DC Comics announced this morning (and sent us a press release) letting us know about a new batch of their darker characters getting the #1 treatment come September.
Perhaps the one I’m most excited for is Scott Snyder and Yannick Paquette’s take on Swamp Thing. After yesterdays concern over the Bat universe, Scott took to twitter and had a few enlightening things to say about the whole enterprise, making me much more likely to buy into this whole thing. DC should put more guys like him out in front of this whole thing.
About Batman:
Crazy news day! Just want to say thanks to everyone for the congrats and support on my move to Batman w/the great Greg Capullo…So excited for the story we’re going to tell together. Big and twisted, about Bruce, Gotham, secret history and big deadly threats.
And I know how nervous some of you are about things starting over, but I think all of us in the Bat U can assure you that we’re as big fans of Batman’s history – all the great stories, the rich characters, the moments – as you. None of us is out to change anything or erase anything for the sake of being shocking or new. We all have too much respect for Batman to so that…
So while we can’t comment on specific elements of continuity, I think it’s safe to say that when it comes to the elements in the Bat U you love, we love them too. And so please don’t worry about the shape of the Bat U after September. Going to be a great place 🙂
Again, we love these characters and their rich histories (and rich presents) as much as you. And we’re all working together to give you something exciting & fresh that still respects & honors what came before. If you have a little faith, and we’ll do our best to earn it.
And about Swamp Thing:
Yes, it’s true, I’m writing a new SWAMP THING series in September! This one is something I’ve been working on for a while, a labor of love.
To be clear: Besides Batman, Swamp Thing is my favorite character in comics – I’ve read every iteration, from Wein, Moore, Diggle, Dysart – and I would never ever take on this series lightly. Moore’s Swamp Thing is a masterpiece and I would ONLY take the series on if I had a take that honors everything that came before – keeping it part of the character’s past, not erasing anything – and moving forward in a way I think is compelling, different, and central to the core of the character, too. Something that takes it in a surprising direction, while honoring and acknowledging everything that came before. That said, I could not be prouder of what we have put together for you. The story is close to my heart, explores the mythology of Swamp Thing, reveals new things, big secrets, and Yanick Paquette is a force of nature on this book. Couldn’t be more excited to show you what we’ve cooked up. That is all.
He certainly does have a way of getting me to give him the benefit of the doubt. And I’m going to do just as he prescribes. I’m going to take a little bit of faith, check out the books, and see what I think.
I’m hoping for something good, and at least Scott has always delivered it for me.
Without further ado, here’s the rest of the announcements.
DC Embraces Its Dark Side
DC Comics embraces its dark side. On the 40th anniversary of the character’s creation, the New York Times bestselling writer of AMERICAN VAMPIRE, Scott Snyder, teams up with Yannick Paquette (BATMAN, INCORPORATED) to bring horror back to the DC Universe in SWAMP THING #1. For years, one man served against his will as the avatar of nature. And while he may have been freed of the monster, he’s about to learn the monster will never truly let go of him.The World’s Greatest Supernatural Heroes
John Constantine, Deadman, Shade the Changing Man and Madame Xanadu are Justice League Dark, a band of supernatural heroes united to stop the dark things the rest of the DCU does not see in JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #1, by Peter Milligan and artist Mikel Janin.Acclaimed Creators with New Takes on Cult Heroes
Buddy Baker has gone from “super” man to family man – but is he strong enough to hold his family together when Maxine, his young daughter, starts to manifest her own dangerous powers? Find out in ANIMAL MAN #1, the start of a dramatic new series by acclaimed writer Jeff Lemire and artists Travel Foreman and Dan Green.
Set in the Middle Ages, the Demon leads an unlikely team to defend civilization and preserve the last vestiges of Camelot against the tide of history. Critically-acclaimed writer Paul Cornell and artists Diogenes Neves and Oclair Albert combine sorcery, swords and superheroes in DEMON KNIGHTS #1.Tomorrow’s Cult Classics
Frankenstein and his network of strange beings work for an even stranger government organization: The Super Human Advanced Defense Executive. It’s the breakout hero of Seven Soldiers as you’ve never seen him before in FRANKENSTEIN, AGENT OF SHADE #1, the first issue of a dark new series from acclaimed writer Jeff Lemire (Sweet Tooth, The Nobody) and artist Alberto Ponticelli.
A cult favorite character returns in a new series written by his classic creative team of Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning. Joining them is JUSTICE LEAGUE: GENERATION LOST artist Fernando Dagnino. RESURRECTION MAN #1 is the story of a hero who wakes up with new powers each time he’s killed.
Vampires threaten to bring ruin to the DC Universe in I, VAMPIRE #1 by rising star Josh Fialkov and artist Andrea Sorrentino. Tortured by his centuries-old love for the Queen of the Damnned, Andrew Bennett must save humanity from the violent uprising of his fellow vampires, even if it means exterminating his own kind.
Priscilla Kitaen has just found out she’s a monster. A half-alien hybrid, the woman known as Voodoo must confront the secrets of her past to make sense of the nightmare her life has suddenly become. VOODOO #1 will be written by Ron Marz with art by Sami Basri.
