CNN’s GEEK OUT ran an exclusive preview of the highly anticipated THE FLASH #1. They caught up with series co-writer and artist Francis Manapul to talk about the science behind The Flash. “We have a bit of a leeway in exploring ‘comic book science,’” Manapul told them. “What’s been really fun is finding real world scientific facts and pushing the ideas. When you read science journals where they’re theorizing, we’re able to ask, ‘what if that wasn’t just a theory, but it was real?’ With Barry being a scientist himself, there’s lots of ways we can explore that.”

Meanwhile, KOTAKU has the exclusive preview of next week’s BLACKHAWKS #1 and TODAY.COM profiled Batwoman in a feature on gay characters in comic books.

To be continued …

A new era has begun for both DC Comics and the JUSTICE LEAGUE. And to celebrate this momentous new era with Geoff Johns and Jim Lee, DC Digital Comics is holding a special 2-Day Justice League 101 Sale. This weekend only get 101 various issues of JUSTICE LEAGUE digital comics for only $.99 each. You can buy classic adventures such as the team’s original appearance in BRAVE AND THE BOLD, modern masterpieces like Grant Morrison’s acclaimed JLA run, and even Elseworlds tales like Darwyn Cooke’s 1950s style epic DC: THE NEW FRONTIER.

We interviewed DC Entertainment co-publisher and current JUSTICE LEAGUE artist Jim Lee about his experiences with the Justice League as a young fan, how early issues of the series influenced his take and why he’s looking forward to completing his collection with digital comics.

THE SOURCE: You mentioned that you were a big fan of the Justice League from the original series. How’d you get into that era and what about it appealed to you?

Jim Lee: It was when I was a little kid. My parents would buy me the comics when we traveled around. Those had 100 pages for around 60 cents. [Laughs] The lead story was current, but they always had a backup that was drawn from the Golden Age or the Silver Age. That’s really how I learned about the backstories and alternate versions of these characters. That’s really how I learned about the DC Universe. And because they would crossover so much between Earth 1 and Earth 2 and Earth X, it was also my first exploration of the Multiverse. Plus, they always had puzzles! I was probably in 4^th or 5^th grade, and I would cut out images from the comics, I would do the crossword or word searches—which is how I learned about some of the editorial people there, like Julie Schwartz, because they were often the answers to some of the puzzles. Those comics are now in horrible, horrible condition, but I thoroughly enjoyed them.

TS: How has that era influenced you and what you’re going to be doing now with JUSTICE LEAGUE?

JL: I think what I liked about a lot of those stories is that often times they would pair up the characters, which was always interesting to me as a fan. “How is this character going to interact with this other character?” It was not often you saw the entire League move around as a group. More often than not—at least from my memory—they would split up in pairs or halves and tackle different problems separately. So, I always liked to see the pairings of the heroes and who they faced off with on the villains side. I don’t know if Geoff is doing this consciously or subconsciously, but we have that within our take of the Justice League. It really starts with the pairing of Green Lantern and Batman and explores that relationship a lot in the first issue. It’s a lot of fun to do because it definitely harkens back to the days when I was a kid reading those stories. It has that vibe to it—obviously in a very modern way—but it’s reminiscent of some of the classic storytelling.

TS: Many of the older issues that will part of the JUSTICE LEAGUE 101 sale definitely reflect that style. One that sticks out in my mind is the Search for the Seven Soldiers, which was all about the team splitting up and battling various villains.

JL: Right! Exactly! What’s really cool about the Justice League, particularly around the 100s is that they often would face off against a bunch of different super-villains. My parents weren’t crazy about me buying comics, so they would buy me one comic a month. But when you read the Justice League you feel like you’re getting seven stories. You’re getting all these different villains you never heard of before—because they were drawn from the individual continuities of the character’s books. I felt like I was getting multiple comics within one comic.

TS: You’ve gone from reading JUSTICE LEAGUE as a kid to now launching a new JUSTICE LEAGUE series. What’s it like for you personally working on this book?

JL: You mean how cool this is? [Laughs] I knew this was something I would eventually do at DC and working on BATMAN and SUPERMAN and having some of the Justice League show up in those two runs that I did, I think it set the stage. Geoff Johns and I have been friends for years and talked about doing a project together and I think the timing was just right. He’s worked on a lot of the characters individually. We wanted to do something big and fun and JUSTICE LEAGUE fits that bill to a T. So I think, in some sense, as you launch The New 52 and are looking to establish a tonality, JUSTICE LEAGUE ended being the perfect vehicle.

TS: You talked about the older Justice League issues you read when you were younger, but are there any modern stories that you’ve really enjoyed that stick out in your mind?

JL: Obviously Grant Morrison’s run was pretty phenomenal, with artist Howard Porter. That stuff was really solid. But I remember when I was breaking into comics it was around the time when Justice League with Kevin Maguire and Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis was coming out. That was so refreshingly different. The combination of the writing—which was very meta and broke the fourth wall and was irreverent but had serious beats in it—with Kevin’s art—which is so nuanced and so subtle—there was nothing else like it at the time. I remember buying it and just being so excited by how different that book was. You had covers where the characters were standing there and you were looking down at them, which is not typically what you do with superhero comics. Usually, it’s from the “worm’s eye” perspective because they’re larger than life. I think they really broke new creative ground and I just had so much fun reading that book.

TS: We actually have the first seven issues of JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL included in the sale, so new readers can now go back and read those stories they may have missed out on. What are your thoughts on the digital world and things like the Justice League 101 Sale?

JL: The thing about my comic collection is that I never had complete runs of anything. Even with Justice League, a lot of times I didn’t know how the stories ended. [Laughs] So, this is an opportunity to read these series and finish them. I have these really beat up copies and over the years I’ve gone and bought new copies at Comic Con for like $15 or $20, but I wouldn’t open those up and read them. The nice thing about digital is that it allows me to carry these books with me wherever I go and catch up on my back reading from 38 years ago. It’s exciting. Some of this stuff I’ll be seeing for the first time ever, so I’m pretty excited about that.

The Justice League 101 Sale runs from September 24 to September 25! Don’t miss this chance to own some incredible JUSTICE LEAGUE comics for an amazing price!

Maybe I have a little too much of what might be termed “peripheral vision.” As much as I enjoy the comics that carry the thrust of the “mainstream,” I tend to follow whatever flows off the main stem to see where they may lead. I like the periphery, the left field, the off-beat, the eccentric. Show me an edge and I’ll sail off it.

I’ve been very lucky: I’ve been able to work on a lot of comics that had a reputation for straying from the pack. That streak of luck has continued with DC Comics-The New 52.

Have you heard about ANIMAL MAN yet? It’s already garnering a reputation for being different from the pack. I’ve read a lot of comic books, and I’ve never seen anything like what Travel Foreman is putting into his pages. He’s clearly inspired by the scripts he’s getting from Jeff Lemire, in which Buddy Baker … and his whole family … are forced to confront strange new worlds they never counted on seeing in their lifetimes.

Jeff’s also behind FRANKENSTEIN, AGENT OF S.H.A.D.E. This is a far cry from Mary Shelley’s monster: he’s now a secret agent for the Super Human Advanced Defense Executive, wielding a sword against monsters ten times as ugly and formidable as he is. Alberto Ponticelli’s been drawing this, and he and Jeff seem to be in a friendly competition: the more insane the concept, the more Alberto tries to one-up him in the visual department. A thousand monsters in a panel? A city in a globe? A strange new incarnation of Father Time? The ideas fly between them pretty fast, and the results are astounding!

When you see J.G. Jones’ electrifying covers on MISTER TERRIFIC, you’ll know we’re going for a vibe you won’t find just anywhere. Eric Wallace has hotwired the adventures of the World’s Third Smartest Man, keeping one of Michael Holt’s feet firmly planted in the Ninth Dimension and the other in the chaotic California of the DCU. It’s super-science with the volume cranked all the way up, and Gianluca Gugliotta’s pencils make the otherworldly concepts seem really incredibly otherworldy!

Ivan Brandon’s one of the brightest guys currently working, and I was eager to see what he come up with for the new Sgt. Rock. He didn’t disappoint. The book is set in contemporary times against contemporary landscapes, but with a twist: it’s set in the DC Universe. It’s a race to see who outstrips whom: MEN OF WAR or the headlines. Tom Derenick keeps things earthy and real with his approach to the art.

Also confronting a new landscape is Jonah Hex. Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray have dropped him in the middle of a world beyond his understanding: Gotham City. If you’ve checked out Moritat’s work on THE SPIRIT, you’ll know what dizzying heights of draftsmanship he’s capable of … and they’re all on display in ALL-STAR WESTERN. These are all singular reading experiences, as far from the norm as we could make them!

Both the war and Western books also have some room to test out new concepts, as they’re all slightly larger than the rest of mags. We’d like to know what you think of ‘em, so like everything else, write and let us know. I read all the mail, and that’s me writing the letter columns for the books, so for these and for the upcoming MY GREATEST ADVENTURE, don’t spare us. Write us!

“You’ll have my undivided attention… And I’m pretty sure I’ll have yours.”
- Voodoo in VOODOO #1

Cliff Chiang and Bergen Street Comics kick off our DC Comics-The New 52 Art Tour tomorrow night. If you’re in the New York City area, come out and join us!

Saturday, September 24

8:00-11:00pm
Bergen Street Comics
470 Bergen St
Brooklyn, NY 11217

This event will feature original art from WONDER WOMAN #1 on display and Cliff will be signing copies of WONDER WOMAN #1.

“Welcome to Cellblock D of the Central Asian Supermax Meta-Human Facility.”
– Andrew Lincoln in BLACKHAWKS #1

“I swear to God I don’t know nothin’ about the Gotham Butcher.”
– Patron at a saloon in ALL-STAR WESTERN #1

We had an opportunity to ask FRINGE star Josh Jackson a few questions about his role as a writer on the new digital comic series BEYOND THE FRINGE, here’s what he had to say:

THE SOURCE: How did you get involved with this project?

JOSH JACKSON: I’m not sure who above my pay grade made the choice to ask me but, I was brought in when our producers where looking for writers for the new run of Fringe comics.

TS: Are you a big comics reader or fan?

JJ: Like just about every guy my age comics were a huge part of growing up. I have probably spent thousands of hours debating ‘who would win’ and ‘which powers kick ass more’ But lately I tend to read longer form graphic novels.

TS: What has it been like for you to write a comic, do you enjoy the process?

JJ: Writing in comic form is totally different from standard script writing. Thankfully I had a couple helpers to get me used to writing panel by panel instead of scene by scene.

TS: What can we expect from “Beyond the Fringe”?

JJ: From my portion of it, I hope that it will fill in a piece of Peters’ story in a satisfying way.

TS: How does the comic tie to season four of the show?

JJ: You’ll have to read ‘em and find out!

Cover for "Burn Notice: A New Day" Vol. 2, #1

USA NETWORK AND DC ENTERTAINMENT LAUNCH VOLUME 2 OF “BURN NOTICE: A NEW DAY” DIGITAL INTERACTIVE COMIC BOOK

New Volume Explodes with Cutting-Edge Cinematic Effects, Exclusive Interviews Along with Extraordinary Peel-a-Ways from DC Entertainment Artists

NEW YORK – September 22, 2011 – USA Network, in tandem with DC Entertainment, announces Volume Two of BURN NOTICE: A New Day, its engaging first interactive multiplatform comic book series. Sponsored by Hyundai, the comic book premieres on Thursday, September 22, giving fans their BURN NOTICE fix before the show’s return on November 3 at 10/9c. With more than 1.7 million page views, 160,000 fans have read and engaged with the comic book online and on their mobile devices.  BURN NOTICE: A New Day Volume Two is available on usanetwork.com, Facebook and as a freestanding iOS and Android App on select devices.

Written by the creative team behind the show, including series creator Matt Nix, this second volume features more exclusive content along with unique special effects that will give readers a 3-D view into selected panels, allowing them to more deeply explore Michael Westen’s environment.  Fans will have behind-the-scenes video of DC artist Tony Shasteen, who is returning as lead artist on the volume 2.  This content will not only show how he created the artwork, but how he determined the look and feel of the characters.  This new volume will feature exclusive cover art each week leading into all-new episodes of season five, which premieres Thursday, November 3, with a new issue unveiled that same day.

“The first volume of BURN NOTICE: A New Day was one of the most successful digital comics we’ve created to-date and a great example of how a comic can extend and deepen a show’s storyline, offering greater interaction with characters,” stated Hank Kanalz, senior vice president of digital, DC Entertainment. “Volume two takes that interaction to the next level with new features and exciting storylines – I can’t wait for fans to see what we have in store for them.”

BURN NOTICE: A New Day Volume Two, picks up with Michael Westen on board a military helicopter, suited up with a team of commandos, ready to storm a cargo freighter in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.  Once the siege of the freighter is complete, Michael is tasked by the CIA to continue rounding up members of the Organization that burned him.  Fans can follow him over 12 weeks to see his next moves and how he continues to clear his name.  Additionally, they can play interactive games, peelback the artwork to see the layers of drawing, see exclusive content, watch interviews with the writers and artists, and more.

“Building on the strong framework we developed in the first volume of the BURN NOTICE comic book, we are offering an unparalleled immersive feel that pulls our viewers right into Michael’s world of spies, espionage, and explosions,” said Jesse Redniss, vice president of digital, USA. “Our transmedia collaboration with DC, Hyundai, and our technology partners is resulting in a rich multiplatform experience that extends USA’s engagement with compelling storytelling on-air, online or on mobile devices.”

In addition to working with DC Entertainment, USA teamed with Panelfly, who built the mobile applications and cinematic effects, and Glow Interactive, who developed the online and Facebook versions, as well as the mobile interactive overlays.

USA’s hit series BURN NOTICE turns up the heat this fall with all-new episodes of season five, starting Thursday, November 3 at 10/9c.  BURN NOTICE stars Jeffrey Donovan as Michael Westen, a blacklisted spy banished to sun-soaked Miami.  As Michael continues working alongside his former agency, will he finally find the answers he’s been looking for? Helping him along the way are his beautifully hot-tempered, on-again girlfriend Fiona (Gabrielle Anwar); our favorite Mojito-loving retired Navy Seal, Sam (Bruce Campbell); and Miami’s newest counterintelligence expert, Jesse Porter (Coby Bell).  Michael’s sharp-tongued mother Madeline (Emmy® Award-winner Sharon Gless) also returns, ready to heat up South Beach. Guest stars include Lauren Stamile, Jere Burns, Indigo, Andre Holland, Ian Anthony Dale, Carlo Gallo and Ptolemy Slocum.  BURN NOTICE was created, written and executive produced by Matt Nix (“The Good Guys”, “Chasing Vermeer”).  Mikkel Bondesen (“Catch That Kid”) and Alfredo Barrios (“Justice”) also serve as executive producers.  The series comes from Fox Television Studios and Fuse Entertainment.