On the cover to BRIGHTEST DAY #4? Yup. How is that possible, you ask? What’s going on with the Hawks? You’ll get a few ideas from the pages below, but you’ll have to wait until BRIGHTEST DAY #4 hits tomorrow for the full scoop, courtesy of Mr. Johns, Tomasi, Reis, Finch, Gleason, Clark and Syaf.
BRIGHTEST DAY #4 hits Wednesday.
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We've already gotten a glimpse at Andy Kubert’s contribution to the anniversary epic that is BATMAN #700. But why stop there? Now, we close out the day with comments from the mega-talented David Finch, who also pencils a sequence in Grant Morrison’s time-twisting tale of The Batman. What say you, David?
“I'm a huge fan of dystopian futuristic stories and art, so this page really grabbed me. It was an opportunity to draw angry robots, rubble, and homemade, stitched together costumes for Batman and Robin of the future. This page is a bit of a re-imagining of a story from the fifties, and I tried to come up with a look that blended some of what was in the original work, with a more contemporary feel. It was a bit of a challenge, but it was fun.
Batman works for me the best when he's up against insurmountable odds, and this page really captured that for me. Everything he knows is in ruins, and pockets of humanity are hunted by evil, weird looking robots. He's a soldier fighting for this people's way of life, and this page, page shows that in it very stark terms.”
This week, DC’s ongoing BATMAN title hits a major and rare milestone: 700 issues.
Listing every key creator to have contributed to the Dark Knight’s legacy would be a week’s worth of blog posts in and of itself. But this week, we’ll be taking readers into the pages of the amazing BATMAN #700, featuring a story by innovative and kinetic writer Grant Morrison and an all-star cast of artists that include Frank Quitely, David Finch, Andy Kubert, Tony Daniel and more. The story, which touches on every aspect and era of Batman is the perfect centerpiece for an issue that celebrates the past, present and future adventures of the Dark Knight.
We’ve got a week’s worth of cool art, engaging comments and a few surprises to commemorate the issue here on The Source, kicking off right now with a teaser page from the issue.
Make sure to swing back tomorrow for more comments from some of comic’s biggest names (and the biggest contributors to BATMAN #700) on Batman and his world.
What happened after that Firestorm-induced lab explosion? What are the Hawks on the brink of discovering? And what’s that White Lantern doing in New Mexico?
Find some questions answered and new ones raised in BRIGHEST DAY #3, courtesy of Johns, Tomasi, Reis, Syaf, Clark, Gleason and Finch.
BRIGHTEST DAY #3 hits tomorrow.
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It’s been a celebratory week here at The Source, what with our string of lovely 75th anniversary variants, the TASCHEN news and the first look at DCU: LEGACIES #1.
But we’re not done. As we continue to celebrate DC’s 75th anniversary, we thought it’d be a great time to look back at the company’s illustrious history and see what you, the fans had to say. But this isn’t your usual open thread, folks.
Let’s talk covers. To say that the cover image is important would be a huge understatement. It's what draws you in. Everyone remembers their first cover. Everyone has a favorite. That one image that just screams “Comics!” and takes us back to a simpler time where our biggest concern was how many copies of a certain title we’d be able to lug home from the shop that day. I can think of a few that stand out for me in an instant. So, Source readers, here’s the question: What’s your favorite DC Comics cover? Why?
But that’s not what makes this open thread special. Not only do we want to hear what your favorite cover is, we’ve got comments from some of the biggest names at DC.
Curious to hear what they’ve got to say? Click below, and don’t forget to check Vertigo’s GRAPHIC CONTENT and WildStorm’s THE BLEED for even more creators chiming in.
DAN DIDIO, DC Comics Co-Publisher
I stuck to books that came out during my tenure. As far as covers go, THE FLASH #207 by Michael Turner. The Flash has never looked so fast standing still.
DAVID FINCH, BRIGHTEST DAY cover artist
My favorite DC cover is by Alex Ross, and it's for BATMAN: BLACK AND WHITE. It's got Bruce standing with his back to the viewer and he's running his hand over the scars that crisscross his whole back. It just captures everything that Batman is about for me. He's not afraid to do whatever it takes to get the job done, and he's willing to sacrifice his own body and mind to the cause.
BRIAN AZZARELLO, FIRST WAVE writer
OUR FIGHTING FORCES #150. Joe Kubert's covers told stories that were sometimes better than the one's in the books.
JIMMY PALMIOTTI, JONAH HEX co-writer
My favorite comic cover has to be JONAH HEX #27 by Jordi Bernet. There is so much storytelling packed into this single image as well as
brilliant composition by one of Europe's greatest illustrators. Jordi is and will always be one of my favorite artists.
JT KRUL, GREEN ARROW writer
Tough call. I could easily rattle off a bunch of the obvious ones: Killing Joke, Crisis on Infinite Earths, Watchmen, etc. But one that always stuck with me was Denys Cowan's cover for THE QUESTION #34. It was the first Question comic I bought (don't ask me how the book managed to elude me until then). There's a such a haunting quality to the man without a face, but it's the masses behind him that really help set the mood. That cover, not to mention all the Question covers drove me to spend money I didn't have in college on back issues to fill my run. Each week, I'd tell myself I'm only going to get one or two, but I always walked out the door of my LCS with five or six. But who needed food, when you had great comics, right?
STERLING GATES, SUPERGIRL writer, SUPERMAN: WAR OF THE SUPERMEN co-writer
TEEN TITANS #14. How can you look at this great Nick Cardy cover and NOT want to read this issue?
Not only have the other Teen Titans DIED, their ghosts are haunting Robin!
I always wondered if they were encouraging him to quit being a superhero, or quit life and join them six feet under. The dead can be a selfish lot, so I have no trouble imagining them trying to get Robin to come on down…
LEE BERMEJO, JOKER, LUTHOR artist
Gotta say my favorite DC cover has got to be Bill Sienkiewicz's cover to THE SHADOW #1. Just a beautiful, graphic image that is aggressive as well as elegant, modern and timeless simultaneously. Those two Uzi's unloading in your face blew my young mind and made me an instant fan of both the character and Sienkiewicz's genius. The key was in that squinted eye, though. I think it was the first time I felt like a participant as opposed to reader.
DUSTIN NGUYEN, BATMAN: STREETS OF GOTHAM artist
Mignola's cover to BATMAN: LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT #54 pretty much sums up everything i love about the look of Batman. Bold simple colors, plenty of drama in an otherwise static pose, and the eyes- perfectly positioned inside the silhouette of a horned cowl. And it's RED, i like red."
FRANCO, TINY TITANS writer/artist
That's an easy one! My favorite cover has always been the NEW TEEN TITANS #13!! I saw this thing and it knocked me on the floor! I knew the Titans were going to be in trouble when somebody kicked Robot Man's tin can and hung him out to dry in the middle of the Amazon forest!!! There was just so much detail here and I remember pulling it off the rack and just staring at it for a while and the guy behind the counter yelled at me and asked if I was gonna buy it or just stare at it all day. I did both! It was the first series that compelled me to go find all the back issues. Mr. Perez is the master!
ART BALTAZAR, TINY TITANS writer/artist
SUPERMAN #337. AW YEAH! WHAT? Superman quits? NEVER!
Awesome cover! The colors rock! Awesome Bad Guys too! First time I ever saw Metallo! This cover has mystery, Drama, conflict and adventure! I love how happy the bad guys are to finally defeat the Man of Steel! The Super Friends cartoon was on TV at this time, so it was cool to see Brainiac and Bizarro. PLUS! All those Bad Guys together is what we want to see!
JUDD WINICK, JUSTICE LEAGUE: GENERATION LOST co-writer, POWER GIRL writer
My favorite cover is ACTION COMICS #500. "The Life Story Of Superman". It's my favorite DC comic. It told the entire story Superman. It was like getting 10 pounds of Ice Cream. The cover SCREAMED to me--THIS IS SPECIAL! and it was and it is.
YILDIRAY CINAR, LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES artist
The cover I picked up is BATMAN #366 by Walt Simonson. The cover speaks for itself. The layout, composition, lightning...One of my favorite covers in my entire collection since my childhood.
We’ll have a full preview of the third issue of BRIGHTEST DAY soon enough, but in the meantime, why not spend a few minutes eyeing these two lovely covers, courtesy of artists David Finch and Ivan Reis on the variant?
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Sound like a good way to start the day? I’d hope so.
In the second issue of the series, we continue to follow the heroes and villains that found themselves returned to the land of the living at the end of BLACKEST NIGHT – and not everyone’s dealing with the change so well. Another jam-packed issue from the A-list creative team of writers Geoff Johns, Peter Tomasi and artists Ivan Reis, Patrick Gleason, Ardian Syaf, Scott Clark and Joe Prado – need I say more? Scroll below for a look at the issue, which hits tomorrow.
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The headline says it all, folks. Here’s a first look at the BRIGHTEST DAY titles hitting in August, covers and all. Click below for more.
BRIGHTEST DAY #7-8
Written by GEOFF JOHNS & PETER J. TOMASI
Art by IVAN REIS, PATRICK GLEASON, ARDIAN SYAF, SCOTT CLARK & JOE PRADO
Cover by DAVID FINCH
1:10 White Lantern Variant covers by RYAN SOOK, FERNANDO PASARIN & JOEL GOMEZ
Don’t miss the hottest event in comics as BRIGHTEST DAY continues!
There can be only one who wields the White Lantern...but is it truly Deadman? And what will happen when he attempts to charge the white ring? Meanwhile, Ronnie Raymond risks everything for Firestorm, Martian Manhunter uncovers more clues about the bizarre string of murders stretching across the country, Aquaman searches for the key to the ocean’s survival and the Hawks come face-to-face with the evil that lurks within the strange land known only as Hawkworld!
Retailers please note: These issues will ship with two covers each. Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
Issue #7 on sale AUGUST 4 • Issue #8 on sale AUGUST 18 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
GREEN LANTERN #57
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art and cover by DOUG MAHNKE & CHRISTIAN ALAMY
1:10 White Lantern Variant cover by RYAN SOOK, FERNANDO PASARIN & JOEL GOMEZ
BRIGHTEST DAY continues as what readers have been asking for finally arrives: a male Star Sapphire in the form of the Predator. But how is this entity unlike the others? And what does it want with Carol Ferris? Meanwhile, the White Lantern is defended by an unlikely hero…
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale AUGUST 25 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #51
Written by TONY BEDARD
Art and cover by ARDIAN SYAF & VICENTE CIFUENTES
1:10 White Lantern Variant cover by RYAN SOOK, FERNANDO PASARIN & JOEL GOMEZ
BRIGHTEST DAY continues as Hannu, the Green Lantern who does not want to use his power ring, is the only hope to rescue Kyle Rayner, John Stewart and Ganthet. Does he stand a chance against an entire planet controlled by Cyborg Superman? Plus, what are the Qwardians are up to?
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale AUGUST 18 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
GREEN LANTERN: EMERALD WARRIORS #1
Written by PETER J. TOMASI
Art by FERNANDO PASARIN
Cover by RODOLFO MIGLIARI
1:25 variant cover by LEE BERMEJO
BRIGHTEST DAY! A whole new chapter in the epic GREEN LANTERN saga gets under way as Guy Gardner begins his secret mission for Atrocitus, bringing him into conflict with Hal Jordan with massive repercussions for the Green Lantern Corps!
Guy takes fellow Emerald Warriors Kilowog and Arisia along as he explores the Unknown Sectors — but what happens when they discover his mission and what’s waiting for them in the unpatrolled darkness?
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale AUGUST 11 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US
GREEN ARROW #3
Written by J.T. KRUL
Art by DIOGENES NEVES & VICENTE CIFUENTES
Cover by MAURO CASCIOLI
1:10 White Lantern Variant cover by RYAN SOOK, FERNANDO PASARIN & JOEL GOMEZ
Witness the power of the BRIGHTEST DAY as death comes to Green Arrow’s forest. Is the Emerald Archer worthy of living in the sacred grove? Who else is in there? Will he be Green Arrow’s assassin or savior? The mysteries continue!
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale AUGUST 25 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
JUSTICE LEAGUE: GENERATION LOST #7-8
Written by JUDD WINICK
Breakdowns by KEITH GIFFEN
Issue #7 art by JOE BENNETT
Issue #8 art by AARON LOPRESTI
Covers by TONY HARRIS & J.D. METTLER
1:10 White Lantern Variant covers by RYAN SOOK, FERNANDO PASARIN & JOEL GOMEZ
DC’s biweekly JUSTICE LEAGUE event continues! Justice League International has re-formed and tracked Maxwell Lord to Checkmate headquarters. Their plan is simple: break into Checkmate – one of the most heavily guarded facilities on the planet – and capture Max so he can pay for his crimes. But Max has more than one trick up his sleeve as he turns the entire world against the JLI and shows Booster Gold, Captain Atom, Fire, Ice, Blue Beetle and Rocket Red what it truly means to be lost...
Retailers please note: These issues will ship with two covers each. Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
Issue #7 on sale AUGUST 11
Issue #8 on sale AUGUST 25
32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #42
Written by JAMES ROBINSON
Art by MARK BAGLEY & NORM RAPMUND
Cover by MARK BAGLEY & JESUS MERINO
1:10 White Lantern Variant cover by RYAN SOOK, FERNANDO PASARIN & JOEL GOMEZ
In part 4 of the JLA/JSA crossover, everything’s going dark for the two greatest Super Hero teams in all of comics as the Starheart makes its final bid to obliterate the good in Green Lantern’s life – and all of reality – forcing both teams to seek help in the Shade!
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale AUGUST 18 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #48
Written by JAMES ROBINSON
Art by MARK BAGLEY, ROB HUNTER & NORM RAPMUND
Cover by MARK BAGLEY & JESUS MERINO
1:10 White Lantern Variant cover by RYAN SOOK, FERNANDO PASARIN & JOEL GOMEZ
The BRIGHTEST DAY continues with a shocking connection to the White Light in part five of the JLA/JSA crossover!
It’s the grand finale of this team-up, and it’s chock-full of revelations as the greatest threat to the Earth may not be Alan Scott or the chaotic energy of the Starheart, but one of the other members!
Plus, don’t miss the second feature starring Cyborg, whose goal of restoring Red Tornado’s body becomes a battle to save the android’s sanity as the madness of the Starheart engulfs them.
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale AUGUST 25 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US
BIRDS OF PREY #4
Written by GAIL SIMONE
Art by ED BENES, ADRIANA MELO and MARIA BENES
Cover by ALINA URUSOV
1:10 White Lantern Variant cover by RYAN SOOK, FERNANDO PASARIN & JOEL GOMEZ
The explosive first arc of BIRDS OF PREY concludes here! The Birds race against the clock to protect the Super Hero community, but can they make it in time and find their blackmailer? And the final showdown between Black Canary and White Canary is a can’t-miss fight between two martial arts masters!
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale AUGUST 11 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
THE FLASH #5
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art and cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL
1:10 White Lantern Variant cover by RYAN SOOK, FERNANDO PASARIN & JOEL GOMEZ
BRIGHTEST DAY continues with a shocking connection to the White Light as Captain Boomerang and the Reverse-Flash experience a bizarre event that ties them together. Meanwhile, it’s the Rogues vs. the Renegades with The Flash caught in the middle!
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale AUGUST 18 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
TITANS #26
Written by ERIC WALLACE
Art and cover by FABRIZIO FIORENTINO
1:10 White Lantern Variant cover by RYAN SOOK, FERNANDO PASARIN & JOEL GOMEZ
Straight out of the JUSTICE LEAGUE: THE RISE OF ARSENAL miniseries, Arsenal signs up with Deathstroke and Cheshire when the Titans target a child slavery ring for takedown. What they unearth will shock you to the core!
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale AUGUST 11 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
And what a pair of covers. For your viewing pleasure, here's a first look at David Finch's cover to BRIGHTEST DAY #1, along with Tony Harris' take on the second issue of JUSTICE LEAGUE: GENERATION LOST. Good way to kick off the day, no doubt.
What's up DC Nation? This week we're on our way to the first ever C2E2 show in Chicago and our levels of anticipation are running very high. Not only is this a new show but we have a certifiably awesome list of talent making an appearance as well. Take a look:
Franco Aureliani, Mark Bagley, Art Baltazar, Ivan Brandon, Cliff Chiang, Amanda Conner, Tony Daniel, David Finch, Patrick Gleason, Geoff Johns, Andy Kubert, Paul Levitz, Doug Mahnke, Mike Norton, Jimmy Palmiotti, James Robinson, Stephane Roux, Ethan Van Sciver, Gail Simone, Peter Tomasi, Bill Willingham and many more!
You'll also notice that we're introducing some new panels at this show. There's a new "Drawing Batman" presentation with real live drawing, DC Nation will be a little different and this show will feature the first ever DC Nation Town Hall meeting with Dan Didio and Jim Lee. And because you demanded it C2E2 will be host to a DC talent search (information can be found at the DC booth).
Did I mention that we'll be giving away tons of great stuff at the panels and at the booth? Well we will be so make sure to come and see us as soon as you get to the show. And just so you know I am very, very excited to be just hours away from eating Chicago-style deep dish pizza. I will also totally not be bummed by whatever you guys decide to bring to the panels.
Our friends with the doughnuts in Seattle are still in the lead for this year's convention season but I'm thinking Chicago might have something up their sleeves...
So use this handy panel guide to start planning your C2E2 experience and we can't wait to see you there!
--
FRIDAY
DC NATION!
4:45-5:45 (Room E451)
SATURDAY
BRIGHTEST DAY
1:45-2:45 (Room E451)
DC UNIVERSE EDITORIAL PRESENTATION
3:15-4:15 (Room E451)
BATMAN: THE RETURN
4:45-5:45 (Room E451)
SUNDAY
DC NATION TOWN HALL MEETING
11:15-12:15 (Room E351)
FLASH / GREEN LANTERN: REVELATIONS
1:45-2:45 (Room E451)
DC KIDS: AWW YEAH!
3:00-4:00 (Room E351)
DRAWING BATMAN
3:15-4:15 (Room E451)
