ComicsPRO: DC Entertainment looking to maintain momentum
DALLAS — DC Entertainment executives at the annual ComicsPRO meeting spoke of wanting to maintain momentum from The New 52 relaunch in 2012, as those products are released in graphic novel format. The publisher also plans for big things in 2012 from the “Watchmen” prequel and graphic novels tied to the release of “The Dark Knight Rises.”
The publisher will release six new titles as part of the “Second Wave” of The New 52, replacing six cancelled titles. Four of those titles will be released on 5/2/2012, which is a tie-in of sorts to the “52″ number.
The Free Comic Book Day 2012 book from DC will include new content tied to the New 52, including a four-page spread by Jim Lee, which was shown briefly onscreen at the meeting.
DC’s Bob Wayne said he expected “Batman, Incorporated” to be the biggest launch of the second wave, but heaped praise on another title, “Dial H,” written by novelist China Miéville.
“What I said was, it was the best proposal I had seen since Neil’s proposal for ‘Sandman,’” Wayne said, referring to the best-selling comic-book series from Neil Gaiman.
DC showed a list of quotes related to the “Before Watchmen” announcement, including Alan Moore’s statement that the idea was “completely shameless.” DC execs said the announcement was covered across a wide swath of media.
John Cunningham of DC said the publisher had an extensive marketing plan for the “Before Watchmen” titles.
“Our goal is to build the interest in order to get people in the stores on day one,” he said.
“Before Watchmen” will also have tie-in DC Direct merchandise, including 9” resin statues of the Comedian and Rorschach.
“The Dark Knight Rises,” the last film in Christopher Nolan’s Bat-trilogy, is set for summer release, and DC’s Bob Wayne reminded retailers to be sure to have related Batman graphic novels in stock, including the new printing of “The Long Halloween,” which has a Nolan quote on the cover.
Wayne also encouraged retailers to check out the upcoming “Batman vs. Bane” graphic novel and the repackaging of the “Knightfall” trades for readers interested in Bane. He also suggested the upcoming Chip Kidd “Death by Design” and the Geoff Johns-Gary Frank “Batman: Earth One” as good tie-ins for the summer of “Dark Knight Rises.”
- Matt Price
Matt Price’s top 10 comic-book series of 2011
DC Comics regained the public’s attention — and the lead in market share — with a publicized revamp of its superhero line, but not all of the year’s best comics involved capes and tights.
The following are 2011′s best 10 periodical comic books.
DC Comics releases preview art of Batman: Earth One, Superman: Earth One, Vol. 2
Geoff Johns and Gary Frank’s “Batman: Earth One” will be released in 2012, and DC Comics has released preview art from the book at the DC Comics Source blog.
The book is a retelling of the Batman legend in a contemporary setting.
“Gary and I are tackling BATMAN from the beginning, before he knows what he’s doing and with a very different ultimate goal in mind,” said Johns. “He’s never left Gotham. And our Gotham and the people in it are very gray. Our heroes unlikely. Our villains hidden. Our story is only beginning with volume one.”
Also, the best-selling “Superman: Earth One,” by J. Michael Straczynski and Shane Davis, will be getting a second volume in 2012.
“The overwhelming success of volume one of SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE – 37 weeks on the New York Times Bestseller list for graphic novels – meant we had to ensure that Volume Two was even better,” said Straczynski. Preview art for vol. 2 was also released at the Source blog.
- Matt Price
Click past the cut to see the preview art released for the two books.
Merry Christmas 2011!
Have a merry Christmas! For those who celebrate, whether you are spending the day with family, friends or otherwise, I hope your day is wonderful and filled with joy.
Check out GoldenAgeComics.org for some great Christmas covers!
- Matt Price
Amazing Spider-Man photos; The Dark Knight Rises trailer; favorite comics of 2011
Fans get to see more about The Dark Knight Rises and The Amazing Spider-Man, and Matt and Kyle reveal some of their favorite comics of 2011.
SPIDEY PICS
The Amazing Spider-Man, Marc Webb’s film reboot of the Spider-Man property, is set to release July 3, 2012. 
In the meantime, the official site has revealed more photos from the film, which will star Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker/Spider-Man.
Theamazingspiderman.com is the film’s official site.
BATMAN TRAILER, PICS
The second “The Dark Knight Rises” trailer has been officially released online. The third film in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, “The Dark Knight Rises” stars Christian Bale, Gary Oldman, Anne Hathaway and Tom Hardy, and is set to be released July 20, 2012. New pictures also reveal closer looks at Batman and Bane.
FAVORITE COMICS OF THE YEAR
Matt and Kyle talk about some of their favorite comics of the year, including X-Men Schism and Astonishing Spider-Man and Wolverine for Kyle, and Batman: The Black Mirror and Criminal: Last of the Innocents for Matt.
REVIEW FILE: Activity #1, Near Death #4, Justice League #4
Criminal: Last of the Innocent #1 reviewed here.
For 2011 count: Detective Comics 871-881; Criminal: Last of the Innocent 2-6.
Comics read in 2011: 2009 Still to go: 2.
Second Dark Knight Rises trailer online
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The second “The Dark Knight Rises” trailer has been officially released online. The third film in Christopher 
Nolan’s Batman trilogy, “The Dark Knight Rises” stars Christian Bale, Gary Oldman, Anne Hathaway and Tom Hardy, and is set to be released July 20, 2012.
- Matt Price
“Batman” star Christian Bale pursued by Chinese security
CNN reports that actor Christian Bale was forcibly turned away by Chinese security while attempting to visit activist Chen Guangcheng along with a CNN film crew.
Bale was punched by guards and kept from continuing towards the activist’s home.
“Why can I not visit this free man?” Bale asked, as guards hit Bale and attempted to dislodge his camera. 
A gray minivan chased away the crew and pursued for more than 40 minutes.
“What I really wanted to do was to meet the man, shake his hand and say what an inspiration he is,” Bale says in the video.
Chen Guangcheng has protested Chinese government policies that he has called abusive. CNN reports that Chen Guangcheng has been confined to his home along with his wife, mother and daughter since being released from prison in Sept. 2010. He had been sentenced to more than four years in prison for damaging property and disrupting traffic in a protest, charges he denies. He and his family are watched around the clock by dozens of guards, CNN reports.
“I’m not brave doing this,” Bale said. “The local people who are standing up to the authorities, who are visiting Chen and his family and getting beaten or detained, I want to support them.”
- Matt Price
Gary Oldman done as Gordon after “Dark Knight Rises”; Marvel movie news
Gary Oldman retires James Gordon’s badge; Fox plans more Marvel films; and reviews of “Action Comics” and more in the Planet 46 Comics Podcast at NewsOK.
GARY OLDMAN DONE AS GORDON
Gary Oldman tells Moviefone that “The Dark Knight Rises” will be the end of his run as Jim Gordon, and talks about using Bane as the villain. 
“It’s great. It’s a terrific conclusion to the trilogy,” Oldman tells Moviefone. “Nolan rounds it off: he brings in a bit of the first one, from ‘Batman Begins,’ and he does some really surprising things with it. I thought his choice of villain was very interesting, to use Bane instead of Riddler or Penguin. He’s not gone with the most obvious choice. The challenge for Chris was always really the story and I think he didn’t want to make a third one for the sake of it. I think there was pressure on him, obviously, because the second was so successful. So there’s always going to be some pressure to keep it going. But he’s too smart and classy, really to just make a third just for the sake of making it, because others are demanding or want it from him and I think he felt that, ‘Let me get the story right.’ So the fans won’t be disappointed.”
Read more: http://blog.moviefone.com/2011/12/06/gary-oldman-dark-knight-rises-steve-buscemi-snl/
FOX STILL PLANS MORE X-MEN, FF, DAREDEVIL
Fox’s Tom Rothman tells MTV that he wants another “X-Men: First Class.”
“We’re trying like hell,” he said. “We’re trying as hard as we can. We really want to do it. We’re planning to do it.”
Rothman also commented two other Marvel properties that Fox plans to revive: “Daredevil” and “Fantastic Four.”
David Slade is attached to “Daredevil,” while “FF” is earlier in the development process.
REVIEW FILE: Valen the Outcast #1, Action Comics #4, Hawk & Dove #4, Raphael #1, Defenders #1
Comics read in 2011: 1902. Still to go: 109.
New “The Dark Knight Rises” poster features Bane
Tom Hardy as Bane is the focus of the newly-released poster for “The Dark Knight Rises,” which will open in the U.S. on July 20.
The new poster features Bane and a torn Batman mask. Bane was introduced in the comics in 1993′s “Vengeance of Bane,” and was the chief villain in the “Knightfall” story arc.
“The Dark Knight Rises” will star Christian Bale as Batman/Bruce Wayne and Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle/Catwoman. Also starring are Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Marion Cotillard and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
Read more at NewsOK.
- Matt Price
RIP “Joker” creator Jerry Robinson
In this undated photo released Monday, Nov. 8, 2010 by ComicConnect.com, Jerry Robinson, who created the Joker, stands with the two framed covers, Superman #14 and Detective Comics #69, that were auctioned on ComicConnect.com. (AP Photo/ComicConnect.com)
Comic book artist Jerry Robinson, who worked on creating many of the key “Batman” characters, died Wednesday night, according to the Los Angeles Times‘ Geoff Boucher. Robinson was 89.
“The great Jerry Robinson—key creator behind Robin, the Joker, Two-Face & Alfred—died in his sleep last night,” Boucher tweeted @latherocomplex.
Robinson, born in Trenton, New Jersey, was hired by “Batman” creator Bob Kane to work on the Batman comic book, and by 1943 was the main illustrator. While Kane, who died in 1998, and Robinson later clashed over who was responsible for the Joker’s creation, Robinson’s influence on the “Batman” comics was enormous.
Writers and executives at DC Comics reacted to the death of Robinson in statements released by the company.
“Jerry Robinson illustrated some of the defining images of pop culture’s greatest icons,” said Jim Lee, DC Entertainment Co-Publisher and artist of “Batman: Hush.” “As an artist myself, it’s impossible not to feel humbled by his body of work. Everyone who loves comics owes Jerry a debt of gratitude for the rich legacy that he leaves behind.”
Dan DiDio, Co-Publisher of DC Entertainment, praised Robinson’s creative drive that continued for his entire life.
“Jerry Robinson was one of the greats,” Didio said. “Jerry was a great advocate for creators. It was my pleasure to meet and work with him. He will be missed.”
“Batman” editor Mike Marts shared his thanks for Robinson’s contributions to Batman’s world.
“Jerry Robinson was an innovator, a pioneer in storytelling,” Marts said. “His artwork was always astonishing, but his contributions to the Dark Knight mythology go far beyond art. The streets of Gotham City are a little lonelier today…Jerry will truly be missed.”
Robinson talked to Comic Book Resources about his creation of the Joker last year, upon the occasion of his selling the cover to “Detective Comics” No. 69.
“All the villains at that time were mostly gangsters, embezzlers and petty crooks. I wanted a villain that was bigger than life to test Batman,” Robinson said. “In shadier characters, it’s always good to have some element in their nature that’s contradictory, so a villain with a sense of humor I thought would be different. And that’s how I came upon the villain and the name of the Joker, and that led to the Joker playing card as the image.”
“I wanted him bizarre and memorable,” he said, “and apparently, I succeeded, because some 70 years later, we’re still talking about him!”
- Matt Price
