brent anderson | DC Comics

MTV GEEK Announces ASTRO CITY

After a three year hiatus, ASTRO CITY is back and better than ever! This spring, the entire award-winning creative team – including writer Kurt Busiek and artist Brent Anderson – is back to kick off a new epoch of the human and the super human.

Earlier this morning, MTV GEEK announced that the fan-favorite series would be returning as a part of the DC Comics imprint this spring.

In ASTRO CITY, a new ongoing monthly series that showcases old heroes and new, The Ambassador comes to earth, and an ordinary man is caught up in the cosmic conflict! Featuring the return of favorites such as Samaritan and Honor Guard, the series will also feature the debut of some new sensations, including the mysterious Broken Man.

“You'll meet him on page one of our new first issue, but while this'll be your first time meeting him as the Broken Man, that doesn't mean you haven't met him before,” Busiek teased to MTV GEEK. “So in some ways he's a new character and in some ways he's a returning character. And he's got a very, very unusual and complex history, and an even more unusual heroic quest. One the readers will actually get to be a part of as something more than passive observers. But ah-ah, I don't want to give away too much.”

Head over to MTV GEEK to read their full coverage and complete interview with Busiek. And don’t forget to get in on the ground floor of ASTRO CITY’S next epic when ASTRO CITY #1 lands in stores on June 5th!

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Astro City, kurt busiek, brent anderson, alex ross

Preview Monday: THE PHANTOM STRANGER #3 and FAIREST #10

Welcome back for another installment of Preview Monday! This week we’re giving you exclusive first looks at THE PHANTOM STRANGER #3 and FAIREST #10.

Following the exciting events of THE PHANTOM STRANGER #2, our hero hangs on the verge of death. This week in “Family Matters,” The Phantom Stranger battles The Haunted Highwayman for the life of Terrence Thirteen. But can he save him from The Highwayman’s vendetta against the Thirteen family? Or will his curse prevail and force him to betray all those he encounters? Find out in THE PHANTOM STRANGER #3, in stores this Wednesday, written by Dan DiDio and illustrated by Brent Anderson, Philip Tan and Rob Hunter. Click here for an exclusive preview of the issue.

The last issue of FAIREST left us with the Rapunzel and her hairdresser, Joel, narrowly escaping from the CEG building. This week, “The Hidden Kingdom” continues … and we finally discover how Rapunzel lost her children! Meanwhile, the couple encounters a mysterious cat who offers to take them to the kids. Is it a trick or will our heroine finally be reunited with her family? From writer Lauren Beukes and artist Inaki Miranda, FAIREST #10 hits stores this Wednesday. Click here for an exclusive preview of the issue.

Tags:

the phantom stranger, fairest, dan didio, brent anderson, philip tan, rob hunter, Lauren Beukes, inaki miranda

Third Wave Spotlight: THE PHANTOM STRANGER #1

In September, Zero Month introduced you to four all-new ongoing series: THE PHANTOM STRANGER, SWORD OF SORCERY, TALON and TEAM 7. With these #0 issues, you got a taste of the new characters and stories that will be impacting the ever-growing DC Universe.

This month, each of these four series will launch their #1 issue. To celebrate these releases, we’ve been putting a spotlight on each of these new titles every day this week on THE SOURCE. Last (but certainly not least!) up is THE PHANTOM STRANGER #1. From writer Dan DiDio and artists Brent Anderson and Philip Tan, THE PHANTOM STRANGER #1 hits stores on October 10. We asked DiDio and Anderson to tell us a little bit about their creative processes and to tease what readers can expect from issue #1.

How did you use issue #0 to help you launch issue #1? How were your creative approaches to these two issues different?

DAN DIDIO: With issue #0, we gave you a much longer look at the Phantom Stranger’s origin than we originally planned. And while that book is a look back, issue #1 sets up a number of storylines that will play out in the course of the series.

What’s been the most fun aspect of writing/drawing and launching the new series so far?

BRENT ANDERSON: All the characters in THE PHANTOM STRANGER so far are new to me and I enjoy seeing new characters’ personalities develop under my pencil (oh, and drawing the fedora – I love that!).

DAN DIDIO: The most fun (and the most difficult) part is keeping the book focused on the character of the Phantom Stranger. In past series, the stories were mostly about other characters and how the Stranger affected their lives. With this series, every story affects the Phantom Stranger.

Do you have a ritual (music you listen to or something you eat or do to get you prepped) before approaching the writing/drawing for the series? If so, what is it?

BRENT ANDERSON: I like to watch TV series and movies on DVD that tangentially relate to the subject matter. I listen to the soundtracks and other genres of music in the same fashion.

DAN DIDIO: Long morning walks to sort out the stories. And it’s probably good that it’s early in the morning – the less people who see me talking to myself, the better!

Below, take a first look at THE PHANTOM STRANGER #1 by taking an exclusive look at some of the issue’s interior art by Anderson and Tan.

Tags:

the phantom stranger, dan didio, brent anderson, philip tan

INTRODUCING DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 "0" MONTH

Timed to the one year anniversary of the launch of the historic DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 initiative, DC Comics will introduce 0 month.

In September 2012, DC Comics will release 0 issues—and we don’t mean we aren’t publishing any titles—but what we will be doing is numbering every DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 title #0.

#0s will be stand-alone stories. “Some issues will tell the origins of a character or a team, or in some case where an origin has already been told, they will fill in the blanks in terms of questions readers may have about the New 52 DC Universe,” said Bob Harras, DC Entertainment Editor-in-Chief. “Each of these issues promises to reveal something surprising.”

And debuting at #0 are four new comic book series:

TALON - Co-Writers: Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV. Artist: Guillem March.

Meet Calvin Rose, the only Talon to ever escape the grasp of the Court of Owls. This former assassin of the Court is trying to live a normal life ... but that’s impossible when he’s being hunted by his former masters!

SWORD OF SORCERY – Writer: Christy Marx. Artist: Aaron Lopresti.
Featuring the return of Amethyst, Amy Winston leads a strange life on the road with her mother and resents it. She’s about to learn it’s all been necessary when she discovers she’s the lost princess of Gemworld—and she’s being hunted by her murderous aunt. With a back-up story written by Tony Bedard with art by Jesus Saiz, set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, the monstrous warrior Beowulf is charged with finding and defeating the evil Grendel.

THE PHANTOM STRANGER - Writer: Dan DiDio. Artist: Brent Anderson.
Spinning out of his recent appearances in JUSTICE LEAGUE and DC’s Free Comic Book Day story, learn more about the true origin of The Phantom Stranger and his connection to the mysterious Pandora.

TEAM SEVEN - Writer: Justin Jordan. Artist: Jesus Merino.
Set in the early days of DC COMICS-THE NEW 52, threads of the entire DC Universe collide. As Superman emerges, so does the world’s counter measures against him and his kind. Team 7 is comprised of Dinah Lance, Amanda Waller, Steve Trevor, John Lynch, Alex Fairchild, Cole Cash and Slade Wilson — and their story will change everything you know about DC COMICS-THE NEW 52.

The four new series will follow with issue #1s in October and other series will resume their numbering.

(Promotional art for BATMAN, INCORPORATED #0)

Tags:

DC Comics-The New 52, 0 Month, talon, scott snyder, James Tynion IV, guillem march, Sword of Sorcery, Christy Marx, aaron lopresti, the phantom stranger, dan didio, brent anderson, Team Seven, Justin Jordan, jesus merino, bob harras

FIRST LOOK: GREEN LANTERN/PLASTIC MAN: WEAPONS OF MASS DECEPTION

Here’s the situation: There’s a cabal of aliens hiding in plain site on Earth, and they’re set on smuggling weapons off the planet to fuel an interplanetary conflict. Who’s around to save the day? Green Lantern. Good, right? And Plastic Man. Hm. Good luck, GL.

This special one-shot, featuring an untold tale of the DCU comes to us this December from writer Marv Wolfman and longtime ASTRO CITY artist Brent Anderson. We’ve got a first look at Anderson’s cover below.