DC Comics All Access: Pat McCallum

I'm on a Suicide mission.

No, wait, that sounds way too dramatic. The truth is I'm holding a donut, checking e-mail and I work in comics. It's March 2011, and I'm in the opening stages of putting together a new SUICIDE SQUAD monthly series as part of The New 52.

I've just hung up the phone with the series writer Adam Glass - his SQUAD pitch is fantastic. His two big guns: Deadshot (classic SQUAD character, no problem getting that approved), and ... Harley Quinn. Hmmm. It's an intriguing idea. Harley's a great character, she's a fresh face on the roster and she - as a Batman villain - brings star power to the team. Most important, Adam's got a take on the character that pushes her in a new direction. Trick is she's outside the SUICIDE SQUAD stable of characters. Unlike Deadshot, Harley's under the BATMAN umbrella. I gotta work this through with BATMAN Group Editor Mike Marts.

Mike's crazy busy prepping all (!) the Bat books that launched as part of The New 52, but he makes the time. We talk it through and he digs it. Greenlit.

We're rolling.

Plots get approved, scripts get written, and we're almost ready to start drawing. The last piece of the puzzle comes in the form of an e-mail attachment: DC Co-Publisher and guy-who-is-crazy-good-with-a-pencil Jim Lee steps in with a new look for Harley. With all character designs in place, pages for the series begin pouring in.

That launched SUICIDE SQUAD #1 and it's all been building up to SUICIDE SQUAD #6 and #7: The Hunt for Harley Quinn. Harley searching for the missing (dead?) Joker, her new origin revealed, the Squad relentlessly chasing their AWOL member through Gotham City ... by story's end, dirty secrets are exposed, characters die, and we make the team rue the day the Squad writer requested Harley for the team.

Place your bets: SUICIDE SQUAD #6 & 7, Harley Quinn vs. the Suicide Squad!

- Pat McCallum

Pat McCallum is the editor on SUICIDE SQUAD and a bunch of other stuff. He enjoys donuts.

Tomorrow’s DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 Releases

Earlier today, we linked to all of the exclusive previews of the fifth issues from DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 that are going 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.

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

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

COMIC BOOK RESOURCES ran an exclusive preview of GREEN LANTERN #5 and COMICVINE has your first look at LEGION LOST #5. IFANBOY quenched your thirst for more DEMON KNIGHTS with their sneak peek at issue #5 and NEWSARAMA debuted the first five pages of BATGIRL #5.

Meanwhile, CRAVE ONLINE showed pages from RESURRECTION MAN #5 and GAWKER’s KOTAKU previewed BATMAN AND ROBIN #5. IGN posted pages from GRIFTER #5 and DC Comics’ official Facebook page put up five pages from MISTER TERRIFIC #5. MAXIM shed a spotlight on SUICIDE SQUAD #5 and MTV GEEK has a glance at DEATHSTROKE #5. Over at UGO, check out a sequence from BATWOMAN #5 and head over to WIRED’s GEEKDAD for a first look at FRANKENSTEIN, AGENT OF S.H.A.D.E #5.

USA TODAY ran an exclusive preview of SUPERBOY #5 and interviewed series writer Scott Lobdell. “He doesn't understand right and wrong because it's not even in his field of vision. He doesn't have anything to go on," Lobdell said of the series’ eponymous protagonist.

To be continued …

Tomorrow’s DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 Releases

Earlier today, we linked to all of the exclusive previews of the fourth issues from DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 that are going 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.

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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 their previews of DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 by debuting an action-packed sequence from GREEN LANTERN #4.

USA TODAY ran an exclusive preview of BATGIRL #4 and interviewed series writer Gail Simone. “Where Batgirl struggles to do good with her survival experience, Mirror goes the other way and inflicts his pain on the rest of the world," Simone said of this issue’s final showdown between Batgirl and Mirror. “It's about identity and what we do with the lives we are given. That's a theme that runs throughout Barbara's adventures. You're given your fondest wish — what do you do with that gift?”

Need a little more bat to help you get through your Tuesday? COMIC BOOK RESOURCES previewed BATMAN AND ROBIN #4 and IFANBOY previewed BATWOMAN #4.

Or maybe you want something with a little more edge (see what I did there)? IGN has the first four pages of DEATHSTROKE #4, GAWKER’s IO9 has your first look at SUICIDE SQUAD #4 and MTV GEEK previewed GRIFTER #4.

If you’re looking for something slightly more on the dark side, MAXIM has an exclusive preview of DEMON KNIGHTS #4, BLOODY DISGUSTING has a first look at RESURRECTION MAN #4 and PASTE MAGAZINE debuted an interior sequence from FRANKENSTEIN, AGENT OF S.H.A.D.E. #4. “Issue #4 wraps up all the plotlines from the first three issues and sets the next arc in motion,” series writer Jeff Lemire told PASTE. “It’s a big fun science-fiction adventure with lots of monsters killing other monsters. At the end it sets up Frank’s team, the Creature Commandos, with S.H.A.D.E., and we go with that for a few issues.”

Over at UGO, there’s an exclusive preview of SUPERBOY #4. TOR.COM has a look at MISTER TERRIFIC #4 and NEWSARAMA has your first sneak peek at LEGION LOST #4.

And just in case you’re still craving more of DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 after all of that, take a sneak peek at BATMAN #5 below with Chris Burnham’s a-maze-ing variant cover.

To be continued …

THE EDGE Group Solicits

(Previous interior art shown)

O.M.A.C. #7

Written by DAN DIDIO and KEITH GIFFEN

Art and cover by KEITH GIFFEN and SCOTT KOBLISH

On sale MARCH 7 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

Kevin Kho wakes to find himself trapped inside the Toledo Zoo and unable to “Omactivate”! But things turn really weird when he discovers the animals can talk – and they all live in fear of the horrific taskmaster known as Warden Gaym. Now Kevin’s only hope to escape is to go through the place the terrified animals call “The Evil Factory.”

STORMWATCH #7

Written by PAUL JENKINS

Art and cover by MIGUEL SEPULVEDA

1:25 B&W Variant cover by MIGUEL SEPULVEDA

On sale MARCH 7 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+

They’ve come to steal Earth’s gravity! When a scientific experiment tears a hole in the barrier between dimensions, gravity miners from a forbidden universe invade our world! Can Stormwatch – with their ranks depleted after the cataclysmic events of last issue – find a way to repel alien excavators that shred our reality with every touch?

DEATHSTROKE #7

Written by KYLE HIGGINS

Art by JOE BENNETT and ART THIBERT

Cover by SIMON BISLEY

On sale MARCH 14 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+

For weeks, Deathstroke has fought to learn the identity of the person manipulating him from the shadows – the person who sent him the briefcase and created the Legacy identity. Now, Slade will face this threat head on as an important figure from his past returns with a vengeance. Throw everything you thought you knew about Slade Wilson out the window, because everything changes after this issue’s unbelievable battle!

GRIFTER #7

Written by NATHAN EDMONDSON

Art and cover by SCOTT CLARK and DAVE BEATY

On sale MARCH 14 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

Guest-starring MIDNIGHTER! A voice is calling from the Himalayas; a dark secret awaits Grifter. He tracks it down, only to discover that the secret has a protector: Midnighter, who must not allow Grifter to leave the mountains alive. A massive battle on treacherous ice slopes shows Grifter that he’s in a world of heroes he cannot defeat and opens him up to new world-changing secrets as deadly as they are powerful.

VOODOO #7

Written by JOSH WILLIAMSON

Art by SAMI BASRI

Cover by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER

On sale MARCH 28 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+

After returning to the Daemonite space station hunting for answers, Voodoo learns that you should careful what you wish for. Will the truth of the Daemonite hybrids force Voodoo to turn on her masters or will she finally succumb to her dark side?

SUICIDE SQUAD #7

Written by ADAM GLASS

Art by CLAYTON HENRY

Cover by IVAN REIS and EBER FERREIRA

On sale MARCH 14 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+

Hunted through the streets of Gotham City, her former teammates on the Suicide Squad in relentless pursuit – Harley Quinn is out of friends, out of luck and out of time. Will Harley find The Joker before the Squad finds her? Place your bets, people: It’s Harley Quinn vs. the Suicide Squad! Plus: Harley’s origin revealed – it ain’t pretty!

(Not final cover)

BLACKHAWKS #7

Written by MIKE COSTA

Art by CAFU and BIT

Cover by KEN LASHLEY

On sale MARCH 28 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

The Blackhawks have always worked in the shadows, hidden away from public view – but now that they’ve been caught on video, and that video has gone viral, the game has changed. Their U.N. masters have added Valkyrie to the team, a woman as skilled at navigating the world of public relations as she is at flying cutting-edge aircraft – it’s too bad the rest of the Blackhawks hate her guts! But while the Blackhawks’ greater mission is public knowledge, team leader Lincoln is still keeping some serious secrets!

MEN OF WAR #7

Written by JAMES ROBINSON and J.T. KRUL

Art by SCOTT KOLINS and PHIL WINSLADE

Cover by VIKTOR KALVACHEV

On sale MARCH 7 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T+

It’s not the War on Drugs, but these SAS soldiers find themselves battling for control of a poppy field. Can they knock out this Taliban cell’s money source in order to win the bigger battle? Plus: It might have been battle skill or luck that helped Blake survive the crash of his patrol helicopter in Iraq – but which will get him through returning to civilian life?

ALL-STAR WESTERN #7

Written by JUSTIN GRAY and JIMMY PALMIOTTI

Art by MORITAT, PATRICK SCHERBERGER and DAN GREEN

Cover by LADRONN

On sale MARCH 28 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T+

Jonah Hex tracks the kidnapper Thurston Moody to New Orleans in pursuit of his bounty. But he and Amadeus Arkham find New Orleans under attack by the August 7, a group of anti-immigrant, steampunk terrorists. Only the renowned Nighthawk and Cinnamon stand between the terrorists and the immigrant workforce of this city. Hex consents to put the bounty aside (for the moment) to help his friends and finds himself in a battle to the death! Plus: Some of the best love stories are tempered with revenge, especially in the case of Nighthawk and Cinnamon.

New origin for Harley Quinn revealed in SUICIDE SQUAD #6 & #7

In this two-part story “The Hunt for Harley Quinn” written by Adam Glass with art by Clayton Henry, Harley’s former teammates on the Suicide Squad track her through Gotham City as she tries to discover the truth behind the Joker’s disappearance.

Along the way we’ll learn Harley’s origin as Dr. Harleen Quinzel, a groundbreaking psychiatrist who works her way into the Joker’s mind as he works his way into hers, revealing her own madness within.

When we asked editor Pat McCallum about this storyline here’s what he had to say, “We don’t promise a happy ending. But the book’s called SUICIDE SQUAD, so I guess that should be obvious. 'The Hunt for Harley Quinn' is the mission we’ve been building to since SQUAD #1. While we’ll learn Harley’s origin, observe her first meeting with the Joker, see a new Squad lineup AND learn why King Shark has been acting so weird, it’s the last few pages of issue #7 that are a punch to the gut. For the Squad members that survive (and not all will), 'The Hunt for Harley Quinn' will leave them scarred both inside and out. Deadshot fans be warned.”

(The cover of SUICIDE SQUAD #7 by Ivan Reis and Eber Ferreira)

THE EDGE Group Solicits

STORMWATCH #6

Written by PAUL CORNELL

Art and cover by MIGUEL SEPULVEDA

1:25 Variant cover by MIGUEL SEPULVEDA

On sale FEBRUARY 1 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US RATED T+

What lurks within the Stormwatch space station? As the origin of their alien HQ is revealed, what’s left of the decimated Stormwatch roster regroups and a new team is formed! Apollo, Midnighter, Martian Manhunter...who’s in, who’s out and who’s the new team leader? Note: The catastrophic events of this issue – especially the secret of Stormwatch HQ – will be felt in upcoming issues of GRIFTER and VOODOO!

GRIFTER #6

Written by NATHAN EDMONDSON

Art and cover by SCOTT CLARK and DAVE BEATY

On sale FEBRUARY 8 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US RATED T

Grifter is way out of his element when The Daemonites hold him on a hovering spaceship where no man can get to him. Fortunately, Sofia is no man – but will she arrive before a horrific alien ceremony centering on the super-powerful Black Curate has gone too far? Cole Cash will find someone he never expected to see again, he will discover how integral he is to the Daemonite’s master plan, and uncover clues that will bring him face to face with Stormwatch and Voodoo.

DEATHSTROKE #6

Written by KYLE HIGGINS

Art by JOE BENNETT and ART THIBERT

Cover by SIMON BISLEY

On sale FEBRUARY 8 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US RATED T+

As the mercenary known as Deathstroke, Slade Wilson has worked a lot of tough jobs. But Slade’s biggest challenge may not have involved fighting at all – it may have involved love. Just who was Adeline? And what happened to his son, Grant? Find out in issue #6 as the veil of Slade Wilson’s past begins to lift!

SUICIDE SQUAD #6

Written by ADAM GLASS

Art by TOM RANEY

Cover by PAUL RENAULD

On sale FEBRUARY 8 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US RATED T+

“The Hunt for Harley Quinn” starts here! After causing a prison riot and escaping an “escape-proof” supervillain penitentiary, the maniacal Harley Quinn is on the loose! The race is on as Deadshot – leading an all-new Suicide Squad – tracks his former teammate as Harley hunts the love of her life: the Joker! Plus: Don’t miss the unofficial crossover with STORMWATCH #6, tying into the explosive events of that issue!

(Cover #5 shown)

VOODOO #6

Written by JOSH WILLIAMSON

Art by SAMI BASRI

Cover by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER

On sale FEBRUARY 22 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US RATED T+

Following the shocking events of last issue, Voodoo feels betrayed by her own people and wants to be left alone. Little does she know Agent Fallon and the Black Razors are looking for revenge – but first they need to break another Daemonite Hybrid out of jail to help them track her down. The identity of that Daemonite Hybrid will leave you stunned!

O.M.A.C. #6

Written by DAN DIDIO and KEITH GIFFEN

Art by SCOTT KOLINS and SCOTT KOBLISH

Cover by KEITH GIFFEN and SCOTT KOBLISH

On sale FEBRUARY 1 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

A quiet double date for Kevin Kho turns into a battle for O.M.A.C.’s life as he faces the seductive menace of the ever so deadly Sweet Leilani! Meanwhile, Max Lord reluctantly joins Brother Eye in his search for answers about the creature known as Zero Patient! Featuring the work of guest artist Scott Kolins!

BLACKHAWKS #6

Written by MIKE COSTA

Art by CAFU and BIT

Cover by KEN LASHLEY

On sale FEBRUARY 22 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US RATED T

While the rest of the field team puts down a sudden uprising of rogue technology, Irish and Attila make the most of their medical leave by getting wasted in an Eastern European dive bar – though the locals don’t take kindly to having U.N. peacekeepers nosing around in their business…

MEN OF WAR #6

Written by IVAN BRANDON and JOHN ARCUDI

Art by TOM DERENICK and RICHARD CORBEN

Cover by VICTOR KALVACHEV

On sale FEBRUARY 1 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US RATED T+

Joe Rock has escaped the mercenary soldiers holding Easy Company captive, but to free his men he must eliminate the payday that these unkillable men are after – and prove himself worthy of the title Sergeant Rock!

Also: A Battle of Gettysburg reenactment goes horribly wrong when the souls of the dead rise up for revenge!

ALL-STAR WESTERN #6

Written by JUSTIN GRAY and JIMMY PALMIOTTI

Art by MORITAT and PHIL WINSLADE

Cover by LADRONN

On sale FEBRUARY 22 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US RATED T+

Jonah Hex fights a giant bat to the death! But even with his winged foe slain, will he and Amadeus Arkham survive being trapped in a cave with the lost tribe of Miagani Indians? Hex and Arkham must enlist help – including some familiar faces and some surprising saviors – if they’re going to make it out of this death trap and bring justice to the enslaver of Gotham’s underprivileged children.

Plus: The Barbary Ghost proves that a girl can be a gang boss’s worst nightmare when she has vengeance on her mind.

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

Over the past few days, we’ve been linking to all of the exclusive previews of the third issues from DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 that are going 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.

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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 …

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