Billed as the culmination to a six-year animated movie saga that began with 2014's "Justice League War", Warner Bros. Animation is set to release the final chapter of the DC Animated Movie Universe with May's "Justice League Dark: Apokolips War" - which will see about every character from the Justice League and Justice League Dark unite to take on the forces of the fiery world of Apokolips and its supreme ruler, the New God Darkseid. As reported by Comic Book.com, following the adaptation of "Flashpoint" with Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox and then the emergence of films starting with JL War that were heavily inspired by "The New 52", it looks like WB and DC are going to begin things anew - possibly with a "Rebirth" after this is finished.
Justice League Dark: Apokolips War | Official Trailer
Justice League Dark: Apokolips War is set for release digitally on May 5th and on home video on May 19th.
It's been nearly a year since DC Comics successfully reintegrated a sense of history and legacy with with "DC Rebirth" - injecting back most of the things that made the DC Universe so legendary and aiming to bring back old school fans into the fold while retaining that new outlook they started in 2011 with "The New 52" reboot. In other words, it was a compromise of old and new that meshed well... And following the return of the original Wally West who served as the "lightning rod" to that one shot "DC Universe Rebirth #1" adventure - a mystery has remained that has readers still asking the question - who watches the DCU and who changed things to "The New 52" following the events of Flashpoint?
Newsarama has a great article up guessing those theories as to who is pulling the strings, from the likely "Watchmen" characters such as Doctor Manhattan to even characters that writer Geoff Johns has changed through the years and made relevant for sinister purposes like Superboy-Prime. All of it makes sense, and is great TBT style reading for fans looking to piece together the clues before we get definite answers down the line in the DCU.
In lieu of the changes and directions the company has made to their logo and comic book universe, DC Comics has gone the extra mile and restructured themselves online by updating their official website! With The New 52 universe on the roll and the last Christopher NolanBatman film "The Dark Knight Rises" on the horizon, much is happening with DC Entertainment and its products and characters that warrant this update as necessary! New subpages have opened up for heroes such as Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, and the publisher's official blog "The Source" has also gotten a new look!
Be sure to visit the new DC Comics website for news, info, and goodies!
DC just revealed two images and details related the New 52 version of Earth-2 - the first multiverse world outside of the regular "New 52" DCU world that is currently ushering in a new era of adventures and stories featuring favorite heroes like Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman. With the planned "second wave" of books for the New 52 scheduled to hit this May, fans looking forward to seeing this alternate take on the DCU will no doubt be surprised with what DC Comics has in store for them, and they've given a taste of things to come... With the unveiling of designs and information on Earth-2 Batman and Robin! Click the link below for the jump, as this contains MAJOR SPOILERS.
With the final issue of the "Origins" saga coming this week, the first arc of Geoff Johns and Jim Lee's run on DC The New 52's Justice League will finally see the fight everyone has been waiting for... As the league takes on Darkseid! To tease fans who are hungry for the final battle, USA Today has provided a 9 page preview of the issue, which is due in stores on Wednesday. SPOILERS of course are below, so read at your own risk!
In anticipation for their second wave of New 52 books coming up this May, DC Comics has posted up new details and interesting material for their upcoming new titles from the Batman universe!
Above is the cover to Batman Annual #1, which will be written by fan-favorite Scott Snyder (of the regular New 52 Batman series), co-written by James Tynion IV, with art duties by Jay Fabok. Expanding on the event known as "Night of the Owls", The New 52 Batman will meet for the very first time his cool and cruel archnemesis... Mr. Freeze! How he plays in matters remains to be seen, but it ties in to the Court of Owls, and his origins will be explained! Check out more info via DC's blog The Source!
Also featured in The Source is the very first look at the cover to May's Batman, Incorporated #1! Grant Morrison returns to pen the book, and is joined once again by artist Chris Burnham, who also did art duties in issues for the first volume on Batman Inc. preceding the New 52! Read up more info viaDC The Source andComic Book Movie!
Batman returns in a big way this May for the second wave of DC The New 52! Don't miss it!
Comic Book Movie has posted up a scan pic of DC Direct's upcoming new figures based on their New 52 incarnation of the Justice League, featuring all the founding members of the roster - Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, The Flash, Aquaman, and Cyborg. Sculpted and based on the artwork of artist and DC Comics co-publisher Jim Lee, each of these figures are set to be released on their corresponding dates as shown above, and they look mighty impressive alright. Be sure to check out more pics on the upcoming DC Toys, including ones based Batman Arkham City and Green Lantern The Animated Series, via the source post at CBM!
Announced in DC Comics' official blog The Source, here is a first look at what's coming in a few months time with Scott Snyder and Rafael Albuquerque's epic DC The New 52 run on Batman. Starting with issue #8, a new back-up feature will be included in the series, entitled "The Secret History of The Court of Owls", focusing on the society that has been hounding The Dark Knight and his home Gotham City. It will lead to a mega crossover called "The Night of The Owls" The roots of the group extend longer than Batman realizes, and how it connects to the Wayne family's own history will be explored as the series progresses, particularly when issue #9 rolls around, starting a new arc called "The Fall of the House of Wayne". For more information and preview pics, read it up at the source post at DC The Source!
As we approach the end of 2011 and the beginning of a new year, I can't think of anything better or appropriate to describe my wishes for 2012 other than this simple panel from the Batman Adventures Holiday Special issue, featuring a quiet and tender discussion between two old friends of justice, The Dark Knight Batman and Police Commissioner James Gordon.
Seriously though, it's time for an annual list of popculture related things I found memorable within the year, and boy are there a lot to enumerate. Next year still ushers in The Dark Knight Rises, but this year also had big moments for the Caped Crusader, and he'll be featured extensively as I go on. Here goes some of the stuff I found so memorable for 2011.
COMICS: DC The New 52
Yes the big reboot. Call me biased or a sucker for Jim Lee's artistic talents, but I do love it when a plan, or in this case big gamble comes together, and 2011 saw the relaunch of the DC Universe in a somewhat new and unexpected way. Sure, it divided the comic continuity in a way where they weren't sure how taking the undies would make a difference, but it certainly sold numbers by the record, highlighted by the dominance of the publisher's flagship team-up title, Justice League, which is written by Geoff Johns and Jim Lee. Other nods go to Scott Snyder's Batman run, Jeff Lemire and Travel Foreman's Animal Man, and Grant Morrison's take on a younger Superman in Action Comics. Those books fared well. There are titles that have their flaws though, such as ones that treat heroines like sex objects (Starfire in Red Hood and the Outlaws) and books that readers fail to grasp like The Fury of Firestorm, but it's only been 5 months since the relaunch as of this writing, and it would be unfair to lay judgement right away without seeing a full year of this gamble take its course. So yes, 2011 in comics definitely was highlighted by DC The New 52. It was a big year indeed.
GAMES: Batman: Arkham City
Best. Comic. Book. Video. Game. Sequel. Ever. If you thought 2009's Batman: Arkham Asylum was a sophisticated and brilliant piece of work, this will blow you off the edge, much like how Christopher Nolan raised his bar by making The Dark Knight an even better movie sequel to Batman Begins! The Dark Knight reigned supreme in 2011 in terms of comics and games alright. Just wait til 2011 for the epic conclusion to Nolan's Batman universe!
TV SHOW: Game Of Thrones
I'd be lying if I said The Walking Dead Season 2 was my favorite pick of this year. No, that honor goes to HBO's live action TV series adaptation of George R.R Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" novels, using the title of the first book of the series as its name - "Game of Thrones". As the name implies, the series evokes a world where chivalry is all but dead and treachery and conspiracy run rampant, as different factions fight and battle one another for the Iron Throne and the Seven Kingdoms, not knowing what evil is slowly crawling out of the shadows. Martin has been called the "Modern J.R.R Tolkien", so that's saying a lot, plus Sean "Boromir" Bean of The Lord of The Rings fame is here as Lord Eddard Stark of Winterfell... How can you go wrong with epic here?!
MOVIES: X-Men First Class
Frankly, it was a toss between this and Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, but you can't go wrong with a formula that brings a classic Marvel superhero franchise together with an excellent cast and a near flawless script. The fact that this movie begs to be a semi-reboot of the X-Men film series bolds well for the franchise, and James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender outperformed themeselves as Charles Xavier and Magneto, leading to the birth of the "FassAvoy" and "McBender" era of internet memes. Actually, the origin also got accepted and embraced somewhat into mainstream Marvel continuity, so how's that for a domino effect. Definitely, X-Men First Class deserves the top spot for my movie of 2011!
ANIMATED MOVIE: Batman: Year One
Yes. This one takes the cake for perfectly adapting one of the most recognizable and seminal works of DC Comics, not to mention one of the series that returned Batman back to his darker roots. If you haven't watched this DC Animated Movie feature, I implore you to do so!
MUSIC: Maroon 5 - Moves Like Jagger ft. Christina Aguilera
As for BEST SONG, there are too many to count... But honorable mention is THIS:
Maroon 5 - Moves Like Jagger ft. Christina Aguilera
And there you have it... The Best I could pick out for 2011! 2012 is here, so Happy New Year!
Via their own blog The Source, DC Comics has announced that Justice League #1, penned by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Jim Lee, has once again gone back to press, and will be now known as the first comic book in The New 52 line to receive five printings. With the fourth issue due just before the holidays in December, this marks a milestone event in relation to the publication's decision to relaunch their comic line, and their flagship team-up book featuring the likes of Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman has done immensely well. Each reprint has featured a different cover since release, and one has to wonder how the fifth printing will look like! For more information and details (as well as a sneak peek to the figital copy cover of issue #4), check out the source post at DC The Source!
The fifth printing of Justice League #1 will arrive in stores next year on January 4th! Be sure to reserve your copies if you haven't picked this one up yet!
He has been called many things. Evil. Vile. Badass. Now, in light of recent events in the DC Universe with DC Comics' "New 52"relaunch, Geoff Johns and Jim Lee via their Justice League series are about to reintroduce a classic villain whose name demands attention... Darkseid! DC The Source has the first look of the evil warlord from Apokolips as rendered by Lee himself, and he's looking more menacing than ever!
The legendary creation of the late and great Jack Kirby... remade! Design wise, he still has his basic shape and look, but it's a new set of armor design, and it appears to draw some influence from his "Final Crisis" appearance. I'm all in favor of this new look for the man who would be a fearsome foe to Superman and the Justice League, and one has to wonder what scheme he'll be plotting in the coming issues. For more info and details, check out the source post at DC The Source!
Catch Darkseid in action when Justice League #4 hits retailers and digital download on December 21st!
It's been a whole month since the reboot bandwagon rolled along and DC Comics ushered in "The New 52" to the comic industry, and so far things have been looking up and good for the most part. With titles like Justice League #1, Action Comics #1, Detective Comics #1,Batgirl #1, Animal Man #1, The Flash #1, and Aquaman #1 leading the charge, it's a safe bet to say that the Direct Competition has paid off with their gamble to relaunch their universe after the events of Flashpoint. Here and there, I've seen tons of books being sold out in comic shops around the metro, and all I can say is that I'm GLAD I'm not collecting all the books en masse. Not to worry for those hopefuls out there who are itching for their own copies. DC has commissioned reprints on sold out titles, so there's a chance yet to pick up your favorite book if you missed the first prints, or you could simply hold off until the trade paperbacks come in.
The books should be out in shops by now, but in case you didn't get 'em yet, DC Comics has provided some more teasers for the hungry fans to salivate on.
"You could do so much good! WE could do so much good!" - Lois Lane
The picture and words speak for themselves. Lois Lane gives her thoughts on Superman, and the potential his heroic presence could bring to mankind. The all-new Superman #1 debuts this week, and the real adventures of Clark Kent's alter ego begins here.
"I thought I’d left that world behind me. That maybe I could do more good working from the shadows. Apparently, I was wrong. I’m going to need help.” – Red Robin
Tim Drake, aka the third Robin and now Red Robin, jumps into the team spotlight once more and rejoins his compatriots in the new Teen Titans #1. I don't know what I can say about the costume designs for the New 52 version of the group, but here's hoping the story keeps fans happy anyway.
“If you’re not moving, you’re not living.”
– Barry Allen
Barry Allen speeds up to a fresh new start in the all new The Flash #1. I'm a Wally West fan by heart, but I hope this reinvigorates and brings the Flash legacy to a whole new direction that fans will appreciate in the long run.
All these books are out now this week, so grab your copies while you can! For more info, check out the source post at DC's official blog The Source!
As the final week of September rolls in, so will the final wave of DC Comics' New 52 #1 launch titles. Among the bunch will be Batman: The Dark Knight # 1, Aquaman #1, The Flash #1, and Superman #1, so there's still a lot of books readers new and old will be gunning for. In fact, over at their official blog site The Source, DC has posted up some new teaser images and quotes to give hungry fans a taste of things to come for the final week. Here are some of them:
"You are the parent of your own fear." - Bruce Wayne
There you go. The David Finch penned and drawn teaser to Batman: The Dark Knight #1. Looks good visually so far, but I want to see how it does story-wise. The last one was plagued with delays, and Finch wasn't even able to draw the last issue even! Here's hoping it does well. It looks really good in the art department.
"How's it feel to be nobody's favorite Superhero?" - Unnamed Blogger
I don't know if that holds true for majority of the DC fanbase. Aquaman may not be one of the best cash cow heroes of the DC universe, but he's certainly a recognizable figure, and he had quite the run back in the day with Peter David at the writing helm. Now, Green Lantern and The Flash Rebirth scribe Geoff Johns is going to do his thing and take Arthur in a new and serious direction when his new #1 issue hits this week, and I'm sure people will be talking, especially with these stellar visuals presented by Blackest Night and GL penciller Ivan Reis. A lot of ridicule and jokes can be thrown to Arthur Curry, but there's no denying that he's one of the best creations DC has chugged up in their heroic repertoire. I'm looking forward to good things with Aquaman #1.
The last wave of DC The New 52 books hit this week. For more info and stories, visit the source post at DC The Source!
DC Comics has updated their blog The Source and posted some rather interesting teasers for more of the upcoming "New 52" books that will be released in the coming weeks ahead. I've reviewed some of the initial new books that are already in shelves (or sold out), primarily Justice League #1, Action Comics #1, and Detective Comics #1, and as of the moment I'm pretty satisfied with what I see. In the meantime, here's a couple of new things to look forward to come next week and beyond:
"You're not my partner. You're my son" - Bruce Wayne
Awww... Bruce Wayne having a "tender moment" with his son Damian Wayne while they're off in patrol as Batman and Robin. The new series kicks off next week with Batman and Robin #1, which goes on sale on the 14th.
"Hee... That's so cute. You think you're scary. But muster, I've seen scary. And you ain't got his smile" - Harley Quinn
An obvious reference to The Joker right there. Still, I'm not favoring this new, slutty like "Typhoid Mary" look Harley Quinn has got for her as a member of the new DCnU's iteration of the Suicide Sqaud. Evidently it also takes inspiration from her recent costume change in the Batman Arkham Asylum/ Arkham City video games, but I miss my Animated Series look too much. Whether or not you look forward to this adventure, Suicide Squad #1 comes out on September 14 as well.
There you have it. The variant cover to Action Comics #2, which goes on sale next month. It brings a whole new meaning to "strange visitor from another planet" when I look at this piece by Ethan Van Schiver. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely adore what I just read with Action Comics #1 by Grant Morrison and Rags Morales, but this isn't working for me as heroic posing at all.
Headlining the first official week of "New 52" releases this September, the newest volumes of Action Comics and Detective Comics, the two main books of DC Comics, have done more than just hype up the fact that the DC relaunch is at hand. They've been generating favorable reviews... And they're selling out fast in comic book stores everywhere as of this post! With the overwhelming buzz surrounding both issues and other new #1 DC books like Batgirl and last week's Justice League, it can be fair to assume that the publisher's gamble at relaunching all of their titles is quickly paying off by spears and numbers. While I'm still deliberating over what other books I'll be picking up in the next few weeks, there was no question in my mind that Action Comics #1 and Detective Comics #1 were definitely required in my pull list. Now, here are my thoughts on both of 'em, and if you're hoping to keep yourself from SPOILERS, best turn away now.
Anyone who missed out on getting their copies of Justice League #1, fret not. DC Comics returned the issue back to the printer and will release not only a 2nd Printing, but a 3rd Printing as well! However, the big question is: When are they coming out? Well, via Bleeding Cool, we finally know the answer to that... Simultaneously! Both copies will see release on the 21st this month, so be sure to reserve or purchase yourselves one once they arrive! I reviewed the issue already, and if you want to see the presumed cover to the 3rd print, check it here! For more info on the story, visit the source post at Bleeding Cool!
Justice League #1, originally released on August 31st, hits The New 52 scene again on September 21!
With the new wave of "New 52" #1 issues by DC Comics coming this week, USA Today and Bleeding Cool have provided fans with a 6 page preview of the all-new Detective Comics #1, written and illustrated by regular Batman writer and artist Tony S. Daniel! As the flagship title of the publication, this is the first time in DC Comics' history that Batman will headline the first issue of a relaunched Detective Comics title, since the character originally appeared in 1939's Detective Comics #27!
In this series, Daniel will emphasize Batman's detective skills. As the title implies, it's all about investigation and detecting, traits that make Batman the best at what he does. Besides concentrating on his early adventures, the Dark Knight will go toe-to-toe with not just his legendary arch-nemesis The Joker, but a new villain created by the writer/ artist for the series - the mysterious Dollmaker.
He's the hero who played a MAJOR PART in Flashpoint and the way things are now in The New 52, so with his upcoming new relaunched series coming up later this month, DC Comics has officially posted these ads from their blog The Source to promote the release of The Flash #1!
Like what's being teased here for the new adventures of Barry Allen and his alter ego? For more info, visit the source post over at DC The Source!
The Flash #1 runs into comic book shops this September 21st!
From a scoop posted at Bleeding Cool, it looks as if some last minute printing changes have graced one of the upcoming new books from "The New 52" relaunch initiative of DC Comics, and it happens to one of their main titles - Batman #1. Handled by the creative team of writer Scott Snyder (Detective Comics) and Greg Capullo, the new 1st issue of the 2nd Volume of Batman now has this cover for its regular printing, scheduled for a September 21 release, has this new cover:
Originally, this was the intended cover attached to the issue (one that I still prefer in my personal opinion):
Yes, the cover was tweaked to add more villains rushing in at The Dark Knight, but it just doesn't convey the same "Epic message" of power and prominence a first issue should have like the latter cover right here. For more information, visit the source post at Bleeding Cool and solicitations at DC Comics.com.
Batman #1 will be released at a comic shop near you this September 21st!
