david finch | DC Comics

SDCC 2010 – in photos

And you thought we were done with SDCC 2010 posts! Well, far from it. While at the show, we managed to snag a number of pictures – of fans, creators and other assorted highlights from the show. So, scroll below for a visual recap of the event, courtesy of my cellphone camera and others. Click below to begin.

The con floor, before the flood of fans. It will never be this quiet again.

Who lifted the White Lantern power battery? From the DC DIRECT booth.

Our very own Dan DiDio MC’s the Thursday DC NATION panel.

Kevin Smith makes a surprise appearance at the BATMAN: WIDENING GYRE panel. Batman Group Editor Mike Marts looks on.

Smith signs at the DC booth.

Ian Sattler looks on during the Grant Morrison spotlight panel.

Geoff Johns and Grant Morrison wait for Dan to call them up to the stage.

Wonder Woman writer J. Michael Straczynski with Wonder Woman (sporting her new duds!) and a blurry Darkseid.

A few shots from the How to Draw Batman panel, which was a real treat for fans, as they got to see Jim Lee, David Finch and Dustin Nguyen take turns sketching the Dark Knight on a projector. Very cool look at the artistic process.

Jim polishes off a sketch for a fan after the How to Draw panel.

Grant Morrison signing at the DC booth.

Hey, Identity Crisis writer Brad Meltzer stops by to say hi to Grant as he signs!

A Catman doll made especially for Gail Simone. This photo was taken during a rare lunch break!

ACTION COMICS writer Paul Cornell poses with a fan dressed up as Vertigo’s Death, who’ll be appearing in ACTION COMICS #894. Hat tip to GRAPHIC CONTENT’s Pamela Mullin for the photo.

A few shots from the dramatic reading of WONDER WOMAN #601, which took place at the JMS Spotlight panel, and featured pages from the issue being projected onto a screen as actors read the dialogue.

Dan and Jim close out the show with the DC Town Hall Meeting panel on Sunday.

Tags:

Batman, brad meltzer, Dan DiDio, david finch, dustin nguyen, Geoff Johns, grant morrison, ian sattler, j. michael straczynski, jim lee, sdcc 2010, Superman, wonder woman

PREVIEW: ACTION COMICS #891

Lex's quest for power - specifically, the power wielded by the Black Lantern ring -- continues, as writer Paul Cornell and artist Pete Woods' second issue ups the ante for the villainous star. Buckle in for a greatest hits tour of the DCU's most wanted as Lex Luthor continues his epic hunt, with covers by superstar artist David Finch.

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Tags:

action comics, david finch, lex luthor, paul cornell, pete woods, Superman

DC Direct’s BRIGHTEST DAY figures are here

After the BLACKEST NIGHT comes the BRIGHTEST DAY, and if you’re still reeling from the amazing look of the DC DIRECT figures surrounding last year’s DCU-spanning event, you may need to sit down for this one.

Starting in March, DC DIRECT will kick off another series of high-quality and story-specific product, this time based around the hit biweekly series, BRIGHTEST DAY. We've got a first look at the first two waves, which include Hawkgirl, Green Arrow, Deadman, Aquaman, Hawkman, Martian Manhunter, Firestorm and Mera.

Tags:

brightest day, david finch, dc direct, Geoff Johns, ivan reis, patrick gleason, peter tomasi, scott clark

David Finch takes on BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT as writer/artist

We promised big news. It doesn’t get much bigger than this.

When we announced superstar artist David Finch was going to be joining the ranks of the DC NATION, it was with the news that he’d be handling the covers on BRIGHTEST DAY and ACTION COMICS. But not only is Finch a all-star caliber cover artist, he’s a master storyteller. Fans got a taste of the compelling narrative Finch can create visually with the pages he did in BATMAN #700, paired with writer Grant Morrison.

But we can now add another credit to Finch’s vast resume: writer/artist.

Of an ongoing Batman series.

Starting in November, Finch will take the reins of BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT, a new ongoing Batman title featuring the hyper-detailed and kinetic artwork Finch has become known for plus his unique and yet classic interpretation of the Caped Crusader. The series will also see him paired with legendary inker Scott Williams.

Can’t wait until November? The fun begins in October, with BATMAN: THE RETURN, a one-shot featuring Finch’s masterful pencils and words by Morrison, kicking off a new era for the Dark Knight and giving fans a quick taste of what’s coming up for Batman.

So what does Finch have in store for readers, both art-wise and as the writer? We caught up with him to get the lowdown on the new book:

“I've made no secret of the fact that I've wanted to draw Batman for a very, very long time. Batman and his world embody everything that I love about Superhero comics, and I could not be happier that I've gotten this opportunity!

Maybe the greatest thing about Batman is his versatility as a character. He can be so many things to so many people. For me though, the Neal Adams, Denny O'Neil issues from the early 70's are the most definitive. That work casts a very long shadow over every Batman book that has come out since, and I think its a testament to it's strength that close to 40 years later it remains modern and vital. Batman is at his best with his hands dirty, chasing the worst of the worst with everything on the line. He's a detective, first and foremost. But he's also the enforcer. Nobody gets away with crime under Batman's watch, and he makes sure they think twice before they step over the line again.

The Dark Knight takes Batman outside what he knows, into a world of demonology, dark arts, and mystery. He's the ultimate detective, faster, stronger and smarter than any villian, but now he faces creatures to whom logic and mortality don't apply.

I want Dark Knight to be true to Batman's street level, crime fighter roots. He'll face a rogues gallery that we're all familiar with, but this book will take him on a darker path where he'll be stretched to his physical and psychological limits.”

BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT #1 hits in November.

Tags:

action comics, Batman, brightest day, dark knight, david finch

It really IS the BRIGHTEST DAY

We shared some nice WONDER WOMAN #600 news with you guys yesterday, but why stop there? It seems like the sellout craze is spreading across the DCU, with ACTION COMICS #890, BATMAN BEYOND #1, BATMAN: THE RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE #1-2, BIRDS OF PREY #1, THE FLASH #1, GREEN ARROW #1, JUSTICE LEAGUE: GENERATION LOST #1, LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #1, SUPERMAN/BATMAN ANNUAL #4 and ZATANNA #1 flying off the shelves.

And with stellar talent like Geoff Johns, Francis Manapul, Gail Simone, Ed Benes, Paul Levitz, Yildiray Cinar, J.T. Krul, Diogenes Neves, Judd Winick, Keith Giffen, Aaron Lopresti, Paul Cornell, Pete Woods, David Finch, Paul Dini, Stephane Roux, Renato Guedes, Eddy Barrows, Adam Beechen and Ryan Benjamin, how can you go wrong? The fans have spoken. But fear not – second printings are on the way for these, in case you were late in swinging by the shop.

And this is only the beginning, folks. Stay tuned right here for more.

The cover to ACTION COMICS #894 will surprise you

There are some characters that connect so strongly with readers that they take on a life of their own, becoming more than just ink on a page. Like modern fables and folklore, comics create strange and exciting worlds and landscapes for readers to visit and experience, and they populate these worlds with characters so well-defined, it’s as if we’d known them forever.

Neil Gaiman’s SANDMAN is one such work. An epic, 75-issue opus that was both genre-bending and trend-setting during its original release and to this day, it, like WATCHMEN and a number of series, is what many point to when discussing comics as high art. It’s not a stretch to call it a masterpiece.

But why are we talking about SANDMAN on the DCU blog, you ask?

For those unfamiliar with the character at the center of the cover – and shame on you if you don’t know who that is – that’s Death, sister to Dream of the Endless and one of the most enduring characters introduced during Gaiman’s 75-issue SANDMAN series. Beautifully presented by ACTION COMICS cover artist David Finch, the cover begs the question – what is Death doing in ACTION COMICS?

Though the worlds of the Sandman and the DC superheroes have bled into one another from time to time, ACTION COMICS #894 marks a unique moment for not only Death, but the star of ACTION – Lex Luthor. Luthor, as fans of the series know, is in the midst of a storyline that takes him on a winding and dangerous quest for power – a quest that will bring the megalomaniacal villain into close proximity with characters in and beyond the far reaches of the DC Universe.

We touched base with writer Paul Cornell who, along with artist Pete Woods, are the team entrusted with the task of chronicling this special issue. Take it away, Paul:

“Death appearing in Action Comics was my own mad idea, the extreme case of putting Luthor up against characters he's not used to dealing with.

“I'm very pleased that, after I ran the idea by him, Neil Gaiman approved me using Death in this issue. He's been very supportive. It's so interesting to see her back in the DC Universe. Though Vertigo readers can rest assured that the character, and the way she's used, will be true to the spirit of what has gone before.”

ACTION COMICS #894 hits in October.

Tags:

action comics, david finch, lex luthor, paul cornell, pete woods

What happens when the returned learn why they’re back in BRIGHTEST DAY #5

The mysteries deepen! What secret is Mera hiding? Where have Hawkman and Hawkgirl disappeared to? And what annoys Hawk the most about Deadman? Find out in this issue as we march closer towards the turning point of issue #7 as Hawk and Dove join the mission to uncover the truth behind their returns and what it means to the rest of the DCU! Here are a few pages from BRIGHTEST DAY #5, all courtesy of the stellar team of Johns, Tomasi and the comic industry’s greatest artists.

BRIGHTEST DAY #5 hits tomorrow.

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Tags:

david finch, Geoff Johns, ivan reis, patrick gleason, peter tomasi, scott clark

End your day with a look at some upcoming variant covers

The headline says it all, folks. We’ve got a first look at covers for BATMAN: RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE #4 by Cameron Stewart, TIME MASTERS: VANISHING POINT #1 by Chris Sprouse, BRIGHTEST DAY #6 by David Finch and ZATANNA #3 by Brian Bolland. What better way to close out Tuesday than by clicking on some lovely cover art? See you tomorrow.

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Tags:

Batman, batman: return of bruce wayne, brian bolland, brightest day, cameron stewart, chris sprouse, david finch, time masters: vanishing point, zatanna

A few variant covers to close the day

I get it. It’s the middle of the week. Your brain is fried. You don’t want a long post explaining anything complicated. How about some nice art to click on and get you through your last hours at work?

Especially when it’s stuff like BRIGHTEST DAY #5 – one by Ivan Reis and another by David Finch, FIRST WAVE #3 by Lee Bermejo, JUSTICE LEAGUE: GENERATION LOST #5 by Tony Harris and SUPERMAN: SECRET ORIGIN #6 by Gary Frank.

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Tags:

brian azzarello, brightest day, david finch, gary frank, Geoff Johns, ivan reis, judd winick, keith giffen, lee bermejo, peter tomasi, Superman, superman: secret origin justice league: generation lost, tony harris

A look at BRIGHTEST DAY in September

All things BRIGHTEST DAY continue to chug along at a frenetic pace, and we’ve got a first look at what’s going down in the September-shipping batch of titles. Click below for more.

BRIGHTEST DAY #9-10

Written by GEOFF JOHNS & PETER J. TOMASI

Art by IVAN REIS, PATRICK GLEASON, ARDIAN SYAF, SCOTT CLARK & JOE PRADO

Covers by DAVID FINCH

1:10 Variant covers by IVAN REIS

The resurrected have discovered their purpose for being back, but where will the knowledge lead them? Who is the new Aqualad? And what strange event is taking place around the White Power Battery in New Mexico?

Retailers please note: These issues will ship with two covers each. Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.

Issue #9 on sale SEPTEMBER 1

Issue #10 on sale SEPTEMBER 15

32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

GREEN LANTERN #58

Written by GEOFF JOHNS

Art and cover by DOUG MAHNKE & CHRISTIAN ALAMY

1:10 Variant cover by ALEX GARNER

BRIGHTEST DAY continues as Adara, the Hope Entity, finds a host in a young girl who may be destined to be a great savior. Can this young student hope to contain such a powerful force – and what will drive Hal Jordan on a spiritual journey unlike any he’s ever taken?

Plus, the Spectre sets his sights on the Rage Entity!

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

On sale SEPTEMBER 29 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

GREEN LANTERN CORPS #52

Written by TONY BEDARD

Art and cover by ARDIAN SYAF & VICENTE CIFUENTES

1:10 Variant cover by PATRICK GLEASON

BRIGHTEST DAY continues as the final part of the “Revolt of the Alpha Lanterns” features a confrontation between Cyborg Superman and Ganthet! Will the villain finally get the eternal sleep he so desperately seeks? Meanwhile, the Weaponers of Qward attempt to tap into the White Energy from the construct left behind by Deadman’s battle with the Anti-Monitor.

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

On sale SEPTEMBER 22 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

GREEN LANTERN: EMERALD WARRIORS #2

Written by PETER J. TOMASI

Art by FERNANDO PASARIN & CAM SMITH

Cover by RODOLFO MIGLIARI

1:25 Variant cover by FELIPE MASSAFERA

Don’t miss this BRIGHTEST DAY tie-in as Guy Gardner continues his secret mission for Atrocitus! Just as he discovers the Red Lantern energy still has him in its grip, Guy must deal with Red Lantern Bleez as a new teammate, which only leads to dangerous agitation. Can Kilowog, Arisia and the others save Guy – or will they turn on him when they learn the secret of his sinister mission?

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

On sale SEPTEMBER 15 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US

GREEN ARROW #4

Written by J.T. KRUL

Art by DIOGENES NEVES & VICENTE CIFUENTES

Cover by MAURO CASCIOLI

1:10 variant cover by PHILIP TAN

From the pages of BRIGHTEST DAY comes Martian Manhunter! His White Lantern vision has led him to the Emerald Archer’s mystical forest. Is he there to save it – or destroy it? Can Oliver stop his former ally?

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

On sale SEPTEMBER 29 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

JUSTICE LEAGUE: GENERATION LOST #9-10

Written by JUDD WINICK

Breakdowns by KEITH GIFFEN

Issue #9 art by FERNANDO DAGNINO

Issue #10 art by JOE BENNETT

Covers by CLIFF CHIANG

1:10 Variant covers by KEVIN MAGUIRE

DC’s biweekly JUSTICE LEAGUE event continues! Fire has been keeping a dangerous secret from the team, and her past literally comes back to haunt her when she’s forced to confront the darkest of demons!

Meanwhile, still hot on the trail of Max Lord, the former members of the Justice League International pick themselves up after their disastrous battle at Checkmate headquarters. But can they locate Max while The Dark Knight himself is hot on their trail?

Retailers please note: These issues will ship with two covers each. Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.

Issue #9 on sale SEPTEMBER 8

Issue #10 on sale SEPTEMBER 22

32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #49

Written by JAMES ROBINSON

Art by POW RODRIX

Cover by MARK BAGLEY & ROB HUNTER

1:10 Variant cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL

The BRIGHTEST DAY shines a spotlight on Jade as she adjusts to the repercussions of the JLA/JSA crossover. She and Donna Troy head to the San Francisco Bay area to make themselves a new home but are confronted with old and new threats – including the New Teen Titans!

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

On sale SEPTEMBER 22 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US

BIRDS OF PREY #5

Written by GAIL SIMONE

Art by ALVIN LEE

Cover by ALINA URUSOV

Join writer Gail Simone and guest artist Alvin Lee as two Birds track down a missing team member in Thailand...where someone is hunting them to make sure they never return! Plus, the shocking events of BRIGHTEST DAY continue to rock Hawk and Dove, the newest recruits to Oracle’s organization!

On sale SEPTEMBER 15 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

THE FLASH #6

Written by GEOFF JOHNS

Art and cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL

1:10 Variant cover by ALE GARZA & SANDRA HOPE

BRIGHTEST DAY dashes on with the stunning conclusion of “The Dastardly Deaths of the Rogues!” With Barry caught between the Rogues and the Renegades, the resurrected Captain Boomerang’s role in the adventure is revealed! You won’t believe how this leads to the upcoming FLASHPOINT…

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

On sale SEPTEMBER 22 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

TITANS #27

Written by ERIC WALLACE

Art and cover by FABRIZIO FIORENTINO

Deathstroke and Arsenal find they have something in common when they team up to halt a child slavery ring. They need to get past a foursome of super-powered foes protecting the ring first. But Osiris – the team’s reluctant powerhouse – is already out of the fight entirely! Good luck, guys…

On sale SEPTEMBER 15 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US