sandman | DC Comics

DC Comics' 2012 Hall of Fame: Best Dream Come True

2012 was a great year for DC and our fans. Whether it was in the pages of our comics, on the big or small screen or on the floor of our booth at Comic-Con, 2012 was a year of unforgettable moments. Some were thrilling, some were funny and others left us absolutely breathless. In a year full of moments that won’t be forgotten, these are some of the best. Introducing 2012’s DC Comics’ Hall of Fame!

San Diego Comic-Con goers making plans to attend Thursday night’s Vertigo panel likely had no idea that they were about to be treated to one of Comic-Con’s biggest announcements. And we’re not simply talking about this year’s show. We mean one of the biggest surprise announcements in the history of Comic-Con. Neil Gaiman, one of the single most influential and beloved comic book writers in history, is returning to the equally influential and beloved series he created—Sandman. In 2013, Vertigo will be releasing a new story about Morpheus set before the events of SANDMAN #1, with a story and script by Gaiman and art by J.H. Williams III.

Even better, Gaiman announced the project via an exclusive video, allowing all of us to experience the moment, regardless of whether or not we’d made the trek to San Diego.

Visit DCComics.com and THE SOURCE again tomorrow for the next moment in 2012's Hall of Fame!

Tags:

Hall of Fame, vertigo, sandman, neil gaiman, J.H. Williams III

5.2 Reasons Why J.H. Williams III Rocks Our World

The phrase "legendary artist" gets tossed around a lot these days. Picasso? He couldn't even draw a face properly. And what's up with those melting clocks, Dali? (Nah, just kidding, they're great). But considering the fact that J.H. Williams III has worked with some of the most renowned and influential writers in comic book history—Alan Moore, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka and now Neil Gaiman—the term "legendary artist" just doesn't seem like enough.

So, we're coming up with a new term! Legendeawesome... Awesomedary... Legawesomedary...

Yeesh… This is a lot more difficult than we though. So instead, we're just going to list off the 5.2 Reasons Why J.H. Williams III Rocks Our World!

1. BATWOMAN
Every month as part of DC Comics—The New 52, Williams grabs hold of the writing reins alongside W. Haden Blackman and provides art on alternating arcs of the Batwoman series. This week sees the release of Batwoman #12, which returns Williams to penciling duties; however, he also previously worked on the character of Kate Kane during his Eisner Award-winning run on DETECTIVE COMICS #854-860 with writer Greg Rucka.

2. SANDMAN
One of the biggest announcements to come out of this year's San Diego Comic-Con was the news that awesomedary comic book writer and novelist Neil Gaiman will be making his triumphant return to the world of Sandman next summer with a brand-new limited series—with art provided by Williams. Already our brain cells are exploding from amazing overload just imagining this team-up. Then this happened and we lost consciousness for a while:

3. BATMAN
It takes a certain type of artist to delve into the mind of Grant Morrison and put onto the page the mad genius found within. Thankfully, Williams ranks as one of those artists and more than proved his ability to do so with his collaboration with Morrison on the BATMAN #667-669 arc, "The Island of Mister Mayhew."

4. PROMETHEA
Mixing magic, mythology, and mysticism, Promethea teamed Williams with writer Alan Moore. The series stands as one of the most experimental in comics—both in storytelling and especially in art—and to this day Williams' unique style, attention to detail and beautiful imagery shines through with almost blinding brilliance.

5. CHASE
Besides being a great series in its own right—focusing on the character of Cameron Chase who gives readers a different, more grounded perspective on the world of superheroes—the nine-issue Chase series first elevated Williams to prominence in the comic art community. Reading the series from its first issue to its last, you really see the evolution of Williams' art as he grows into the artist we see today that continues to wow us with every image he puts on paper.

5.1 Splash Pages Like These

5.2 He Rocks an Awesome Beard

What's your favorite work from J.H. Williams III that you think everyone should check out? Let us know in the comments section!

Tags:

5.2 Reasons, J.H. Williams III, batwoman, neil gaiman, sandman, Greg Rucka, Batman, grant morrison, Promethea

Neil Gaiman Announces His Return to One of the Most Celebrated Comic Books of All-Time -- THE SANDMAN

Surprise Announcement at San Diego Comic-Con Pairs Legendary, Award Winning Author with Artist JH Williams III Under DC Entertainment’s Vertigo Imprint

Twenty-five years after one of the most celebrated graphic novels of all-time hit shelves, award winning and critically acclaimed author and screenwriter, Neil Gaiman, announces his return to THE SANDMAN. Gaiman made the surprise announcement, via video, at DC Entertainment’s Vertigo panel at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con. Karen Berger, Executive Editor of Vertigo, then revealed that Gaiman is paired with artist, JH Williams III (BATWOMAN) for the series, who appeared on stage to an already stunned and elated crowd. THE SANDMAN mini-series will be published by Vertigo in 2013.

One of the few graphic novels ever to be on the New York Times Best Seller list and lauded by critics the world over, THE SANDMAN is credited with changing the path of storytelling in the comic book industry. Gaiman will pick up his pen for the first time in more than 10 years since ending the series to continue a story that he feels still has yet to be told.

"When I finished writing THE SANDMAN, there was one tale still untold. The story of what had happened to Morpheus to allow him to be so easily captured in THE SANDMAN #1, and why he was returned from far away, exhausted beyond imagining, and dressed for war. It was a story that we discussed telling for Sandman's 20th anniversary... but the time got away from us. And now, with Sandman's 25th anniversary year coming up, I'm delighted, and nervous, that that story is finally going to be told,” said Gaiman.

"There's nothing like a Neil Gaiman story," said Berger, "and there's nothing like having Neil back home on THE SANDMAN, his dark, soulful, literary epic that transformed comics and continues to captivate countless new readers year after year. Working with him again, and with JH Williams, the extraordinary and groundbreaking artist, is truly the stuff dreams are made of."

DC Entertainment Co-Publishers Jim Lee and Dan DiDio added, “As accomplished as Neil Gaiman is in other media—whether it be novels, film and even music—he still has an incredible passion and love for comics. It’s exciting to have him back. J.H. Williams will be the perfect complement to Neil’s writing. He has a history of creating art that pushes the boundaries of the medium.”

Each issue of THE SANDMAN mini-series will be published day-and-date digitally. The title will be announced at a later date.

(Promotional art by J.H. Williams III)

Tags:

sandman, neil gaiman, jh williams iii, vertigo, San Diego Comic-Con, karen berger, Jim Lee, dan didio

The 2012 Hugo Award Finalists Have Been Announced

The Hugo Award finalists for 2012, honoring excellence in science fiction and fantasy, were announced in the UK. In the Best Graphic Story category, the finalists include two Vertigo titles:

Fables Vol 15: Rose Red, written by Bill Willingham and illustrated by Mark Buckingham (Vertigo)

The Unwritten (Volume 4): Leviathan written by Mike Carey, illustrated by Peter Gross (Vertigo)

In addition, we’d like to give a special nod to Neil Gaiman for his nomination in the category of Best Dramatic Performance (Short Form), Paul Cornell in the category of Best Novelette and China Miéville in the category of Best Novel. Gaiman is the writer of the bestselling SANDMAN series and BLACK ORCHID, available later this month in a Deluxe Edition, Cornell is currently writing DEMON KNIGHTS and the new Vertigo series SAUCER COUNTRY and Miéville is new to the group with his debut DIAL H coming from DC Comics this May.

Congratulations to all the finalists! For the full list, head over to TheHugoAwards.org. The winners will be presented at the 2012 World Science Fiction Convention, August 30 to September 3, 2012 in Chicago.

Tags:

the hugo awards, fables, the unwritten, bill willingham, mark buckingham, mike carey, peter gross, neil gaiman, sandman, black orchid, paul cornell, ryan kelley, saucer country, demon knights, china mieville, Dial H

DC Entertainment Releases New VERTIGO App

DC Entertainment Releases New VERTIGO App

And Announces SANDMAN Digital Comics Sale for $.99

Starting today, VERTIGO fans can download a new dedicated app featuring all Vertigo digital titles. The new app, available on the App Store, is free to download and features popular VERTIGO series THE SANDMAN, FABLES, Y: THE LAST MAN, PREACHER, 100 BULLETS, HELLBLAZER, AMERICAN VAMPIRE, THE UNWRITTEN, DMZ, THE INVISIBLES, TRANSMETROPOLITAN, and SWEET TOOTH, among others.

As an added bonus, readers who download the new VERTIGO app will have exclusive access to a three-day in-app sale that offers all SANDMAN digital comics for $.99 per issue. Written by #1 New York Times bestselling author Neil Gaiman, THE SANDMAN is one of the most acclaimed titles in the history of comics. Norman Mailer described the series as “a comic strip for intellectuals.” With a rich blend of modern myth and dark fantasy in which contemporary fiction, historical drama and legend are seamlessly interwoven, the series is considered to be one of the most original and artistically ambitious comic books of the modern age.

The launch of the app is timed to the release of four new VERTIGO series debuting each week this month, beginning with today’s publication of FAIREST by New York Times best-selling and award-winning writer Bill Willingham. A spin-off of FABLES, the series stars some of the fairest in the land and balances horror, humor and adventure. Each FAIREST storyline will explore the secret histories of one character, from Sleeping Beauty to Rapunzel to Cinderella to Thumbelina to Snow White and more. The first six issue arc drawn by Phil Jimenez (WONDER WOMAN, THE INVISIBLES) follows the misadventures of Briar Rose along with Ali Baba and the Snow Queen.

Also available same day digitally this month are the following new Vertigo series:

· SAUCER COUNTRY (VERTIGO / ongoing series / 32pg. / Color / $2.99), a dark thriller that blends UFO lore and alien abduction with political intrigue, all set in the hauntingly beautiful Southwest written by Paul Cornell (DEMON KNIGHTS, Doctor Who) with art by Ryan Kelly (NEW YORK FIVE).

· DOMINIQUE LAVEAU: VOODOO CHILD (VERTIGO / ongoing series / 32pg. / Color / $2.99), a high octane story set in New Orleans that blends the mortal and supernatural worlds, written by former editor-in-chief of The Source magazine, award-winning author, journalist and TV producer Selwyn Seyfu Hinds, with art by Milestone Media co-founder Denys Cowan (THE QUESTION) and John Floyd with covers by Rafael Grampá.

· THE NEW DEADWARDIANS (VERTIGO / mini-series / 32pg. / Color / $2.99), a murder mystery set among the world of the undead in post-Victorian era London, brought to vivid life by writer Dan Abnett (RESURRECTION MAN) with art by newcomer I. N. J. Culbard (At The Mountains of Madness).

“Making all of our digital titles available in one downloadable location provides readers even more accessibility to our vast array of ground-breaking stories. What’s better than that? I can’t wait to get the app on my phone.” said Karen Berger, executive editor, VERTIGO. “With four new series launching in March, this is the perfect time for fans to download the VERTIGO app and keep coming back each and every week.”

"As the digital landscape becomes increasingly crowded, this stand alone app underscores DCE's commitment to growing and spotlighting Vertigo by directly addressing its unique reader base,” stated Hank Kanalz, senior vice president of digital, DC Entertainment. “Vertigo fans can now access same day digital content faster and more conveniently on their iOS devices."

Click here to visit the App Store and download the new VERTIGO App.

Previews of all four new series are available for viewing here.

Tags: