At SDCC 20204, we’ve got some news on the ground courtesy of reporting by Beau Q along with some PR from DC itself about the “What’s Happening in the DC Multiverse” panel. Hosted by DC editor-in-chief Marie Javins, a lively discussion commenced with writers Mark Waid, G. Willow Wilson, Jeremy Adams, and Tate Brombal, along with special guest appearances by writers Ram V and Jeff Lemire (who’s now writing Abosolute Flash) talking about their new DC projects, plus artist Werther Dell’Edera.
It’s been confirmed that writer Mark Waid is taking over Action Comics as the series shifts from monthly to weekly, beginning with issue #1070 on October 9. Waid and artist Clayton Henry announced they are sending the Man of Steel back to the Phantom Zone to investigate the mystery behind an otherworldly horror terrorizing Metropolis. As for Waid’s current run on Absolute Power, it’s been confirmed that it’s being framed as a moment where the heroes have their ability to help gets taken away. They will though eventually get their powers back…just not in the ways you think.
October will also see the return of Supergirl in Action Comics, with recent Inkpot award-winning writer Mariko Tamaki and artist Skylar Patridge collaborating on a backup story featuring the Woman of Tomorrow.
Fresh off Detective Comics, Ram V broke some exciting news about his contribution to the DC All-In initiative, announcing that he’ll be writing his take on Jack Kirby’s Fourth World in The New Gods, scheduled to launch this December. It’s known that Absolute Power created a cosmic imbalance between New Genesis and Apokolips. And the comic will feature art by Detective Comics cover artist Evan Cagle in his DC series debut. Ram V also spoke to the audience about what attracted him to this project and working with Cagle, hinting at what readers can expect when the debut issue hits participating comic book shops.
Writer G. Willow Wilson was on hand to talk about what’s to come for Poison Ivy as part of DC All-In, as she and artist Marcio Takara enter their third year together on the title beginning with issue #26, on sale October 2. Wilson provided fun details about Ivy’s new life and restored powers and resuming her wrathful and just war for the balance of the natural world, beginning with the restoration of the wetlands that Gotham City’s industrial waste has destroyed. Wilson also reframes Ivy as someone who uses whatever means necessary to save the Earth [Harley gets a pass] regardless of where that aligns her, making for an interesting take because in the process of all this, Ivy unintentionally resurrects an ancient horror from Gotham’s past.
In October, writer Jeff Lemire will have his creative hands in both DC’s new “Absolute” universe, as writer of Absolute Flash (with art by Nick Robles), and an all-new, freshly announced JSA series, featuring art by Diego Olortegui. Some early art by Olortegui was revealed to fans, show not only the JSA roster, but another lineup of DC Super Heroes from Infinity, Inc. In JSA #1 some of the JSA team are missing and it’s up to the young guns gotta find em. The JSA will also plays pivotal role in Absolute Power.
The panel concluded with two vastly different interpretations of Green Lantern. Writer Jeremy Adams spoke with Javins and the audience about Hal Jordan’s role in Absolute Power event and what’s to come for Hal and the Green Lantern Corps on October 16th with Green Lantern #16. As a sillier take, it’s been confirmed that Hal will use all these esoteric DC items like Condiment King’s guns and Blue Devil’s spear. He’ll even joyride the Batplane.
That’s not all. It seems that Hal, Guy Gardner, and John Stewart will all confront the Dark Star resurrection, and what it means for their friend Kilowog. Adams also provided teases about how this new storyline will impact the fate of the Green Lantern Corps, which will be revealed in the October 9 Green Lantern Civil Corps Special, which he is co-writing with Phillip Kennedy Johnson (Green Lantern: War Journal).
In keeping with the “green” theme, writer Tate Brombal and artist Werther Dell’Edera provided some further details on their DC Elseworlds debut, Green Lantern Dark, launching October 23. Javins spoke with the duo about what drew them to telling a new story based on DC’s “Tangent” universe version of Green Lantern, the opportunities of working outside DC’s core continuity, and being part of DC’s revamped Elseworlds imprint.
additional reporting by Beau Q.
Stay tuned for more SDCC ’24 coverage from The Beat.
