A few variants for Friday

Well, more like a slew. A slew of goodness.

Where to begin? Well, let’s cut to the chase so you can close out the week with a bunch of pretty pictures that’ll ease you into the weekend. First up we have a bunch of Batman covers, including Carlo Barberi’s cover to BATMAN: ORPHANS #2, Guillem March and Gene Ha’s respective BATMAN AND ROBIN #18 covers, J.H. Williams III’s takes on BATMAN INCORPORATED #2 and #3, a lovely Felipe Massafera variant for GREEN LANTERN: EMERALD WARRIORS #5 and Sami Basri’s variant for SUPERMAN #706. Enjoy!

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A sneak peek at BATMAN in February

If that stack comics on my desk (which I’ve kindly reposted above) from yesterday wasn’t clue enough, let me be frank: it’s an exciting time for Batman, and for Batman fans, like me. November lit the fuse and things are not slowing down. Come February, we’ve got the launch of J.H. Williams III and co.’s BATWOMAN ongoing, featuring co-writer W. Haden Blackman. The much-loved GREEN LANTERN CORPS creative team of Peter Tomasi and artist Patrick Gleason step in as the regular team on BATMAN AND ROBIN and we get to see COMMISSIONER GORDON artist Francisco Francavilla stretch out and handle the art chores for an entire issue of DETECTIVE COMICS, with AMERICAN VAMPIRE creator Scott Snyder. Did you see that cover and layouts we teased earlier this week? Lovely stuff. So, yes. February is a big month for all things Batman. Click below for more clues and details.

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BATWOMAN #1

Written by J.H. WILLIAMS III & W. HADEN BLACKMAN

Art and cover by J.H. WILLIAMS III

1:10 Variant cover by AMY REEDER

The multiple award-winning creative team of J.H. Williams III (DETECTIVE COMICS) and W. Haden Blackman (Star Wars, Force Unleashed) launch the first, chilling arc of the ongoing series fans have been clamoring for! In the 5-part “Hydrology,” Batwoman faces bizarre new challenges in her war against the dark underworld of Gotham and new trials in her personal life as Kate Kane. She quickly finds herself in the deep end facing truths about her past and her future. Who – or what – is stealing children from Gotham’s barrio, and for what twisted purpose? Can she train her cousin Bette Kane (a.k.a. Flamebird) as her new sidekick? How will she handle dark revelations about her father, Colonel Jacob Kane? How is she dealing with the supposed drowning of her sister, the villain known as Alice? And why is a certain government agency suddenly taking an interest in her? The road to the answers begins here!

Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.

On sale FEBRUARY 23 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

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BATMAN: EUROPA #2

Story by BRIAN AZZARELLO and MATTEO CASALI

Written by MATTEO CASALI

Painted art and cover by GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI

1:10 Variant cover by TBD

Forced to work closely with his greatest foe, The Joker, Batman reaches Prague just as the virus he’s been infected with starts to make its deadly effects felt – and the Czech capital will welcome this strange duo in a most unusual way. While the Czech version of Mardi Gras is in full swing, Batman and The Joker search for the mysterious Trojan Horse, a man who knows the secrets of the Colossus virus...but they will find more than they bargained for!

The mystery deepens and the stakes get higher in the second chapter of this miniseries by Brian Azzarello and Matteo Casali, featuring fully painted by Giuseppe Camuncoli.

Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.

On sale FEBRUARY 2 • 2 of 4 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US

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BATMAN INCORPORATED #4

Written by GRANT MORRISON

Art by YANICK PAQUETTE & MICHEL LACOMBE

Cover by J.H. WILLIAMS III

1:25 Variant cover by YANICK PAQUETTE

Superstar writer Grant Morrison and artist Yanick Paquette have sent The Dark Knight on a trip to Japan and Argentina, but now Batman’s taking a brief breather back in his home base of Gotham City for a team-up with Batwoman! And don’t miss the first issue of BATWOMAN’s new monthly series, on sale this month!

Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.

On sale FEBRUARY 16 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

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BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT #3

Written by DAVID FINCH

Art by DAVID FINCH & SCOTT WILLIAMS

Cover by DAVID FINCH

1:25 Variant cover by ANDY CLARKE

Trapped with childhood friend Dawn Golden deep beneath Gotham City, Batman’s only hope for escape also happens to be one of his worst enemies! Meanwhile, Etrigan the Demon turns against his masters and confronts a twisted, evil incarnation of Ragman with the help of Alfred. Only Batman knows the secret to defeating the demon possessing Ragman – but The Dark Knight is nowhere to be found!

Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.

On sale FEBRUARY 23 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

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BATMAN #707

Written by TONY DANIEL

Art and cover by TONY DANIEL

Batman uncovers the secrets of Gotham City’s founding fathers and the secrets hidden within the city’s foundation. In a captivating turn of events, The Dark Knight finds that he alone holds the key to stopping the cataclysmic events that loom over Gotham. Don’t miss this stunning finale guest-starring I-Ching and Peacock, a spectacular new heroine from the Far East!

On sale FEBRUARY 16 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

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DETECTIVE COMICS #874

Written by SCOTT SNYDER

Art and cover by FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA

“There are some cases that come screaming back at you...like phone calls in the night...”

For years, Jim Gordon has been haunted by the unsolved case of Gotham’s notorious

“Peter Pan Killer.” Now, armed with new evidence, Gordon is determined to put the case to rest.

But as he digs deeper, he’ll unearth a shocking discovery about his own past – a revelation that will shake him to the core. Skeletons will be exposed and secrets revealed in this special issue featuring art by Francesco Francavilla!

On sale FEBRUARY 23 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

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BATMAN & ROBIN #20

Written by PETER J. TOMASI

Art by PATRICK GLEASON & MARK IRWIN

Cover by PATRICK GLEASON

1:10 Variant cover by GENE HA

From the pages of the best-selling BRIGHTEST DAY and GREEN LANTERN CORPS comes the new regular creative team of writer Peter J. Tomasi and artist Patrick Gleason! Kicking off the action is “Dark Knight, White Knight” part 1 of 3, as Bruce Wayne returns from the dead and Gotham City finds itself locked in the grip of chaos! Dick Grayson and Damian Wayne come face-to-face with what could possibly be the strangest Bat Villain yet. Who is the White Knight, and why is he hell-bent on making Gotham City into Heaven on Earth?

Retailers please note: The contents of this issue were originally solicited for issue #17, but will now appear here. Also, this issue will ship with two covers. Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.

On sale FEBRUARY 9 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

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BATMAN BEYOND #2

Written by ADAM BEECHEN

Art by RYAN BENJAMIN & JOHN STANISCI

Cover by DUSTIN NGUYEN

Terry’s family is being held hostage by a crook who’s boosted technology so powerful, he doesn’t even understand what he has – and the Justice League intends to neutralize the threat with full aggression. But Neo-Gotham is Batman’s town, and Bruce Wayne doesn’t intend to give up one iota of control over the situation! With his loved ones’ lives on the line, which way will Terry turn under the pressure?

On sale FEBRUARY 2 • 32 pg, FC $2.99 US

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KNIGHT & SQUIRE #5

Written by PAUL CORNELL

Art by JIMMY BROXTON

Cover by YANICK PAQUETTE

Jarvis Poker, the British Joker, has been receiving death threats. But who would want to hurt such a sweet old villain? The lives of the Knight, the Squire and the Shrike take a turn for the cold and deadly, as fear casts its shadow over London town. Can the Super Heroes of Britain work together to resist the onslaught of gritty realism?

On sale FEBRUARY 9 • 5 of 6 • 32 pg, FC $2.99 US

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BATMAN: STREETS OF GOTHAM #20

Written by PAUL DINI

Art by DUSTIN NGUYEN & DEREK FRIDOLFS

Cover by DUSTIN NGUYEN

“House of Hush” reaches its penultimate chapter as alliances are betrayed and shocking new secrets are revealed. Aided by Dr. Death and a sinister cabal of gangsters, Hush sets his fatal endgame into motion against Bruce Wayne and the other Bat-Family allies!

On sale FEBRUARY 16 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

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BIRDS OF PREY #9

Written by GAIL SIMONE

Art by ARDIAN SYAF & VICENTE CIFUENTES

Cover by STANLEY “ARTGERM” LAU

The game-changing “Death of Oracle” storyline continues! Black Canary finally confronts her inner demons as the Calculator’s army and creepy new villainess Mortis take their ultimate revenge on Oracle. This massive story reverberates throughout Gotham City – and beyond!

On sale FEBRUARY 9 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

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BATGIRL #18

Written by BRYAN Q. MILLER

Art and cover by DUSTIN NGUYEN

It’s Valentine’s night, and a mysterious killer literally wants to steal everyone’s hearts. Enter Klarion the Witch-boy, who’s nursing a broken heart of his own. Good luck, Batgirl!

On sale FEBRUARY 9 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

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RED ROBIN #20

Written by FABIAN NICIEZA

Art and cover by MARCUS TO & RAY MCCARTHY

Red Robin finally combines forces with his former teammates in a 2-issue crossover with TEEN TITANS that kicks off right here! Is there even enough room for Tim Drake and Damian Wayne – the new Robin – on one team? Meanwhile, Catman and the Calculator have their own agendas for this highly anticipated reunion!

Don’t miss the pulse-pounding second part in this month’s TEEN TITANS #92!

On sale FEBRUARY 9 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

How does Bruce Wayne’s return affect Red Robin?

And how does the beginning of Batman, Inc. work into Red Robin's plan to initiate an international stranglehold on crime? If Batman approves of everything Red Robin has set in motion, what will he do when his protégé decides to release the gang-leader-and-maybe-undercover-cop Lynx from prison?

And guess which surprise guest star you'll see when Red Robin takes a quick trip to Hong Kong. All thanks to the regular team of writer Fabian Nicieza and artist Marcus To.

RED ROBIN #17 hits today.

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Find out how Bruce Wayne returned, courtesy of Morrison, Garbett

Bruce Wayne is back – but how did the world’s greatest detective overcome Darkseid’s Omega Effect and return to his proper place in time and in Gotham? Writer Grant Morrison – in tandem with versatile artist Lee Garbett – presents a turning point in his ongoing and intricate Batman saga with BATMAN: THE RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE #6, which, like BATMAN AND ROBIN #16, sets the stage for this month’s epic Batman launches and new direction.

Check out a few pages from the issue below, which hits this Wednesday.

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SHOP TALK: Paul Cornell on creating compelling villains

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I think all the best villains articulate something, stand for something. The Joker: chaos unleashed. Lex Luthor: concern for the big things means losing sight of the small. They’re often one trait of a balanced mind magnified to the point of unbalance. They’re also often children’s fantasies of lives lived without acknowledging civilisation’s limits. (It’s no coincidence that small children will often root for the villain.) They also often say something about the hero: Batman is rationality (if he isn’t, he’s lost); Superman, for all his power, cares about the small things. Because Batman represents the balanced mind, he’s faced by a whole pantheon of exaggerated visions of mental unbalance, every trait from quizzicality to mourning boosted way beyond normal. The Flash is such a nice guy even his rogues are only playing at it. Everything about Green Lantern in the last few years has been the quantifying of his opposition into symbols for emotional complexity and symbols for outright villainy. I’ve quietly tried to offer new reader introductions for a lot of the villains that show up during Lex’s run in Action Comics, because I’m thinking of it as, amongst other things, a gallery of them, a chance to show off how exciting and interesting DC villains are.

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But how do you make a new villain? Well, it’s quite daunting. I think it was only Grant making the creation of new villains a stated aim of Batman and Robin that opened my mind to doing so. Without giving too much away, my aim was to take a facet of Batman’s rational life that hadn’t had a mad villain amplifying its opposite into psychodrama, and do just that. Then around that core one has to try to build a sort of archetypal shape, the idea being that it’s easy for audiences and other writers to understand exactly what this new character stands for, what they mean. Their look should say it, ideally, even without dialogue. I can’t claim to have got it right. I have no idea. Writers don’t get to say who joins the pantheon. We can only put the character in place and hope that other writers use them again. My new guy is called The Absence. And about him I’m saying nothing. He first appears in Batman and Robin #17. He’s nobody special, you could say. The story in question is called ‘The Sum of Her Parts’, and it’s about one of those girls you always see on the arm of Bruce Wayne, who, post mortem, has been unfortunately removed from her grave. I like to think that it shows off the side of me that writing Knight and Squire doesn’t (although that has a rather more chilly ending), the bloodthirsty, darker side.

That, I suppose, is the central thing writing villains lets us do: articulate what otherwise must stay inside. Good night.

A few links of not for Thursday: BATMAN AND ROBIN #16’s big reveal

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If you’ve been following us on Twitter or Facebook, you’ve probably noticed that there’s been a huge outpouring of press in reaction to the shocking conclusion of BATMAN AND ROBIN #16. It all started early yesterday, as THE ASSOCIATED PRESS broke the news that (stop reading now if you haven’t picked up the issue) Bruce Wayne had been secretly funding Batman for years, and would expand his funding and launch BATMAN INCORPORATED in an interview with the man behind it all, writer Grant Morrison.

With that, we were off to the races. DC Comics Editor in Chief Bob Harras did a number of interviews, including chats with USA TODAY, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, CNN’s MARQUEE BLOG, TIME TECHLAND, AOL COMICS ALLIANCE, THE L.A. TIMES' HERO COMPLEX, COMIC BOOK RESOURCES, NEWSARAMA and IO9.

And in case you missed it, WIRED’s Scott Thill had an epic, engaging and all-around interesting interview with Morrison, which is a must-read for fans of the man’s work. Also, the issue's been getting raves -- with glowing reviews at POP MATTERS and IGN to kick things off.

Have you picked up your copy of BATMAN AND ROBIN v2: BATMAN VS. ROBIN yet?

THIS JUST HAPPENED: A startling revelation concludes Grant Morrison’s run on BATMAN AND ROBIN

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First off – have you read BATMAN AND ROBIN #16? If not, take a moment, step away from your computer (how often will I tell you to do that, huh?) and head to your local shop. Pick up the issue, read it and come back.

All done?

How about that last scene? Brings new meaning to the term “This Just Happened.”

Alright, let’s roll. Click below.

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Over at THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, the news is out – and it changes the status quo for the Dark Knight drastically.

Bruce Wayne is back, and after teaming up with the Dynamic Duo of Dick Grayson as Batman and Damian as Robin to defeat the haunting Dr. Hurt – who’s plagued Batman since the very beginning of Grant’s run on Batman and throughout the pages of BATMAN AND ROBIN v1 and v2, the billionaire playboy made a startling announcement:

“Some of you may have wondered…How does a man like Batman afford to constantly update his crime-fighting technology? Where does his money come from?

“Well, the answer is me.”

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That’s right. In front of a shocked crowd, Bruce Wayne returned to the city he called home after a mysterious absence (one chronicled in the pages of Grant Morrison’s multi-part epic BATMAN: THE RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE) to not only reveal he’d been funding Batman for years, but also that he planned to expand said funding to create the multinational organization known as BATMAN INCORPORATED.

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This turn of events marks the latest chapter break in what has become an epic, novelistic take on the Dark Knight crafted by the kinetic genius that is Grant Morrison. And there’s no better time to jump onboard and join the story – today marks the end of Grant’s impressive run on BATMAN AND ROBIN, but also signals the beginning of a new, exciting era in the pages of BATMAN INCORRPORATED – where the after effects of this issue will ring out for quite some time.

Not caught up? You’re in luck. BATMAN AND ROBIN v2: BATMAN VS. ROBIN, a Deluxe Edition collecting the second storyline from BATMAN AND ROBIN by Grant and some of the best artists in the business hits comic shops today and bookstores next Tuesday.

What better time to sign up for BATMAN INCORPORATED?

Grant Morrison talks about the new characters introduced in BATMAN AND ROBIN v2

Our spotlight on all things BATMAN AND ROBIN continues and concludes today, with a special peek inside the mind of Grant Morrison, as the writer guides us through the various amazing new characters that first appeared in the second volume of BATMAN AND ROBIN, which hits stands in comic shops tomorrow as a DELUXE EDITION.

Take it away, Grant.

Squire and Knight

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I introduced the new Squire and Knight in the pages of JLA back in 1998 and I’ve been slipping them into stories like JLA CLASSIFIED #1-3 and BATMAN #667-669 ever since. For some reason I’ll never be able to explain, this pair have developed a complex, intricate backstory and web of relationships that so far exists solely in my head and is only hinted at in these brief appearances.

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My redesign of the Squire was intended to reference the British comics characters Beryl the Peril and Minnie the Minx (these tomboy anarchists headed their own weekly humor strips in the venerable UK titles Topper and Beano respectively), as well as the character “Monkey” from the film Quadrophenia, as played by Toyah Willcox.

Batwoman

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I was a huge fan of Greg Rucka and JH Williams’s Batwoman stories in DETECTIVE COMICS and wanted to get the two new characters together as soon as possible. Simple as that.

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British Villains

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The Beefeater is an old-time DC hero who once represented the UK in the international Global Guardians hero team. He appeared as the butt of numerous Keith Giffen jokes in JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL and here makes a comeback as the Queen’s Jailer. Beefeater mentions a number of British super-criminals, many of whom were created for an imaginary SQUIRE AND KNIGHT series that’s been growing in the damp undergrowth of my imagination for the last ten years.

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The Pearly Court of Crime

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Pearly Charlie English and his son Eddie are the only two members of the Pearly Court of Crime, but we can assume there’s a Pearly Queen and some Pearly Princesses too.

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I must point out that the real-life Pearly Kings and Queens of London are firmly on the side of the angels and are famous for their contributions to charity.

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The Coals From Newcastle

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King Coal was based on a combination of influences, including Arthur Scargill, the miners’ union leader who was Mrs. Thatcher’s nemesis in the 1980s. His henchmen were based on the gang of dancing chimney sweeps led by Dick Van Dyke in Walt Disney’s film of Mary Poppins.

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Metalek

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The Metaleks are weaponized, intelligent construction machines from another world on a mission to “xenoform” our planet, starting with London.

Morris Men

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Like the Pearly King, the Morris Men belong to the world of tradition and folklore. Remnants of some unspeakable pagan fertility business, they pin jingling bells to their clothes and hop around hitting one another with sticks. The whole thing is a kind of stylized sword dance which ends when the dancers lock their “swords” together in a star-shaped configuration and “behead” their kneeling leader, who is then restored to life by a comic doctor. Readers familiar with the original film version of The Wicker Man starring Edward Woodward may remember seeing the Morris Men there.

They may seem jolly and bucolic, like a sun-dappled afternoon at a pub next to a canal in the South Downs, but as any British child can tell you there’s something screamingly weird and abnormal about the Morris Men that demanded to be absorbed into the Batman world.

The criminal version of the Morris Men are violent, ninja-like assassins who worship the Horned God.

The Highwayman

Stand and deliver! I saw the Highwayman as a cross between Adam Ant and Russell Brand: a dashing gentleman bastard who plies his devilish trade on the motorways of Britain. He rides his big black stealth cycle alongside tourist coaches, delivery trucks and especially security vans before robbing them blind and making off with the loot.

The Wayne Ancestors

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The portraits of the Wayne patriarchs in BATMAN AND ROBIN #10 were all drawn from Batman’s long publishing history, but as usual I missed a couple of established characters.

I missed Lancelot Wayne, one of Bruce’s earliest known ancestors, and Sir Gaweyne de Weyne, who was introduced into the bloodline in 1998 by Alan Grant and Frank Quitely in BATMAN: THE SCOTTISH CONNECTION, as well as a third Revolutionary War hero, General Horatio Wayne, who appeared in BATMAN #120 and takes his place alongside the fictional Darius Wayne (created, I believe, by Alan Moore for a SWAMP THING story) and the real-life “Mad” Anthony Wayne, who was absorbed into Bruce’s family tree by Batman writer extraordinaire Bill Finger.

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As for the others, Alan Wayne appears in BATMAN: THE RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE #4, while the stories of Alan’s father Solomon and uncle Joshua were covered in BATMAN: SHADOW OF THE BAT #45 and BATMAN: LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT #27, and were also alluded to in Christopher Nolan’s film The Dark Knight.

A few variant covers for Tuesday

It’s a Bat-heavy week in variant land, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. First up, we have Guillem March’s cover to BATMAN AND ROBIN #17, along with Gene Ha’s variant for the same issue. We’ve also got Andy Clarke’s cover to the first issue of David Finch’s BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT (regular and black and white). Need more? How about Amy Reeder’s BATWOMAN #0 cover, Alex Garner’s GREEN ARROW #6, Dustin Nguyen’s jam-packed JUSTICE LEAGUE: GENERATION LOST #14 and Kevin Maguire’s morbid variant for the same issue? Last, but certainly not least, we have Frank Quitely’s instantly classic TEEN TITANS #89 and WONDER WOMAN #605 variant, also by Garner. Whew. Make with the clicking, folks.

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GRANT MORRISON on the logo design for BATMAN AND ROBIN

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The BATMAN AND ROBIN logo was designed by my longtime collaborator Rian Hughes. As usual, Rian supplied a whole suite of possibilities, which we quickly narrowed down to a winner.

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Everyone liked the logo that was finally chosen. I especially liked its cartoon-ish quality, which suggested some unseen animated show. It also looked great with the kind of clashing, contrasting colors we’d decided to run with on the covers.

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