Well, the cover says it all, no? Writers Michael Green and Mike Johnson re-team with artist Rafael Albuquerque to kick off an all-new arc, bringing an old, simian foe back from the dead, as he endangers the loved ones of both Superman and Batman. With Lois and Alfred kidnapped, who can survive in a world where "Grodd wins"? Find out with a few pages from the issue below.
SUPERMAN/BATMAN #63 hits 8/19.
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On 9/2, writer Steve Niles and artist Kelley Jones' 12-issue Batman tale, GOTHAM AFTER MIDNIGHT will hit stores, collecting a horrifying tale of the Caped Crusader in one neat volume. But did you know director John Carpenter wrote the intro? Well, he did. And we've got the whole thing here for your perusal. Take it away, John:
BATMAN has been around since 1939, has been reinvented by each generation of comic book creators, and definitely has the best costume of any superhero ever. For 70 years the Dark Knight has walked tortured urban streets, but never as darkly and stylishly as in Steve Niles and Kelley Jones' hands.
GOTHAM AFTER MIDNIGHT is an absolute blast. Niles' sharp narrative blends horror, humor, noir and sweeping action, and his collaborator Jones is such a gifted artist that you can't stop looking at the panels. I'm an enormous fan of these two gentlemen. BATMAN comic books get no better than this.
So start turning the pages. Steve Niles and Kelley Jones will transport you to a giddy, beautiful fever dream. I guarantee it.
John Carpenter is the visionary film director responsible for many of today’s cult classics, such as Halloween, Escape from New York, The Thing, Starman, Big Trouble in Little China, and many more.
The day is winding down, and you're looking for something on the web to help pass the time. How about some Philip Tan BATMAN AND ROBIN #6 art? Not enough? We'll thrown in some Tony Daniel art for BATMAN #693 plus Jock's take on AZRAEL #2?
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We decided Brian Azzarello put it best, so why try and spruce things up with a cheeky headline?
Yesterday, we caught a look at J.G. Jones' amazing cover to the BATMAN/DOC SAVAGE SPECIAL, which kicks off a new era for the Doc, and and provides the springboard for more stories focusing on characters like The Blackhawks, Rima and more. Oh, and Batman.
And, as we promised yesterday, we've got comments from Azzarello, who's masterminding the whole shebang. Take it away, Brian:
"Cities are urban jungles-- and there's also unchartered mysterious countries with their own jungles as well. It’s world where you’re guilty before being proven innocent-- something that rarely happens. Little people make big mistakes and suffer the consequences. Life is cheap, and everyone has their price. Where part of the thrill of being rich, is watching the poor suffer. Y'know, my kind of place."
But that's not all. Both Azzarello and cover artist J.G. Jones will be at the Chicaco Comic-Con this weekend, talking up the special with Senior Story Editor Ian Sattler. If you're in the area, be sure to swing by and say hello.
And, because it's Friday and we want to send you off with a smile on your respective faces, here's artist Rags Morales' variant cover for the BATMAN/DOC SAVAGE SPECIAL, which hits in November.
Isn't that a lovely Andy Kubert cover? You know what's better than that? Having an Andy Kubert cover with interiors by Mark Bagley. Words from Judd Winick don't hurt either. And here, in the second installment of the three-part "Long Shadows" arc, we find the newly-minted Batman scrambling to retrieve the Arkham Asylum escapees, while Two-Face begins a ground war of his own. But what's the Penguin up to? Catch a glimpse below.
BATMAN #689 hits 8/12.
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Did you think we'd have only one bit of news on Thursday? Well, think again.
As we've noted here, we'll be seeing a lot more of Doc Savage in the pages of DC comics in the near future. Now, we can actually give you a tad more, detail-wise.
This November, writer Brian Azzarello teams with artist Phil Noto for the BATMAN/DOC SAVAGE SPECIAL #1, which sets the stage for an entire new world for the Doc, along with a slew of characters that will pop up later, including the Blackhawks and Rima, the Jungle Girl. It all starts here, and I'm not exaggerating when I say you're really in for a treat.
Azzarello is no stranger to noir or gritty storytelling, as anyone familiar with Vertigo's 100 BULLETS and the recent JOKER OGN can attest. Coupled with Noto's neo-classic art style and you've got the perfect launching pad for a collection of books that will pull these beloved characters into the 21st century.
Oh, and did I mention Batman? Yeah, you may remember him.
So, allow your jaw to drop at the J.G. Jones cover below. Then come back tomorrow for another treat, plus comments from Azzarello himself.
Counting down the hours until the weekend? Aren't we all? Well, we've got some news and art for you, so time can crawl by a bit faster.
Starting in November with RED ROBIN #6, Marcus To (Aspen's Soulfire) will step in as the new ongoing artist on RED ROBIN, taking over for Ramon Bachs, who steps over to launch AZRAEL with writer Fabian Nicieza. And, in lieu of me saying nice things about Marcus, I've cornered his editor, Michael Marts to give us the skinny on why Mr. To is the perfect choice to chronicle the continuing adventures of Tim Drake. Take it away, Marts:
"Marcus’s energetic and dynamic art style is the perfect match for Chris Yost’s fast-paced writing style. We’re extremely excited to have Marcus on board as a Bat-team regular."
Don't think words are enough? Well, fine. Here are some interiors plus the cover to To's first issue.
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Writer Peter Milligan and artist Andy Clarke continue their five-part Batman story, with a second installment that finds the Tsar threatening to take over the Gotham mob. But how far will Batman go to protect not only the city, but the nation? And can Batman survive a Moscow excursion? Check out some of the pages below to get an idea and for some ultra-detailed and eye-pleasing art.
BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL #32 hits 8/5.
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What, news happens after San Diego? Believe it or not, the answer is yes. And because I know you're surfing the web for anything that'd help distract from the fact that today is indeed Monday, here are two things well worth your time.
• THE NEW YORK TIMES has an excellent review of Neil Gaiman and Andy Kubert's WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE CAPED CRUSADER? collection. Here's an excerpt:
“Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?” has morbid moments, but also bittersweet passages. Its title story, written by Neil Gaiman and illustrated by Andy Kubert, imagines several variations of Batman’s death. This anthology, published by DC Comics, also includes other stories by Mr. Gaiman about the millionaire Bruce Wayne’s famous alter ego. The other tales are very good, but “Whatever Happened to ...” packs enough emotional punch to stand solo.
• COMICS ALLIANCE's Laura Hudson catches up with Blair Butler, who we recently announced would be gracing the cover to BOOSTER GOLD #23. Another sampling, because we're nice like that:
ComicsAlliance: So, how did the whole "Booster Gold" cover with DC come about?
Blair Butler: I actually got a call from Dan DiDio who said he had a crazy idea for an upcoming issue of "Booster Gold." Basically – and forgive me, because my memory sucks and I'm still recovering from Comic-Con – I recall that he said DC wanted to do a cover that sort of stood out for #23, and having a photo cover with a Booster fan was the main idea. It seemed oddly appropriate, since Booster is a bit of an attention hog. I think he'd not-so-secretly love the idea of having a lady-fan on the cover of his book. And, honestly, I was incredibly humbled that DC would ask me to don the Blue and Gold fan colors. I've loved comics since I had to stand on a stool to reach the quarter-bins at my local comic shop, so it's pretty awesome to get to be part of a DC comic.
The Battle for the Cowl is over – what’s next?
That’s the big question that will be answered in a few short minutes during the San Diego Comic Con “Batman: New Dynamic” panel, as Batman Group Editor Michael Marts rounds up a band of creators, including writers Paul Dini, Greg Rucka and artist Dustin Nguyen, to discuss what the future holds for the new Caped Crusader.
And since we’re a little early for the panel ourselves, what questions do you, Source readers, have about the Bat-verse? What’s gotten your attention? What titles have you added to your pull list?
And if you’re not out here in San Diego, fret not. We’ve got some Bat-art for you to check out. The Source: We bring the con to you.
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