Welcome To The Edge

Stormwatch is a dangerous super human strike force whose existence is kept secret from the world. Jack Hawksmoor and the rest of the crew look to recruit two of the deadliest super humans on the planet: Midnighter and Apollo. And if they say no? Perhaps the Martian Manhunter can change their minds. Featuring a surprising new roster, STORMWATCH #1 will be written by the critically-acclaimed Paul Cornell (Superman: The Black Ring, “Dr. Who”) and illustrated by Miguel Sepulveda.

Warfare: Past and Present

Blackhawk is an elite group of mercenaries made up of brave men from around the world equipped with the latest in cutting-edge hardware and vehicles. Their mission: Kill the bad guys before they kill us. A set of contemporary tales that battle the world's gravest threats, BLACKHAWKS #1 will be written by Mike Costa and illustrated by Ken Lashley.

The grandson of the original Sgt. Rock assumes the command of Easy Company, a team of crack ex-military men financed by a covert military contractor, as they brave the battle-scarred landscape carved by the DC Universe’s super-villains. MEN OF WAR #1 is contemporary military story fighting under modern conditions, and will be written by Ivan Brandon and illustrated by Tom Derenick.

Even when Gotham City was just a one-horse town, crime was rampant – and things only get worse when bounty hunter Jonah Hex comes to town. Can Amadeus Arkham, a pioneer in criminal psychology, enlist Hex’s special brand of justice to help the Gotham Police Department track down a vicious serial killer? Featuring back-up stories starring DC’s other western heroes, ALL-STAR WESTERN #1 will be written by the fan-favorite Jonah Hex team of Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti and illustrated by Moritat.

The DC Universe’s Loose Cannons

A metahuman mercenary who made a living taking out the toughest targets, Deathstroke will reclaim his fearsome legacy by any means necessary in DEATHSTROKE #1, a new series from rising star Kyle Higgins (Batman: Gates of Gotham) and artists Joe Bennett and Art Thibert.

Ex-black ops agent Cole Cash is a charming grifter that few can resist. And yet he’s about to be branded a serial killer when he begins hunting and exterminating inhuman creatures hidden in human form – creatures only he can see. Can the biggest sweet talker of all time talk his way out of this one when even his brother thinks he’s gone over the edge? Find out in GRIFTER #1, written by Nathan Edmondson with art by CAFU and BIT (the team behind T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS).

A man loses control of his life as the omnipresent Brother Eye transforms him against his will into a powerful killing machine OMAC #1, written by DC Comics Co-Publisher Dan DiDio and co-written and illustrated by Keith Giffen and Scott Koblish.

My admiration for Fiona Staples may be more publicly documented than the personal lives of most reality stars, but that respect is certainly well-earned. I’ve been looking forward to previewing Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray’s JONAH HEX #66 since we announced Fiona would be handling the art duties for the issue earlier this year.

Here’s what Fiona had to say about her experience drawing the issue:

I love Westerns and this was my first time getting to draw one, so I really enjoyed tackling the scarred faces, period clothing and harsh environment. This particular story had a bit of a horror aspect too, so it was right up my alley! Of course, the best part of all was drawing Jonah's famous messed-up face and contorting it into different expressions (mostly variations of "stoic" and "disgusted") as he reacts to the weirdness going on around him.

JONAH HEX #66 lands in comic stores this week. (If the creative team weren’t already enough, it also features cannibals!)[gallery link="file" order="DESC" columns="2"]

Stay tuned for another exciting Jonah Hex art announcement coming soon...

One of the most interesting parts of this gig is that I get to talk with many of the writers and artists whose careers I follow. The very best part? When one of my favorite creators recommends someone's work that I haven't yet discovered.

Enter Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray. Their passion for Jordi Bernet is boundless. I have to confess that a few years ago, before their work together on JONAH HEX, I wasn't aware of Bernet's storied career. now, I eagerly track down his work for other publishers.

Listen, I could sing Bernet’s praises all day long, but I couldn’t do any better than his collaborators.

Here’s what Justin Gray has to say…

“A few words can't possibly encompass the skill and artistry that Jordi Bernet applies to his work and his art is something comic fans should pour over for years if they truly want to understand the medium of sequential storytelling. I can say with regard to our collaboration on Jonah Hex that there is a quality to our scripts that, although we've worked with many amazing and brilliantly talented artists, that quality embodies the Spaghetti Western in his issues. I say his issues because we always feel that when Jordi has a script he makes it his own. The words might serve as a map, but the art he creates gives it a life unexpected and it is always surprising in the best way possible.

“Jordi makes me feel like we're channeling one of my favorite western directors in Sergio Corbucci. There is so much that happens in that process and unless you're as mad about westerns as I am, and have seen as many, you'll never notice the texture and flavor that make the tales he illustrates. His ability to blend humor with intense drama and an incredible eye for detail is rarely seen. There's a poetic symbolism to his work that seems simple and yet is so complex it often slides past your eyes and directly into your brain. I've heard people refer to his work as being too cartoony for Hex, but the reality is he creates a visual mythology that is consistent with the kinds of westerns that kept the genre alive when it was stagnant and void of invention. The kinds of westerns that have offered inspiration for the last five and a half years of our contribution to Jonah Hex.”

Come back later for Palmiotti’s take on Bernet as well as some more pages from JONAH HEX #65.

The Freedom Fighters face the ancient threat of the Renegades, whose magic may be too much for the heroes to overcome. Has the Lost America conquered the Living America? Only Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti know, but we’ve got some clues from the second issue featuring the art of Travis Moore to help you along.

FREEDOM FIGHTERS #2 hits tomorrow.

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