Previews of Wednesday’s DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 Releases

Here’s a round up of the exclusive previews from this week’s DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 releases, on sale tomorrow.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY ran the first five pages of JUSTICE LEAGUE #5 on their homepage.

On Friday, we told you about Batman’s appearance in I, VAMPIRE #5. USA TODAY chatted with series writer Joshua Hale Fialkov to accompany their exclusive preview of the issue. "Andrew has everything under control except for the crazy guy in the bat suit," Fialkov said of the series’ protagonist. "It adds a nice level of chaos for the characters to have to deal with."

Meanwhile, POPMATTERS showed pages from THE SAVAGE HAWKMAN #5 and WIRED’s GEEKDAD previewed AQUAMAN #5. IGN has your first look at THE FLASH #5. GAWKER’s KOTAKU debuted a sequence from BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT #5 and GAWKER’s IO9 has a glance at TEEN TITANS #5. UGO has your first look at SUPERMAN #5 and MTV GEEK has a sneak peek at ALL-STAR WESTERN #5.

COMIC BOOK RESOURCES posted the first four pages of JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #5 and COMICVINE has an exclusive preview of THE FURY OF FIRESTORM: THE NUCLEAR MEN #5. Over at NEWSARAMA, check out a sequence from VOODOO #5, the first issue from new series writer Josh Williamson. Pages from GREEN LANTERN: NEW GUARDIANS #5 were featured on IFANBOY and DC Comics’ official Facebook page has your first look at BLACKHAWKS #5.

To be continued …

PREVIEWS OF WEDNESDAY’S DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 RELEASES

Here’s a round up of exclusive previews from the third round of fifth issues from DC COMICS-THE NEW 52, on sale tomorrow.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY had an exclusive preview of BATMAN #5, and USA TODAY had a first look at NIGHTWING #5, featuring an interview with writer Kyle Higgins. Higgins laid out a key distinction between Gotham’s heroes, saying that "the difference between Dick and Bruce has always been that Bruce does what he does out of this sense of guilt and this feeling he has to. And Dick Grayson does what he does because he genuinely enjoys helping people. He's a much more empathetic character and he's someone who enjoys people and interaction.” MTV GEEK ran a sneak peek at RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #5, NEWSARAMA ran a first look at BIRDS OF PREY #5 and pages from CATWOMAN #5 were featured on the DC COMICS FACEBOOK PAGE.

Beyond the BATMAN books, GAWKER’S KOTAKU had an exclusive preview of WONDER WOMAN #5, IGN offered a first look at CAPTAIN ATOM #5, SUPERGIRL #5 was featured on WIRED’S GEEK DAD and POPMATTERS showcased a sequence from DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS #5.

Head over to COMIC BOOK RESOURCES for a first look at LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #5, and check out pages from GREEN LANTERN CORPS #5 on COMICVINE and BLUE BEETLE #5 at IFANBOY.

Previews of Wednesday’s DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 releases

Tomorrow, the next batch of fourth issues from DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 hits stores. Previews of the various issues being released have been running for the past few days across the Internet and we’ve compiled them all here on THE SOURCE for your convenience.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY continued previewing DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 on their homepage by debuting a sequence from JUSTICE LEAGUE #4 that shows off just how cool Aquaman is.

And if the preview of JUSTICE LEAGUE #4 got you even more excited for this week’s Justice League family releases than you already were, check out POPMATTERS’ first look at CAPTAIN ATOM #4, WIRED’s UNDERWIRE’s preview of DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS #4 and COMIC BOOK RESOURCES’ sneak peek at WONDER WOMAN #4.

Yesterday, writer Scott Snyder told you that even if you haven’t been reading BATMAN, this week’s issue #4 is a great place to start. Head over to USA TODAY for an exclusive preview of the issue. "You get to delve into Bruce's past and see some of the secret history, both between him and Gotham as a boy and also as a hero struggling with an enemy that he seems to have some sort of emotional conflict with that extends beyond just what he's trying to achieve on a plot level," Snyder told USA TODAY.

Speaking of bat-related previews, MAXIM previewed BIRDS OF PREY #4, IGN has a sneak peek at NIGHTWING #4, MTV GEEK has your first look at CATWOMAN #4 and IFANBOY debuted pages from RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #4.

Meanwhile, AIN’T IT COOL NEWS previewed SUPERGIRL #4, GAWKER’s IO9 premiered a sequence from BLUE BEETLE #4, COMICVINE gave you a glance at LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #4 and NEWSARAMA has an exclusive sneak peek GREEN LANTERN CORPS #4.

To be continued …

EVERYONE’S TALKING ABOUT ACTION COMICS

(Rags Morales' cover to ACTION COMICS #7)

In ACTION COMICS, Superman’s adventures are set five years in the past – but his story is nonetheless making plenty waves in the present.

POPMATTERS posted part two of their exclusive interview with writer Grant Morrison, who outlined his perspective on the supposed City of Tomorrow, and also offered a bit of insight into how the Superman of ACTION COMICS fits into the character’s larger mythology. “I see it as a quite organic story of Superman,” Morrison said. “The things that seem like this is the past of Superman, but as I’m writing it, it’s really the present of Superman in the five dimensional matrix of the story. I see a larger overall picture of the entire man, as he lives, and as he does the things he does, so I think that’s what gives it the immediacy.” To revisit part one of the extensive interview, click here.

Offering another perspective on the big picture, COMICVINE ran a look at some of the significant changes that have been made to the Superman mythology within the pages of ACTION COMICS – from wardrobe to continuity to supporting cast. If you’re not caught up with ACTION COMICS #4, be warned: Spoilers abound!

Round-Up of Holiday Coverage

Here in New York, weather forecasts are predicting snowfall on Thursday. It's just another sign that winter is in full swing and the holidays are just around the corner!

Holiday Gift Guides continue to roll in. ABC NEWS’ show, What’s the Buzz, ran a special Holiday Gift Guide segment on graphic novels, which called out DC COMICS: THE NEW 52 and BATMAN: NOEL. Additionally, they prominently displayed 100 BULLETS, VOL. 1 and THE ANNOTATED SANDMAN (which we suggested to you yesterday in our Holiday Gift Guide series here on THE SOURCE) in the feature.

Speaking of Holiday Gift Guides, AFTER ELLEN ranked the trade paperback edition of BATWOMAN: ELEGY as the top item on their “Gift Guide for the Gay Woman 2011.”

And to keep you in the holiday mood, POPMATTERS has just published a review of the New York Times bestseller, BATMAN: NOEL. “In the end, I’m simply haunted by the beauty of BATMAN: NOEL,” they wrote. “And my wish for you this Holiday Season, is that you will be too.”

To be continued …

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

OUT MAGAZINE previewed TEEN TITANS #3, which features the introduction of a new gay character, Bunker. “We wanted to show an interesting character who’s homosexuality is part of him, not something that’s hidden,” artist Brett Booth told them.

This week, SUPERMAN #3 joins the ranks of the other eight DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 books to have an exclusive preview featured on ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY’s homepage.

As the mystery surrounding Madame Xanadu’s plan thickens, the Justice League Dark team continue to come together. For a sneak peek at what’s coming next week, head over to GAWKER’s IO9 for their exclusive preview of JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #3.

The colors and powers of the Green Lantern universe continue to meld together in GREEN LANTERN: NEW GUARDIANS #3. MTV GEEK has your first look at the issue.

Morphicius’ powers won’t stop growing and it’s up to Carter Hall to figure out how to stop him before he becomes invincible. Check out COMICVINE’s exclusive preview of THE SAVAGE HAWKMAN #3.

Lots of exciting things happening over at POPMATTERS! “If you think about it, what worse horror is there, than having the person you love turn into a monster? And not losing the love?” I, VAMPIRE writer Joshua Hale Fialkov said in an exclusive interview. “And that to me is the drive of I, VAMPIRE. It’s the idea that he loves her beyond words. And he doesn’t love old her, her before the transformation. He loves her as a vampire. And that’s the real point. If Andrew were in love with this 500-year-old version of Mary that no longer existed, he would have just cut off her head a long time ago. But the fact is, he still feels the love and he still has this desire for her. And his hope, is not even to ‘cure’ her, it’s to ‘fix’ her.”

“My take on the character is, to Buddy Baker, his family always comes first,” Jeff Lemire told POPMATTERS about ANIMAL MAN. “There are really dark things trying to tear them apart. We’re going to see how far they can stretch before they break, and if they don’t break, they’re going to have to evolve into something new as a family to survive.”

And while you’re at POPMATTERS, be sure to read their profile of Superman in DC COMICS-THE NEW 52.

COMIC BOOK RESOURCES chatted with James Robinson, Darwyn Cooke and J. Bone about their upcoming collaboration, THE SHADE #4. “The whole thing is linked together, past and present, so that there is a story in the present, which concerns the Shade's past and a family you didn't realize that the Shade had,” Robinson revealed. “Each of the ‘Times Past’ issues play out that way. The first one jumps back into the 1940s, the second one is set in Paris in 1901 and the third one is in 1830s London for the Shade's origin. Each time, you learn more about the family and more about what is going on. As I did with Darwyn's story, I took great pains with each of the other ‘Times Past’ tales with Jill Thompson and Gene Ha, to make them stand alone, even though they're a part of the bigger picture.”

NEWSARAMA spoke with Josh Williamson, who will be taking over as the writer of VOODOO in 2012. “I think people will be surprised by the direction we’re taking the character, how it works with what came before but also takes her into new dangerous territory,” Williamson said of his upcoming run.

Feeling festive? BATMAN ON FILM interviewed BATMAN: NOEL writer/artist Lee Bermejo about his creative process, how BATMAN: NOEL came into fruition and some teases at a project he’s contemplating set in what he calls, “the JOKER-verse,” that’ll be “a different take on a very classic character.”

If you’re still looking for some gift ideas, MTV GEEK just published a list of what they deem to be the 10 best Batman graphic novels. And if you like Batman-themed countdowns, NEWSARAMA has their list of the greatest villains Batman has ever faced.

To be continued …

Everyone’s Talkin’ About DC COMICS-THE NEW 52, Monday Evening (ET) Edition

All afternoon, THE SOURCE has been rolling out your very first look at DC Comics in February 2012.

February still seems a long ways off. But this Wednesday? That's right around the corner and we've got a whole new batch of third issues from DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 hitting stores. For ease of reading, we've compiled a comprehensive rundown. Tell your friends.

USA TODAY interviewed writer Brian Azzarello to accompany their exclusive preview of WONDER WOMAN #3, in which Diana’s new origins are revealed. "I can't wait to start really, really playing with the gods," Azzarello told them. "Look who she's immediately gaining as siblings — suddenly, the god of war is her half-brother … Now instead of protecting a mortal from the gods, she's also protecting her half-brother or sister."

POPMATTERS has your first look at I, VAMPIRE #3. “I, VAMPIRE is mythic in every way,” POPMATTERS wrote of the series. “It is the story of how the whole world is threatened by a love story that just darkens the character of each individual involved in that poisoned relationship. In some of the finest storytelling ever to grace the character of Andrew and his struggles with Mary, Josh Fialkov singularizes the character and the title among the recent crop of DC’s New 52. It is very much the evolution of the romantic vampire’s we’ve come to enjoy seeing on screen over recent years.”

MAXIM previewed DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS #3. The issue by Paul Jenkins and Bernard Chang continues Deadman’s journey of self exploration as he attempts to gain answers on how to gain control of his “life.”

Now that he’s bonded with his armor, can Jaime Reyes learn how to control it? Find out in BLUE BEETLE #3 by Tony Bedard, Ig Guara, Ruy Jose and J.P. Mayer, previewed exclusively at MTV GEEK.

It’s time for a fourth team member in BIRDS OF PREY #3! Head on over to COMIC BOOK RESOURCES for your exclusive preview.

With the Intruders neutralizing the ring powers of the Green Lantern Corps, it’ll be up to Guy Gardner and John Stewart to figure out how to stop this grave threat. Check out IFANBOY’s exclusive preview of GREEN LANTERN CORPS #3 by Peter J. Tomasi, Geraldo Borges and Scott Hanna.

IGN previewed Selina Kyle’s latest adventures in CATWOMAN #3. What trouble has the femme fatale got herself into this time? Find out when the issue by Judd Winick and Guillem March hits stores this week.

Following their exclusive preview of LEGION LOST #3 last week, TOR.COM has your first look at LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #3 by Paul Levitz and Francis Portela.

And that's not all. DISCOVER MAGAZINE highlighted the science in MISTER TERRIFIC in DC COMICS-THE NEW 52.

What else is going on the internet?

ADVERTISING AGE presented a 2011 Media Vanguard Award to the BURN NOTICE digital comic for “Most Innovating Broadcast Brand Extension.” (Congratulations to all those involved with the book!)

Meanwhile, BATMAN: NOEL writer and artist Lee Bermejo was interviewed by YAHOO! ASSOCIATED CONTENT. “I like a very ‘urban warfare’ look for my Batman,” Bermejo said of The Dark Knight’s costume design in the book. “I suppose it comes from my overall need to ground things in as much reality as possible. I like to approach all design from the inside out, trying to figure out what fabrics could be used to make the thing IF it were really being constructed. I wanted there to be a point to Batman having this more modern, utilitarian look. It fit in well with what I wanted to do in the story.”

“The idea for the project pretty much came when I had finished Joker,” Bermejo continued to THE MORTON REPORT. “And I had a blast drawing Joker. I really enjoyed it. But it was a really dark, brutal piece of work, and I kind of wanted to go in the other direction. To push myself creatively, but also to try something new.”

Finally, COMICVINE listed four reasons why Sinestro is the most powerful Green Lantern.

And speaking of Green Lantern, check out Francis Manapul’s breathtaking variant cover for next month’s issue #4. Amazing, right?

To be continued …

Everyone’s Talkin’ About DC COMICS-THE NEW 52, Monday Evening (PT) Edition

Ever since we launched DC COMICS-THE NEW 52, we’ve been trying to find the perfect outlet to post each exclusive preview. What better match, then, is there for BATMAN AND ROBIN than WIRED’s GEEKDAD? Head on over to their website to see an amazing 6-page sequence from issue #3, which is all about the tension between Bruce Wayne and his son, Damian.

USA TODAY previewed RESURRECTION MAN #3 and spoke with series writers Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning. "His mortal soul is in jeopardy in a much greater way. The stakes are much higher than simply life or death," Abnett told them. “There are serious repercussions about heaven and hell and what these supernatural powers are interested in. That's really going to play out the next few issues where you've got forces both mortal and immortal fighting over him because he is so important."

LOS ANGELES TIMES’ HERO COMPLEX spoke with the acclaimed creative team behind WONDER WOMAN, Brian Azzarello and Cliff Chiang. “We’re striving for something that speaks to a certain timelessness but at the same time doesn’t get bogged down with older notions of the Greek gods,” Chiang said of the series. “We’ve done away with togas and sandals and stuff like that in order to make you look at them with new eyes. We want the characters to look and sound different, we want them to act different than you would expect … The fact that all of the Greek myths are really rooted in human behavior is great.”

IGN spoke with NIGHTWING writer Kyle Higgins about the Gotham hero. “He grew up a sidekick, studying under the best, then left to spread his proverbial ‘wings’ but ultimately came back to take his mentor's place,” Higgins said. “In a medium where change is hard to facilitate, Dick is a character that has grown and developed -- he's a character who is built on the very idea of change.” While you’re at IGN, be sure to check out their exclusive preview of SUICIDE SQUAD #3.

Curious what else is coming out this week? POPMATTERS previewed DEMON KNIGHTS #3, COMPLEX MAGAZINE previewed MISTER TERRIFIC #3 and DC Comics’ official Facebook page has your first sneak peek at this week’s GRIFTER #3.

To be continued …

Everybody’s Talkin’ About Action Comics, Thursday Morning (ET) Edition

Next week marks the release of ACTION COMICS #3. This issue provides our first look at Krypton's final moments in DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 and a number of surprises.

Can't wait for Wednesday? Neither can the Internet. ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY has an exclusive preview of the issue on their homepage and POPMATTERS ran the first part of their interview with series writer Grant Morrison. “Can one change Superman?” asked Morrison. "Can you bring in a kind of wildness? I just felt that this was the right time for that kind of Superman.”

The variant cover of ACTION COMICS issue 3 by Gene Ha, shown here for the first time, illustrates Jor-El, Lara and Krypto. Just what brings the downfall of Krypton?

To be continued...

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

You surf the web enough, you start seeing patterns.

The number 52, for instance, seems to be very popular right now. Drill down further and new trends start to emerge. Critics like ANIMAL MAN and THE FLASH. Websites likes a good holiday story, particularly a week out from Halloween. Ready?

FLASH FACT: critics really do like THE FLASH. Just check out POPMATTERS' advance 10 out 10 stars rave review of THE FLASH #2, which hits stores tomorrow. “Francis Manapul writer-artist behind the New 52 Flash and co-writer Brian Buccellato, simply streak ahead of any previous limitations in storytelling. What Manapul and Buccellato have produced with the Flash is a rich, textured drama that hinges on both the emotional core and hard scifi,” they wrote. “Manapul and Buccellato conduct readers to a wonderland of augmented cognition and rapid cell development. But the real joy is linking beyond the ideas the writers express, and finding science theories for ourselves like the neuroscience of prediction and quantum entanglement and bringing these to bear on our reading of the book … The Flash is simply comics at its finest.”

Want to hear more about THE FLASH? Head on over to NEWSARAMA, for Vaneta Rogers' interview with the creative team. "What's interesting about Barry Allen's perception among fans is that a lot of people think he's 'old-school.'"said series co-writer and artist Francis Manapul. "But in reality, the only thing old-school about him is his idealism. His optimism. Right? So he's this very black and white type of hero, and he's been thrust into this world that's gray." THE FLASH co-writer Buccellato suggests, "We went through a period where the anti-hero and tortured hero were prevalent, and it's because they were unique at the time that they captured the imagination of readers. But now, I think people see a noble hero as something special. We want somebody who will do the right things because they're the right things, and maybe we don't need to know that deep down he's tortured."

Meanwhile, with Halloween around the corner, GAWKER’s IO9 interviewed I, VAMPIRE writer Joshua Hale Fialkov to help get you in a horror state of mind. “I went back to Bram Stoker. I'm using Dracula but with a slightly more superhero twist,” Fialkov revealed when asked about what type of powers the vampires in his title possess. “They can turn into bats, wolves, and a hybrid monster (to give them that great visual punch). They have the Stoker set. They can walk in the sunlight, but they can't use their powers. To kill them, you must chop off their head and stake them in the heart. They can turn to mist. They're super-strong, but not Superman. The basic idea is that they're an upgraded version of us.”

AIN'T IT COOL NEWS interviewed DC Entertainment Co-Publisher and JUSTICE LEAGUE artist Jim Lee about DC COMICS-THE NEW 52. “Brian and Cliff have come up with ways of introducing centaurs into WONDER WOMAN that is very creepy, and it's exciting to see a realistic, modernist take on ancient Greek mythology, and used in a way to make it kind of...you know, the same way we've seen different updatings of classic mythology, like Frankenstein, vampires, werewolves, he's kind of doing that with Greek mythology, so it's exciting to see.”

Meanwhile, CBR spoke directly with the WONDER WOMAN creative team, Brian Azzarello and Cliff Chiang. “Greek mythology is something that is unique to the character of Wonder Woman. Let's play it up. Why shouldn't it be played up?” Azzarello said. “The other thing is, now, we've given her a family -- a big, horrible family -- and the story possibilities are endless. The gods act horribly to each other, they act horribly to humans. But at the same time, they're not entirely unsympathetic, either. They are all coming from a place you understand. That's kind of the universal quality of mythology, that it's all about human nature. The other thing is, Wonder Woman's never had a Gotham City. Now, her family is going to be her Gotham City.”

While you're at COMIC BOOK RESOURCES, be sure to check out their exclusive first look at tomorrow’s TEEN TITANS #2.

Once Halloween is in the rear view mirror a week from today, we can all get ready for the winter holidays. Writer/artist Lee Bermejo helps sets the stage with an interview with NEWSARAMA about BATMAN: NOEL. “There are characters who fit in with the roles that those ghosts play in Dickens,” says Bermejo. “The ‘Ghost of Christmas Past’ is a sequence with Catwoman. The ‘Ghost of Christmas Present ’ is a sequence with Superman, and the ‘Ghost of Christmas Future’ is Joker. The roles these characters play at that moment in the story help serve the same purpose that the ghosts serve in A Christmas Carol.”

To be continued …

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