The Flash is many things – the fastest man alive, a colorful protector of Central City, a hopeful hero in a world of shadow. But re-imagined as part of DC COMICS-THE NEW 52, The Flash is now also scientifically sound. Sure, there’s a bit of comic book license taken, but co-writers Francis Manapul and Brian Buccallato are making an effort to root his science-fiction adventures firmly in scientific fact – and they are more than happy to talk about it.

They caught up with YAHOO! ASSOCIATED CONTENT for a three-part series on the subject of Flash’s real-world science – also touching on the need for optimism in the comic book medium. “A lot of the science we’ve used has not only helped move the story forward but it’s also helped inspire certain things,” said Manapul. “We’re not going to shoehorn something in just to fit it in or have our story hindered by it at the end of the day. It has to be something that helps move our story forward and get us to where we need to be. We’ve been lucky enough that many of the things we needed to find exist. That’s what is more amazing about it. Some of the things we’ve introduced, as out of this world as they seem, are real. These scientific terms aren’t just made up words. They’re real.” Check out the whole series: Part 1 (Francis Manapul), Part 2 (Brian Buccellato) and Part 3 (Manapul on optimism in THE FLASH).

And the duo spoke with MTV GEEK, as well, where they discussed the potential for comic books to serve their readers as a jumping off point to learn new things. “I know when I was a kid, if I saw a word I didn’t understand I would look it up, and now I would know something new,” said Buccellato. “So for a kid to see a straight science term, and then want to know what it means, he can Google it – which is why we call it a Googlable series – and
learn something new. It just adds to the reading experience.”

What’s the most Goggle-able series in all of DC’s NEW 52? Why, FLASH, of course!

Followers of the Fastest Man Alive already know it to be among the most entertaining and electrifying series we produce, and that the team of Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato have crafted a Flash for the ages.

But FLASH readers are also pretty hip to the fact that the series dangles crazy-sounding comic-booky science terms every other page. Stuff like “the law of congestion.” Or “augmented cognition.” And, get this, “pig-extracted extracellular matrix.” What’s even more mind-bending is that all of this seemingly made-up comic-book science is ACTUALLY REAL.

Go ahead, Google it all. We’ll wait right here.

See, Francis and Brian pride themselves on applying cutting-edge science and technology to a series that understandably must move much faster than every other comic book out there. When you read it, you’ll not only get a humdinger of a tale, you’ll learn a really cool thing or three.

FLASH #3 is out next week, so be sure to reserve your copy now. I’m not exaggerating when I say this is a series that we’ll all look back on someday and say, “Man, that was some of the most fun comics I’ve ever read…”

And those will be memories you won’t need to Google.

– Brian Cunningham, Editor

Over the past few days, we’ve been linking to all of the exclusive previews of the third issues from DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 that are going on sale tomorrow.

Below, take a look at all the previews that ran (sorted alphabetically and separated by cover), compiled here in one easy location for your convenience.

Hitting comic book stores this Wednesday, JUSTICE LEAGUE #3 will see the introduction of Wonder Woman and Aquaman to the team that will become the World’s Greatest Superheroes. But these are not the seasoned heroes of their respective eponymous titles; they are younger, more arrogant. In short, they’re not team players – yet.

Even so, that doesn’t mean they can’t make things go BOOM when faced with an army of parademons. Artist Jim Lee visited the G4 studios to give them an exclusive first look at issue #3, and at the destruction that results when these superpowers get together.

Tune in to G4′s X-Play today at 3:30pm PT/6:30pm ET to check out the sneak peek at JUSTICE LEAGUE #3 – and, a special bonus, Jim talks about Arkham City and DC Universe Online.

In issue 3 of NIGHTWING, on sale tomorrow, Nightwing heads to Chicago in order to solve a crime. TIME OUT CHICAGO has the very first look at our hero’s journey to the Windy City.

Will Richard Grayson (former Robin, former Batman and current Nightwing) forsake the streets of Gotham for the confines of Wrigley Field? Stay tuned.

SPOILER ALERT: If you have not read THE SHADE #1, do not continue reading this preview or look at the preview pages after the jump.

Seriously.
Read the rest of this entry »

WONDER WOMAN takes center stage again this Wednesday, with the much discussed issue #3 detailing her new origin and family heritage. USA TODAY spoke with writer Brian Azzarello about the storyline and ran an exclusive preview of the issue. And POP MATTERS also had the opportunity to interview Brian, so head on over to read their feature.

Now, for those of you who can’t wait for the collection, here’s the scoop. Collecting issues #1-6, the WONDER WOMAN Volume 1 hardcover (144 pages / $22.99) with art by Cliff Chiang and Tony Akins will be available May 2012!

So, get ready to pick up what is destined to be one of the most anticipated collections of the year!

Some have said that three is the magic number. If that’s the case, November should be a fascinating month. Here at THE SOURCE, we’ll spotlighting key third issues from DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 with an ongoing series of posts titled “3 Things You Didn’t Know About DC COMICS-THE NEW 52.” Expect the unexpected–in threes.

Sure, there are many things that travelers to the 9th Dimension should know before embarking on their journey. The first is, travel lightly. Because you’ll probably have to run for your life at some point. Yes, the first thing you should know about the 9th dimension is… that it can be a very dangerous place. Just how dangerous? Look at it this way…

In MISTER TERRIFIC #3, billionaire Michael Holt finally brings Brainstorm—the villain who knows the truth about Michael Holt’s wife, Paula—to justice. But closure comes at a high price and, unable to deal with Brainstorm’s shocking revelation, Mister Terrific loses his cool. Big time. It’s a state of events he’ll regret for years to come, one that sends him looking for solace and redemption in, you guessed, the 9th Dimension.

But there are cruel, terrifying beings waiting for Mister Terrific in the 9th Dimension. They are called THE KRYL and they have been watching Mister Terrific for a very long time. Why? Because they have been waiting for their chance to enlist him in a not-so-terrific cause. Which brings up the second thing you’ll need to know about the 9th dimension: it is in perpetual state of war and has been that way for centuries.

Thanks to the nasty folks designed and pictured above and below in some incredible artwork by the very terrific Gianluca Gugliotta, Mister Terrific’s life is about to get turned upside down.

The third and final thing you should know before traveling into the 9th dimension is that, unlike Los Angeles, there are no street signs (at least not in English). Which means when it comes to navigating dimensional space—or figuring out whom to trust inside an alien warship—you’ll be on your own. So you’d better have a good head on your shoulders, a modicum of super-intelligence, and the MacGuyver-esque ability to escape from almost any situation. Otherwise, you might end up dead at the hands of new, and very different, kind of alien foe.

So get ready, folks. The Kryl make their first appearance this month in MISTER TERRIFIC #3. Their story continues in issues #4 & #5 as Michael Holt embarks on his first “cosmic” adventure. It’s a story that takes this series in a different and surprising direction. Only who will survive the encounter – our hero or The mysterious Kryl?

Stay tuned.

– Eric Wallace (MISTER TERRIFIC)

Did you see the new DC Nation promo during Friday night’s premiere of GREEN LANTERN: THE ANIMATED SERIES on Cartoon Network? If not, check it out below.

All afternoon, THE SOURCE has been rolling out your very first look at DC Comics in February 2012.

February still seems a long ways off. But this Wednesday? That’s right around the corner and we’ve got a whole new batch of third issues from DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 hitting stores. For ease of reading, we’ve compiled a comprehensive rundown. Tell your friends.

USA TODAY interviewed writer Brian Azzarello to accompany their exclusive preview of WONDER WOMAN #3, in which Diana’s new origins are revealed. “I can’t wait to start really, really playing with the gods,” Azzarello told them. “Look who she’s immediately gaining as siblings — suddenly, the god of war is her half-brother … Now instead of protecting a mortal from the gods, she’s also protecting her half-brother or sister.”

POPMATTERS has your first look at I, VAMPIRE #3. “I, VAMPIRE is mythic in every way,” POPMATTERS wrote of the series. “It is the story of how the whole world is threatened by a love story that just darkens the character of each individual involved in that poisoned relationship. In some of the finest storytelling ever to grace the character of Andrew and his struggles with Mary, Josh Fialkov singularizes the character and the title among the recent crop of DC’s New 52. It is very much the evolution of the romantic vampire’s we’ve come to enjoy seeing on screen over recent years.”

MAXIM previewed DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS #3. The issue by Paul Jenkins and Bernard Chang continues Deadman’s journey of self exploration as he attempts to gain answers on how to gain control of his “life.”

Now that he’s bonded with his armor, can Jaime Reyes learn how to control it? Find out in BLUE BEETLE #3 by Tony Bedard, Ig Guara, Ruy Jose and J.P. Mayer, previewed exclusively at MTV GEEK.

It’s time for a fourth team member in BIRDS OF PREY #3! Head on over to COMIC BOOK RESOURCES for your exclusive preview.

With the Intruders neutralizing the ring powers of the Green Lantern Corps, it’ll be up to Guy Gardner and John Stewart to figure out how to stop this grave threat. Check out IFANBOY’s exclusive preview of GREEN LANTERN CORPS #3 by Peter J. Tomasi, Geraldo Borges and Scott Hanna.

IGN previewed Selina Kyle’s latest adventures in CATWOMAN #3. What trouble has the femme fatale got herself into this time? Find out when the issue by Judd Winick and Guillem March hits stores this week.

Following their exclusive preview of LEGION LOST #3 last week, TOR.COM has your first look at LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #3 by Paul Levitz and Francis Portela.

And that’s not all. DISCOVER MAGAZINE highlighted the science in MISTER TERRIFIC in DC COMICS-THE NEW 52.

What else is going on the internet?

ADVERTISING AGE presented a 2011 Media Vanguard Award to the BURN NOTICE digital comic for “Most Innovating Broadcast Brand Extension.” (Congratulations to all those involved with the book!)

Meanwhile, BATMAN: NOEL writer and artist Lee Bermejo was interviewed by YAHOO! ASSOCIATED CONTENT. “I like a very ‘urban warfare’ look for my Batman,” Bermejo said of The Dark Knight’s costume design in the book. “I suppose it comes from my overall need to ground things in as much reality as possible. I like to approach all design from the inside out, trying to figure out what fabrics could be used to make the thing IF it were really being constructed. I wanted there to be a point to Batman having this more modern, utilitarian look. It fit in well with what I wanted to do in the story.”

“The idea for the project pretty much came when I had finished Joker,” Bermejo continued to THE MORTON REPORT. “And I had a blast drawing Joker. I really enjoyed it. But it was a really dark, brutal piece of work, and I kind of wanted to go in the other direction. To push myself creatively, but also to try something new.”

Finally, COMICVINE listed four reasons why Sinestro is the most powerful Green Lantern.

And speaking of Green Lantern, check out Francis Manapul’s breathtaking variant cover for next month’s issue #4. Amazing, right?

To be continued …