BATMAN AND ROBIN, VOL. 1: BORN TO KILL SPOTLIGHT – DAY ONE

Crime-fighting team Batman and Robin’s partnership is threatened when a mysterious killer from Bruce Wayne’s past comes to Gotham. Will the duo be able to work together to defeat evil or will Damian stray down a path of self-destruction?

BATMAN AND ROBIN, VOL. 1: BORN TO KILL collects issues #1-8 of BATMAN AND ROBIN, written by Peter J. Tomasi and with art by Patrick Gleason, Mick Gray and Guy Major. In addition to collecting issues #1-8, this hardcover collection also includes an exciting array of backup material, including 12 pages of sketches, character design and script excerpts. To celebrate the book’s release, we’ll be spotlighting some of this material daily on THE SOURCE this week.

 

BATMAN AND ROBIN, VOL. 1: BORN TO KILL is on sale in comic book stores on July 4th and in stores everywhere on July 10th.

 

DC ENTERTAINMENT TO BRING TOP TALENT TO CHICAGO COMIC & ENTERTAINMENT EXPO (C2E2)

Earlier today, we announced our BEFORE WATCHMEN panel and panelists at Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2). What else will be happening at the show--and it's nine DC Entertainment panels? Plenty.

The talent that is (so far) scheduled to appear at C2E2 includes: Franco Aureliani, Art Baltazar, Chris Burnham, David Finch, Patrick Gleason, Kevin Maguire, Sean Murphy, Jimmy Palmiotti, Gail Simone and Scott Snyder. Many of these creators, as well as DC Entertainment executives and staff, will also be on hand to meet with fans in the DC Entertainment booth. This year’s C2E2 will take place April 13 – 15 in the North Building at the McCormick Place Convention Center. Stay tuned to THE SOURCE for additional exciting content leading up to the convention as more details become available.

ABSOLUTE FEAR

Coming in September 2012, ABSOLUTE GREEN LANTERN: SINESTRO CORPS WAR will collect the story of Sinestro’s bid for totalitarian control of the galaxy – giving the arc the Absolute treatment with a gorgeous, over-sized hardcover presentation.

Collecting GREEN LANTERN 21-25, GREEN LANTERN CORPS 14-19 and GREEN LANTERN: SINESTRO CORPS SPECIAL 1, ABSOLUTE GREEN LANTERN: SINESTRO CORPS WAR features the writing of critically acclaimed, fan favorite authors Geoff Johns, Dave Gibbons and Peter Tomasi, with art by Ethan Van Sciver, Ivan Reis, Patrick Gleason and Angel Unzueta.

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

(Ethan Van Sciver’s variant cover for GREEN LANTERN #3)

It's Tuesday morning. Do you know where your previews are? Here's a rundown of exclusive previews from the 13 new issues from DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 on sale tomorrow. Ready?

CNN’s GEEK OUT has your first look at GREEN LANTERN #2 by Geoff Johns, Doug Mahnke, Christian Alamy and Keith Champagne.

MAXIM has the exclusive preview of BATMAN AND ROBIN #2 by Peter J. Tomasi, Patrick Gleason and Mick Gray.

THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER’s HEAT VISION previewed FRANKENSTEIN, AGENT OF S.H.A.D.E. #2.

THE LOS ANGELES TIMES’ HERO COMPLEX debuted pages from MISTER TERRIFIC #2 by Eric Wallace, Gianluca Gugliotta and Wayne Faucher.

IGN gave you your first glimpse at SUPERBOY #2 by Scott Lobdell, R.B. Silva and Rob Lean.

Following yesterday's NEW YORK POST newsbreak, AIN’T IT COOL NEWS caught up with WONDER WOMAN writer Brian Azzarello. “You read some of those stories, those are the most human stories that have ever been written,” Azzarello said of the Greek mythology inspiring his series. “They are as emotionally damaged as a lot of people are. And they’re just as damaging! They’re selfish, capricious, angry, loving, loyal, they betray…they’re like human emotions turned up to 11.”

THE TORONTO STAR chatted with local Canadian artists Jeff Lemire, Francis Manapul and Ken Lashley about their respective series and DC COMICS-THE NEW 52. “I think the books are different, which is something I was looking for,” Lemire said of the relaunch. “Animal Man is a very furious, very dark, emotional story, while Frankenstein is a really big, fun action-adventure, kind of over-the-top sort of thing.”

And while everyone's still talking about DC COMICS-THE NEW 52, there's another major announcement for DC Entertainment today. Timed to the start of the Frankfurt Book Festival in Germany, USA TODAY announced Vertigo's acquisition of pop culture phenomenon The Millennium Trilogy on the front page of their Life section this morning. Stieg Larsson’s Millennium Trilogy, which chronicles the stories of computer hacker Lisbeth Salander and investigative journalist Mikael Blomkvist, will get the graphic novel treatment beginning with next year’s THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO. Each book in the trilogy will be divided into two volumes and will be published under DC Entertainment’s Vertigo imprint. Look for THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE in 2013 and THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNETS’ NEST in 2014.

To be continued …

(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 …

With all these new villains, Arkham Asylum is going to need a new wing

This October, Gotham City will be overrun by new villains. In DETECTIVE COMICS, Batman will face the Gotham Ripper. In BATGIRL, Barbara Gordon will take on Mirror. Mysterious villains will be terrorizing Gotham in BATMAN, BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT, BATWOMAN and NIGHTWING. And around the globe, evil takes new forms in BATWING and RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS. Can the Bat family defeat all these foes or is the fate of Gotham – and the world at large – permanently doomed?

BATMAN #2

Written by SCOTT SNYDER

Art and cover by GREG CAPULLO and JONATHAN GLAPION

Cover by GREG CAPULLO

Variant cover by JIM LEE

1:200 B&W variant cover by GREG CAPULLO

On sale OCTOBER 19 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

Bruce Wayne is back in the cowl, hunting a new and deadly killer in Gotham City – a killer with a vendetta against Bruce Wayne! But who is this mysterious killer in an owl skull mask? And is he the key to unlocking one of Gotham’s oldest and most terrifying secrets? Be there for their first brutal encounter!

BATWING #2

Written by JUDD WINICK

Art and cover by BEN OLIVER

On sale OCTOBER 5 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

He is called Massacre, and he brings death. What does the soldier in service of Batman Incorporated do when he’s met his match? When he’s been brought so low and been wounded so badly? What does he do when lost Super Heroes begin turning up as victims? Batwing fights back!

DETECTIVE COMICS #2

Written by TONY S. DANIEL

Art by TONY S. DANIEL and RYAN WINN

Cover by TONY S. DANIEL

On sale OCTOBER 5 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

Batman sets his sights on the Gotham Ripper, who in turn has his sights on Batman. Meanwhile, Bruce Wayne explores a budding romance with television journalist Charlotte Rivers, who’s visiting Gotham City to cover the gruesome slayings – while also trying to uncover Bruce’s own mystery. But time is running out as both Commissioner Gordon and Batman work to uncover the true identity of this new serial killer.

BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT #2

Written by DAVID FINCH and PAUL JENKINS

Art by DAVID FINCH and RICHARD FRIEND with JAY FABOK

Cover by DAVID FINCH and RICHARD FRIEND

On sale OCTOBER 26 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

Something sinister surges through Arkham Asylum, and Batman finds himself bombarded by his greatest foes in this second sensational issue from superstar creator David Finch!

Bigger, meaner, and more powerful than ever before, the inmates of Arkham Asylum run rampant as the entire Bat Family struggles to keep the walls from falling down, unleashing Gotham City’s worst criminals on the unsuspecting population. And you won’t believe the jaw-dropping final page! Just keep repeating, “It’s only a comic book. It’s only a comic book...”

BATMAN AND ROBIN #2

Written by PETER J. TOMASI

Art by PATRICK GLEASON and MICK GRAY

Cover by PATRICK GLEASON

On sale OCTOBER 12 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

Batman’s fears about Robin’s tendency to dish out more pain than necessary are growing! And who is the man named NoBody, visiting Gotham City to say hello to his old friend Bruce Wayne and find out where he went wrong in his battle against crime.

BATGIRL #2

Written by GAIL SIMONE

Art by ARDIAN SYAF and VICENTE CIFUENTES

Cover by ADAM HUGHES

On sale OCTOBER 12 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

The nightmare-inducing brute known as Mirror is destroying the lives of Gotham City citizens seemingly at random, and an explosive confrontation between Batgirl and Mirror leads Babs to question wearing the cape and cowl at all!

The riveting adventures of Batgirl continue in stunning fashion, with script by fan-favorite Gail Simone and stellar art by superstar Ardian Syaf!

BATWOMAN #2

Written by J.H. WILLIAMS III and W. HADEN BLACKMAN

Art and cover by J.H. WILLIAMS III

On sale OCTOBER 12 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+

Horror! A terrifying new villain stalks the innocent children of Gotham City! Intrigue! A threatening government agency is hot on Batwoman’s trail. Romance! Kate Kane’s new relationship is heating up!

Can Batwoman stop the new evil rising from the damp back alleys of Gotham’s barrios? And overcome the many challenges she faces as both Batwoman and Kate Kane? 2011’s most anticipated new series intensifies in this exciting second issue!

NIGHTWING #2

Written by KYLE HIGGINS

Art and cover by EDDY BARROWS and JP MAYER

On sale OCTOBER 19 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

When a mysterious assassin targets Dick Grayson, Nightwing must work fast to uncover the killer’s plot before he strikes again. But as Haley’s Circus continues to perform in Gotham City, Dick finds himself torn between two lives: His old one as a circus performer and his new one as a Super Hero. And they may be more connected than he ever realized!

RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #2

Written by SCOTT LOBDELL

Art and cover by KENNETH ROCAFORT and BLOND

On sale OCTOBER 19 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

Red Hood is already globe-trotting in an effort to find the ancient assassins behind the slaughter of those who taught him some of his darkest skills... and if Roy and Kori are going to be of any help, well, they’ll just have to tag along – whether Jason wants them to or not!

BIRDS OF PREY #2

Written by DUANE SWIERCZYNSKI

Art and cover by JESUS SAIZ

On sale OCTOBER 19 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

An explosion in a secure Gotham City airport terminal hurls Black Canary and Starling headlong into a nightmare involving stolen pharmaceuticals, terrorists for hire and killers in stealth suits who can appear – and disappear – at will. When Canary calls in backup, Starling’s not so sure a vengeful samurai who talks to her dead husband in a sword is the best choice.

CATWOMAN #2

Written by JUDD WINICK

Art and cover by GUILLEM MARCH

On sale OCTOBER 19 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+

She’s a thief who lives to steal just for the thrill of breaking the law. He’s The Dark Knight, obsessively driven to battle evil with every ounce of his strength. They should keep each other at arm’s length, but...they just can’t seem to help themselves! Don’t miss this issue – things are gonna get messy!

September's BATMAN Solicits

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BATMAN #1

Written by SCOTT SNYDER

Art by GREG CAPULLO and JONATHAN GLAPION

Cover by GREG CAPULLO

Variant cover by ETHAN VAN SCIVER

On sale SEPTEMBER 21 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

Be here for the start of a new era for The Dark Knight from writer Scott Snyder (AMERICAN VAMPIRE, BATMAN: GATES OF GOTHAM) and artist Greg Capullo (Spawn)! A series of brutal killings hints at an ancient conspiracy, and Batman learns that Gotham City is deadlier than he knew.

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DETECTIVE COMICS #1

Written by TONY S. DANIEL

Art by TONY S. DANIEL and RYAN WINN

Cover by TONY S. DANIEL

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

DC’s flagship title is relaunched for the first time ever, with new Batman adventures from acclaimed writer/ artist Tony S. Daniel!

A killer called The Gotham Ripper is on the loose on Batman’s home turf – leading The Dark Knight on a deadly game of cat and mouse.

batwing-1

BATWING #1

Written by JUDD WINICK

Art and cover by BEN OLIVER

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

Africa, a land of beauty – and of great horror. A land of creation and conflict. It is in desperate need of a defender, and from the ranks of Batman Incorporated comes a soldier to carry on the legacy of The Dark Knight in the most tumultuous region on Earth. Meet Batwing, the Batman of Africa!

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BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT #1

Written by DAVID FINCH

Art by DAVID FINCH and RICHARD FRIEND

Cover by DAVID FINCH

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

The Dark Knight struggles against a deadly – yet strangely familiar – foe in this phenomenal debut issue from superstar writer/artist David Finch (BRIGHTEST DAY, ACTION COMICS)!

As a mysterious figure slinks through the halls of Arkham Asylum, Batman must fight his way through a gauntlet of psychos, and Bruce Wayne faces the unexpected legal ramifications of Batman Incorporated!

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BATMAN AND ROBIN #1

Written by PETER J. TOMASI

Art and cover by PATRICK GLEASON and MICK GRAY

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

Battling evil with his son, Damian, at his side, Batman now realizes that the hardest part of the job may be trying to work together!

As Batman and Robin try to adjust to their new partnership, a figure emerges from Bruce Wayne’s past: His name is NoBody, and he’s not happy that Batman Incorporated is shining a light on his own shadowy war against evil...

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BATGIRL #1

Written by GAIL SIMONE

Art by ARDIAN SYAF and VICENTE CIFUENTES

Cover by ADAM HUGHES

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

Yes, it’s really happening!

Barbara Gordon is back as Batgirl – and she’s going to have to face the city’s most horrifying new villains as well as the dark secrets from her past. You won’t want to miss this stunning debut issue from fan-favorite BIRDS OF PREY writer Gail Simone!

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BATWOMAN #1

Written by J.H. WILLIAMS III and W. HADEN BLACKMAN

Art and cover by J.H. WILLIAMS III

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

At last! Batwoman’s new series begins, from the multiple award-winning creative team of J.H. Williams III and Haden Blackman!

In “Hydrology,” part 1 of 5, Batwoman faces deadly new challenges in her war against Gotham City’s underworld – and new trials in her life as Kate Kane.

Who or what is stealing children from the barrio, and for what vile purpose? Will Kate train her cousin, Bette Kane (a.k.a. Flamebird), as her new sidekick? How will she handle unsettling revelations about her father, Colonel Jacob Kane? And why is a certain government

nightwing-1

NIGHTWING #1

Written by KYLE HIGGINS

Art and cover by EDDY BARROWS and JP MAYER

On sale SEPTEMBER 21 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

Dick Grayson flies high once more as Nightwing in a new series from hot new writer Kyle Higgins (BATMAN: GATES

OF GOTHAM)! And as he embraces his destiny, Haley’s Circus, the big top where Dick once performed, returns to Gotham City – bringing with it murder, mystery and superhuman evil. Nightwing must confront his past, among former friends and enemies from his circus days, while uncovering a much greater evil!

catwoman-1

CATWOMAN #1

Written by JUDD WINICK

Art and cover by GUILLEM MARCH

On sale SEPTEMBER 21 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+

Meet Catwoman. She’s addicted to the night. Addicted to shiny objects. Addicted to Batman. Most of all, Catwoman is addicted to danger. She can’t help herself, and the truth is – she doesn’t want to. She’s good at being bad, and very bad at being good. Find out more about what makes Catwoman tick in this new series from writer Judd Winick (BATMAN: UNDER THE HOOD) and artist Guillem March (GOTHAM CITY SIRENS)!

birds-of-prey-1

BIRDS OF PREY #1

Written by DUANE SWIERCZYNSKI

Art and cover by JESUS SAIZ

On sale SEPTEMBER 21 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

One is wanted for a murder she didn’t commit. The other is on the run because she knows too much. They are Dinah Laurel Lance and Ev Crawford – a.k.a. Black Canary and Starling – and together, as Gotham City’s covert ops team, they’re taking down the villains other heroes can’t touch. But now they’ve attracted the attention of a grizzled newspaper reporter who wants to expose them, as well as a creepy, chameleon-like strike team that’s out to kill them.

Don’t miss the start of this hard-hitting new series from mystery novelist/comics writer Duane Swierczynski (Expiration Date, Cable).

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RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #1

Written by SCOTT LOBDELL

Art and cover by KENNETH ROCAFORT

On sale SEPTEMBER 21 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

No sooner has Batman’s former sidekick, Jason Todd, put his past as the Red Hood behind him than he finds himself cornered by a pair of modern day outlaws: Green Arrow’s rejected sidekick Arsenal, the damaged soldier of fortune, and the alien Starfire, a former prisoner of intergalactic war who won’t be chained again.

As a loner, Jason has absolutely no interest in this motley crew of outlaws. So what’s he going to do when they choose the Red Hood as their leader? Find out in this hot new series from writer Scott Lobdell (WILDC.A.T.S, Uncanny X-Men), featuring art by rising star Kenneth Rocafort (ACTION COMICS)!

Final issue of BRIGHTEST DAY in stores today

Today marks the release of the final issue of BRIGHTEST DAY. In the penultimate issue, Swamp Thing reemerged. And if you thought that was a surprise, just wait until you see what issue #24 has in store for you.

For those of you wondering, today is indeed one of those days when we will be following up with a “THIS JUST HAPPENED” post later in the afternoon. Needless to say, this is a finale of epic proportions.

Written by Geoff Johns and Peter J. Tomasi and with art by Ivan Reis, Joe Prado, Scott Clark, Ardian Syaf, and Patrick Gleason, BRIGHTEST DAY #24 bows into stores today.

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Your White Knight is here, Gotham!

After a strange cloud of glowing white bats save them from a sudden attack by Man-Bat, Batman and Robin begin to unravel the mystery behind Gotham's fallen angel. But how is Man-Bat involved, and what did he mean when he said "Stay away from the light?"

Answers begin to come to light in BATMAN AND ROBIN #21, the second part of "Dark Knight vs. White Knight" by Peter J. Tomasi and Patrick Gleason, in stores March 9.

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The shape of things to come

It's been a long journey for the Martian Manhunter since his revival, including an entire lifetime of false happiness on a rejuvenated Mars. But now the veil is lifted from J'onn's eyes, and they're filled with tears of rage.

It's time to settle things with D'kay, but when given the choice between a new Mars and Earth, J'onn has to ask himself...

Where is my real home?

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BRIGHTEST DAY #21 hits stores March 2nd.

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