DC ANNOUNCES NEW COLLECTIONS; BLACK DOSSIER DELAY

**MattBrady** · 09-11-2006, 11:06 PM

Monday evening at their Diamond Retail Summit presentation, DC announced a handful of new collections coming out in 2007, including an Absolute version of Wildcats, as well as a two volume Showcase collection of Who’s Who from the late ‘80s and a four-volume, color hardcover project entitled New Gods Omnibus, which will collect Jack Kirby’s entire Fourth World saga between two…er, eight covers.

We spoke with DC’s Collected Editions editor Georg Brewer for more on the latter two projects.

“It’s a two volume Showcase collection, featuring all the original 26 issues of Who’s Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe issues,” Brewer said. “I’ve been trying to find a way to do this for a long time, because I love that stuff – I actually have a bound set of the originals in my office from the library because it’s just a great reference tool, and was a nice moment in time for a lot of this stuff, and having this format is a perfect one for it.”

That moment in time was just prior to the original Crisis on Infinite Earths, thus the character profiles were full of references to Earth-2, the original original Justice Society, and all that existed in the multi-verse prior to the Anti-Monitor having his way.

Of course, for fans of the original series, while it included years worth of content and continuity, as well as killer art, it also, unfortunately, showed off the bumps in the road as DC moved to Flexography printing, moving from metal plates to rubber plates. As original readers will remember, this meant that, in the early issues (problems were quickly corrected), the art and color didn’t quite match up.

Given the Showcase format, that is to say, black and white, those early problems won’t show up again, Brewer said.

“Since these are coming out in black and white, those won’t be seen. What we’re going to do is take all of the background elements that were color holds in the background, and just do them as graytones.”

While that challenge was easily solved, Brewer said he’s still facing another – the covers. Again, and original readers remember them well – the covers were collections of all the characters in the issue, as rendered by George Perez. By the time the series had concluded, Perez (who drew virtually all the covers) had drawn nearly every DC Comics character. So how do you represent that on the cover?

No – seriously – how would you do that on the cover? Brewer is open to ideas.

“We were having meetings about the covers recently, and we’re still trying to figure it out. The original covers were those George Perez collection of heroes. Do you pick one? Do you do some kind of quadrant or grid where you show more than one, since we only have two volumes? We’re kicking around a lot of different ideas. One of them is taking figures out of a bunch of different original covers, and recombine, and re-ink them to create the gestalt of what those covers were.

“For me, the things that made Who’s Who what it is was the basic design on the inside – the long, narrow figure with the profile bar down the side, and the covers – just these jams of all the characters together. So we’re trying to replicate that, but it’s an ongoing conversation we’re having.”

Moving over to the monster project on Brewer’s schedule, New Gods Omnibus should be, the editor feels, the definitive collection of Jack Kirby’s Fourth World saga, from start to finish.

“We’re still trying to determine the final contents, but essentially, it’s going to be a hardcover collection of the full New Gods saga,” Brewer said. “Right now, and this is subject to change, my bias would be to collect the stories across titles, as they were released chronologically, so it gives you a sense of how the concepts evolved, so that way you’re not stuck with a full Mr. Miracle collection or a full Forever People, but rather, build the larger story as the issues and pieces were released chronologically.”

The Omnibus will include the full run of New Gods and The Hunger Dogs, but will also include, as Brewer said, assorted other issues which contain pieces of the larger whole, such as the debut of the characters in Kirby’s issues of Jimmy Olsen and others. “Those are some of the details we’re still working out, but it’s looking like it will be four collections of 200-plus pages each,” Brewer said. “They’ll be color hard covers – a nice, definitive collection. I think that’s something that the core Kirby fans have wanted to see for a long time.”

As for the coloring, Brewer isn’t certain if the pages will be fully recolored or touched up fro the originals.

“We rescanned a lot of the black and white line art for the toned books we did a few years ago, and the question now is whether or not we have that art reproduced well enough so we can go back and color it, or we have to get the art again…or what we have to do. The intent is to make this the definitive, good-looking version of this classic story.”

Additionally, Brewer said that DC is in talks with a handful of people in regards to introductions and text pieces that add context to the larger picture Kirby was drawing, as well as other materials from the era, such as the mock up to a cover of an issue of Showcase where the New Gods were originally slated to debut.

“We’re digging through all of that material to see what will fit in,” Brewer said. “A lot of it has been out in the world through The Kirby Collector and other places, but we’re going to see what we can do to make it special.”

In another news revealed at DC’s retailer presentation, Alan Moore and Kevin O’Neill’s The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: The Black Dossier graphic novel, which was solicited for an October release, has been delayed indefinitely.

According to DC, a new in-store date will be announced as soon as possible. As a result of the delay, the book will be made returnable for retailers at a later date.

The will be the last League of Extraordinary Gentlemen project publish through DC/Wildstorm/ABC before Moore moves the property to Top Shelf, publisher of his current Lost Girls graphic novel.

“With Black Dossier Kevin O'Neill is producing the work of his career,” Wildstorm’s Scott Dunbier told Newsarama in response to the news. “ Unfortunately, due to his intense eye for detail and the complex nature of the book, it is also turning out to be the slowest project he has ever done. Wildstorm, through its ABC imprint, will be publishing the book in 2007. Alan and Kevin hope readers who have waited so patiently will feel it's worth the wait, I know I do.”

Groovie Mann · 09-11-2006, 11:57 PM

damn... guess i might have to rebuy the new gods stuff.

unmovedmover · 09-12-2006, 12:03 AM

Am I blind? Where is the Absolute Wildcats info? What series will it collect? If it's 3.0, I'd be exstatic, but it's probably the first series

Oh, and poo on the LoEG delay. I was looking forward to that more than anything else the rest of the year...

EmeraldGuy32 · 09-12-2006, 12:03 AM

I'll be getting the New Gods Omnibus.

Scavenger · 09-12-2006, 12:08 AM

Why not the 1988 Who's Who update as well, I wonder.

Burnt Frog · 09-12-2006, 12:11 AM

I need some info on Absolute Wildcats dammit? Is it Jim Lee's? Alan Moores? Joe Caseys? Arrrrrrrrrggggggggghhhh

Samy Merchi · 09-12-2006, 12:16 AM

I've only got one real question:

Why does DC feel that the New Gods line needs to be differentiated from Archives?

These are color hardcovers of 200+ pages. They're exactly like Archives. Why the differentiation?

Hobowatcher · 09-12-2006, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samy Merchi

I've only got one real question:

Why does DC feel that the New Gods line needs to be differentiated from Archives?

These are color hardcovers of 200+ pages. They're exactly like Archives. Why the differentiation?

Because they want to tell the New Gods saga as Kirby introduced each chapter, chronologically instead of just chunking off each character. Its a very intriguing and ambitious way to look at a certain property. It sounds rather interesting.

Comic_Doctor · 09-12-2006, 12:27 AM

New Gods Omnibus is now on my list. And I'm looking forwards the the Who's Who collection. I love that type of stuff, and now I can stop my search for the individual issues. I wish it was in color though.

Hobowatcher · 09-12-2006, 12:29 AM

I'd pay five dollars more if it was in color.

Evan Waters · 09-12-2006, 12:30 AM

The Fourth World Omnibus sounds... glorious. I'm going to have to start saving pennies right now.

Disco Cookie · 09-12-2006, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scavenger

Why not the 1988 Who's Who update as well, I wonder.

My thoughts as well. I'm a purist so I collected all these as individuals but nice to know less obsessive types will get to see this work. There's some real gold in there. The covers were always my favourite part of these - the originals are worth buying for those alone.

Looking back now the original issues are certainly products of their time - which is why I love them, of course.

Burnt Frog · 09-12-2006, 12:48 AM

http://www.wizarduniverse.com/magazi.../001629035.cfm

Looks like it's the early Jim Lee stuff, which I still like.

Wonder if Scott will recolour it or if the Cyberforce/Youngblood characters will be taken out?

Hobowatcher · 09-12-2006, 12:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burnt Frog

http://www.wizarduniverse.com/magazi.../001629035.cfm

Looks like it's the early Jim Lee stuff, which I still like.

Wonder if Scott will recolour it or if the Cyberforce/Youngblood characters will be taken out?

They got GON?!

jza1218 · 09-12-2006, 12:57 AM

Goddamn LoEG...

Jack Assen · 09-12-2006, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samy Merchi

I've only got one real question:

Why does DC feel that the New Gods line needs to be differentiated from Archives?

These are color hardcovers of 200+ pages. They're exactly like Archives. Why the differentiation?

Hopefully they're not $50 each!

But they probably will be.

jmcl89 · 09-12-2006, 01:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jza1218

Goddamn LoEG...

Well, if ever there was a case in which a publisher has no clout to pressure the creator to hit deadlines, it's DC and Alan Moore. Hopefully it won't be too late.

lordlad · 09-12-2006, 01:08 AM

The who's who showcases is just a direct copy of Marvel's Esential Handbook to the Marvel Universe....

As for the New Gods Omnibus, it's definitely cool but can't they give it an Absolute treatment. Since i always associate Absolute with DC and Omnibus with Marvel

Hobowatcher · 09-12-2006, 01:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lordlad

The who's who showcases is just a direct copy of Marvel's Esential Handbook to the Marvel Universe....

As for the New Gods Omnibus, it's definitely cool but can't they give it an Absolute treatment. Since i always associate Absolute with DC and Omnibus with Marvel

Of course they'll give it the Absolute treatment, but they just want to know if this will sell.

BillReed · 09-12-2006, 01:21 AM

I won't be happy until I have Absolute OMAC.

kalorama · 09-12-2006, 01:22 AM

Thirty years of reading comics and I've never read more than a few pages of Kirby's original New Gods. Looks like this'll be my chance.

ThatNickGuy · 09-12-2006, 01:24 AM

As a long time fan of Kirby's art and his New Gods universe, there is no way in hell I'm missing this. Especially if it's colored (re-colored?) in the original Kirby style. I wonder if the colorist for Image's Godland might be available? Heck, the book itself is done in a very Kirby-ish in style, I bet the creators would love to throw some comments into the collection.

On a related note, I'm hoping that George Brewer will read this or this gets back to him but this is about a particular pet peeve I have regarding many DC collections. Maybe it's just me or there are others that share it but, well, hear me out:

Personally, I prefer when collected editions (TPBs, HCs) have each of the issues broken up by the corresponding issue's cover and art. As a regular buyer and dreaded "waiting for the trade" kind of comic book fan, I hate when there's a cover gallery at the end of the book rather than being broken up.

It's kind of like the chapter of a book. There's a break between the major moments or cliffhangers, so why should a collected edition, which honestly should read in a simliar manner, be any different? Especially in the case when there's a change in artists. The change is nowhere near as sudden or abrupt if the chapter/issue is broken up by the covers.

Best examples I would give to this would be most (if not all) of Marvel's hardcovers, the Vertigo line of trade paperbacks or even recent DC trade releases such as Green Lantern: Rebirth or Identity Crisis. Even Batman: Face the Face TPB.

Examples of the cover gallery hurting the overall enjoyment of the book? JLA: Divided We Fall (Mark Waid & Bryan Hitch's run) or Superman: Birthright. Both were great stories but it felt like a marathon having to read them with any sort of chapter break. The jarring art change from Hitch's art to Mike Millar's during JLA: Divided We Fall would have helped with a simple cover break.

Just my two cents. I have the feeling I'm alone in this opinion.

adampasz · 09-12-2006, 01:31 AM

I don't usually buy hardcovers, but I've been waiting for ages to read the original New Gods stuff, which unfortunately has never been released in a decent color collection. Can't wait!

victor lanza · 09-12-2006, 01:36 AM

Just let me know when it's coming out and I will be there!!!

tiso_spencer · 09-12-2006, 02:24 AM

Wait do my eyes play tricks on me? Absolute Wildcats? It better not be any volume except for Version 3.0. I bet this is why the old volumes were being rescanned and touch. Well either way if this is true then DC needs to do more for WS. Get some Direct Statues, get Absolute Authority vol. 1 and Planetary vol. 1 back in print. Make an Asbolute Sleeper. Get an Absolute Stormwatch.