Since May 31, the entire comic world has been talking about one thing: DC’s new line up. Many of DC’s heavy hitting lead books have been announced already, like Batman, Justice League, and Green Lantern, but with the absence of Superman’s books (and many of the supporting ensemble books still to be revealed), there is definitely much more to come. On Tuesday, DC announced a “supernatural” line-up of titles that was a bit unexpected, but by Wednesday the comic giant was back to business with even more superhero books focusing on the younger teenaged heroes.
The more magical and supernatural books come as a bit of a surprise as they feature older characters from DC’s Vertigo line. Although not completely out of place, they do stand apart from the traditional superhero comics that will be sitting next to them on the store shelves. They also seem like somewhat of a risk as they’ll be among the debut titles that DC is depending on to help change the face of the comic industry.
Tim Drake will finally make his appearance among the rebooted fifty-two titles. After Dick Grayson’s appearance as Nightwing and Damien Wayne’s as the Robin in Batman & Robin, there was a level of fear from fans that perhaps Batman’s third Robin didn’t have a place in the DCU. Fortunately now, Tim Drake will be reprising his role as Red Robin when he leads the new Teen Titans book that was released with several other books revolving around teenaged heores.
Scott Snyder is well versed when it comes to dark and strange subject matter, which is perfect, as he’ll be adding Swamp Thing to the list of books under his pen. Yanick Paquette and Francesco Francavilla rotate art duties on the project. The biggest controversy surrounding this book will be the origin of its source material. Will it be from Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing, the incarnation that’s been seen at the end of Brightest Day; or will it be something new from the American Vampire writer?
Animal Man will be returning to monthly books in his own self-titled series. Written by Jeff Lemire with Travel Foreman providing the art, there’s no telling this book’s direction. Previous Animal Man books have had so many different moods, that this book could go in many different ways. Will the character of Buddy Baker be like Grant Morrison’s eco-fighter, Jamie Delano’s horror hero, or Jerry Prosser’s and Fred Harper’s version of a shamanistic man?
Peter Milligan, who wrote for Animal Man, will be debuting Justice League Dark with Mikel Janin as the artist. Just as it sounds, DC has put together its supernatural heavyweights in a single book to take on the mystical evils of the world. Starring John Constantine, Deadman, Shade the Changing Man, and Madame Zanadu, this book stands out the most as a Vertigo title, but will be released with like company in the fifty-two reboot line-up.
Demon Knights will be DC in the Dark Ages. Featuring Paul Cornell as writer and Diogenes Neves and Oclair Albert as the artists, this may be the book furthest from the status quo of DC’s new line up. Etrigan the Demon graces the cover of Demon Knights #1, and he looks well suited for the book, but the story itself is anyone’s guess.
Frankenstein, Agent of SHADE looks almost too good to be true. Teamed up with other mythical monsters, Frankenstein will play the action hero in this book, as he wors for the government organization S.H.A.D.E. (“The Super Human Advanced Defense Executive”). The material is fodder for a campy catastrophe, but in the hands of Sweet Tooth’s Jeff Lemire and artist Alberto Poticelli, this book could easily be a breakout hit.
The man of a million deaths returns in Resurrection Man. Mitch Shelley can’t stay dead as he always resurrects himself moments after his death with a new set of super powers. Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning return to the character they created with help from artist Fernando Dagnino.
Andrew Bennett is what you would call a “good vampire,” but he’s in love with a bad girl. I, Vampire takes a look at the undead situation in the DCU, as Bennett struggles between his love for the Queen of the Damned and the fate of humanity. Up-and-coming writer Josh Fialkov and artist Andrea Sorrentino bring the undead back to life in this vampire vs. vampire book. Werewolves need not apply.
A shocking addition to the list of fifty-two new titles is Wildstorm’s Voodoo; she gets her own title by Ron Marz with art by Sami Basari. Since the closing of Wildstorm, this is the first appearance of one of its characters. It’ll be interesting to see if DC’s take on the half-alien hybrid will be any different from the original.
In order to save their future in the 31st-century, seven heroes go back in time to our present, only to find themselves trapped with no way back home Legion Lost #1 is written by Fabian Nicieza with art by Pete Woods and tells half the story of a future in peril.
Legion of Superheroes #1 will tell the other half of a future in danger of total destruction. When seven heroes disappear into time, it’s up to the new recruits to keep things together in their absence. Paul Levitz continues his Legion run with art by Francis Portela.
Teen Titans gets the reboot the hard way in the new line-up. Written by comic legend Scott Lobdell with art by Brett Booth and Norm Rapmund, this new set of Teen Titans doesn’t look like the ones fans are used to. Seemingly having no prior connections, the book will focus on Tim Drake as Red Robin who teams up with the thief known as Wonder Girl, the hyperactive Kid Flash, and an assortment of other characters faintly resembling the current Titans.
Being a teenager isn’t easy, but being a superhero teenager is even harder. Static Shock will follow Virgil Hawkins as he has to deal with all the fun of street thugs while getting his homework done on time. John Rozum and Scott McDaniel will co-write the book; McDaniel also provides artwork with Jonathan Galpion.
Rob Liefeld takes the reigns of Hawk and Dove as he illustrates scripts by Sterling Gates. The embodiment of war and peace dive into a country in civil war to find out who’s behind it, but will the duo be able to handle what they find?
Thirteen more book have yet to be revealed. With the exception of the Superman titles that everyone’s anticipating, what else could be coming? Will we get more books that we’re already familiar with, or will DC announce more reboots of other cult classic books like Animal Man and Frankenstein? With the appearance of Voodoo, are there any other chances for characters from Wildstorm‘s universe to get a second chance in the new DCU? Let us know in the comment section below who’s still missing from DC’s fifty-two line-up and whom you’re still hoping to see.
[Source: DC Comics]