DC Universe Relaunches in September!

[BackinBlack]

www.newsarama.com/comics/DC-Universe-Reboot-Announcement-110531.html

A fully revamped DC Universe for a "more modern and diverse 21st century", over 50 new #1 issues, a Geoff Johns-Jim Lee Justice League, and the first of the major comic book publishers to fully embrace "same-day" digital distribution...

That is the breaking news from DC Entertainment Tuesday afternoon, finally and officially breaking their silence about their post-Flashpoint plans for their flagship line of comic book titles.

The center of intense rumor and speculation for months now, DC confirmed today that the fictional shared universe of Batman, Wonder Woman, Superman, Green Lanterm and more will undergo a revamp of their oft-rewritten 76 year-plus history of shared continuity.

Geoff Johns promised USA Today "a focus on the interpersonal relationships within DC's trademark superteam." "What's the human aspect behind all these costumes?" he tells the publication. "That's what I wanted to explore."

The revamp will reportedly involve "introducing readers to stories that are grounded in each character's specific legend but also reflect today's real-world themes and events."

Jim Lee reportedly "spearheaded" the redesign of more than 50 costumes to make characters "more identifiable and accessible to comic fans new and old."

"We looked at what was going on in the marketplace and felt we really want to inject new life in our characters and line," added co-publisher Dan DiDio. "This was a chance to start, not at the beginning, but at a point where our characters are younger and the stories are being told for today's audience."

Along with the revamp, and sure to cause uproar among those who buy comic books as collectibles, all DC Universe titles will also be renumbered with new #1 issues, including the industry's two longest-running titles - Action Comics, the birthplace of Superman - and Detective Comics, the home of Batman and namesake of the publisher - the former of which recently published its 900th issue, with the latter in the 880s.

The first officially announced title and creative team of the new era was revealed as well. DC Entertainment co-publisher Jim Lee and Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns will be teaming as artist and writer, respectively, on Justice League #1, launching August 31st and starring Batman, Superman,Wonder Woman, The Flash, Green Lantern, and Aquaman.

Finally, DC also announced they plan to make all of their titles available for sale in digital format on the same day as their publlished counterparts, starting with Justice League #1. While the decision could probably be described as inevitable, the announcement will still likely be poorly received among some segments of "Direct Market" comic book retailers, whose stores account for the current backbone of monthly comic book sales.

DC has previously taken steps to ease the eventual move to fully same-day digital distribution, announcng in March a partnership with digital distributor comiXology allowing individual retailers to sell digital editions of DC comics through their websites, for a share of the online retail price.

The publisher also sent a letter directly to direct market retailers addressing their announcement. In it, SVP, Sales, DC Entertainment Bob Wayne told retailers, "DC Comics will support this initiative with an innovative mix of publicity, promotional efforts and retailer incentives designed to maximize your opportunity to increase your DC sales. We will discuss additional details of these incentives when we get closer to solicitation later in June."

"We're allowing people who have never bought a comic book in their lives to download them on portable media devices and take a look," Lee said. "Having the ability to give people access to these comics with one button click means we're going to get a lot of new readers."

Lee told USA Today what makes this plan so ambitious is that it's not just about changes in characters or costumes but setting the stage for how comic books will be consumed in the future.

"We're trying to set the table for the DC Universe's future success and health."

More information, including other creative teams, titles, and character changes, is expected with September 2011 solicitations, which should be released Monday June 13, 2011.

Reached for any immediate reaction to DC's new digital publication policy, Marvel Comics declined to comment Tuesday afternoon.

www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=32566

Included in the 52 series will be:

A new title starring Superman written by Grant Morrison.

Birds of Prey #1 - This new ongoing series will not feature the work of longtime "BoP" writer Gail Simone. In fact, many tried and true approaches to books will be getting a second look at DC in September.

Teen Titans #1 - The new start for the teen team will be written by "Red Robin" scribe Fabian Nicieza.

Justice Society of America #1 - Only one of a number of current titles that will welcome a creative team shift, the future of the original superhero team will apparently not involve current writer Marc Guggenheim.

Wonder Woman #1 - Don't expect the recent changes from writer J. Michael Straczynski to stick when the Amazing Amazon sees another new #1 hit.

Green Lantern #1 - Even with a new #1, Green Lantern remains in Johns' hands, and readers can expect the effects of major crossovers like "Blackest Night" to stay in place moving forward.

Hawkman #1 - While fans have known a "Hawkman" series by James Robinson has been in the works since the writer mentioned it on a panel at New York Comic Con, Bleeding Cool's Rich Johnston has been reporting the rumor that the book will be drawn by "Batman & Robin" and "Outsiders" artist Philip Tan.

Aquaman #1 - No surprises here. The already announced series featuring the sea king by Johns and Ivan Reis will be part of the relaunch wave.

Well I'm a little torn on this. On one hand, this is definitely a big way to come off of Flashpoint. Though all my worries lie in just how much continuity has changed. I mean, have all the comics and stories I've bought these years been for nothing? There are some things that could use some minor changes, but sometimes they could go to far. Both the first Crisis and Infinite Crisis brought about changes, but the post-Flashpoint DCU seems to be going on a more drastic scale.
From a Batman standpoint, are Bruce and Dick both still Batman? Cause from looking at this pic, Bruce is back in the classic suit. Where does this leave Dick? Back as Nightwing? Yeah, that's a big step back. Not only that, but what about Morrison's work? Does Damian still exist? Is Bruce's Batman Incorporated endeavor over after only 10 issues?
And of course, there's the issue of renumbering. If DC just goes ahead and renumbers both Action Comics and Detective Comics, there longest running uninterrupted titles both going around 900, then they've officially become Marvel and don't care about the numbering.
I don't know what the big picture is yet, but these are my gut reactions to all the news. As a collector of Batman books, I'd like to know what the hell I can expect in September.I also wonder what this means for the upcoming Justice League International title that was announced.
For some reason, I'm getting a "Heroes Reborn" feel from the Justice League pic. Besides that, what's up with Cyborg? He looks kinda weird. And is he supposed to be taking J'onn's place? Why is that anyway?
Fanboy rant over.

[BackinBlack]

One more point: Wasn't the Earth One line supposed to be the modernized DCU and be its Ultimate line?

[Caveboy0]

i hope batman doesn't change. i love the 2 batmans. i think its the perfect spot for dick greyson.

if they change that i'll be pissed.

to me its stupid because I AM a new reader. i've been reading for like 2 years.

and they are already trying to get new readers. so what does that mean exactly? in another 2 years they'll change it again?

new readers is like the word tomorrow. there will always be a tomorrow just as they're will always be "new readers"

what is today but yesterday's tomorrow?

[BackinBlack]

Jun 1, 2011 10:50:23 GMT -5 Caveboy0 said:

i hope batman doesn't change. i love the 2 batmans. i think its the perfect spot for dick greyson.

if they change that i'll be pissed.

to me its stupid because I AM a new reader. i've been reading for like 2 years.

and they are already trying to get new readers. so what does that mean exactly? in another 2 years they'll change it again?

new readers is like the word tomorrow. there will always be a tomorrow just as they're will always be "new readers"

what is today but yesterday's tomorrow?

Exactly. I mean, isn't the whole "Keeping the line at $2.99" enough? I can also understand a line wide jumping on point, but to this degree of relaunching all their books could backfire on them.
As I said before in reference to Dick, if he goes back to being Nightwing, it would be a huge step back for him. I'm concerned about most of the Batman line. Is Batman Incorporated still gonna be in Bruce's plan? Will Damian still be around? Will Jason be dead again? Will Barbara walk again? Will Tim get a "Red Robin and the Outsiders" title as hinted at in Batman Inc. #6? So many quesitons. I hope some them get answered when the solicits come out in 12 days.

We do have some more details:

- Geoff Johns and Jim Lee's Justice League will begin its first year with an "updated secret origin reflecting DC's new initiative, giving the group a reason for coming together that it lacked when the league first appeared in 1960."

The team will ultimately boast 14 members, with the iconic core of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Green Lantern and Aquaman.

Cyborg will also be part of the team, with Johns calling him, "the modern-day, 21st-century superhero".

"He represents all of us in a lot of ways. If we have a cellphone and we're texting on it, we are a cyborg — that's what a cyborg is, using technology as an extension of ourselves."

"The approach is very much about who they are behind the masks and how they interact together and how these personalities mix," Johns told USA Today of the title. "With the world's greatest superheroes, how does that team actually work? Do they all get along? Being able to pull together and see how that relationship is forged and continues to grow has to be at the heart of that book."

- Diversity will be a key theme, with what's called "recent emphasis" on diverse characters such as the lesbian Batwoman and the Hispanic Blue Beetle (along with the African-American Cyborg) continuing.

Says DiDio: "It's not just about straight superhero characters and stories. We're going to use war comics, we have stories set in mystery and horror, we've got Westerns."

- Three-quarters of the current title's creative teams will be "shuffled around", though series that are successful and writer/artist combinations that work well together "won't be tweaked too much."

With 14 members, maybe J'onn will still be on the team. I'm just glad that we're getting a real Justice League. I tried to get into the JLA book last year, but it couldn't keep my interest. It's kind of similar to me and the Avengers. I tried to jump-on when New Avengers started in 2005, but I dropped it. Now after Siege, I regularly get Avengers and New Avengers. Point is, this new Justice League title will be a good jumping-on point with the team line-up and creative team. However, I still hope there will be a Justice League International title.

[Caveboy0]

well if batwoman is still around then i dont' see why any of the other bat family would leave.

i dont' see why they have to really touch batman at all though. i mean outside of morrisons work batman is still easy to jump into. you have detective comics, batman and robin, and recently the mini series batman gates of gotham.

and yeah putting dick back as nightwing totally feels like a demotion. perhaps they could give him a new batman persona. i could see a sort of black and blue short eared batman. a new identity would be the best option. assuming they want to only have one batman.

but still i love the 2 batmans. it works perfectly in the context of batman inc.

the state of batman inc is a big issue, but also green lantern perhaps. i think after war of the green lanterns is done. hal will finally come back to earthly duties which would be the most natural change out of any of the titles.

i am very very excited that morrison will be writing superman again. what he did with all star superman is unlike any other superman comic.

[BackinBlack]

You think Morrison will still be on a Batman book, even while writing Superman?

[Caveboy0]

2 comics is relatively easy to handle. it depends what else he will be looking on doing.

if its just batman inc and superman. he'll do fine.

[BackinBlack]

DC has now revealed a number of new titles that are spinning out of their Justice League line (covers included in link):

www.newsarama.com/comics/dc-revamped-justice-league-titles-110602.html

Wonder Woman by Brian Azzarello and Cliff Chiang

Aquaman by Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis

The Flash by Francic Manapul

The Fury of Firestorm by Ethan Van Sciver, Gail Simone, and Yildiray Cinar

The Savage Hawkman by Tony Daniel and Phillip Tan

Green Arrow by JT Krul and Dan Jurgens

Justice League International by Dan Jurgens and Aaron Lopresti

Mister Terrific by Eric Wallace and Roger Robinson

Captain Atom by JT Krul and Freddie Williams II

An anthology title called DC Universe Presents

It's looking good so far. From this list, I'm gonna be getting Flash and JLI.

[Caveboy0]

i've been liking geoff johns work on the current flash, but i guess at the end of the day it was just a lead up to flash point.

[BackinBlack]

DC has announced the titles for the Green Lantern line:
www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=32612

Green Lantern by Geoff Johns, Doug Mahnke, and Christian Alamy

Green Lantern Corps by Peter J. Tomasi, Fernando Pasarin and Scott Hanna

Green Lantern: The New Guardians by Tony Bedard, Tyler Kirkham and Batt

Red Lanterns by Peter Milligan, Ed Benes and Rob Hunter

Doesn't sound too much is changing for the GL line. I hope the same will apply for Batman.

On a sidenote, I think DC would benefit by putting out a new "History of the DC Universe" mini like they did after the first crisis. It would helps fans alot IMO.

[Caveboy0]

CURSE YOU DC!!!!

"we want to please everybody"

fuck that you'er not pleasing anyone.

they will probably kill off dick grayson or demote the fuck out of him leaving him to show up once in a fucking while or try a series and fail cause he's not the damn batman!

and i guess batman inc will just randomly end. not to say it was the best comic series around or anything, but any potential it has is now smooshed.

DC is being blind really. how many damn times has marvel renumbered their comics and tried to find a place for new readers.

it seems like a few times every year. its a gimmick obviously. now once batman comics get more complex then batman fighting joker they're going to have to go back to #1

so basically any hope for batman comics truly evolving are gone. the almighty status quo reigns supreme.

[BackinBlack]

I think we should wait and see if DC still has more Battitles to announce. There's still a chance Batman Inc is still around. That, and apparently there will be a new Nightwing book. Plus, there's still a question about what Tim will be doing.
I'm just glad that Damian is still around as Robin. I'm bummed Dick won't be Batman anymore, but it was inevitable.
I'm gonna miss the new suit Bruce was wearing. At least it now kinda looks like the Arkham Asylum/City suit with an armored look.

[Caveboy0]

as much as i like tim drake i was never interested in his red robin comic. but like the last issue of batman inc he may be the star of the outsiders is it?

but idk a knightwing title sure, but will it have the talent he's been getting as batman? i don't think so.

i am glad that they are keeping the creative tea for batman and robin and that damian will still be there.

as long as the motiff of the series is intact i think it'll do great and be no different.

i guess when you take out batman inc in the equation the story direction really won't change. it just the image of it all will.

snyder has done an amazing job with detective comics and i'm sure he'll do great with batman.

idk. overall it feels like batman has jammed the parking break on for standard murder mystery story lines.

[BackinBlack]

Here's a round-up of the Bat-news:
www.newsarama.com/comics/dcnu-detective-batman-titles-110606.html

Batman by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo

Detective Comics by Tony Daniel

Batman and Robin by Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason

Batman: The Dark Knight by David Finch and Jay Fabok

Batwoman by J.H. Williams III, Haden Blackman and Amy Reeder

Batgirl by Gail Simone, Ardian Syaf and Vicente Cifuentes

Catwoman by Judd Winick and Guillem March

Birds of Prey by Duane Swierczynski and Jesus Saiz

Nightwing by Kyle Higgins and Eddy Barrows

Red Hood and the Outlaws by Scott Lobdell and Kenneth Rocafort

Batwing by Judd Winick and Ben Oliver

Bruce will be the one and only Batman, Damian will still be Robin, Dick will return to his role as Nightwing (in a costume that looks more like something Jason Todd would wear), and Barbara is Batgirl again.
I'm gonna kind of miss Bruce's new suit. At least this one looks like the Arkham Asylum/City suit. I figured Dick would be Nightwing again. Oh well. I also think it's weird Barbara is going to be Batgirl again. It's a shame part of The Killing Joke is apparently now retconned. I wonder where Tim and Stephanie are in all this. Will Tim get a book? Will Steph go back to being Spoiler? Hell, have they both been removed from continuity?

To close out, Grant Morrison has stated that Batman Incorporated will return next year with the 12-part conclusion to his 6 year run.

[Caveboy0]

well at least it'll be concluded. still seems like batman has been given the shaft.

you have a picture of the new nightwing costume?

never mind. pretty badass. i like the looks, but why red? he's blue. thats stupid.

thank god jason todd is changing his costume. that last one was just plain retarded. i could read that comic. i like the idea. he's been played off as too much of a villain. he should be more of an anti hero. a character taught under batman but rejects his teachings. he's been so bombastic lately thats its nearly impossible to root for him in any way.

also they better not retcon the killing joke.
---------
lol DC has their heads up their ass. "focus on diversity"

yeah 2 batmen is not diverse at all.

oh no its literal. batwing is getting a comic? thats odd, but i loved his costume since he was shown. i think it'll be really cool. too bad the ign community if filled with retards. "its fucking purple thats horrible"

its silver dumbasses. nobody understands lighting i guess.