Second printing announced for Justice League #1; reaction to The New 52 digital model
At DC Comics’ Source blog, they’ve unveiled the cover for the second printing of “Justice League” No. 1. The issue, which went on sale today, is already seeing strong sales at comic shops nationwide, and has sold out from the distributor. More than 200,000 copies were ordered by comic-book stores. The release date of the second printing has yet to be announced, but I would expect soon. (Edit: Sept. 14 release.)
Justice League #1 review
DC Comics’ universe gets a kick-start with “Justice League” No. 1, initializing the company’s “The New 52.”
It’s created by two of DC Entertainment’s top executives: writer Geoff Johns, chief creative officer; and artist Jim Lee, co-publisher.
Both have a history of creating top-selling titles, and they’ve teamed up for this new launch. This rolls back the clock to five years ago, according to a caption, and reveals the first meeting of Batman and Green Lantern in a new, modern continuity.
This is a world where the heroes don’t know each other, and the public doesn’t like the superheroes much.
The idea is to start fresh, and this issue is definitely a clean start. If your only exposure to superheroes has been a “Batman” movie here or there, you’ll wander in fine.
Johns is known for his density of ideas and ability to navigate tricky continuity, but he goes a different direction with “Justice League,” keeping the dialogue tight and the story accessible. He plays to artist Lee’s strengths, providing plenty of chances for bold images.
The tone is light, with plenty of humor. While longtime fans may find it basic, new fans may be excited to get in on the ground floor. Don’t expect the entire “League” — this early days tale appears to be slowly rolling out the iconic heroes.
- Matt Price
Comics read in 2011: 1,276 Still to go: 735
Justice League #1 tops 200K; Ghost Rider trailer, Avengers at D23
The Avengers assembled at a Disney event; Justice League pre-orders are the year’s best, and Ghost Rider lets it flow in his latest movie trailer.
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DC Comics reveals Flash 1 variants
With DC Comics’ The New 52 about to kick off, DC has revealed two new variants for “The Flash” #1. Ivan Reis and Tim Townsend drew the above-pictured cover. Click past the cut for the variant by Francis Manapul, which is an alternate-color scheme variant of the main cover.
- Matt Price
Jon Finkel is all right
So the internet has been pretty up in arms that a Gizmodo writer went on a couple of dates with former Magic: The Gathering World Champion Jon Finkel, and then dissed him on Gizmodo for not revealing in his online profile that he was a former Magic World Champion.
Just like you’re obligated to mention you’re divorced or have a kid in your online profile, shouldn’t someone also be required to disclose any indisputably geeky world championship titles? she wrote.
(The article has since been edited to remove some of the more scathing criticisms.)
Finkel has responded via twitter.
“For the record I wanted to state that not mentioning magic in my profile has nothing to do with wanting to hide it or being ashamed of it,” he writes. “In fact my accomplishments in magic are one of the things I’m most proud of in life. There just doesn’t seem to be a graceful way to say: ’10 years ago I was the best in the world at this game you’re only 50% to have heard of’ – plus it ensures every conversation goes that way.”
In the aftermath of the article, Finkel conducted a Q&A on Reddit, where he talked about Magic, poker, dating, hedge fund managing (his current job) and more.
I enjoyed what he said at Reddit about the skills needed to be a big-time Magic player, and something that’s pretty applicable to life:
“I think the biggest thing is the deep (seated) emotional understanding that the right play is the right play regardless of outcomes. The ability to make a decision 5 straight times, lose 5 times because of it, and still make it the 6th time if it’s the right play. Magic players have been developing that since their teens, and its just so applicable to poker, gambling, and life in general,” he writes.
So, I think overall, Jon Finkel is going to be all right.
- Matt Price
James Robinson, Brian Wood announcements highlight FanExpo Canada
Robot 6 has a good writeup on the goings-on this past weekend at FanExpo Canada, including the totally appropriate-for-the-venue announcement that Marvel’s Canadian superteam Alpha Flight would graduate to an ongoing series.
The two things I was most excited about involve two of my favorite writers: James Robinson and Brian Wood.
Robinson (“Starman”) will be relaunching the Justice Society of America in a new series from DC Comics set on Earth-2, thus keeping the characters free of “The New 52″ continuity in which superheroes have only been around for about 5 years.
“One of the problems with the Justice Society pre-[New] 52 is that so many of them were dead,” Robinson said at CBR. “There were very, very few of them alive, but you’re going to see some people that haven’t been around for a while fighting crime and being a part of the team again, so just bear with us.”
Wood (“DMZ”) will return to Marvel, where the teaser image released seems to indicate he’ll be doing something Wolverine-related. He’s not signed an exclusive with Marvel, as he writes at his tumblr site.
“I’m freelancing for them as I still am with DC and with Dark Horse, and probably others,” he writes. “There will be more Marvel news to share at some point soon… I have to connect with my editors once they are back from Fan Expo. Thanks for all the kind words and encouragement.”
- Matt Price
Monday movie quote challenge #144
“The future’s all yours, you lousy bicycle.”
Identify who said the above quote in what film in the comments!
Read comics in public and Jack Kirby’s birthday
Nerdage's Matt Price reads Jack Kirby's Fourth World Omnibus Vol. 1 at a local park. Photo by Rachel Price.
Today is International Read Comics in Public Day. It’s also Jack Kirby’s birthday. If you like, you can celebrate both by reading a Jack Kirby comic book in public. That’s what I did! More about Kirby’s birthday at the Kirby Museum. More about Read Comics in Public Day at the Facebook page or website.
- Matt Price
How Superman almost became a Marvel comic
Jim Shooter, former Marvel Editor-in-Chief, has a very interesting writeup on his blog about how Marvel Comics almost licensed the right to print comics starring DC characters from Warner Bros. in 1984.
The thinking at Warner at the time was that the real money was in licensing, and maybe Marvel could make more money publishing DC’s characters than DC could.
John Byrne desperately wanted to write and draw the series. Marvel saw huge potential profits. Unfortunately, Shooter said, a lawsuit from First Comics alleging anti-trust violations cooled Marvel’s ardor for expansion. Of course, a few years later, DC’s “Crisis on Infinite Earths” gave DC a sales boost, and led to … John Byrne on Superman.
Interesting look at what might have been! Shooter says the plan would have called for Marvel to launch with seven titles: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Teen Titans, Justice League and Legion of Super Heroes, and build from there if sales warranted.
The entire story, with lots of details and some scanned memos from the time, is available at jimshooter.com.
- Matt Price
“Justice League” #1 will kick off DC Comics’ The New 52
DC Comics will kick off its linewide relaunch, The New 52, on Wednesday, with the last pre-relaunch issue, “Flashpoint” No. 5, and the first issue of the new line, “Justice League” No. 1.
According to DC, “Justice League” will be set at the dawn of the age of superheroes. The first storyline explores the team’s origins as they ultimately become the world’s greatest superheroes, featuring characters including Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, The Flash, Aquaman and Cyborg. The new Justice League series is written by Geoff Johns (“Blackest Night”) and drawn by Jim Lee (“Batman: Hush”).
