Take a look at Mark Schultz’s THE SPIRIT #1 variant cover

Some things you probably know: The Spirit returns in a new ongoing series next month from writer Mark Schultz and artist Moritat. We showed off a page of the first SPIRIT: BLACK AND WHITE co-feature by Dennis O’Neil and Bill Sienkiewicz just last week.

Did you also know that Mark Schultz is not only writing the issue, but also contributing a variant cover? It’s possible. But I know it hasn’t been seen yet, so here it is:

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THE SPIRIT #1 hits 4/21.

A first look at THE SPIRIT: BLACK AND WHITE co-feature

Starting with the first issue of the new SPIRIT ongoing series, each issue will feature a SPIRIT: BLACK AND WHITE co-feature from the top talents around the industry. And what better way to kick things off than by having living legend Dennis O’Neil pair with artist Bill Sienkiewicz for a tale of Will Eisner’s creation? We were psyched when this piece of artwork found its way into our inbox, as we’ll sure you’ll be when you click on it.

THE SPIRIT #1 hits in April.

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Start your week with a look at John Cassaday's cover to DOC SAVAGE #1

Last week, you got a first look at Rags Morales' interpretation of "The Bat-Man" in the pages of FIRST WAVE. Today, we've got a first look at superstar artist John Cassaday's cover to DOC SAVAGE #1, written by Paul Malmont with interiors by Howard Porter, hitting 4/14.

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Pretty nice, huh? But it doesn't stop there. We'll have more to say and show in relation to Mr. Cassaday in the coming weeks, so stay tuned.

Get a first look at The Bat-Man

It's been a Batman kind-of-day, and will continue to be, as we've got a major art debut later today.

But let's not get ahead of ourselves, shall well? We've got a major art debut to show right now.

Some of you savvy Twitter-folk may have noticed Assistant Editor Chris Conroy discussing what a great Batman FIRST WAVE pencil piece artist Rags Morales had just sent him during the first-ever #DCreader Twitter event, which allowed fans to read FIRST WAVE #1 along with Jim Lee and Geoff Johns. Well, we did the predictable and begged him to let us show it here on The Source.

And here we are.

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A few links of note for Friday

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Been a busy week here at The Source, with all the fun surrounding THE FLASH, so here are some notable links you may have missed while hitting refresh:

• FIRST WAVE writer Brian Azzarello's been making the interview rounds, with pieces at USA TODAY, AOL's COMICS ALLIANCE, NEWSARAMA, COMIC BOOK RESOURCES and SCRIPPS HOWARD's wire service, some with artistic master Rags Morales joining in on the fun.

• WIRED's GEEKDAD blog is taking votes for the first-ever GEEKDAD AWARDS. In the category of Best Comic, you can choose from a number of titles, including WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE CAPED CRUSADER?, WEDNESDAY COMICS and BLACKEST NIGHT.

Today's the day: Read FIRST WAVE #1 with Jim Lee and Geoff Johns

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In case you missed our initial announcement and friendly reminder yesterday, today's your chance to talk comics with two of the biggest names in the industry: Jim Lee and Geoff Johns. Where? Twitter, of course.

So head out to the comic shop and pick up your copy of FIRST WAVE #1 and start following Geoff, Jim and DC NATION. If you don't have a Twitter account, signing up is easy, so no worries. The rest is even easier: have fun, talk comics and enjoy the first issue of an excellent new mini-series spotlighting some of the most iconic characters -- like Batman, Doc Savage and the Spirit -- brought to life in a whole new light. The fun starts today at 3pm PST.

And if you can’t make it right on time, click on the hashtag “#DCreader” to catch up on the discussion!

See you there!

REMINDER: Read FIRST WAVE #1 with Geoff Johns and Jim Lee tomorrow

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Just a gentle reminder that tomorrow -- the same day Brian Azzarello and Rags Morales' FIRST WAVE hits -- you can read the first issue along with comic book superstars Geoff Johns and Jim Lee on Twitter. What better way to meet the neo-noir versions of Doc Savage, The Bat-Man and the Spirit, eh?

Don’t have a Twitter account? Sign up!

The fun starts Wednesday at 3pm PST, giving you time to run to your shop and join in on the action. And while we’re talking Twitter, don’t forget to follow DC NATION, which’ll keep you up-to-date on all THE SOURCE’s daily news.

And take a minute to say hi while we're all reading together.

Read FIRST WAVE #1 with Jim Lee and Geoff Johns

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Hopefully all the Friday FIRST WAVE goodness got you excited for the debut issue of the mini-series from writer Brian Azzarello and artist Rags Morales, which is packed with neo-noir action and deftly reimagined icons, including the Bat-Man, Doc Savage and the Spirit.

What could possibly make your reading experience better? How about reading it along with two of the biggest names in comics?

That’s right — both Geoff Johns and Jim Lee will be reading FIRST WAVE #1 on Wednesday, and you can share the experience with them on Twitter, where you can tweet your thoughts and comments to the superstar creators and hear what they think as they flip from page to page. Don’t have a Twitter account? Sign up!

The fun starts Wednesday at 3pm PST, giving you time to run to your shop and join in on the action. And while we’re talking Twitter, don’t forget to follow DC NATION, which’ll keep you up-to-date on all THE SOURCE’s daily news.

And if you’re bored, say hi, as I’ll be reading along, too.

A look at the covers to FIRST WAVE #3

If that lengthy preview this morning wasn't enough for you, then we have another piece of lovely art to make Friday all the more fun.

Courtesy of cover artist extraordinaire J.G. Jones, here's a peek at The Bat-Man, from the cover to FIRST WAVE #3. And for those of you that missed it the first time, we've included Lee Bermejo's lovely FIRST WAVE #3 variant.

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The FIRST WAVE hits now

In a world without super powers, there are still those men and women who merit the name "hero."

In the long shadow of The War and amidst the rubble of a shattered world, humanity's last hope may be a handful of masked vigilantes with only their fists and wits at their disposal against a shadowy cabal known only as The Golden Tree.

Enter Doc Savage, a veritable super man plagued by the loss of his father and a nagging suspicion that something evil lurks around the corner.

Enter the mysterious Spirit, a man once thought dead now protecting the streets of Central City from the corruption and decay that's already pushed it to the brink of destruction.

And what of the caped crime fighter known as "The Bat-Man"? Needless to say, he isn't what you've come to expect from the Dark Knight: Brash, cocky, inexperienced and daring.

This is the pulp, neo-noir setting of FIRST WAVE, a six-issue mini-series that springs from the mind of acclaimed, Eisner Award-winning writer Brian Azzarello and featuring art by versatile master Rags Morales.

Azzarello brings his knack for realistic dialogue and hard boiled narrative to the forefront from the first panel of the first page, presenting a world very rooted in reality but also evocative of the fantastical tales and adventures that were at the crux of the pulps' popularity years ago. Paired with Morales, who's arguably creating some of the best work of his career and you have an unbeatable formula for adventurous and just plain exciting comics featuring some of the most iconic characters to grace the sequential page, re-energized for today's reader. Who can argue with that?

We managed to catch Azzarello for a quick word. Take it away Brian:

"It's exciting to be part of this. Everybody involved has really worked their tails off building this world, and as it rolls out in the next few months, you can expect more than a few surprises. The most important thing for us as creators is to make readers care about the characters. I think they'll find themselves caring in ways they haven't before. It should be fun."

The proof is on the page, gang. And we've got four colored pages from the first issue along with colored pages from the scene we previewed a few weeks back. Be warned, though: Once you enter the world of FIRST WAVE, it'll be near impossible to escape.

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