For the eighth consecutive week, ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY ran an exclusive preview from DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 on their homepage. This time around? EW follows their exclusive previews of ACTION COMICS and SUPERBOY with the first look at SUPERGIRL #3.

Want more previews? COMICVINE has your first look at RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #3.

What else is going on? Well, AMAZON.COM named BATMAN: THE BLACK MIRROR and DAYTRIPPER to their list of Best Comics and Graphic Novels of 2011.

SCRIPPS HOWARD NEWS SERVICE reviewed BATMAN: NOEL, writing that “Batman at the center of a classic Christmas story is simply terrific.”

Meanwhile, COMIC BOOK RESOURCES interviewed T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS writer Nick Spencer. “The technology and its creation through the years is a major part of this story,” Spencer said about T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS Vol. 2, which premieres in stores later this month. “In the first issue, we start seeing what some of these things are, and Daniel in particular has a very big role to play in this story. All of those threads we set up, in the first issue especially, are all things that will be wrapped up here.”

To be continued …

(The cover for T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS VOL. 1 by Frank Quitely)

On November 16th, DC Comics will release issue #1 of a new six-issue T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS mini-series. Written by Nick Spencer, the mini-series will have Wes Craig as the main interior artist and include special guest artists in future issues (the same way the first volume of T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS was drawn by CAFU & Bit and featured guest artists like George Perez, Ryan Sook, Mike Grell, and Nick Dragotta). Providing the cover art for the entire mini-series will be FLASHPOINT artist Andy Kubert.

"It's the little book that could! Nothing seems to stop this thing,” Nick Spencer told us. “I'm very grateful to DC for allowing us to continue telling this story that everyone involved has become so passionate about. This is really what we've been building towards since the very first issue-- everything comes to a head here, and the twists and turns only get crazier as we delve deeper into it. To get to see this story through is enormously fulfilling from a creative perspective, and I'm excited and hopeful that with the collected edition on its way and the first arc already available digitally, we'll have an opportunity to introduce a legion of new readers to these fantastic characters and the rich history of T.H.U.N.D.E.R.”

“We were thrilled with the response the first volume of T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS got, so we wanted to do a new #1 so people who’ve been curious about the title would have a clean place to jump on board,” series editor Wil Moss said. “Nick Spencer has a crazy level of passion for this title, and he’s come up with a truly great story for this miniseries — underground warlords, deaths, rebirths, betrayals — trust me, you won’t want to miss it! And to have the incredibly versatile and talented Wes Craig on board as the main interior artist, with Andy freakin’ Kubert on board for covers? Not to mention the surprise guest artists who’ll be contributing to #2-5? You’ve no doubt already reworked your comics budget so you can pick up all 52 new books we’re launching in September — what’s one more?”

Just in time for new readers to catch up, T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS VOL. 1, a trade paperback capturing the first ten issues of volume one of the series will hit stores the same day as T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS #1. Keep checking back to THE SOURCE in the coming weeks and months as we reveal more about T.H.U.N.D.ER. AGENTS.

Comic legend Mike Grell has covered a wide range of the DC Universe during his remarkable career, from his early run on Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes to his long tenure as the ongoing writer of Green Arrow, and most famously as the creator of The Warlord.

What’s next up on his plate for DC? Drawing a sequence telling Iron Maiden’s backstory starting in issue 7 of T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents!

T.H.U.N.D.E.R. editor Wil Moss explains Mike Grell’s contribution to the series:

We’re thrilled to have an artist as legendary and as talented as Mike Grell on board to help us kick off the second arc of T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS with May’s #7, joining writer Nick Spencer and the regular art team of CAFU & Bit. Mike will be drawing a sequence starting in #7 that dives into the backstory of the classic TA foe The Iron Maiden, revealing the crucial role she played in the current team’s formation. Also starting in #7 is a sequence set even further in the past by the über-talented Nick Dragotta, channeling his inner Wally Wood. The secrets revealed in these two timelines will have shocking -- that’s right, shocking! -- consequences for the team in the present. So don’t miss it!

Check out a sneak peek at Grell’s art from the issue below! T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #7 is on sale in May.

I know I'm far from the only T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents  fan here. I've been tipped off to a few of the guest artists who'll be  contributing to upcoming issues, and they're just too cool not to share.  (Just check out the Francis Manapul cover for issue five above!) I'll let you hear the news straight from T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents editor, Wil Moss:

"Nick Spencer & CAFU have wowed everybody with the first two issues of T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS so far, but trust me, they’re just getting warmed up! And continuing the string of all-star guest artists who have been providing covers and flashback sequences for the book so far, March’s T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS #5 has a gorgeous Francis Manapul cover and a sublime five-page sequence by Ryan Sook! And in April, the great John Cassaday tackles the cover to #6, then starting in June with #7 the supremely talented Fiona Staples takes over as regular cover artist! And man, just wait until you see what Nick & CAFU have planned for the arc that starts with #7 ... As Toby would say, “Excited!”"

On a related note, Nick Spencer will be stepping off Supergirl to concentrate on T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, with writer James Peaty co-scripting issue #60 and then taking over for him from there. (Bernard Chang will stay on as artist for the book.) Here's what Supergirl editor Matt Idelson had to say about James Peaty:

"When I was deciding who should write this Supergirl arc, I knew I needed someone who could not just write a good story, but bring their  own unique vision to an in progress story. I've worked on and off with James  Peaty over the years and had been looking for the chance to do so again. James is no stranger to the DCU, having written adventures for Green Arrow, the Justice League, the JSA, Batman, and Supergirl."