DC Entertainment Announces Two New Series at Emerald City Comic Con

This past weekend, the streets of Seattle were awash with the colors of capes, cowls, tights, and more, as Emerald City Comic Con took over the Washington State Convention Center for three days.

Timed to the convention, DC Entertainment announced the launches of two exciting titles – DC Comics’ new ongoing monthly series, TRINITY OF SIN: PANDORA, and Vertigo Comics’ BROTHER LONO, an all-new 8-part miniseries spinning out of the critically acclaimed and New York Times bestselling series, 100 BULLETS!

In stores this spring, TRINITY OF SIN: PANDORA will shine a solo spotlight on the elusive character Pandora and begin to unravel the details of why she’s such an integral part of DC COMICS-THE NEW 52. Written by Ray Fawkes (CONSTANTINE; JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK) and illustrated by Daniel Sampere (BATGIRL; JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK), this new series will be complimented by THE PHANTOM STRANGER – which will be retitled to TRINITY OF SIN: THE PHANTOM STRANGER when co-writer J.M. DeMatteis takes over full writing duties in June.

“She's spent thousands of years crossing the globe, over and over again, hearing her name cursed for all the evils of the world,” Fawkes exclusively teased to COMIC BOOK RESOURCES about the new series’ mysterious protagonist. “She carries this unfathomable guilt and this searing anger with her -- guilt because she may very well be responsible for all this suffering, and anger because she thinks she never had a chance to avoid unleashing it. She has reason to believe the game was fixed. So she's had all the time in the world to crawl through every kind of shame and pain and remorse you can imagine, and she's come out on the other side of it with a strong, pure sense of purpose. Is that going to lead to more trouble? Yeah, of course it is. But trouble for whom?”

“TRINITY OF SIN: PANDORA is an action/horror title,” Fawkes continued. “It's about a blistering quest for vengeance, no-holds barred, with blatant disregard for the costs incurred -- until it breaks, like a bloody wave. Then it's about something else entirely, and I'm not going to give that away just yet.”

Also landing on shelves this spring, BROTHER LONO will reunite the Eisner Award winning creative team of Vertigo Comics’ 100 BULLETS – including writer Brian Azzarello, artist Eduardo Risso, colorist Trish Mulvihill, letterer Clem Robbins and cover artist Dave Johnson.

“It's not a continuation of 100 BULLETS. I wouldn't even call it a sequel. It's dealing with one of the characters that happened to survive. Everyone else in the series [BROTHER LONO] — it will be all new characters. It's just, what's Lono been doing since the end of that series,” Azzarello exclusively revealed to NEWSARAMA, who also debuted the cover for 100 BULLETS: BROTHER LONO #1. “We're not going to learn more about his background. We're going to learn what drives him. He's not a character that looks toward the past. He's always moving forward.”

As for how the creative team feels to be re-entering the world of 100 BULLETS together?

“We're really excited about this. We're happy to be back,” Azzarello told NEWSARAMA. “We wouldn't be doing it if we didn't have a story to tell. So luckily, we had one.”

Look for TRINITY OF SIN: PANDORA and BROTHER LONO in stores this June. And keep checking back to THE SOURCE and GRAPHIC CONTENT for more about the launches of these two new series in the coming weeks!

Preview Monday: BEFORE WATCHMEN: MOLOCH #2 and FABLES #124

Welcome back for another installment of Preview Monday! This week we’re giving you exclusive first looks at BEFORE WATCHMEN: MOLOCH #2 and FABLES #124.

 

Following the exciting events of BEFORE WATCHMEN: MOLOCH #1, Moloch has been released from prison and given a second chance on life. But waiting for him outside is a former masked vigilante … Adrian Veidt (a.k.a. Ozymandias)! With Veidt’s help, Moloch is able to begin his life as a reformed man. But will he be able to stay clean or does Veidt have other plans for him? From the creative team of writer J. Michael Straczynski and artist Eduardo Risso, BEFORE WATCHMEN: MOLOCH #2 is the finale of this two-issue miniseries. Also, be sure not to miss the final chapter of “Curse of the Crimson Corsair,” written and drawn by original WATCHMEN series colorist John Higgins. Click here for an exclusive preview of the issue, which hits stores this Wednesday.

 

In FABLES #124, our favorite flying monkey Bufkin and his sometimes girlfriend Lily’s heroic adventures in Oz have become too big to contain in 3-page features. This week, this special full-issue epic will take us to the grand finale of “A Revolution in Oz”, a continuing back-up story that can be found at the end of previous issues of FABLES. After defeating the Emperor, Bufkin and his friends celebrate their victory. But what lies in store for Bufkin, Lily and Hangy when they decide to set out for adventures unknown? Brought to you by acclaimed writer Bill Willingham and artist Shawn McManus, FABLES #124 flies into stores this Wednesday. Click here for an exclusive preview of the issue.

 

 

DC Entertainment Announces BEFORE WATCHMEN: MOLOCH

 DC Comics announced at the DC Entertainment-All Access Saturday panel at Fan Expo Toronto that they will publish a two-issue BEFORE WATCHMEN: MOLOCH series.

 

Joining the roster of seven mini-series, BEFORE WATCHMEN: MOLOCH will be written by current BW: NITE OWL, BW: DR. MANHATTAN and upcoming SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE Vol. 2 writer J. Michael Straczynski with art by Eduardo Risso (SPACEMAN and 100 BULLETS).

 

If you don’t know who Moloch is, he’s a villian in the Watchmen universe. In fact, you may have recently seen a glimpse or two of him in BW: COMEDIAN or BW: OZYMANDIAS. And now, you’re about to learn a lot more.

 

 

BEFORE WATCHMEN: MOLOCH #1 will be on sale November 7 and issue #2 will be available December 26.



 

5.2 Reasons Brian Azzarello is One of the Best Writers in Comics

Welcome DC Entertainment fans to a brand new weekly feature where we list off 5.2 Reasons of varying subjects of greatness from across our line of books, collectibles, and more!
 
Wednesday marked the launch of BEFORE WATCHMEN: COMEDIAN, and while old Eddie Blake might see the world as a dark and twisted place, we personally like to take a look at the positives—namely the existence of totally awesome comic creators like Comedian writer Brian Azzarello.
 
Already a huge fan of Azzarello, his involvement in Before Watchmen got us more pumped than Schwarzenegger—especially considering the characters he'd be working on. We took a look at the comic catalog to give you 5.2 Reasons Brian Azzarello is One of the Best Writers in Comics.

1. Wonder Woman
WONDER WOMAN #10 is out this week, but with the first issue alone, Azzarello solidified his spot in the pantheon of brilliant WW writers—embracing instead of shying away from the Amazon Princess's mythological roots. Coupled with the insanely gifted artist Cliff Chiang—who perfectly captures and balances Diana's might and beauty—Wonder Woman is like a gift from the gods.
 
2. 100 Bullets
Loaded with intrigue and blasting a non-stop barrage of action-filled slugs, Azzarello and artist Eduardo Risso's 100 Bullets hits the mark as one of Vertigo's quintessential reads. Get the new Deluxe Edition trades or go digital with all 100 issues. And for more awesome collaborations from these two creators, check out BATMAN: KNIGHT OF VENGEANCE and SPACEMAN.
 
3. First Wave
Batman, Doc Savage, The Spirit—classic characters, all interacting and adventuring in the same world along with Black Canary, Rima the Jungle Girl and more. If you love pulp (the style of storytelling, not necessarily the stuff in juice, but sure, that, too) grab the softcover collection, which hit stores this week.
 
4. Joker
This comes as part of a one-two punch with the next entry, but whenever Azzarello teams with artist Lee Bermejo, the only joke is that this collaboration doesn't happen all the time. Insanely beautiful images pair with a darkly disturbing story that explores the criminal side of Gotham and features grisly realistic interpretations of Batman's famous foes.
 
5. Luthor
BATMAN/DEATHBLOW marked the first collaboration between Azzarello and Bermejo, but LUTHOR is the one that put the team on the veritable map. Originally a five-issue limited series, the graphic novel collection includes 10 new pages of material! The title takes a look at the inner workings and motivations behind humanity's self-proclaimed "savior."

 

5.1 He'll Be Teaming With Bermejo Once More On:


 

 

5.2 He May or May Not Be the God of War

 

 

Those are the reasons we're big fans of Brian Azzarello. What are yours? Feel free to sound off below, and we'll see you again in a week with another edition of 5.2 Reasons!

DC Entertainment Announces Official Publication Date for BEFORE WATCHMEN

On Wednesday, June 6, DC Comics will publish the first of the highly anticipated BEFORE WATCHMEN comic book prequels. BEFORE WATCHMEN: MINUTEMEN, written and drawn by Darwyn Cooke, will be the first issue released the first Wednesday in June, followed in subsequent weeks by BEFORE WATCHMEN: SILK SPECTRE by Darwyn Cooke and Amanda Conner (June 13), BEFORE WATCHMEN: COMEDIAN by Brian Azzarello and J.G. Jones (June 20), and BEFORE WATCHMEN: NITE OWL by J. Michael Straczynski, Andy Kubert and Joe Kubert (June 27). The first issue of BEFORE WATCHMEN: RORSCHACH and BEFORE WATCHMEN: DR. MANHATTAN will be released later in the summer. All issues of the BEFORE WATCHMEN titles will be available same day digital and fans will have the option of buying a digital combo pack edition.

Every issue of BEFORE WATCHMEN will have a 1 in 25 variant cover drawn by a premier comic book artist: BEFORE WATCHMEN: MINUTEMEN #1 by Michael Golden, BEFORE WATCHMEN: SILK SPECTRE #1 by Dave Johnson, BEFORE WATCHMEN: COMEDIAN #1 by Eduardo Risso and BEFORE WATCHMEN: NITE OWL #1 by Kevin Nowlan.

 

Each of the BEFORE WATCHMEN first issues will feature a 1 in 200 variant cover by legendary artist and DC Entertainment Co-Publisher Jim Lee (JUSTICE LEAGUE).

 

The announcement that DC Comics will publish prequels to the bestselling graphic novel of all time has already generated international press coverage and widespread controversy, months in advance of the release of the first issue.


BEFORE WATCHMEN: MINUTEMEN #1

Written by DARWYN COOKE

Backup story written by LEN WEIN

Art and cover by DARWYN COOKE

Backup story art by JOHN HIGGINS

1:25 Variant cover by MICHAEL GOLDEN

1:200 Variant cover by JIM LEE

On sale JUNE 6 • 32 pg, FC, 1 of 6, $3.99 US • MATURE READERS

Combo pack edition: $4.99 US

“Little did we know that poor boy would lead to the end of us all.”

Plus: Don’t miss the CRIMSON CORSAIR backup story by writer LEN WEIN and artist JOHN HIGGINS!

This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.

 

BEFORE WATCHMEN: SILK SPECTRE #1

Written by DARWYN COOKE and AMANDA CONNER

Backup story written by LEN WEIN

Art and cover by AMANDA CONNER

Backup story art by JOHN HIGGINS

1:25 Variant cover by DAVE JOHNSON

1:200 Variant cover by JIM LEE

On sale JUNE 13 • 32 pg, FC, 1 of 4, $3.99 US • MATURE READERS

Combo pack edition: $4.99 US

“Oh sweetie, you’re too young to hate. Wait until you’re older and the world gives you a good reason. Trust me, it won’t let you down.”

Plus: Don’t miss the CRIMSON CORSAIR backup story by writer LEN WEIN and artist JOHN HIGGINS!

This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.

 

BEFORE WATCHMEN: COMEDIAN #1

Written by BRIAN AZZARELLO

Backup story written by LEN WEIN

Art and cover by J.G. JONES

Backup story art by JOHN HIGGINS

1:25 Variant cover by EDUARDO RISSO

1:200 Variant cover by JIM LEE

On sale JUNE 20 • 32 pg, FC, 1 of 6, $3.99 US • MATURE READERS

Combo pack edition: $4.99 US

“I’m a funny guy...”

Plus: Don’t miss the CRIMSON CORSAIR backup story by writer LEN WEIN and artist JOHN HIGGINS!

This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.

 

BEFORE WATCHMEN: NITE OWL #1

Written by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI

Backup story written by LEN WEIN

Art and cover by ANDY KUBERT and JOE KUBERT

Backup story art by JOHN HIGGINS

1:25 Variant cover by KEVIN NOWLAN

1:200 Variant cover by JIM LEE

On sale JUNE 27 • 32 pg, FC, 1 of 4, $3.99 US • MATURE READERS

Combo pack edition: $4.99 US

“The hero known to the public only as Nite Owl announced his retirement today.”

Plus: Don’t miss the CRIMSON CORSAIR backup story by writer LEN WEIN and artist JOHN HIGGINS!

This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.


See a gallery of all the cover artwork here.

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