THE WASHINGTON POST's COMIC RIFFS blog talks to Dan DiDio

flsreb-cv4

David Betancourt, over at THE WASHINGTON POST's "Comic Riffs" blog, spoke to Dan DiDio about some of the bigger storylines percolating in the DCU in 2009, including BATTLE FOR THE COWL, FLASH: REBIRTH and SUPERMAN: WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON:

DB: It seems like you're making Superman choose between two worlds. Is this your way of showing that despite growing up on Earth he'll never be human?

DD: Absolutely. One of the things we find interesting--and we did a lot of research on this as we were building the storyline--this is one of the first times we ever pushed a story where we brought all of the Kryptonians back, and really made them a part of the DC universe. And more importantly a part of Superman's world. One of the things we like to see in this is showing how unique Superman is by putting him against people who are just as super powered as he is.

A day in the life of the BATMAN Group Editor...

image

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Computer’s on, the day begins… 45 emails overnight, argh. Start with the easy ones first. No, wait—Executive Editor Dan DiDio is pulling the Bat Group down into his office for an urgent meeting. Topic: BATGIRL.

Just emerged from Dan’s office. Decided the fate of several characters. As usual, we created more questions then we set out to answer, but hey—that’s the fun part of the job. I’m surprised we ended up where we did, but WOW. Can’t wait to actually start on the title.

Back to the emails… confirmation that BATTLE FOR THE COWL #2 made it safely to the printer. Phew. That’s a relief. We just made it in time. Tony Daniel drew twelve pages in five days! Issue looks great…  Jeremy Haun completed his final page of BATTLE FOR THE COWL: ARKHAM ASYLUM—and he saved the best page for last—readers will think of the LOST map when they see this page…  Heard from that New York Times best-selling fantasy author I’ve been speaking to. She wanted to check in on the artwork of the hardcover we’re doing… Oh yeah—also received new artwork from Frank Quitely on BATMAN & ROBIN #2. Truly amazing artwork.

Got through emails… on to the phone calls. Andy Kubert to run over DETECTIVE #853 balloon placements. Pete Tomasi to talk about the OUTSIDERS roster issues. Tony Daniel to discuss plot notes on BFTC #3 and his AMAZING cover to BATMAN #688… DCU Publicity Manager Alex Segura and Senior Story Editor Ian Sattler stop in for meeting with IGN.com to discuss “the wall”… have Neil Gaiman’s lettering corrections come in yet? Must check with Janelle.

Have to push back color deadlines for SGT. ROCK #5 and ARKHAM ASYLUM… more BATGIRL discussions… have I eaten lunch yet?

bat0203-copy

Received RED ROBIN cover sketches from Francis Manapul—three great designs to choose from…should we have the camera looking down at the grave or up from inside it? Also received final colors on Freddie Williams RED ROBIN cover… talked to Paul Dini and Dustin Nguyen about cover to STREETS OF GOTHAM #3—too risky to put Tommy Elliot on the cover?

Ate lunch, finally… Email from Grant Morrison, checking to make sure correct tombstone reference was used… plot discussions, more plot discussions, Cassandra Cain, Stephanie Brown, Misfit…

Just realized three phone calls will have to wait till tomorrow… Frazer Irving’s final colors on AZRAEL #2 just came in…breathtaking. Script in from Fabian Nicieza, script in from David Hine…do quick balloon placements on both and send down to lettering.

Wait—is the day over? Still so much to do… ah, tomorrow’s another day.

IGN steps inside the Bat-offices

ignwallphoto

Over at IGN, Batman Group Editor Mike Marts talks about his editorial office's unique way of juggling the many characters populating the Bat-universe during and after BATTLE FOR THE COWL:

IGN Comics: Mike, you're giving us a bit of a look at how the Batman editorial team plans out titles and tracks characters with some shots of what you call "The Wall". How long have you been using something like this and what necessitated doing something like this?

Mike Marts: We in the Bat Group — myself, editor Michael Siglain and assistants Harvey Richards and Janelle Siegel - have been using "The Wall" technique for two or so years now... but for the first year and a half, it was all in our heads!

When we started diving into the complexity of Battle for the Cowl (and all that follows it), we soon realized we needed something a bit more graphic and "in your face". There were just too many characters moving in too many different directions. So was born "The Wall".

IGN Comics: Is this something you plan on working with into the June relaunch?

Marts: Definitely. The June plans have already crept on to The Wall in a few places. I'm not saying where!

BATTLE FOR THE COWL #2 hits 4/8.

IGN previews pages from BATTLE FOR THE COWL #2

By now, you've probably seen IGN's BATTLE FOR THE COWL mini-site, which features previews, interviews and video content discussing the three-issue Batman event. Earlier this week, the site added a first look at the second issue of the series, from writer/artist Tony Daniel. You can find the preview here.

But the BATTLE FOR THE COWL fun doesn't end there. Check out this behind-the-scenes look at Daniel's pencils for the variant cover to BATTLE FOR THE COWL #2.

bftc2_cov226

IGN previews BATTLE FOR THE COWL: MAN-BAT #1

manbat

Continuing their concentrated coverage on all things BATTLE FOR THE COWL, our friends over at IGN unveiled a preview of BATTLE FOR THE COWL: MAN-BAT #1, featuring everyone's favorite flying rodent, Kirk Langstrom.

With Batman missing and presumed dead, the villains of Gotham City are running amok, and Man-Bat is no exception. The issue, written by Joe Harris with art by Jim Calafiore and a snazzy Ladrönn cover, pits Man-Bat against another long-running Bat-foe, Dr. Phosphorous. What are you waiting for? Head over and check it out.

BATTLE FOR THE COWL: MAN-BAT goes on sale April 1.

Pages

Subscribe to Battle for the Cowl