DC Universe: The Source

Why stop at two, huh?

On Friday, we slammed the week shut with the debut of the cover to BATMAN: RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE #2, but there are a few more jaw-droppingly gorgeous “Batmen” waiting for some blog time, so why hold off on the Andy Kubert goodness?

So, before you head home, check out the amazing covers to #3 and #4. Enjoy.

Pirate Batman’s pretty cool, huh?

Writers Greg Rucka and Eric Trautmann spotlight Nightwing and Flamebird’s continued hunt for Zod’s deadly sleeper agents in ACTION COMICS #$886, hitting 2/10.

Did the RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE covers from Friday sate your hunger for Batman news? We didn’t think so.

Luckily, BATMAN AND ROBIN double-ships this month, and the creative team supreme of Grant Morrison and artist Cameron Stewart continue the “Blackest Knight” storyline with #8.

Only months into his new role as Batman, Dick Grayson faces perhaps the biggest threat of his life. In hopes of attaining his heart’s desire, has Dick instead unleashed a terror the likes of which the world has never seen?

Meanwhile, back in Gotham City, Alfred and a recuperating Robin are at the mercy of someone both fearsome and familiar. But don’t let my words sell you on how great this issue is. Check out some pages below.

I know, I know. We showed this cover not too long ago. But can you blame me for wanting to show it again? Especially when we have the second to show you? What, you say? The second? Yup. We figured it’d been a long week across the board, so we’d end on a high note. Specifically, Andy Kubert’s amazing cover to BATMAN: THE RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE #2.

But before we show off the art, let’s check in with BATMAN editor extraordinaire Michael Marts. Take it away, Mike:

“In these first two covers for RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE, artist Andy Kubert gives readers an exclusive glimpse into the mysterious realms that Grant Morrison has imagined for RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE. Intrigued? And guess what—this is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg!”

Sounds great. Enjoy, folks, and see you all next week for some more exciting DCU news.

The situation is dire as Batgirl and Robin must venture into Devil’s Square in an attempt to save Batman before Roulette’s “most dangerous game” turns deadly, courtesy of writer Bryan Q. Miller and artist Lee Garbett. BATGIRL #7 hits 2/10.

Writer/artist Tony Daniel continues to pit Batman against the Black Mask in his latest BATMAN issue. While trapped in the crime lord’s headquarters, The Dark Knight must find a way to escape before all of Gotham City falls prey to the Mask’s lethal toxins. Guest-starring Catwoman, Penguin, Robin and the Reaper, BATMAN #696 hits 2/17.

Legendary LEGION writer Paul Levitz goes back to the future to reunite with the characters he helped define in an all-new space adventure, teaming him with rising star artist Yildiray Cinar. Heroes return. A planet will be in ruins and old friends will be reunited. All in one issue? Yup. If that’s not enough for you, here’s a peek at the inked first page of the first issue of LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES, hitting in May.

Do the two teams survive? What’s Manhunter got to do with it? Find out in SECRET SIX #18, which hits 2/10.

One of the many things I’ve learned while blogging here at THE SOURCE is knowing when to step aside and let the creative minds behind our books do the talking. This is one of those times.

Starting in May, the DCU will feature a new ongoing series, from writer Paul Dini and artist Stephane Roux: ZATANNA. Hinted at and much-discussed over the last few months, we’re happy to finally lift the curtain. And we’ve got some words from Dini. Take it away, Paul:

Outside of her star turn in 7 SOLDIERS OF VICTORY, her ongoing supporting role in JLA and guest appearances elsewhere, Zatanna doesn’t come with a lot of backstory. That’s both a blessing and a challenge for me as a writer. I don’t have to adhere to 70 years of continuity, but that doesn’t give me a lot of history to draw from, either. That said, I’ve been having a lot of fun populating her world with new characters, friends and allies as well as an entirely new mystical rogues gallery. I’m out to create some really unique and creepy villains, ones that aggressively prey on humankind the way gangsters in a crime book would victimize innocent people. As Zatanna herself says in the first issue, there’s little in the way of human punishment that can be enforced on evil mystics. There are few laws they are compelled to obey, no jails to hold them, and no way ordinary people can defend themselves from their attacks. Zatanna has taken it upon herself to operate as both peacekeeper and avenger between those two worlds.

Though a lot about Zatanna’s world is new, it is still firmly rooted in the DC Universe. She’s still a JLA member, and that will play into her stories now and then. Also, I plan to explore her somewhat dicey relationship with her younger cousin, Zachary Zatara. I saw a good chance to inject some family discord there, so when I was developing the book, I ran some ideas by Geoff Johns. He created Zach, so I wanted to get his okay before I shook things up. Luckily Geoff was cool with what I wanted to do, so readers can expect to see Zach becoming a permanent part of Zee’s world.

But there’s more. Take a look at some of these jaw-droppingly amazing Roux interiors:

Wait, there’s more. Mr. Roux had more than art to share, so we got his thoughts as well:

“What can I say about being attached to the project? I’m a fan of the character AND a longer-time fan of the writer. Paul’s delivering very exciting scripts, pushing the character in directions that make it so much fun for me to draw. I’m dealing with various dimensions, litterally. You’ll be scared, you’ll be excited, you’ll enjoy the fights she’s going through. And because it’s Paul, because it’s Zatanna, I simply can’t afford to deliver average art. Not to mention Karl Story’s sure helping me make art look great. Hope the effort shows, hope you like it.”

The Spirit, Doc Savage, Batman and Neal Adams? How can you go wrong?