santiago arcas | DC Comics

Exclusive Preview of T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS #6

Fans of T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS have already seen guest artwork by the likes of artists such as Walter Simonson, Jerry Ordway, Sam Kieth and Mike Choi. Joining writer Nick Spencer and artist Wes Craig this time around for the final issue of the series is original T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS artist CAFU in a sequence that continues a scene that began all the way back in the first issue of volume 1 of the series.

“One of my favorite aspects of this series is the use of classic comic artists to illustrate the flashbacks, and it's been a kick to see my work alongside some real legends over the course of our six issues,” series artist Wes Craig told THE SOURCE. “I think it was a great idea to use CAFU in that role for the finale to bring it all together, especially when you see how this last issue is tied in to the initial run that Nick and CAFU did.”

"First of all, I want to say that T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS is one of the books I'm most proud of, so when Nick and (editor) Wil Moss asked me and (colorist) Santiago Arcas to illustrate a part of the last issue, it felt like an honor,” CAFU said to THE SOURCE. “Also, this book was the first chance I had to work with characters I had designed myself, so I'm quite fond of them, and the truth is, I was starting to miss them already.

After having worked on GRIFTER and BLACKHAWKS (and in Santiago Arcas' case, RESURRECTION MAN) it was a lot of fun to be using the style we used a bit more than a year and a half ago (in fact, our idea was to try and do the pages as if time didn't pass and we had never stopped drawing T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS).

I'm very happy to have been a part of this book, and especially, to have been given the chance to say goodbye to my beloved Colleen Franklin. These characters deserved a grand finale and I think Nick has nailed it AGAIN. I hope you like it as much as I have!"

T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS #6, written by Nick Spencer and illustrated by Wes Craig, CAFU and BIT, is in stores today. And don’t miss the backup story about the Undersea Agent from writer Michael Uslan and artist Trevor McCarthy. Click here to see an exclusive preview of the issue.

Tags:

t.h.u.n.d.e.r. agents, nick spencer, Cafu, Wes Craig, santiago arcas, bit, michael uslan, trevor mccarthy, wil moss

“Resurrecting Kills!”

Mitch Shelly is back from the dead. And every time he is resurrected, he acquires a new skill set of powers. But it won’t be long until people start to notice and attempt to stop him from rising again. RESURRECTION MAN is written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, features art by Fernando Dagnino, and is colored by Santiago Arcas.

Can’t wait until September 14th to learn more about the book? Don’t worry. We spoke with much of the creative team about what we can expect from the series come this fall. Check out what they had to say.

THE SOURCE: What about DC's new 52 titles excites you the most?

DAN ABNETT: The balance between re-invention and familiarity.

FERNANDO DAGNINO: Being involved in the new DC Universe is definitely very exciting by itself. I consider the wider scope of themes, genres and characters featured in these 52 new titles to be key to attracting more readers.

SANTIAGO ARCAS: I'm attracted to the JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK concept. I hope it becomes a long-lived series.

How and why are you shaking up the series' status quo?

DA: We’re streamlining and making it faster paced. Basically, we’re keeping the mood and the very cool elements of Resurrection Man, but we’ve got a bigger budget to play with.

FD: Well, having Resurrection Man back from the grave is no big deal … but putting him back into business will surely be.

What new characters will debut in the series?

DA: Oh, there’s a really cool one in particular, but I refuse to give it away.

Will we see new character designs?

DA: Yes. Oh, yes.

FD: Sure, our goal is to give this series a new stylistic ride without losing Jackson Guice’s outstanding artistic depiction of the original books. But we’re setting the characters and locations in a more contemporary style.

SA: Oh yes, you certainly will.

What's the first line of dialogue in the first issue?

DA: “Coming back this time tastes of metal.”

What's the biggest surprise you've had working on this character/book?

DA: How much more pro-active Resurrection Man can be without actually putting on a costume and becoming a cape.

FD: I was not acquainted with the original series before and getting to know the book’s first run was a very pleasant surprise. But what I really liked was that the wide range of stories that unfolded in the series involve weird science fiction, magical entities, superhero action, ironic humour, police investigations and a whole set of supporting everyday characters that tell the story and contribute to depict a unique atmosphere.

SA: Fernando Dagnino's extraordinary work. I had never seen him using this style … and WOW!

What secret has been the hardest to keep?

DA: The one I’m not telling you.

SA: I'm good at keeping secrets.

What’s the unofficial tagline for this series, in your own words?

DA: He’s back. For the first time.

FD: Resurrecting Kills!

SA: A corpse who reinvents him/itself.

What were your thoughts about the day-and-date digital announcement?

DA: It’s an amazing idea and I hope it delivers everything it promises.

FD: I better start working!

SA: I hope people get used to paying to download comic books. I think trades could become the basis of the business and I hope digital makes people buy the hardcovers and trades after reading the monthlies in digital format.

Tags:

andy lanning, dan abnett, fernando dagnino, Resurrection Man, santiago arcas

Just another day for the SUPERMAN Group Editor

Hey folks! As usual, we have our regular “From the Editors” post coming your way. Being the diligent worker we all know and love, Matt Idelson managed to give us his entry early, as he made his escape to the distant land of Barcelona. Enjoy...

Spring has reverted to summer here in New York, which would be a nice thing if I could have class outside. Alas, I have a job to do, and panic’s starting to set in. The offices close early today going into Memorial Day weekend, and of course we’re closed Monday. Which means aside from Tuesday, I’ll be out of the office for a week and a half, attending a convention in Barcelona.

Tops on the priority list is putting a wrap on ACTION #878, the first of a two-part story by Greg Rucka & guest artist Diego Olmos that introduces us to a new pair of Kryptonian sleeper agents. Once I’m done giving the lettering a final pass, it comes down to waiting for the trusty and reliable Rod Reis to keep feeding us pages of color to go over. I know already that assistant editor Wil Moss and I will be reviewing pages over the course of the weekend so Rod can have the final colors ready for us when we come in Tuesday morning.

Not far behind that is keeping things moving on the ACTION ANNUAL, which comes out the week after ACTION #878. Greg’s done a very different story for this one, and it’s coming together beautifully. Pere Pérez, who knocked it out of the park with the GUARDIAN SPECIAL last fall, is doing all 40 pages of this one, and it’s pretty awesome. Right now I have to start reviewing Mazi’s colors for the book—they’re gorgeous, but of course I have to go over them with a fine-tooth comb and make sure everything is as it should be. The guy can color, though, no question!

My focus is broken when Wil, associate editor Sean Ryan and editor Liz Gehrlein pop in for our daily session of updates, problem solving and movie reviews. Today I discover that neither Liz nor Sean had seen “Taxi Driver” before the past weekend. I am appalled. Some of our discussion centers around actual work, in this case some ideas Geoff Johns has had for his contribution to the upcoming SUPERMAN SECRET FILES. Geoff has an alteration in mind that opens up some interesting possibilities …

The gang leaves to do their thing, and I get back to ACTION – but wait! An excellent colorist who goes by the name “Blond” has accepted our offer to color the upcoming SUPERGIRL ANNUAL since our regular SUPERGIRL colorist, Nei Ruffino, is way too busy. That’s the good news. The bad news is that this means I have to establish a pay rate for him—I’m guessing he won’t do this for free out of love for the medium.

Oh, look – it’s almost 1. Gah! Clearly I’m not getting out of here when the offices close. That’s cool—I have the best job in the world anyway. Leisure and cookouts can wait. Especially when I get an email from David Macho in Spain, with Santiago Arcas’ colors for the first installment of our Captain Atom co-feature, which will debut in ACTION #879. David says in the email that we’ll be stunned by what we see. He wasn’t kidding!!!!!! Man, I can’t wait for that issue to come out. The readers are definitely in for a treat!

The phone rings and Jim Fletcher of DC Direct fame is on the line with some Superman-related questions, mostly of the “will this character be around a year from now?” variety. They do really cool stuff down there, and I’m eagerly awaiting my Mike Carlin action figure.

Cue a discussion over Rocket Reds with SUPERMAN artist Renato Guedes, figuring out what the tomb of Zor-El is going to look like with Pete Woods, going over lettering corrections for SUPERGIRL #42 with Sterling Gates, a new idea from Geoff (him again?!?) about the end of SUPERMAN: SECRET ORIGIN #2, annnnnd the end of the day has finally arrived! Well, it’s 1 o’clock somewhere …