It’s the new 49—or the end of the New 52. DC has just unrolled their June line-up, a slate of 24 new titles, along with 25 returning ones, which, they promise, will show the new face of comics.
This summer, DC Entertainment launches a bold new direction for the DC Universe (DCU) that is even more inclusive and accessible to a wider group of readers as the publisher continues to evolve comic storytelling for its next generation of fans.
In other words, the winds of changing rattling the have even been felt at DC comics and now we have National Book Award nominated writer Gene Luen Yang writing Superman.
How different is this line-up? Bat-Mite, Bizarro and Prez are back, three humor oriented titles long banished from the grim and gritty.
The lineup will be debuted to the world in DC’s Free Comic Book Day offering, shown above, which features Batman by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo, Justice League by Geoff Johns and Jason Fabok and Superman by Gene Luen Yang and John Romita, Jr.
The move comes on the day that DC is holding a retailer summit at their new Burbank offices this weekend. The new titles will debut in June following the two month “Convergence” event which tides over the company as its staff moves to the West Coast.
The New 52 branding, announced in 2011 with huge fanfare, served its purpose well. The new continuity introduced will remain but more new reader friendly book will be introduced. And the tone will be different. Ming Doyle will be writing Constantine: The Hellblazer AND drawing Dark Universe, to be written by James Tynion IV. The popular Harley Quinn team of Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti will add Harley Quinn/Power Girl a 6-issue limited series, and Starfire with are by Emanuela Lupachino. Garth Ennis and John McCrea are back with a Hitman spin-off, Section Eight. Although 25 titles will return, among the cancelled: Batman And Robin, Earth 2, Justice League Dark, Justice League 3000, Supergirl, Red Hood And The Outlaws.
The new line-up is announced at a time when Marvel is also refashioning it’s line, with a new look following May’s Secret Wars.Meaning this summer will be a very different, very inclusive, very diverse comics industry.
We’ll be back with some commentary in a bit.
Here’s the entire line-up with art (where available) as it’s rolled out this morning:
Batman Beyond
W: Dan Jurgens
A: Bernard Chang
Bat-Mite (6-issue limited)
W: Dan Jurgens
A: Corin Howell
Bizarro (6-issue limited)
W: Heath Corson
A: Gustavo Duarte
Black Canary
W: Brenden Fletcher
A: Annie Wu & Irene Koh
Constantine: The Hellblazer
W: Ming Doyle
A: Riley Rossmo
Cyborg
W: David Walker
A: Ivan Reis
Dark Universe
W: James Tynion IV
A: Ming Doyle
Green Lantern: Lost Army
W: Cullen Bunn
A: Jesus Saiz & Javi Pina
Doomed
W: Scott Lobdell
A: Javier Fernandez
Earth 2: Society
W: Daniel Wilson
A: Jorge Jimenez
Dr. Fate
W: Paul Levitz
A: Sonny Liew
Harley Quinn/Power Girl (6-issue limited)
W: Jimmy Palmiotti & Amanda Conner
A: Stephane Roux
Justice League of America
W: Bryan Hitch
A: Bryan Hitch
Justice League 3001
W: Keith Giffen
A: Howard Porter
Martian Manhunter
W: Rob Williams
A: Ben Oliver
Midnighter
W: Steve Orlando
A: ACO
Mystic U
W: Alisa Kwitney
A: Stay tuned for artist info!
Omega Men
W: Tom King
A: Alec Morgan
Prez
W: Mark Russell
A: Ben Caldwell
Red Hood/Arsenal
W: Scott Lobdell
A: Denis Medri
Robin, Son of Batman
W: Patrick Gleason
A: Patrick Gleason
Section Eight (6-issue limited)
W: Garth Ennis
A: John McCrea
Starfire
W: Jimmy Palmiotti & Amanda Conner
A: Emanuela Lupacchino
We Are Robin
W: Lee Bermejo
A: Khary Randolph
Ongoing Titles
Action Comics
W: Greg Pak
A: Aaron Kuder
Aquaman
W: Cullen Bunn
A: Trevor McCarthy
Batgirl
W: Cameron Stewart & Brenden Fletcher
A: Babs Tarr
Batman
W: Scott Snyder
A: Greg Capullo
Detective Comics
W; Brian Buccelato & Francis Manapul
A: Francis Manapul
Batman/Superman
W: Greg Pak
A: Ardian Syaf
Catwoman
W: Genevieve Valentine
A: David Messina
Deathstroke
W: Tony S. Daniel
A: Tony S. Daniel
The Flash
W: Robert Venditti & Van Jensen
A: Brett Booth
Gotham Academy
W: Becky Cloonan & Brenden Fletcher
A: Karl Kerschl
Gotham By Midnight
W: Ray Fawkes
A: Juan Ferreyra
Grayson
W: Tom King & Tim Seeley
A: Mikel Janin
Green Arrow
W: Ben Percy
A: Zircher
Green Lantern
W: Robert Venditti
A: Billy Tan
Harley Quinn
W: Jimmy Palmiotti & Amanda Conner
A: Chad Hardin
Justice League
W: Geoff Johns
A: Jason Fabok
Justice League United
W:Stay tuned for creative team info!
A:
Lobo
W: Cullen Bunn
A: Cliff Richards
Secret Six
W: Gail Simone
A: Dale Eaglesham
Sinestro
W: Cullen Bunn
A: Bradley Walker
New Suicide Squad
W: Sean Ryan
A: Carlos D’Anda
Superman
W: Gene Luen Yang
A: John Romita, Jr.
Superman/Wonder Woman
W: Peter J. Tomasi
A: Doug Mahnke
Teen Titans
W: Will Pfeifer
A: Kenneth Rocafort
Wonder Woman
W: Meredith Finch
A: David Finch
And the PR:
This summer, DC Entertainment launches a bold new direction for the DC Universe (DCU) that is even more inclusive and accessible to a wider group of readers as the publisher continues to evolve comic storytelling for its next generation of fans. Award-winning, critically acclaimed writers are headlining the June 2015 slate of DC Comics’ new periodicals and graphic novels, including Gene Luen Yang, Bryan Hitch, Garth Ennis and Ming Doyle.
Beginning June 3rd, the DC Comics line of comic books will consist of 24 brand-new series that will begin at issue number one, as well as 25 on-going, bestselling fan favorite series that will continue without a break in the issue numbering. The total number of periodicals in the DCU will be 49, with additional new titles debuting throughout the year.
“This heralds in a new era for the DC Universe which will allow us to publish something for everyone, be more expansive and modern in our approach and tell stories that better reflect the society around us,” said DC Entertainment Co-Publisher Dan DiDio. “Whether you’ve been a DC fan your whole life, or whether you are new to comics – there will be a book for you beginning in June.”
DC Comics will be keenly focused on going back-to-basics with its legendary characters, like BATMAN, SUPERMAN and WONDER WOMAN, while also reinventing key characters, such as BLACK CANARY, BIZARRO, CYBORG and STARFIRE, with a new contemporary tonality to ensure a diverse offering of titles. Top writers and artists, as well as emerging fresh voices, are on board to help create an expansive lineup of comics that appeals to a broad audience of fans.
Depicting some of these iconic characters in a more contemporary light include National Book Award finalist Gene Luen Yang who will join artist John Romita Jr. in the ongoing adventures of SUPERMAN. Comic superstar artist Bryan Hitch will write and draw new tales of the world’s greatest heroes in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA. The pitch perfect team of Garth Ennis and John McCrea returns to DC Comics for a limited series called SECTION EIGHT featuring characters from their popular Hitman comic. VERTIGO creator Ming Doyle will be lending her talents to DC Comics, penning CONSTANTINE: THE HELLBLAZER along with newcomer artist Riley Rossmo.
“More than ever before, DC Comics fans are being exposed to our rich portfolio of characters through multiple sources, including an unprecedented number of highly successful TV shows, video games and upcoming major motion pictures,” said Co-Publisher Jim Lee. “We are looking to extend that experience within publishing to ensure there is a comic book for everyone. For example, fans of the ARROW television show may want more stories about BLACK CANARY. Now they can find modern, fresh takes on the character in the pages of her standalone series both in stores and digitally.”
Breakout star, Brenden Fletcher, co-writer behind the all new, highly successful BATGIRL book will also be writing the new BLACK CANARY series launching in June. Fan favorites Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti will be the creative team on new titles STARFIRE and HARLEY QUINN/POWER GIRL and will continue to helm the perennially bestselling HARLEY QUINN.
“Beyond character and creators, the June slate will showcase different styles and approaches to storytelling as we add offbeat, irreverently funny titles such as BIZARRO, BAT-MITE and PREZ,” said Lee. “Truly there will be something for everybody as we simultaneously celebrate our rich legacy while embracing new voices and concepts.”
A first look at upcoming storylines will be the focus of DC Entertainment’s Free Comic Book Day issue – DC COMICS: DIVERGENCE – available Saturday, May 2, featuring three 8-page previews for the June releases of Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s BATMAN, as well as Geoff Johns and Jason Fabok’s launch of the Darkseid War within JUSTICE LEAGUE featuring the biggest villains in the DCU – Darkseid and the Anti-Monitor, and Gene Luen Yang’s DC Comics debut with celebrated artist John Romita, Jr on SUPERMAN. More than half-a million free issues of the DC Entertainment sampler will be given away at comic book retailers globally.
“In this new era of storytelling, story will trump continuity as we continue to empower creators to tell the best stories in the industry,” said DiDio.
To learn more about the June DC Universe slate, visit www.dccomics.com.
OK, some very interesting choices here.
But also …
Thank you so much Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti for giving Starfire the best costume she’s ever had in print media.
Alisa Kwitney?!
Hmm… a few titles featuring cartoonists, not author/illustrator teams…
Yay, Batmite!
Now if they would just do a Super Pets comic…
…and publish the next four volumes of the eighth-grade Supergirl!
I’m not surprised at the de-emphasis on continuity.
It marginalizes the “continuity cops” who also tend to be hypercritical of whatever is done.
(I think I hear their heads exploding right now…)
With digital comics and long tails on the backlist, self-contained volumes are easier to sell.
They must also grab attention immediately, especially in this media-saturated age.
(Will we see the return of the Donenfeld Method of comics cover design? Actual captions on the covers? Crazy questions? Crying apes running from dinosaurs? Motorcycles aflame?)
Also, this will revitalize DC’s stagnant backlist. Aside from Earth One, there have been very few “classics” published during the New 52 which sell year-after-year. (Most of those backlist titles are “Elseworlds” stories, done-in-one.)
>> “In other words, the winds of changing rattling the have even been felt at DC comics and now we have National Book Award nominated writer Gene Luen Yang writing Superman.”
Come on, I know it’s just a press release repaste, but have some pride.
I wonder if they’re doing this now to head off Marvel, who likely has a similar stylistic relaunch planned for after Secret Wars.
Hmmm I am under whelmed so far just based on the titles being offered. I need to wait until there is a previews description and promo art to get a better grasp on what would even be worth reading to me. As it stands I will have only 2 books left after Convergence and out of the new ones only 1 looks certain with 3 maybes so far based on the offerings. Maybe Marvel will shock and awe and provide enough details to build some genuine excitement with their unveiling.
While I’m always willing to be pleasantly surprised, DC’s trend of assigning writing duties to artists hasn’t really worked out that well (for me) so far. So I meet all of those titles with skepticism.
More Scott Lobdell and Dan Jurgens books? I just can’t get excited.
And then there are the books that are just the same but with different titles. Justice League 3001? Please…
Hunh. I think I’m most excited about Section 8.
I wonder how many of these books are just there because of some TV pilot that’s in the works or something on Cartoon Network.
I believe that Justice League and Batman should be books concerned about continuity and the momentous epic plot driven defining stories. Batgirl and Harley Quinn (and soon to be added Starfire and Black Canary) are not/nor should not be worried about the macguffin that keeps the world from falling into Dimension Z. There are probably very few people with the resources (and willingness) to go all-in on a line of titles. I am glad that DC is taking a more balance approach and hope they are taking the motto “something for everyone” to heart.
Love the emphasis on more fun (hmmmm, ‘more fun’, that would be a good name for a comic!)
Torsten, I also like your ideas of using the 50’s and 60’s approach to cover the books. Let’s keep the the entertaining comics coming! Just imagine: The Bizarre New Adventures of Jimmy Olsen, The Grodd Squad, Hell on Wheels with Oracle and Niles Caulder, Wonder Women (with every DC lady hero that could fit) and Mister Miracle’s Magic Circus.
What the hell with all this hiring of artist to write? Didn’t DC learned on their own experience that in 90% it results in complete unreadable crap. WTF, seriously, WTF, dudes?
This is great news! Like Torsten and (and I suspect other people here), I think DC’s fixation on continuity has kept them from developing more backlog items of any merit. (Was Before Watchmen the last real attempt at such a project?) Scott Simmons and I were championing something like this approach in a blog post several weeks ago: http://www.flashbackuniverse.blogspot.com/2015/01/how-would-you-fix-dc-universe.html
@Mo Walker – Yeah, I’m right there with you on the Harley Quinn, Batgirl, ect titles – they should totally be divorced from main events. I’d actually like to see this approach applied to other titles as well but that may not be economically viable with current market conditions.
Looks like fun! Gene’s the perfect writer for Superman–I can’t imagine him doing anything with that character that he wouldn’t share with his kids, and that’s exactly the approach that you need on Superman.
And Gustavo Duarte’s a phenomenal talent. That Bizarro book is going to be TERRIBLE. ME HATE IT ALREADY.
This looks way more interesting to me than their original “New 52” line-up of books. It would have been nice if they had release a small description of each book with these but we’ll get those soon enough, I suppose.
Interesting that “Supergirl” is nowhere on here and the March solicit didn’t list the last issue as the final issue. Not surprising that they’d relaunch that with the TV show coming up.
Also, that “Divergence” cut-and-paste cover is hideous.
Whoa, looks like I will suddenly be buying a lot of DC comics. Live and learn eh, Dan Didio?
Looks like an attitude of fun and experimentation is catching hold. Bravo, and let’s see some comic stuff that we can buy and enjoy!
Gene Luen Yang hopping over to Superman instantly gives DC one of the best writers in comics, so sign me up for lots of that.
Additionally, I’m really interested in some Annie Wu Black Canary, the new Midnighter comic (especially if its in the vein of Grayson), and Prez sounds like a good deal of fun.
As for the rest, Martian Manhunter and Cyborg both grab my attention somewhat, and it sounds like there’s some nice cohered work happening in the “Dark” corner of the DCU. I’ll also pick up anything Sonny Liew draws.
Ming Doyle writing Hellblazer? Her art is ok, but does she really have the writing chops for Hellblazer? Guess I’ll just reread the old Hellblazer series.
@John Dominguez Ming Doyle mentioned on her tumblr that she’s co-writing Constantine with James Tynion IV. DC didn’t list him in the release. http://mingdoyle.tumblr.com.
Happy about this! Already sold on Prez, Midnighter, Black Canary, Dark Universe… not going to bore you with my list! But these are many kinda books.
I’m sure those sites like Newsarama and CBR, who were speculating a return to pre-52, are not happy. Nor the old fans who want their DC continuity to matter (or for the New 52 to fail). I’m glad DC are making this bold move to address new fans and newer readership. Stories do matter more than continuity IMHO.
**my, not many
“In other words, the winds of changing rattling the have even been felt at DC comics and now we have National Book Award nominated writer Gene Luen Yang writing Superman.”
What the heck does the first half of this sentence even mean, Ace? C’mon, we both know you can do better than this. I’ve been reading your writing since way back in CompuServe days. You gotta drop the cut and paste, or at least proofread.
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