C News & Views 7.12.03

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TEEN TITANS # 1 BACK TO PRESS

With TEEN TITANS # 1 sold out at DC Comics nine days
before its in-store date of July 16, DC announced that
this ultra-hot issue will go back to press for a
second printing. This premiere issue, which introduces
a new team of Teen Titans, is written by Geoff Johns
with art by Mike McKone & Marlo Alquiza. The cover of
the Second Printing features art by McKone & Alquiza
that appeared on the TEEN TITANS promotional poster.

As a reminder, the First Printing features two covers:
one by McKone & Alquiza and the other by Michael
Turner.

“I’m thrilled DC is behind this book and believes in
it enough to initiate a second printing before issue
one even hits the stands,” says Johns. “It’s been a
great week for the TITANS crew.”

“As always, we look at every sold-out book on a
case-by-case basis, and since TEEN TITANS sold out
before it even reached stores, going back to press on
it made sense,” says Bob Wayne, DC’s VP – Sales &
Marketing. “Fan enthusiasm for this series is high,
and with the new printing, retailers should have no
hesitation in increasing orders on upcoming issues.”

TEEN TITANS # 1 Second Printing is available for order
now and is scheduled to arrive in stores on July 23
with a cover price of $2.50. This new printing has an
order increase cut-off date of Sunday, July 13.
Retailers may order the issue by contacting their
Diamond Customer Service Representative or DC Sales
Representative. Orders placed after July 13 will not
arrive in stores until July 30.

Upcoming issues of TEEN TITANS are available as
follows:
* TEEN TITANS # 2 is solicited in the June issue of
Previews (Volume XIII # 6) and is scheduled to be in
stores on August 13.
* TEEN TITANS # 3 is solicited in the July issue of
Previews (Volume XIII # 7) and is scheduled to be in
stores on September 10.

DC SIGNS TWO LOSERS

Writer Andy Diggle (THE LOSERS, HELLBLAZER SPECIAL:
LADY CONSTANTINE) has signed a 2-year exclusive
contract with DC Comics.

“There are very few things in life which give me as
much pleasure as dreaming up crazy tales, so it’s a
real kick when you actually get paid to do it,” said
Diggle. “VERTIGO, WildStorm and the DCU are the
coolest playground a writer could wish for, and I’m
looking forward to getting my hands on some of their
toys. I’ll try not to break ’em.”

“Andy Diggle hit the ground running with THE LOSERS
and there seems to be no stopping him,” said Karen
Berger, VP – Executive Editor, VERTIGO. “His sharp,
no-holds-barred writing style is a great addition to
VERTIGO. We couldn’t be more pleased to have this very
talented writer exclusive with DC, and we look forward
to much more great stuff from him in the years ahead.”

“I had the opportunity to meet Andy at Bristol, and
he’s an excellent addition to our talent at DC,” said
Dan DiDio, DC’s VP – Editorial. “He’s going to bring a
unique voice to the DC Universe as well as VERTIGO,
and we’re already talking to him about possible
projects.”

The availability of current and upcoming issues of THE
LOSERS is:

* THE LOSERS # 1 is available for reorder.
* THE LOSERS # 2 is available for advance reorder and
is scheduled to be in stores on July 30.
* THE LOSERS # 3 is solicited in the June issue of
Previews (Volume XIII # 6) and is scheduled to be in
stores on August 27.
* THE LOSERS # 4 is solicited in the July issue of
Previews (Volume XIII # 7) and is scheduled to be in
stores on September 24.

Meanwhile…

Jock, the artist of the acclaimed new VERTIGO series
THE LOSERS, has signed a 2-year exclusive agreement
with DC Comics.

“I’m very happy to be signing with DC,” said Jock.
“Since working with them I’ve had nothing but
encouragement and support, the editors have been
fantastic, and DC has been behind us all the way with
THE LOSERS. I’ve found I’m actively encouraged to be
as creative as possible, which is a real bonus. It
speaks volumes about the ethics of the editors and
it’s something I’m looking forward to indulging in
over the coming months!”

“Jock’s ultra-cool, action-fueled art has helped make
THE LOSERS a no-miss book,” says Berger. “His powerful
drawing style and dynamic storytelling are perfect for
this series and his covers are nothing short of
spectacular. It’s wonderful to have an artist with his
talent, potential and professionalism here at DC.”

FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE JUSTICE LEAGUE # 1 SOLD OUT

DC Comics continues its string of sold-out debut
issues with FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE JUSTICE LEAGUE # 1,
sold out at the publisher less than a week after its
on-sale date of July 2.

“Whaddaya know… lightning DOES strike twice,” says
Keith Giffen, co-writer of the miniseries. The 6-issue
miniseries is written by Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis,
with art and cover by Kevin Maguire and Joe
Rubinstein.

“Both new readers and those who enjoyed this team’s
JUSTICE LEAGUE from the 1980s are responding very
positively to this project,” says Bob Wayne, DC’s VP –
Sales & Marketing. “Retailers should go ahead and
increase their orders on upcoming issues, since it
looks like demand for this miniseries is going to
continue to grow.”

DC has no plans to go back to press on this issue at
this time.

Upcoming issues of FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE JUSTICE
LEAGUE are available as follows:

* FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE JUSTICE LEAGUE # 2 is
solicited in the June issue of Previews (Volume XIII #
6) and is scheduled to be in stores on August 6.

* FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE JUSTICE LEAGUE # 3 is
solicited in the July issue of Previews (Volume XIII #
7) and is scheduled to be in stores on September 3.

BLOOD + WATER

It’s from Vertigo. It’s got vampires. While that may
be enough to cause some people to roll their eyes, the
five issue miniseries, which concluded with the fifth
issue hitting stores on Wednesday, has offered a
decidedly different take on vampires. NEWSARAMA spoke
with BLOOD + WATER creator and writer Judd Winick to
help bring you up-to-date.

You can read it at Newsarama

LOCUS SPOTLIGHTS DC GRAPHIC NOVELS

For the first time ever, Locus, the preeminent
magazine about science fiction, spotlights graphic
novels for an entire issue. The July issue,
guest-edited by Charles Vess, features Alan Moore, THE
LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN and WATCHMEN on its
cover. In an interview, Moore discusses works
including THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN.

This issue includes a review of PROMETHEA BOOK 3, with
Carolyn Cushman writing, “It’s a tour-de-force, often
fascinating.”

Y: THE LAST MAN – UNMANNED is reviewed by Karen Haber,
who writes, “Of all the graphic novels I’ve looked at
… Y: THE LAST MAN – UNMANNED had the strongest
premise and most compelling characters.”

Haber also looks at THE WITCHING HOUR, calling it
“visually compelling.” TOP TEN BOOK TWO is reviewed as
well, with Haber writing, “The characters are richly
conceived and Moore has great fun tweaking the notion
of ‘Infinite Earths.”

Neil Gaiman contributes the article “Something About
Collaborating with Artists” to this issue, in which he
compares writing a script to seeing the finished art
for Miguelanxo Prado’s story in THE SANDMAN: ENDLESS
NIGHTS.

Novelist Charles de Lint reviews graphic novels
including DEATH: THE HIGH COST OF LIVING, writing,
“The story builds, strength upon strength. The
characterization is superb. The dialogue sparkles. And
it’s one of my favorite fantasy stories, period.” De
Lint also looks at FABLES: LEGENDS IN EXILE, writing,
“I was pretty sure [Bill Willingham would] be able to
deliver the goods.”

Willingham contributes the article “Fairy Tales,
Folklore and FABLES,” and Colleen Doran writes the
article “Synthesis,” in which she discusses ORBITER
and REIGN OF THE ZODIAC. ELFQUEST is examined in
“Twenty-Five Years of Pointed Ears: An Amiable
Rant-rospective” by Richard Pini.

“The breadth and detailed reporting of the Locus
graphic novel issue should be commended. It’s pretty
unprecedented for a premiere publication to not only
dedicate the space but to include so many different
points of view from reviewers, reporters, creators and
retailers,” says Peggy Burns, DC Comics’ Publicity
Manager. “The issue is another sign of the continued
acceptance by the mainstream that comic books are a
legitimate literary endeavor.”

AQUAMAN

Black Manta fans should look for AQUAMAN # 8, as
Aquaman’s greatest foe makes his return.

HAWKMAN

Animal Man fans will want to check out HAWKMAN # 17,
which is the conclusion to the 3-part story “The
Thanagarian.”