The “Night of the Owls” is coming this May, pitting the extended Bat-family against the deadly Court of Owls. A shadowy secret society with roots that date back to Gotham City’s earliest history, the Court employs a cadre of timeless, sinister assassins known as Talons to execute its malevolent will.

Of the steampunk-inspired Talon that will face-off against BATWING during the crossover, BATMAN artist Greg Capullo said, “It was like using a magnet in a junkyard. Just a lot of stuff that doesn’t mean much, but looks cool.”

Stay tuned to The Source all this week and next to see the various other Talons that will rise to menace Gotham City during the “Night of the Owls.”

JUSTICE LEAGUE #1 has sold out yet again, and will be going back to press for its seventh printing. From New York Times bestselling writer Geoff Johns and legendary artist Jim Lee, the flagship title of DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 was Diamond Comic Distributors’ top-selling comic book of 2011 – and it is maintaining its popularity among readers into 2012.

The seventh printing of JUSTICE LEAGUE #1 will be available in comic book stores on March 21, 2012.

Critically acclaimed artist Ivan Reis illustrated a variant cover for next week’s JUSTICE LEAGUE #6, focused solely on the threat – and the menacing visage – of Darkseid. Powerful enough to bring together the World’s Greatest Super Heroes in Earth’s defense, the villain faces off at last against the burgeoning team in this climactic issue, written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Jim Lee.

Reis is currently illustrating the ongoing adventures of Aquaman in the Atlantean king’s self-titled series, also written by Johns.

JUSTICE LEAGUE #6 will be on sale next week, February 29, but you can check out Reis’ cover right here on the Source.

Out next week, JUSTICE LEAGUE #6 concludes the historic first arc of the flagship series, uniting the World’s Greatest Super Heroes for the very first time. Written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Jim Lee, the issue pits the team against Darkseid in a battle that will have lasting consequences for the heroes and the series.

“I wanted to create a cover which resonated with what I consider to be the most classic Darkseid story – namely the Great Darkness Saga – so that entailed the Justice League bowing down naturally to the power of Darkseid,” said Lee. “Except of course Batman who, despite not having powers, fights with all his strength in defiance.”

Check out the cover to JUSTICE LEAGUE #6 here.

With anticipation for May’s “The Night of the Owls” crossover building across the extended Bat-family, DETECTIVE COMICS will also now be part of the greater battle for Gotham City. Written by Tony S. Daniel and illustrated by Daniel and Sandu Florea, the issue finds the sinister secret society targeting one of Gotham’s most iconic institutions.

“In DETECTIVE #9, Batman finds himself in the unlikeliest of situations—saving Arkham Asylum administrator Jeremiah Arkham from a mysterious Talon assailant,” said Mike Marts, BATMAN Series editor. “What is the secret connection between the Court of Owls and Gotham City’s oldest institution for the criminally insane?”

The “Night of the Owls” is coming this May, pitting the extended Bat-family against the deadly Court of Owls. A shadowy secret society with roots that date back to Gotham City’s earliest history, the Court employs a cadre of timeless, sinister assassins known as Talons to execute its malevolent will.

“Now I’m thinking Jack the Ripper,” said BATMAN artist Greg Capullo of the mid-Victorian Talon that threatens the BIRDS OF PREY during the crossover. “Cloaks and lots of layers. A bird’s feathers are all layered. Perfect.”

Stay tuned to The Source all this week and next to see the various other Talons that will rise to menace Gotham City during the “Night of the Owls.”

MegaCon officially kicks off today in Orlando, Florida, and there will be several DC Comics creators in attendance. DC Entertainment Co-Publisher Dan DiDio and Executive Editor Eddie Berganza will share behind-the-scenes insights at today’s DC ALL ACCESS panel, and will host another panel tomorrow to discuss DC COMICS-THE NEW 52.

But that’s not all. Stop by to say hello to some of your favorite writers and artists, including Greg Capullo (BATMAN), David Finch (BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT), Dan Jurgens (SUPERMAN), George Perez (WORLDS’ FINEST), Jimmy Palmiotti (ALL-STAR WESTERN), Tony Bedard (GREEN LANTERN: NEW GUARDIANS) and BEFORE WATCHMEN’s Darwyn Cooke and Amanda Conner.

Visit the MegaCon website for the full panel and signing schedule. See ya there!

The “Night of the Owls” is coming this May, pitting the extended Bat-family against the deadly Court of Owls. A shadowy secret society with roots that date back to Gotham City’s earliest history, the Court employs a cadre of timeless, sinister assassins known as Talons to execute its malevolent will.

“Same approach as the 1660s owl, basically,” said BATMAN artist Greg Capullo of the 1770s Talon, who will be resurrected to menace BATMAN AND ROBIN. “I looked at that period’s military. I was happy to find less frilly stuff. Overall, the period looks more bad-ass, despite the stockings.”

Stay tuned to The Source all this week and next to see the various other Talons that will rise to menace Gotham City during the “Night of the Owls.”

The “Night of the Owls” is coming this May, pitting the extended Bat-family against the deadly Court of Owls. A shadowy secret society with roots that date back to Gotham City’s earliest history, the Court employs a cadre of timeless, sinister assassins known as Talons to execute its malevolent will.

“I thought about owls for a minute, and the hooded owl sprang to mind,” said BATMAN artist Greg Capullo about the creation of the original Talon. “So I gave him a hood like an executioner. As for the lines of the suit, I let the thought of birds guide my hand. An owl design simply made sense.”

For the earliest of the Talon designs – appearing in Gotham City of the 1660s, and resurrected to battle CATWOMAN – Capullo did some historical research to capture the proper aesthetic.

“I Googled garb and weapons from the period to get the right feel,” said Capullo. “I mixed, I matched and modified what I’d seen into a design that looked dangerous.”

Stay tuned to The Source all this week and next to see the various other Talons that will rise to menace Gotham City during the “Night of the Owls.”

With ACTION COMICS #9, two acclaimed guest artists will explore an alternate Earth and the story of its Kryptonian protector. Multiple Eisner Award-winning artist Gene Ha will be a guest artist for the primary plot, penned by regular series writer Grant Morrison. And fresh from his recent work on THE SHADE miniseries, artist Cully Hamner will illustrate the issue’s back-up story, written by Sholly Fisch.

Parallel worlds come to the forefront of DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 “Second Wave,” with titles such as EARTH 2 and WORLDS’ FINEST exploring the adventures of heroes on alternate Earths. ACTION COMICS #9 sets up the multiverse with a standalone story of a Superman from another Earth, who must fight a monster from yet another parallel world. But this isn’t just any monster; it’s a Superman surrogate known as Superdoom, twisted into an unstoppable agent of evil.

The back-up story will also feature an adventure of this alternate Superman, set on his parallel Earth.

Regular series artist Rags Morales will return for ACTION COMICS #10 in June. In the meantime, check out Ha’s inks for ACTION COMICS #9.