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Action figure expert and brother-to-Nerdage Chris Price takes a look at the just-released DC Universe Classics Wave 3!

Of all the waves of DC Universe Classics that have been announced so far, this is the one I was most looking forward to. I am a huge Hal Jordan fan and seeing the prototype and preview photos so far, I fully expected the Green Lantern to become my new favorite figure of all time. Did it happen? We’ll see, here’s a quick rundown..

Packaging: Most everything has stayed the same from the first two waves. One thing that I believe is different that is a welcome addition is the incorporation of a photo of the Collect and Connect piece that comes with your figure on the side of the packaging. Just a little something extra that helps if you happen to be thumbing through pegs at your local store.

Green Lantern: Might as well start out with the big one! Hal does not disappoint. My favorite GL of all time no doubt and probably now my new favorite figure. Why probably? Because after searching through 2 boxes of figures (that’s four Hals), I didn’t find a single one with quality paint on his head. All of the masks were missing in some way. Either blotchy or missing paint. No excuse for it. Hopefully I’ll find another which will solidify Hal’s place at the top of my list.

Nightwing: Solidly the best Nightwing figure ever. The DCD version is close and might have a slightly better face sculpt, but the articulation and functionality of Mattel’s Nightwing is far superior. Love the holsters on his back. Others have complained about his size, but I think he works perfectly.

Robin: Another great figure. Both the figures I saw had great paint apps. He is definitely small, but I think it works well. He comes with his bowstaff and two battarangs which he holds well. Vast improvement over previous offerings and another example of the finest figure of this character yet made.

Sinestro: Inspected two cases and both contained the Sinestro Corps version. Both had nice paint apps. Pictures I had seen before do not do this figures face sculpt justice. He is menacing (even if he is only a little guy). Speaking of that, it hasn’t really bothered me yet. I’ll have to thumb back through my GL archives to see how Kane really depicted Sinestro to see how much I will take up a charge on scale issues with him.

Deathstroke: Really not my favorite character, but man is he awesome. Loaded with weapons that he can hold perfectly. Great detail all over the sculpts on this one. One flaw I noticed is people might have to watch out for paint quality on his face sculpt much like Hal. The paint on the center of the mask was a bit faded/blurred on both the ones I saw. No doubt the best Deathstroke ever though!

Grundy: He is huge. All the detail from the prototypes seem to have made it here and they nailed the paint on him as well. There is a problem with the neck peg as others have mentioned making his head fall to a downward lean too easily. A combination of a small peg and the sculpt of the coat I think.

There you have it! Great lineup and great wave of figures. I’ve heard some complaints about the quality of the plastic on these compared to other waves, and I’m just not noticing it. The paint issues still need sorted out though. If this is the new factory that Mattel switched to, I hope they get better along the way. The lack of attention to Hal’s face mask is definitely not excusable. Still, I think this is my favorite of the waves they have releases so far. Look forward to others getting theirs and reporting their opinions as well!

– Chris Price

Batman at the Sony Online Entertainment Booth at Comic-Con International in San Diego.

Newsarama has the a rundown with DC’s executive editor Dan DiDio about a huge Comic Con International announcement: Neil “Sandman” Gaiman will write a two-part “Batman” storyline, with art by Andy Kubert.

The story, called “Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?” is an homage to “Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow,” the Alan Moore story that ended the “Silver Age” run of the character.

The issues are due out in January.

– Matt Price

SAN DIEGO — DC’s executive editor Dan DiDio may have undersold what could be a sweeping change for a major DC character in his introductions for the DC Nation panel on Thursday at Comic-Con International.

As he introduced writer Geoff Johns and artist Ethan Van Sciver, DiDio almost casually mentioned the pair would collaborate on a miniseries starring Barry Allen: “Flash: Rebirth.”

Barry Allen was a police scientist who was DC Comics’ fastest man alive from 1956 until his death in the pages of “Crisis on Infinite Earths” in 1985.   The period in the late 1950s and 1960s in comics is often called “The Silver Age.”

Johns and Van Sciver previously revived Hal Jordan, the Silver Age Green Lantern, in a series titled “Green Lantern: Rebirth.”

“If you liked what we did on ‘Green Lantern: Rebirth,’ hopefully you’ll check out ‘Flash: Rebirth,’ out in January,” Johns said.

The next-biggest surprise of the panel was an unnanounced appearance by writer/director Kevin Smith (”Clerks”).   Smith, who previously wrote “Green Arrow” for DC Comics, announced he’d be writing a three-issue “Batman” miniseries.

Smith, who is a popular writer, but known for his chronic lateness, said the series would start in November.

“Batman: Cacophony” brings back the villain Onomonopoea from Smith’s “Green Arrow,” and will also feature villains the Joker and Mr. Zsasz.

“It’s fun to be back at DC playing in the sandbox again,” Smith said.

– Matt Price

SAN DIEGO — As part of its DC Universe line, Mattel showed off its “Crisis” series of figures at Comic-Con International.  Figures shown include The Atom, Professor Zoom, Adam Strange, Guy Gardner and Captain Marvel (called Shazam!, of course, because of Marvel’s trademark on the Captain Marvel name).  In one three-pack, the Flash faces off against two foes from his gallery of Rogues — Weather Wizard and Mirror Master.  In another, Gotham City’s Commissioner Gordon is packaged with two Gotham City S.W.A.T. officers.

– Matt Price

SAN DIEGO — Artist Jim Lee’s deft and muscular take on the DC Comics Universe is at the heart of Sony Online Entertainment’s “DC Universe Online.”

Lee topped comic-book sales charts with his interpretations of Batman and Superman.  Those interpretations come to 3-D life in “Universe,” as Lee served as the project’s executive creative director.

In “Universe,” which is being developed for the personal computer and the PlayStation 3, gamers will create a character that can then interact with the world of DC comic books online. 

“We’re literally opening the door and letting you walk right into the world of the DC Universe,” said Debby Sue Wolfcale, senior brand manager for SOE. 

The well-known characters like Superman, Batman and Green Lantern will fight alongside or against characters created by players.

“These characters have an intensity and power all their own,” Wolfcale said. “(’DC Universe Online’ will) bring that same intensity and musculature … to the player characters.”

In addition to characters, location will be a key component of the game.  Locations planned include Metropolis, Gotham City and the Bat Cave.

“We want to make location like another character,” Wolfcale said. “You get as excited to be going into the Bat Cave as you get seeing Batman.”

– Matt Price

Writer Geoff Johns talked to Comic Book Resources about the upcoming “New Krypton” crossover that will work its way through “Action Comics,” “Superman” and “Supergirl” this fall.   Johns had effusive praise for University of Oklahoma graduate Sterling Gates, the new writer of “Supergirl.”

“Sterling’s first issue of ‘Supergirl’ is the best issue of ‘Supergirl’ I have ever read. I think he’s got a great take on the character and a great energy for the character,” said Johns. “James and I really believe in him. [Editors] Matt [Idelson] and Nachie [Castro] really believe in him and [artist] Jamal Igle is turning in some amazing pages on that book. ‘Supergirl’ is going to be a book to watch.”

Gates was born and raised in Tulsa and graduated from OU in 2005.

– Matt Price

Tulsa-born writer Sterling Gates, the new writer of “Supergirl,” is one of three writers for the “New Krypton Special,” kicking off a Superman event featuring 100,000 Kryptonians.   The 48-page issue is on sale Oct. 22, with a cover price of $3.99.   Gates is a 2005 University of Oklahoma graduate. 

More information, from Newsarama:

Written by Geoff Johns, James Robinson and Sterling Gates
Art by Gary Frank & Jon Sibal, Renato Guedes & Wilson Magalháes, and Pete Woods
Cover by Gary Frank
Variant cover by Renato Guedes & Wilson Magalháes
A “Sightings” issue! “New Krypton” Part 1 of 9! The entire Superman franchise writing team joins forces, with art by Pete Woods and others, to formally launch the Superman event years in the making! While the current threat of Brainiac may have been forestalled in ACTION COMICS #870, the repercussions will be felt for a long, long time. Superman’s greatest victory has lead to his happiest day – and his saddest. Gains are balanced by losses while Superman has to figure out what to do with 100,000 Kryptonians! Hold on to your capes as this story leads directly into SUPERMAN #681.
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. For every 10 copies of the Standard Edition (with a cover by Gary Frank), retailers may order one copy of the Variant Edition (with a cover by Renato Guedes & Wilson Magalháes). Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale october 22 • 48 pg, FC, $3.99 US

An extended version of the article from Tuesday’s The Oklahoman:

By Matthew Price
Assistant Features Editor

Tulsa-born writer Sterling Gates, the new writer on DC Comics’
“Supergirl” comic-book series, knows exactly when he decided to be a
writer.
“At exactly 9:13 Central time, September 13, 1998,” he said.
“Seriously. I had just delivered a monologue that I’d written to a
group in my high school’s cafeteria. It was a monologue that detailed
the exact things I thought and felt when my father passed away, and
everything I wanted to tell him at his funeral.”
Gates closed his monologue by asking the crowd to call their fathers
and tell them how they felt, because you never know when it might be
your last chance.
“After the show, a girl came up to me and told me that because of what
I wrote, she was going to talk to her father that weekend for the
first time in seven years. She had been so moved by what I’d said,
she’d made that decision sitting in that cafeteria listening to me.
All because of something I wrote.”
That his writing was able to move another person so deeply made him
decide to commit to working as a writer and storyteller. A chance
meeting with writer Geoff Johns at a convention led to an interview to
work on “Blade: The Series.”  He broke in as an assistant in the
writer’s room for “Blade: The Series,” which aired on Spike. He’s
since written for the comics “Green Lantern Corps” and two specials
featuring Green Lantern characters. “Supergirl” is his first ongoing
series, and it’s one for which Gates has an affinity.
“I was a big fan of the Carmine Infantino-Paul Kupperberg ‘Daring New
Adventures of Supergirl’ comics in the mid-80’s,” he said. “I loved,
loved, loved ‘Supergirl’ the movie when I was a kid, and I read that
comic book adaptation they did so many times the staples fell out. I’m
also a big fan of the Jeph Loeb-Michael Turner story in
‘Superman/Batman’ that introduced this version of (Supergirl) Kara
Zor-El.”
While Supergirl is part of Superman’s legacy, unlike the Man of Steel,
she’s not a finished product.
“Unlike Superman, she can make some pretty drastic mistakes. She does
things that Superman and Batman and Wonder Woman don’t approve of, and
to me, that makes her more human,” he said. “But even if she screws
things up occasionally, she’s still a hero, she’s still doing more
good than you and I could do on a given day, and she’s someone we
should admire and respect.”
Gates moved from Oklahoma to Los Angeles to pursue his dream of
becoming a writer, but his home state is never far from his mind.  He
said moving to California was “culture shock.”
“That’s like asking about the difference between living on Earth or
living on the sun,” he said. “It’s a loud, bright, insane, amazing,
terrible, wonderful, intense, smoggy, happy city, Los Angeles. It
never stops moving, no one ever stops to really take it all in,
because they have to be somewhere fifteen minutes ago, and traffic has
made them late, and they don’t have time to stop and say how d’you do.
“Oklahoma is completely different, but different in a good way. I
never thought I’d miss Oklahoma until I moved away, and now I think
about moving back at least once a week. I think a lot of people move
away from Oklahoma, but their hearts never really leave.”

After a week of rumors and speculation about DC Comics, DC Executive Editor Dan Didio may have felt a bit under the gun at the DC Nation panel at this weekend’s Heroes Con.   This Newsarama report gives the lowdown on the panel, in which Didio gives his take on a lot of the recent online kerfuffles, like the lack of “Final Crisis” tying in correctly to “Countdown” and “Death of the New Gods.”   The most interesting bit of news, to me, is that Ethan Van Sciver seemed to indicate he’d be working on a “Flash” project.

– Matt Price