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5.2 Reasons We’re Ready to Return to Earth One

He’s hinted and he’s teased, but at a press event in Burbank last Thursday highlighting his long and illustrious career, award-winning writer Grant Morrison finally announced the Wonder Woman-related project he’s been working on with superstar artist Yanick Paquette: the original graphic novel WONDER WOMAN: EARTH ONE!

Part of the ongoing line of OGNs that began with the best-selling SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE by J. Michael Straczynski and continuing with the also best-selling BATMAN: EARTH ONE by Geoff Johns, the upcoming graphic novel re-imagines and retells the origins of the Amazon Princess in a modern day setting and delivers twists and turns to the classic mythos while still staying true to the character’s roots.

The announcement got us thinking back on what’s come already and looking forward to what’s still on the horizon. And the more that time passes, the ever more eager we’ve become for a return trip to through the metaphorical rabbit (worm?) hole—which is why this week we’re giving you the 5.2 Reasons We’re Ready to Return to Earth One!

1. Grant Morrison Writing Wonder Woman

Morrison has tackled his fair share of characters over the years—from incredibly recognizable and iconic like Superman and Batman to at-the-time downright obscure and strange (Animal Man, literally every member of Doom Patrol). However, beyond her brief appearances in FINAL CRISIS and in other titles he’s written, Morrison hasn’t really tackled a story based completely on the Amazon Princess.

2. Yanick Paquette on Art

We’ve always been fans of Yanick’s art, and he’s no stranger to working with Grant, having done so previously on titles such as RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE and SEVEN SOLDIERS. However, if this preview page is any indication, we’re in for a major treat since it looks like he’ll be incorporating some of the stylistic designs he utilized in SWAMP THING in the upcoming graphic novel. The whole thing has a bit of a PROMETHEA feel to it, a comic semi-influenced by the Wonder Woman mythos written by Alan Moore (another writer Yanick has worked with).

3. Superman vs. Lex Luthor(s)

He wasn’t the villain in Volume 1 and he didn’t throw down with the Man of Steel in Volume 2, but in Superman Earth One Volume 3, Superman finally takes on his archenemy Lex Luthor—both the male and female version at that! In a mind-bendingly awesome twist, the finale of Superman Earth One Vol. 2 revealed the Luthor Twins! And speaking of villainous reveals...

4. Batman Solves his First Riddle

An all-around phenomenally told story about the Dark Knight with one of the greatest interpretations of Alfred ever, Batman Earth One Volume 1 ended with a questionable cliffhanger reveal. The question? Could it possibly be any awesomer than it is? The answer’s no. It’s beyond awesome and we can’t wait to see the Batman take on the Riddler in Volume 2.

5. Great Creators, Great Characters

With JMS, Morrison, and Johns already working on titles with artists like Shane Davis, Yanick Paquette, and Gary Frank, the Earth One line of graphic novels has set the bar on the types of creative talent we’ll be seeing. There’s a lot of great creators out there and we can’t wait to see who’ll tackle a re-imagined character next.

5.1 A Potential Team-Up of the Big Three of Earth One

5.2 Future Earth One Titles Still to Come

What do you like about the Earth One line? What are you looking forward to seeing in Morrison’s Wonder Woman? What characters do you want to see join the Earth One line? Let us know in the comments below!

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5.2 Reasons, earth one, Superman, Batman, wonder woman, grant morrison

5.2 Reasons We Love the Multiverse

The idea of what could have been always intrigues. It’s literally the basis of fictional storytelling. Those magic words: what if?

What if a stranger visitor from another world came to Earth and our yellow sun granted him amazing abilities far beyond that of normal man? What if a young boy with unlimited funds and resources saw his parents gunned down in front of him and began a never-ending quest for justice? What if a dying alien gifted a young pilot with the most powerful weapon in the galaxy?

These questions gave birth to some of the World’s Greatest Super Heroes—but the questions didn’t stop there. Throughout the years, creators explored other alternatives, other worlds, where Superman landed in Soviet Russian instead of America, where the Justice Society served as a secret government agency instead of public heroes, where Wonder Woman ventured to man’s land during the Victorian Era, and more.

There’s a literal multiverse of possibilities out there, and we love exploring them all.

Earlier this week, DC Comics and WB announced the upcoming Infinite Crisis multiplayer online battle arena game, which features characters from all across the DC Universe—and beyond—venturing into various other Earths including the world of Batman: Vampire and Gotham by Gaslight. The possibilities alone sends our minds reeling from an overdose of awesome, and to help placate ourselves until the game’s release we’re going to take a look at other multiverse tales with 5.2 Reasons We Love the Multiverse!

1. Superman: Red Son

Arguably one of the greatest Elseworlds tales ever written, with a surprise ending that will simply blow your mind, Mark Millar’s Superman: Red Son features a Superman raised in Soviet Russia and explores the intrinsic heroism at the heart of the character. More importantly, it also features a Batman in a fuzzy hat complete with Bat-ears. It’s awesome.

2. JSA: The Liberty Files

Starring the Bat, the Clock and the Owl, JSA: The Liberty Files re-imagined the Justice Society members as secret operatives hunting to uncover the mystery behind a German secret weapon codenamed “the Superman.” Perfect for any fan of action, espionage and super heroes, it exemplifies Elseworlds storytelling at its finest.

3. Batman: In Darkest Knight

Batman becomes a Green Lantern. Seriously, what more do you need to know?

4. JLA: The Nail

Written and drawn by Alan Davis and based around the proverbial rhyme “For Want of a Nail,” JLA: The Nail shows the massive and world-changing consequences one simple act can cause. When a nail leads to Jonathan and Martha Kent never discovering the baby Kal-El, it causes a chain reaction that completely alters the course of the DC Universe, creating a world where metahumans are feared and hated.

5. Superman: Secret Identity

An Elseworld of an Elseworld (sort of), Superman: Secret Identity by Kurt Busiek and Stuart Immonen follows Clark Kent—a boy named after the world’s most famous comic book super hero. That’s right, Clark’s from “Earth Prime,” the original home of the CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS hero Superboy-Prime. Growing up, Clark resented his name and the jokes that came with it. That is until the day he actually developed super powers.

5.1 Kingdom Come

Don't play this game. You know this.

5.2 The Earth One Line

With More Still to Come!

That’s really just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the multiverse. There’s still a ton of tales out there we didn’t mention, including the current Earth 2 ongoing and the upcoming Multiversity limited series by Grant Morrison. What are some of your favorite other Earth tales? Let us know in the comments!

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5.2 Reasons, infinite crisis, Elseworlds, Multiverse, kingdom come, Superman, Batman, justice society of america, jsa, justice league of america, jla, earth one

5.2 Reasons BATMAN: EARTH ONE Rocks

When it comes to "highly anticipated titles" it really doesn't get any highly...ier than BATMAN: EARTH ONE, the original graphic novel by award-winning writer Geoff Johns and artist Gary Frank.

But with the title now out in comic shops and available for digital download, feel free to stop anticipating and instead put a pillow under your face. Because you'll want a cushion for when your jaw drops to the floor!

That horribly cheesy line aside, the beautifully illustrated, brilliantly written graphic novel truly is something worthy of its own BatCave-based trophy case. Why, you theoretically ask? Well, here are 5.2 Reasons Batman: Earth One Rocks!

1. Geoff Johns and Gary Frank
The collaborations between Johns and Frank are like that of Martin Scorsese and Robert DeNiro—whenever they're together, you know it's going to be good. Batman: Earth One aptly fits this analogy and reaches the comparative level of "Casino" and "Goodfellas."

2. Johns Finally Dons the Cape and Cowl
From the Flash and Green Lantern to Superman and even Aquaman (seriously, that feat seemed impossible), Johns manages to bring out the sheer awesomeness of any character. Yet, other than guest appearances and in team titles, he's never actually tackled the Dark Knight—until now.

3. "Why Do We Fall?"
Most of us are used to a Batman leaping across rooftops and kicking the crap out of about 20 thugs at once... while simultaneously making out with Catwoman. Earth One introduces us to a very different Dark Knight, one still early in his career and learning how to get back up again after he falls—literally in some cases.

4. Anything Can and Will Happen
Since we want to keep this spoiler free, we'll keep this one a little vague. But with a whole new world to play in free from the shackles of continuity, Johns and Frank craft a tale filled with great and unexpected twists and turns and that ends with one heck of a bang.

5. A Cinematic Experience
Between the pacing of the story, the clever characterizations, and the beautiful art, Earth One plays out like a Batman origin tale worthy to stand beside the likes of "Batman Begins."

5.1 Ends on a pretty big unanswered question—but one that leaves you salivating for more!

5.2 Alfred. Pennyworth.

Be sure to tell us below what YOU loved or are looking forward to about Batman: Earth One! And be sure to swing on by again next week for another installment of 5.2 Reasons!

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geoff johns, Batman, earth one, Batman: Earth One, gary frank

DCU IN 2010: Special edition of DC NATION

Hey, Dan DiDio here with special edition Digital DC Nation. And if you’ve been following The Source all this week you’ve gotten your first glimpses of the post Blackest Night DC Universe and a sneak peek as some the amazing stories and books we have planned for the 2010.

You’ve heard from Grant Morrison as he gave hints to the whereabouts of Bruce Wayne (possibly one of the wildest Batman stories ever to be told), while Group Editor Matt Idelson confirmed that Clark Kent will return to his famous costume just in time to enter into a WAR OF SUPERMEN (the culmination of over three years of Superman story telling) and have Marc Guggenheim join the writing team. And rounding out the trinity, I finally got to tell you the outcome to the Wonder Woman postcard campaign (and yes, issue 600 is heading your way in June).

Francis Manapul debuted samples of art that we feel catapults The Flash into the new millennium and master creator Len Wein encapsulated his plans for the narrative recounting of the history of the DC Universe in DC: LEGACIES. But like I said in the opening, if you have been following along on The Source, you know we didn’t stop there!

You also learned that the stunning events of JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRY FOR JUSTICE go directly into the aptly titled one shot JUSTICE LEAGUE: THE RISE AND FALL which then gives way to the two major storylines THE FALL OF GREEN ARROW (in his ongoing series) and the RISE OF ARSENAL (in his own mini series), all of which, should not be missed!

And capping it all off, we were intensely proud to announce the new Earth One series of original graphic novels. Joe Stracynski and Shane Davis on Superman and Geoff Johns and Gary Frank on Batman, a great start to what I hope will be a great line of books.

So there you have it, your first look into what’s in store for DC Comics for 2010. I hope you are as excited about all this as we are.

Oh… what’s that you say?

What happens at the end of Blackest Night?

Sorry folks. Not. Just. Yet.

So enjoy the egg nog and pop open the champagne, we’ll be back with more in January, and then, all, or at least most of, your questions will be answered.

From all of us to all of you, thank you, as always for your continued support, and have the happiest of holidays.

To be continued….

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Dan DiDio, dcu in 2010, earth one, Flash, francis manapul, grant morrison, j. michael straczynski, James Robinson, legacies, matt idelson, return of bruce wayne, war of the supermen

DCU IN 2010: WELCOME TO EARTH ONE

That major publishing event we mentioned earlier today? Well, here it is.

Original stories featuring Batman and Superman in graphic novel form from the biggest creators out there. But these aren’t one-offs. We’re talking ongoing series of OGNs in a new continuity, on a new Earth.

Sound appealing?

Starting next year, DC Comics will unveil SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE and BATMAN: EARTH ONE, two graphic novels spotlighting the most powerful heroes of the DC Universe, with their first years and earliest moments retold in a standalone, original graphic novel format, on a new earth with an all-new continuity.

Return to Smallville and experience the journey of Earth’s greatest adopted son, as he grows from boy to Superman in SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE by J. Michael Straczynski and artist Shane Davis.

Watch from the darkest corners of Crime Alley as a young boy is struck by unbelievable tragedy that will forge the greatest crime-fighter to ever stalk the rooftops of Gotham City in BATMAN: EARTH ONE, by writer Geoff Johns and artist Gary Frank.

What does JMS have to say? Well, here's a snippet from his first interview on the subject:

"What I’m trying to do is to dig in to the character and look at him through modern eyes. If you were to create the Superman story today, for the first time, but keep intact all that works, what would it look like?"

"It is monumental for us as comic readers to see Superman birthed for the first time," Davis said. "It's a privilege to realize that you're the artist that gets to draw it, better yet having the luxury to do it in an original graphic novel. This is going to be epic!"

What about Geoff Johns? Well, we happen to have a bit from his first interview as well:

"BATMAN: EARTH ONE allows Gary and I to break the restraints of any continuity and focus on two things: character and story."

Want more? Sure you do. Why not check out the interviews AIN’T IT COOL NEWS just posted with the previously mentioned Johns and Straczynski?

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Batman, dcu in 2010, earth one, gary frank, Geoff Johns, j. michael straczynski, shane davis, Superman

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