DC NEWS FROM THE RRP MEETING

[MattBrady]

Sunday, a select group of comic retailers made their way home from the Great White North as DC’s RRP meeting wrapped up in Montreal. The weekend held a handful of presentations from DC's various imprints and divisions, and while mostly focusing on information for retailers, many editorial announcements regarding upcoming projects were made.

While many of the announcements and talking points re-iterated news from this summer’s convention season, a few new tidbits and announcements were thrown in for spice.

In no particular order:

(edited) As announced at Chicago, Dynamite’s Red Sonja will cross over with (and revive) DC’s Claw character, and the two will be in a four issue miniseries published under the Wildstorm banner. Jim Lee will provide all four covers, with vriant covers by others artists (Alex Ross will provide the alternate cover to issue #1), which will kick off Wildstorm’s sword and sorcery line (to be called "Storm & Sorcery") and a new Claw series.

While he’s he’ll be meeting many heroes of the Wildstorm Universe throughout the Captain Atom: Armageddon miniseries, his meeting with The Authority in issue #5 will lead to a “big event.” The returning Wildstorm titles were again mentioned: Wildcats by Grant Morrison and Jim Lee; Gen13 by Gail Simone and Talent Caldwell; and Wetworks by Mike Carey and Whilce Portacio. No specific dates for the three series’ launches were mentioned.

What appears to be the final Alan Moore/Kevin O’Neil League of Extraordinary Gentlemen project to come from Wildstorm, The Black Dossier will be a hardcover which will include many formats, including a 3D segment.

Chris Sprouse will step in for a two issue fill-in on Ex Machina, spelling off regular series artist Tony Harris sometime after issue #20.

Each issue of 52* will contain 20 pages of stories with back-ups. Issues #2-#11 will feature a 10-part “History of the DCU” story. As mentioned before, the weekly series will tie-into seasons and holidays and will see six stories running throughout the run.

The maximum cover price the weekly series will be is $2.99. It will launch in the second week of May, and will be the chance for some minor characters to shine.

Hawkman changes its title to Hawkgirl with issue #50 as a part of the publisher’s “One Year Later…” event. The series will also be getting a creative team change, with Walt Simonson coming on board as writer and Howard Chaykin joining as penciler (marking the first return of both to mainstream, ongoing DCU work in years – and the first time in years that the two former studio mates will be working together).

Asked how edgy the series would be, it was stated that the Hawkgirl series may be stronger than some of the softer DCU titles, but will be a part of the DC Universe.

Absolute Sandman starts in 2006; there was no announcement of price or extras yet, but DC will be recoloring the early issues of the Sandman series to match the higher production values of the later issues, as well as touching up the lettering in some issues where reversed lettering dropped out a bit. This is part of a plan to do every Sandman story in the Absolute format. Concurrent with the publication of Absolute Sandman, DC will not be keeping the current hardcovers edition collections of the series in print.

February will see the next of DC’s progression in its revival of IPC characters (Albion), with Thunderbolt Jaxon by Dave Gibbons and John Higgins. Garth Ennis is reportedly to follow in the IPC line with a miniseries, though the character Ennis will be handling was not named.

Though not slated to be announced, DC representatives, noting that the DC solicts had leaked out over the weekend on the Silver Bullet Comic Books website (since taken down and not to be confused with retailer and Newsarama sponsor silverbulletcomics.com), confirmed that the current Wonder Woman series will be ending that month, as will Gotham Central and Gotham Knights. Flash ends in January with the already-solicited issue.

June and July: there will be one new major series launch each week; and in July – one new major high-profile creative team launch.

June & Juiy: one new major series launch every week in June, one new major high-profile creative team launch every week in July.

Batman/Spirit will ship in June, with the new ongoing Darwyn Cooke Spirit series starting in June.

In DC Direct news, an upcoming Silver Age Superman set will include Superman (with robot machineworks behind the s-shield), Lois, Jimmy, Perry, Lex, and Beppo the Super-Monkey.

There will be a recall on the Crisis on Infinite Earths action figures from DC Direct, due to line-wide problems with paints, assembly, and looks. Consumers will be able to return figures they bought as well. The production problems with the CoIE line was pointed to as the cause of the shipping date changes for other DC Direct lines.

Upcoming Infinite Crisis figures will include Power Girl, Alex Luthor, OMAC, and Superboy Prime with his new costume design.

There will also be a line of figures based on Darwyn Cooke’s versions of the characters from DC: New Frontier.

The next Elseworlds series will include a Spectre/Norm McCay two figure set at a single-figure price, in a box designed to match the look of the original Kingdom Come boxes. The subline will also include more Red Son figures and Gotham by Gaslight figures.

The coming JSA line will include four modern JSA member figures, and one classic--the Atom--which will feature two complete figures in one box, one with the hood costume and one with the cowl revealing the lower face.

[onslaughtall]

NIIIICEEEEEE...52 is shaping up to be a strong book...
finally, the price has been released..it isn't that bad.. I'll take it..


also, props for DC Direct..I'll admit, the paint job was horrific..!

[rezin8]

Walt Simonson coming on board as writer and Howard Chaykin joining as penciler for Hawkgirl? Wow...this will be exciting as hell!

[booster]

So Flash is already canceled, huh. Guess that last solictation with the line "The Last Days of Wally West?" was more accurate than we thought...

[The_Adventurer]

Originally posted by booster
So Flash is already canceled, huh. Guess that last solictation with the line "The Last Days of Wally West?" was more accurate than we thought...

It'll be relaunched as off OYL. Same as Wonder Woman. During all those "High Profile series launch ever week in June/July"

[TheRay]

The *52 price is a little higher than I expected (I was expecting $2.50), but I doubt that will keep me from buying it.

Other interesting things I caught:

~ Superboy-Prime gets a new costume design in time for the DCD figure
~ Both Golden Age Atom costumes in one package!
~ Walt Simonson and Howard Chaykin on Hawkman (err Hawkgirl I mean) sounds really cool
~ Absolute Sandman!

[immortus]

i love that someone literally asked how edgy hawkgirl would be. i hope the followup question was related to how in-your-face the book will be.

[adamcasey]

Originally posted by immortus
i love that someone literally asked how edgy hawkgirl would be. i hope the followup question was related to how in-your-face the book will be.

I'm sure the question was in reference to Chaykin's style of drawing sexually suggestive poses and attire for females. The Plexmall runs circles around Victoria's Secret...

[Chris Tucker]

So Flash is already canceled, huh. Guess that last solictation with the line "The Last Days of Wally West?" was more accurate than we thought...

My guess is it's a red herring. Now Wonder Woman on the other hand...

[Doom the 3rd]

They should release an Absolute Preacher. I'd get that for sure. I'm on the fence with Sandman, but maybe. Wildcats and League of Extraordinary Gentlemen is going to be good too.

[The_Adventurer]

February will see the next of DC’s progression in its revival of IPC characters (Albion), with Thunderbolt Jaxon by Dave Gibbons and John Higgins. Garth Ennis is reportedly to follow in the IPC line with a miniseries, though the character Ennis will be handling was not named.

This is also exciting. Except for Ennis, who I feel is a total one trick pony.

[Rafael_Z]

Why couldnt Johns stay just for 4 months in the Flash? I hope that the fill-in writer wont kill Wally.

[Poe]

Originally posted by Rafael_Z
Why couldnt Johns stay just for 4 months in the Flash? I hope that the fill-in writer wont kill Wally.

Nah. They'll probably kill him in Infinite Crisis #5.

[Bevbos]

Originally posted by The_Adventurer
This is also exciting. Except for Ennis, who I feel is a total one trick pony.

One trick pony, fine, but it's a quality trick!!! Seriously. He does do the same thing again and again, but then again, the same charge could be made of Miller, and who's going to make that charge 'round these parts? I'll gladly pick up an DC Ennis book.

...on a totally unrelated note, can someone fill me in: does his "Black Dossier" refer to a 3rd LoEG arc, or is it a compilation of what's already been done? I'm not too saavy a fanboy, but I assume that refers to new material. In which case, thumbs up.

[Supreme Convoy]

Wait... I thought DC lost League of Extraordinary Gentlemen to Top Shelf because Alan Moore left?

Also Gotham Central is cancelled? Boo!

[tralfaz]

The maximum cover price the weekly series will be is $2.99.

does that mean that there will be issues lower than $2.99 on certain weeks? is the $2.99 price for the weeks with the back up story?

cant wait for the absolute sandman, hope its not too pricey

[HartyPotter]

Originally posted by Rafael_Z
Why couldnt Johns stay just for 4 months in the Flash? I hope that the fill-in writer wont kill Wally.

He's not gonna die. He's probably just gonna retire and let Bart takeover as a new Flash.

[Supermutant]

Doesn't look good for dc. As a fan or could soon be use to be fan of DC Comics it's not heading in a good direction. Hopefully DC will relaunch Flash and Wonder Woman but I hate stupid relaunches that are not needed. There isn't a need. It's stupid. It's a thing marvel does and that stupid. Marvel and DC has gone down a very horrible creative road that may lose me and many fans of them. Also bart as flash won't work no matter who does it. Won't work. Gotham central being cancled does suck. What is dc getting ride of their actual good books?

[onslaughtall]

Originally posted by HartyPotter
He's not gonna die. He's probably just gonna retire and let Bart takeover as a new Flash.

sigh..moving forward by going backward..I wouldn't like this move as much if they did this [which it seems like they are going towards this direction]..



I love Kyle Rayner and I dig Wally West..it's just sad to see the 'silver age' coming back when they talk about bringing..


These darn old farts trying to reclaim their place in comics!!!*..




[kidding, naturally*..]

[SuperginraiX]

Killing Wally is a HUGE red herring. It's almost EXPECTED that he's up on the chopping block because Barry died in Crisis on Infinite Earths... and Flash has been slated to die in almost EVERY crossover event thereafter (OK, maybe only Zero Hour, but I think his name is usually mentioned during crossover time). It'd be pretty upsetting if they killed him right after his wife had kids of all times. He's just starting a family. I see him possibly retiring to be a family man but I REALLY hope they don't kill him.

Diana, on the other hand, I can see perishing. I'll admit, I'm not a big fan of Wonder Woman, so that probably jades my opinion, but I can easily see Donna Troy taking up the mantle of Wonder Woman post Infinite Crisis... or possibly they're just rebooting Wonder Woman's continuity once more but it'll still star Diana.

I guess we'll all see .

[Zadillo]

I know the Wildstorm news isn't news, but I'm still really excited about the new Wildcats and Gen13 series. I don't know as much about Wetworks, but I love Mike Carey, so I'm interested in that too.

And can't wait for Absolute Sandman.

-Zadillo

[astronato]

"As announced at Chicago, Dynamite’s Red Sonja will cross over with (and revive) DC’s Klaw character, and the two will be in a one-shot under the Wildstorm banner. Alex Ross and Jim Lee were confirmed as cover artists for the one-shot (two covers, not collaboration), which will kick off Wildstorm’s sword and sorcery line and a new Klaw series. "

Is it Klaw or Claw? Is he from the 70's? I can't find anything about him online. Can anyone post a link or something on him please? thanks

Also, Does DC often work with small press publishers like Dynamite?

[GooN]

Originally posted by Supermutant
Doesn't look good for dc. As a fan or could soon be use to be fan of DC Comics it's not heading in a good direction. Hopefully DC will relaunch Flash and Wonder Woman but I hate stupid relaunches that are not needed. There isn't a need. It's stupid. It's a thing marvel does and that stupid. Marvel and DC has gone down a very horrible creative road that may lose me and many fans of them. Also bart as flash won't work no matter who does it. Won't work. Gotham central being cancled does suck. What is dc getting ride of their actual good books?

Yeh, if Wally's done, so am I.

[BillReed]

Hawkman changes its title to Hawkgirl with issue #50 as a part of the publisher’s “One Year Later…” event. The series will also be getting a creative team change, with Walt Simonson coming on board as writer and Howard Chaykin joining as penciler.

HOLY ____ING ____!

I... guess I'll be getting this, then.

[hogfat]

Originally posted by tralfaz
does that mean that there will be issues lower than $2.99 on certain weeks? is the $2.99 price for the weeks with the back up story?

It almost seems as though DC has yet to decide upon the series' price -- marketing will probably still be spending the next few months researching the best price.