The Gold Standard #39

Columns

Comic con highlights…..as decided upon by G-Money.

JSA: The Great Society:

  • New book: JSA All Stars, by Matthew Sturges and Freddie Williams.
  • Sturges: “We’re going to have two teams working independently of each other.”
  1. Knowing that JSA was going to be taken over by Willingham and Sturges didn’t fill me with confidence as my knowledge of Willingham is Fables and the horrible Robin run, whereas I have no knowledge of Sturges.
  2. This book turned into a must buy, however, upon discovering it’s where Stargirl is going to be.

  • “Everyone has a price on their head,” Willingham said. Sturges clarified that one person does not have a price on her head, and has in fact been given directions to not be hurt—Stargirl. The reasons why are part of the story, natch. (They’re speaking in fairly vague terms, here.)
  1. You don’t fuck with Stargirl. Period. She’s too awesome.
  • Carlin spoke about Magog. “We’re going to meet his mother in issue 4. Ma and Pa Gog.” (The first part is true. The second is a joke.) On Howard Porter’s art, Carlin said the artist has “never drawn better comics, ever. This is phenomenal artwork.”
  1. I could not begin to care less about “Ma and Pa Gog”, but Howard Porter has been a favorite artist of mine since JLA. I’m honestly going to buy Magog just for him, and I shall have no regrets. Howard Porter rocks.
  • Which JSA members that haven’t had much attention lately would you like to focus more on? Willingham mentioned Mister America
  1. Are they going to kill this one too? Because they should. He’s lame.
  • Willingham also mentioned Obsidian as someone that will get more panel time.
  1. A much needed change. He was taken out of Manhunter to be in JSA, and then never did anything.
  • Sturges mentioned some characters he’s excited to write: Power Girl, Stargirl. “I like the female characters a lot.”
  1. Treat my Courtney well and I will read your books until the end of time
  • “Are you keeping Obsidian gay?” Willingham: “I’m almost 97% certain that there won’t be a scene in an upcoming JSA where Obsidian says, ‘oh, I’m cured! I like women now!” He accounted the 3% of doubt to the fact that he’s a Republican.
  1. I like how him being a Republican is his admitted excuse for why there would be any chance of Obsidian being straight.
  • A fan asked about Power Girl being leader of the JSA. Sturges said that in JSA All Stars “there is absolutely no question that she is the boss of that team, and is not going to let anybody forget it.”
  1. About time, her tenure as leader thus far has barely been an afterthought. For a while I forgot it was her and not KC Superman…..what with him getting all the focus.

Mondo Marvel:

  • Andy Diggle and Roberto de la Torre are taking over Daredevil in September, with Quesada equating it to when Brubaker took over the title from Bendis. Quesada also complimented Diggle for his Thunderbolts run.
  1. While it’s awesome that Diggle is moving up to Daredevil, it’s a shame to see him depart from T-Bolts. He’d barely just begun! A book like Thunderbolts really needs a stable creative team or else it stands at risk of falling off the radar.
  • On his Punisher Max run with Steve Dillon, Aaron said that it’s a “comic for the whole family. If your family name is Manson.” Aaron said that Frank Castle will face an enemy that will get into his head more than any one else has. And that he’ll deal with it by shooting a lot of people, natch.
  1. Jason Aaron meets that Glazer wants this. Steve Dillon means that I want this. Combined, chances are one of us will read it in trade. Guess which?
  • Will the comic stuff affect the rest of the Marvel Universe? “I see it in the future, maybe two or three years down the road,” said Quesada, “but right now the cosmic stuff is working so well on its own.” Quesada complimented the work of Bill Rosemann, Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning on that front.
  • Christos Gage joined the panel, mentioning that Rosemann will now be editing Avengers: The Initiative, and that Nova will be involved in that title.
  1. I figured that the cosmic would bleed into Initiative after the taking of 42 over in Guardians of the Galaxy, but it’s nice to know that the cosmic group editor is going to be presiding over that story. Should keep the quality maintained.
  • Will we see Agent X again? Several folks on the panel didn’t seem to remember the character, and Wacker plainly said: “There are no Agent X plans.”
  1. Lame.
  • A fan lamented that Dazzler and Northstar haven’t “done much” in Fraction’s Uncanny yet. Fraction said that they will continue to have a role in the book, and that Northstar plays a “strategic” role on the team, since they didn’t have any ground speed previously. “They’re not arbitrary adds to the team,” Fraction said.
  1. They’ve been on the team for less then 4 issues each, give him a chance. That’s what I’m doing. The fact that Ali and Jean-Paul are actually getting this kind of love is awesome enough.
  • Matt Fraction got a compliment for “giving Colossus his balls back.” Yep.
  1. Frac deserves it too, Piotr is awesome again for the first time in a long time.
Oh, by the way, guess whos back?
Oh, by the way, guess who's back?
  • Status of Hellion? “He’s kind of important right now,” said Fraction, pointing to his role in the current Utopia Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men crossover.
  1. Plus, they didn’t kill him in X-Force. Extra points for that. Julian is an awesome character, and it would be a shame not to take advantage of that to it’s fullest.
  • A complaint about Peter Parker not being married any longer (which the audience member tried to soften by first thanking them for Captain America: Reborn). Quesada said that fans wouldn’t like Peter Parker letting a random woman die, let alone Aunt May. He also repeated his defense of One More Day in that a single Peter Parker is infinitely more interesting than a married one.
  1. You know what would have made more sense then One More Day? Getting Elixir from the X-Men to come and touch Aunt May and make her all better. He’s a healer. It’s his fucking job.
  • Quesada continued, repeating that every editor-in-chief before him also wanted to undo the married (“it’s a hard bandage to pull off, but we had to) and saying that he didn’t like how the marriage was portrayed as “unhealthy” for a long time. McCann added that (spoiler alert!) Mary Jane is back in the comics, as of this week’s ASM #600. “They get married next month,” joked Wacker.
  1. Joe, please, don’t compare yourself to Bob Harras. You’re better then that.
  • Young Avengers? Quesada said that Allan Heinberg is in the midst of writing a “massive” story involving Young Avengers.
  1. I’ll believe it when I fucking see it, Quesada has said that exact same thing for the past three years.
Necrosha: First Look
Necrosha: First Look

Superman: Two Worlds:

  • Johns discussed what to expect in the upcoming Adventure Comics. “The good Teen Titans,” (“don’t instigate,” quipped Sattler), “and Young Justice. Lex Luthor, Brainiac. Lots of Krypto. If you don’t like Krypto, don’t read our book.”
  1. So in other words, I’m reading this book and was right to pull list it. Out of all the characters from Young Justice/Teen Titans, I always felt Kon would have the easiest solo title to write, even if his old one was…..well, less then impressive at times. Not to know Bart or Tim, who both should have books as well, but Kon just always had more solo potential. He’s Superboy!
  • Johns on the upcoming Secret Origin: “It’s Gary Frank, and that’s all you really need to know.”
  1. It really is.
  • Before moving to audience Q&A, Robinson piped in that he hadn’t talked about Superman yet (an odd thing to leave out in a Superman panel). “I hope everyone is following the adventures of Mon-El,” Robinson said. He discussed all the “fragmented pieces” in the book, and an upcoming story called “Mon-El, Man of Valor,” that will include, among other things, a new costume for the Daxamite.
  1. Having seen the new costume, I dig it. It’s not an upgrade by any means, but at least it’s not the same boring out fit he’s been wearing for forty years. Now it’s tucked in! With a Superman shield!
  2. I like that Mon-El is active and doing things in the present, it’s a nice change of pace, but it seems more and more like they’re pushing him too hard into the Superman family. Has he even done the team up with Kara yet?
  • More on Secret Origin: Sattler specifically complimented the use of Parasite in the comic. Robinson said that “while it seems familiar, it’s really fresh,” and complimented Johns for that. Igle chimed in, saying he’s seen some pages and that it’s some of Frank’s best art.
  • Johns said Frank was “born to draw Superman.”
  1. Words right out of my mouth.

  • Robinson on Captain Atom: “He’s very much a part of the DC Universe, don’t worry, and he’ll be a part of the Superman books.”
  1. Was he Monarch? Did he and Superboy Prime kill an entire Earth? Did he really pull off that horrid Arena mini? If the answer is yes, then I’m not sure I have it in me to care.
  • A fan long-windedly explained his displeasure with the current depictions of Superman, complaining that he’s been “toned down.” “The reasons he’s not on Earth right now is so when he comes back, it will matter,” Robinson. Rucka added “with 120,000 Kryptonians, you have to ask, ‘why is he Superman’? It’s who he is that makes him Superman,” not his powers.
  1. No shit, we’ve been over this a million times through the years. Clark Kent is Superman. Not Kal El, or a powered Kryptonian, but Clark Kent.
  • In a question about “events,” Rucka gave his thoughts that “it’s all about the story. Not an ‘event.'” Sattler added that “this story has been organically built from day one,” specifically with the work of Johns on Action.
  1. The New Krypton story does, actually, feel like a story. Sure, the lead in was very eventy despite the complete and utter lack of tie ins (yay!), but ever since the new status quo set in the books have felt pretty natural.
  • “What Legion or Legions is Connor going to be interacting with in Adventure Comics?” “You’ll see every Legion in Adventure Comics, eventually,” Johns answered.
  1. Oh thank God.
  • “How about a story with Agent Orange and Parasite?” “They might be in Blackest Night,” was the reply from Johns.
  1. Sexy.
  • Not really an on-topic question: Chance of Showcase reprints in color? Sattler said to find Bob Wayne on the convention floor and ask him. Robinson defended their black and white status, given that they give fans a chance to read a number of older comics for an affordable price, which would not be the case if it were in color. “I’d buy a Booster Gold Showcase in color, though,” added Johns. “You and Dan Jurgens,” replied Robinson.
  1. I’d buy a Booster Gold Showcase in color, and I have the B&W ones AND the original books!
  • Not a very popular question: Chance of Cat Grant’s son, killed by the Toyman, to pop up in Blackest Night? “I’m not going to do anything like that,” Johns answered.
  1. That’s a man showing some class. Bravo.

Batman: New Dynamic:

  • Dini talks about the correlation between Streets of Gotham and Gotham City Sirens. He says SoG will soon feature Mr. Zsasz, who will have a new look and a new plan, that Dini calls “really disgusting.” Sattler speaks of the character’s new look, saying that they took an already menacing character and made him scarier.
  1. Zsasz is a villain that, while having always intrigued me, I know practically nothing about. Seriously, I can’t remember how many stories I’ve read him in which puts the number down in the single digits.
  • Sattler said they can’t reveal who the new Batgirl is, but Miller clarifies that it’s not Bette Kane.
  1. Why would it be Bette Kane? She has super powers.
  • Polling the audience on who they think the new Batgirl is: Cassandra Cain (only a couple of hands), Stephanie Brown (a few more), Barbara Gordon (less than Stephanie, more than Cassandra).
  1. It’s Steph AND Cass doing the switch off thing from that one animated movie. Babs is going to be their info keeper and send them on missions. You heard it here first!
  • Dini also mentioned that, as one might expect, Joker will eventually be showing up to interact with Harley Quinn in Gotham City Sirens.
  1. Ooooooh, Joker and Harley. I dig that.
  • In #858, the Question “Second Feature” in Detective Comics will grow to 10 pages.
  1. Good to know, the first two were obnoxiously quick.
  • Sattler praised Andreyko for his work in moving Manhunter to Gotham City, as a Second Feature in Streets of Gotham. “More people saw Manhunter in the first issue of Streets of Gotham than in the first three issues of Manhunter combined,” Andreyko said.
  1. I’m not sure whether that’s awesome or horrible.
  • Andreyko said Manhunter will “visit a former Gotham City D.A.” and talked about his work with the Jane Doe villain. “It’s great to have a female character that’s just as scary as the Joker or Zsasz,” he said.
  1. I remember Jane Doe from the Dan Slott and Ryan Sook miniseries “Arkham Asylum: Living Hell”, awesome book. Not sure if it was Jane’s first appearance or not though.
  • Jeremy Haun is going to be taking over as artist of the Manhunter Second Feature, and it’ll be 10 pages for issue #5 and #6.
  1. 10 pages! Win!
  • “I get to be in a Batman book written by Paul Dini,” Andreyko gushed. “I remember being back in college watching Batman: The Animated Series.” (He later clarified, “I was a senior in college,” lest it sound like he was calling Dini old.) “I have to pinch myself sometimes.”
  1. I’d love that job too, and I’d make no effort to hide the fact that I was in grade school when it started!
  • Yost on Red Robin: “This book is really examining where he is, and how he’s dealing with it all, which is not very well.” He added that things are goign to get worse for him, and that in issue #3, Tim Drake lays out to someone just how terrible his life really is.
  1. I trust Yost, I have few reasons to, but I do trust him. He’s not a bad writer. And I know he’s going somewhere with this story, so I have faith that it will turn around for the better, it’s just a matter of when.
  • Sattler mentioned that Tony Daniel is coming back to Batman, for “a bunch of issues.” He also said that they’re working really hard on the books being a “cohesive universe,” with substantial, long-lasting changes to Gotham.
  1. Tony Daniel’s return doesn’t surprise me, nor in the way he’s coming back (writing and drawing Batman).
  2. Gotham needs a cohesive feel to it, I mean, it’s not THAT big of a city that a bunch of characters under the same banner can’t have shared experiences.
  • Rucka then announced that after seven issues with Williams, Jock (of The Losers fame) will come on board for three issues. Following that, the Question backups will move to the front of the book for a time, with either Williams or Jock drawing a 10-page Batwoman Second Feature. Then Williams (and Kate Kane) will come back to the front of the book.
  1. See, this I like. Shake the book up, give both characters some love in the right dosages, and everyone wins.
  2. The same thing better not happen on Booster Gold.
  • Batman Beyond? “You might see more Batman Beyond than you expect,” Sattler said. “…because he’s Batgirl.”
  1. I want to see Batman Beyond! I love that show!
  • When will Dick Grayson as Batman start meeting with other heroes from across the DC Universe? Rucka pointed to the World’s Finest miniseries written by Sterling Gates, which will pair up Commander Kal-El of New Krypton and Dick Grayson as Batman.
  1. Gates is definitely becoming a go-to guy, and deservedly so. He’s very talented.
  2. I for one can not wait for that specified team up. I always loved seeing team up with Dick and Kal, and I trust this shall be no different…..save for not being written by Dixon.

Marvel’s Cup O’ Joe:

  • Coming up in Hulk: Red She-Hulk. “We kind of figured that since we won’t tell you who the Red Hulk is, we won’t tell you who the Red She-Hulk is,” says Loeb.
  1. Are we supposed to care? I mean, does anyone still care who Red Hulk is? I don’t.
Shrulkie?
Shrulkie?
  • Hulk #600 spoiler alert: at the end of #600, Loeb explains, Bruce Banner can never become the Hulk again. Loeb said that it’ll be Banner as you’ve never seen before in Greg Pak’s Incredible Hulk (with Skaar), and that he will continue with Red Hulk in Hulk.
  1. I trust Pak to be able to pull this off, but at the same time, Jeph Loeb is a shitty writer who probably pushed who being the only male Hulk would make Rulk more important.

  • Coming in December 2009: World War Hulks. Loeb said there’s going to be a death of a “major character in the Hulk myhtos.”
  1. Is it going to be Thunderbolt Ross again?
  2. Or Rick Jones again?
  3. Or Bruce Banner again?
  4. Because remember, Betty is still dead.
  • Loeb is doing a one-shot with John Romita Jr. called Gamma that leads into World War Hulks. “If you thought World War Hulk was big, this is bigger,” Loeb says.
  1. Waste of Romita.
  • First question concerns if the Tom DeFalco/Howard Mackie-penned clone saga miniseries will bleed into current Amazing Spider-Man. It will not.
  1. I’d say that sucks, but who cares? I don’t read Amazing Spider-Man, and I must own this miniseries.
One can only guess what Felcia is going to do
One can only guess what Felcia is going to do
  • Buckley said that he had to look at what kind of value they were providing with the comics, and if fans don’t agree with him, he’s sorry. McCann said they are looking at possibly adding content to the books that have had price increases.
  1. If DC can do it, so can you! You’re the market leader!
  • Ben Reilly coming back? Wacker said, from his seat, that they are doing an arc called “Who was Ben Reilly,” past tense. To keep him from having to shout from the crowd, Quesada had Wacker join the panel on the dais.
  1. It’s not present tense? ASSHOLES!
  • Audeince poll to see who wants Steve Rogers as Cap (loud applause), and who wants to see Bucky as Cap (nearly equal loud applause). “Wow, two Cap books,” Buckley said.
  1. That’s how it should be, and both written by the almight Bru.
  2. Epting on Steve, Ross on Buck.
  • Ultimates line? “You will see about four or five books a month, starting in January,” said Buckley
  1. Avengers, Spider-Man, X-Men, Fantastic Four, Iron Man
  • Loeb plugged Deadpool showing up in Hulk in October, which will also be the return of Ed McGuinness drawing the character.
  1. ………….why does Loeb have to be there? Everything else is so nice.
  • “Marvelman belongs to Marvel.”
  • “Marvel has purchased the rights to Marvelman,” Quesada said. “It is arguably the J.D. Salinger of comic book characters. Arguably one of the most important comic book characters in decades.”
  • Buckley is saying a lot of people in the room probably don’t know the history of the character, and that he won’t spend a lot of time talking about it, but to check on the Internet about it. They first started to talking about purchasing it in late 2007, devloping from their relationship with Neil Gaiman.
  • Buckley: “We are talking to all the people involved in the ’80s/’90s material. Alan (Moore), Neil (Gaiman), Mark Buckingham.” Buckingham then joined the panel.
  1. Nice to finally see this mess get sorted out, I’ve been dying to read a legitimate copy of this book for years and now it looks like I’ll finally get to.

DC Nation:

  • Robinson announced the five-part “Mon-El, Man of Valor” story, which will feature a “new look and a new outlook” for the character.
  1. Having seen the new look, I dig it. And as long as they don’t name him Valor again, we’re money. I hated that name.
  • Some Justice League talk, leading to Robinson talking about Cry for Justice. “Originally this book was just a miniseries, now issue 5, 6 and 7 of it each have a big surprise. It’s going to culminate with something have long-lasting effects in the DC Universe.”
  1. It’s always nice to see Robinson be handed the keys and allowed to drive the company car around without the salesman sitting next to him trying to tell him how everyone else drives it.
  • First question is asking what the fan has dubbed the “tween titans”—including Damian and Wally West’s kids. DiDio answers by talking about all the brand new ideas and characters recently introduced in the DC Universe, saying they’re “introducing new concepts, not just throwing them out there with the hope to succeed.”
  1. Tiny Titans might need to exist in the DC core, they’ll have enough characters to fill out the roster in the next year or two.
  • Plans for an Aquaman series? DiDio says there are none, that Aquaman is appearing in Blackest Night, and after that, it depends on what happens to the character in that book.
  1. Garth for Aquaman.
  • “Would it be possible to get an Absolute of Dark Victory or an Absolute Sinestro Corps?” Wayne: No Absolute Dark Victory scheduled, but there is an Absolute Green Lantern: Rebirth on the horizon, and if that does well, you can fill in the blanks there.
  1. I figured Dark Victory should have been Absoluted with Long Halloween. Just made sense to me.
  2. Nice to see Rebirth get the treatment, now lets hope the pricing doesn’t suck.
  3. I figure one day DC will release the whole Johns GL run in Absolute’s like they’re doing with Starman, or like Marvel is doing with Cap and Daredevil.
  • Question about the origin of the “new” Captain Boomerang. “Blackest Night: Flash will answer your questions,” Johns said.
  1. Hopefully this means that not only will Owen be returning, but Johns will finally address that he’s Bart’s half brother.
  • Johns said he’s “really focused on GL and Flash,” but there will be something with him and JSA again at some point in the future
  1. There fucking better be. JSA is the house that Johns built!

DC Universe:

  • First slide: J. Michael Straczynski is taking over The Brave and the Bold, the first arc will feature Batman and Dial H-for-Hero.
  1. I want to know how long it took for DC to realize that JMS wasn’t going to be writing the Red Circle characters.
  2. Anybody else remember that? Brave and the Bold was put on a temporary hiatus so he could use it as a launching pad for the Red Circle characters.
  3. Then they all got mini series instead.
  • Johns is talking about The Flash: Rebirth, and announced that he’ll be writing The Flash ongoing monthly after Blackest Night: The Flash.
  1. Johns and Kolins on Blackest Night: Flash, Johns on Flash, with any luck, he’ll bring Scott along for the ride! Their run on Flash was the definition of epic and I could definitely go for another round of it.

  • On Justice League of America, Robinson says he doesn’t think the team is currently “what it could be,” and that he’s working towards getting it to that place. “There will be two issues that will be Blackest Night: Justice League, where you’ll be seeing a lot of dead Justice Leaguers coming back. You’re going to see the female Dr. Light face off against Black Lantern, bad Dr. Light.”
  1. Black Lantern Arthur Light? Is he going to rape someone?
  2. I do agree though that the League is lacking the power it could, and should have. It needs the rebuilding.
  • The team will have: 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.
  1. The use of Congorilla doesn’t not surprise me at all, I mean, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Mikaal in JLA as well as the new Starman. That’s just Robinson, he loves to dig his fingers into lesser known characters and make them into your favorites. There’s so much more freedom writing a character that hasn’t been in demand.
  • The cover of Booster Gold #23 will have G4’s Blair Butler wearing a “Booster Gold fan club” t-shirt.
  1. Mmmmm, Blair Butler in Booster Gold. That’s so many layers of hotness.

  • 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.
  • “Making it a part of the DC Universe is such an exciting thing, and I can’t wait to be a part of it,” Robinson says.
  1. Who?
  2. Why waste Robinson?
  3. Who?
  • “We have a lot of great stuff planned for them,” Kriesberg says of Green Arrow/Black Canary. “I think you guys are going to be really exciting. Ollie’s going to take center stage in the DC Universe.”
  1. Ollie should be up there with Barry and Hal. Along with Ray. But to get Ollie up to that tier you need writers who actually write him and not a bunch of crap with him thrown into the mix.
  2. I won’t lie and say I’ve read the current run, so I have no opinions of it, but he’s floundered around for years.
  • “We keep building around key franchises,” DiDio says. “Green Arrow/Black Canary should feel very prominent with things going on in Justice League.
  1. One can only hope, right?
  • Secret Six is up. Simone plugs an upcoming Wonder Woman appearance in the book, and lots of “creepy, disgusting reveals in the book,” and answering “what’s going on with Bane and Scandal.”
  1. Very strange sex?
  • Eric Wallace has joined the panel, talking about Titans. “We’re going to have a new leader for the Titans, someone that you might be familiar with, by the name of Deathstroke: The Terminator,” Wallace informs.
  1. Oh, joy. Another new Titans writer who wants to have Deathstroke lead the team. I’ve seen that happen like…..more then three times. That’s more then three times too many.
  • Simone says an upcoming 2-issue Wonder Woman story will have Wonder Woman and Black Canary going undercover as “cage fighters” (Simone said the costumes will be hysterical). Simone said getting to write Black Canary again was a pleasure. In an upcoming arc, Acchiles will take over Themyscira, which the Amazons will not be happy about.
  1. I don’t read Wondy, but I’ll buy it for a Simone written Dinah. Birds of Prey is one of my most regretted losses. Such a great book.
  • Johns says “I want to do the same thing with Flash that we’ve done with Green Lantern,” adding that he’s going to be doing Flash, and Sterling Gates will be writing Kid Flash. They’ll be writing in close contact with each other, a la Johns on Green Lantern and Peter J. Tomasi on Green Lantern Corps.
  1. BART GETS A BOOK TOO! YAY! By Supergirl writer Sterling Gates! I can’t wait!
  • Black Lantern Captain America asked if Simone and Scott planned to stay on Secret Six for a long time. “Yes.” “That team is so perfect, that any writer or artist that followed it would be a complete fool,” Robinson said.
  1. As long as DC never forgets this, I shall be happy.
  • SImone complimented Scott, saying she’s “completely unshockable. Pretty much the worst thing in the script is the thing she’ll laugh the hardest at.”
  1. Nicola Scott is a phenomenal artist that I hope to see keep up the good work for years to come.
  • What’s up with Connor Hawke? “There are plans,” DiDio said. “Big plans next year. Plans that spin off of other series. Plans that might spin off to something else.”
  • “He left Green Arrow/Black Canary for a really good reason,” Kriesberg said. Worried DiDio was giving too much away, Wayne joked “Dan, when does your ‘Rosebud’s the sled’ panel take place?”
  1. He left the book because he was fucked up beyond all belief and was left almost completely unrecognizable. He needs Dixon or euthenasia at this point.
  • Fan: “Ever since Geoff has left Teen Titans, that book has been a mess. Please come back to Teen Titans.” Johns said that Bart, Conner, Tim and Cassie will be in the first arc of Adventure Comics.
  1. But it isn’t him writing Teen Titans!
  • Wallace pointed out that Felicia D. Henderson, new writer of Teen Titans, was in the audience, and that fans should be excited for her plans. Johns added, “I can’t wait to read Titans and Teen Titans.”
  1. Out of my love of Teen Titans, as well as new talent, she gets tw issues.
  • Zatanna appearances? DiDio said that Paul Dini is doing a new onging series starring the character that wil be solicited as soon as there’s enough issues in the can.
  1. This book really can’t start soon enough, I love Z, and I love how Dini writes her. It’s going to be awesome, especially if they shock us with Ryan Sook art.
  • Chance of John Ostrander’s Suicide Squad being collected? “We’re still looking at the possibility of doing that as well,” said new Inkpot winner Wayne.
  1. For those who haven’t had the pleasure, Ostrander’s Suicide Squad is really a milestone at DC. It was one of the first books, to my knowledge, to ever go an extended run with a cast of villains. Amanda Waller saw her birth in this title, and Barbra Gordon became Oracle here as well. Lots of first, and if you like Secret Six, this is the happy grandpappy.
  • Following the first volume being re-released, will the whole Hitman series be done in trade? Wayne: “Yes.”
  1. And if you like Ennis, this is a must read as well.
  • Johns said the Legion are going to be in Adventure Comics and Superman, and play a big role the rest of this year and next.
  1. All Legion love is good Legion love.
  2. Long Live the Legion.
  • New Jack Knight stories? Robinson: “Uh…no. Sorry, man.”
  1. Now I’m a sad panda…..
  • A fan wants another title by Gail Simone. “I’m ready for something big, Dan,” she said. “OK, you got it,” DiDio answered.
  1. Goosebumps come to my arms at the thought of Gail doing big projects. She’s so awesome, I almost regret not reading her Wonder Woman.

Blackest Night:

  • Johns: “I hope you guys like what we have ahead. Black Lantern Aquaman kicks a lot of ass in #2. Black Lantern Firestorm meets Jason Rusch in #3.”
  1. It was nice knowing you Jason!
  • Johns plugs an upcoming fight between Sinestro and Carol Ferris in Green Lantern Corps.
  1. That seems kinda awesome, actually.
  • “The black rings aren’t about who’s dead, they’re about who’s alive,” Johns says.
  • “They’re seeking out the dead that matter to our heroes,” he continues. There will be two issues of Booster Gold featuring Booster facing off against Ted Kord. “It’s all about emotional growth for these characters. We’re not just going to throw out Black Lantern ‘X’ to fight with a character. That would just be a zombie movie that didn’t matter.”
  1. That’s a sign of good writing. Raising the dead for the sake of it is pure shock value, but if you can grow the characters that you still have, then you’re truly achieving something.
  • “There’s a lot of big comic villains coming up, there’s the ‘big bad’ behind the Black Lanterns,” Johns hints, “getting back to comic books” after dealing with some more “esoteric” issues (his words!).
  1. Will it be someone we’ve heard of?
  • “There are a lot of great, character-defining moments for the DC Universe as a whole,” Johns says, speaking in particular about the Booster Gold issues.
  1. Black Lantern Ted Kord.
  2. YAY FOR BOOSTER!
  • Johns says that Mera is one of the most important characters in Blackest Night.
  1. Nice to know that someone remember Aquaman’s wife was alive.
  • “What role witll Wonder Woman have in Blackest Night?” Johns: “Greg Rucka will be exploring a lot of that in Blackest Night: Wonder Woman,” and Wonder Woman will also be in the main Blackest Night mini.
  1. I’m trying to figure out how many dead characters Diana has to deal with, and I’m struggling to think up more then Max Lord.
  • “Are we actually going to see a winner to the War of Light?” “The War of Light continues on,” Johns says. “You’ll see winning sides, but it’s a little more complex than just, ‘I win.'”
  1. How would one win the war of light, I mean, does anyone win when another light is extinguished?
  • Johns says there’s going to be a fight between Krypto and Red Lantern cat Dex-Star.
  1. Money money, yeah yeah.
  • “We’re all planning on staying on Green Lantern and Green Lantern Corps for a long time,” Johns assures, speaking for Peter J. Tomasi and Gleason.
  1. BEST NEWS OF THE ENTIRE CONVENTION!
  • Johns says readers will learn a lot more about the Star Sapphires in Green Lantern #45. “Love is a very powerful emotion,” he says.
  1. I can imagine just by the fact that Star Sapphire has been a mainstay villain since my parents were kids.
  • “The Anti-Monitor is now inside the (black power) battery as food,” Johns said, equating it to how spiders lay eggs in food.
  1. ……eww.
  • A fan who said “I’m Carol Ferris today” (she didn’t appear to be in costume; your guess is as good as ours), said she just got into Green Lantern a couple of days ago after seeing the screening of the Green Lantern: First Flight movie (and has only slept two hours in the last 24). Her eventual question was “is the Hal Jordan/Carol Ferris relationship going to be developed further?” Johns: “Yes.”
  1. I want to see the further development of Hal and Cowgirl, but they’d have to send High Ball back to Earth first!
  • “Do all the corps have avatars?” Johns: “Yes.” Are we going to see Monitors in Blackest Night: Johns: “No.”
  1. I must see these avatars….
  2. No Monitors? Works for me. Good concept that…..well, fine, it’s a shite concept.
  • Johns says that men can join the Star Sapphires, but “most men aren’t worthy.”
  1. Do the men also wear the unitards of doom?
  2. Seriously, I want to see the first male Sapphire.
  • Will we see a lot of Kyle Rayner and will he become a Blue Lantern? Yes and no.
  1. Kyle would make a crappy Blue Lantern. Not to knock on my boy, but he’s all about willpower just like Hal.
  2. Seriously, he contained a supernova with his mind. Hal hasn’t done that.
  • Any chance of an Agent Orange ongoing? Johns: “If you want it, maybe.”
  1. I’d buy it. Do a six issue mini about his origins and life, get Tan back on art, money money, yeah yeah.
  • “If a Blue Lantern comes around Alan (Scott), are we going to find out if he gets crazy-charged?” “Yes, you will,” Johns said.
  1. Can’t wait to see Alan get involved in the War of Light!
  • Will Maxwell Lord still have control over Superman when he comes back? “He’ll have his powers, as far as what he does with it, that’s up to Greg Rucka,” Johns answered.
  1. This could be very cool.
  • “Are you counting Black Adam and Isis as being dead?” Johns: “No. But Osiris is dead.”
  1. Zombie Black Marvel Jr!
  • Cyborg Superman is going to be in Green Lantern next year.
  1. I can’t wait for this, Johns has made Hank Henshaw into an incrediby worthwhile villain and I truly can’t wait to see the next stage on his journey. Ah hell, I can’t wait to see how he tries to die next!

Marvel’s Dark Reign Panel:

  • Talk about Dark Reign: The List, first Dark Reign The List: Avengers by Brian Michael Bendis and Marco Djurdjevi. “This is a huge Clint Barton issue,” McCann says.
  1. Bendis writes a good Clint, so this issue should be pretty good.
  • Jason Aaron speaking now about Dark Reign: The List, written by him and drawn by Esad Ribic. It’s got Fantomex on the cover, and Marvel Boy is involved. Aaron says it plays with a lot of themes from Grant Morrison’s New X-Men, and also the brand new Weapon XVI. “Plus, there’s zombies, did I mention that?”
  1. Wait, wait, hold on a second. Morrison’s New X-Men happened? Really? Does Joey Q know about this?
  • Remender talking about Dark Reign The List: Punisher, written by him, and drawn by John Romita Jr. “I could have written 100 pages of it,” he says. “It’s ridiculous fun. I don’t think anyone’s going to expect the end.” Coming up, the “third act” to his Punisher run, drawn by Tony Moore.
  1. Remember earlier when I said something was a waste of Romita? This is the opposite of that. This is going to be Romita goodness.
  • “The Tony/Iron Patriot fight is coming,” Fraction says. Invincible Iron Man #19. He says Norman Osborn will be at his most “tricked out,” with “Tony in the Mark I prototype” at near the end of his current mind-deletion process.
  1. I think that has to be the point where Tony finally prevails in some way, shape, or form. Otherwise it’s just a really depressing book, because he’s been having his ass handed to him nonstop for months.

  • “There’s some Thunderbolts stuff coming up where the originals meet up with Norman Osborn’s,” Quesada says in response to a Baron Zemo question, “and there might be a hint of Zemo.”
  1. A hint of Zemo? I do so miss the Baron, and have been aching to know more ever since his return in Born Better.
  • A fan asked about the relationship of Scott Summers and Emma Frost and if they’re playing “games” with each other given recent events. “Is he playing a game against her or are they both playing a game against you?” Fraction asked. Fraction said the end of Utopia will make the status of their relationship clear.
  1. Please, as it stands the past few months of it have been insanely tedious.
  • “Where is Chuck Austen?” “I don’t know,” Quesada says, “I haven’t spoke to Chuck in a while.” Quesada said that he’s a really great guy and a talented writer.
  1. Marvel and DC have both blacklisted him, how are you calling him talented? You were one of the blacklisters!
  • Chance of a “What If?” where Wolverine kills the Skrull Queen instead of Norman Osborn? Quesada seemed to like the idea, and McCann said there are more What If?s coming up.
  1. Yay for What If’s in December!
A lifelong reader and self proclaimed continuity guru, Grey is the Editor in Chief of Comics Nexus. Known for his love of Booster Gold, Spider-Girl (the real one), Stephanie Brown, and The Boys. Don't miss The Gold Standard.