Tag: 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.

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.

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.

Our wish for actual sales number released by an actual comics publisher were finally granted! And in The Hollywood Reporter, no less. DC released sales for its top three books of the year:

DC's Earth One line has always been a little mysterious. It was started as a repository for some early trial runs at an Ultimate DC line, but then SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE became a massive hit in bookstores. Stablemate BATMAN: EARTH ONE by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank has been waiting in the wings since the line was announced in 2009. But 2012 will be the year! Although a release date wasn't mentioned, perhaps the book will be marketed in Daily News by comparing it to Hunger Games, just as SEO was compared to Twilight.

After carefully strewing the Woman in the Red Hood, who kicked the whole collapsed multiverse in FLASHPOINT, through every debut issue of The New 52, she's got a name: Pandora. She also has a double-breasted jacket, like everyone had in The Watchmen......hm. Anyway, looks like the first mega crisis crossover of the new DCU is getting set up.

by Mark-Oliver Frisch -- Three months into the wholesale makeover of DC's line of superhero comic books, the direct-market numbers suggest three main things: One, the "New 52" relaunch was extremely successful at mobilizing comics specialty retailers; two, this success doesn't seem to be affecting, for good or ill, any other comics beyond the initial 52 titles; and three, the number of new comics readers the "New 52" has brought into comics stores seems negligible, overall. Retailers continued to adjust their orders for the "New 52" titles in November, and this time, the downward correction was more noticeable. On average, sales of new DC comic books dropped by nearly 10,000 units or 19.2% in November, versus 10.4% in October. The average drop on the third issues of the 52 new superhero titles was 18.8%, versus 5.2% for the second issues. Animal Man (-8.0%) and Detective Comics (-9.7%) were the "New 52" books with the smallest drops in November, while Blackhawks (-29.5%), Mister Terrific (-29.7%), Blue Beetle (-29.9%) and Captain Atom (-30.0%) were at the tail end of the spectrum. In contrast to October, when all but one of the "New 52" debut issues made the chart again with significant re-orders, only two of the #3 issues -- namely Batman and Aquaman -- charted again in November. On balance, the drop-off on those titles is still better than average. The fact that the larger drop came in November and the lack of more #2 re-orders both suggest that customer interest in the "New 52" peaked early, however.

The first four pages of ACTION #5 by Grant Morrison, Andy Kubert, and Jesse Delperdang has just been previewed at Geek Dad and Underwire and not only does it present the new origin for Superman, as he's rocketed to earth by his parents, but we learn why the new DCU will not have a happy, yappy dog in a cape flying around -- instead there's a "Ghost Krypto". Oh, Grant Morrison, how could you?

Stopping digital piracy has become a full-time obsession for most major entertainment companies; but the Stop Online Piracy Act now wending its way through Congress is probably not the way to do it -- a far too broad law that would give lawmakers powers to stop just about any activity they don't like via cutting off funding to the site and other zero tolerance measures. Although aimed at hard-to-stop foreign websites that recognize no copyright laws, opponents say the bill goes way too far in allowing copyright holders to choke off stuff they don't want with an arsenal of tools.

Wow those WATCHMEN 2 leaks are getting better and better. On Christmas Day, Bleeding Cool posted some WATCHMEN 2 artwork -- a Nite Owl pin-up by Joe and Andy Kubert and a Comedian pin-up by JG Jones.

Amazon has the deets on GET JIRO!, the graphic novel brainstormed by master chef Anthony Bourdain, co-written with Joel Rose and drawn by Langdon Foss. it sounds a little like our dream of an American version of IRON WOK JAN has finally come true.