“Like a rotting, fetid pumpkin, with filth-filled blisters ready to burst.” So begin most conversations with the rage-fueled RED LANTERNS editor Pat McCallum. Or at least when discussing the “Death of the Red Lanterns” storyline that kicks off in issue #8, on sale this coming Wednesday. 

“I can’t reveal what I’m describing in that above quote, but it’s the last page of RED LANTERNS #8 – it’s rough stuff.” Warned McCallum, “It’s big, it’s awful, and it’ll reverberate throughout the various Corps. And it’s just the beginning. Issue #8 will also see a cameo by Green Lantern Guy Gardner, the origin of the patchwork abomination named Abysmus, plus Jack Moore – the human Red Lantern called Rankorr – will pull a stunt with his power ring that no Red Lantern has EVER done before!”

When pressed for details, McCallum became agitated and had to be sedated. Hours later, he continued: “It all builds to issue #9 and the exodus of the Red Lanterns. Something forces them – all of them, even the unstoppable Atrocitus – off their homeworld of Ysmault. And yeah…that’s going to make the Red Lanterns angry. Very, very angry.”

How angry? Testing the court-ordered restraints, McCallum explained, “RED LANTERNS #10 is going to tear the house down. Atrocitus, the most powerful of all the Red Lanterns, is going to take on ALL of Stormwatch.”

Stormwatch…? How do the covert super police of the DC Universe factor into the mix? “It ties directly into the events of STORMWATCH #9,” McCallum responded, biting through the leather bit. “Red Lantern fans don’t need to read that issue of STORMWATCH to follow the RED LANTERNS storyline, but you’ll miss a sick Midnighter/Skallox fight if you don’t.”

And what of the other big news with RED LANTERNS #10?

“STORMWATCH artist Miguel Sepulveda takes over the art reigns of RED LANTERNS with this issue,” revealed McCallum as orderlies dragged him back to his cell. “Miguel is blowing the doors off the joint with his first issue – he’s taken his art to the next level. I can’t stress enough how berserk the Atrocitus vs. Stormwatch brawl is going to be. Martian Manhunter, Apollo, Midnighter…it’s a good thing Atrocitus brought backup,” Hinted McCallum from behind reinforced bars. “One other Red Lantern will join the fight…and I guarantee you won’t believe who!”

Check out a first look at Sepulveda's artwork in RED LANTERNS #10 below:

Earlier today, we linked to all of the exclusive previews of the first batch of sixth issues from DC COMICS-THE NEW 52, on sale tomorrow.

Below, take a look at all the previews that ran (sorted alphabetically and separated by cover), compiled here in one easy location for your convenience.

[gallery link="file" order="DESC" columns="4"]

GREEN LANTERN #8

Written by GEOFF JOHNS

Art by DOUG MAHNKE and CHRISTIAN ALAMY

Cover by DOUG MAHNKE

Variant cover by DALE KEOWN

1:200 B&W variant cover by DOUG MAHNKE

On sale APRIL 11 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

Combo pack edition: $3.99 US

“Secret of the Indigo Tribe” Part 2! On the Indigo homeworld, Hal Jordan and Sinestro are trapped, powerless and on the run – with the entire Indigo Tribe in hot pursuit! Their situation grows even more dire when we learn the Indigos’ deadly secret! Plus: Why Indigo-1 is so interested in Hal’s predecessor, Abin Sur?

This issue is also offered as a special combo pack edition, polybagged with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.

GREEN LANTERN CORPS #8

Written by PETER J. TOMASI

Art and cover by FERNANDO PASARIN and SCOTT HANNA

On sale APRIL 18 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

The Guardians’ plan to replace the Corps continues to move forward as John Stewart is arrested by the Alpha Lanterns! The terrible truth of John Stewart’s crime has been uncovered by the Corps – and unfortunately for them, John refuses to go quietly.

GREEN LANTERN: NEW GUARDIANS #8

Written by TONY BEDARD

Art and cover by TYLER KIRKHAM and BATT

1:25 B&W Variant cover by TYLER KIRKHAM and BATT

On sale APRIL 25 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

Betrayed by Sinestro! Arkillo, the most loyal of all the yellow ring wielders, has returned to Korugar only to find the Sinestro Corps is no more! The members of the corps have been rounded up and executed, and the yellow power battery is gone – all at Sinestro’s command! Armed with the dwindling energy of a ring he can no longer recharge, it’s a race against time as Arkillo slaughters his way toward a desperate goal: the birth of a new type of yellow power ring!

RED LANTERNS #8

Written by PETER MILLIGAN

Art by ED BENES and ROB HUNTER

Cover by ED BENES

On sale APRIL 4 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+

Who is it that brings death to all on Ysmault? Jack Moore could not have become a Red Lantern at a more apocalyptic time. But what’s worse: being caught in Atrocitus and Bleez’s civil war, or taking the blame for the infection spreading throughout the Red Lantern Corps? Facing extinction, how long until all the Red Lanterns burn out?

To help kick off 2012, here's a round up of exclusive previews from the first round of fifth issues from DC COMICS-THE NEW 52, on sale tomorrow.

ACTION COMICS # 5, written by Grant Morrison and illustrated by Andy Kubert and Jesse Delperdang, depict's Kal-El's escape from Krypton, and offers a new twist on this iconic sequence which we're seeing for the first time in DC COMICS-THE NEW 52. WIRED ran the exclusive preview of the issue on their homepage, with a preview that was shared between their GEEKDAD and UNDERWIRE blogs.

USA TODAY previewed ANIMAL MAN #5 and interviewed series writer Jeff Lemire. "They don't want her put into harm's way," Lemire said of Buddy and Ellen and their powerful daughter, Maxine. "It's really that tension of knowing that they may have to give her up and the greater good might be something that they have to consider rather than just being a family, and whether or not they're willing to do that is going to cause a lot of tension in their marriage and a lot of tension just thematically moving forward."

GAWKER’s KOTAKU debuted five pages from DETECTIVE COMICS #5 and GAWKER’s IO9 has your first look at BATWING #5. Meanwhile, UGO posted the first four pages of JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL #5 and COMICVINE has a sneak peek at GREEN ARROW #5. Over at IGN, check out a sequence from MEN OF WAR #5. Meanwhile, REVOLVER MAGAZINE showed pages from O.M.A.C. #5, COMIC BOOK RESOURCES has a glance at SWAMP THING #5, NEWSARAMA previewed RED LANTERNS #5 and IFANBOY has your premiere look at STORMWATCH #5. MTV GEEK ran an exclusive preview of STATIC SHOCK #5 and DC Comics’ official Facebook page posted four pages from HAWK AND DOVE #5.

To be continued …