|
Select a Category:
| DC Feature Articles |
Batman | Superman |
DC Universe | Beyond
the Universe/Mad Magazine |
| WildStorm/ABC/Homage |
Vertigo | DC Direct |
Complete Weekly Releases List |
THE POWER COMPANY
You
met them in the pages of JLA #61.
You
got to know them in last month's POWERSURGE one-shots.
Now it's time to witness the DCU's newest super-firm in action! Join
writer Kurt Busiek (The Avengers, ASTRO CITY) and artists Tom
Grummett (SUPERBOY, Section Zero) & Wade von Grawbadger (STARMAN)
as they get down to business with THE POWER COMPANY — an ongoing
series that promises to be the super-team everybody will be talking about,
and featuring a cover for issue #1 painted by Andrew Robinson (JSA,
STARMAN).
Josiah Power is a man with a mission, a once-successful lawyer whose
career was ruined due to emerging super-powers, and who has now found a
new direction in life. Together with Skyrocket, Manhunter, Striker Z,
Bork, Witchfire, and Sapphire, Josiah has formed the Power Company — a
full-service professional super-hero firm that has partners, associates,
billable hours, pro bono work, support staff, and more.
But
not all the members of the Power Company are there for the same reason.
Some are out to do good and save lives, while others want to make as much
money as possible. One member wants glory and fame, and another just wants
a good, steady job. And when the Power Company has to confront the
mysterious machinations of Doctor Cyber, the team may find itself out of
business before they've had a chance to set up shop!
This
project is supported with a 4-color poster, house and trade ads, and a
website promotion at www.dccomics.com.
THE
POWER COMPANY is an ongoing series edited by Peter Tomasi. Issue #1
arrives in comic-book stores February 13 with a cover price of $2.50 U.S.
BATMAN: "Bruce Wayne: Murderer?" —
Month Two
The most shocking storyline to hit Gotham City since "No Man's Land"
continues this month throughout most of the Batman-related titles. First
is DETECTIVE COMICS #767, written by Greg Rucka and featuring the
exciting debut of new series penciller Steve Lieber (Whiteout),
with inks by Mick Gray (PROMETHEA)! Will Sasha say Bruce committed the
murder in order to get out of jail? That same week in NIGHTWING #66
(written by Chuck Dixon with art by Rick Burchett & Rob Leigh), Dick and
Barbara dig deeper into the circumstances surrounding Bruce Wayne's
arrest, as Lockhaven erupts into fiery chaos! BATMAN: GOTHAM KNIGHTS
#26 (written by Devin Grayson with art by Roger Robinson & John Floyd)
shows that not everyone who loves Bruce thinks he's completely innocent!
In ROBIN #99 (written by Chuck Dixon with art by Pete Woods &
Andrew Pepoy), Alfred goes undercover to investigate a suspect in the
Bruce Wayne case, and Robin and Spoiler join forces once more! Finally, in
BIRDS OF PREY #40 (written by Dixon with art by Rick Leonardi &
Jesse Delperdang), Black Canary picks up an unwanted sidekick in the
Spoiler, while Oracle begins to learn the secret that may have led to the
murder. Robin arrives just in time as the case against Bruce Wayne takes a
dramatic turn, leading directly into BATMAN #600 — the first part of
"Bruce Wayne: Fugitive" (see related article)!
Catch the following "Bruce
Wayne: Murderer?" issues:
In stores February 13:
-
DETECTIVE COMICS #767
-
NIGHTWING #66
In stores February 20:
BATMAN #600 — "Bruce Wayne:
Fugitive"
While
BIRDS OF PREY #40 may be the final chapter of "Bruce Wayne: Murderer?",
it's just the beginning of another new twist to Batman's mounting
problems. BATMAN #600 is a special double-sized anniversary issue
igniting a new storyline that ushers in a new era for the Dark Knight:
"Bruce Wayne: Fugitive"!
In the 32-page lead story (by the regular creative team of Ed Brubaker,
Scott McDaniel & Andy Owen), all the members of Batman's hand-picked team
finally catch up with him for the first time since the events of BIRDS OF
PREY #40. Convening in the Batcave, they confront Batman for his alleged
crime, and for evading the criminal justice system. Dick Grayson is pushed
to his limits by Batman's betrayal of someone close to him, making Grayson
an orphan once again. Batman's behavior is so disturbing that it only adds
to doubts of his innocence — resulting in Batman and Nightwing going
toe-to-toe in an amazing display of combat between teacher and student.
Will Batman make his long transition into Gotham's guardian complete by
getting rid of his closest confidant?
This
issue also features backup stories celebrating the glory of this enduring
character, with all-new "forgotten" tales of Gotham's Dark Knight. "The
Mystery of the Black Bat" (written by Brubaker with art by James Tucker)
is an homage to the works of Bill Finger and Dick Sprang. "Joker Tips His
Hat" (written by Ed Brubaker with art by Stefano Gaudiano & Eric Shanower)
is an homage to the "new look" Batman defined in the mid-to-late '60s by
Carmine Infantino and others. The final backup, "The Dark, Groovy, Solid,
Far-Out, Right-On and Completely With-It Knight Returns," (written by
actor/comedian Patton Oswalt with art by Sergio Aragonés) is a humorous
look at Batman done in a style reminiscent of the '70s humor book PLOP!
The
"Bruce Wayne: Fugitive" storyline will run in only a few Batman-related
titles every month, culminating in July's BATMAN #605. In order to more
easily follow the "Fugitive" storyline, each tie-in issue will carry a
unique "puzzle piece" graphic in an upper corner of the cover to signify
it as part of the story. When put together, the pieces ultimately form the
cover image to BATMAN #605. Look for "blacked-out" puzzle pieces in the
next several months of solicitations to clue you in on "Fugitive" tie-ins!
This
issue is supported with house and trade ads and a web promotion at
www.dccomics.com.
BATMAN #600 is a 64-page issue edited by Bob Schreck, arriving in
comic-book stores February 27 with a cover price of $3.95 U.S.
JUST IMAGINE STAN LEE WITH JOHN
BYRNE CREATING ROBIN
2001
saw the launch of one of the most unexpected projects in comic-book
history, as legendary comics creator Stan Lee introduced his take on some
of the greatest names of the DC Universe. With art by luminaries spanning
from Joe Kubert to Jim Lee, these issues saw the debut of Stan's
distinctive versions of Batman, Wonder Woman, Superman, Green Lantern, the
Flash, and their team, the JLA. In February, the second wave of JUST
IMAGINE... one-shots begins, introducing five bold new characters from the
mind of Stan Lee, beginning with a teen hero whose name is the only thing
you'll recognize about him in JUST IMAGINE STAN LEE WITH JOHN BYRNE
CREATING ROBIN!
Illustrated by Byrne (SUPERMAN & BATMAN: GENERATIONS II, X-Men: The
Hidden Years) with inks by his X-Men collaborator, Terry
Austin, JUST IMAGINE...ROBIN co-stars Stan Lee's version of Batman. But
would we do something as traditional as putting together a new version of
the Dynamic Duo? Not likely! An orphan gifted with great agility and
intellect, the boy who would one day become Robin fell prey to the
mysterious machinations of Reverend Dominic Darrk, who now orders him to
attack Batman. Will the reluctant Robin find the strength to defy Darrk's
commands? And what are Darrk's ultimate plans for him? The answers begin
to unfold here!
Rounding out this issue are two covers — one by Byrne & Austin, the other
by award-winning WONDER WOMAN cover artist Adam Hughes — and a backup "On
the Street" story written by Lee and Michael Uslan, with art by the
legendary John Severin (DESPERADOES: QUIET OF THE GRAVE). Subsequent
issues will introduce Stan's versions of Shazam (illustrated by Gary
Frank), Catwoman (illustrated by Chris Bachalo), Aquaman (illustrated by
Scott McDaniel), and Sandman (illustrated by Walter Simonson). All this
sets the stage for the knockdown-dragout final installment, which we just
had to call CRISIS, co-starring all the heroes introduced in the JUST
IMAGINE... one-shots and illustrated by John Cassaday (PLANETARY,
Captain America)!
This
project is supported with house ads.
JUST
IMAGINE STAN LEE WITH JOHN BYRNE CREATING ROBIN is a 48-page one-shot in
the Prestige Format, edited by Mike Carlin. It arrives in comic-book
stores February 13 with a cover price of $5.95 U.S. [New Release Date:
February 27]
BATGIRL #25
Lady
Shiva is known to be the premier martial artist in the DC Universe. She is
unbeatable in combat — and if you face her, chances are you won't survive
for a rematch.
And yet Cassandra Cain, Batgirl, faced Lady Shiva in BATGIRL #8 — and
managed to sucker-punch the great fighter and walk away alive. But Shiva
promised to be back for another fight, and this time…it really is to the
death!
BATGIRL #25 is a special extra-sized issue that may be Cassandra's
last. Written by Kelley Puckett with art and cover by Damion Scott &
Robert Campanella, it's the rematch fans have been clamoring for — but the
outcome won't be what anyone expects! In SECRET FILES GUIDE TO THE DC
UNIVERSE 2001-2002, we saw Lady Shiva preparing for this fight, and in
BATGIRL #23 Cassandra trained hard…but is Batgirl really ready? Who ends
up as the #1 martial artist in the DC Universe after this? Or, to put it
another way: How strong is Cassandra's death wish?
This
issue is supported with house ads and a web promotion at
www.dccomics.com.
BATGIRL #25 is a 40-page issue edited by Michael Wright, arriving in
comic-book stores February 6 with a cover price of $3.25 U.S.
JLA: SHOGUN OF STEEL
In
another time and place — an Elseworld, if you will — a rocketship
blasted off from an exploding planet Krypton and landed not in Smallville,
Kansas, but rather war-torn, 14th-century feudal Japan. It was a time of
great strife caused by a mysterious and oppressive dictator feared
throughout the land of the rising sun: the indestructible "Shogun of
Steel!"
JLA: SHOGUN OF STEEL is a 64-page Prestige Format Elseworlds
one-shot written by Ben Raab (LEGEND OF THE HAWKMAN) and featuring the
stunning artistry of Justiniano (BEAST BOY). When the baby from Krypton
grows into a man, Hoshi, he is convinced by a ragtag band of warriors —
Elseworlds versions of the Flash, Hawkman, and Batgirl, among others —
to join a rebellion against the oppressive and cunning "Shogun of Steel."
Together with Hoshi, these warriors journey far to the Shogun's
impregnable Fortress of Solitude, but what they face is far deadlier than
any of them could have imagined — and the shock of the Shogun's
connections to Hoshi's origins may be too great for Hoshi to bear.
Raab
and Justiniano pull out all the stops in this Elseworlds epic that
offers a surprising twist to the familiar myths of the Man of Steel and
the World's Greatest Heroes!
This
project is supported with house ads.
JLA:
SHOGUN OF STEEL is a 64-page Prestige Format Elseworlds one-shot
edited by Joey Cavalieri, arriving in comic-book stores February 6 with a
cover price of $6.95 U.S.
History in the Making…
THE HISTORY OF THE DC UNIVERSE
TRADE PAPERBACK
In
the wake of the universe-shattering events of CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS,
the main creators of that company-changing event — writer Marv Wolfman and
penciller George Pérez — were called upon to restructure and reorder the
history of the DC Universe. Joined by inker Karl Kesel, they had the
unbelievable task of unifying the decades-long accumulation of historical
facts from multiple Earths into a cohesive whole for a new history of the
single-universe DCU.
Now that project, THE HISTORY OF THE DC UNIVERSE, returns in a new
104-page trade paperback edition — featuring an all-new painted wraparound
cover by Alex Ross (KINGDOM COME)! Narrated by Harbinger (a central figure
from CRISIS), THE HISTORY OF THE DC UNIVERSE brings readers back through
time and space to the dawn of creation, and continues to the end of
recorded history — as Harbinger reveals "the history of heroism."
Featuring an appearance by virtually every character in the DC Universe at
that time (circa 1986), this unusual project (featuring a combination of
beautiful art with prose) laid the foundation for all to come from the new
DCU.
The
CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS trade paperback — already in its second printing
— has been an unanticipated sales phenomenon. And now THE HISTORY OF THE
DC UNIVERSE — with its first new printing in 13 years — is sure to
capitalize on that success, at it makes the perfect sequel and bookshelf
companion piece to CRISIS.
This
project is supported with house ads.
THE
HISTORY OF THE DC UNIVERSE is a 104-page trade paperback arriving in
comic-book stores February 20 with a cover price of $9.95 U.S.
STARMAN: A STARRY KNIGHT
TRADE PAPERBACK
STARMAN: A STARRY KNIGHT is the seventh collection of the critically
acclaimed STARMAN series, co-written by Eisner Award-winning writer James
Robinson and JSA's David S. Goyer, and featuring the art of Peter
Snejbjerg, Steve Yeowell, Wade von Grawbadger, and Keith Champagne.
Reprinting STARMAN #47-53, A STARRY KNIGHT features a painted cover by
Tony Harris.
Starman, accompanied by his comrade Mikaal and a Mother Box-produced
hologram of his father, Ted Knight, begins a galaxy-spanning quest with
one near-impossible goal: to find the brother of his lady love, Sadie. But
an encounter with a mysterious Dark Colossus sends our reluctant hero
spiraling through time and space — to share adventures with the Legion of
Super-Heroes, to visit the long-dead planet Krypton (where he meets the
father of Superman), and to the planet Rann where he battles alien
invaders alongside the legendary Adam Strange!
With
the lives of his friends on the line, STARMAN: A STARRY KNIGHT pits Jack
Knight against impossible odds on a journey that he hopes finally will
lead him back into the arms of his beloved Sadie.
This
project is supported with house ads.
STARMAN: A STARRY KNIGHT is a 192-page trade paperback arriving in
comic-book stores February 27 with a cover price of $17.95 U.S.
"Flash of Two Worlds" and
more!
THE FLASH ARCHIVES Volume 3
HARDCOVER
The first appearance of the Barry Allen Flash is one of the most important
moments in comics, as it marks the birth of the Silver Age! Now another
history-making milestone of the Silver Age can be seen in THE FLASH
ARCHIVES Volume 3 — a 224-page hardcover reprinting THE FLASH (first
series) #117-124, which includes the "Flash of Two Worlds" story (from
#123) that reintroduced the Golden Age Flash and first mentioned the
concept of an "Earth-Two!"
Written by John Broome and Gardner Fox, and featuring art by Carmine
Infantino, Joe Giella and Murphy Anderson, Volume 3 also features an
introduction by DC Executive Vice President & Publisher (and longtime fan)
Paul Levitz on the impact "Flash of Two Worlds" had on the fledgling world
of organized comics fandom. No other story influenced the landscape of the
DC line of comics over the next two decades more than THE FLASH #123,
establishing the parallel-world concept that was prevalent in the DCU for
decades — until the arrival of CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS in 1985 which
brought back a single universe.
But
that story isn't all that's great about Volume 3! Drawing upon one of the
greatest Rogues Galleries in all of comics, the issues collected herein
feature some of the Flash's finest foes — including the return of the
Mirror Master and the Trickster, and featuring the first appearance of
Captain Boomerang! Plus, more of The Flash's greatest allies and co-stars:
Kid Flash and the Elongated Man! It's no wonder the Silver Age Flash is
one of the most fondly remembered series in the history of the medium!
THE
FLASH ARCHIVES Volume 3 is a 224-page hardcover arriving in comic-book
stores February 6 with a cover price of $49.95 U.S. [New Release Date:
January 30]
JSA #33: "Stealing Thunder"
A
vicious, mind-controlling villain has succeeded in his lifelong goal: he's
conquered the world. Now the heroes who once protected us from this
villain are his army to command. There is no free will, no free
thought…and no more JSA.
Prepare yourself for the return of the Justice Society of America's
greatest adversary, the Ultra-Humanite, in JSA #33 — beginning a
5-part epic entitled "Stealing Thunder." Cowritten by returning writer
David S. Goyer (STARMAN) & Geoff Johns (THE FLASH), "Stealing Thunder"
features art by Leonard Kirk (SUPERGIRL) & Keith Champagne (STARMAN), with
additional art on #33 by Keith Giffen & Al Milgrom, and covers by Rags
Morales.
A
handful of underground heroes remain untouched by the Ultra-Humanite: a
band of rebels led by perhaps the least likely JSA associate. Rising from
the ashes with the help of Sand, the villainous Icicle and several other
members form the "all-new, all-different" JSA. Discover the new Crimson
Avenger's terrifying connection to the original; the new abilities and
powers of the revamped Hourman; and witness the final fate of one of the
original JSA members. Watch the team that started it all as they set out
to free their fellow heroes and take back our world!
JSA
#33 is a 32-page issue edited by Peter Tomasi, arriving in comic-book
stores February 20 with a cover price of $2.50 U.S.
THE DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN #3
The "grand finale" to comics' most eagerly-awaited sequel arrives in
February — courtesy of master storytellers Frank Miller & Lynn Varley — in
the form of THE DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN #3.
Let's
be honest — you don't want to know what really goes on in this
issue before you get a chance to watch it unfold for yourself. So let's
just say that it's our humble opinion you aren't going to be disappointed!
Miller and Varley bring their considerable talents to bear on the Batman
epic of the decade!
Because THE DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN #3 contains so many shocking
surprises, we'll offer you more "sneak peak" art from issues #1 & 2 in
this month's Previews. Enjoy!
THE
DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN #3 is an 80-page Prestige Format issue edited by
Bob Schreck arriving in comic-book stores February 27 with a cover price
of $7.95 U.S. [New Release Date:
July 31]
Note: Feature Articles for WildStorm/ABC/Homage and
Vertigo comics may be found on their respective pages.
|
