The headline’s true. After a lengthy and impressive run on WONDER WOMAN, writer Gail Simone is moving on to other projects.

Gail’s work on WONDER WOMAN has become a staple of the DC Universe, and her take on Princess Diana has resonated with readers from the get-go, and will continue to connect with newer fans as they discover her work. But let’s not get overly maudlin here, gang. Gail’s not disappearing. Quite the opposite. Her work on SECRET SIX, which has garnered stellar reviews, will continue and it’s hard not to get excited about her upcoming BIRDS OF PREY relaunch. We even managed to wrangle a new piece of BIRDS art from artist Ed Benes to serve as a gentle reminder that big things are indeed on the horizon:

We’ll have lots more news and info on Gail’s upcoming work, but let’s take a moment to give her a well-deserved round of applause and hear her thoughts on an epic run on WONDER WOMAN. Take it away, Gail:

“Working on Wonder Woman has been one of the most thrilling things in my career. There aren’t many jobs in comics as cool as writing dialogue for Hippolyta as she’s riding a flying horse and stabbing giant sea monsters. I had a blast and as always when I leave a book, I’m going to miss the cast terribly.

When you write this book, you meet these remarkable, amazing Wonder Woman fans and it’s quite unlike anything I’ve ever experienced, just this wave of love and kindness.  Diana means something to these people in a way that few other superhero characters really ever seem to do, and I can’t thank the readers enough for their undying affection for the character. I’ve met people whose stories about what
Wonder Woman meant to them are going to stay with me forever. It’s a pretty rare gift.

I have to also thank, once again, the writers and creators who came before me on the book. I’ve said it many times, but the club of Wonder Woman writers seems to be a group of people bonded forever. Whenever I needed help or advice or answers, they were always, always there.  The endless support and generosity of these people is astounding and I am grateful forever to Phil, Greg (both of whom were endlessly patient and helpful as I asked a thousand questions about their runs), Trina, Kurt, Dan Mishkin, Allan, Jodi, J. Torres, Bill Messner-Loebs, Mindy Newell, and of course, the great George Perez. When you have those people in your corner, you feel like you can do anything.

And above all I want to thank some of the most amazing artists in the business, people who somehow managed not to kill me when I would write panel descriptions like, “Then a thousand warriors attack…”  These people were supremely dedicated and professional and any applause you might have for the book should be squarely aimed at them.  Thank you so much, Chris Batista, Nicola Scott, Matt Ryan, Brad Anderson, Fernando Dagnino, Terry and Rachel Dodson, and above all, the amazing Bernard Chang and Aaron Lopresti. They did Diana proud and I also appreciate them not killing me for asking for pages and pages of Themysciran architecture.

I’m sad to leave but very, very proud of the work we did together and delighted to have been a small part of Diana’s ongoing epic saga.  It’s really been a joy.  And I have to say in complete honestly, I am genuinely thrilled by who is taking over the book.  It’s someone who is going to rock this book like there’s no tomorrow, and I could not be happier with this choice. They got this one 100% right. I think it’s going to be a new era of greatness for our princess.  People are going to freak and that makes me smile a lot.

My schedule is packed full, as well…and I’m doing books that make me happy every day, like the incredibly fun and horrid SECRET SIX, which has some really shocking surprises coming, and then of course  a book very dear to my heart, the return of BIRDS OF PREY in May, with artist Ed Benes doing the finest work of his career.  And I can announce for the first time officially, a really exciting WELCOME TO TRANQUILITY mini-series starts in July!  Add to that a little treat that is a life-long dream of mine coming true in WONDER WOMAN #600 and it’s turning out to be a great, great year.  Aside all that, a huge surprise with one of my all-time favorite artists is coming, but we can’t even hint at that now, so pretend you didn’t read that last bit.

Thank you again, everyone. Be sure to check out Birds of Prey number one…it is CRAZY fun. You can’t see it, but I’m giving the Amazon salute. Thanks, everyone!”

We had a great time showcasing Andy Kubert’s amazing pencils to the six BATMAN: RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE covers. And some of you figured out that when put together, the covers form one over-arching image. So, it’s a no-brainer to want to showcase the covers together in all their glory. And because it’s Friday, we’re unveiling Andy’s handiwork all at once. So click on the thumbnail below to see BATMAN: RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE #1-6 as one magnificent piece of art.

But there’s more. For a gallery of the covers as standalone shots along with comments from writer Grant Morrison and Andy, swing over to IGN.

Yesterday, we talked to THE FLASH writer Geoff Johns about Barry Allen, his Rogues and what it means to be a hero. But there’s more to cover, folks, so why stop there?

We’re happy to present the conclusion of our two-part chat with Geoff, where we talk about his amazing artistic collaborator Francis Manapul, what’s coming with the new series and the one page that’ll keep you guessing.

Alex Segura: Let’s talk about Francis Manapul for a second. He brings a very neo-classical look to THE FLASH and his previous work in ADVENTURE. He’s got the goods — excellent storytelling, stunning splash pages/covers and a style that is both fresh but also rooted in the classics. What makes him the perfect guy to relaunch THE FLASH with? What’s it like working with him?

Geoff Johns: Francis Manapul brings a renewed energy to the world of the Flash and in particular Barry Allen. We’re really looking at this book as taking place firmly in the present (unless the cosmic treadmill is involved) and moving the Flash, his supporting cast and the Rogues into the future. Francis is key to that. His work really speaks for itself, but the energy he’s given the Flash — and you can see it in just a few of the sample pages — is undeniable. His Barry Allen is earnest, smart, strong and methodical. His Flash never stops. I’m honored to be teamed up with such a fantastic artist on the first ever Barry Allen Flash #1 issue. Couldn’t ask for more.

AS: Now, it’s obvious you’re no stranger to the world of The Flash, with your previous, lengthy run on the book, which dealt mainly with Wally West and his role. In many ways, you created very strong connections and parallels between Wally and Barry: the Rogues, the return of Wally’s secret identity and the roots of the Flash stretching backward and forward in time. How are the other characters who’ve been called Flash going to fit into the new book? Are we going to see them crop up later, with the first few arcs cementing Barry in his new/old role?

GJ: You’ll have to be patient to see the other heroes and villains who tap into the Speed Force show up. There’s a story, a big one, but we won’t get there right away. I love long term planning and this is a book I have a story to tell. More will be clear in issue #1.

AS: Going back a bit to Barry’s history — what are the stories that stand out for you as the best examples of what you’re trying to do with this chapter of THE FLASH? Did any in particular provide some inspiration?

GJ: I don’t want to select a single story. It’s more the inception of the character and the creation of a new age of heroes. Barry Allen, for me, represents that optimism and forward thinking that reignited superheroes in the first place. Our approach to the book isn’t what a lot of people will expect, especially with that story title of the first arc – CASE ONE: THE DASTARDLY DEATH OF THE ROGUES. There are a lot of mysteries here and a lot of crimes to solve and crimes to stop. There’s an exploration of speed and what it does to us today, how we can succumb to it or be seduced by it. What do we have time for in our “busy” lives? Are we really too busy we have to send text messages instead of calling someone? Or is it easier to keep in touch with our loved ones that way? Do we need more hours in the day or do we need to stop overfilling up the hours we have? What is speed? What is time? What does it all mean to us in our lives day-to-day and year-to-year?

AS: In closing, I’d like to tap into your inner fan a bit. How exciting is it to be bringing back such a beloved character to the DCU? Are there any moments that you’ve written or seen on the finished page that have made you stop for a second and smile? What can readers expect from THE FLASH book that’ll hook them?

GJ: The last page of issue #1. That oughta do it.

It’s New Krypton’s worst nightmare as Brainiac attacks the planet, determined to recapture the city of Kandor. But General Zod has been waiting for this moment since Brainiac first attacked Old Krypton – he has a plan to save his people, but at the cost of Earth, which doesn’t really bode well with a certain Man of Steel. So it’s up to Superman, Supergirl, Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes to stop the two madmen before they destroy everything in their path.

The three-issue mini leads directly into THE WAR OF THE SUPERMEN, courtesy of writers Sterling Gates and James Robinson and artist Pete Woods.

SUPERMAN: LAST STAND OF NEW KRYPTON #1 hits 3/10.

He didn’t have to come back.

So, sit back and enjoy part one, and swing back to The Source tomorrow morning for the conclusion.

Alex Segura: Geoff, first off — thanks for doing this. The Flash is a special character and it’s only fitting that we make his return to monthly comics special here on The Source. Now, being a huge fan of The Flash myself, and Barry Allen in particular, I have a very vivid memory of my first encounter with the character — what about you? What’s your earliest Barry/Flash memory? What made him a cool character for you even then?

Geoff Johns: My first encounter with Barry Allen, outside of comics, was in animation in the Challenge of the Super-Friends cartoon. I guess that’s where I also met Captain Cold. Those two characters, the Flash and Captain Cold, became my favorites. (Oh, and does anyone remember how Hal Jordan had that weird tan? I guess because he was from California? ) Anyway, those are my very memories, along with the Flash Super Powers figure, but when I finally got into comic book one of my very first comics was CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS #8, which featured the death of the Flash. I don’t remember the details well, but I do remember I was blown away by the issue. From there, I started buying back issues of the Flash. It was before everything was collected, before eBay, so I really had to hunt those comics down to read the stories. The powers, the Rogues and the uniform were what always drew me in.

AS: One of the biggest strengths in your work is your ability to synthesize years of continuity and utilize the rich histories of characters like Hal Jordan and Barry Allen to plant them firmly in the modern day. So, what is it about Barry Allen that makes him work today? What makes the character compelling to a new reader but still connect with his legion of classic fans? How do you approach a character that’s had so many twists and turns and boil it down to his core?

GJ: Well, I think the first issue does that. Who Barry Allen is and why he does what he does is what the book is about first and foremost. The only thing I can really say is that no matter how fast Barry is, he can’t stop something that’s already happened. That’s incredibly frustrating to him and it’s a big reason of why his life as a criminal
scientist is so important. He wants justice for those that he wasn’t there to help.

AS: Where do we find Barry at the beginning of issue one? Can you give people looking to jump on the series a quick Barry Allen Flash 101? What’s his mindset in terms of returning to the role, and what do we know about his time away?

GJ: All you need to know when you read the Flash #1 is how to read. Flash 101, and a few twists and turns, are within the pages. Francis did a stunning job, raising his art even from the amazing Adventure Comics.

AS: In stark contrast to many “heroes” populating the comic book landscape today, Barry Allen is the definition of heroic. He’s sacrificed himself to save the universe; he’s raced across the globe, the universe and time for those he loves. He’s also made remarkably mature and tough choices. Why do these kind of characters — like Hal Jordan, to a degree — appeal to you as a writer? Is it challenging writing someone who is inherently good, as opposed to a vigilante or someone whose morals are more compromised?

GJ: I think deep down we all want to be the best we can be. I find characters who acknowledge that and attempt to do that inspiring and relatable. Barry Allen is someone who has made a decision to help others during his own life and he made that decision even before he became the Flash. To me, that speaks volumes about the kind of person he is. The Flash moves ahead in life, despite the things that knock him down. That’s the hero I want to look up to and the hero that will inspire us all to be better people.

AS: It’s often said that you can judge a hero by his villains, and one of the things I remember most about your initial Flash run — and was very thankful for, being a fan of Barry — was how you not only brought back and polished some of the classic Flash villains — Captain Cold is a great example — but also reinvigorated the Rogues with some great, creepy new additions like Murmur and most notably Hunter Zolomon/Zoom. What makes a great villain? What do you look for when you sit down and create one? And, in addition to reuniting Barry with some of his deadliest foes, are we going to see new ones appear in your first year?

GJ: The Flash has arguably the best villains in comics. Batman’s are amazing and psychological, but the Flash’s are from the far future and super scientific Gorilla Cities. Not to mention the core group of Flash’s foes, the Rogues. They were always a massive part of what made the Flash cool to me. He fought all these guys, sometimes at once because he could. When I first worked on the Flash the Rogues hadn’t been touched really more than an odd appearance here and there. I knew that they were going to be a huge focus for me and I continued using them in Rogues’ Revenge and Blackest Night: The Flash, but now with the new monthly book they’ll be playing a bigger and ongoing role in Barry’s life. There are some pretty big changes for the Rogues coming up that tie in to the very center of the DC Universe. Barry will be meeting some new villains, one in particular that is going to be the strangest killer he’s ever faced. And I think with 64th Century magicians and talking gorillas that’s saying a lot.

Come back tomorrow for the rest of our special sit-down with THE FLASH writer Geoff Johns.

Rising star artist Andy Clarke joins writer Grant Morrison just in time to see the new Dark Knight face off against the new Boy Wonder — thanks to the manipulations of Ms. Talia al Ghul. But is everything as it seems? Probably not. Hopefully the pages below can serve as a bit of a clue. And did I mention this issue ties in directly to THE RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE? Well, it does.

BATMAN AND ROBIN #10 hits 3/10.

But before we pass the mic to Adam, let me dust off ye olde Spoiler Warning: Do not click below until you’ve read the final issue of JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRY FOR JUSTICE.

Done? What a finale, huh?

OK, take it away, Adam:

Read the rest of this entry »

April 14 is a big day for fans of THE FLASH. How can The Source make it bigger, though?

Well, we’re hoping you’re as excited as we are about the launch of THE FLASH #1. Surely, you’ve seen the preview of THE FLASH #1 we ran on Monday and yesterday’s sneak peek into artist Francis Manapul’s concept art for the series? If not, they’re definitely worth a look.

But here at The Source, we’re always trying to brainstorm new and cool ways to make the comic reading experience a bit more fun. So what would be cooler than buying a copy of THE FLASH #1 — from the creative minds of Geoff Johns and artist Francis Manapul? How about getting a copy of the comic signed by some of the amazing talent involved in putting the issue together?

How can you swing that? Well, it’s easy. Starting 4/7 and continuing during the week leading up to the release of THE FLASH #1, DC NATION’s Twitter account will be asking one Flash-related question a day. The first five Flash fans who correctly answer the question will be eligible to win a signed copy of one of DC’s biggest new launches of 2010. Think you’re an expert in all things Flash? Well, get ready to have your Scarlet Speedster knowledge tested, pal. Not only will I be bringing my years of Flash fandom to the task at hand, but I’ve enlisted the writer of THE FLASH himself, Mr. Geoff Johns to help me in crafting questions that will will be far from simple.

We’ll announce all the legal goodies and rules on 4/7, the day before the contest actually launches. In the meantime, you can prep for the fun by signing up for a Twitter account if you don’t have one. Once that’s done, take a moment to start following DC NATION, THE FLASH writer Geoff Johns and artist Francis Manapul.

Good luck!

In case you missed our initial announcement and friendly reminder yesterday, today’s your chance to talk comics with two of the biggest names in the industry: Jim Lee and Geoff Johns. Where? Twitter, of course.

So head out to the comic shop and pick up your copy of FIRST WAVE #1 and start following Geoff, Jim and DC NATION. If you don’t have a Twitter account, signing up is easy, so no worries. The rest is even easier: have fun, talk comics and enjoy the first issue of an excellent new mini-series spotlighting some of the most iconic characters — like Batman, Doc Savage and the Spirit — brought to life in a whole new light. The fun starts today at 3pm PST.

And if you can’t make it right on time, click on the hashtag “#DCreader” to catch up on the discussion!

See you there!

But that’s not all.

We all know that BLACKEST NIGHT will reach its epic conclusion in March, but there’s more. This universe-shaking issue will also feature 10 extra story pages for the same $3.99 price. Good deal, no?

And, to tide you over until the issue hits stands, we’ve got an inked version of the cover to BLACKEST NIGHT #8, courtesy of artist Ivan Reis. Enjoy!