If you’ve been following T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS, you’ve been reading the gripping story by Nick Spencer and have been seeing art by some of the industry’s top talent including Walter Simonson, Jerry Ordway and Wes Craig. And if that’s not enough T.H.U.N.D.E.R. for you, the final two issues of this six-part miniseries will include a new backup story. Written by Michael Uslan (BATMAN: DETECTIVE NO. 27, THE SPIRIT) and illustrated by Trevor McCarthy (BATMAN: GATES OF GOTHAM, NIGHTWING), the back-up story will focus on the Undersea Agent, a new member of the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. organization. “First appearing in the Silver Age of comics with artwork by such legends as Gil Kane (GREEN LANTERN, THE ATOM) and Wally Wood (EC Comics to designing Daredevil's red costume to ALL-STAR COMICS), Undersea Agent makes his first splash in the 21st Century and he is NOT your father's Undersea Agent,” Uslan exclusively told THE SOURCE. “Some may call this a super-hero adventure, others may refer to it as a spy story, but, in fact, these are the opening chapters of nothing short of a tale of abject HORROR! With cursed power comes grave responsibility.” “Going into the story, my idea for Undersea Agent began in a very different place than Michael's,” McCarthy continued. “Based on what I learned about the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, I had more of a classic 1960's archetypal character in mind, so I worked up those designs initially. But after having a very interesting phone conversation with Michael, my direction changed drastically. Michael envisioned this more along the lines of a horror comic, and that the transformation and look of the character need to be incredibly dramatic and horrific. That really got me interested! We batted around a few ideas and then I got to work. Michael suggested that since the human body is 2/3 water, what if that fact was represented more literally? As if the 2/3 water was redirected outwardly and all that remained was 1/3rd of flesh and bone? The end result is something I think is very unusual and certainly horrific – taking the flayed torso of a man and suspending it inside of a liquid humanoid form. In the end, it turned out to be a very complicated and color-heavy character, but it’s something that I'm really excited about!” Below, take an exclusive first look at Undersea Agent by checking out McCarthy’s character design and some interior art from T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS #5, which hits stands on March 21st. [gallery link="file" order="DESC"]

A spotlight series starring a different hero in each story arc, DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS will be getting a new creative team with issue 6 – co-writers Dan DiDio and Jerry Ordway, with Ordway providing art. After the conclusion of the current, paranormal narrative starring DEADMAN, DiDio and Ordway will explore a science-fiction setting with a new take on CHALLENGERS OF THE UNKNOWN – created by the legendary Jack Kirby.

DiDio is no stranger to adapting Kirby’s work for DC COMICS-THE NEW 52, having written the critically acclaimed sleeper hit O.M.A.C., which is drawn with a distinct Kirby-flair by Keith Giffen.

(Ryan Sook's cover to DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS #6)