This is it. Doc Savage makes his return to DC Comics, and crashes right into Gotham’s protector, The Batman. Noir mastermind Brian Azzarello teams with artist Phil Noto to present a gritty and shadowy version of the DCU, where thugs are at every corner, corruption runs deep and even the heroes reside in a gray area of morality.

Doc Savage has heard only bad things about The Batman, Gotham’s violent new vigilante, but what can he do to stop him? Check out some more pages from this issue, a vital prologue to the upcoming FIRST WAVE mini-series from Azzarello and artist Rags Morales.

We’ve been parsing out some of these amazing Rags Morales sketches (chock-full of info from FIRST WAVE writer Brian Azzarello) bit-by-bit as we lead into the BATMAN/DOC SAVAGE SPECIAL #1 hitting shelves this week. And we’ve got a look at some other characters that will be populating the FIRST WAVE world, including the Spirit, Rima the Jungle Girl and a certain Black Canary. Swing by Thursday for the final installment, won’t you?

Not long ago, we showed you a few sketchbook pages from THE FIRST WAVE, featuring sketches from artist Rags Morales and notes from writer Brian Azzarello. But why stop at two when we’ve got plenty more?

Last time, we looked at the Batman through the eyes of Morales and Azzarello, as they show us a younger, more brash Dark Knight. Now, we put the spotlight squarely on the Man of Bronze and his cohorts. But don’t worry, we won’t stop there. Check back next week for more from the world of FIRST WAVE.

We’re gonna go light on the commentary here, mainly because this stuff can A) speak for itself and B) is amazing. From the desk of writer Brian Azzarello, with amazing art from Rags Morales, prepare to enter the world of FIRST WAVE…

But that’s not all, folks. We’ve got a ton more sketches and info from Azz and Rags, so check back to learn more about Doc Savage and the other characters — some familiar, some not — populating the world of FIRST WAVE.

It’s here. We’ve talked and teased and talked some more about not only the special, but the upcoming THE FIRST WAVE around these parts pretty often, but nothing beats real pages to look at. So, here we go. A first look at the BATMAN/DOC SAVAGE SPECIAL, from writer Brian Azzarello and artist Phil Noto:

A week ago, we unveiled the details about THE FIRST WAVE, writer Brian Azzarello and artist Rags Morales’ gritty pulp romp, featuring Doc Savage, Batman, the Spirit and more. But did you think we’d stop there?

As we noted, superstar artist J.G. Jones will be handling variant covers for the mini-series, and we snagged an in-progress look at the cover to THE FIRST WAVE #1. We even pulled the very busy Jones away from his desk for a second to give us his thoughts on the story spinning out of November’s BATMAN/DOC SAVAGE SPECIAL. Take it away, J.G.:

“I’m just happy to be aboard the First Wave bus along with the serious talents doing the heavy lifting. I love the world that Brian has inhabited with these iconic pulp characters, and the artwork by Rags is spot on perfect. Catch the wave; it should be a wild ride!”

Well said. And now, the cover…

WEDNESDAY COMICS, the groundbreaking weekly series featuring the all-star talents of Neil Gaiman, Joe Kubert, Lee Bermejo, Brian Azzarello, Kurt Busiek and many more, was a critical and commercial success across the board, featuring DC’s greatest characters, including Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash and Green Lantern, in stories from the most talented creators in the industry. For 12 weeks, fans were treated to an historic and energized collection of newspaper strips compiled by editor Mark Chiarello that ranged from standard and captivating superhero drama to the surreal and innovative. But wait, there’s more?

Just announced at the Baltimore Retailer Summit, we’ve got the details on the WEDNESDAY COMICS collection, a topic that’s been hotly debated and prognosticated by fans since the inception of the series.

The hardcover collection of the series, which will retail at $49.99, will clock in at 11 x 17 inches, which will present the series in a deluxe, big-screen format befitting the series, which was originally printed on broadsheet newspaper pages.

So, there you have it. WEDNESDAY COMICS, presented in oversized and deluxe glory. Not too shabby, huh?

Thanks for staying up late with The Source tonight, gang. We’ve got a bunch of interesting news spinning out of the Baltimore Retailer Summit, so sit back and enjoy.

Did you think the BATMAN/DOC SAVAGE SPECIAL was all we had in the works for the good Doctor and company? Of course not. In fact, we’ve got a ton of stuff to roll out.

First up (you’ll get the joke in a second), we have THE FIRST WAVE mini-series, which hits early next year from writer Brian Azzarello and artist Rags Morales, with variant covers from superstar artist J.G. Jones. The series sets the stage for the new world that houses not only Doc Savage, but the Spirit, Batman, Black Canary, the Avenger and a host of other heroes with a gritty, modern noir backdrop that Azzarello does best.

We’ve got some lovely Morales art here for you, too. In case you’re not convinced. But that’s not all.

Later on in 2010, we’ll have two, new ongoing series – DOC SAVAGE and THE SPIRIT, tied directly to the new status quo created in the BATMAN/DOC SAVAGE special and FIRST WAVE mini-series. But why let all the cats out of the bag at once?

So, sit back, enjoy the art and stay tuned here to The Source for more details.

We decided Brian Azzarello put it best, so why try and spruce things up with a cheeky headline?

Yesterday, we caught a look at J.G. Jones’ amazing cover to the BATMAN/DOC SAVAGE SPECIAL, which kicks off a new era for the Doc, and and provides the springboard for more stories focusing on characters like The Blackhawks, Rima and more. Oh, and Batman.

And, as we promised yesterday, we’ve got comments from Azzarello, who’s masterminding the whole shebang. Take it away, Brian:

“Cities are urban jungles– and there’s also unchartered mysterious countries with their own jungles as well. It’s world where you’re guilty before being proven innocent– something that rarely happens. Little people make big mistakes and suffer the consequences. Life is cheap, and everyone has their price. Where part of the thrill of being rich, is watching the poor suffer. Y’know, my kind of place.”

But that’s not all. Both Azzarello and cover artist J.G. Jones will be at the Chicaco Comic-Con this weekend, talking up the special with Senior Story Editor Ian Sattler. If you’re in the area, be sure to swing by and say hello.

And, because it’s Friday and we want to send you off with a smile on your respective faces, here’s artist Rags Morales’ variant cover for the BATMAN/DOC SAVAGE SPECIAL, which hits in November.

Did you think we’d have only one bit of news on Thursday? Well, think again.

As we’ve noted here, we’ll be seeing a lot more of Doc Savage in the pages of DC comics in the near future. Now, we can actually give you a tad more, detail-wise.

This November, writer Brian Azzarello teams with artist Phil Noto for the BATMAN/DOC SAVAGE SPECIAL #1, which sets the stage for an entire new world for the Doc, along with a slew of characters that will pop up later, including the Blackhawks and Rima, the Jungle Girl. It all starts here, and I’m not exaggerating when I say you’re really in for a treat.

Azzarello is no stranger to noir or gritty storytelling, as anyone familiar with Vertigo’s 100 BULLETS and the recent JOKER OGN can attest. Coupled with Noto’s neo-classic art style and you’ve got the perfect launching pad for a collection of books that will pull these beloved characters into the 21st century.

Oh, and did I mention Batman? Yeah, you may remember him.

So, allow your jaw to drop at the J.G. Jones cover below. Then come back tomorrow for another treat, plus comments from Azzarello himself.