BALTIMORE 07: DC's RETAILER PRESENTATION

[MattBrady]

DC’s presentation at the Diamond Retailer Summit was hosted by DC’s VP – Sales, Bob Wayne, who reiterated many of the points that were made to fans at the recent Baltimore Comic-Con for fans to the assembled retailers. Some of the highlights included:

Justice League of America #12 has sold out, and a new printing is coming; and Wayne advised retailers not to overlook the forthcoming Dwayne McDuffie run on the series, which begins, unofficially, in this week’s JLA Wedding Special.

Clarifying the upcoming Titans East special for retailers, Wayne reiterated that the one-shot will lead to a new Titans series which will star Nightwing, Cyborg, Donna Troy, Starfire, Raven and Beast Boy. (Newsarama Note - our original report neglected to mention Donna. We apologize for the omission)

Jim Lee came to the podium to talk about All-Star Batman & Robin, at which time Lee said that he is currently halfway completed with issue #9. Lee then took a few minutes to talk about the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, culminating in an auction Lee himself auctioneered for a store signing to which Lee would pay for his own flight and accommodations. Bidding stayed low initially, but quickly jumped higher, with the winning bid coming from Dominic Postiglione of Source Comics & Games in Flacon Heights, MN for $7500.

In showing the previously announced Batman: The Killing Joke action figures, Wayne said that the Batman: The Killing Joke deluxe hardcover will ship in March of 2008.

Wayne also announced that Booster Gold #1 was completely sold out, and a second printing is coming.

Wayne then turned the mic over to John Cunningham, VP – Marketing, who announced that Time Masters, which was written by Wayne, with art by Art Thibert is being collected in 2008. Taking the opening, Cunningham gave a quick roast of Wayne, who is celebrating his 20th year at DC.

Y: The Last Man #60 is currently scheduled to ship in January of 2008, Absolute Sandman v3 most likely in spring of 2008.

DC’s first Flex manga title, Zombie Fairy will be published through the CMX imprint in January of ’08. Thanks to its investment deal with Flex, DC has the worldwide print rights to the manga.

League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: The Black Dossier will be 100% returnable.

DC will begin a returnable overship program with Watchmen trades as it did with V for Vendetta trades in the build up to the release of the Watchmen movie in March of 2009.

In answering an unasked question, Wayne said that there are more Archive Editions to come, and then the program will undergo some changes.

Prior to the DC presentation, WizKids announced that HeroClix Crisis, a Crisis on Infinite Earths booster set will be released for the game in February of 2008, with the next large-scale HeroClix slated to be the Anti-Monitor, which will be as large as the HeroClix Sentinel.

WizKids will also launch a HeroClix line based on NBC’s Heroes in 2008.

[UnderNoMoon]

NOW I'm excited for Titans East.

REAL EXCITED.

[Axelay]

Good to see solid confirmation that Power Boy isn't sticking around after the initial Titans East one-shot. I have a strong dislike for that character.

[CYOTI]

Clarifying the upcoming Titans East special for retailers, Wayne reiterated that the one-shot will lead to a new Titans series which will star Nightwing, Cyborg, Starfire, Raven and Beast Boy.

I called it here!!

[Edogawa1983]

Originally Posted by CYOTI

[b]Clarifying the upcoming Titans East special for retailers, Wayne reiterated that the one-shot will lead to a new Titans series which will star Nightwing, Cyborg, Starfire, Raven and Beast Boy.

I called it!![/quote]

kind of saw it coming....damn.. its the roster of Teen Titans TV series...

[calvin!]

now THAT is a titans line-up that i would love to read. good job now i will buy this issue

[CYOTI]

Originally Posted by Edogawa1983

kind of saw it coming....damn.. its the roster of Teen Titans TV series...

...which has been cancelled for awhile.

[bluebird]

Originally Posted by Edogawa1983

[/b] I called it!!

kind of saw it coming....damn.. its the roster of Teen Titans TV series...[/quote]

Um, didn't EVERYONE call it? Nightwing leaves the Outsiders, Cyborg and Raven leaves the Titans, Judd Winick said he couldn't discuss the line-up of his new Titans book, despite the fact that there was an image of a line-up...

So, good news is the Wolfman/Perez Titans together again. Bad news, it's going to be like Outsiders was.

[C20Percent]

Originally Posted by UnderNoMoon

NOW I'm excited for Titans East.

REAL EXCITED.

But, is Winnick going to write the ongoing Titans East, or just that one-shot?

[CYOTI]

Originally Posted by bluebird

Um, didn't EVERYONE call it? Nightwing leaves the Outsiders, Cyborg and Raven leaves the Titans

No it was all moaning and bitching about Power Boy and Cyborg and a bunch of 2nd stringers forming a new team of Titans.

[Samy Merchi]

Originally Posted by MattBrady

Clarifying the upcoming Titans East special for retailers, Wayne reiterated that the one-shot will lead to a new Titans series which will star Nightwing, Cyborg, Starfire, Raven and Beast Boy.

FINALLY

FINALLY, confirmation

*NOW* I will get the one-shot.

[VinnyPic]

Anti-Monitor clix!

[GohanWinner]

Originally Posted by Edogawa1983

[/b]

kind of saw it coming....damn.. its the roster of Teen Titans TV series...

More like the New Teen Titans lineup.

[Paul Rogan]

+1 for the new Titans series.

[Ace]

No whammies, no whammies, no Judds...and stop!

[Lex]

Originally Posted by bluebird

So, good news is the Wolfman/Perez Titans together again. Bad news, it's going to be like Outsiders was.

I agree. It would be an awesome announcement, except that Winick will be writing it. I hope it will be more like his Juniper Lee cartoon and less like his Outsiders.

[SpaceButler]

Damn it.

Winnick better not be the writer for the Titans book with Nightwing in it.

The fact that he isn't the worst writer to handle the character in the past few years only speaks to the abysmal quality of Dick's solo book. Winnick is the last person who should be writing a team book starring Nightwing. Here I was thinking Dick was out of the woods. Damn you, DC.

[Edogawa1983]

it would be better if Donna and Kyle join the fun

[Edogawa1983]

Originally Posted by GohanWinner

More like the New Teen Titans lineup.

no Donna or Kid Flash

[krammocon]

When will Nightwing, Cyborg, Starfire, Raven and Beast Boy ever grow up and succeed as themselves and not just be tied to a group with a Titan name. Just shows how unsuccessful these bunch of losers are.. No JLA, No JSA, No Outsiders, Not even as solo, No nothing.. So they might as well form another "Titan" group for the Nth time and brood.

I think I am just the only one who wants to see a new generation of "teen" heroes living up to the world's expectations, 2nd stringers or not..

[nightw1ng]

isn't DC kind of a couple years late to ride the success of the Teen Titans cartoon?

[Jupiterzguy]

Maybe this will be the book where we see the so-called "triumphant return" of Garth. Didn't Didio say something about Garth's return in an earlier interview? Or something?

[Supreme Convoy]

Wow... I didn't know the last issue Y: The Last Man would come out in January... I'm dying to know how it all ends!

[Time Master]

Originally Posted by MattBrady

Wayne then turned the mic over to John Cunningham, VP – Marketing, who announced that Time Masters, which was written by Wayne, with art by Art Thibert is being collected in 2008. Taking the opening, Cunningham gave a quick roast of Wayne, who is celebrating his 20th year at DC.

Fantastic news! Now, how about soliciting RIP HUNTER, TIME MASTER ARCHIVES VOL. 1?

Oh, and two requests for the new TITANS series: 1) Keep Judd Winick as far away from it as humanly possible; and 2) Let Gar Logan finally drop the stupid "Beast Boy" name and start using "Changeling" again. He has to be in his twenties by now, right?

[jackaction]

Originally Posted by krammocon

I think I am just the only one who wants to see a new generation of "teen" heroes living up to the world's expectations, 2nd stringers or not..

No, you're not the only one....I was more excited by Son Of Vulcan and Lagoon Boy.