UPDATE: DC Comics Rebirth Spoilers: Doom Patrol, Shade & Others NOT In DC Rebirth! Headline New DC Young Animal Imprint With Vertigo’s Future TBD?!

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UPDATE:

Since publication of our original story, we’ve learned that Vertigo Comics remains alive if not well. DC Young Animal imprint will be managed by Gerard Way, despite him not writing all of the series.

Vertigo Comics may also include mature takes on existing DC Comics properties, much like DC Young Animal, as the current creator-owned Vertigo model has not wholly lit up sales, but no such announcement has been made yet. A Vertigo announcement of some sort is expected within the next 6 months concerning its future and how DC will return it to being a fandom and industry darling.

More to come on both DC imprints as we learn more.


ORIGINAL ARTICLE:

While DC Comics has a multiverse, its unlikely DC Comics would have two same named ongoing series from two different DC imprints with two different takes on the same characters. Despite DC Entertainment’s Geoff Johns introducing to the New 52 a Doom Patrol during Forever Evil last year, do not expect them to headline any future DC Comics Rebirth series as a Doom Patrol ongoing series headlines a new mature readers imprint for DC called DC Young Animal. And, Shade is there too, but as a Changing Girl not Changing Man. Both properties were at one time part of DC’s Vertigo imprint.

Below is DC Comics announcement. No word on the future of DC’s trailblazing Vertigo imprint; it likely may be used for creator-owned content or net new series. Whereas DC Young Animal appears to mine DC Comics existing intellectual property for new, edgy, mature readers takes.

During Emerald City Comicon, at DC’s All Access panel, a fan access how DC Young Animal fit with the rest of DC’s line. Writer Gerard Way indicated that:

  • DC is still figuring it out.
  • They’re playing it by ear.
  • Young Animal will be in its own world comparing it to Vertigo’s original Doom Patrol and Shade series years ago.

Young Animal DC Comics For Dangerous Humans

Teaser art and DC Comics news release follow.


    The DC All Access panel at Emerald City Comicon was crashed by none other than Gerard Way, Eisner Award-winning writer of The Umbrella Academy and former vocalist and co-founder of the alternative rock band My Chemical Romance. Way announced that he will be curating DC’s Young Animal, a new mature reader pop-up imprint of DC Comics that will consist of four series and feature his creative direction.

    The flagship title for this monthly lineup is Doom Patrol, written by Way, which will set the tone for the other titles in the series, described by Way as “comics for dangerous humans.”

    The lineup includes:

    DOOM PATROL – This September, in the spirit of Grant Morrison’s legendary run on the series, along with other classic incarnations of the characters, writer Gerard Way and artist Nick Derington will put their unique stamp on the world’s strangest heroes taking on the universe’s strangest villains.

    DC Young Animal Doom Patrol

    SHADE, THE CHANGING GIRL – An alien takes over the body of a 16-year-old bully and must face the challenges of being a stranger in a foreign land, plus the consequences of a life she didn’t live. Star Wars’ Moving Target writer Cecil Castellucci and artist Marley Zarcone explore themes of madness, alienation, and the bizarre in this sci-fi thriller, with covers by Becky Cloonan. The new series hits shelves in October.

    DC Young Animal Shade The Changing Girl

    CAVE CARSON HAS A CYBERNETIC EYE – Writers Gerard Way and Jon Rivera, along with artist Michael Avon Oeming take readers on a strange adventure with DC Comics’ Silver Age character Cave Carson, his cybernetic eye and his college–age daughter as they travel to dark places deep in the earth and mind. Catch this new series in October.

    DC Young Animal Cave Carson Has A Cybernetic Eye

    MOTHER PANIC – Meet Violet Paige, a celebrity heiress by day and brutal vigilante by night as she takes on the underbelly of Gotham City’s high society. Hitting shelves in November, the series is written by Gerard Way and Jody Houser with art by Tommy Lee Edwards.

    DC Young Animal Mother Panic in Batman's Gotham City

    “I am thrilled to help bring DC’s Young Animal to life, having been raised on experimental 80s and 90s takes on superheroes. I see Young Animal as a place to try new ideas- following the spirit of those books from the past but bring them somewhere else,” explains Way. “I see it as an imprint where we can explore fine art, bold concepts, mature themes, and strangeness- with lots of heart.”

    “We’re excited about Gerard’s vision for DC’s Young Animal,” explain DC Entertainment Co-Publishers Dan DiDio and Jim Lee. “Giving DC Comics characters different story tones and distinct art styles will result in a different look and feel for the line.”


    Doom Patrol is now on my must read list again!

John is a long-time pop culture fan, comics historian, and blogger. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief at Comics Nexus. Prior to being EIC he has produced several column series including DEMYTHIFY, NEAR MINT MEMORIES and the ONE FAN'S TRIALS at the Nexus plus a stint at Bleeding Cool producing the COMICS REALISM column. As BabosScribe, John is active on his twitter account, his facebook page, his instagram feed and welcomes any and all feedback. Bring it on!