When you’re smack dab in the middle of something, you sometimes don’t realize how special or meaningful it is. But hearing the growing anticipation from readers and freelancers alike and then seeing the huge success our first month of the New 52 was, I can’t help but step back and feel a certain level of awe at all that’s been accomplished. And we’re only getting started!

You’ve seen and heard plenty about some of the more familiar titles I work on, like ACTION COMICS, SUPERMAN and WONDER WOMAN, and truth be told, these aren’t books that need any help – they’ve turned out amazingly well (as I hope you know by now)! But working on the New 52 has given me the chance to diversify a little, and thanks to the well-deserved promotions of Chris Conroy and Wil Moss to Associate Editor, I’ve been able to give up SUPERBOY and SUPERGIRL and work on some more offbeat titles like I, VAMPIRE, SWAMP THING, and DEMON KNIGHTS. Since I’ve written about VAMPY (as we like to call it) recently on the DCU blog, and you’d have to be hiding under a rock not to have heard the buzz about SWAMPY (see a trend?), I wanted to wax a little bit about DEMON KNIGHTS (no clever title shortening here—any suggestions?)

Paul Cornell, the madman behind Lex Luthor’s “Black Ring” saga in ACTION COMICS, was invited write a new Demon series. Our only request: that it be set in the dark ages of the DCU. What Paul came back with was a whole team around the Demon, with Etrigan and his reluctant host Jason Blood in the unlikely role of leader. With two issues in your hands, I think you can see he’s not only brought a whole new take to the team dynamic, but he’s built a living, breathing world where events from the dark ages will/have/did have an important impact on the goings-on of today’s new DCU (unless you thought their cameo in STORMWATCH #1 was an oversight). Of course, all he’s written would be just words if not for Diogenes Neves, Oclair Albert and Marcelo Maiolo, who’ve brought this world to life in a way I didn’t dare to hope. I love this book, I hope you do, too.

-- Matt Idelson

Over the past few days, we’ve been linking to all of the exclusive previews of the second issues from DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 that are going on sale tomorrow.

Below, take a look at all the previews that ran (sorted alphabetically and separated by cover), compiled here in one easy location for your convenience.

[gallery link="file" order="DESC" columns="4"]

(Greg Capullo’s variant cover for JUSTICE LEAGUE #3)

New York Comic Con has been over for two days, but, well, everyone's still talkin' about it. Here are some recommended reads:

UGO caught up with Geoff Johns about AQUAMAN. “They are a glimpse of the horrific world at the bottom of the ocean and beyond that Aquaman has never faced, that we have never really encountered,” Johns said of The Trench, the villains in the series’ first arc. “They are still learning and meeting new species every day, so I wanted to go as horrific and bizarre as I could. And you haven't even really seen how bizarre these creatures can get. They are pretty nasty.”

Following the announcement of THE CURSE OF SHAZAM, NEWSARAMA chatted with artist Gary Frank. "Both Geoff and I were keen that our costume should look different to the rest of the Justice League's costumes since it comes from a different place," Frank revealed of how fans can expect Shazam to look. “We're still ironing it out but, whereas the other costumes feel very modern and cool, ours needs to feel timeless and, hopefully, cool. We are dealing with magic rather than tailoring, so this has to be in there somehow.”

COMIC BOOK RESOURCES spoke with Scott Snyder, writer of BATMAN, SWAMP THING and AMERICAN VAMPIRE, about all of his respective series. “To me, he takes on a Robin because he needs a human connection,” Snyder said of Batman. “He needs to be a father because of what happened with his parents. He needs an ally because he is lonely – even though he won’t admit it. So he takes on a Robin but then at the same time, as much as he cares for that character, he has tremendous issues about getting too close to anyone and having it be his mission.”

And speaking of Gotham City, AIN’T IT COOL NEWS chatted with Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti about ALL-STAR WESTERN and their upcoming series, THE RAY. “All great cities have their own history and Gotham is no different,” said Palmiotti about the setting of ALL-STAR WESTERN. “Some of the main landmarks in the city will be and are featured in some of the new 52 books coming out and we are working closely with the crew to make sure we create an environment that reflects both ways the time period and the life of the city.”

(The cover of BATMAN: DEATH BY DESIGN)

COMIC BOOK RESOURCES has the first exclusive interview with Chip Kidd about his upcoming original graphic novel, BATMAN: DEATH BY DESIGN. “What I've always liked very much is that there are certain things Batman can do that Bruce Wayne cannot. But there's very much a flipside to that because there are things Bruce Wayne can do that Batman cannot,” Kidd said. “You need both of those things -- or at least I do -- to make things interesting. A good part of the story and the plot goes into the building and design trade of Gotham City -- how that works or doesn't work and how it's corrupted. There is a good bit of history with Bruce Wayne's father. It's not any kind of twisted, huge revelation. It's about the design legacy of the Wayne's in Gotham City.”

To be continued …

(Ivan Reis and Joe Prado’s variant cover for BATMAN #3)

(DC Entertainment Co-Publisher Dan DiDio catches up with his old friend, Solomon Grundy at New York Comic Con)

Everyone from Solomon Grundy to DC Entertainment Co-Publisher Dan DiDio was at New York Comic Con this past weekend. In case you’ve been unplugged from the Internet all day, there are ton of recaps from the convention.

MTV GEEK chatted with the rock star creative team of JUSTICE LEAGUE, Geoff Johns and Jim Lee. “It’s really about how you tell the stories,” said Lee of DC COMICS-THE NEW 52. “It’s interesting – there was a lot of skepticism going into September but then once the books came out, the whole nature of the dialogue changed from ‘I hate what you’re changing’ to ‘I love what you’ve changed. I love the new directions.’”

“I think we’ve turned a lot of the skeptics around,” continued Johns. “I think there’s a lot of people that have turned around and said, ‘wow, this is really exciting,’ and are on board.”

DAILYMOTION spoke with DC Entertainment Co-Publisher writer Dan DiDio on the NYCC floor. “What I love about what we’re doing right now is that it’s not just about superheroes,” DiDio said of DC COMICS-THE NEW 52. “We’ve got Westerns, we’ve got science fiction, we’ve got horror – so we’ve got such a wide array and I think that shows diversity and the strength of DC and I think this is what makes the company great.”

KOTAKU reported on the statues on display in the DC Entertainment booth at New York Comic Con. Check out their coverage to see your favorite heroes and villains as well as MAD Magazine’s take on some of the most iconic DC characters.

Following New York Comic Con, lots of outlets ran their exclusive previews of the DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 titles being released this Wednesday. Here’s a rundown:

USA TODAY ran their exclusive preview of BIRDS OF PREY #2. "Yes, she's been a bad guy, but every villain has a great motivation,” said series writer Duane Swierczynski when asked about Poison Ivy. “They see themselves as the good guy in their own stories, and she's doing what she's doing for a good reason. It may sound strange but you can be there for your friends and still be a not-so-great person."

MAXIM has your first sneak peek at WONDER WOMAN #2. “Already one of the best-reviewed books of the new 52, Azzarello's take on Wonder Woman is doing, er, wonders for the character,” MAXIM wrote in the introduction of their exclusive preview. “Showcasing her bad-ass warrior side as well as a sense of humor … Azzarello is also rebuilding the mythology of Wonder Woman, simplifying it and making it more accessible to new readers while explaining her powers and attitude.”

TV GUIDE MAGAZINE debuted the first five pages of SUPERGIRL #2. "She has the same core basics: flight, strength, invulnerability, heat vision, x-ray vision," series co-writer Mike Johnson told TV GUIDE MAGAZINE of Kara. "And then we're going to reveal a new power in issue 3 that is unique to her and also a result of her new origin story."

BLASTR previewed not just one but two titles with a science fiction flavor coming out this week! Head on over to their site for your first look at BLUE BEETLE #2 and CAPTAIN ATOM #2.

POPMATTERS has your first look at RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #2 and COMIC BOOK RESOURCES has an exclusive preview of CATWOMAN #2.

And be sure to head on over to DC Comics’ official Facebook page to read an exclusive preview of LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #2--and scroll through our photo galleries from each day of New York Comic Con.

Got more time to surf the web? Check out THE LOS ANGELES EXAMINER's, er, terrific review of MISTER TERRIFIC #2, written by L.A. local Eric Wallace and illustrated by Gianluca Gugliotta. “Wallace keeps the action coming and provides new and inventive ways for the hero to travel and solve the mysteries of Brainstorm,” wrote THE EXAMINER. “Gugliotta’s art also keeps to the tone of the story. This is pulse pounding adventure with a scientific background.”

To be continued …

(DC Entertainment Co-Publisher and JUSTICE LEAGUE artist Jim Lee signing at the DC Entertainment booth at New York Comic Con)

STORMWATCH #5

Written by PAUL CORNELL

Art and cover by MIGUEL SEPULVEDA

1:25 Variant cover by MIGUEL SEPULVEDA

On sale JANUARY 4 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+

It’s the unstoppable murder machine vs. the Eminence of Blades when the Midnighter takes on Prince of Lies, Harry Tanner! As Adam One stands trial before the shadow cabinet, Stormwatch loses two members, and the mystery horn from SUPERMAN #1 reappears to deliver a final page that will change Stormwatch forever!

GRIFTER #5

Written by NATHAN EDMONDSON

Art and cover by SCOTT CLARK and DAVE BEATY

On sale JANUARY 11 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

Cole and his new partner Sofia make plans to escape the northwest, but first they need a little cash – and that calls for a quick grift. Cole can’t get far in his con-artistry, however, before discovering that the Daemonites are coming after him in full force – and they have powers he could not have anticipated.

DEATHSTROKE #5

Written by KYLE HIGGINS

Art by JOE BENNETT and ART THIBERT

Cover by SIMON BISLEY

On sale JANUARY 11 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US• RATED T+

Deathstroke’s allies are dwindling and the net is tightening, so now’s a bad time for the return of Legacy! Who is this relentless enemy, and who’s been stalking the unbeatable mercenary?

(Not final cover)

SUICIDE SQUAD #5

Written by ADAM GLASS

Art by FEDERICO DALLOCCHIO

Cover by DAN PANOSIAN

On sale JANUARY 11 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+

Super-Villain prison riot! After returning from a string of hellish missions, the surviving members of the Suicide Squad are forced to undertake one last task: stop an all-out riot inside Belle Reve Penitentiary, the roughest Super-Villain prison on the planet!

VOODOO #5

Written by RON MARZ

Art by SAMI BASRI

Cover by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER

On sale JANUARY 25 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+

Voodoo discovers a threat that could expose her secrets before she can complete her mission. With her shape-shifting abilities in overdrive, Pris does what she does best when she’s cornered: fight.

O.M.A.C. #5

Written by DAN DIDIO and KEITH GIFFEN

Art and cover by KEITH GIFFEN and SCOTT KOBLISH

On sale JANUARY 4 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

Max Lord and Sarge Steel decide that in order to capture O.M.A.C., sacrifices will have to be made. They go back to the location of O.M.A.C.’s first appearance and target the workers on Kevin Kho’s floor, including Kevin and all his friends. Meanwhile, since O.M.A.C. is still on the loose, S.H.A.D.E. decides to send in their top agent, Frankenstein, to succeed where Checkmate has failed. This epic storyline continues in this month’s FRANKENSTEIN, AGENT OF S.H.A.D.E. #5!

MEN OF WAR #5

Written by IVAN BRANDON and MATT KINDT

Art by TOM DERENICK, PATRICK SCHERBERGER and DAN GREEN

Cover by VIKTOR KALVACHEV

On sale JANUARY 4 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T+

Even beaten and captured, Joe Rock’s resolve is enough to attract the attention of an ageless military general. But will it be enough to help him escape a battalion of battle-hardened ghouls and save his men? Plus: She fights with skilled perfection, he with ferocious energy. Which will be the last blade standing – or are both of these knife-wielding spies doomed?

BLACKHAWKS #5

Written by MIKE COSTA

Art by CAFU and BIT

Cover by KEN LASHLEY

On sale JANUARY 25 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

Three of the Blackhawks are incapacitated with injuries, and two more are stranded in outer space! The team has suffered a serious beating, but they still have one more crazy, hail Mary stunt up their sleeve as our first story is brought to its explosive conclusion by Mike Costa and new fan-favorite artist CAFU!

ALL-STAR WESTERN #5

Written by JUSTIN GRAY and JIMMY PALMIOTTI

Art by MORITAT and PHIL WINSLADE

Cover by LADRONN

On sale JANUARY 25 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T+

Slippery sewer pipes make a brutal place for a fight – but that won’t stop Jonah Hex and Amadeus Arkham from facing off against a gang of kidnappers beneath Gotham City. And when the thugs get the best of them, Hex and Arkham find themselves swept away to a pitch-black cave with seemingly no way out – and lots of bats! Will they find a way to escape Gotham City’s dark underbelly before Hex’s matches are all burned out? Also: For the Barbary Ghost, death is only the beginning of her plan for revenge!