pete woods | DC Comics

This Just Happened: Trial By (Flash) Fire

SPOILER ALERT: If you have not read JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA’S VIBE #3 yet and do not wish to know what happens, stop reading this post now (major spoilers ahead!).

In February, a new solo series spotlighting one of the Justice League of America’s unlikeliest members debuted. And if you’ve read this week’s issue of JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA’S VIBE, you know that the adventures of this teenage super-being are just getting started.

After having been formally inducted into the Justice League of America, Cisco Ramon is put to the test by A.R.G.U.S. Amanda Waller has already seen Vibe prove his unique set of powers when he faced off against the Parademon that killed his brother (in issue #1). Now, he must be trained to follow’s A.R.G.U.S.’ orders to become as valuable a team member as Waller believes – and needs – him to be.

In order to do so, Vibe is assigned to intercept the speed force to track down a certain hero. Since he’s able to locate inter-dimensional beings, Vibe may be the only person with the ability to be quick enough to ever stop The Flash – should the time ever come that the Justice League needed to be stopped …

But before being sent after Barry Allen, Vibe must prove he’s capable of stopping a younger and less-experienced speedster: Kid Flash. Meanwhile, Amanda Waller observes how he navigates his way through this situation on a laptop from afar, closely observing how he follows orders, how he uses his abilities, and how his psyche is impacted.

Yet once Vibe and Kid Flash face off solo and disconnected from Waller, Vibe finds himself being accused of “working for bad guys,” triggering feelings of doubt and uncertainty about not only who the Justice League of America really is, but what his specific role will help the team accomplish. And when his brother Dante points out just how little he knows about the JLA’s motives, Cisco realizes that there’s lots of missing information he needs before risking his life as Vibe again.

“We’re going to explore what it’s like to have to grow up quickly, faster than you think you have to grow up. Sometimes growth is thrust upon us when we’re not expecting it,” series writer Sterling Gates recently told NEWSARAMA. “Cisco is very suddenly recruited into a massive government organization and told he’s the only person in the world who can identify and track inter-dimensional breachers. What does that do to you, as a young man? And what happens if you are asked to track down someone who’s innocent? The story’s got a lot of twists and turns as it goes along, introducing some concepts that will have bigger implications to the DCU.”

Is Cisco ready to give up his “Vibe” identity before he finds out truly what A.R.G.U.S. has in store for him? Either way, he’ll have to decide quickly if he’s going to survive! In the gallery above, take a look at the last page of JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA’S #3, as Cisco’s life is threatened under his own roof. But who can he trust? A.R.G.U.S. or his own instincts?

Place your bets in the comments section and don’t forget to pick up your copy of JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA’S VIBE #3 (in stores now!), written by Sterling Gates and illustrated by Pete Woods, Fabiano Neves, and Sean Parsons.

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Justice League of America's Vibe, sterling gates, pete woods, Fabiano Neves, sean parsons

Exclusive Preview: JUSTICE LEAGUE #18 and JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA'S VIBE #2

This week on THE SOURCE, we’re giving you a double dose of exclusive previews courtesy of the Justice League and Justice League of America!

After the shocking events of “Throne of Atlantis,” the World’s Greatest Superheroes have decided to expand their ranks. This month, Cyborg uses the Grid to summon up and coming heroes from throughout the DC Universe to the Watchtower for a once in a lifetime opportunity! Who will answer the call? And more importantly, who will be inducted as a full-time member of the League? Plus, don’t miss another thrilling chapter of Shazam! Written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Jesus Saiz and Gary Frank, JUSTICE LEAGUE #18 hits stores tomorrow.

Meanwhile, in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA’S VIBE, Cisco begins his new job as Detroit’s urban hero and a member of the Justice League. But when things don’t go as planned, he begins to have doubts about being a hero in the first place. Will Cisco be able to find the hero within in time for the JLA’s first press conference? Find out in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA’S VIBE #2, in stores tomorrow, written by Geoff Johns and Andrew Kreisberg, and illustrated by Pete Woods, Andres Guinaldo, Sean Parsons and Bit.

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Justice League, Justice League of America's Vibe, geoff johns, jesus saiz, gary frank, andrew kreisberg, pete woods, andres guinaldo, sean parsons, bit

This Just Happened: Darkseid's Daughter Found

SPOILER ALERT: If you have not read JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA’S VIBE #1 yet and do not wish to know what happens, stop reading this post now (major spoilers ahead!)

Last month, writer Andrew Kreisberg told you a little bit about JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA’S VIBE #1 and teased his plans for the Justice League of America’s most unlikely member: Cisco Ramon (a.k.a. Vibe). You also got a first look at Pete Woods’ interior art for Vibe’s inaugural issue, co-written by JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA writer Geoff Johns. But what secrets will the character’s origin reveal? Well, fans found out when JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA’S VIBE #1 hit stores this past Wednesday!

If you’ve already picked up the issue, you’ve already learned about “The Circus”! Set in A.R.G.U.S.’ Detroit headquarters, “The Circus” is Amanda Waller’s name for her collection of imprisoned potential Justice League of America members, each waiting for their chance at freedom. And beyond “The Circus,” there is a secret chamber that holds perhaps the most powerful entity on the planet: Darkseid’s daughter!

Will Darkseid discover the whereabouts of his daughter? And is Vibe doomed to join “The Circus” when he discovers Waller’s elusive plans for the JLA? Place your bets in the comments section!

Below, take a look at the final page of “Not-So-Secret Origin” as Amanda Waller reveals the whereabouts of Darkseid’s daughter. JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA’S VIBE #1 comes to you from the creative team of Andrew Kreisberg, Geoff Johns, Pete Woods, and Sean Parsons. Don’t forget to pick up your copy of the issue, in stores now!

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Justice League of America's Vibe, andrew kreisberg, geoff johns, pete woods, sean parsons

Andrew Kreisberg Talks JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA'S VIBE #1

This February, the just-formed Justice League of America will introduce an all-new team of superheroes to the DC Universe. And with the launch of JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA, another one of the members of the team’s roster will also be getting his own solo ongoing series: Cisco Ramone, a.k.a. Vibe. Hitting stores on February 20, JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA’S VIBE #1 comes to you from the creative team of writer Andrew Kreisberg and artist Pete Woods. Set in Detroit, the series’ inaugural issue is also co-written by JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA writer Geoff Johns.

But who exactly is Vibe?

“We’ve made him a really grounded person and a very realistic person,” Kreisberg explained to IGN about the series’ protagonist. “In some ways, there’s sort of a wish fulfillment for comic book fans because he’s a teenage kid that’s suddenly given superpowers and suddenly he’s in the Justice League of America working alongside the heroes that he, as a kid, had worshipped. In some ways, he’s teenage me or teenage you, and suddenly he gets to be with the Justice League. And he reacts in what we hope is a very realistic way. He has a lot of questions and he’s got a lot of fears. The DC Universe is populated with a lot of god-like characters like Superman, Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter, and a lot of inscrutable characters like Batman. What was most exciting for us was the opportunity to create almost a real person who gets thrust into this world that the audience can really relate to and that we can really dig into as a person.”

“One of the smartest things Geoff said early on was, ‘It's really important we come up with a franchise for him, and it can't just be that he has powers,”’ Kreisberg continued to NEWSARAMA. “So we hit upon the idea that, since the Darkseid invasion began in Detroit, this is where the membrane is weakest between the dimensions, because this is where they punched through. And this left a crack in the fabric of reality between all the dimensions of all the Earths. Things kind of fall through, and people sneak through, and if there's going to be another invasion, this is where it will begin. Since Cisco draws his powers from the energy of these vibrational cracks, he's also able to sense these incursions. He knows when things are here that shouldn't be, or when things come through. And he says, with some irony, that he's essentially become an inter-dimensional border cop. I think that gives a strong franchise to the book. He's here to clean up Detroit from these incursions, but the people he's working for — Amanda Waller and A.R.G.U.S. — don't always, necessarily, have his best interest at heart, or the best interest of some of the innocent people who come through. So it's going to lead to a lot of interesting conflicts.”

To read more from Andrew Kreisberg about the launch of JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA’s VIBE, see the full interviews that ran this morning with the writer on MTV GEEK, IGN, NEWSARAMA, COMIC VINE, AOL’s COMICS ALLIANCE and COMICOSITY. And don’t forget to visit each of these outlets for your first looks at Pete Woods’ interior art for JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA’S VIBE #1.

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Justice League of America's Vibe, andrew kreisberg, pete woods, geoff johns, justice league of america

MTV Announces New Justice League of America Books for February

Back in August, we told you that in 2013, we’d be launching JUSTICE OF LEAGUE AMERICA from the superstar creative team of Geoff Johns and artist David Finch. Today, we’re pleased to tell you that the JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA news only starts there.

Earlier this morning, MTV announced that in addition to the release of JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1, February will also mark the launch of two new series: KATANA and JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA’S VIBE.

Spinning out of BIRDS OF PREY, KATANA will be written by Ann Nocenti (CATWOMAN) and illustrated by Alex Sanchez (JSA CLASSIFIED). And with a premiere issue being co-plotted by Geoff Johns, JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA’S VIBE will come to you from the creative team of writer Andrew Kreisberg (ARROW) and artist Pete Woods (LEGION LOST).

As for JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1? MTV let you know that there will be 52 variant covers of the issue available when it arrives in stores. These variant covers will each feature the flags of all fifty U.S. states, as well as Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico.

But there’s more! MTV also announced that starting in February, GREEN ARROW will be getting a new creative team! Kicking off with issue #17, GREEN ARROW will be written by Jeff Lemire (ANIMAL MAN; JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK) and drawn by Andrea Sorrentino (I, VAMPIRE).

Stay tuned to MTV GEEK throughout the day for more about each of these series from their creators.

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justice league of america, geoff johns, david finch, Green Arrow, Katana, vibe, jeff lemire, Andrea Sorrentino, ann nocenti, alex sanchez, andrew kreisberg, pete woods, variant covers, animal man, justice league: dark, MTV, MTV Geek

Introducing The First Lantern

On September 5th, the release of GREEN LANTERN #0 will introduce a brand new Green Lantern to the DC Universe. Then starting in October, the monumental crossover event, “Rise of The Third Army,” will span the pages of GREEN LANTERN, GREEN LANTERN CORPS, GREEN LANTERN: NEW GUARDIANS, and RED LANTERNS. To help you prepare for these exciting adventures, we’ve been putting a spotlight on the Green Lantern universe and the upcoming events that will change it forever each day this week on THE SOURCE.

This past Wednesday marked the release of GREEN LANTERN ANNUAL #1, written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Ethan Van Sciver with a disturbing epilogue by Johns and artists Pete Woods and Cam Smith. If you haven’t read the issue, the stop reading this post now (spoiler alert ahead)!

If you’ve already read the issue, you witnessed the introduction of the First Lantern. But who is this mysterious character? Why is he being introduced now? And what does he have to do with the “Rise of the Third Army”?

“Who the First Lantern is and what his role will be in the upcoming Green Lantern universe will come into play very, very quickly,” hinted GREEN LANTERN writer Geoff Johns. “The being inside has been imprisoned there for a long, long time. The Guardians consider him their greatest threat, but also their greatest source of power. Whether he's friend or foe will be up for debate, but regardless he is one of the potentially most dangerous beings in existence.”

“In GREEN LANTERN ANNUAL #1, readers got their first glimpse at the First Lantern, someone who’s been locked away for a very long time—for a VERY good reason!” teased editor Matt Idelson. “His presence in this story is the catalyst for something very bad, and yet his story is only going to grow from here.”

Stay tuned to THE SOURCE as more about the First Lantern is revealed in the coming months. In the meantime, check out the below page from GREEN LANTERN ANNUAL #1 to get a peek at this esoteric character who will gravely impact the Green Lantern universe this fall.

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Green Lantern, green lantern corps, Green Lantern: New Guardians, red lanterns, Rise of the Third Army, Green Lantern Annual, geoff johns, Ethan Van Sciver, pete woods, cam smith, matt idelson, First Lantern

Artist Pete Woods Joins AQUAMAN for Guest Issue

In the aftermath of “The Others,” who lives and who dies? And what is the fate of the Atlantean relics? In stores on November 28, AQUAMAN #14 continues the acclaimed underwater adventures of Arthur Curry and introduces the treacherous Ocean Master!

And if you need even more reasons to be excited for AQUAMAN #14, joining New York Times bestselling writer Geoff Johns for a special guest issue is LEGION LOST and SUPERMAN: THE BLACK RING artist Pete Woods!

“Pete Woods is strapping on the scuba tanks, grabbing a speargun and jumping in the deep end!” said series editor Pat McCallum to THE SOURCE. “We couldn’t be happier to have him aboard — his art is berserk, and he’s bringing that awesome energy to the DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 debut of Ocean Master! We couldn’t be more excited!”

Below, take an exclusive first look at the Ocean Master and AQUAMAN #14 by checking out Ivan Reis and Joe Prado’s cover for the issue.

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Aquaman, geoff johns, pete woods, pat mccallum

WRITER TOM DEFALCO ON "THE CULLING" CROSSOVER

“The Culling” crossover event is coming this May – but what is The Culling? What is N.O.W.H.E.R.E., and how will it threaten the heroes and would-be heroes of DC COMICS-THE NEW 52? You’ll find out in next month’s crossover, but in the meantime – stay tuned to THE SOURCE all this week for Culling insights from the creators.

Today, LEGION LOST writer Tom DeFalco discusses the collaborative creative process, and the challenges and joys of creating a new villain:

“When Scott Lobdell, Howard Mackie and I first began to discuss the crossover that ultimately became ‘The Culling,’ we had one goal—we wanted to tell an exciting story that actually meant something to TEEN TITANS, RAVAGERS, SUPERBOY and LEGION LOST,” said Tom DeFalco, writer of LEGION LOST. “Since every great story needs a great villain, we set about constructing one that would be powerful enough to take on all three teams. We wanted this villain to be a major player. An A-list villain who could proudly join the likes of Darkseid, Luthor, the Joker and so many great DC villains. A living powerhouse who could eventually challenge Superman and the Justice League! The more we worked on him, the more we also saw how we could intimately connect him to the origins of our three, wildly diverse teams. Yes, our journey discovered hidden links between the TEEN TITANS, RAVAGERS, SUPERBOY and LEGION LOST! We writers learned things about our characters and their relationships that surprised us and will, hopefully, thrill our readers. ‘The Culling’ is going to be one wild ride!”