darren shan | DC Comics

DC Comics All Access: Bob Harras

And so we come to Week Four–marking the end of September, the month that ushered in the debut of DC Comics-The New 52 and the unprecedented transformation of the entire DC Universe. It’s hard to believe we’re finally here because for us September started a long time ago. Let me explain:

It’s been quite a ride since the writers conference that initiated this evolution. It’s been a year of pitch meetings, story conferences and design sessions that often went far into the night. It’s been a year of hard work on everyone’s part and truth be told – it’s been a lot of fun.

One of my favorite aspects of this period was our weekly New 52 editorial meeting. Every Friday, all of us in DC Editorial—me, our Executive Editor Eddie Berganza, VP Art Direction & Design Mark Chiarello, Coordinating Editor Liz Gehrlein, Group Editors Matt Idelson and Mike Marts, Senior Editors Bobbie Chase and Joey Cavalieri, Editors Pat McCallum, Brian Cunningham and Rachel Gluckstern, Associate Editors Janelle Asselin, Harvey Richards, Rex Ogle, Wil Moss, Chris Conroy and Assistant Editors Sean Mackiewicz, Katie Kubert, Kate Stewart, Darren Shan and Rickey Purdin—would assemble in our conference room for a two-hour gathering (complete with pizza—any cholesterol concerns temporarily forgotten) not to discuss schedules, or production concerns (these we saved for other meetings)—but to share. Everyone came to that meeting with whatever new material had excited them: whether it was a new script, new art from one of the titles, new designs or new logo concepts. It allowed everybody to see what was being used to build The New 52. Pages would be passed around, discussions would ensue—but most of all, excitement would build.

As that excitement built I was constantly reminded that comics are unique. Unlike movies, or TV, or even video games, comics have no budgetary restraints. A writer and an artist working together as a team can move you from the banality of an office in a major American metropolis to the heart of a dying planet from one page to the next. They can bring characters you care passionately about to places that cannot possibly exist except in the realm of imagination…or in comics.

It is that blend of story and art—that sense of wonder—that you will see in such titles as AQUAMAN by Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis, or TEEN TITANS by Scott Lobdell and Brett Booth or THE FLASH by Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato. These are only three examples of the excitement we can finally share with you as part of the New 52.

September may be ending (longest September ever)—but for The New 52 and for DC Comics, trust me, things are only getting started…

See you in October,

Bob Harras – Editor in Chief

From The Editor’s Desk: Brian Cunningham and Darren Shan on Doug Mahnke

Over the course of the past week, we’ve been shedding extra spotlight on several artists here on THE SOURCE. We’ve been in conversation with these artists, their creative teams and their editors to provide you with exclusive sneak peeks of the incredible work that goes into creating the art you see in our books week after week.

Some of the people we talked to included Art Baltazar and Franco, who explained the art of cartooning, Nicola Scott and Doug Hazelwood, who walked us through their collaborative process on TEEN TITANS, and Scott Snyder and Jock, who shared with us how they work together to turn a script page into final art.

Today marks the final post of this artist spotlight series. We reached out to editors Brian Cunningham and Darren Shan to talk about GREEN LANTERN artist Doug Mahnke. Take it away, guys:

For the past 16 years, artist Doug Mahnke has made DC Comics his home, and we couldn’t be happier!

From MAJOR BUMMER to SUPERMAN: MAN OF STEEL to JLA, Doug has continued to grow and evolve as one of the business’ top talents. What’s more impressive is that Doug can draw an issue every four weeks, the mark of a true professional that has mastered his craft.

Nowadays, Doug plies his talents on GREEN LANTERN, one of our top sellers, issue #65 of which is on sale right now.

Check out his pencils here for GREEN LANTERN #65 page 1, followed by Christian Alamy’s inks and Randy Mayor’s colors. The page 1 pencils show a work-in-progress pencil rough that Doug polished off in his usual tight style.

Pretty cool, right? Take a peek at some more GL #65 pencils-to-colors below.

Be sure to read the entire GREEN LANTERN #65 to ogle more of Doug’s incredible art.

Tags:

brian cunningham, christian alamy, darren shan, doug mahnke, green lantern, randy mayor

From the Editor's Desk: Brian Cunningham on War of the Green Lanterns

When I was recently handed the editorial reins to GREEN LANTERN, GREEN LANTERN CORPS and GREEN LANTERN: EMERALD WARRIORS, it felt admittedly daunting. I was coming on board just as all three titles raced into the massive crossover story, “War of the Green Lanterns.” It was an intimidating prospect.

At our first story conference back in December, the experience was unlike any I’ve had before. The creative energy between writers Geoff Johns, Peter Tomasi and Tony Bedard just sizzled with electricity. And riffing along with them were editors Eddie Berganza, Adam Schlagman, Darren Shan and myself.

In the considerably tiny conference room, huge ideas were put forth. Giant sheets of paper were taped to a wall, and with every cool moment or scene written down with markers, we had the makings of a major turning point in the lives of Hal Jordan, Guy Gardner, John Stewart and Kyle Rayner. I was simply stunned at how committed the team was with pushing boundaries, asking taboo questions and taking real creative risks.

And while every single Green Lantern gets affected by the story’s outcome, none shine more brightly than franchise star Hal Jordan. Hal meets this enormous challenge the only way he knows how—head on with a healthy dose of fear that he needs to overcome. That he MUST overcome. Simply put, Hal makes choices throughout the “War” that will both thrill and chill, and that is not hyperbole. Not at all.

The post-“War” worlds of all three GREEN LANTERN titles look very little like they did before it started. Again, I stress, not hyperbole. I wish I could tell you more, but I have to save SOME surprises for you guys!

I hope you guys enjoy it as much as the teams that put it all together do.

Tags:

adam schlagman, brian cunningham, darren shan, eddie berganza, Geoff Johns, green lantern, green lantern corps, green lantern: emerald warriors, guy gardner, hal jordan, john stewart, kyle rayner, peter tomasi, tony bedard, war of the green lanterns

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