WW CHICAGO: THE DC NATION PANEL

[MattBrady]

By Kevin Huxford

Hosted in the Dave Cockrum Room, Bob Wayne worked the front row of the audience, prior to the start of the panel, telling fans that they want to make sure they stay until the end and make it to tomorrow’s panel. The panel was flanked by two big screens primed to show the packed room what DC has in store for them, but currently displaying only the DC Nation logo.

The panel got started with Dan Didio announcing who was participating in the panel. First up was the VP of Sales, Bob Wayne. Next was Jann Jones, Coordinating Editor, followed by Sean McKeever (Countdown, Birds of Prey) and Jim Starlin.

A Countdown cover image was placed on the screen showing what appears to be Superman flying Luthor off the planet Earth on flames, and that launched the discussion about Countdown and weekly comics. Didio polled the crowd to see who read 52, who was reading Countdown, and if the crowd liked weekly comics (to raucous applause). Didio said that the crowd shouldn’t be surprised if a third weekly series launches after the completion of Countdown.

Didio polled the crowd to see if people were liking the Jimmy Olsen arc in Countdown. One fan shouted out that it sucks and explained that he thinks it is too cheesy. Didio looked for a fan to counter, no one did, he said the fan won and Jimmy sucked…

“And that’s why Jimmy must die,” Wayne deadpanned.

Continuing through the Countdown storylines, Mary Marvel got much more applause. Didio asked if they could keep her bad, which got some disagreement from the crowd. Why? “We need one good girl in the DC Universe” a fan responded.

The Pied Piper and Trickster storyline got a lot of applause, Didio asked if the crowd liked both and said it was too bad that people liked him so much.

Challengers from Beyond - fans didn’t seem to know who the heck they were. Once Didio explained he was talking about Donna, etc. Good results in applause. Didio explained that Kyle Rayner’s storyline flowed through Green Lantern #26, Atom #14, #15 then, Countdown.

DiDio then announced Countdown: Arena, calling it “the ultimate fanboy book.” As DiDio explained it, there will be multiverse versions of recognizable characters fighting each other to be among Monarch’s generals. The four issue weekly series will ship in December, with readers voting on DCComics.com to decide some of the winners. DiDio quipped that fans should argue amongst themselves and leave him “goddamn out of it.” Jones complained at DiDio’s language, and DiDio asked if there were really any kids in the crowd. After a young fan in front of DiDio was pointed out, DiDio invited the fan up to the stage to take a role as being the panelist who would answer questions they didn’t want answer (with “maaaaaaaaaaaaaybe”).

Salvation Run and Death of the New Gods are coming both coming up as well. Starlin joked that he was on issue three before they clarified it wasn’t Death of the New Teen Titans.

The panel then opened up to questions.

A fan asked if the female Dr. Light was going to be explained how she was shown as powered, depowered, powered, etc. Jann Jones said, “Wizards”. DiDio said that it will be answered

Will there be a new writer on Robin? Yes.

“What do I have to do for Young Justice trades?” Wayne: “Buy back issues and go to a bindery.”

Identity Crisis, Infinite Crisis, Final Crisis…why have there been so many so piled on each other. DiDio said that he sees it as moving the DC Universe forward in acts. Final Crisis takes everything they’ve been doing and puts a nice neat bow on it. There are storylines still left open like “time is broken” – it will all be wrapped up, DiDio said.

If this will be the nice, neat bow, why won’t it be 12 issues like the original Crisis? DiDio said that if they did it in 12 issues, people would complain that nothing was happening in the first through fourth issue, so this resolves this pacing issue.

A fan started with “I just want to get a straight answer…” to which DiDio and then the audience erupted laughing. The question was, appropriately enough, about the Question. Why did they really kill off Vic Sage, and which did DiDio think would sell better: Vic Sage Question or Renee Montoya Question? DiDio explained that they aren’t trying to sell a solo series with Montoya in it, and didn’t feel that it came down to a sales contest, but rather who made for the better character in the context of the DC Universe as it is moving.

Are there plans for Amethyst to come back? Starlin asked if he wasn’t killing her in Death of the New Gods. Jones said they are talking with Dan Mishkin to do something with DC.

Asked about a show floor rumor that there was an update with the Superboy trademark/copyright issue. The panelists held to the response form San Diego – that “it” is “the name we dare not speak.”

Are we ever going to see an arc that doesn’t have Countdown or Crisis in it? Starlin said yes – once they get thesauruses.

Asked about the Action Comics arc, specifically the characters of General Zod and Christopher arc. Does DC have plans for them down the road? DiDio says there are plans and we’ll see them after the storyline wraps up in the Action Comics Annual.

He then went on to explain that they are trying to build a stronger continuity with Superman and other characters. Much like they will be doing in all the Bat family titles with the Resurrection of Ra’s Al Ghul.

A fan asked about fans getting a bit of battle fatigue with all of the events out there. DiDio said the secret is “You don’t gotta buy nothing”, to which he immediately had to apologize to Bob Wayne…who feigned walking away and then put his head on the table. Didio said they try to put out compelling stories you feel you need to buy because you really want to read it, not because you need to collect everything just to have it. They aren’t trying to force people to buy more issues, just trying to build something bigger and better.

He always hears that people say “give me stories that matter”, which is what they’re doing. Like the Sinestro Corps War, which received loud applause. DiDio shared a secret that a lot of what is coming out of that event wasn’t initially planned but the fan reaction caused them to feel the need to cover more of the stuff.

Is Black Canary pregnant? No…they’re just working on The Wedding Planner.

Is Vertigo part of the multiverse? No. We all love Swamp Thing. Write your letters to Karen Berger telling her that the DC Universe would be good for him.

A female fan complained that when they were bring in new female teen characters, they always make them blonde. She complained that 5 of the girls in Young Justice were blonde, to which DiDio replied that she shouldn’t worry - they’re killing them.

How does it feel to be kicking Marvel’s ass week in and week out? DiDio laughed and said he was flattered, but they really weren’t. He said the fans win through the competition, though.

Do you worry, editorially, about alienating the fan base when a writer’s politics show through in their books? DiDio referred the question to Wayne, since he isn’t editorial. Wayne thought that such concerns come more from this time of the internet where we’re more hyper aware of what creators think and feel personally, whereas we didn’t before.

Where do you see the All-Star imprint going? “We still put out All Star books”? We have long term plans for the two existing All-Star books. Jim Lee is working hard on his stuff, while Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely aren’t complaining.

You had Doomsday kill Superman, but Darkseid is his arch enemy. Will you ever had Darkseid kill him? DiDio: “Have you read the Final Crisis script?”

A fan asked about the Marv Wolfman-written Raven mini-series; and it was said that it will be coming out end of this year or the beginning of next year. DiDio said that they wanted to get a bunch of the work in the can before they started shipping that miniseries.

A fan then asked about the multiverse being too confusing, to which DiDio said that they will be doing their best to always make it easier to understand. This segued into discussing how McKeever will make the Challengers from Beyond Earth 3 trip real easy to understand. Didio asked who readers will meet there?
McKeever: Jokester
Didio: Who is?
McKeever: The Joker
Didio: Who is?
McKeever: Someone’s father

What does Greg Rucka think about the resurrection of Ra’s Al Ghul? He’s fine with it, and Death and the Maidens is still an important story.

Another question about late books came up. DiDio stressed that they’ve made improvements and they are largely due to Jones in editorial. This came because they got the sales message from fans not buying so much of the late issues.

In the past, Flash has been able to go back and forth through the multiverse. The fan wanted to know if it was still going to be that way, which DiDio said no, adding that from now one, there would be very specific rules about traveling between the universes.

A fan wanted to know whether there would be more Mystery in Space, to which Starlin joked that Tyrone will get his own series.

A fan asked if there would be a compendium released that would establish the new canon for first appearances by all of the characters in the DC Universe. DiDio joked that the fan just made Wayne very happy. Wayne said, though, that every time they print something like that, a creator comes up with some cool story they want to tell that invalidates that timeline. So they tend to avoid that.

Moving to the Lightning Round:

A Dr. Thirteen ongoing? Maybe

Plans for the Legion of Super-Heroes? Yes

All Star Ma Hunkel…where is it? She dies in the New Gods

Return of the Infinite Multiverse: Don’t know what

Why can Black Canary and Green Arrow hook up, but not Nightwing and Oracle? Didio: I don’t see them married

Does anyone at DC know what all the 52 Universes are? We have more than half mapped out. Earth 26 is the Captain Carrot Universe.

Will Tracy Thirteen be sticking around in the main universe? Yes

Norton & McKeever; any chance of them being together again? Didio: I have pictures

Any Cassandra Cain plans? Yes, definitely. DiDio said.

Terra? March of next year.

Any exclusives to announce? Sean McKeever and Mike Norton (Didio: yes, McKeever is now exclusive to Mike Norton)

All Star Batgirl: On hold

All Star Flash: No plans

A new printing of Batman: The Killing Joke? It’s in the DC Universe Omnibus of Alan Moore’s stories

Why disband the Secret Six: It’s a secret. Because of the Suicide Squad.

What happened to the Dr. Fate series? It is now part of Countdown to Mystery

More Batwoman? She’s appearing in Countdown

Absolute Superman? Some in 2008

The old Legion that appeared in Lightning Saga: pick up the Showcase stuff and the Supergirl issues with Karate Kid in them.

Manhunter: Waiting on on Marc Andreyko, probably see more of her in Birds of Prey.

Wrapping the panel up, it was announced that there would be a surprise panel Saturday at 6:00 pm for The Dark Knight. Wristbands for that panel will be given away at the DC booth.

[joekelly007]

so when is jimmy gonna die ? and that cover is WAY cool

first post !!! yay

[FeliciaHardy]

Well, that's certainly ONE way to get Lex to stop bothering Superman.

Look, up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's...SUPER-PUNISHER!

[Equinox]

OOOH, interesting goodness.

And a surprise panel for Dark Knight? I wonder....

[BanMan]

I'm interested in finding out who the new Robin writer is, and any Cassandra Cain news is good news...unless it's bad news.

[furioso2012]

Hope Absolute Superman means Absolute ALL STAR Superman.

Nice ot hear about a third weekly series, but land's sakes I hope it has better story content than COUNTDOWN...

[God-Man]

That Countdown cover is intense. I love it.

[Zechs]

Any Cassandra Cain plans? Yes, definitely. DiDio said.

Wasn't me honest I'm at home.. now the friend who I told to ask that question on the other hand..

Tommorrow on the other hand nah if they pick me for a question ask if the mullet Superman is telling the Cyborg Superman the secret of how to stay dead.

[Evil Twin]

I would think Absolute Superman would have to be All Star Superman. Or at least the favorites.

The other options to me would be O'Neil/Adams Sand Superman, Byrne's Man of Steel, or the Loeb/Sale Superman For All Seasons.

[kalorama]

I'm no astrophysicist, but I always thought stuff burned up when it entered Earth's atmosphere?

Who's the artist on that cover image? It looks familiar but I can't quite place it. Claudio Castellini , maybe?

[alexeiluthor]

Nice cover.

This Issue! Reign of the Superdickery!

[vbartilucci]

"Kyle Rayner’s storyline flowed through Green Lantern #26, Atom #14, #15 then, Countdown. "

In other words, we know the end of the Corps War, or at least Kyle's part of it, since it happenes before the events we're reading in CD.

Hal's too, since he was fine in the latest issue of CD, catching the space shuttle.

"You had Doomsday kill Superman, but Darkseid is his arch enemy. Will you ever had Darkseid kill him? DiDio: '“Have you read the Final Crisis script?' "

I know he's kidding...but with 50-odd other Supermen flying about...Hmmm.

[protege]

i just wanna get a straight answer... and ask what sort of direction the DCU is going in, if a Montoya/Question is preferable to the original...

[EyesBL7]

I don't know why Bob Wayne even bothers going to these panels. He always seems genuinely annoyed to be at these things and his answers tend to be more condescending then they are funny.

[JLAJRC]

I don't know about a Dr. 13 ongoing, but I wouldn't mind seeing another mini featuring the team that was put together during the "Tales of the Unexpected" mini from awhile ago.

[Uchiha_Prodigy]

Cant wait to see more b**ching about a third weekly series.

[TheNoirPI]

You had Doomsday kill Superman, but Darkseid is his arch enemy.

Could of sword Lex Luthor was his arch enemy.

[cyberv]

I wish someone would ask DC to make an ongoing Batman Beyond series...

[NeroMan]

[tmtrog7]

I am very excited about these announcements. The Salvation Run mini as well as Countdown: Arena seem very cool. DC is doing a great job of keeping me interested and really have sold me on the Multiverse (which I despised) Thanks Dan Didio and the DC team. Great job!!!! And a third weekly is great for me, I am used to it and love the format.

[Knowbrainer]

A third weekly? Given how weak Countdown is compared 52, I kind of hope not. A sequel/follow-up to 52 that counts back down was a novel idea but... it's just been rather weak sauce. I haven't been able to figure out why Countdown isn't as good as 52. (Please no comments about the $.49 price difference.)

If they go and do another weekly, I'd like to see them hold off on, pull together another 'rock band' of writers like 52's, plot the hell out of the thing, and use another batch of underused characters that we can grow to love.

In fact... I wouldn't mind seeing 52's story format brought back. With each issue being one week of time and being broken up into days, each issue of that series seemed to be a fast (and yet satisfying) read.

[ShamrockLad]

Originally Posted by NeroMan

I don't get it?

[Marc_Spector]

Another weekly??!! Are they serious?? Can only go to the well so many times before it dries up.

[tkmarvel80]

wow..i cant believe how dc is running things...these guys have no clue on what theier heroes and villains are about....they have no stories to tell unless they kill atleast 20 people or have some kind fo multiverse crisis story....and nothign is origina lin the dc universe..i have been buying dc for the last 3 years and some writers got me intrested in these characters ( geoff johns and brad meltzer). these are the only 2 guys that brought in originallty in these books. Al other stories are based on killing off people and restarting the multiverse. i only got into DC becuase of the animated series..if anythign they should follow that continuity..and no one is bothering to do a batman beyond series..which is one of the best concepts dc ever had...i meant the DCAU. also...who said dc kicks marvels ass? for about 5 years marvels has the top sales charts!

[mike616]

Oh,nice cover!