When Bane was first introduced, he was one of Batman’s most notorious villains. Remember that whole broken back thing? Exactly. Since becoming a member of the Secret Six team, however, Bane has been a man of honor seeking his righteous path. But recent events have forced him to see the ineffectuality of his journey. Will anyone be able to turn Bane from his his sinister impulses – or has the obsession taken him over again?

SECRET SIX #34, written by Gail Simone and with art by J. Calafiore, hits stores this June.

A four-foot spy holding a bomb confronts me when the elevator doors slide open. He’s one half of the Spy vs. Spy duo and they each bookend a wall’s worth of Mad magazine covers-a half dozen in total, each blown up ten times their original size. It’s the Mad magazine lobby, and while this floor has the best vending machines, it’s not my stop.

The doors close, the elevator whirs and a new lobby greets me: six comic book pages, each blown up to 3′ x 5′, hang on the wall. They’re all the same page-Superman rescuing Lois Lane-but at a different stage of development. The first is a script detailing the scene, the next features a rough sketch, then pencils, inks, colors and lettering. I give some thought about taking them down and polybagging ‘em, but that’s at least a two-man job. Plus this floor-DC Direct, collected editions and the marketing department-isn’t where I need to be.

Another short elevator ride and this time it’s Metropolis waiting for me. The entire wall of this lobby is a mural of the Man of Steel’s futuristic city. At the far end a receptionist sits behind a desk shaped like the “Daily Planet” globe. Keeping her company is a life-sized Superman, suspended from the ceiling and triumphantly coming in for a landing. I resist the urge to tug on his cape: in addition to housing the Vertigo crew, this floor is home to the DC head honchos. Best not to fool around here unless there’s an intern handy to pin it on.

The elevator “dings!” open at my next stop to reveal over fifty people waiting for me-assorted heroes and villains of the DC Universe adorning a massive six-foot-high, thirty-foot-wide mural. Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Flash…all the big guns mixed in with crazy obscure guys like Enemy Ace, Judomaster and Paul Kirk Manhunter.

No comic fan could resist the image: you HAVE to step into this lobby to get a better look. It’s then that you notice the dozens of signatures spanning the length of the art-each of these characters was drawn by an industry legend. Jack Kirby, Will Eisner, Curt Swan, Jim Steranko…you could spend all day trying to figure out which artist drew what character. Or at least try and figure out who that one superhero is standing behind Robotman. A maskless Mister Miracle…? No one I ask seems to know for sure.

That particular mystery will have to go unsolved, at least for today. This floor houses the DCU editorial team and it’s my stop. I’m their newest editor, hired a few weeks back and itchin’ to make the best comic books possible.

Just as soon as I grab some loose change from my office and hit the Mad floor again.

-Pat McCallum, DC Editor

At C2E2 this past weekend, DC shared a lot of exciting news, including the announcement of JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA’s landmark fiftieth issue! JSA #50 will be extra-sized with a roster full of mega-talent contributors such as George Perez, Freddie Williams, Howard Chaykin, and Tom Derenick. Written by Marc Guggenheim and with a cover by Felipe Massafera and a variant cover by Darwyn Cooke, don’t miss this historic event when the issue hits stores this April.

I’m so excited to have artist Chris Burnham become a permanent part of the Batman group. As soon as Chris helped out on a few pages in BATMAN & ROBIN #16, we knew we had someone special in our hands. Chris brings a unique look to Batman-it’s difficult to define his style or compare him to others-he’s truly an artist in an area all of his own. Readers will be amazed at the artwork he provided for BATMAN, INC. #4 … and he’s already hard at work on issues #6 and #7!

First image of Adrianne Palicki starring as the title character in the new NBC pilot “Wonder Woman,” from executive producer David E. Kelley (“Boston Legal,” “Ally McBeal,” NBC’s “Harry’s Law”). The pilot was written by Kelley, who also serves as executive producer with Bill D’Elia (“Boston Legal,” “The Practice,” NBC’s “Harry’s Law”). Jeffrey Reiner (“The Event”) is directing. Based upon DC Comics characters, “Wonder Woman” is from David E. Kelley Productions and Warner Bros. Television.

© 2011 NBC/Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved. Photo Credit: Justin Lubin

A few weeks ago, we asked The Source readers for any questions they have concerning FLASHPOINT. The response was great and although we’ve already answered a couple of those questions here on The Source, DC Comics Executive Editor Eddie Berganza and Senior VP of Sales Bob Wayne will be tackling more of those questions you posed at the DC Universe Panel at C2E2 tomorrow afternoon. Maybe one of the questions will be yours!

In the meantime, we’re just a few weeks away from WonderCon and we’d like to open up another open call for questions. You can tweet your questions (#Flashpoint) or post them on the wall of the DC Nation Facebook page or the wall of the Flash Facebook page. Be creative. Be specific, but not too specific. Have fun.

A few weeks back, we posted an open call for questions about FLASHPOINT with promises of answers to come. This week’s question comes from THE SOURCE reader and frequent commenter fhiz:

“ Johns wrote that Booster Gold was the only ongoing to tie into Flashpoint, so where does that leave his book, The Flash?”

Great question, fhiz. While the effects of FLASHPOINT will be felt throughout BOOSTER GOLD even after the series concludes, we can’t quite say the same for THE FLASH past issue #12… Why’s that?

Issue 12 will be the final issue of THE FLASH.

Welcome to a special C2E2 edition of Flashpoint Friday. A number of DC Comics writers, artists and editors are in Chicago this weekend attending C2E2, but don’t despair, FLASHPOINT FRIDAY isn’t going anywhere. For those of you not attending C2E2 (as well as those of you who are), The Source will be posting some FLASHPOINT news today.

The first bit of news is for the digital crowd. FLASHPOINT issues will be available at the DC Digital Comics Store and comiXology Apps (both available on iTunes) digitally four weeks after the print issue comes out. And they’ll be released on Fridays to coincide with THE SOURCE’s Flashpoint Friday.

That’s every issue of FLASHPOINT, including all the miniseries, as well, as the FLASHPOINT issues of BOOSTER GOLD. So, for example, the print edition of FLASHPOINT #1 comes out in print on May 11, and will be released digitally on June 10.

Easy, right?

Chicago! The home of deep dish pizza and deceptively good burgers will play host to the second annual Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo, better known as C2E2. Last year’s inaugural show was a blast, and this year’s should be even bigger and better.

If you’re coming to the show this weekend, please swing by, say hello and check out the giveaways and creator signings we’ll be holding in our booth throughout the weekend! DC will be in booth #811, where you’ll get the chance to make small talk with such DC creators as Scott Snyder, Paul Cornell, Tony Daniel, Gail Simone, Bill Willingham, Jill Thompson, Art Baltazar, Franco, Cliff Chiang, Phil Hester, Tyler Kirkham, Ivan Reis, Joe Prado, Doug Mahnke, Yildiray Cinar, Ryan Benjamin, Gene Ha, Don Kramer, Mike Norton and more!

And be sure to check out some of the DC panels we’ll be holding – a full schedule of these is below.

See you at the show!
Austin

FRIDAY

GREEN LANTERN
4:30-5:30pm, Room 474
What’s in store for Green Lantern’s comics adventures in 2011? War! Join DC Executive Editor Eddie Berganza, Doug Mahnke, Tyler Kirkham, Ivan Reis, Joe Prado and others to get a sneak peak into the future of GL in the DCU!

DC NATION
6:30-7:30pm, Room 470b
The DC NATION returns to Chicago! Co-Publisher Dan DiDio and some of comics’ top talents give you the inside scoop on what’s new from DC Entertainment. DCU, VERTIGO and MAD will all be discussed, so come on by and join the nation!

Creator Signings  for Friday, 3/18:

2:30-3:30 PM
Christian Alamy, Doug Mahnke, Ivan Reis, Tyler Kirkham, Joe Prado, Rod Reis

3:30-4:30 PM
Tony Daniel, Scott Snyder, Ryan Benjamin, Gail Simone

3:30-4:30 PM
Yildiray Cinar, Kevin Maguire

4:30-5:30 PM
Paul Cornell, Don Kramer, Phil Hester

4:30-5:30 PM
Art Baltazar, Mike Norton, Franco

4:30-5:30 PM
Brian Azzarello, Bill Willingham

SATURDAY

DC UNIVERSE
11:30-12:30pm, Room 474
What will happen to your favorite DCU characters during this year’s major events? Join DC Executive Editor Eddie Berganza and SVP – Sales Bob Wayne, along with Yildiray Cinar, Art Baltazar, Franco, Mike Norton, Kevin Maguire and others to hear about upcoming highlights from the DCU.

VERTIGO
1:30-2:30pm, Room 470b
Find out what compelling tales comics’ edgiest imprint has in store for you in the months to come! Join Senior Group Editor Shelly Bond, Scott Snyder, Bill Willingham, and others for a discussion of your favorite VERTIGO titles.

DC ICONS
2:30-3:30pm, Room 474
DC’s top heroes are the topic of this panel spotlight. Executive Editor Eddie Berganza, Tony Daniel, Paul Cornell, Scott Snyder, and Phil Hester lead the discussion on the latest Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman news.

DRAWING DC
5:30-6:30pm, Room 474
Superstar artists Ivan Reis, Doug Mahnke and Tyler Kirkham show off their distinctive styles while drawing on a machine that projects their work on a giant screen. Check out this unique presentation that will give you an inside glimpse into the artistic process!

Creator Signing  for Saturday, 3/19:

12-1 PM
Bill Willingham

1-2 PM
Joe Prado, Ivan Reis, Rod Reis, Christian Alamy, Tyler Kirkham, Doug Mahnke

2-3PM
Brian Azzarello, Gene Ha

2-3 PM
Franco, Mike Norton

3-4 PM
Yildray Cinar, Kevin Maguire

4-5 PM
Tony Daniel, Scott Snyder, Ryan Benjamin, Gail Simone

4-5 PM
Paul Cornell, Don Kramer

SUNDAY

BRIGHTEST DAY
1:00-2:00pm, Room 474
Executive Editor Eddie Berganza, Ivan Reis, Joe Prado, and others will reveal insights and hints about the epic Brightest Day story – and where the event will lead next!

FABLES: THE FIRST 100 – ONE-ON-ONE WITH BILL WILLINGHAM
4:00-5:00pm, Room 470a
The mind behind Vertigo’s mega-popular series comes to Chicago! Bill Willingham is joined by VP – Marketing, John Cunningham, for an in-depth look back at the first 100 issues of Fables – as well as a glimpse at what’s to come!

Creator Signings for Sunday, 3/20:

12-1 PM
Jill Thompson, Bill Wilingham

12-1
Brian Azzarello, Gene Ha

1-2 PM
Ryan Benjamin, Tony Daniel, Gail Simone

1-2 PM
Paul Cornell, Don Kramer, Jamal Igle

2-3 PM
Joe Prado, Rod Reis, Christian Alamy, Tyler Kirkham, Doug Mahnke, Ivan Reis

2-3 PM
Franco, Mike Norton

The Batman does not like guns. Specifically, Bruce Wayne does not like guns. The reason why was established long ago. An alley. A mugger. A murder.

In the opening pages of BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT issue 2, on sale Wednesday, writer/artist David Finch has the Batman dispatch the Penguins’ goons. When he tells them, “No more guns”, we believe him.