News (page 5)

James Robinson on JSA and JLA

John Siuntres has interviewed ex-Justice League of America James Robinson for his Word Balloon podcast about Robinson’s new Shade series and his upcoming Justice Society series. Robinson couldn’t say much about the JS, but did hint that he’d be following-up his development of Solomon Grundy from his appearances in Starman. As to the rest of the series, all he would say was:

It’s not what people are expecting, but hopefully they’ll come around to liking it.

He was also asked about his experience on the Justice League. He described writing the League as “tough” when navigating the shifting-sands of DC Universe events and reveals that he’d initially wanted Wally West as the team’s speedster and not Jesse Quick.

Interestingly Robinson reveals that, before the New 52 reboot was finalized, he and his League team were going to shift onto a second Justice League title while the main book went off in a different direction (presumably with Johns and Lee). Many of the elements we saw in his last issue, Justice League of America (vol. 2) #60 (Oct 2011), were to have been played out in that second title. Long time fans might remember that Robinson’s version of the Justice League was originally meant to have been a second League team running parallel to Dwayne McDuffie’s tenure on the main title. However, McDuffie was fired and Robinson’s series was turned into Justice League: Cry For Justice and he was drafted onto the main title as McDuffie’s replacement.

I’m liking the Shade series, but it feels like a hold over from the old DC Universe. It’s themes of legacy and generations don’t really fit with the bright, new forgetting-what-made-them-distinct New DCU.  In the podcast, James Robinson points out that books like Geoff Johns’ Teen Titans and Infinite Crisis, Neil Gaiman’s Sandman, and probably also his own Starman series (or specifically the Jack Knight character) never happened in the new DC Universe. Which beggars the question that if the Knights were never Starman, does the Shade series even take place on the current Earth-Zero? Wouldn’t it better be set on Robinson’s new Earth-Two?

Digital Sales tracking Print Sales

DC Exec John Rood has revealed DC’s best selling Digital Titles in the wake of their move to day-and-date digital distribution and its no surprise that the Jim Lee and Geoff Johns Justice League series leads the pack. The top ten are:

  1. Justice League #
  2. Batman #1
  3. Detective Comics #1
  4. Action Comics #1
  5. JusticeLeague #2
  6. Batman #2
  7. Detective Comics #2
  8. Justice League #3
  9. Action Comics #2
  10. Superman #1

Rood doesn’t given absolute numbers.

The headline is the list above, but its a comment about the ratio of digital sales to print sales that caught my eye:

But consistency is the right word — especially consistency in the digital end. There has been no shake up of numbers when you look at the percentage of physical sales by title. So if something is selling 6% of its physical sales digitally for issues #1 and 2, then it’s about 6% in issues #3 and 4. And if another title has been selling at 16% of print sales in the early titles, the latter titles have stayed at the same level. So there’s been no fluctuation. And the fact is that the makeup is largely the same and the performances you’ve seen in the data provided is largely the same in digital as it is in physical, yet we know from both anecdotal and primary research that this is a different audience. It suggests that the people might be different [for digital and print] but their tastes and their demos are largely the same.

On one level this is quite surprising, one would have naively have expected them to be different audiences with different habits, but is appears that their habits are actually the same. That is, the drop-off/gain-of readers is driven by the quality of the material and not by the medium that it was delivered by. It’ll be interesting to see if this changes over time as the digital audience – one hopes – grows.

Milligan on two Constantines and damaged lives

Justice League Dark and Hellblazer writer Peter Milligan has spoken to Comic Book Resources about the challenges of writing two incarnations of John Constantine – the older married John in Hellblazer and the younger unattached John in JL Dark. The question as to whether its a challenge to separate the two versions is one he has been asked repeatedly:

You wouldn’t believe how often I’ve been asked this question! Of course it’s a challenge, but it’s not an insanely difficult one. I mean, I don’t have to perform some complex mental gymnastics to separate the two. How I see it, they’re the same John. The DCU John is younger, and operates on a different time or storyline from his Hellblazer/Vertigo cousin, but they are essentially the same person with the same kind of outlook and the same difficult relationship with morality.

I think the Justice League Dark Constantine has a bit more outright Occult ability than the Vertigo one, but the truth is, my Vertigo Constantine has a bit more occult about him than some of the other writer’s versions, anyway. The bottom line is, I’m confident that our readers are sophisticated enough to understand that this is the same character, expressed and characterized in different stories.

Milligan also outlined how he saw the JL Dark team as a group of people who have all left behind a string of destructive relationships.

I’m interested in what impact having these weird powers have on our characters’ lives — and also on the lives of those who our heroes touch. I have an idea that the members of Justice League Dark have strings of damaged and broken relationships behind them. With Boston [Brand, AKA Deadman] and Dove, we had a relationship that most readers would already know about. I wanted to show just how tough it must be, just how destructive their realities are.

JLA Solicitations for February 2012

The biggest news in the Solicitations for Feb 2012 is the launch of DC’s first ongoing weekly digital title - Batman Beyond Unlimited and Justice League Unlimited. Both series are set on Earth-12 of the Multiverse, DC’s in house version of the old Batman Beyond animated continuity. Chapters will appear weekly online and will cost 99-cents each as part of DC’s existing digital comics store. They will be collected monthly as a regular print title called Batman Beyond Unlimited. The Batman segment is a continuation of the pre-52 Batman Beyond title while the Justice League segments are a new story told by Dustin Nguyen and Derek Fridolfs.

DC’s Digital Vice-President Hank Kanalz spoke with Newsarama about the project:

Nrama: We’ve seen digital-first comics from several publishers. But this one is a shorter, weekly series. Why did DC choose to try this as a weekly?

Kanalz: It’s mostly about content flow and pace. A weekly digital release allows readers to keep up, and hopefully come back each week for the next installment. It also allows us to keep a monthly schedule in-store, as this is an over-sized monthly book.

One of the most consistent issues in our feedback loop is price point. A 99-cent price point for each chapter is an appealing “sampling” price that I hope will break down the returning-customer price barrier.

The rest of DC’s solicitations for February for 2012 feature the conclusion of the origin of the New 52 JLA in Justice League and the aftermath of the first arcs of the stories in International and Dark. There is a little bit of artist change across the DC titles this month as regular teams are given a breather and others are rotated. The Aaron Lopresti is temporarily replaced by Marco Castiello on International and Mikel Janin takes over as cover artist (as well as his usual gig as interior artist) on Dark.

DC Universe Series

Justice League (vol. 2) #6

Justice League (vol. 2) #6
  • Credits: Writer: Geoff Johns; Penciller: Jim Lee; Cover Penciller: Jim Lee; Inker: Scott Williams, Sandra Hope, Batt, and Mark Irwin; Cover Inker: Scott Williams; Artist: Carlos D'Anda; Colourist: Alex Sinclair, Tony Avina, Hi-Fi, and Gabe Eltaeb; Cover Colourist: Alex Sinclair; Letterer: Patrick Brosseau and Sal Cipriano; Variant Cover Penciller: Ivan Reis; Variant Cover Inker: Joe Prado; Variant Cover Colourist: Rod Reis; Assistant Editor: Darren Shan; Editor: Brian Cunningham
  • Solicitation copy:The Justice League is united at last against Darkseid! The awesome consequences of this high-stakes battle will resonate within the series for years to come! Geoff Johns and Jim Lee end their historic first arc with a bang! This issue is also offered as a special combo pack edition, polybagged with a redemption code for a digital download of the issue.
  • Published:15 February 2012
  • Length:40-pages
  • Cost:$3.99

Justice League International (vol. 3) #6

Justice League International (vol. 3) #6
  • Credits: Writer: Dan Jurgens; Breakdowns: Dan Jurgens; Penciller: Marco Castiello; Inker: Vincenzo Acunzo; Letterer: Travis Lanham; Colourist: Hi-Fi; Cover Penciller: David Finch; Cover Inker: Rich Friend; Cover Colourist: Peter Steigerwald; Assitant Editor: Darren Shan; Associate Editor: Harvey Richards; Editor: Mike Marts
  • Solicitation copy:The JLI managed to survive their first mission on a wing and a prayer. Now, in the aftermath of Peraxxus�s near destruction of the planet Earth, our heroes gather together to decide the fate of their team.
  • Published:1 February 2012
  • Length:32-pages
  • Cost:$2.99

Justice League Dark #6

Justice League Dark #6
  • Credits: Writer: Peter Milligan; Artist: Mikel Janin; Cover Artist: Mikel Janin; Colourist: Ulises Arreola; Letterer: Rob Leigh; Associate Editor: Chris Conroy; Editor: Matt Idelson
  • Solicitation copy:Enchantress has been subdued, but this team of misfits hardly knows how to celebrate when each is still wrestling with their own demons. While Zatanna and Constantine try to decide on their next steps, Deadman deals with his loss, and Shade the Changing Man tries to bring Mindwarp back from the edge of sanity - but at what cost?
  • Published:22 February 2012
  • Length:32-pages
  • Cost:$2.99

Multiverse Series

Batman Beyond Unlimited #1

Batman Beyond Unlimited #1 (preview)
  • Credits: Writer: Adam Beechen, Derek Fridolfs, and Dustin Nguyen; Artist: Norm Breyfogle, Dustin Nguyen, and Derek Fridolfs; Cover Artist: Dustin Nguyen
  • Solicitation copy:A new era begins with the debut of the oversized, monthly BATMAN BEYOND UNLIMITED, featuring the print debut of the new Justice League Beyond! In the Batman Beyond chapter, legendary Batman artist Norm Breyfogle returns to draw the Dark Knight of the future with best-selling writer Adam Beechen. In “10,000 Clowns,” an onslaught of new Jokerz is plaguing Gotham City – and the implications of this chaotic clown menace could have disastrous consequences for Terry McGinnis and Bruce Wayne! And the debut of the Justice League Beyond is here, courtesy of the BATMAN: STREETS OF GOTHAM art team of Dustin Nguyen and Derek Fridolfs, as the first two digital-first chapters are available in print for the first time! Batman Beyond is a new recruit in the mighty Justice League, but the team will be immediately tested by a very Neo Gotham-related enemy! How will the team work together to combat this threat?
  • Published:29 February 2012
  • Length:48-pages
  • Cost:$3.99

Young Justice (vol. 2) #13

Young Justice (vol. 2) #13
  • Credits: Writer: Greg Weisman; Penciller: Christopher Jones; Cover Artist: Christopher Jones; Inker: Dan Davis; Colourist: Zac Akinson; Cover Colourist: Zac Akinson; Letterer: Dezi Sienty; Assistant Editor: Sarah Gaydos; Editor: Jim Chadwick
  • Solicitation copy:In Star City, Artemis is under arrest – and in Gotham City, it’s Clayface vs. the rest of the team in a battle they cannot win! Aqualad’s leadership is on the line, and a fateful choice must be made.
  • Published:15 February 2012
  • Length:32-pages
  • Cost:$2.99

General Mills’ Justice League comics

The most widely distributed and most printed Justice League comic this year isn’t in your local comics shop, not unless they’ve got a groceries isle. General Mills (owners of such brands as Lucky Charms and Cheerios) has put 12 million copies of a JLA comic into their breakfast cereals as part of a promotional campaign – it can’t be any coincidence that DC Chief Creative Officer Geoff Jones is something of a break cereal aficionado.

The announcement of the cereal books was covered in the New York Times:

Now, Big G is upping the ante with a partnership with the DC Comics division of Time Warner. Big G is offering custom editions of DC’s Justice League comic books inside, as they like to say, “specially-marked boxes” of cereals that include Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Golden Grahams, Honey Nut Cheerios, Lucky Charms and Trix.

DC is printing 12 million copies of the comic books. There are four books in the free-with-purchase cereal series, bearing titles like “Unstoppable Forces” and “Breakout!”

[...]

The comic books inside the cereal boxes are smaller than the comic books sold in stores. The Big G editions are 5 inches by 7 inches, compared with a standard comic’s dimensions of 6 5/8 inches by 10 3/16 inches.

The custom comic books run 24 pages and carry no advertising except for a mention on Page 2 that they are “brought to you by Big G cereals.”

The first chapter of each story is included in the cereal box and is concluded online at  biggcerealheroes.com

The Park Record (or Park City, Utah) spoke with local comics artist Doug Wagner about his script for one of the four different issues:

“GM called me five months ago and said they wanted me to write a story that featured the Flash and they needed it in a week,” Wagner told The Park Record. “They didn’t tell me what they wanted the Flash to do. They just told me they needed a 24-page story that is appropriate for all ages.”

Apparently, the company was happy with Wagner’s story because they printed 5.3 million copies to be stuffed into boxes of Cheerios, Lucky Charms, Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Cocoa Puffs, to name a few.

“My wife has been running around trying to find my issue,” he said with a laugh.

Wagner enjoyed the project.

“When you’re doing anything that is licensed, there are always a lot of editors who are touching the story, but they’re all trying to do what’s best and what will fit the need for the campaign,” he said. “It was still really fun.”

Interestingly, given the current renovations in DC’s mainline, the characters that appear in the GM comics are the classical versions of the Leaguers with their original costumes.

[via: Bleeding Cool]

November YJ includes Peter David’s first episode

Cartoon Network have released the schedule for Young Justice episodes in November and a number of descriptions will be familiar to readers of the original comic book. Episodes 16-18 are titled “Failsafe”, “Disordered”, and “Secrets”. That third episode will be written by Peter David, the original writer of the YJ (first series) comic book.  Possible spoiler details after the break:

The episode descriptions are:

“Failsafe” by Nicole Dubuc

Episode 16 — Airing November 4th — During an alien invasion, the team faces the ultimate challenge when they are forced to replace the fallen Justice League!

“Disordered” by Andrew Robinson

Episode 17 — Airing November 11th — Conner Kent’s pet Sphere has undergone a startling transformation, bringing it to the attention of the forever people of New Genesis. Turns out Sphere originally belonged to them… and they want it back!

“Secrets” by Peter David

Episode 18 — Airing November 18th — On Halloween, Artemis and Zatanna go to Manhattan for a night on the town, only to be hunted by Harm, a psycho-in-training, hiding a deadly secret…

The plot of “Disordered” – the Forever People’s Supercycle – was a subplot that ran from the very first issue of the team’s original comic book series. While “Secrets” features the introduction of a character (Harm) and teases the existence of another very popular character (The Secret) from YJ’s run.

[Descriptions from World's Finest, writer names from Ask Greg]

JLA Soliciations for January 2012

DC have released their comics solicitations for books shipping in January 2012, the fifth month of the New 52. The opening arcs of each of the DCU titles are drawing to a close as the Justice League come together to fight Darkseid in Justice League #1 and in JLI #1 the JLI face a villain called Peraxxus and his Signal Men. The JLI cover is of interest as the black-haired woman, who first appeared on the first JLI preview cover and then vanished, is back. The blurb for JLD says “one of the team will not make it out alive” which is all, well, and great, but one of the team – to wit the fellow called Deadman – is always going to fit that bill. The Young Justice blurb describes a conflict with Clayface in Gotham City which would place this issue immediately before the episode “Downtime”.

Ongoing Series

Justice League (vol. 2) #5

Justice League (vol. 2) #5
  • Credits: Writer: Geoff Johns; Penciller: Jim Lee; Cover Penciller: Jim Lee; Inker: Scott Williams, Sandra Hope, Mark Irwin, and Joe Weems; Cover Inker: Scott Williams; Colourist: Alex Sinclair, Gabe Eltaeb, and Tony Avina; Cover Colourist: Alex Sinclair; Letterer: Patrick Brosseau; Variant Cover Artist: Eric Basaldua; Variant Cover Colourist: Nei Ruffino; Assistant Editor: Darren Shan; Editor: Brian Cunningham
  • Solicitation copy:Now, with the teenaged powerhouse Cyborg at their side, this group of individual heroes must somehow put their differences aside to face the terror of Darkseid! This issue is also offered as a special combo pack edition, polybagged with a redemption code for a digital download of the issue.
  • Published:18 January 2012
  • Length:40 pages
  • Cost:$3.99

Justice League International (vol. 3) #5

Justice League International (vol. 3) #5
  • Credits: Writer: Dan Jurgens; Penciller: Aaron Lopresti; Inker: Matt Ryan; Letterer: Travis Lanham; Colourist: Hi-Fi; Cover Penciller: David Finch; Cover Inker: Rich Friend; Cover Colourist: Peter Steigerwald; Editor: Rex Ogle
  • Solicitation copy:The JLI has one last chance to stop the alien powerhouse known as Peraxxus before he and his Signal Men bring about the end of the world. Will the team be able to work together, or will they bear the responsibility for Earth�s destruction?
  • Published:4 January 2012
  • Length:32 pages
  • Cost:$2.99

Justice League Dark #5

Justice League Dark #5
  • Credits: Writer: Peter Milligan; Artist: Mikel Janin; Colourist: Ulises Arreola; Letterer: Rob Leigh; Cover Artist: Ryan Sook; Associate Editor: Chris Conroy; Editor: Rex Ogle
  • Solicitation copy:Enchantress is out of control and more powerful than ever. She has brought a nation to its knees through her arcane powers. Will Madame Xanadu, John Constantine, Shade the Changing Man, Zatanna, Mindwarp, Deadman and June Moon be able to work together to defeat her? One thing is certain: One of these heroes will not make it out alive!
  • Published:25 January 2012
  • Length:32 pages
  • Cost:$2.99

Young Justice (vol. 2) #12

Young Justice (vol. 2) #12
  • Credits: Writer: Greg Weisman; Artist: Luciano Vecchio; Cover Artist: Christopher Jones; Colourist: Zac Akinson; Cover Colourist: Zac Akinson; Letterer: Dezi Sienty; Assistant Editor: Sarah Gaydos; Editor: Jim Chadwick
  • Solicitation copy:There�s a new menace in Gotham City: a creature so strange � and so versatile � that not even the combined might of the entire Young Justice team can stand against it. Witness the origin of...Clayface!
  • Published:18 January 2012
  • Length:32 pages
  • Cost:$2.99

Justice League: Doom trailer

The first trailer for Justice League: Doom, the next DC Universe animated-DVD after the just released Batman: Year One, has premièred online. The film featured the Legion of Doom, led by Vandal Savage, as they attempt to destroy the Justice League using plans stolen from the Batman. The film is written by the late Dwayne McDuffie and is based (loosely) on “Tower of Babel” by Mark Waid.  The League’s voices are preformed by Kevin Conroy (Batman), Tim Daly (Superman), Susan Eisenberg (Wonder Woman), Carl Lumby (J’onn J’onzz), Michael Rosenbaum (Flash, Barry Allen this time) from the old DCAU days and they are joined by Nathan Fillion (Green Lantern Hal Jordan).

Updated: 2011/10/20 with higher-quality trailer from IGN’s Youtube channel.

JLA Solicitations for December 2011

I’m still playing catch-up so here is the recent solicitations for Justice League titles shipping in December. The New 52 is into its fourth month with Justice League pressing forward with its secret origin and reaching the genesis of Cyborg. Whatever happens Victor Stone is going to have a very bad month. The mystery and threats in JLI and JLD march forward, but its Young Justice which looks the most interesting (to me) with a clash between Batman and Robin and the Demon’s Head Ra’s al Ghul.

Ongoing Series

Justice League (vol. 2) #4

Justice League (vol. 2) #4
  • Credits: Writer: Geoff Johns; Penciller: Jim Lee; Cover Penciller: Jim Lee; Inker: Scott Williams; Cover Inker: Scott Williams; Variant Cover Artist: Andy Kubert; Colourist: Alex Sinclair and Gabe Eltaeb; Cover Colourist: Alex Sinclair; Variant Cover Colourist: Alex Sinclair; Letterer: Patrick Brosseau; Designer: Aram R Isaacs; Assistant Editor: Darren Shan; Editor: Brian Cunningham
  • Solicitation copy:The superstar team of Geoff Johns and Jim Lee continue the origin of the Justice League as The World’s Greatest Heroes face the might of Apokolips – and find aid in an unlikely hero, as Cyborg is created! Plus, Andy Kubert returns an amazing variant cover – his first new work after the smash-hit FLASHPOINT!
  • Published:21 December 2011
  • Length:40-pages
  • Cost:$3.99/$4.99

Justice League International (vol. 3) #4

Justice League International (vol. 3) #4
  • Credits: Writer: Dan Jurgens; Penciller: Aaron Lopresti; Inker: Matt Ryan; Letterer: Travis Lanham; Colourist: Hi-Fi; Cover Penciller: David Finch; Cover Inker: Rich Friend; Cover Colourist: Peter Steigerwald; Editor: Rex Ogle
  • Solicitation copy:On their first mission, the team has been separated and defeated � or so it seems! But when a new, galactic threat shows its face, will our heroes be able to defeat it or will the whole world suffer destruction on a cosmic scale?
  • Published:7 December 2011
  • Length:32-pages
  • Cost:$2.99

Justice League Dark #4

Justice League Dark #4
  • Credits: Writer: Peter Milligan; Artist: Mikel Janin; Colourist: Ulises Arreola; Letterer: Rob Leigh; Cover Artist: Ryan Sook; Editor: Rex Ogle
  • Solicitation copy:Madame Xanadu�s plan is working! Zatanna, John Constantine, Shade the Changing Man, Mindwarp and Deadman are all being brought together. But will Xanadu�s manipulations blow up in her face when she learns that Enchantress has grown too powerful to be controlled?
  • Published:28 December 2011
  • Length:32-pages
  • Cost:$2.99

Young Justice (vol. 2) #11

Young Justice (vol. 2) #11
  • Credits: Writer: Greg Weisman; Penciller: Christopher Jones; Cover Artist: Christopher Jones; Inker: Dan Davis; Colourist: Zac Akinson; Cover Colourist: Zac Akinson; Letterer: Dezi Sienty; Assistant Editor: Sarah Gaydos; Editor: Jim Chadwick
  • Solicitation copy:The spotlight turns to Robin, who must leave his teammates to fight alongside his crimefighting mentor, Batman. And the stakes couldn’t be higher for the Dynamic Duo as they face off against the Demon’s Head himself: Ra’s al Ghul!
  • Published:21 December 2011
  • Length:32-pages
  • Cost:$2.99