EARTH 2 CHARACTER DESIGNS – WONDER WOMAN

Coming in May, DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 “Second Wave” will literally expand the world-building efforts of the comprehensive publishing initiative. With the addition of a parallel Earth that features prominently into both EARTH 2 and WORLDS’ FINEST, the developing narrative will encompass new heroes from distinctly different backgrounds, building on the shared universe in some surprising ways. “Due the events that open the saga of EARTH 2, Wonder Woman is already the last Amazon of this world and she is determined to avenge her sisters...at whatever cost,” said EARTH 2 writer James Robinson. "How did Wonder Woman come to be the last of the Amazons?" asks EARTH 2 editor Pat McCallum. "It's one of the mysteries we'll be getting into with the series. While there will be recognizable faces and settings on EARTH 2, don't for a moment think you're on familiar ground. Do that, and you let your guard down...and then you'll end up like the rest of the Amazons." Here’s a first look at the Wonder Woman of EARTH 2, designed by Jim Lee.

Stay tuned to THE SOURCE all this week for more sneak peeks at designs from EARTH 2 and WORLDS’ FINEST.

EARTH 2 CHARACTER DESIGNS - ROBIN

Coming in May, DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 “Second Wave” will literally expand the world-building efforts of the comprehensive publishing initiative. With the addition of a parallel Earth that features prominently into both EARTH 2 and WORLDS’ FINEST, the developing narrative will encompass new heroes from distinctly different backgrounds, building on the shared universe in some surprising ways. “Helena Wayne has been taught how to be the perfect Robin,” said James Robinson, writer of EARTH 2. “Assured as a detective, fighter, scientist, pilot and all around crime-fighter she's been groomed by Batman to be the perfect caped manhunter (or should we say manHuntress) when she grows up.” “Before coming to the main DCU Earth and taking up the mantle of Huntress, Helena Wayne fought crime alongside her father as the Robin to his Batman on Earth-2!” said WORLDS’ FINEST editor Wil Moss. “But how did she come to be on this Earth? And why did she decide to become Huntress? You’ll get some clues in next week’s HUNTRESS #6, but for the real scoop, pick up WORLDS’ FINEST #1!” Here’s a first look at the Robin of Earth 2, designed by Kevin Maguire.

Stay tuned to THE SOURCE all this week for more sneak peeks at designs from EARTH 2 and WORLDS’ FINEST.

EARTH 2 CHARACTER DESIGNS - BATMAN

Coming in May, DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 “Second Wave” will literally expand the world-building efforts of the comprehensive publishing initiative. With the addition of a parallel Earth that features prominently into both EARTH 2 and WORLDS’ FINEST, the developing narrative will encompass new heroes from distinctly different backgrounds, building on the shared universe in some surprising ways. “Who will Batman kill to save his own daughter?” asks EARTH 2 editor Pat McCallum. “Right out of the gate that should tell you we’re dealing with a different kind of Dark Knight here. More ruthless, dangerous...the costume is familiar and yeah, there is a Wayne under the mask, but we’re looking at a man desperate to save the only family he has left. EARTH 2 is about to become a very bad place to be a bad guy.” Here’s a first look at the Batman of EARTH 2, designed by Jim Lee.

Stay tuned to THE SOURCE all this week for more sneak peeks at designs from EARTH 2 and WORLDS’ FINEST.

WRITER JAMES ROBINSON ON EARTH 2

We recently announced DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 “Second Wave,” featuring six new series coming in May. With an entire parallel world to explore in EARTH 2, writer James Robinson expands the scope of the storytelling potential in DC COMICS-THE NEW 52. There are new characters, new enemies and new conflicts – but for now, Robinson’s keeping the details under wraps.

“I’m excited and eager to let people know all the facts about the new EARTH 2 comic, but for now I have to remain vague,” teased Robinson. “Earth 2 is a world that's very like our own, but at the same time vastly different. It has known great conflict and danger...a dark menace defeated but at a great cost both to the Earth and to its superheroes of that time. Now, in the present as new menaces emerge to attack the Earth, so new heroes must emerge too, learning to work as a team (or perhaps Society is a better word) while facing these new threats head-on. Who are these heroes?  Will their powers include speed, bestial fury, and maybe even green light? Wait and see.”

DC COMICS IN 2012 – INTRODUCING THE “SECOND WAVE” OF DC COMICS-THE NEW 52

In May of 2012, DC Comics will release a “Second Wave” of titles as part of its historic DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 initiative. Six new, ongoing series will build on the shared universe and bold concepts introduced in September 2011 with the renumbering of DC Comics’ entire line of comic books.

Featuring a variety of different genres and storytelling sensibilities, the titles in the “Second Wave” will be helmed by some of the most legendary writers and artists in the comic book industry, and will also feature the first ongoing comic book series written by acclaimed novelist China Miéville.

“The excitement of the initial launch of DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 was in seeing the re-imagining of these classic characters and concepts,” said Bob Harras, DC Entertainment Editor-in-Chief. “The ‘Second Wave’ is all about world-building.”

DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 “Second Wave” includes:

  • BATMAN INCORPORATED – Writer: Grant Morrison. Artist: Chris Burnham. The acclaimed ongoing writer of ACTION COMICS, Grant Morrison, presents a fresh take on BATMAN INCORPORATED, in which the Batman brand is franchised globally in preparation for a major international threat.
  • EARTH 2 – Writer: James Robinson. Artist: Nicola Scott. The greatest heroes on a parallel Earth, the Justice Society combats threats that will set them on a collision course with other worlds.
  • WORLDS' FINEST – Writer: Paul Levitz. Artists: George Perez and Kevin Maguire. Stranded on our world from a parallel reality, Huntress and Power Girl struggle to find their way back to Earth 2. Perez and Maguire will be the artists on alternating story arcs.
  • DIAL H – Writer: China Miéville. Artist: Mateus Santoluoco. The first ongoing series from acclaimed novelist China Miéville, this is a bold new take on a cult classic concept about the psychological effects on an everyman who accidentally gains powers to become a hero.
  • G.I. COMBAT – Writer: J.T. Krul. Artist: Ariel Olivetti. Featuring the return of a classic DC Comics series, THE WAR THAT TIME FORGOT, along with rotating back-up stories and creative teams – including THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER, with writers Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti and artist Dan Panosian; and THE HAUNTED TANK, with writer John Arcudi and artist Scott Kolins.
  • THE RAVAGERS – Writer: Howard Mackie. Artist: Ian Churchill. Spinning off from TEEN TITANS and SUPERBOY, this series finds four superpowered teens on the run and fighting against the organization that wants to turn them into supervillains.

The six new series will replace BLACKHAWKS, HAWK AND DOVE, MEN OF WAR, MISTER TERRIFIC, O.M.A.C. and STATIC SHOCK, all of which will conclude with their eighth issues in April.

“Many of the characters from our canceled books will appear in DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 titles, and in some very surprising ways,” said Harras. “We’re developing stories that reach from cultures around the globe to parallel worlds. We’re just getting started.”

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(BATMAN INCORPORATED art by Chris Burnham; Cover for DIAL H #1 by Brian Bolland)

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