Today, I’ve already shown you process pieces for the cover and first page of FLASHPOINT: EMPEROR AQUAMAN #1.

Below you will see the evolution of the cover to FLASHPOINT: REVERSE FLASH #1. With each step in the process coming into fruition, everything from the Reverse Flash’s sinister grin to the signature icons of DC’s greatest superheroes getting tossed aside in the background becomes more detailed and pronounced, resulting in this awesome, collaborative final product.

1. Let’s begin with the initial sketch:

2. Followed by Ardian Syaf’s pencils:

3. Then Vicente Cifuentes provides depth with his no leaks inks:

4. And as the last hoorah, Kyle Ritter adds color as the ultimate step:

And in other FLASHPOINT news, be sure to head on over to Comic Book Resources for an interview with FLASHPOINT: SECRET SEVEN writer Peter Milligan, as well as to IGN for an exclusive interview with series creator and mastermind, Geoff Johns.

Earlier today, I gave you a step-by-step visual rundown of how a script page turns into a final piece of art. Now I want to show you two more process pieces by breaking out a couple covers. Let’s start with the cover to FLASHPOINT: EMPEROR AQUAMAN #1 – the same issue I gave you a sneak peek of this morning.

Covers tend to be tricky because not only does the artist need to capture the essence and themes of the whole book, but they also have to be careful not to reveal any spoilers. For these reasons, FLASHPOINT: EMPEROR AQUAMAN #1 is the perfect example of a successful cover. Looking at it, you certainly don’t get the impression that Aquaman is, to put it lightly, the nicest guy. He’s a warrior – one with attitude. He towers over a scene of destruction with his trident glimmering and ready for battle. So while the cover does not reveal any plot-specific spoilers, the overall feel of the book is made very evident upon first glance at it.

1. It all starts with a rough sketch based on brainstorming ideas about what the cover could look like.

2. Next, penciller Ardian Syaf takes this sketch and provides more detail and context.

3. Vicente Cifuentes then expertly layers on his inks.

4. And to conclude the process, Kyle Ritter fills in the inks with eye-popping colors.

Pretty cool stuff, right?

Tons and tons of work goes into this process. This is world-building one page at a time. Head on over to Comic Book Resources for two exclusive interviews with FLASHPOINT creators Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning and Scott Snyder & Lowell Francis for a more in depth breakdown of these processes (and for some sneak peeks at the FLASHPOINT titles they’re working on).

1. It all begins with the script.

Following Geoff Johns’ lead from the main FLASHPOINT book, Tony Bedard script’s a dire scene for FLASHPOINT: EMPEROR AQUAMAN.

Just one of the of the 20 books fleshing out the world of FLASHPOINT, but this one is giving the history that led to King Arthur’s fateful decision to sink a continent.

PAGE ONE

Splash: Rome, shortly after Western Europe was plunged beneath the waves. In Vatican City, thousands of corpses float upward from St. Peter’s Square like eerie souls slowly ascending. AQUAMAN swims through them, trident in hand, stone-faced amid the death and destruction. This is about a day after a gigantic earthquake lowered Western Europe below sea level, so everything is under water and the buildings and pavement are cracked and wrecked.

BANNER: THE SUNKEN CITY OF ROME

11 Months Ago

CAPTION: [I’ll come up with some storybook-style captions like they came from the royal histories of Atlantis, narrating the scene]

TITLE: EMPEROR AQUAMAN

Part 1: Prince of Peace

2. And this is what penciller Ardian Syaf does creating a beautiful but disturbing image:

3. Adding depth to this is Vicente Cifuentes with his water proof inks:

4. Finally, Kyle Ritter finishes it with lavish color for a very grim opening to FLASHPOINT: EMPEROR AQUAMAN #1.

FLASHPOINT FACT: “He will drown the world–then rule it!”

It begins this May!!!

On July 19th, Spiegel & Grau will release Grant Morrison’s SUPERGODS, his non-fiction history and exploration of the superhero archetype. I’ve read through an early version of the book and found it to be the page-turner that I expected it to be: an enlightening, in-depth journey through seven decades of costumed superheroes, from the big ones like Superman and Wonder Woman to the most obscure, forgotten caped vigilantes. Part history and part memoir, if you have any interest in what comics Grant found most inspirational in the formative years of his writing career, then you absolutely need to pick up this book.

The official description for SUPERGODS:

From one of the most acclaimed and oracular writers in the world of comics comes a thrilling and provocative exploration of humankind’s great modern myth: the superhero.

For Grant Morrison, possibly the greatest of contemporary superhero storytellers, these heroes are not simply characters but powerful archetypes whose ongoing, decades-spanning story arcs reflect and predict the course of human existence: Through them, we tell the story of ourselves. In this exhilarating book, Morrison draws on history, art, mythology, and his own astonishing journeys through this alternate universe to provide the first true chronicle of the superhero-why they matter, why they will always be with us, and what they tell us about who we are.

Check out the exclusive first look at the book’s cover below, and keep an eye out for SUPERGODS this July!

This week, for the first time ever, the entire 52 series and entire INFINITE CRISIS series have been made available digitally. And yes, that does include all the spin-off and aftermath miniseries. This means books by renowned authors such as Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, and Mark Waid, and fan-favorite artists like Jim Lee, Phil Jimenez, George Pérez, Jerry Ordway, Ivan Reis, and Andy Lanning.

To celebrate, we’re conducting a special sale in our digital store on all of these titles. For 52 hours, each one of these digital comics will be priced at only 99 cents! This is the perfect opportunity for old fans looking to reconnect with the books of the past and for new fans to read these critically acclaimed titles that changed the DC Universe forever.

Check out the full list of available titles below. The sale ends at 4:01 am (EST) this Sunday.

o COUNTDOWN TO INFINITE CRISIS #1
o DAY OF VENGEANCE #’s 1-6
o VILLAINS UNITED #’s 1-6
o RANN-THANAGAR WAR #’s1-6
o THE OMAC PROJECT #’s1-6
o SUPERMAN #219
o ACTION COMICS #829
o ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #642
o WONDER WOMAN #219
o INFINITE CRISIS #’s 1-7
o DAY OF VENGEANCE SPECIAL
o VILLAINS UNITED SPECIAL
o RANN-THANAGAR WAR SPECIAL
o THE OMAC PROJECT SPECIAL
o 52 #’s1-52
o 52: WORLD WAR III #1-4
o 52 AFTERMATH: THE FOUR HORSEMEN #1-6

Any Superman fan who hasn’t picked up ACTION COMICS #900 is really doing themselves a disservice. Besides all of the many, many anniversary features that pack the 96-page issue, you’re skipping out on a pretty earth-shaking twist in the ongoing Reign of Doomsday storyline. Those of you who’ve read it will know what I mean. To those of you who haven’t, beware: spoilers after the jump….

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Today marks the last issue of BRIGHTEST DAY. If you haven’t picked up your copy yet, then clicking on the jump is the very last thing you want to do (major spoiler alert!)

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As “War of the Green Lanterns” sweeps through April, the strategy to save the Corps is in full action. Guy, Hal, Kyle and John join forces, but with each additional decision put to a vote, we find out that some plans are hard to keep.

Cover by Miguel Sepulveda

The variant cover of GREEN LANTERN EMERALD WARRIORS #9 is the final part of a triptych image connecting GREEN LANTERN #65 and GREEN LANTERN CORPS #59 by George Pérez, which was revealed in Brian Cunningham’s post here.

Here are the 3 covers together. Cool, right?

Part 7 begins next month in GREEN LANTERN #66. Here’s a look at the cover by Miguel Sepulveda:

Today marks the release of the final issue of BRIGHTEST DAY. In the penultimate issue, Swamp Thing reemerged. And if you thought that was a surprise, just wait until you see what issue #24 has in store for you.

For those of you wondering, today is indeed one of those days when we will be following up with a “THIS JUST HAPPENED” post later in the afternoon. Needless to say, this is a finale of epic proportions.

Written by Geoff Johns and Peter J. Tomasi and with art by Ivan Reis, Joe Prado, Scott Clark, Ardian Syaf, and Patrick Gleason, BRIGHTEST DAY #24 bows into stores today.

Comic Book Resources has posted an exclusive preview of Xombi #2 and talked to writer John Rozum about the series’ origins. Interested? Check it out here!