Annuals Spotlight: BATGIRL ANNUAL #1

This Halloween, DC Comics will release its next batch of Annuals. These special oversized issues will not only build off of the events in their respective series, but will also greatly impact the expanding DC Universe. Leading up to their October 31 releases, we’ll be putting individual spotlights on each of these Annual issues by giving you special sneak peeks at what’s to come! Yesterday, you got a taste of JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK ANNUAL #1. Today, we’re taking you to Gotham City with a first look at BATGIRL ANNUAL #1.

 

Written by Gail Simone and illustrated by Admira Wijaya and Daniel Sampere, BATGIRL ANNUAL #1 marks the first meeting between Batgirl and Catwoman in DC COMICS-THE NEW 52. Will these two women be able to work together to form an alliance? Or are their differences too extreme? Plus, witness the return of the Talon that Barbara battled during this past spring’s “Night of the Owls” crossover event. And given how things ended the last time she and Batgirl faced off, it’s safe to assume she won’t be knocking at Barbara’s door with a basket of mini-muffins.

 

“BATGIRL ANNUAL #1 tells the tale of Batgirl’s first meeting with Catwoman and how they are somewhat like oil and water,” teased editor Brian Cunningham. “I can’t say enough great things about Admira Wijaya and Daniel Sampere’s art. Their unique approach makes this Annual look very special, and you have not heard the last of these guys, I can assure you of that.”

 

Below, take a sneak peek at BATGIRL ANNUAL #1 by checking out Batgirl and Catwoman side-by-side ready for action. And don’t forget to pick up the issue when it hits stores next Wednesday!

 

Tags: 
Batgirl Annual, gail simone, Admira Wijaya, Daniel Sampere, brian cunningham

Annuals Spotlight: JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK ANNUAL #1

This Halloween, DC Comics will release its next batch of Annuals. These special oversized issues will not only build off of the events in their respective series, but will also greatly impact the expanding DC Universe. Leading up to their October 31 releases, we’ll be putting individual spotlights on each of these Annual issues by giving you special sneak peeks at what’s to come! First up? JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK ANNUAL #1.

 

Continued from this week’s JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #13, JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK ANNUAL #1 not only concludes writer Jeff Lemire and artist Mikel Janin’s epic premiere story arc, but also guest-stars three faces: the Agent of S.H.A.D.E. himself, Frankenstein, I, VAMPIRE’s Andrew Bennett, and SWORD OF SORCERY’s Amethyst!

 

“This Annual fulfills the promise of Jeff Lemire’s run so far on JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK — big stakes, big guest stars, and an even bigger climax. Seriously, this tale has everything but the kitchen sink — although there is a kitchen sink in the House of Mystery, so there’s that, too!” teased editor Brian Cunningham.

“I don’t say this often about a story, but there are single moments in this one that will completely shock and thrill even the most jaded of readers. This 38-pager takes the mystical and macabre to the mainstream. From the regular JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK creative team, this Annual ends the story that they began six months ago. Which, of course, only serves to set up our next amazing arc!”

“One of the biggest reasons why I’m excited by this issue is the spectacular art of our series artist Mikel Janin, who has quickly become one of my favorite artists working in comics — and, as many can attest, I’m not always an easy editor to please!” Cunningham continued. “Mikel took a terrific tale and elevated it to an entirely new level of bold, in-your-face, dynamic art, reminiscent of some of the great masters in comics. If you’re not reading JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK right now, you are missing out on a future master in the making, and you heard it here first!”

 

Below, take a sneak peek at JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK ANNUAL #1 by checking out some of Janin’s interior art. And don’t forget to pick up the issue when it hits stores next Wednesday!

 

Tags: 
Justice League Dark Annual, jeff lemire, mikel janin, brian cunningham

This Just Happened: Steve Trevor Teams Up With Green Arrow

SPOILER ALERT: If you have not read JUSTICE LEAGUE #13 yet and do not wish to know what happens, stop reading this post now (major spoiler alerts ahead!).

 

From the all-star creative team of co-writers Geoff Johns and Jeff Lemire and artists Brad Walker and Drew Hennessy, “On The Outs” serves as more than just the back-up story to JUSTICE LEAGUE #13. It also plants the seeds for February’s JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 and teases what’s in store for Steve Trevor and Green Arrow in 2013.

 

In case you missed it, Steve Trevor was officially let go as the Justice League’s liaison to A.R.G.U.S. following the harrowing events that nearly cost him his life in “The Villain’s Journey” story arc. But his story is far from over.

 

In “On The Outs,” Steve reunites with Oliver Queen, who has sought him out to report a mysterious new threat to the Justice League. How will Steve and Oliver combine forces to combat this new threat before it sets its bull’s eye on the Justice League? We asked editor Brian Cunningham to tease the monumental impact of this back-up on the ever-expanding DC Universe. Over to you, Brian!

 

“The story follows directly out of events in the main story in JUSTICE LEAGUE #13. It’s only six pages, but it packs a wallop of intriguing set-up material for 2013’s DC Universe. Colonel Steve Trevor is confronted by Amanda Waller and saddled with some consequences of the previous JUSTICE LEAGUE arc. And Trevor’s arc is only going to get more fascinating in the coming year — he’s quickly becoming one of my favorite characters.”

“As much as Trevor may not like it, he and Oliver Queen find common ground in the oddest of ways, as we’ll learn,” Cunningham continued. “It all lays the groundwork for how Green Arrow is going to have a huge 2013.”

“Working with Geoff and Jeff is always — and I mean ALWAYS — great fun. Their ideas going in are usually so strong that they do most of the heavy lifting. If there is ever an opportunity to work with them, I will claw my way to grab it.”

 

Stay tuned to THE SOURCE for more about Green Arrow and JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA in the coming weeks. But in the meantime, click here to read “On The Outs” and be sure to pick up your copy of JUSTICE LEAGUE #13, in stores now!

Tags: 
Justice League, geoff johns, jeff lemire, Brad Walker, Drew Hennessy, brian cunningham, Steve Trevor, oliver queen, Green Arrow

Announcing the Guest Creative Team for NIGHTWING #13-14

This fall, NIGHTWING’s Dick Grayson will battle against the villainous Lady Shiva. In issue #13, find out why one of the world’s most grave assassins returned to Gotham City. And in issue #14, watch the epic martial arts throwdown between the two. And even if Nightwing may be outmatched this time, he won’t go down without a fight!

 

Taking over as guest writer for NIGHTWING #13-14 is Tom DeFalco, the fan-favorite writer behind such titles as LEGION LOST, SUPERBOY and NIGHTWING #0. And joining him to take on artist duties are Andres Guinaldo and Mark Irwin.

 

“When writer Kyle Higgins needed a breather to gear up for the Joker’s monstrous return in issue #15, I turned to Tom, who pitched in on issue #0,” series editor Brian Cunningham told THE SOURCE. “I’ll just come out and say it: Tom ranks among the best ever at writing street-level heroes. And Tom really delivered with his first solo trip to Gotham, following the narrative that Kyle has developed without skipping a beat, and helping to set up the Joker arc. And it felt natural for Tom to continue exploring the character of Lady Shiva, who first appears in NIGHTWING #0."

"In this story, both Dick and Shiva have grown up some since their first encounter—they’re not teenagers anymore—so it’ll be fun to see how each fares in a fair fight. Wait, did I say fair fight? Forget it—Shiva remains by far the better fighter, so it’s up to Dick to find a way just stay alive!"

"On the art side, Andres Guinaldo is an on-the-rise artist to be reckoned with, and you can quote me. He’s extremely talented and has an idiosyncratic style that’s also perfectly suited for mainstream comics. Keep your eye on this guy—he will only get better. You’ll see what he’s capable of in these two issues, especially after Mark masterfully inks him.”

 

Below, take an exclusive first look at NIGHTWING #14 by checking out Eddy Barrows and Eber Ferreira’s cover for the issue, which hits stores on November 21.

 

Tags: 
nightwing, tom defalco, andres guinaldo, mark irwin, eddy barrows, eber ferreira, brian cunningham

The Culling Aftermath: LEGION LOST

Currently spanning the pages of TEEN TITANS ANNUAL, SUPERBOY, LEGION LOST and TEEN TITANS, “The Culling” crossover event will soon be spinning off into its own series, THE RAVAGERS (issue #1 on sale on 5/30).

 

But what does the aftermath of this event mean for the other respective titles involved in it? Today, take a sneak peek at what’s to come next in LEGION LOST.

 

“The Lost Legionnaires find their way home to the 31st century! And what they find is the worst thing that could ever happen! If you don’t believe me, check out this exclusive art from the next issue!” series editor Brian Cunningham told THE SOURCE.

 

Below, take an exclusive first look at LEGION LOST #10, in stores on June 13th.

 

Tags: 
Legion Lost, the culling, Teen Titans Annual, teen titans, superboy, brian cunningham

EDITOR BRIAN CUNNINGHAM ON "THE CULLING" CROSSOVER

“The Culling” crossover event is coming this May – but what is The Culling? What is N.O.W.H.E.R.E., and how will it threaten the heroes and would-be heroes of DC COMICS-THE NEW 52? You’ll find out in next month’s crossover, but in the meantime – stay tuned to THE SOURCE all this week for Culling insights from the creators.

 

Today, LEGION LOST editor Brian Cunningham gives his TOP 5 REASONS TO READ ‘THE CULLING’:

Everyone knows the month of May gives us springtime and flowers aplenty. But, hey, if you dig plenty of “pushing up daisies,” then you’ll LOVE May’s “The Culling,” a crossover running through TEEN TITANS, SUPERBOY and LEGION LOST. If you want your fix of carnage and death miles below the Earth’s surface, then that’s where you’ll find it!

In addition to that, here are my Top 5 reasons to read it:

5. IT’S EPIC!
“The Culling” introduces the comic book epic to DC’s New 52, plain and simple. The all-star cast of characters is ginormous, the stakes are even higher and the caliber of talent working on it is tremendous. The story single-handedly ties together most of all three series’ plots so far, and also propels them into their collective futures. The theme of “The Culling” makes a statement on where all these super-teens are going.

These writers — Scott Lobdell, Tom DeFalco and Howard Mackie — have tons of experience in crafting epics. You’ve probably read most of them. The pedigree is gold standard.

4. TEEN TITANS & LEGION…FRENEMIES?
Friends or enemies, the Titans and Legion learn quickly they need to unite in order to survive. But that doesn’t mean they gotta like it!

In “The Culling,” the Titans and the Lost Legionnaires learn that they each have something in common, and that something is a new heavyweight villain named Harvest. Harvest has invested considerable time and effort into corralling both the Titans and these Legionnaires together. Turns out, Harvest somehow knew these Legionnaires would be coming back in time to 2012 and factored them into his über-plan in a huge way.

“How’s that possible?” you ask? To say any more would be telling!

3. THE CONSEQUENCES CHANGE THE GAME
Coming out of the climax of “The Culling,” LEGION LOST #10 will make fans either extremely happy or extremely sad, depending on how they look at it. Either way, it will spark debate with such zeal that it may result in some fist fights! But I urge our passionate audience to use non-violent methods to air out their disagreements.

2. YOU ONLY THINK YOU KNOW TOM DEFALCO
For my part in “The Culling,” I have the joy of working with Tom DeFalco, which has been one of the most fun experiences in my entire career. And I say that with no hyperbole. Tom’s a pro’s pro — I’m continually amazed at how versatile he is at contemporizing his work for today’s audience. If you think you’ve seen all Tom is capable of, you’d be very wrong, and his work on LEGION LOST has been proof of it.

1. JUST BUY IT ALREADY!!
If you like exciting, electric storytelling in your comics, then you’ll get hooked on “The Culling.” And I guarantee that you’ll be picking up TEEN TITANS, SUPERBOY, LEGION LOST and — coming out of it — THE RAVAGERS every month following it.

The story delivers. I hope you’ll pick it up and let us know that you agree!

Tags: 
brian cunningham, the culling, Legion Lost

JUSTICE LEAGUE #7 DESIGN: A.R.G.U.S. BY GENE HA

“In this instance, Gene [Ha] did a ton of research when coming up with an A.R.G.U.S. agent’s body armor and helmet. And based on that, he did TWO tons of sketching until he got to a place that he and Jim Lee both agreed to.

“One thing Jim wanted was a fancier, more high-tech helmet than what Gene had in his first round of sketching. Ultimately, Gene came up with this design. It’s very clever in that there’s the option to make it look ominous or so that you can see the person’s facial expression. It’s extremely versatile.”
- Brian Cunningham, JUSTICE LEAGUE editor


Tags: 
Justice League, gene ha, Jim Lee, brian cunningham

JUSTICE LEAGUE #7 DESIGN: SPORE BY GENE HA

“One of the reasons I love working with Gene [Ha] is that besides being an enormously talented artist, he also truly invests himself into the material he works on. Spore is a modern monster based on the ongoing threat of bio-warfare, and Gene clearly had a blast designing him and his flesh-eating Seed creatures. What’s poignant about Spore is that his predicament is a subtle metaphor for the heart of issue #7’s overall story. Oh, and Spore’s origin definitely ties into the next big arc — the hows and whys will become apparent later in the ‘Villain’s Journey.’”
- Brian Cunningham, JUSTICE LEAGUE editor



Tags: 
Justice League, gene ha, brian cunningham

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY’s first look at JUSTICE LEAGUE #7

This week, JUSTICE LEAGUE kicks off a brand new story arc in issue #7 of the bestselling series. Head on over to ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY to see an exclusive preview of the issue, which sets the superhero team in the present day for the first time.

 

“The first arc with Darkseid told of the League’s origins from five years ago, so we’re really excited to say that JUSTICE LEAGUE #7 is the team’s first adventure set in the modern day, right now in 2012,” series editor Brian Cunningham told THE SOURCE. “The opening pages of the issue establish the public’s perception of them…which is an enormous factor into what the ‘Villian’s Journey’ is really all about. In the pages following ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY’s preview, we’ll see exactly how much the League itself has changed over the course of five years. It will definitely surprise you.”

 

JUSTICE LEAGUE #7 is written by acclaimed writer Geoff Johns and is illustrated by guest artist Gene Ha. The issue also serves as the debut of the SHAZAM! backup story, which is also written by Geoff Johns and features art by Gary Frank. Pick up the issue when it goes on sale this Wednesday. 

Tags: 
Justice League, geoff johns, gene ha, gary frank, brian cunningham, entertainment weekly

Exclusive first look at JUSTICE LEAGUE #7

If you’ve been reading THE SOURCE, you know that there is a lot to be excited about in JUSTICE LEAGUE #7. Not only does the issue mark the beginning of a new story arc, but it also shifts the team from the past to the present … and reintroduces Steve Trevor! Written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by series guest artist Gene Ha, JUSTICE LEAGUE #7 is not an issue to be missed. And that’s not all! The issue also kicks off the new SHAZAM! backup story, written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Gary Frank, which reveals the all-new origin of Billy Batson in DC COMICS-THE NEW 52. So now that we’ve whet your appetite, take an exclusive first look at JUSTICE LEAGUE #7 by checking out Gary Frank’s variant cover for the issue below. “It was great to get the chance to do all of the redesigned team members together,” Frank exclusively told THE SOURCE. “I noticed how it was generally Superman or Batman at the center of this kind of ensemble shot, so I thought I'd give the girls the spotlight this time by putting Wonder Woman in the heart of things.” “We asked Gary to draw #7’s cover simply because this issue contains Gary’s gorgeous first chapter of the ongoing ‘Shazam!’ backup story,” said series editor Brian Cunningham. “We felt it was a nice nod to tie the main League cast and Gary together. And, like he always does, Gary gives each League member a strong sense of humanity that not many artists can match. It’s what makes him an elite talent and we’re thrilled to be able to work with him on an ongoing basis. Oh, and wait’ll you see Gary’s take on Shazam and his cast — it’s his best stuff yet!” Look for JUSTICE LEAGUE #7 in stores next month.

Tags: 
brian cunningham, DC Comics-The New 52, gary frank, gene ha, geoff johns, Justice League

Pages

Subscribe to brian cunningham