on Earth #1

 

 

Superman and the GD Controversy

You might have read online today about a particularly strong reaction that a comic book retailer has had to ACTION COMICS issue 1 by Grant Morrison and Rags Morales. If not, here's the scoop: a retailer in North Carolina was concerned that Superman is cursing when he utters "gd" in the series’ first issue.

Before I could even reach out to Grant Morrison for comment, I received an e-mail from Grant, which read in part:

"It should go without saying that the offending panel and caption, a mere 'GD', is a sound effect grunt - to suggest Superman's breath being forced through gritted teeth - much like 'DHH', 'GNUHH' or the many others used throughout this book and in general in the comics business. It's not in any way representative of God or a curse.”

From The Editor’s Desk: Wil Moss on SUPERGIRL and DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS

I dunno how many of you have sisters, but when mine was a teenager, she was, as they say, hell on wheels. Always getting into trouble, always getting into fights (usually more with her friends than with her enemies), always managing to outthink authority figures (be they cops or parents), always hanging with a questionable crowd, always a new piercing or tattoo – just drama at every turn, and usually of her own making. Nowadays she’s a morally upright citizen. She’s got a dog and a cat, a boyfriend and she even just completed jury duty! But back then? Hell. On. Wheels.

And that’s a lot like the Kara Zor-El you’ll meet in a couple weeks in SUPERGIRL #1. This Supergirl is someone with all the power of Superman, yet all of the drama and lust for life of a real teenager. And whereas I quickly learned to stay out of my sister’s way, Superman hasn’t learned that lesson yet -- though if you’ve seen the cover of SUPERGIRL #2, you know he’s about to …

Writers Michael Green & Mike Johnson (responsible for a truly great run on SUPERMAN/BATMAN) have packed SUPERGIRL with enough spectacle to give Michael Bay a run for his money. Yet at the same time, you’ll find yourself empathizing with The Girl of Steel like never before. I mean, if you just crash-landed on Earth, found out your family and your entire freakin’ planet were gone, and you had these strange new powers, wouldn’t you have a pretty tough time adjusting? And trust me, Mike & Michael have some fun surprises in store, both for you readers and Kara -- not the least of which is the mystery surrounding her true origin …

And the artist who will really sell both that level of high visual spectacle and emotional nuance is the one and only Mahmud Asrar. Folks, Mahmud has done some fine, fine work over the years -- from his recent Star Wars gig to some Marvel work to the great Dynamo 5 series to his ATOM story here at DC with Jeff Lemire (make sure to read ANIMAL MAN #1 and FRANKENSTEIN #1!) – but people will soon look back at SUPERGIRL #1 and cite it as the comic where Mahmud started his transition from comic book artist to superstar comic book artist. Seriously, the guy’s got the grace of Alan Davis, the fluidity of Stuart Immonen, the figurework of José Luis García-López, and an overall look and style that’s 100% Asrar. (And hey, inker Dan Green, colorist Dave McCaig, and letterer John J. “Hollywood” Hill are no slouches either!)

So do not miss this book, OK? SUPERGIRL #1! On sale 9/21!

And speaking of books you should not miss that are on sale 9/21 (FYI, I totally flunked “Subtle Transitions 101”), lemme quickly work in mention of another title I’m editing, DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS – a showcase for some of the best characters and talent DC has to offer.

First up is a five-part Deadman story by Paul “I made the Inhumans cool” Jenkins and Bernard “The Inhumans were always cool” Chang. This one’s got everything you’d ever want in a comic – late night hook-ups, bar brawls, monsters, mobsters, monster mobsters, existential roller coaster rides with the devil, body-hopping (which is different than the late night hook-ups), massive explosions, and of course, evil librarians.

Created by the legendary Arnold Drake and recently brought back to prominence in BRIGHTEST DAY, Deadman is one of the DC Universe’s best, most unusual heroes -- come find out why in DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS #1. (Or you can go body-hop yourself.)

(EVERYBODY’S TALKIN’ ABOUT) DC COMICS-THE NEW 52, FRIDAY, MORNING (ET) EDITION

Coverage for DC COMICS – THE NEW 52 just keeps on coming!

CNN.com looked at the increased – and still increasing – diversity in the comic book industry, highlighting DC Comics – The New 52. According to writer Judd Winick, who was interviewed for the piece because of his work on BATWING, “We want to attack it in kind of a really honest way." CNN.com also featured Tony S. Daniel’s artwork for DETECTIVE COMICS #1 in their look at the week’s top comic book releases.

The ASSOCIATED PRESS cited the resurgence of MEN OF WAR and BLACKHAWKS as a return to the venerable war genre in comic books – supported by interviews with writers Ivan Brandon and Mike Costa. Brandon (MEN OF WAR) embraced the challenge of creating real-world heroes in a world populated by superhumans. He said, “If you exist in this real army and try to keep all of that real as possible, what, realistically, would the addition of superheroes to that world, what would that mean? How would you react to that?” Added Costa of BLACKHAWKS, “It's closer to a war book than it is a super hero book. This is a group of people, when there are crises of a certain nature, are scrambled to respond to it. It's like Seal Team Six in the DC Universe.”

Canada’s top modern rock station, 102.1 THE EDGE spoke with writer/artist Tony S. Daniel about DETECTIVE COMICS #1 and the Dark Knight’s infamous rogues gallery.

And the SUNDAY POST-JOURNAL ran an impressive, layman-friendly feature examining the full scope of DC Comics – The New 52, including a comprehensive breakdown of the first few waves of titles.

Stay tuned for more updates as they roll in!

From Lost to International

Last year I found myself editing a little bi-weekly called GENERATION LOST. When it landed in my lap, I was suddenly transported back to being an eight-year-old in an airport in Chicago when I was traveling on my own to see my dad in North Dakota. I had five bucks in my pocket and I picked up my first JLI (that’s JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL for you folks that aren’t in the know). I remember being like, “Holy cow! Comics are filled with action and comedy? No way!”

When GEN LOST ended and talks of DC Comics-The New 52 emerged, I had high hopes that this wouldn’t be the last time these heroes would work together. I mean, here we have this team of misfit heroes that the world considers jokes—but the truth is, they save the world again and again. And sure enough, even after the world changed in FLASHPOINT #5, these heroes have been brought back together by fate along with some newbies …

The ever-loved Booster Gold returns, leading a team of U.N. sponsored heroes including the likes of a Brazilian called Fire, a total powerhouse in the rocky exterior of August-General-in-Iron, the snobbish crazy-haired Godiva (remember her from FLASHPOINT: LOIS LANE & THE RESISTANCE?), the always impressive Batman, Green Lantern Guy Gardner and others. This team is in for some hurt in their first story arc, but I’m glad to be a part of it. Hope you’re ready for action and adventure and a few laughs along the way.

JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL #1 is in stores now. And in case you haven’t picked up your copy yet, check out this sneak preview.

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(Everybody’s Talkin’ About) DC Comics Same-Day Digital

There’s been a lot of attention over the past week on DC Comics’ groundbreaking move to release comics on the same day in digital and print formats. Here are just a few of the stories that take a closer look at same-day digital:

Jim Lee told Salon.com that DC Comics broke a one-day digital sales record on the day JUSTICE LEAGUE #1 was released.

CNET’s Seth Rosenblatt told NBC News that same day digital “could potentially be the best thing for comics in decades.”

Fast Company speculated that the launch of same-day digital and The New 52 would change the comic world forever.

IGN has a Q&A with DC Comics’ SVP of Digital, Hank Kanalz.

PC Magazine theorized that digital comics will lead to broader industry growth.

NPR took a tongue-in-cheek approach to analyze the strong combination of launching DC Comics – The New 52 and going same-day digital.

Mashable discussed how DC will take advantage of the digital platform by “experimenting with deluxe digital editions, like issues that come with additional sketches or alternate covers.”

DigiDay Daily asked: “Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and The Flash are all starting over. So what better time to go all in on digital comic books?”

And last but certainly not least, USA TODAY stated that “DC Comics will make a historic step forward in digital comics.”

Visit read.dccomics.com to download your favorite comics now, or to find a comic book store near you.

(Everybody’s Talkin’ About) DC Comics-The New 52, Wednesday, Evening (ET) Edition

Here’s the latest and greatest coverage on DC COMICS-THE NEW 52:

New York gets a new superhero today with the release of STATIC SHOCK # 1. Static (aka Virgil Hawkins) has moved from Dakota to the Big Apple - and THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS has the scoop about Harlem’s newest hero, with interviews with writer John Rozum and co-writer and artist Scott McDaniel.

Said Rozum, “Static's adventures take him all over New York City and elsewhere. Virgil and his family live in Harlem, his school's in Harlem, and as he makes friends, they'll all be in Harlem as well, so this will really be his neighborhood and the background of his life.” Adds McDaniel about the character of Static, “That yearning to stand against the tide of evil, to refuse to sink into despair, to seek justice with all your human might, to devote yourself to something so completely that you become the best there is, are all themes that many people can relate to in their own lives.”

Florida's largest newspaper, the ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, had a feature interview with writer Eric Wallace (MISTER TERRIFIC) about the diverse line-up in DC Comics ­ The New 52. According to Wallace, “Comic books, just like every other medium, need to start reflecting the audience that is consuming the medium. It's like being 14 again, because we're creating the book the 14-year-old boy inside me has always wanted to read.”

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