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?

It’s Wednesday. We know that means new comics. More specifically, it means a new issue of WEDNESDAY COMICS. Check out the latest SUPERMAN strip installment over at USA TODAY before you head to the shop.

• Over at AIN’T IT COOL NEWS, “Ambush Bug” talks to BLACKEST NIGHT writer Geoff Johns about his plans for the summer event and beyond. A snippet:

BUG: I know BLACKEST NIGHT is just beginning, but do you have things planned out for what’s next?

GJ: I can’t say much, but I will be on GREEN LANTERN for a long time. I have no plans to leave the book. Next year, GREEN LANTERN is going to be my main focus for the entire year. I’m launching a FLASH monthly book soon and there’s going to be a KID FLASH monthly book by Sterling Gates. Those two books are going to work in unison and explore the Flash in very much the same way GREEN LANTERN and GREEN LANTERN CORPS are tied together right now. They’ll be their own separate books, but then they’ll come together. The idea, some of it comes from BLACKEST NIGHT and REBIRTH, but the idea is to explore what it means to be the Flash, what the Speed Force is, and all that and take it to a different level.

• And, speaking of Geoff, in case you missed it, IGN had a lengthy two-part interview with the writer to discuss the recently-unveiled cover to BLACKEST NIGHT #5, featuring Nekron.

• Over at NEWSARAMA, they’ve got a first look at THE RED CIRCLE: THE WEB.

• Also, the team at iFanboy continue to roll out content from San Diego. Worth a listen.

• THE NEW YORK TIMES talks to Chip Kidd about his work and love of comics, including a snazzy slideshow of his DC work.

WEDNESDAY COMICS #1 is on stands. Let the games begin, folks.

Haven’t headed over to the comic shop yet? To whet your appetite, USA TODAY has the first installment of John Arcudi and artist Lee Bermejo’s SUPERMAN — both in today’s print edition and online. USA TODAY will continue to serialize the strip weekly on their site.

Still on the fence? Well, first off — shame on you. Who can resist a weekly series that features the talents of Neil Gaiman, Brian Azzarello, Mike Allred, Karl Kerschl, Joe Kubert, Walt Simonson, Dave Gibbons, Kyle Baker, Kurt Busiek, Amanda Connor…to name a few? But because we’re all about doing our due diligence here, why not peruse THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS’ piece on the title and Dan DiDio’s interview with THE CLEVELAND PLAIN-DEALER? Or THE TOLEDO FREE PRESS’s feature on the weekly series?

More? Ok. Well, both PUBLISHERS WEEKLY COMICS WEEK and THE HONOLULU STAR-BULLETIN chatted up WEDNESDAY COMICS mastermind Mark Chiarello, who’s the man responsible for gathering such an impressive lineup of A-list talent.

And if you’re not at least a foot out the door by now, keep your eyes peeled at COMIC BOOK RESOURCES and AOL/ASYLUM’s COMICS ALLIANCE blog, as both will have interviews with Chiarello up later today.

And,  in case you missed it this morning, our own Dan DiDio swung by the offices of  the FOX BUSINESS channel to talk up the series. Check  out the video here.

Well? Hop to it.

Here’s hoping everyone had a relaxing weekend. In case you weren’t chained in front of your computer, here are a few of the things you may have missed while enjoying two days or rest.

• AIN’T IT COOL NEWS unveiled an exclusive first look at BATMAN AND ROBIN #1, by Grant Morrison and artist Frank Quitely. Keep your eyes peeled for a few more sneak peeks at the first issue in the coming days.

• Pete Tomasi talks to NEWSARAMA about the road to BLACKEST NIGHT. The site also talks to writer Keith Giffen about the newly-announced MAGOG series, and to the supremely talented J.H. Williams about Batwoman’s upcoming stint in DETECTIVE COMICS.

• COMIC BOOK RESOURCES’ Jeff Renaud chats up artist Mark Bagley to discuss the conclusion of TRINITY, while the folks io9 explain why TRINITY is a ‘metaphysical epic done right.

• Remember that time back in March, where BATMAN Group Editor Michael Marts talked to IGN about his very neat photo board, featuring key characters heading into BATTLE FOR THE COWL? Well, now that the major event is over, the board has changed, which means Marts once again drops hints as to where your favorite characters are going, in a chat with IGN’s Dan Phillips.

• And last, but certainly not least, THE NEW YORK TIMES unveiled their Graphic Novel Bestseller list for the week of May 23. Of note: SUPERMAN: NEW KRYPTON, BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE, BATMAN R.I.P., JOKER and BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS all made the list.

There’s really very little that needs to be said about WEDNESDAY COMICS that hasn’t been said already. DC Art Director Mark Chiarello has done an amazing job at collecting the best and brightest creators in the industry, and the art really speaks for itself. So why not show some more? Here’s another look at artist Lee Bermejo’s (working with writer John Arcudi) Superman story, which features a familiar face.

WEDNESDAY COMICS hits 7/8.

The brainchild of DC Comics Art Director Mark Chiarello, WEDNESDAY COMICS is a unique and groundbreaking storytelling method — 16 pages, printed on broadsheet-size newsprint, featuring weekly stories by the best and brightest creators out there. It’s gotta look great, right?

We have your first peek at a page from writer John Arcudi and artist Lee Bermejo’s SUPERMAN strip, along with a page from the 100 BULLETS team of Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso, re-teaming on the Dark Knight for the first time since their acclaimed “Broken City’ arc.