We’re just a few weeks away from the second chapter in the “Reign of Doomsday” saga, and the big question is: who will be left standing in Doomsday’s wake?

Here’s a sneak peek at what’s to come…

Hello, DC Nation! Wil Moss here, associate editor on the SUPERMAN line of books. How’ve you been? Have you lost weight? Well, you look great.

So before you head to the comic store this week, I want to draw your attention to two fine offerings from the Man of Steel’s corner of the DCU that hit the shelves Wednesday!

The first is SUPERBOY #4, the rip-roaring conclusion of “The New Adventures of Psionic Lad”! “Who the heck is Psionic Lad?” you ask? Superboy’s wondering the same thing – all he knows so far is that Psionic Lad’s arrival caused everyone at Smallville High to pass out unconscious, and the gang of armored thugs that showed up right after don’t look too friendly. It’s another excellent chapter of this fun new book – featuring Jeff Lemire’s unique blend of superheroics and small-town drama; and Pier Gallo’s stunningly inventive layouts and spectacular artwork. Jeff and Pier lay down some story elements in this issue that will have BIG repercussions towards the end of 2011!

The second book I’d like to plu – I mean talk about … is SUPERMAN 80-PAGE GIANT 2011 #1, which features a bevy of talented up-and-comers telling tales of Superman and his supporting cast! One of the coolest couples in comics – Paul Tobin & Colleen Coover – write a terrific Lois Lane story (see, Twitter, we DO listen!), with the talented Amilcar Pinna on art. Brooklyn’s Finest, Neil Kleid & Dean Haspiel, unite to tell a story about barroom brawls, boxing matches, Metropolis and Perry White; newcomer Beau Tidwell and T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS artist CAFU bring to the table a terse espionage story starring none other than Jor-El; and just wait’ll you get a look at Dan McDaid’s Bizarro and Trevor McCarthy’s Supergirl! All that and more awaits under an amazing Dustin Nguyen cover (a companion piece to his cover for December’s BATMAN 80-PAGE GIANT 2010 #1!).

And hey, after you read these, drop us a line via www.dcletterspage.com and let us know what you thought of ‘em!

FLASH issue nine, on sale next Wednesday, kicks off the much anticipated Prelude to FLASHPOINT storyline. Writer Geoff Johns and artist Francis Manapul are crafting a murder mystery with a heck of a twist. Who dies? We won’t say here (yet), but we’ll let this question linger: “You recognize the costume?”

Whatever Happened to Gotham City?

FLASHPOINT: BATMAN KNIGHT OF VENGEANCE #1-#3
FLASHPOINT: DEADMAN AND THE FLYING GRAYSONS #1-#3

Whatever Happened to the World’s Greatest Super Villains?

FLASHPOINT: CITIZEN COLD #1-#3
FLASHPOINT: DEATHSTROKE & THE CURSE OF THE RAVAGER #1-#3
FLASHPOINT: THE OUTSIDER #1-#3

Whatever Happened to the Aliens?

FLASHPOINT: ABIN SUR THE GREEN LANTERN #1-#3
FLASHPOINT: PROJECT: SUPERMAN #1-#3

Whatever Happened to Science & Magic?

FLASHPOINT: FRANKENSTEIN & THE CREATURES OF THE UNKNOWN #1-#3
FLASHPOINT: SECRET SEVEN #1-#3

Whatever Happened to Europe?

FLASHPOINT: EMPEROR AQUAMAN #1-#3
FLASHPOINT: WONDER WOMAN AND THE FURIES #1-#3
FLASHPOINT: LOIS LANE AND THE RESISTANCE #1-#3

Everything You Know Will Change in a Flash

FLASHPOINT: KID FLASH LOST #1-#3
FLASHPOINT: THE WORLD OF FLASHPOINT #1-#3
 
 
 

FLASHPOINT spans the DC Universe from the dark streets of Gotham to the ruins of Big Ben. It’s an international tale of action and intrigue that impacts an entire universe.

Geoff Johns and Andy Kubert and Sandra Hope are creating an epic five issue series, one with a scope so big and ambitious that there will be fifteen mini series expanding on the events, along with several important one shots.

This afternoon we’ll be announcing fourteen mini series’ titles  – and leaving one a mystery for now, along with the one-shots.

This isn’t a parallel Earth.

This isn’t a mirror world.

This is home.

Talia al Ghul’s treachery has Zatanna backed into a corner — and a pair of missiles she launches to blow up a captive Selina Kyle may just be too much for the Sirens to stop. Check out the first five exciting pages of the next issue below!

Peter Calloway & Andres Guinaldo’s GOTHAM CITY SIRENS #19 is on sale Wednesday.

Psionic Lad visits Superboy from the Smallville of 2216 – a Smallville that’s been turned into a “towering, festering acropolis; a rogue, immoral city-state” that’s at war with the rest of the world. This future is the fault of a tyrant known as the Prime-Hunter, and Psionic Lad needs Superboy’s help to find a way of fighting back.

Find out if Superboy is up to the task in Jeff Lemire and Pier Gallo’s SUPERBOY #4, on sale February 2nd.

Francesco Francavilla has been doing some amazing work in the Detective Comics co-features, and for issue #874 he’ll be taking over the cover of the book with the incredible piece above.

We asked Francesco to give us some insight into his creative process for the cover, so we’ll let him take it away:

With the new 20 page format starting in January, there was no room for the co-feature in Detective #873, so we decided to move part 3 of Skeleton Cases to the following issue, #874. With the move came a bonus for me and for all Detective readers I hope — more Batman/Dick Grayson adventures!

TEC 874 will see the conclusion of Skeleton Cases (with quite an intense sequence between Gordon and his son James Jr.) in the first half of the book, while the second half will be an introduction to the new Batman arc (starting in 876).

This Batman tale is a fun and creepy little story and the cover I did for the issue reflects that. You can see here the 2 concepts I provided for the cover. In the end, everyone agreed to go with the 2nd concept with Batman reflected in the spider’s eyes (my favorite concept as well).

Hope you guys enjoy it and make sure to pick up 874 next month to find out what’s really going on here.

Cheers,
Francesco

Here’s an extra tease you’ll be treated to in today’s comics…

The dark energies that have surrounded Earth are harnessed once more to usher in the great Lord of Darkness… and it looks like the corruption of all mankind starts with the members of the Justice League!

Rise of Eclipso kicks off in James Robinson and Brett Booth’s JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #54, on sale next month.

It’s not easy being Batman. Between the opera galas to be attended, the business matters of Wayne Enterprises and all of the supervillains needing to be stopped, Dick Grayson and Damian have their hands full in Gotham while Bruce Wayne is traveling the world recruiting members for his new network of Batmans. When an angel-winged body falls from the sky during a gathering of the city’s social elite, it’s a sign that things are about to get even stranger in Gotham, really quickly…

BATMAN AND ROBIN #20 hits stands next month and welcomes the new ongoing creative team of Peter J. Tomasi and Patrick Gleason, who’ve worked together in the pages of Green Lantern Corps and most recently on Brightest Day.

Check out a preview of their first Batman and Robin issue below!