A quick news recap!

Wow, I was of last week working on some music stuff and job hunting (still!) going out getting pissed and various other things. I flip open my laptop this weekend and the comics industry had gone mad with loads of breaking and exciting news, especially from DC. I'm sure you all know the big news stories by now, I'm just gonna post some of my thoughts.

First up the one I'm most excited about: Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne

I am SO excited for this. IMO "Batman R.I.P" is one of the greatest Batman stories ever. Morrison's whole run has been incredible. I just bought the companion to 'Batman RIP' (The Black Casebook), and the way Morrison references old story lines is masterful. His story shows why Bruce Wayne is and will always be THE greatest super hero ever. In 'Batman R.I.P' Bruce managed to fight off the greatest evil of all time, Satan himself in the guise of Dr. Hurt, and now in the next chapter of Morrisons masterpiece we have Batman battling through different ages in time to get back to the present Gotham City. Yeah i know this sounds a bit like a certain star spangled heroes journey from an opposing comics company, but I don't care, this mini series will piss all over that Cap mini, we're gonna have a pirate Batman for fucks sake! Did I mention Andy Kubert, the greatest artist of all time was involved too...! My head just exploded.

Marc Guggenheim to write 'Action Comics' in 2010

All I can see is "Thank fuck for that!". Rucka writes 'Detec' so he's the man and all, but the 'Action Comics' book has been shit since he's been writing it. I don't think its Rucka fault at all, he has to work with a bunch of different artists (mostly rubbish) and has been given some crap 'Superman New Krypton' bullshit storyline to follow along side James Robinson, and lame characters to work with. I like Guggenheim. I liked his 'Blade' series, I was one of the few who actually liked 'Young X-Men' and I dig his work on 'Resurrection' for Oni Press. Will he get 'Action Comics' to the height's that Geoff Johns did? Prob not, but I'll def give this a shot. 'War of the Supermen' seems to be the big DC event of next year, but I'm not too excited yet.

Free Comic Book Day 2010 - Marvel and DC titles announced.

DC:
WAR OF THE SUPERMEN #0
A war is coming, and all that stands between Earth and 100,000 vengeful supermen is one Superman! Special #0 issue featuring all-new material previews the conflicts to come!

Well it' free so that's a good start, but still... don't really care.

As for Marvel:
IRON MAN/THOR FCBD 2010 EDITION
Two of Marvel’s heaviest hitters like you’ve never seen them before! A major new direction for the Marvel Universe kicks off HERE – on Free Comic Book Day!

Again. Not. Really. Bothered. But it's free, so cool. I think Ill be checking out the other publishers more though this time around.

DC's Earth One

John's and Frank's on 'Batman: Earth One'. Sort of a dream come true for me. Since this teams amazing work on the Superman books I always wanted to see them try their hand at Batman. So I'm happy but... Earth One, the DCU's answer to Marvel's Ultimate line maybe, not too cool. I would have preferred them on a mainstream Batman title but I'll take this. I like the idea of this just being released as graphic novels too. Cool.

As for 'Superman: Earth One'... well we are just about half way though 'Superman: Secret Origins' and already they announce 'Superman: Earth One' which will no doubt again go over a new version of Superman's origin. I'm bored already. Plus it's written by J. Michael Straczynski who managed to bore me to death on 'Thor', 'The Twelve' and his 'Red Circle' titles. Pass.

Well that's it for now. Any of this news get you guys stoked?

SDCC - News Round Up

So San Diego Comic Con has been and gone and there was quite a bit of news. With the help of Newsarama and Major Spoilers I’ve tried to provide you with the essential list of all the major news announced by the big two at the Con. DC First:

JLA

- New team will feature: Mon-El (in a new costume with a Superman “S” on it), Dick Grayson Batman, Donna Troy and Hal Jordan. The other characters are a “mystery,” says Robinson.
One of them “mystery” members is Congorilla, Robinson pointed out.

Flash

-Geoff Johns is working on Blackest Night: The Flash, which arrives in December. Look for the dead Rogues to return from the dead

-Johns announced that he’ll be writing The Flash ongoing monthly after Blackest Night: The Flash.

-Sterling Gates will be writing Kid Flash

Green Lantern

-Green Lantern: Rebirth Absolute Edition announced, but DiDio said that book will have to sell well before a Sinestro War Absolute Edition was ever considered

Batman

-The Joker will return to deal with Harley Quinn in Gotham City Sirens
-The Question back up story in Detective Comics will increase to 10 pages beginning in issue #858.
-The Question will also move to the front of the book for a time, while the Kate Kane stories move to the backup story. When Williams returns to the art, Batwoman moves back to the front. -Azreal will be an ongoing title
-Batman Beyond stories are returning.
-The Robin/Super Boy/Kid Flash reunion will occur in Adventure Comics
-Tony Daniel is coming back to Batman for “a bunch of issues”

Superman

-Captain Atom will play a part in Codename Patriot. Look for Hunt for Reactron as a Supergirl;/Action Comics crossover in October. It will be written by Sterling Gates and Greg Rucka.
-Superman #700 will be titled Mon-el: Man of Valor and will be a darker character with a new costume.
-The Adventure Comics co-feature will star the Legions Starman, Lightning Lad, Polar Boy, and Sun Boy
-Starman has a new task that will play out in Adventure Comics, and not Blackest Night
As will Superboy Prime (in issues #4 and #5)
-Origin stories will be the focus in the Supergirl Annual (origin of Superwoman), Superman Annual (history of Daxam), and in a Secret Files issue.

JSA

-JSA All-Stars is a new monthly to be written by Sturges with art by Freddie Williams. .
-The All-Stars series will feature more of the younger members of the team.
-Jerry Ordway, James Robinson, Freddie Williams and more are teaming for the JSA 80-Page Giant arriving in November.

Animation

-Superman/Batman: Public Enemies hits stores on September 29th
-Kevin Conroy returns as Batman as does Clancy Brown for Lex Luthor
-A Jonah Hex short – written by Joe Lansdale – would be among the initial series of animation shorts.

Other news

-J. Michael Straczynski is taking over The Brave and the Bold. The first arc will feature Batman and Dial H-for-Hero

-The Doom Patrol: Keith Giffen taking over writing with artist Matthew Clark. “We’re back to the original team,” DiDio says.
-Giffen/J.M. DeMatteis/Kevin Maguire team will be reuinted with Metal Men backups in Doom Patrol.
-The new Red Tornado series will introduce the rest of the “red” family. (Red Torpedo, Red Volcano, and one more “red.”)
-T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents are coming to the DC Universe. “These are going to be characters interacting with the DC Universe,” DiDio said, comparing it to the recent handling of the Red Circle and Milestone characters. T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents will be in other series first before spinning out into their own books.
-Scott Ian on Lobo. Two issues starting in November, drawn by Sam Kieth.
-Deathstroke: The Terminator,” is new leader of the Titans
-Ambush Bug: Year None #6 is on its way

See part 2 for Marvel New Round Up.

Blackest Night Previews

Blackest Night: Tales of the Corps #1 - Variant Cover

DC have provided IGN comics with previews for both Blackest Night #1 here & Blackest Night: Tales of the Corps #1 here.

Obviously everyone is eagerly awaiting Blackest Night and I, along with everyone else I’m sure this week will be picking it up. It will no doubt be the best selling issue this week if not the month. I’ll also be picking up ‘Tales’ as a similar thing was done during the ‘Sinestro Corps War’ storyline and were generally nice little side stories. I hope for more of the same.

Are you guys excited for this event? Comments welcome below.

Blackest Night #1 - Variant Cover