I Vampire | DC Comics

THE DARK Group Solicits

JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #5

Written by PETER MILLIGAN

Art by MIKEL JANIN

Cover by RYAN SOOK

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

Enchantress is out of control and more powerful than ever. She has brought a nation to its knees through her arcane powers. Will Madame Xanadu, John Constantine, Shade the Changing Man, Zatanna, Mindwarp, Deadman and June Moon be able to work together to defeat her? One thing is certain: One of these heroes will not make it

out alive!

SWAMP THING #5

Written by SCOTT SNYDER

Art and cover by YANICK PAQUETTE

1:25 Variant cover by YANICK PAQUETTE

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

Alec and Abby bring the fight to Sethe’s chosen servant in the blood-slicked slaughterhouses of west Texas! But while the battle is joined in America, the war may already be lost in the jungles of Brazil, as danger approaches for the Parliament of Trees…

ANIMAL MAN #5

Written by JEFF LEMIRE

Art by TRAVEL FOREMAN and JEFF HUET

Cover by TRAVEL FOREMAN

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

With Ellen and Cliff’s lives hanging in the balance, Buddy finally faces off against The Hunters Three! But the fight doesn’t go as planned, causing the Baker family to go on the run. What dark new threat is chasing them – and why? Find out as the first arc of DC’s surprise breakout hit comes to a startling conclusion!

FRANKENSTEIN, AGENT OF S.H.A.D.E. #5

Written by JEFF LEMIRE

Art by ALBERTO PONTICELLI

Cover by J.G. JONES

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

When Checkmate fails to bring the rogue metahuman O.M.A.C. under control, they call in S.H.A.D.E.’s best agent, Frankenstein! It’s all-out monster mayhem as O.M.A.C. and Frank battle in the streets of Metropolis. But what is Brother Eye’s real goal? It’s up to Father Time and Ray Palmer to find out! Continued from this month’s O.M.A.C. #5!

RESURRECTION MAN #5

Written by DAN ABNETT and ANDY LANNING

Art by FERNANDO BLANCO

Cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO

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

Mitch Shelley is dead. Again. But this time, things are different. He’s no longer in the realm of the living. While the Body Doubles try to find out what happened to him, the Resurrection Man must find a way to escape the realm he’s trapped in before a host of celestial beings finds him…

(Not final cover)

I, VAMPIRE #5

Written by JOSHUA HALE FIALKOV

Art by ANDREA SORRENTINO

Cover by JENNY FRISON

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

The war of the vampires comes to Batman’s doorstep! The Queen of Blood has deadly plans for the citizens of Gotham City, but before Andrew can stop her, he must face The Dark Knight!

DEMON KNIGHTS #5

Written by PAUL CORNELL

Art by DIOGENES NEVES and OCLAIR ALBERT

Cover by MIKE CHOI

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

The pressure is mounting as the Horde prepares to breach the walls of Little Spring – but inside the town, our heroes are at each other’s throats! With their fragile alliance in tatters, and the enemy whispering in their ears, someone’s going to break – but for a reason you never saw coming!

Tags:

animal man, DC Comics-The New 52, Demon Knights, Frankenstein Agent of S.H.A.D.E., I Vampire, Justice League Dark, Resurrection Man, swamp thing

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

On Wednesday, the first set of issue #2s from DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 will go on sale. There's a ton of exclusive previews out there to whet your appetite.

USA TODAY has your first look at ACTION COMICS #2. "He has his reasons and they almost kind of make sense," series writer Grant Morrison told USA TODAY of Lex Luthor. "But then you dig a little deeper and you find this very petty, jealous, envious man, and unfortunately that's what drives his brilliance. He's a very strong character and has to be a real balance with Superman."

THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS ran an exclusive preview of O.M.A.C. #2. "OMAC is a character I remember when it first came out. I enjoyed it immensely," said series writer Dan DiDio to THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS. "The idea that you think you're in control of things and you lose your sense of control and that even when you think you're doing things your own way, someone else may be leading you — it was really a fascinating core theme."

Along with their exclusive preview of GREEN ARROW #2, POPMATTERS wrote a terrific analytic post about the psychology of the series. “For nothing more than a ‘solid superhero story’, Krul and Jurgens evoke a richness that is seldom glimpsed at,” they wrote.

IGN has your exclusive first look at BATWING #2 and NEWSARAMA premiered a 5-page interior sequence from HAWK AND DOVE #2.

Just in time for the haunting month of October, the CHICAGO TRIBUNE ran their list of the 10 Best Horror Graphic Novels for Halloween. DC Entertainment secured 5 of the 10 spots, with titles including BATMAN: THE LONG HALLOWEEN, SWAMP THING VOL. 1, BOOKS OF MAGIC, ARKHAM ASYLUM and HELLBLAZER.

And continuing the spooky theme this month brings, top ranking horror website BLOODY DISGUSTING talked horror/dark comics with I, VAMPIRE writer Joshua Hale Fialkov. “For me, I wanted to take the best parts of horror and romance fiction, and combine it with what makes DC Comics great,” Fialkov said of his series. “We have a huge canvas to paint on, we will we rub-up against other characters and books, which is a blast to write. I'm really being given the freedom to tell a huge story all on my own with all of these great toys to play with. You'll definitely see some huge DC characters in the book in the not too distant future.”

To be continued …

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

In Los Angeles this Friday? COMIC BOOK RESOURCES and Golden Apple Comics will be co-hosting a wrap party for the release of the first issues of DC Comics-The New 52. In attendance will be Brian Buccellato (THE FLASH), Bernard Chang (DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS), Dan DiDio (O.M.A.C.), Joshua Hale Fialkov (I, VAMPIRE), Sterling Gates (HAWK & DOVE), Adam Glass (Suicide Squad), Kyle Higgins (NIGHTWING/DEATHSTROKE) and Scott Lobdell (SUPERBOY/TEEN TITANS/RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS). For full details about the event, head on over to COMIC BOOK RESOURCES.

IGN continued their series of interviews with all of the creative teams behind DC Comics-The New 52. “I'm already growing attached to our first villain (and creation), Mob Rule,” THE FLASH co-writer Brian Buccellato said. “We are NOT making life easy for The Flash…why should we?”

And speaking of THE FLASH, IFANBOY has selected the first issue as their “Pick of the Week.” This marks the fifth consecutive week that they’ve chosen a title from DC Comics-The New 52. Ron Richards wrote a fantastic post about his connection to the character to accompany their selection. “When creating stories about The Flash, it’s all about speed and momentum,” he wrote. “Both in depicting The Flash within the book and the pace of the story itself. It’s clear with THE FLASH #1 that Manpul and Buccellato understand that. The kinetic energy that comes from drawing The Flash clearly is spread to the story itself and as of right now, I’m super excited to be a fan of The Flash once again.”

IGN also caught up with I, VAMPIRE writer Joshua Hale Fialkov and AQUAMAN writer Geoff Johns. “She's a lot more aggressive than most of our heroes in the DC Universe. But she is incredibly strong and she's incredibly loyal,” Johns said of Mera. “The first issue kind of sets the stage for Aquaman and then Mera comes into the book, and – I think it's issue #6 – is actually just going to focus on Mera. So for me, ever since BLACKEST NIGHT, pulling her out of obscurity and putting her into it and building her up, I think it just makes Aquaman stronger and it adds another iconic female superhero to the DC Universe.”

Want previews of some of next week’s second issues?

MTV GEEK has your first look at DETECTIVE COMICS #2, by Tony S. Daniel, Ryan Winn and Sandu Florea.

COMICVINE has the exclusive preview of JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL #2, written by Dan Jurgens and featuring art by Aaron Lopresti and Matt Ryan.

We don’t know about you, but we’re sure going to miss seeing USA TODAY and THE NEW YORK TIMES’ weekly reviews of all the week’s releases.

And you may have noticed that NEW YORK MAGAZINE featured ANIMAL MAN in the “brilliant” section of their Approval Matrix, saying that issue #1 takes the book’s premise into “great, creepy territory.”

To be continued …

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

This Wednesday will bring the final week of first issues from DC Comics-The New 52. The press buzz hasn't quieted down yet!

CBS SUNDAY MORNING profiled DC Comics-The New 52 yesterday. Keep checking back to THE SOURCE, as we will post the video here once it becomes available for viewing online. We don’t want to spoil anything, but if you missed yesterday's segment, be sure to watch the entire video. It has a particularly cool ending.

PARADE MAGAZINE ran a piece on some of the changes to Superman in DC Comics-The New 52. “We take him back to a time when he had to struggle more, when he was more vulnerable,” Jim Lee said to them about the Man of Steel. Want more Superman? Head on over to COMIC BOOK RESOURCES to check out their exclusive preview of SUPERMAN #1, which hits stores this week.

YAHOO’s ASSOCIATED CONTENT interviewed DETECTIVE COMICS writer and artist Tony S. Daniel. “I wanted to nail down a more vintage detective/crime story aspect to the storytelling, a film noir style to my stories,” Daniel told them of the series. “The style here is the bleak, pervasive menace to Gotham City in Batman's world.” DETECTIVE COMICS #2 hits stores next week.

GAWKER’S IO9 interviewed BATWOMAN creative team J.H. Williams III and W. Haden Blackman about what to expect from the series. “We're trying to establish that Batwoman operates in more of a supernatural portion of Gotham,” Blackman teased. Her opponents and some of the storylines have a supernatural bent to them, which in my mind makes them feel very different than the other Bat-stories. We're combining horror with romance with vigilante action, but there's also that strong supernatural angle as well.”

And if you’re still not sure what titles to pick up this week, there's a number of high profile exclusive previews to check out. In an interview accompanying their exclusive preview of TEEN TITANS #1, Scott Lobdell tells USA TODAY that the first issue is "designed specifically so that as you're sitting down to read this book, you're learning about Kid Flash, Red Robin and Wonder Girl. Pretty much what you see on the paper is what we know about them and what they know about each other." THE LOS ANGELES TIMES’ HERO COMPLEX and IGN channeled their dark sides with their respective exclusive previews of I, VAMPIRE #1 and JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #1. UGO has the exclusive first look at THE SAVAGE HAWKMAN #1, while MTV GEEK premiered their exclusive preview of THE FURY OF FIRESTORM: THE NUCLEAR MEN #1.

To be continued …

From The Editor’s Desk: Matt Idelson on I, VAMPIRE

Love. Redemption. Those don’t exactly sound like the high adventure comics are built on, but they’re two of the main components of I, VAMPIRE. And before you start thinking this is our take on the current vampire craze, let me set you straight on a couple things.

First, I, VAMPIRE debuted in the DC Universe back in 1980s, some twenty years ago. Second, this is part of the DC Comics-The New 52, so you know we’re not going for mushy romance, teen angst or asking you to pick a team.

Andrew Bennett may be hundreds of years old, but he and his true love, Mary, walk, talk and even dress like you and me. Problem is, Mary is pretty much the embodiment of evil, and she’d love nothing more than to eat all of humanity! Good thing Andrew’s on the side of good (not to mention a vegetarian). Yet the threat of war between the vampires and humanity is inevitable – meaning Andrew’s going to have to do some pretty horrible stuff against his own kind while trying to stave off war.

And there’s a mythology here, one that goes back to the earliest times of the DC Universe, when Camelot was but a recent memory and everyone ate with their hands. Can you guess which book I’m hinting at?

Like Andrew himself, the cold war which humanity doesn’t even know about will start in the shadows – but sooner or later everyone’s going to know about it, so you definitely want to jump on board now while we’re just getting started.

And just to whet your appetite, sharpen your fangs on these great shots by series artist Andrea Sorrentino.

Tags:

Andrea Sorrentino, DC Comics-The New 52, I Vampire, matt idelson

Teasing DC Comics-The New 52: "You and your 'army'"

"You think you and your 'army' stand a chance against Superman and a half dozen Green Lanterns and Wonder Woman?" – Andrew in I, VAMPIRE #1

Tags:

DC Comics-The New 52, I Vampire

THE DARK Group Solicits

JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #4

Written by PETER MILLIGAN

Art by MIKEL JANIN

Cover by RYAN SOOK

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

Madame Xanadu’s plan is working! Zatanna, John Constantine, Shade the Changing Man, Mindwarp and Deadman are all being brought together. But will Xanadu’s manipulations blow up in her face when she learns that Enchantress has grown too powerful to be controlled?

SWAMP THING #4

Written by SCOTT SNYDER

Art by VICTOR IBANEZ

Cover by YANICK PAQUETTE

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

All across the world, those with a primal connection to the forces of life and death can feel that something is very wrong. The war between The Green and The Other has begun, and the knights of decay walk the Earth unchecked – but without Alec Holland, the Green has no champion strong enough to fight back!

FRANKENSTEIN, AGENT OF S.H.A.D.E. #4

Written by JEFF LEMIRE

Art by ALBERTO PONTICELLI

Cover by J.G. JONES

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

“Monster Planet” comes to its world-shattering conclusion as Frankenstein and Nina take on the massive Sea Monster, while Lady Frankenstein and the rest of the Creature Commandos go head to head with the colossal Ogre Titan. Plus: Don’t miss the debut of the G.I. Robot Squadron and the new War Wheel!

ANIMAL MAN #4

Written by JEFF LEMIRE

Art and cover by TRAVEL FOREMAN

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

After coming face to face with the mysterious Totems, Buddy learns the truth about Maxine’s destiny – but it may be too late, as The Red is infiltrated by agents of The Other, and Buddy struggles to control his new, unfiltered powers with deadly results! Meanwhile, Ellen and Cliff must face the last Hunters alone!

I, VAMPIRE #4

Written by JOSHUA HALE FIALKOV

Art by ANDREA SORRENTINO

Cover by JENNY FRISON

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

Straight from the pages of JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK comes John Constantine! Problem is, rather than help Andrew in his war against the Queen of Blood, Constantine figures it would make more sense to just wipe out all of the vampires, including Andrew!

RESURRECTION MAN #4

Written by DAN ABNETT and ANDY LANNING

Art by FERNANDO DAGNINO

Cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO

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

Who is the Transhuman? And why is he risking his life for the Resurrection Man? And even with his help, will our hero be able to fend off the bounty-hunting Body Doubles and the forces of both Heaven and Hell?

(Not final cover)

DEMON KNIGHTS #4

Written by PAUL CORNELL

Art by MIKE CHOI and DIOGENES NEVES & OCLAIR ALBERT

Cover by MIKE CHOI

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

It wasn’t a coincidence that the Shining Knight found herself in Little Spring as the Horde massed at the village gates. She’s on a quest, and has been all her long life – whether she’s known it or not! Now, a powerful vision will reveal to her the true stakes of the battle for Little Spring and pull back the curtain on one of the biggest secrets in the DC Universe! Don’t miss “Merlin Watches The Storm,” featuring guest art by the sensational Mike Choi (X-Force)! And yes, “storm” is a hint.

Tags:

animal man, Demon Knights, Frankenstein Agent of S.H.A.D.E., I Vampire, Justice League Dark, Resurrection Man, swamp thing

Who’s Who At DC Comics-The New 52: Joshua Hale Fialkov

This week, you’ve heard from many writers and artists who are working on books within the Justice League, Batman and Young Justice families. Today, beginning with I, VAMPIRE writer Joshua Hale Fialkov, hear from various people working on titles within THE DARK family.

THE SOURCE: How do you write the first line of a new series?

JOSHUA HALE FIALKOV: Usually, I have an image that's the root of the series. In the case of I,Vampire, it was a foot being put down. Something simple, but, at the same time, it's what the book is about in its most bare and unnuanced form. From there, it's just explaining why.

How do you introduce characters?

Andrew is not a character a lot of people are familiar with, so the challenge of the first issue was telling as much of his story as possible while still writing something that was loaded to the gills with blood and gore and action and monsters. It was not easy, but I think with Andrea Sorrentino's amazing art, we nailed it.

How do you introduce a new villain?

Mary is a character who's literally pulsing with power, so, it's a bit easier to show her for what she is than it was for Andrew. Mary is sexuality and strength and anger and passion all at the same time, and she lives entirely in the moment. Where she came from and who she was don't matter even half as much as what's happening right now at this very second in her life.

What was the first comic you ever worked on?

I published a series of webcomics that I both wrote and drew back around 2002. My first 'comic-comic' was WESTERN TALES OF TERROR #1.

Who was the first character you followed?

Batman. Absolutely loved him from the time I was seven years old.

What was the first series you collected?

I remember seeking out Creepy and Eerie as well as House of Secrets and House of Mystery at my very first convention.

Who was the first artist you followed?

The first guy who I was actually conscious of who they were was probably Paul Chadwick. CONCRETE was the first series that really spoke to how rife with potential to be different comics really were.

What was the first convention you attended as a fan?

One of the early, early Pittsburgh Comic Con's at, ahem Al Monzo's Palace Inn in Monroeville, PA.

What was the first convention you attended as a professional?

Alternative Press Expo 2003.

What was the first comic book you read?

I'd read comics before, but I clearly remember reading Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #12 and falling in love with April O'Neill and comics.

What was your first job in the comic book industry?

Writer/Artist/Editor/Publisher/Marketing/Tap Dancer, also known as Self-Publisher.

What was the first piece of original art you bought?

The cover to Western Tales of Terror #1 by a then barely famous Tony Moore. It still hangs proudly in my office over my desk.

What was the first digital comic book you downloaded?

The first chapter of my original digital graphic novel TUMOR. Aside from that, it was probably Crisis on Infinite Earths #1. I was so excited to zoom in on that GORGEOUS Perez art!

Tags:

DC Comics-The New 52, I Vampire, Joshua Hale Fialkov

“It’s time for the vampires to inherit the earth.” – Joshua Hale Fialkov

On Friday, MTV GEEK chatted with I, VAMPIRE writer Joshua Hale Fialkov about what to expect from his upcoming series.

“Vampires are an endangered species,” Fialkov teased of the book’s premise. “Andrew managed to convince Mary to make the vampires go into hiding. They stop feeding so that they stop being hunted. But, for years now, they've been living like second class citizens, and Mary can't take anymore. Our book starts with Mary telling Andrew that she's done getting pushed around, and it's time for the vampires to inherit the earth.”

I, VAMPIRE #1 goes on sale September 28th.

Tags:

I Vampire, Joshua Hale Fialkov, MTV Geek