DC News & Views 03.29.03

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DC STAFF AND TALENT HEAD FOR WONDERCON

Comics fans heading for San Francisco and WonderCon this April will have the chance to rub shoulders with some of DC Comics’ best-known writers and artists, as well as DC staff members.

Among the editorial staffers slated to be at WonderCon from the DC staff are Jim Lee, WildStorm Editorial Director and BATMAN penciller (Saturday and Sunday only); VP – Editorial Dan DiDio; Group Editors Scott Dunbier and Bob Schreck, and Editors Will Dennis and Alex Sinclair.

DC freelancers scheduled to be at the convention
include:
* Sergio Aragones (MAD Magazine)
* Brian Azzarello (100 BULLETS, SGT. ROCK: BETWEEN
HELL AND A HARD PLACE)
* Ed Brubaker (GOTHAM CENTRAL, DETECTIVE COMICS,
SLEEPER)
* Dave Gibbons (THE ORIGINALS, WATCHMEN)
* Geoff Johns (JSA, THE FLASH, HAWKMAN)
* Joe Kubert (SGT. ROCK: BETWEEN HELL AND A HARD
PLACE)
* Jill Thompson (AT DEATH’S DOOR)
* Arthur Adams (TOM STRONG’S TERRIFIC TALES)
* Michael Bair (HAWKMAN, JSA)
* Devin Grayson (NIGHTWING)
* Steve Leialoha (FABLES)
* Greg Rucka (GOTHAM CENTRAL, BATMAN: DEATH AND THE
MAIDENS)
* Judd Winick (GREEN ARROW, BLOOD AND WATER)

DC’s Direct Sales Department will be represented at WonderCon by VP – Sales & Marketing Bob Wayne, Manager – Events & Retailers Services Fletcher Chu-Fong,
Manager – Marketing Services Matt Keller, and Sales Representative Mike Scigliano.

DC will also present the following panels at WonderCon:

VERTIGO: TEN YEARS ON THE CUTTING EDGE
Friday, April 25, 3:30-4:30

Vertigo, the imprint that pioneered the idea of comics for mature readers, is now celebrating its tenth anniversary. Get a look at some of what’s in store from the line with Fletcher Chu-Fong, plus Editor Will Dennis, writer/artists Dave Gibbons and Jill Thompson, writer Brian Azzarello, artist Joe Kubert and others at this exclusive slide presentation.

DC: EXPANDING OUR UNIVERSE
Saturday, April 26, 1:30-3:00

Get a sneak peek at all the action that’s heading your way from the DC Universe in this exciting slide presentation. Join Fletcher Chu-Fong as he takes you on a tour of upcoming DCU events, along with Group Editor Bob Schreck and writers Ed Brubaker, Geoff Johns, Devin Grayson, Judd Winick, artist Drew Johnson and others.

WILDSTORM: PREPARE TO BE BLOWN AWAY
Sunday, April 27, 11:30-12:30

WildStorm explodes in 2003 with incredible new events and epics from the Eye of the Storm line of mature readers titles, Homage, Cliffhanger Productions, and America’s Best Comics. Don’t miss your chance to hear what’s hot and happening in this slide presentation given by Fletcher Chu-Fong, along with WildStorm Group Editor Scott Dunbier and writers Ed Brubaker and Geoff Johns, artist Arthur Adams and others.

WONDER WOMAN: THE WAY OF THE WARRIOR
Sunday, April 27, 12:30-1:30

Beginning in August, Greg Rucka, writer of the top-selling graphic novel WONDER WOMAN: THE HIKETEIA, joins forces with up-and-coming penciller Drew Johnson
and veteran inker Ray Snyder as the creative team on the Amazon Warrior’s monthly comic. Join Greg and moderator Fletcher Chu-Fong, and get the lowdown on Diana’s upcoming adventures.

For more information, visit the WonderCon website at Wondercon.com

BATMAN JEKYLL & HYDE

Writer Paul Jenkins and artist Jae Lee are quick to point out that their upcoming six issue Batman mini-series is not an Elseworlds story. Instead, according to Jenkins, it’s a story that strips Batman to his very core by examining the one foe who truly understands Batman’s dual nature: Two-Face. THE PULSE talked to the two creators about the mini.

You can read it here

THE POWER COMPANY

After finding out about the news from DC (which was first reported here), Kurt Busiek, writer of the title, had this to say for those at DC’s Message Boards:

“It’s true, I’m sorry to say. POWER COMPANY is ending with # 18. The book simply didn’t catch on. I can’t fault DC, who supported and promoted it all along, and gave us more chances than most books get. And I can’t fault the art, which has been splendid right from the get-go — Tom Grummett is one of the best, and we’ve had good inking and coloring the whole time.

But not enough readers who tried it liked it enough to stick with it, it’s as simple as that. I think we stumbled coming out of the gate – the launch specials didn’t work, and the first story was the wrong kind of story to open with. And looking back, had I known then what I know now, it’d have been a very different book all along, with much more of an
emphasis on the business — and on how the characters dealt with the job — rather than on the action, and how the characters dealt with the villains. Much like how a show like ER is about medicine, but at heart it’s more about surviving a stressful job than about who gets saved that week and how.

In the end, we were too much of a traditional superhero book, and it was the wrong time for a book like that.

That said, I’m delighted to have had the chance to do it, and I think we did good comics along the way. And DC gave us enough advance warning that we’re able to wrap things up pretty well in # 16-18, with a blowout final story that’ll answer a lot of readers’ questions. You’ll see what happened to Dr. Cyber, you’ll see what that big blue crystal thing is and what it’s up to, you’ll see the Haunted Tank, and a major fight to save the world. We may be going out, but we’ll go out with style.

And hopefully, this won’t be the end for the characters — there’s been some talk of doing a MANHUNTER-JSA mini, pitting them against their common foe, the Council, and we could easily see the other Company members as well. And hey, X-Men came back from
cancellation. Teen Titans comes back over and over again. And the Hulk was cancelled after six issues, and look at him now!

So we thank everyone who supported the book for their loyalty and enthusiasm, but, well, as of July it’s over, at least for now. Still, that doesn’t mean it’ll be over forever…”

ROAD TO PERDITION WINS ACADEMY AWARD

This past Sunday, the hit motion picture ROAD TO PERDITION won the Academy Award for Cinematography by the late Conrad L. Hall.

DC reminds retailers that the graphic novel the movie was based on is still available for reorder, as is its new prequel:
* ROAD TO PERDITION
* ON THE ROAD TO PERDITION BOOK ONE: OASIS

GOTHAM CENTRAL

With critical acclaim for GOTHAM CENTRAL continuing to build, DC Comics is pleased to announce a free 50% overship of GOTHAM CENTRAL # 6. This issue is scheduled to reach comic book stores on April 9. Overship quantities are based on initial orders only.

This issue kicks off a 5-part story arc written by Greg Rucka with art by Michael Lark. The story focuses on Detective Renee Montoya, whose life is about to be shattered, revealing a side of Montoya both her colleagues and readers never guessed at. It begins
with Montoya being served a summons and unravels so quickly that before she knows what’s happening, her deepest secret has been exposed and her personal life has become inextricably entwined with her professional life.

“Ed Brubaker, Michael and I are all incredibly thrilled with the support GOTHAM CENTRAL has been getting from DC,” says Rucka. “We’re all proud of the book, and any chance to get copies into more hands is a blessing. Hopefully we’ll be dragging a few new readers into the GCP squadroom!”

“This is the best news. I’ve been getting a lot of email from fans who are looking for the book and not finding it, or who go to stores that sell out of the book on the first day every month, so this is exactly the kind of push GOTHAM CENTRAL needs,” says Brubaker,
co-writer of GOTHAM CENTRAL # 1-2 (with Rucka) and writer of issues # 3-5. “I have the unique advantage of having read the whole storyline that begins in this issue, and I guarantee people are going to be blown away by it.”

GOTHAM CENTRAL # 6 is scheduled to be in stores on April 9 with a cover price of $2.50 U.S.

The following issues of the series are available for reorder:
* GOTHAM CENTRAL # 1
* GOTHAM CENTRAL # 2
* GOTHAM CENTRAL # 3
* GOTHAM CENTRAL # 4
* GOTHAM CENTRAL # 5

GOTHAM CENTRAL # 7 is solicited in the March issue of Previews (Volume XIII # 3) and is scheduled to be in stores on May 14.

GOTHAM CENTRAL # 8 is solicited in the April issue of Previews (Volume XIII # 4) and is scheduled to be in stores on June 11.

VERTIGO

Karen Berger talked everything VERTIGO to THE PULSE.

You can read the interview here

GREEN LANTERN

Judd Winick, who’ll be leaving the title soon, made his way to DC’s Message Boards (DCcomics.com) to say goodbye to the readers and clear up a few things. Go check it out.

BIRDS OF PREY

BIRDS OF PREY, the series starring female super heroes, is getting its first ongoing female writer, Gail Simone, with the June release of BIRDS OF PREY # 56. CBR NEWS talked to Simone about upcoming run on the title.

You can read it here

AMERICAN CENTURY

THE PULSE caught up with David Tischman for his thoughts on the series winding down.

You can read it at comicon.com

SOLD OUT!

The following items are now sold out at DC:
SHAZAM!: BLACK ADAM ACTION FIGURE
SILVER AGE WONDER WOMAN AND WONDER GIRL DELUXE ACTION FIGURE SET