When did Cyborg become our protector of Truth, Justice and the American Way?

Why is Citizen Cold the greatest hero of Central City?

Where will the Ravager strike next?

Who is the Outsider and why is he better than you?

What is top secret?

Zardor has the upper hand over Guy Gardner in a battle over Green Lantern Sodam Yat – are his ring and willpower strong enough to escape paralysis in the gut of a giant serpent?

GREEN LANTERN: EMERALD WARRIORS #7 is on sale next Wednesday.

My public wish that Fiona Staples gets a crack at each of our book’s covers is slowly coming true: May’s T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #7 will feature the outstanding cover above.

We asked Fiona for a bit of background on her cover, and she supplied a few process pieces and an explanation on how she came to the finished product you’re seeing now:

“We went with a combination of thumbnails #1 and #3- Dynamo held captive in the background, and a close-up shot of Iron Maiden holding his belt. I think the situation characterizes their relationship pretty well.”

“Later in the painting process, I changed her expression a bit to make it clear that she’s enjoying herself! And rather than having the stark dungeon background that I originally conceived, I filled it with retro sci-fi gizmos.”

T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS #7 hits comic shops in May.

Dustin Nguyen’s given us some amazing Batgirl covers, and he’s also given us some REALLY amazing BATGIRL covers – this shot of Batgirl perched in front of an exquisitely-detailed stained glass window is one of my favorites yet.

BATGIRL #21 hits stores in May.

WARNING: if you hate spoilers, stop reading now.

Remember the scribblings on the blackboard in 52? Well, they’re back and in a major way in the final pages of TIME MASTERS: VANISHING POINT issue 6, on sale today.

How important might these mysterious scribblings be?

They lead into the pages of BOOSTER GOLD issue 44… And a comic book we call FLASHPOINT issue 1.

A look at the Blackboard is after the jump. This is your last chance to look away.

Read the rest of this entry »

The first issue of DC UNIVERSE ONLINE LEGENDS, the official comic book tie-in to the hit massive multiplayer online action game, hits comic shops and the DC Digital Online Store today. Picking up where the game’s trailer left off, the villainous Lex Luthor’s made a deal with the evil alien Brainiac that’s given him the means of finally killing Superman – but he’s doomed all of humanity in the process.

DC Comics Co-Publisher, legendary comic book artist and DC Universe Online Executive Creative Director Jim Lee had this to say about the new bi-weekly Legends comic book series:

“With DC Universe Online, we’ve managed to create a version of the DC Universe that fully captures the superhero experience, and lends itself to a virtually endless number of possible storylines and scenarios for each individual player. The Legends comic is another way for us to keep expanding the borders of that world, and attract new comic readers who’d like to dive even further into the DC Universe as they’re playing the game.”

Check out a preview of the first issue we posted here. Digital comics readers will get a special digital variant covers on their first six issues, all featuring art from Blur Studios – the same studio behind the thrilling DC Universe Online cinematic trailer!

Check out Blur’s digital variant to issue one below!

Long after the original Batman disappeared, teenager Terry McGinnis stumbled upon the reclusive Bruce Wayne.. and his secrets. Tempered by personal tragedy, and given Bruce’s blessing and guidance, Terry now fights crime in the Gotham City of tomorrow.

BATMAN BEYOND issue 2 goes on sale today in comic book stores and is available digitally on ComiXology, the PlayStation Network and at Read.DCComics.com. The issue starts with Terry being confronted by the Justice League: Warhawk, Barda, Micron, Green Lantern and Aquagirl. In order to save his mother and brother, he’s willing to take on the League. Historically, the Batman has had some… issues fitting in on a team. It’s kind of a push and pull thing.

Should a man most comfortable in the shadows, fight alongside the World’s Greatest Heroes? While this issue starts with the heroes trading punches, might the “Rough Justice” storyline conclude with Terry joining the League? What say you, SOURCE readers?

If you really feel strongly about it, one way or the other, in addition to responding to this post, you can always submit a letter to www.dcletterspage.com or send a letter the old fashioned way to:

Letters to the Editor
DC Comics
1700 Broadway
New York, NY 10019

The 2011 JOE SHUSTER AWARD nominees for outstanding achievements of Canadian comic book creators, publishers and retailers were announced today. Among the nominees whose work has been published by DC Comics are, Francis Manapul, Fiona Staples, Cameron Stewart, Dave McCaig, J. Torres and Jeff Lemire, who was nominated in a total of three categories: Outstanding Comic Book Cartoonist, Outstanding Comic Book Cover Artist and Outstanding Comic Book Writer.

Congratulations to all the nominees.

Winners will be announced at a public ceremony in Calgary, Alberta on the evening of Saturday, June 18th, 2011 at the Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo

For the full list click here.

First Ever DC Comics and Hero Initiative Collaboration:
Justice League of America #50
A collection of 100 Covers from Top artists around the world!

LOS ANGELES, CA (February 1, 2011) – The Hero Initiative, a charity dedicated to helping comic creators in medical or financial need, most proudly announces their new partnership in the Justice League Of America #50 project with DC Comics. This is the first collaboration with DC comics ever and Hero is chomping at the bit to pull the collection together. The call has gone out and dozens of artists are putting pen to paper. DC has generously donated 100 blank-covered cardstock copies of Justice League Of America #50 to Hero, and work is being created by well-known stars such as Jim Lee, Alex Ross, George Perez, Jason Bone, Jim Valentino, and many many more.

“It’s an honor to participate, not only because this is the first time DC Comics is collaborating with Hero Initiative, but because Hero Initiative is such an important organization to our community” said Jim Lee, artist and Co-Publisher of DC Comics.

“We’re thrilled to be working in new ways with DC Comics, and showcasing some of the greatest artists and greatest characters in the world,” said Hero Initiative President Jim McLauchlin. “And of course, sales of the covers and the collected book will go toward helping many other comic creators in need.”

All 100 original Justice League Of America covers will be published in a book slated for release in 2011, and a public viewing of all covers will be scheduled as well.

About Hero Initiative
The Hero Initiative is the first-ever federally chartered not-for-profit corporation dedicated strictly to helping comic book creators in need. Hero creates a financial safety net for yesterday’s creators who may need emergency medical aid, financial support for essentials of life, and an avenue back into paying work. It’s a chance for all of us to give back something to the people who have given us so much enjoyment.

Since its inception, The Hero Initiative has had the good fortune to grant over $400,000 to the comic book veterans who have paved the way for those in the industry today. For more information, visit www.heroinitiative.org or call 626-676-6354.

A few words from writer John Rozum on the return of Xombi on this week’s DC Nation page:

“If you’re thinking rotting corpses shambling around looking for living bodies to dine on then you’d be wrong, though it’s possible those sorts of zombies will show up at some point.

XOMBI centers around David Kim, a medical researcher who was attacked in his laboratory by strange creatures and left for dead. His supernaturally induced mortal injuries were repaired by nanomachines injected into his body. The combination of science and the supernatural has had two consequences: 1. He cannot die. Ever. He can self-heal any wound, any disease, never has to brush his teeth, diet, worry about aging, or use a toilet. The nanomachines in his body process everything and keep him in peak physical condition. This condition brought on by artificial means is what makes him a xombi. 2. He has now become a weirdness magnet. All manner of really strange stuff occurs with him somehow winding up in the center of it.

Both of these conditions provide the fuel that drives XOMBI. While David’s powers seem really advantageous on the surface (being in peak physical condition without ever visiting a gym, never worrying about losing your hair or needing a root canal, having your head crushed under the wheels of a bus and simply regenerating), there are some serious downsides. If David is in the process of regenerating, don’t touch him. The nanomachines in his body will most likely devour you as raw material with which to implement the repairs. As the series progresses, the nanomachines will prove far more dangerous.

David’s condition as a weirdness magnet is the other driving force in this series, weirdness being the key word here. How weird? Well, there’s the Startling Parade, an occult organization commanded by oppressive rod puppets papier-mâchéd out of discarded religious and political tracts; James Church, a model student turned supernatural mass murderer by a college reading assignment gone terribly wrong; the Rustling Husks, homunculi assassins crafted from ghost swarms of angry, frustrated insects driven mad with desperation to get through window glass to the world outside. Those are just some from the first issue.

The weirdness of XOMBI is the most fun aspect to write, and hopefully for you to read. For David Kim it’s something he would do anything to be rid of so that he could just go back to being regular pre-nanite-infested David Kim. His struggle to maintain a place in the mundane, ordinary world that we live in while trying to master the bizarre world he now finds himself a part of is one that will lead to some heartwrenching tragedy as the series progresses.

This brings me to the final and most important aspect of what XOMBI is about, and that’s the characters. None of the weirdness, creepiness, or tragedy would mean anything if there weren’t fully realized characters that you could invest in at the heart of it. I couldn’t have a better partner in bringing XOMBI to life than artist Frazer Irving. While it’s obvious that he’s going to excel at the weird, creepy stuff, what I really appreciate is his dedication to understanding the characters and their relationships with one another and developing unique performances for each of them. This is where the real magic is, in bringing characters to life, not just resurrecting them.”

- John Rozum

XOMBI #1 hits stores in March.