Welcome To The Edge

Stormwatch is a dangerous super human strike force whose existence is kept secret from the world. Jack Hawksmoor and the rest of the crew look to recruit two of the deadliest super humans on the planet: Midnighter and Apollo. And if they say no? Perhaps the Martian Manhunter can change their minds. Featuring a surprising new roster, STORMWATCH #1 will be written by the critically-acclaimed Paul Cornell (Superman: The Black Ring, “Dr. Who”) and illustrated by Miguel Sepulveda.

Warfare: Past and Present

Blackhawk is an elite group of mercenaries made up of brave men from around the world equipped with the latest in cutting-edge hardware and vehicles. Their mission: Kill the bad guys before they kill us. A set of contemporary tales that battle the world's gravest threats, BLACKHAWKS #1 will be written by Mike Costa and illustrated by Ken Lashley.

The grandson of the original Sgt. Rock assumes the command of Easy Company, a team of crack ex-military men financed by a covert military contractor, as they brave the battle-scarred landscape carved by the DC Universe’s super-villains. MEN OF WAR #1 is contemporary military story fighting under modern conditions, and will be written by Ivan Brandon and illustrated by Tom Derenick.

Even when Gotham City was just a one-horse town, crime was rampant – and things only get worse when bounty hunter Jonah Hex comes to town. Can Amadeus Arkham, a pioneer in criminal psychology, enlist Hex’s special brand of justice to help the Gotham Police Department track down a vicious serial killer? Featuring back-up stories starring DC’s other western heroes, ALL-STAR WESTERN #1 will be written by the fan-favorite Jonah Hex team of Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti and illustrated by Moritat.

The DC Universe’s Loose Cannons

A metahuman mercenary who made a living taking out the toughest targets, Deathstroke will reclaim his fearsome legacy by any means necessary in DEATHSTROKE #1, a new series from rising star Kyle Higgins (Batman: Gates of Gotham) and artists Joe Bennett and Art Thibert.

Ex-black ops agent Cole Cash is a charming grifter that few can resist. And yet he’s about to be branded a serial killer when he begins hunting and exterminating inhuman creatures hidden in human form – creatures only he can see. Can the biggest sweet talker of all time talk his way out of this one when even his brother thinks he’s gone over the edge? Find out in GRIFTER #1, written by Nathan Edmondson with art by CAFU and BIT (the team behind T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS).

A man loses control of his life as the omnipresent Brother Eye transforms him against his will into a powerful killing machine OMAC #1, written by DC Comics Co-Publisher Dan DiDio and co-written and illustrated by Keith Giffen and Scott Koblish.

With the upcoming “Broken Promises” storyline, the TITANS are about to experience a time of change, and surprisingly the biggest change is coming to its leader Slade Wilson, a.k.a. Deathstroke. With some insight into Slade and the TITANS’ transformation, is series writer Eric Wallace.

“Titans #33 kicks off a new 4-part story called "Broken Promises," and it's a plotline that's going to change Deathstroke's team forever. But even more important is how it changes Deathstroke himself. Slade's been pretty cold-hearted up to now in running these new Titans. That's because he has an uber-mission to complete, one that's only been hinted at up to now. Well, the endgame of that plan is finally revealed in "Broken Promises." But it's not just Slade's present that gets illuminated. It's his past, too. One of the things the entire creative team wanted to do with "Broken Promises" was to really dig deeply into how and why Slade became the man he is today. The shattered oath referred to in this arc's title is one of those key moments that ended up defining Slade. Whether that change turned out to be for better or worse will be up to the readers to decide!

"Broken Promises" also refers to the various oaths that Slade made to his Titans. This includes getting rid of a new villain, Drago, for Cheshire. This is something Slade promised to do for her back in the "Titans: Villains For Hire Special #1." Well, we finally get to meet Drago in Titans #33. But as it turns out, getting rid of him is going to be a lot harder than Slade expects. Plus there's the fact that Cheshire's still really, really angry about getting shot back in Titans #25. Needless to say, she's going to break a promise, too, and the result is a very bad day for Deathstroke.

There are a few other big surprises coming throughout the "Broken Promises" storyline, which runs through Titans #36. One of these includes how Osiris deals with his sister Isis's resurrection. We'll also see the return of a former Titan in an unexpected battle with one of my favorite members of the JLA, Vixen.”

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TITANS #33 goes on sale March 9.

TITANS’ “Family Reunions” storyline kicked off last week in #28. The issue gives us a peek into Deathstroke’s ultimate plan for the team, as well as revelations about the promise he made to each member. But what’s it like writing Slade and the gang? TITANS writer Eric Wallace has his answer:

"For my approach, I let Slade's own wants and desires shape him, which in turn shapes what I write. Everything Deathstroke does relates to the big thing he wants, i.e. his mission. We've already gotten a few clues as to what that is, but it's still a mystery. That's going to change over the next few issues as we peel back the layers and finally reveal what Slade is really up to. The first of these new clues turns up big time in, of all places, Arkham Asylum in TITANS #28. Again, no spoilers here -- but let's just say a certain Arkham inmate has a crucial role to play in Slade's ultimate plan.

In regards to writing for this particular group of characters, these initial TITANS storylines are all about family. So, honestly, parenthood is a big inspiration for writing Slade (and the others). Slade is a dysfunctional father to these "children" (Osiris, Mark, Cinder, Cheshire, and Arsenal). So I often find myself drawing on the lessons of childhood and parenthood when shaping how and why the characters act or react in a particular situation. And what kind of dad is Slade? Well, there are many kinds of fathers out there. A father can be good, bad, selfish, honest, dangerous, self-destructive, loving, homicidal, stressed out, kind, gentle, or pure evil. Slade is all of these and more. It's what makes him, and all fathers, human. Throw in extreme, intense, or "grand guignol" situations (stories with high stakes, over-the-top violence, but grounded in real emotions) and you have the ingredients for good stories."

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Later this year, the TITANS ongoing series returns, courtesy of writer Eric Wallace and artist Fabrizio Fiorentino, with a new direction. Fans got a sense of how ruthless Deathstroke's team of mercenaries could be in the pages of the TITANS: VILLAINS FOR HIRE SPECIAL #1, but who else is on their radar?

We caught up with Mr. Wallace for some info on what's coming up in TITANS #24 and beyond. Take it away, Eric.

"Osiris's destiny is closely intertwined with that of Deathstroke and these all-new Titans. As readers will see starting in Titans #24 & #25, the choices Osiris is confronted with and the resulting decisions he ultimately makes will change his destiny forever. It's the beginning of a very intense journey for the character, one that may shock people. And it will have tremendous implications for the entire Marvel family."

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