Comics

You can't accuse Rob Liefeld of shying away from work. While his old Extreme characters are getting relaunched over at Image, Rob's just been announced as taking over no less than three titles at DC.

Although some websites prefer not to use sources, it is our policy at The Beat to link away. Thus we can confirm that it is indeed true that Warners has applied for trademark registry on a new logo, as you can see above. The trademark is in black and white so that any color can be applied. "Color is not claimed as a feature of the mark. The mark consists of the letter "D" flipping back to reveal the letter "C" and DC ENTERTAINMENT." To be honest, when we first thought this, we suspected it was a new logo for DC shoes. But no. As others have commented, this "peel back" logo makes the much-mocked swish — introduced in 2005 — look like the Milton Glaser-designed original in terms of readability.

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Warner's search for a new superhero that can fill the ache left by the end of Smallville's run has landed on Green Arrow. The CW has ordered a pilot written and executive-produced by Greg Berlanti and Marc Guggenheim (GREEN LANTERN) and Andrew Kreisberg Fringe).

Vertigo has confirmed the details of the graphic novel version of Stieg Larsson's Millennium trilogy: as previously leaked, Denise Mina will write the adaptation, with art by Leonardo Manco and Andrea Mutti. The cover is by Lee Bermejo — definitely in the style of the Vertigo crime line. THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO graphic novel will arrive in November. The book has already been adapted into a Swedish film/TV series and a US film. All three existing versions have various story tics, and very different takes on Lisbeth Salander, the enigmatic heroine who loves Billy's pan pizza and computer hacking. Mina's take is worth watching as she's a veteran crime writer on her own as well as a comics reader (and writer). We're curious to see how she tweaks the story.

You may recall that Dynamite laid hands on the comic book license for The Shadow, a little while back. Come to find out, they also laid hands on the reprint rights for the previous Shadow comics. You know how Dark Horse reprints Marvel Star Wars and Conan comics? Dynamite's going to be doing something similar with DC Shadow comics, and they're starting out with Howard Chaykin's "Blood and Judgement" reboot of the franchise from the mid-80s.

The possibilities are endless.

In related and interesting news, Dav Pilkey's two Super Diaper Baby spinoff graphic novels will get e-books on January 31 of this year, each with supplemental material for that e-book/DVD extra format. These have the potential to be among the biggest selling e-comics of the year -- or not since every kid has a print version. Worth keeping an eye on.

Dynamite has some new books on the way, including The Bionic Woman, by Paul Tobin, Leno Carvalho with Paul Renaud on covers. Today it's Merciless - The Rise of Ming #1, which is written by Scott Beatty and drawn by Ron Adrian, with Alex Ross covers. This is a spin-off prequel of Flash Gordon - Zeitgeist (a title that just begs for spin-offs called Flash Gordon: Weltschmerz, Flash Gordon: Der Zauberberg and so on.) The book debuts in April:

Perhaps not wanting to be left off the second wave chatter today, Marvel has announced a slew of second printings for books like SCARLET SPIDER and DEFENDERS. And some new covers, as well.

Some shall stand and some shall fall. Everyone know it was only a matter of time before some adjustments would be made to the New 52 line-up -- and the John Rood/Bob Wayne interviews hinted that it was coming soon -- and boom -- six in and six out. Heading into the big used comics box in the sky are BLACKHAWKS, HAWK AND DOVE, MEN OF WAR, MISTER TERRIFIC, O.M.A.C. and STATIC SHOCK, which will all end with their eighth issue (Meaning two issues of each will be forever uncollected -- see we told you to go to that back issue bin.) Adding to the lineup, a variety of new and long-rumored titles -- and news of more crossovers and more parallel worlds.

Over at Publisher's Weekly, I was writing about how Marvel has trouble keeping their books in print and had some retailers tell me how Marvel's sales suffer for it. Now with Diamond's 2011 year-end sales charts coming out, WOW, do things look odd.