Grifter | DC Comics

Everyone’s Talkin’ About DC Comics, Monday Evening Edition (EST)

AIN’T IT COOL NEWS ran an exclusive preview of JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL #3 and caught up with series writer Dan Jurgens. “Our JLI will enjoy both the curses and benefits of greater United Nations funding and involvement,” he explained. “When you combine the fact that much of the UN's reasoning is simply PR, rather than actually getting something done, it's a recipe for problems.”

GAWKER’s IO9 spoke with the creative team of THE FLASH, Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato. “When you read the first arc, it's about The Flash trying to evolve. You realize in the second arc, that that's what the Rogues have been doing this entire time,” Manapul revealed. “But obviously it went wrong and they're not together. We're going to see what that's all about and how they came across the powers that they now have.”

MTV GEEK chatted with BATMAN: NOEL writer/artist Lee Bermejo. “I wanted to make him as real as possible, so I started imagining his costume with Kevlar plating, and it would be a bit more useful, and reflect a little bit of real world clothing that you might find on motorcycle dudes, things like that,” Bermejo said of designing The Dark Knight for this original graphic novel. “I think this worked for the comparisons to Scrooge, too, because … his very demeanor is like a suit of armor.” Be sure to read the whole interview for an exclusive preview of BATMAN: NOEL, in comic book stores on Wednesday and available everywhere next week.

And while it’s still Halloween, COMIC BOOK RESOURCES decided to send shivers up your spine with their horror-focused interview with I, VAMPIRE writer Joshua Hale Fialkov. “To me, a book is titled what it's titled on purpose,” Fialkov stated. “This book is titled I, VAMPIRE and that means that in every issue, you're going to get a chance to look inside what it's like to be a vampire or to be in the life of vampire or to be surrounded by vampires. And the question of why Andrew can control himself when none of the others can is a big, big part of the story. It's a big part of what we're working on in the next year in terms of the mythology.”

Meanwhile, Atlanta’s CREATIVE LOAFING profiled GRIFTER writer Nathan Edmondson, a Georgia local. Check out their piece to read about how Nathan got involved in the comic book industry and teases at what’s to come in the series.

To be continued …

Tags:

ain't it cool news, Batman: Noel, brian buccellato, comic book resources, Creative Loafing, dan jurgens, DC Comics-The New 52, francis manapul, Gawker's IO9, Grifter, I Vampire, Joshua Hale Fialkov, justice league international, lee bermejo, MTV Geek, Nathan Edmondson, the flash

THE EDGE Group Solicits

STORMWATCH #5

Written by PAUL CORNELL

Art and cover by MIGUEL SEPULVEDA

1:25 Variant cover by MIGUEL SEPULVEDA

On sale JANUARY 4 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+

It’s the unstoppable murder machine vs. the Eminence of Blades when the Midnighter takes on Prince of Lies, Harry Tanner! As Adam One stands trial before the shadow cabinet, Stormwatch loses two members, and the mystery horn from SUPERMAN #1 reappears to deliver a final page that will change Stormwatch forever!

GRIFTER #5

Written by NATHAN EDMONDSON

Art and cover by SCOTT CLARK and DAVE BEATY

On sale JANUARY 11 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

Cole and his new partner Sofia make plans to escape the northwest, but first they need a little cash – and that calls for a quick grift. Cole can’t get far in his con-artistry, however, before discovering that the Daemonites are coming after him in full force – and they have powers he could not have anticipated.

DEATHSTROKE #5

Written by KYLE HIGGINS

Art by JOE BENNETT and ART THIBERT

Cover by SIMON BISLEY

On sale JANUARY 11 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US• RATED T+

Deathstroke’s allies are dwindling and the net is tightening, so now’s a bad time for the return of Legacy! Who is this relentless enemy, and who’s been stalking the unbeatable mercenary?

(Not final cover)

SUICIDE SQUAD #5

Written by ADAM GLASS

Art by FEDERICO DALLOCCHIO

Cover by DAN PANOSIAN

On sale JANUARY 11 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+

Super-Villain prison riot! After returning from a string of hellish missions, the surviving members of the Suicide Squad are forced to undertake one last task: stop an all-out riot inside Belle Reve Penitentiary, the roughest Super-Villain prison on the planet!

VOODOO #5

Written by RON MARZ

Art by SAMI BASRI

Cover by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER

On sale JANUARY 25 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+

Voodoo discovers a threat that could expose her secrets before she can complete her mission. With her shape-shifting abilities in overdrive, Pris does what she does best when she’s cornered: fight.

O.M.A.C. #5

Written by DAN DIDIO and KEITH GIFFEN

Art and cover by KEITH GIFFEN and SCOTT KOBLISH

On sale JANUARY 4 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

Max Lord and Sarge Steel decide that in order to capture O.M.A.C., sacrifices will have to be made. They go back to the location of O.M.A.C.’s first appearance and target the workers on Kevin Kho’s floor, including Kevin and all his friends. Meanwhile, since O.M.A.C. is still on the loose, S.H.A.D.E. decides to send in their top agent, Frankenstein, to succeed where Checkmate has failed. This epic storyline continues in this month’s FRANKENSTEIN, AGENT OF S.H.A.D.E. #5!

MEN OF WAR #5

Written by IVAN BRANDON and MATT KINDT

Art by TOM DERENICK, PATRICK SCHERBERGER and DAN GREEN

Cover by VIKTOR KALVACHEV

On sale JANUARY 4 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T+

Even beaten and captured, Joe Rock’s resolve is enough to attract the attention of an ageless military general. But will it be enough to help him escape a battalion of battle-hardened ghouls and save his men? Plus: She fights with skilled perfection, he with ferocious energy. Which will be the last blade standing – or are both of these knife-wielding spies doomed?

BLACKHAWKS #5

Written by MIKE COSTA

Art by CAFU and BIT

Cover by KEN LASHLEY

On sale JANUARY 25 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

Three of the Blackhawks are incapacitated with injuries, and two more are stranded in outer space! The team has suffered a serious beating, but they still have one more crazy, hail Mary stunt up their sleeve as our first story is brought to its explosive conclusion by Mike Costa and new fan-favorite artist CAFU!

ALL-STAR WESTERN #5

Written by JUSTIN GRAY and JIMMY PALMIOTTI

Art by MORITAT and PHIL WINSLADE

Cover by LADRONN

On sale JANUARY 25 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T+

Slippery sewer pipes make a brutal place for a fight – but that won’t stop Jonah Hex and Amadeus Arkham from facing off against a gang of kidnappers beneath Gotham City. And when the thugs get the best of them, Hex and Arkham find themselves swept away to a pitch-black cave with seemingly no way out – and lots of bats! Will they find a way to escape Gotham City’s dark underbelly before Hex’s matches are all burned out? Also: For the Barbary Ghost, death is only the beginning of her plan for revenge!

Tags:

All-Star Western, Blackhawks, DC Comics-The New 52, deathstroke, Grifter, Men of War, OMAC, Stormwatch, suicide squad, Voodoo

Previews of tomorrow’s DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 releases

Over the past few days, we’ve been linking to all of the exclusive previews of the second issues from DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 that are going on sale tomorrow.

Below, take a look at all the previews that ran (sorted alphabetically and separated by cover), compiled here in one easy location for your convenience.

[gallery link="file" order="DESC" columns="4"]

Tags:

batgirl, batman and robin, batwoman, DC Comics-The New 52, deathstroke, Demon Knights, Frankenstein Agent of S.H.A.D.E., green lantern, Grifter, Legion Lost, Mister Terrific, Resurrection Man, suicide squad, superboy

(Everybody’s Talkin’ About) DC COMICS-THE NEW 52, Tuesday Evening (ET) Edition

IFANBOY has your exclusive preview of GRIFTER #2 by Nathan Edmondson, CAFU and Jason Gorder. Be sure to check back to THE SOURCE later tonight as we’ll be publishing all of tomorrow’s preview pages together for your convenience.

Meanwhile, this morning’s announcement that Vertigo will be publishing the graphic novel adaptations of Stieg Larsson’s bestselling Millennium Trilogy was picked up by a variety of outlets including THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, IGN, MTV GEEK, COMIC BOOK RESOURCES and BIG SHINY ROBOT.

And speaking of Vertigo, this afternoon MTV GEEK announced a new ongoing series for the imprint called DOMINIQUE LAVEAU: VOODOO CHILD, written by Selwyn Seyfu and illustrated by Denys Cowan.

To be continued …

Tags:

Big Shiny Robot, Cafu, comic book resources, DC Comics-The New 52, denys cowan, Dominique Laveau: Voodoo Child, Gawker's IO9, Grifter, Hollywood Reporter, ifanboy, IGN, Jason Gorder, millennium trilogy, MTV Geek, Nathan Edmondson, Publishers Weekly, Selwyn Seyfu, Stieg Larsson, vertigo

(Everybody’s Talkin’ About) DC Comics-The New 52, Tuesday Morning (ET) Edition

As we prepare for another 12 titles from DC Comics-The New 52 to be published tomorrow, coverage and buzz continues to roll in. Here are some of the highlights.

AIN’T IT COOL NEWS caught up with Geoff Johns to discuss JUSTICE LEAGUE, AQUAMAN, GREEN LANTERN and DC Comics-The New 52 as a whole. “My big story-line for my first year of AQUAMAN is him on a quest to find out who sank Atlantis,” Johns revealed. “Because it wasn't an accident.”

USA TODAY ran an exclusive preview of SUPERGIRL #1 and interviewed series co-writer Mike Johnson. "We're really excited about the opportunity to hand this book to a female reader who is into things like The Hunger Games. This is a strong character with her own point of view," Johnson told them of Kara.

MTV GEEK spoke with Jeff Lemire about FRANKENSTEIN, AGENT OF S.H.A.D.E. “He is absolutely humorless, which in turn leads to a lot of humor down the line,” Lemire said about the series’ protagonist. “But he is a noble soldier, an unstoppable killing machine with the heart of a poet and the manners of a Victorian gentleman.”

IGN continued their series of interviews with all of the creative teams behind DC Comics-The New 52. Check out what Nathan Edmondson (GRIFTER), Adam Glass (SUICIDE SQUAD), Peter Milligan (RED LANTERNS), Fabian Nicieza and Pete Woods (LEGION LOST) and Peter Tomasi (BATMAN AND ROBIN) had to say about their respective series. “Their relationship is a father and son at odds right from the start,” Tomasi said to IGN of Bruce and Damian Wayne in BATMAN AND ROBIN. “Bruce struggles to get a handle on Damian and his past, trying to his best to teach his son what it means to be a just and moral person but making plenty of mistakes along the way. Damian wants to be accepted for who and what he is, but his past and present are locked in a constant battle that threatens to take a terrible toll.”

NEWSARAMA has the exclusive preview of LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #1 by Paul Levitz and Francis Portela. The issue goes on sale tomorrow.

To be continued …

THE EDGE Group Solicits

STORMWATCH #4

Written by PAUL CORNELL

Art and cover by MIGUEL SEPULVEDA

On sale DECEMBER 7 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

The earth is being eaten alive! As the unstoppable alien antibody continues consuming everything in its path, Stormwatch awakens a slumbering [information redacted] buried deep within the earth. But has the team found an ally or a threat greater than the antibody? However it plays out, the DC landscape literally will be changed forever! Plus: Don’t miss a major change to the Stormwatch roster!

DEATHSTROKE #4

Written by KYLE HIGGINS

Art by JOE BENNETT and ART THIBERT

Cover by SIMON BISLEY

On sale DECEMBER 14 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+

Deathstroke incarcerated! As the world’s fiercest mercenary is shipped off to a metahuman prison, Slade uncovers a new wrinkle in his quest to root out the forces working to manipulate him – and the Blackhawks may be a part of it! Also, what exactly is in the briefcase? The answer will shock you!

GRIFTER #4

Written by NATHAN EDMONDSON

Art by SCOTT CLARK and DAVE BEATY

Cover by CAFU and JASON GORDER

On sale DECEMBER 14 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

Seattle is known for coffee, clouds, and Q-Core. Grifter’s struggle has led him to the headquarters of a hero, but not without a few surprises along the way. Just when the gun-wielding con man thinks he’s gotten the upper hand in his situation, he realizes he’s put himself in the center of the bull’s-eye! Guest-starring Green Arrow!

VOODOO #4

Written by RON MARZ

Art by SAMI BASRI

Cover by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER

On sale DECEMBER 28 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US RATED T+

The mysterious Voodoo has left destruction in her wake since fleeing New Orleans. Her nemesis Special Agent Fallon remains hot on her trail as she heads for Metropolis…and Fallon isn’t the only one, as a new, third player enters the hunt.

SUICIDE SQUAD #4

Written by ADAM GLASS

Art by FEDERICO DALLACCHIO

Cover by DAN PANOSIAN

On sale DECEMBER 14 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+

The body count rises! Another Squad member falls – but not the way you might expect! Betrayal follows betrayal as Captain Boomerang joins the Squad in a smash-and-grab against the terrorist organization Kobra, and Harley Quinn shows why you should never, ever recruit Squad members from Arkham Asylum. Brace yourself for a last-page shocker the likes of which the Squad has never faced before!

O.M.A.C. #4

Written by DAN DIDIO and KEITH GIFFEN

Art and cover by KEITH GIFFEN and SCOTT KOBLISH

On sale DECEMBER 7 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

Kevin Kho finally makes it back home – but while trying to pull the pieces of his life back together, he inadvertently disconnects from Brother Eye! Unfortunately, Kevin’s freedom comes with a price, because now he’s alone and forced to defend himself against Checkmate and their lethal Bio-gators!

BLACKHAWKS #4

Written by MIKE COSTA

Art by GRAHAM NOLAN and TREVOR SCOTT

Cover by KEN LASHLEY

On sale DECEMBER 28 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US RATED T

The Blackhawks have a brutal, apocalyptic showdown in the Eyrie against their newest, most dangerous foe. Meanwhile, Canada and Wildman enact a desperate plan to escape their captors...but escape to where?

MEN OF WAR #4

Written by IVAN BRANDON and B. CLAY MOORE

Art by TOM DERENICK and PAUL McCAFFREY

Cover by VIKTOR KALVACHEV

On sale DECEMBER 7 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T+

Easy Company wrestles with the betrayal of one of their own, as each man processes Kobra’s secret in his own way. But the company must forge ahead, marching into unknown enemy territory – while an ancient evil lies waiting in a salty haze. Will this be the end for Rock and his men?

Plus: A team of mecha fans turned engineers have built the hardware of their dreams, but will it work out the way it always does in the movies?

ALL-STAR WESTERN #4

Written by JUSTIN GRAY and JIMMY PALMIOTTI

Art by MORITAT and PHIL WINSLADE

Cover by LADRONN

On sale DECEMBER 28 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T+

The trail of a missing child from a wealthy family leads Jonah Hex and Amadeus Arkham into the watery catacombs of Gotham City’s still-under-construction sewer system – but will they survive the many dangers that lurk in those twisty depths? Also: introducing the Barbary Ghost, a fireworks wielding mistress of vengeance, stalking San Francisco’s criminal underworld.

Tags:

All-Star Western, Blackhawks, deathstroke, Grifter, Men of War, O.M.A.C., Stormwatch, suicide squad, Voodoo

Teasing DC Comics-The New 52: “Oh, God. Oh, God. I just murdered someone!”

“Oh, God. Oh, God. I just murdered someone!”

– Grifter in GRIFTER #1

Tags:

DC Comics-The New 52, Grifter

(EVERYBODY’S TALKIN’ ABOUT) DC COMICS-THE NEW 52, MONDAY EVENING (ET) EDITION

Earlier today, we announced that all the books in the first two weeks of release from DC Comics-The New 52. As we ready for the week two books to hit stores, here are some of the press highlights from the past few days.

USA TODAY ran an exclusive preview of FRANKENSTEIN, AGENT OF S.H.A.D.E. and interviewed the series’ writer, Jeff Lemire (who also writes ANIMAL MAN). "I want to get deeper into his origin and see what makes this monster basically want to protect humanity,” Lemire said of Frankenstein.

IFANBOY published their exclusive preview of GRIFTER #1. “It’s Grifter from day one, from square one,” series writer Nathan Edmonson teased to them. “It’s not a Grifter you’ve seen before. It’s not a story you’re familiar with.”

IGN debuted the first six pages of RED LANTERNS #1, by Peter Millian and Ed Benes.

COMIC BOOK RESOURCES had the first look at BATMAN AND ROBIN #1 by Peter J. Tomasi, Patrick Gleason and Mick Gray.

COMPLEX interviewed Scott Snyder about the two series he’s writing, BATMAN and SWAMP THING. “It’s a big epic, ambitious story about Bruce Wayne and the way he thinks of Gotham as his friend and this kind of ancient evil under Gotham that exists, or may exist, that he has somehow overlooked as Batman,” Snyder said of BATMAN. “So it has to do with the history of the Wayne family and the Grayson family, and there will be big revelations about this enemy from the past, and this enemy is going to bring all the weight of history against the Bat family and try to crush them.”

IO9 posted quick reviews of each of the first week’s worth of releases from DC Comics-The New 52. They also dubbed ANIMAL MAN as the best book thus far. “One of the reasons Animal Man #1 works so well is that Lemire plops the reader right down into his daily routine...and then drops the horror in the final act,” wrote Cyriaque Lamar. “Gold stars for the creative team.”

To be continued …

Inside the numbers: JUSTICE LEAGUE # 1 is officially the best-selling comic book of 2011

(The cover to JUSTICE LEAGUE #4 by Jim Lee and Scott Williams)

Earlier today, Diamond Comic Distributors, the world's largest distributor of comics, graphic novels, and pop culture merchandise, officially announced that JUSTICE LEAGUE issue 1, written by Geoff Johns and drawn by Jim Lee and Scott Williams, is the bestselling comic book for the month of August—and to date, all of 2011.

That's the headline—and it's a good one—but, for those interested, here's a further look inside the numbers for DC COMICS-THE NEW 52:

· With a first printing exceeding 200,000 copies, JUSTICE LEAGUE #1 was the highest first printing of any DC Comics' title since 2006's JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA # 1 by NEW YORK TIMES bestselling writer Brad Meltzer, Ed Benes and Sandra Hope.

· The 200,000 first printing figure includes the digital combo pack and all variant editions, but not digital sales. The first printing was sold out at Diamond within hours of going on sale. The second printing of JUSTICE LEAGUE also sold out in less than 24 hours and the issue is now in its third printing.

· The DC Comics App peaked at # 4 on iTunes for Top Grossing I-Pad Apps. during the first week of The New 52.

· JUSTICE LEAGUE is one of ten titles so far from DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 with print runs of more than 100,000 (ACTION COMICS, BATGIRL, BATMAN, BATMAN AND ROBIN, BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT, DETECTIVE COMICS, FLASH, GREEN LANTERN, SUPERMAN).

· All 13 of the Week 2 titles from DC Comics: The New 52 have sold out from Diamond and are going back to press—ACTION COMICS, ANIMAL MAN, BATGIRL, BATWING, DETECTIVE COMICS, GREEN ARROW, HAWK & DOVE, JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL, MEN OF WAR, OMAC, STATIC SHOCK, STORMWATCH and SWAMP THING.

· With its second printing, ACTION COMICS, joins JUSTICE LEAGUE as the second title to date from DC Comics-The New 52 with more than 200,000 copies in print.

· All 13 of the Week 3 titles from DC Comics: The New 52 have sold out from Diamond in advance of publication and are going back to press, including BATMAN AND ROBIN, BATWOMAN, DEATHSTROKE, DEMON KNIGHTS, FRANKENSTEIN, AGENT OF S.H.A.D.E., GREEN LANTERN, GRIFTER, LEGION LOST, MISTER TERRIFIC, RED LANTERNS, RESURRECTION MAN, SUICIDE SQUAD and SUPERBOY.