We’ve had a lot of fun recently showing off the amazing cover work of SECRET SIX cover artist Daniel Lu Visi, so why stop? You’ve all seen his take on Bane and Deadshot, so how about his interpretation of Black Alice, one of writer Gail Simone’s favorite new characters?

Who’s hand is that clawing up from the ground? You can figure it out.

Need we say more?

Welcome to the first installment of “This Just Happened,” a feature we’ll throw out here on the blog semi-regularly. It’s pretty self-explanatory. We’ll spotlight a key scene or moment in a recent DCU book and with some level of spoiler warning, show some cool art from said book. So, let’s get started, shall we?

BATGIRL #1 is out, and if you haven’t picked up the issue yet, I’d suggest you head on over to your shop and experience the full issue for yourself, by the stellar team of Bryan Q. Miller and artist Lee Garbett. To say the speculation surrounding the identity of the new Batgirl has been crazy is an understatement, so it’s definitely worth the read. Don’t worry, I’ll wait.

Back? Great. Wasn’t this page cool?

Read the rest of this entry »

It’s Wednesday. We know that means new comics. More specifically, it means a new issue of WEDNESDAY COMICS. Check out the latest SUPERMAN strip installment over at USA TODAY before you head to the shop.

• Over at AIN’T IT COOL NEWS, “Ambush Bug” talks to BLACKEST NIGHT writer Geoff Johns about his plans for the summer event and beyond. A snippet:

BUG: I know BLACKEST NIGHT is just beginning, but do you have things planned out for what’s next?

GJ: I can’t say much, but I will be on GREEN LANTERN for a long time. I have no plans to leave the book. Next year, GREEN LANTERN is going to be my main focus for the entire year. I’m launching a FLASH monthly book soon and there’s going to be a KID FLASH monthly book by Sterling Gates. Those two books are going to work in unison and explore the Flash in very much the same way GREEN LANTERN and GREEN LANTERN CORPS are tied together right now. They’ll be their own separate books, but then they’ll come together. The idea, some of it comes from BLACKEST NIGHT and REBIRTH, but the idea is to explore what it means to be the Flash, what the Speed Force is, and all that and take it to a different level.

• And, speaking of Geoff, in case you missed it, IGN had a lengthy two-part interview with the writer to discuss the recently-unveiled cover to BLACKEST NIGHT #5, featuring Nekron.

• Over at NEWSARAMA, they’ve got a first look at THE RED CIRCLE: THE WEB.

• Also, the team at iFanboy continue to roll out content from San Diego. Worth a listen.

• THE NEW YORK TIMES talks to Chip Kidd about his work and love of comics, including a snazzy slideshow of his DC work.

What’s better than one lovely Darwyn Cooke JONAH HEX cover? Well, two of course. And we’ve got them both right here, all colored up and lookin’ sharp.

Since Superman freed him from the Phantom Zone, Mon-El has spent his time learning about Earth and its many, diverse cultures. But how much does he know about his own homeworld, Daxam? The Legionnaire known as Tellus allows Mon-El to explore the ancient history of his home planet — from it’s beginnings as a Kryptonian colony to it’s connection to Earth’s Mayans. Join writer James Robinson and artist Javier Pina as they take Mon-El on a tour of the planet he always believed to be anything but exciting.

SUPERMAN ANNUAL #14 hits 8/19.

The BLACKEST NIGHT is upon us, and the dead are rising across the DCU. No one is unaffected, and some teams — like the TITANS — have seen more than their share of fatalities over the years. Later this month, writer J.T. Krul and artist Ed Benes will bring you the first issue of BLACKEST NIGHT: TITANS, which spotlights how the heroes deal with the sudden return of some of their most tragic members. But, to tide you over until then, we’ve got a look at some interiors from Benes. And, because we asked him nicely, BLACKEST NIGHT: TITANS editor Brian Cunningham was kind of enough to give us the skinny on the mini-series. Take it away, Brian:

“Working on these characters is something Ed Benes has wanted for a very long time, so we are more than happy to oblige him! And he has a wonderful script to draw from. J.T. Krul worked closely with Geoff Johns to stay true to the spirit of the ‘Blackest Night’ event, and what they came up with is a horror movie on paper. I really feel both ‘Blackest Night’ fans and Titans fans will be VERY happy with this mini-series.”

BLACKEST NIGHT: TITANS #1 hits 8/26.

The regular SUPERGIRL Team of writer Sterling Gates and artist Jamal Igle roar into the third part of the “Codename: Patriot” crossover, as Supergirl and Mon-El throw down against Nightwing and Flamebird. What happens when the Girl of Steel has to face off against one of her oldest and dearest friends, just as General Lane puts the next phase of his master plan into action — with some help from a guy named Atlas. Check out some pages from #44 below, which hits 8/19. “Codename: Patriot” concludes in SUPERMAN #691.

Well, the cover says it all, no? Writers Michael Green and Mike Johnson re-team with artist Rafael Albuquerque to kick off an all-new arc, bringing an old, simian foe back from the dead, as he endangers the loved ones of both Superman and Batman. With Lois and Alfred kidnapped, who can survive in a world where “Grodd wins”? Find out with a few pages from the issue below.

SUPERMAN/BATMAN #63 hits 8/19.

On 9/2, writer Eric Trautmann and artist Marco Rudy team up for THE SHIELD, a new ongoing series spinning out of The Red Circle one-shot and featuring an INFERNO co-feature.

We’re still closely guarding a first look at a full-on preview, but The Source is all about teasing stuff, no? So here’s a first look at a lovely spread from the main story, by Mr. Rudy. Pretty neat, huh?