DC Comics gives its iconic superheroes makeovers for the 21st century
For fans young and old, DC Comics gives its iconic heroes makeovers for the 21st century
"Pow!" "Zam!" "Boom!"
The world of comic books is being knocked on its head and thrown into a tailspin.
On the heels of what many have called the "summer of superhero movies," among them Green Lantern and Captain America -- big changes are ahead for fans of the printed tales of these costumed crusaders.
Beginning Wednesday with Justice League No. 1, DC Comics, publisher of such iconic superheroes as Batman, the Flash, Green Lantern, Superman and Wonder Woman, is rocking the comic-book industry by canceling or restarting virtually all of its titles. Continuity and costumes will be altered in some cases, and certain characters will appear younger.
Even such long-running industry staples as Action Comics (1938) and Detective Comics (1937), which kick-started the crime-fighting careers of Superman and Batman, respectively, are being revamped and renumbered, a marketing and story-driven ploy that is intended to "compel existing readers" and "give new readers a precise entry point into the DC universe," according to DC Comics.
New titles, such as Red Hood and the Outlaws and Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E. No. 1, will debut as well, making 52 new series. As a concession to modernity, DC will offer digital versions of the comics on the same day, an unprecedented move.
Here's a look at 10 of the highest-profile re-launch titles that are sure to have comic-book fans raising an eyebrow. ( Justice League No. 1 is on 1C.)
Action Comics No. 1
Releases: Sept. 7
Writer: Grant Morrison
Artists: Rags Morales and Rick Bryant
Price: $3.99
Published in 1938, the original Action Comics No. 1 invented the modern superhero by introducing Clark "Superman" Kent, proponent of "truth, justice and the American way." That series ended Aug. 24 of this year with issue No. 904, paving the way for this re-launch, which finds the Man of Steel wearing jeans, boots, a T-shirt and a cape. The issue "sets in motion the history of the DC Universe as Superman defends a world that doesn't trust their first superhero," they're saying.
Batgirl No. 1
Releases: Sept. 7
Writer: Gail Simone
Artists: Ardian Syaf and Vicente Cifuentes
Price: $2.99
In Alan Moore's Batman: The Killing Joke (1988), the Joker shot Barbara "Batgirl" Gordon, paralyzing her from the waist down. The wheelchair-bound Gordon became Oracle, an expert computer hacker. Other Batgirls, including Cassandra Cain and Stephanie Brown, filled the void, but fans have long clamored for the return of Gordon to the role. Written by former Wonder Woman scribe Gail Simone, Batgirl No. 1 does just that, pitting Gordon against "new villains" and "dark secrets from her past."
Detective Comics No. 1
Releases: Sept. 7
Writer: Tony S. Daniel
Artists: Tony S. Daniel and Ryan Winn
Price: $2.99
A darker, more relatable alternative to the alien Superman, the decidedly human Batman made his debut in Detective Comics No. 27 (1939). Issue No. 881 (Aug. 10) marked the series finale, making room for this re-launch, in which a killer called the Gotham Ripper rains terror on Batman's home turf. Former Robin Dick Grayson has portrayed Batman recently, but, lucky for Caped Crusader purists everywhere, Bruce Wayne now dons the cape and cowl.
Legion Lost No. 1
Releases: Sept. 14
Writer: Fabian Nicieza
Artist: Pete Woods
Price: $2.99
Legion Lost No. 1 features seven heroes from the 31st century -- Wildfire, Dawnstar, Timber Wolf, Tyrc, Tellus, Gates and Chameleon Girl -- traveling back in time to the present day to "save their future from annihilation." Unfortunately, they get stuck in the 21st century. In the futuristic Legion of Super-Heroes No. 1, launching a week after Legion Lost No. 1, the Legion must cope with the loss of those seven members, making for a pair of potentially intriguing companion titles.
Nightwing No. 1
Releases: Sept. 21
Writer: Kyle Higgins
Art: Eddy Barrows and J.P. Mayer
Price: $2.99
Dick Grayson made his debut as the original Robin in Detective Comics No. 38 (1940). In Tales of the Teen Titans No. 44 (1984), he dumped his sidekick persona and adopted the more mature identity of Nightwing. More recently, he temporarily replaced Batman, his former mentor. In this re-boot, Grayson battles bad guys once again as Nightwing, who must "confront his past, among former friends and enemies from his circus days, while uncovering a much greater evil."
The Flash No. 1
Releases: Sept. 28
Writers: Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato
Artist: Francis Manapul
Price: $2.99
Flash Comics No. 1 (1940) introduced Jay Garrick as the original Flash while former Kid Flash Wally West was the star of Flash No. 1 (1987). In between Garrick and West was the most popular super speedster, Barry Allen, who kick-started the Silver Age of comics in 1956 with his debut in Showcase No. 4. Barry, who recently returned from the dead, will play the title role in this new series, going up against an all-new villain -- one of Barry's close friends -- who can be everywhere at once.
Green Lantern: New Guardians No. 1
Releases: Sept. 28
Writer: Tony Bedard
Artists: Tyler Kirkham and Matt "Batt" Banning
Price: $2.99
While Hal Jordan keeps busy in Green Lantern and John Stewart and Guy Gardner knock about in the Green Lantern Corps., Kyle Rayner, who replaced Jordan as Earth's GL for a time during the 1990s, leads the New Guardians, the most powerful super-team in the universe. Selected from "the full spectrum of [the Green Lantern] Corps," the New Guardians is truly a diverse lot, promising colorful, conflict-heavy stories.
I, Vampire No. 1
Releases: Sept. 28
Writer: Joshua Hale Fialkov
Artist: Andrea Sorrentino
Price: $2.99
Originally a backup tale in the anthology series House of Mystery (circa early 1980s), I, Vampire stars Andrew Stanton, an undead creature of the night who for years battled to keep humankind safe from supernatural threats. Now Stanton must face his ex-lover Mary, the Queen of Blood, along with an uprising of his fellow vampires. Fans of True Blood and The Vampire Diaries may want to check this out.
Teen Titans No. 1
Releases: Sept. 28
Writer: Scott Lobdell
Artists: Brett Booth and Norm Rapmund
Price: $2.99
Written by Uncanny X-Men veteran Scott Lobdell, Teen Titans No. 1 reboots the juvenile super-group that was launched in the mid-1960s, revived in 1976, popularized during the 1980s and retooled several times after that. As Red Robin, former Batman sidekick Tim Drake battles alongside altered versions of such characters as Kid Flash, Wonder Girl (who is now a thief) and Superboy, trying to take down an organization bent on capturing, killing or co-opting super-powered teens.
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