DC's Bob Wayne at the ComicsPRO Annual Members Meeting in 2012, with the ComicsPRO Industry Appreciation Award. Photo by Annette Price, for The Oklahoman

DALLAS — Bob Wayne, DC Entertainment’s Senior Vice President of Sales, was honored with the ComicsPRO Industry Appreciation Award in an afternoon ceremony.

The crowd of retailers, publishers and industry figures stood for an extended standing ovation as Wayne was named the recipient of the award, which is intended to honor those who help bring comic books to market.

“I would venture to say that no one in this room knows more about comics or the comics industry than Bob Wayne,” said ComicsPRO president Joe Field in his introduction of Wayne.   Given that executives from most of the larger comics publishers and more than 100 comic retail operations were in the room, that’s a nice compliment.

“With his 25 years at DC Comics, now DC Entertainment, we’ve seen tremendous things happen, in large part because of what Bob Wayne’s been instrumental in making happen for us,” Field said.

The other nominees for the award were Cindy Fournier of Diamond; David Gabriel of Marvel; Robert Kirkman of Image and Eric Stephenson of Image.

The 2012 ComicsPRO Industry Appreciation Memorial Award was awarded to the late Phil Seuling, who founded the direct-market method of comic-book sales.  Bill Schanes of Diamond Comics Distributors, a former customer of Seuling, accepted the award on his behalf.  Julius Schwartz of DC Comics was the other nominee in this category.

Wayne was classy, funny and at times emotional in his acceptance of the award, which is voted on by the comic book retailers who are members of ComicsPRO, the national comics retail organization.

“I’d like to thank all of the members of ComicsPRO for your continued support,” Wayne said in accepting the award. “Many of you are friends, and, I think, extended family.”

Wayne graciously thanked his bosses and co-workers through his years at DC.

He recounted his years in the industry, including starting to sell comics in 1973 at comic-book conventions.

“Yes, I know that was before some of you were born,” he said. “There’s no need to come up later and point that out to me.”

Wayne opened a comic-book store in 1980, which he ran for seven years.   He joined DC Comics in August of 1987.

“The people who placed bets 25 years ago as to how many weeks or months I’d last in corporate America … no one asked me for odds.”

In closing, Wayne gave recognition to a special family member.

“When you work in a comic shop, when you work in comics, you hear a lot of people say, ‘Oh, they still make comics?  My mother threw mine out.’  And my mother did not throw mine out.”

- Matt Price

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

Kyle Roberts talks to Matt Price from the ComicsPRO meeting in Dallas. Expected topics of discussion include the Image Comics resurgence, including “Thief of Thieves”; the new Smallville comic book series; and the Marvel Comics Avengers vs. X-Men comics.

The world of the TV series “Smallville” will continue in a comic-book series from DC Comics, it was announced today.

The series, which focused on the adventures of a young Clark Kent as he learned how to deal with his origins and amazing powers, ended after 10 seasons.  It starred Tom Welling as Clark Kent.  At series’ end, Kent had donned a Superman costume and become the familiar Man of Steel.  That story will now be picked up in a new comic-book series.

According to DC Comics’ Source blog, the series will be written by former Smallville show scribe Bryan Q. Miller. The series will hit digital first, with an April 13 release, with new chapters weekly.

The online chapters will be offered in a print periodical, along with an episode guide to TV series.  The first print issue is set for a May 16 release.

“Six months after Clark Kent donned the cape and took to the skies to save Earth from Apokolips… enter Season 11!” Miller told the Source.  “New allies abound!  New enemies afoot!  And old friends return where they’re least expected!  Pere and colorist Chris Beckett have done a fantastic job of capturing the look of the show and the players, and Gary and Cat are knocking it out of the park on covers. I couldn’t be more excited to help give seasoned viewers and new readers an all-access pass to Clark’s first year in the cape.”

- Matt Price

DALLAS — How will the rest of the comics market strike back?

That was one of the questions being asked around tables and in small groups at an informal meet-and-greet prior to the kickoff of the ComicsPRO Annual Members Meeting.

Since last year’s ComicsPRO meeting, DC Comics has shaken up the sales charts with its Sept. 2011 relaunch.  In January, 5 months into the relaunch, DC Comics claimed all 10 of the top 10 comics in Diamond Comic Distributors monthly sales charts.

Because the comics market is often reactive, some retailers at the meeting openly wondered how DC’s competition might react to DC’s 2011 moves.

In early 2012, one company already seems to be shaking things up: Image Comics.  Retailers reported very strong sales for the Image title “Fatale” and also for “Thief of Thieves,” released in comic shops today.

“Thief of Thieves” is co-written by Robert Kirkman and Nick Spencer.   Kirkman is the co-creator of “The Walking Dead” comic-book series, which has had great success adapted for television on AMC.  Some have suggested there’s a “Walking Dead” spillover effect that’s helping the entire Image line, especially those properties tied to Kirkman.

There was also talk about Marvel’s upcoming “Avengers vs. X-Men” promotion, and the promotional idea allowing stores to sign up as supporting the Avengers or the X-Men.

At last year’s preview night, stores said some of the major problems facing the market were generating excitement, late-shipping books, and the still-lagging economy.  This year, many of those problems have been addressed.  While the economy overall is still recovering, DC’s relaunch helped generate excitement and prove that a major publisher could stick to a largely on-time schedule.    Retailers remain interested in DC’s upcoming plans, including those about DC Comics’ just-announced “Before Watchmen” program. Many retailers are curious about how the series will be marketed in comic-book stores.

Thursday at the meeting will be a day of programming from DC Comics; other sponsors will share their programming on Friday and Saturday, in addition to retail-focused discussion and programming.   The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund will hold the First Annual Retailer Auction, at the ComicsPRO Annual Meeting at 9 p.m. Friday.

With even more stores expected to attend the meeting than last year, it’s up to the gathered sponsors to get these decision-makers on board with their upcoming projects.  With many stores feeling on firmer footing than in 2011, they’re actively looking for the new product or title that will get more people in the door and their money in the register.

- Matt Price

Matt Price and Kyle Roberts discuss the new DC Comics logo, Popeye making it back into comics, and an Amazing Spider-Man press conference in Tokyo on the Planet 46 Comics show.

DC Comics’ much-rumored “major news” was announced today on DC Comics’ Source blog, as a series of prequels to the best-selling graphic novel “Watchmen” were announced.

“It’s our responsibility as publishers to find new ways to keep all of our characters relevant,” said DC Entertainment Co-Publishers Dan DiDio and Jim Lee in a news release. “After twenty five years, the Watchmen are classic characters whose time has come for new stories to be told. We sought out the best writers and artists in the industry to build on the complex mythology of the original.”

“Before Watchmen” includes:

• RORSCHACH (4 issues) – Writer: Brian Azzarello. Artist: Lee Bermejo

• MINUTEMEN (6 issues) – Writer/Artist: Darwyn Cooke

• COMEDIAN (6 issues) – Writer: Brian Azzarello. Artist: J.G. Jones

• DR. MANHATTAN (4 issues) – Writer: J. Michael Straczynski. Artist: Adam Hughes

• NITE OWL (4 issues) – Writer: J. Michael Straczynski. Artists: Andy and Joe Kubert

• OZYMANDIAS (6 issues) – Writer: Len Wein. Artist: Jae Lee

• SILK SPECTRE (4 issues) – Writer: Darwyn Cooke. Artist: Amanda Conner

The series will be released weekly, with a back-up story in each issue from original series editor Len Wein, called “Curse of the Crimson Corsair.”  The art for this story will be by original series colorist John Higgins.

There will also be a final epilogue issue.

Dave Gibbons shared his thoughts at the Source blog.

“The original series of WATCHMEN is the complete story that Alan Moore and I wanted to tell. However, I appreciate DC’s reasons for this initiative and the wish of the artists and writers involved to pay tribute to our work. May these new additions have the success they desire,” said Dave Gibbons, WATCHMEN co-creator and original series artist.

Alan Moore, the writer of “Watchmen,” reacted about as may have been expected, to the New York Times:

“I tend to take this latest development as a kind of eager confirmation that they are still apparently dependent on ideas that I had 25 years ago.”

The reclusive Moore no longer deals with DC Comics and has largely sequestered himself from the industry, with the exception of his “League of Extraordinary Gentlemen” graphic novels released through Top Shelf.

- Matt Price

DC Comics’ Source blog has revealed Mike Choi’s variant cover for “The Flash” #6, on sale Feb. 22.

“’The Flash’ is one of my favorite books right now, so it was a real pleasure and honor to get the chance to work on a cover for the title,” Choi told The Source. “I’m good friends with both [series writers and artists] Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato, whom I’ve known pretty much my entire career, my first professional gig being the follow-up to Francis’ run on WITCHBLADE for Top Cow, with Brian being my colorist on the book, so of course this was a title I was definitely rooting for. Hopefully I’ve done just a little bit to add something to their book and its run.”

As hinted at in this variant cover to issue #6, Captain Cold returns in issue #7 of “The Flash.”

- Matt Price

DC Comics’ revamp of its superhero line was a sales success, with titles from DC’s “The New 52” making up nine of the top 10 titles in the year-end sales list of the comic industry’s primary distributor.

Diamond Comics Distributors Inc. reported that “Justice League” No. 1 topped all comics sold in 2011.

Diamond does not release sales numbers, but DC Comics released sales numbers for three of its top titles to The Hollywood Reporter. Through mid-December, “Justice League” No. 1 sold 361,138 copies, “Batman” No. 1 sold 262,379 copies and “Action Comics” No. 1 sold 250,898 copies. Those comics rank 1, 2 and 3 on Diamond’s end-of-year sales report.

Marvel Comics, typically the industry’s top publisher, slipped behind DC in the months following DC’s revamp. Marvel’s top comic for 2011 was “Ultimate Comics Spider-Man” No. 160, which featured the death of Peter Parker in the “Ultimate” line of comic books. The Hollywood Reporter indicates that issue sold 159,355 copies, and Diamond’s rankings put it at No. 6.

The rest of the top 10 includes the second issues of “Justice League,” “Batman” and “Action Comics” at Nos. 4, 5 and 9. The first relaunched issues of “Green Lantern” and “Detective Comics” landed at Nos. 7 and 10. And the third issue of “Justice League” took the No. 8 slot.

Despite DC’s cluster at the top, the larger number of comics published by Marvel helped it remain the No. 1 publisher for the year from Diamond Comics.

While “Justice League” sales were undoubtedly good, they weren’t record-setting. “Amazing Spider-Man” No. 583, from 2009, which guest-starred President Barack Obama, was the best selling comic of the 2000s, with more than 500,000 sold. And all modern comics sales records pale in comparison to the off-the-charts numbers of the 1990s, when “X-Men” No. 1, drawn by “Justice League” artist Jim Lee, shipped more than 8 million copies in 1991.

‘Second Wave’

Not every “New 52” title was a hit; DC Comics has announced the cancellation of six of the titles to make room for six new titles in the “New 52” lineup.

“The excitement of the initial launch of ‘DC Comics — The New 52′ was in seeing the re-imagining of these classic characters and concepts,” said Bob Harras, DC Entertainment editor-in-chief, in a news release. “The ‘Second Wave’ is all about world-building.”

The “Second Wave” includes:

“Batman Incorporated.” Writer Grant Morrison and artist Chris Burnham update the stories of a globally franchised Batman.

“Earth 2.” The greatest heroes on a parallel Earth are the Justice Society of America in this series by writer James Robinson and artist Nicola Scott

“Worlds’ Finest.” Artists George Perez and Kevin Maguire will alternate arcs on this series by Paul Levitz, featuring the characters Huntress and Power Girl, who are trying to find their way back to Earth 2.

“Dial H.” Best-selling novelist China Mieville joins artist Mateus Santoluoco for a more psychological take on a classic DC property about an everyman who gains the powers of a hero.

“G.I. Combat.” A selection of war titles from DC will be updated in this new series, including “The War That Time Forgot,” “The Unknown Soldier” and “Haunted Tank.”

“The Ravagers.” The first “New 52” spinoff features four superpowered teens on the run in a series developed from elements in “Teen Titans” and “Superboy.” Writer Howard Mackie and artist Ian Churchill are the creative team.

The six new series are set to replace “Blackhawks,” “Hawk and Dove,” “Men of War,” “Mister Terrific,” “O.M.A.C.” and “Static Shock.” Those series will end with their eighth issues in April. The “Second Wave” will begin in May.

Top graphic novel

The top-selling graphic novel through Diamond Comic Distributors in 2011 was “The Walking Dead” Vol. 1. Six different volumes of Robert Kirkman’s survivalist horror series placed in the top 10.

Also ranking in the top 10 were new editions of “Fables,” and “League of Extraordinary Gentlemen,” as well as the Christmas carol tale “Batman: Noel” and the creator-owned “Morning Glories.”

- By Matthew Price
WORD BALLOONS
From Friday’s The Oklahoman

This May, DC Comics continues its “New 52″ lineup with a “Second Wave” of titles.  Six new titles will replace six of the original “New 52″ titles.

Novelist China Miéville comes to comics as part of this initiative, as does the return of Grant Morrison’s “Batman Incorporated.”  I’m personally thrilled about the “Worlds’ Finest” comic, which will feature artists George Perez and Kevin Maguire.  Another exciting piece of this news is a new book from James Robinson, “Earth 2.” Both “Worlds’ Finest” and “Earth 2″ look as if they’ll deal with the alternate-earths version of DC’s superheroes, which could be quite intriguing.

“The excitement of the initial launch of DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 was in seeing the re-imagining of these classic characters and concepts,” said Bob Harras, DC Entertainment Editor-in-Chief at the DC Comics blog. “The ‘Second Wave’ is all about world-building.”

From the blog:

DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 “Second Wave” includes:

* BATMAN INCORPORATED – Writer: Grant Morrison. Artist: Chris Burnham. The acclaimed ongoing writer of ACTION COMICS, Grant Morrison, presents a fresh take on BATMAN INCORPORATED, in which the Batman brand is franchised globally in preparation for a major international threat.

* EARTH 2 – Writer: James Robinson. Artist: Nicola Scott. The greatest heroes on a parallel Earth, the Justice Society combats threats that will set them on a collision course with other worlds.

* WORLDS’ FINEST – Writer: Paul Levitz. Artists: George Perez and Kevin Maguire. Stranded on our world from a parallel reality, Huntress and Power Girl struggle to find their way back to Earth 2. Perez and Maguire will be the artists on alternating story arcs.

* DIAL H – Writer: China Miéville. Artist: Mateus Santoluoco. The first ongoing series from acclaimed novelist China Miéville, this is a bold new take on a cult classic concept about the psychological effects on an everyman who accidentally gains powers to become a hero.

* G.I. COMBAT – Writer: J.T. Krul. Artist: Ariel Olivetti. Featuring the return of a classic DC Comics series, THE WAR THAT TIME FORGOT, along with rotating back-up stories and creative teams – including THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER, with writers Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti and artist Dan Panosian; and THE HAUNTED TANK, with writer John Arcudi and artist Scott Kolins.

* THE RAVAGERS – Writer: Howard Mackie. Artist: Ian Churchill. Spinning off from TEEN TITANS and SUPERBOY, this series finds four superpowered teens on the run and fighting against the organization that wants to turn them into supervillains.

The series ending to make room for these six new titles are “Blackhawks,” “Hawk and Dove,” “Men of War,” Mister Terrific,” “O.M.A.C.” and “Static Shock.”   Those series conclude in April with their eighth issues.  Harras said at the DC blog that many of the characters from these books will appear in other New 52 titles.

USA Today and Comic Book Resources have interviews with Harras and additional information on the launches.

What do you think of the new titles?  What about those going away?  Which of the new titles are you most intrigued by?

- Matt Price

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.

1. “Detective Comics 871-881,” Scott Snyder, Jock and Franco Francavilla.

The new Batman, Dick Grayson, is put to the test as a series of brutal murders puts him up against one of Gotham City’s oldest evils.

In the second story, “Hungry City,” the corpse of a killer whale is found in an upscale Gotham City bank, sparking a deadly new mystery.

Snyder’s opus, which includes the mystery of Commissioner Gordon’s son, is a candidate for best Batman tale of the current decade. DC was suitably impressed with Snyder, tabbing him as the writer of its relaunched “Batman” title.

2. “Criminal: The Last of the Innocent,” Ed Brubaker, Sean Phillips.

Brubaker (“Captain America”) is one of comics’ finest writers, and this is among his best books, a mixture of noir and nostalgia that’s part twisted take on “Archie”-style characters, part dark secrets and murder. Artist Phillips creates compelling stories in two completely different styles for “Innocent.” Riley Richards seems as if he had it all, marrying the hottest girl in town and moving on to the big city. But now, he can’t forget his simpler life in Brookview. He’s willing to do anything to roll back the clock — including murder.

3. “The Red Wing,” Jonathan Hickman, Nick Pitarra.

Hickman (“Fantastic Four”) writes a story of fighter pilots in the future who fight their battles not only in the air, but also through time. Art by Pitarra.

4. “Action Comics,” Grant Morrison, Rags Morales

In Morrison’s much-hyped revamp of “Action Comics,” a young, brash Superman goes about his business in work boots and blue jeans, rustling up corporate criminals and raising the ire of everyone from the police and military to Lex Luthor, a brash industrialist who doesn’t much cotton to the idea of a superhuman.

Superman’s a bit arrogant, but very much easy to root for, as he attempts to stand up to bullies of all stripes.

5. “Daredevil,” Mark Waid, Pablo Rivera, Marcos Martin.

Writer Waid and artists Rivera and Martin brought Daredevil back to his swashbuckling past in the 2011 relaunch of “Daredevil.” Waid also shows the keen legal mind of Matt Murdock, the blind lawyer who is Daredevil. Murdock tries to keep his legal and vigilante worlds separate, despite his secret identity being somewhat known.

6. “Who Is Jake Ellis?,” Nathan Edmondson, Tonci Zonjic.

The collection of this 5-issue miniseries features former spy Jon Moore, now a mercenary. He’s able to escape capture in part because of the voice in his head — the voice of Jake Ellis. But who is Jake Ellis? He’s a man only Jon can see, providing information on safe escapes and possible threats. The mystery of Ellis, and Jon’s quest to discover the secrets behind it, are what writer Edmondson and artist Zonjic have laid out in this fast-paced espionage thriller from Image Comics.

7. “The Rocketeer Adventures,” various creators.

Dave Stevens created the Rocketeer in the early 1980s, a tribute to the serials of the 1930s and 1940s as pilot Cliff Secord finds a jet pack that allows him to race through the air. He, his mentor Peavy and girlfriend Betty (modeled after Bettie Page) starred in several adventures by Stevens and a 1991 motion picture. Stevens died in 2008, but IDW brought back his character The Rocketeer in 2011, with an anthology series that in part benefits hairy cell leukemia research.

That would be reason enough to buy “The Rocketeer Adventures,” but the all-star lineup of creators has made a book that’s one of the year’s best. Kurt Busiek, Mark Waid, Jonathon Ross, Mike Allred, John Cassaday, Darwyn Cooke, Bruce Timm, Kyle Baker, Gene Ha, Michael Wm. Kaluta and Chris Weston contribute to this lovely taste of 1930s-style adventures.

8. “Animal Man,” Jeff Lemire, Travel Foreman, Dan Green.

Writer Lemire joins artists Foreman and Green for DC’s revamp of “Animal Man,” which became one of the breakout hits of the New 52. Lemire is channeling Morrison’s take on the character, so readers of the 1980s Buddy Baker will find much to enjoy. The art’s a little different from the DC norm, but conveys the story’s mix of domesticity and dread.

9. “The Sixth Gun,” Cullen Bunn, Brian Hurtt.

An Oni Press Western with supernatural horror elements, “The Sixth Gun” follows the path of six cursed guns during the darkest days of the Civil War. Bunn and Hurtt are the creative team.

10. “American Vampire,” Scott Snyder, Rafael Albuquerque

Also written by Snyder, “American Vampire” follows the exploits of a new breed of “American Vampire” that has the ability to feed in the sun. The 1880s outlaw Skinner Sweet and 1920s actress Pearl Jones make their way to Las Vegas circa 1935; later the series follows Pearl and her husband into the World War II era.

- Matt Price
WORD BALLOONS
From Friday’s The Oklahoman
Click here for the best graphic novels of 2011.

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.

Batman mixes with Charles Dickens in this year’s graphic novel “Batman: Noel,” but that’s not the only time the classic “A Christmas Carol” has been remixed into comics. English author Charles Dickens’ novella, first published in 1843, features the transformation of the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge after he is visited one Christmas Eve by the ghost of his business partner, Jacob Marley, and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come.

More than a century after the original was published, George R. Lipscomb and Henry Kiefer were the creative team for the 1948 adaptation of the story in “Classics Illustrated” No. 53, an abridged but faithful version of the classic.

Doug Moench (“Deadly Hands of Kung-Fu”) joined a team of artists for “Marvel Classic Comics” No. 36, which brought a slightly more Marvelized feel to the Dickens classic in 1978.

In 1967, a group of teenage superheroes starred in a version of the story, reprinted in the collection “DC Universe Christmas.” In “Teen Titans” No. 13, by writer Bob Haney and artist Nick Cardy, The Teen Titans — made up of teen superhero sidekicks Robin, Wonder Girl, Aqualad and Kid Flash — encounter the hardhearted Ebenezer Scrounge and his put-upon employee Bob Ratchet. When Scrounge’s business partner Jacob Farley escapes from prison, seeking revenge, the Titans see a chance to put their knowledge of Dickens to use. The dialogue is particularly dated, but the artwork of Cardy is charming throughout.

Mike W. Barr and the Outsiders visited the theme in the 1980s with “The Outsiders” No. 5, cover-dated March 1986 but on sale during the 1985 Christmas season. (The story was reprinted a year later in “Adventures of the Outsiders” No. 43.)

The Outsiders — Geo-Force, Black Lightning, Halo, Katana, Looker and Metamorpho — use their powers to re-create the Dickens classic story of three ghosts in an attempt to convince gangland accountant Eben Mudge to testify against his boss. The story is drawn by longtime “Batman” artist Jim Aparo, who had previously drawn “Batman and the Outsiders.”

In Marvel Comics’ 2004 Holiday Special, Daily Bugle publisher J. Jonah Jameson steps into a Scrooge-like role in a story by writer Tom DeFalco and artist Takeshi Miyazawa, “Jonah’s Holiday Carol.” The grumpy Jameson is visited by visions of Marvel heroes to rethink his stance on holiday spirit.

In 2009, Rod Espinosa (“Courageous Princes”) released a version of “A Christmas Carol” — with Scrooge as a woman — online. It can be read free at www.antarctic-press.com/html/version_01/viewgallery.php?id=994 or downloaded for $2.99 at comixology.com. Espinosa’s manga-style art makes for an energetic adaptation.

Also in 2009, the Ghostbusters found themselves called in by wealthy Woodrow Wainwright Fraser III, who has been haunted by the spirits each Christmas Eve who seek to make him change his ways. Fraser, however, has resisted their entreaties and now calls on the Ghostbusters to get rid of these specters. An interesting take on the story, with a few fun twists, the “Ghostbusters: Past, Present and Future” one-shot is collected in the “Haunted Holidays” trade paperback from IDW.

Writer Jim McCann created a twist on the classic with “Zombies Christmas Carol,” from Marvel Comics, released in hardcover in September. The book is illustrated by David Baldeon. In “Zombies,” the poor are being struck down by a plague called “The Hungry Death,” which fills its undead victims with a hunger for human flesh. The miserly Ebenezer Scrooge may be the last hope to discover where this horror began as he is visited by three Ghosts of Christmas: Past, Present and Future.

While details vary, comics have found many ways to bring the classic to different audiences, showing how anyone can be transformed at Christmas, through the intervention of the supernatural or even superheroes. The popular text, in the public domain and available through sources including Gutenberg.org, will no doubt continue to be inspirational for readers and future creators.

- By Matthew Price
WORD BALLOONS
From Friday’s The Oklahoman
Comics read for this article:  “Batman: Noel”; “Classics Illustrated” #53; “Marvel Classic Comics” #36; “The Outsiders” #5; “Marvel Comics 2004 Holiday Special”; Rod Espinosa’s “A Christmas Carol”; “Ghostbusters: Past, Present and Future”; “Zombies Christmas Carol” #1-2.
Comics read in 2011: 1990. Still to go: 21

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

Former “New Teen Titans” artist Eduardo Barreto has died at age 57, Comic Book Resources is reporting.

The artist worked with Marv Wolfman on the popular “New Teen Titans” series starting in the mid-1980s.

He was also an artist for the “Judge Parker” newspaper strip from 2006-2010 and the “Phantom” Sunday strip.

Barreto, who was born in Montevideo, Uruguay, contracted meningitis in 2010.

Comics writer and critic Rob Vollmar, of Chickasha, said Barreto had versatility and a deft artistic touch.

“Eduardo Barreto was an artist who brought style and impact to the books that he drew,” Vollmar said. “He was able to retain the sexiness that George Perez had brought to the Teen Titans revival of the late-70s while making the figures more organic and less posed. Though he was probably best known for his superhero work, Barreto was capable of much more, as evidenced by his collaboration with Ande Parks on ‘Union Station.’ It is a shame to see talented artists like Barreto go so young.”

George Perez shared the following comment on the George Perez facebook fan page:

“I was totally stunned to learn of the death of former TITANS artist Eduardo Barreto, at the incredibly young age of 57 (which is the same age as me),” Perez wrote. “Eduardo was probably second only to me in the number of issues of THE NEW TEEN TITANS drawn during its initial run. He was an exceptional draftsman and, as I learned in my only meeting with him during a convention, a very nice gentleman. My condolences to his family, friends, and fans.”

Barreto was closely associated with DC Comics for much of his career, and was the artist on publications including “Action Comics” and “Atari Force.”

Oni Press, for whom Barreto drew “Union Station” and “The Long Haul,” released the following statement.

All of us at Oni Press were saddened to have learned of the passing of our friend and colleague, Eduardo Barreto. It was our absolute pleasure to have the opportunity to collaborate with this great artist. Eduardo fit the classic model of a working illustrator, and he particularly loved the wide variety of comics that he read growing up in Uruguay. He had a pronounced passion for space operas and horse operas alike, and though he made his name drawing iconic characters like Superman and the Teen Titans, his art truly shined when he was let loose to play with heroes whose abilities—and foibles—were far more human. Those who worked with him remember as a true professional, and everyone who met him could instantly call him a friend. Eduardo Barreto leaves behind a tremendous body of work, as well as a legion of fans, all of whom will miss him dearly. We join them in extending our deepest condolences to his family for their loss.

- Matt Price

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.

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

Batman: Noel

Comics fans could have a very Batty Christmas with the cool Bat-themed gifts available this year.

Inspired by Charles Dickens’ classic “A Christmas Carol,” the hardcover graphic novel “Batman: Noel” ($22.99) features different interpretations of the Dark Knight from various eras. Different cast members from “Batman” take on roles from “A Christmas Carol,” including Robin, Superman, Catwoman and the Joker.

The story is written and drawn by Lee Bermejo, who drew the hit “Joker” original graphic novel in 2008.
For fans who want something more interactive, the “Arkham City” video game ($59.99 for Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3; $49.99 for Windows PC; $99.99 collector’s edition) features Batman battling foes in a large slum now used to house the criminally insane. The game is written by Paul Dini, who also wrote the tie-in graphic novel ($22.99).

To fully immerse yourself in the game, check out the cool Batarang Controller for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 ($49.99).

For fans who want to dig deep into Batman lore, Mathew K. Manning’s “The Batman Files” ($100) begins with Bruce Wayne’s childhood and continues along a timeline of events, with significant scrapbook-type information included.

One of the best Batman arcs of recent years has been released in hardcover in time for holiday shopping. Scott Snyder’s entire “Detective Comics” run is collected in the “Black Mirror” hardcover ($29.99) from DC Comics.

In “The Black Mirror,” the new Batman, Dick Grayson, is put to the test as a series of brutal murders puts him up against one of Gotham City’s oldest evils.

A second story, “Hungry City,” is also collected in the hardcover, in which the corpse of a killer whale is found in an upscale Gotham City bank, sparking a deadly new mystery.

The collection, with stories from “Detective Comics” Nos. 871-881, is a candidate for best Batman tale of the current decade.

If you aren’t a Bat-fan, don’t feel like the holidays are passing you by. Here are some other suggestions for comic fans:

“Parker: The Martini Edition”: ($75) This edition collects the two Darwyn Cooke (“The New Frontier”) adaptations of Donald Westlake’s “Parker” novels, which he wrote under the name Richard Stark. The double-crossed small-time hood Parker is out to get revenge on those who did him wrong, and he does so with explosive consequences. Cooke is the perfect artist to adapt this ’60s-era hard-boiled tale. This edition features “The Hunter” and “The Outfit” in and oversized, slipcased hardcover edition with an additional 65 pages of content and a brand-new story.

“MetaMaus”: ($35) Art Spiegelman looks back at his Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel “Maus” 25 years after its publication. MetaMaus includes a bonus DVD-R with digitized reference copy of “The Complete Maus,” linked to audio interviews, notebooks and historical documents.

“Donald Duck: Lost in the Andes”: ($24.99) Some of the greatest Carl Barks Donald Duck comics are being collected in affordable hardcover editions. This collection contains “Lost in the Andes” and other Barks stories. These all-ages adventures have been fan favorites for more than 50 years.

“Return to Perdition”: ($19.99) Max Allan Collins and Terry Beatty provide another chapter in the life of the O’Sullivan crime family.

“Jim Henson’s The Storyteller” ($19.99): The live-action/puppet combination TV show comes to graphic novels with all new stories from a great lineup of comic book creators, including Roger Langridge (“The Muppet Show” comic), Marjorie Liu (“Black Widow”), Ron Marz (“Artifacts”), Jeff Parker (“Thunderbolts”), Francesco Francavilla (“Detective Comics”) and more.

- by Matthew Price
WORD BALLOONS
From Friday’s The Oklahoman

Astro City: The Dark Age
Kurt Busiek and Brent Anderson look at the 1970s and 1980s through the prism of the superhero world of Astro City, in a 16-part storyline.   Four four-issue miniseries (“Astro City: The Dark Age” Books 1-4) follow Charles and Royal Williams as they seek the man who murdered their parents.   Their lives are intertwined with that of the Silver Agent, who is traveling through time in an attempt to avert a coming disaster.

Busiek and Anderson are taking apart the grittier comics of the 1970s and 1980s and exploring them from the point of view of characters who are living it.  It recreates the feel of reading comics as a younger person in the late 70s and early 1980s, but with a story that works on multiple levels.   Any superhero fan should take a look at The Dark Age, which probably suffered from its extended shipping schedule as far as sales.   But with two collections containing all 16 issues, there’s no reason not to read this modern classic.  Alex Ross remains active with the book as a character designer and cover artist.

Also read recently:

Grifter 2-3 (2011) Nathan Edmondson continues his slow burn in revealing who exactly Cole Cash, aka Grifter, is in this new unified DC Comics universe, but it’s an intriguing read with beautiful art by CAFU.

Planet Terry 1-4 (1985)Lennie Herman and Warren Kremer were the creative team for “Planet Terry” (a pun on “Planetary”), which featured young Terry, sort of a Richie Rich of space, on a quest to find his parents, with the help of his robot, Robota, and a gruff alien, Omnus.

- Matt Price
Comics read in 2011: 1,821  Still to go: 190.

Writer Grant Morrison shifts the status quo of the Batman titles from the get-go in his run on “Batman.”   The first collection, “Batman and Son,” collects issues #655-#658 and #663-#666 of the DC series “Batman,” written by Morrison and drawn by Andy Kubert.  8

Batman’s son with Talia Al Ghul, daughter of the villainous Ra’s Al Ghul is introduced as a full-blown character in “Batman and Son.”  (The character was introduced in “Son of the Demon” in 1987, and has been referenced a few times, but the continuity is a bit murky.  Still, this is clearly the same character.)  Damian Wayne has been trained for all of his 10 young years by the league of assassins, and thinks and reacts like an assassin.  Talia has left Damian with Batman, but the reasons are a bit unclear.   The addition of a new, hard-edged character who is only a boy adds a different dynamic to the Batman family.

A sequel of sorts to “Batman and Son” is “The Resurrection of Ra’s Al Ghul.”  This somewhat more straightforward action story involves Batman, his adopted children Tim Drake and Dick Grayson, and his biological son, Damian.  Damian Wayne is sought as a host body for the return of Ra’s Al Ghul. Batman and crew attempt to put a stop to this in this crossover adventure.   The collection contains: Batman #670-671 by Grant Morrison and Tony Daniel, Robin #168-169 by Peter Milligan and Freddie E. Williams II, Nightwing #138-139 by Fabian Nicieza and Don Kramer, Detective Comics #838-839, written by Paul Dini; and two annuals, Batman Annual #26 and Robin Annual #7. 10 (18)

Writer Grant Morrison gets Batman’s detective hat on in the first storyline in “The Black Glove,” which updates a 1950s concept, the “Club of Heroes,” featuring a group of Batman analogues.   They’ve all been called together to an island for a reunion, when there is a murder.   It’s beautifully drawn by J.H. Williams III and is a high mark of the run.

In the second half of the book, Bruce has a fever dream about his past, which leads into Batman RIP later on, as do the mysterious Batman impostors.   The graphic novel contains “Batman” 667-669 and 672-675.  7 (25)

In “Batman RIP,” a club of master criminals have an elaborate plan to destroy the Batman, by convincing him of betrayal and making him doubt his own memory. Batman, however, has a plan.  Morrison and Tony Daniel are able to highlight much about the Dark Knight’s history as he’s thrown through the gauntlet by the Black Glove.  The collection contains “Batman” 676-683.  8 (33)

Batman RIP is followed, pretty much, by “Final Crisis,” also by Morrison, and though it’s not solely a “Batman” story, it does feature a key “Batman” element that you won’t want to miss.  The basic story is that Darkseid does seem as if he’ll manage to take over the universe and evil will triumph, but Batman makes a sacrifice near the end that has important consequences.   This book needs many, many annotations and is probably not for the uninitiated, but some hardcore Morrison fans love it.   Collection includes Final Crisis 1-7, Superman Beyond and Submit.  9 (42)

Morrison’s run has been analyzed extensively, and I encourage readers to dig more thoroughly into the story than what I have here.  It’s a fascinating piece of modern comics.  Morrison’s “Batman” stories continue in “Batman Incorporated.”

- Matt Price
Comics read in 2011: 1,799.  Still to go: 212.

"Justice League" No. 1, drawn by Kevin Maguire

AUSTIN, Texas — While Wizard World’s Austin Comic Con featured an array of movie and television stars, comics also were a focus at last weekend’s show. In attendance were Nathan Edmondson (“Who Is Jake Ellis?,” “Grifter”), Greg Capullo (“Batman”), Robert Wilson (“Knuckleheads,”) Kevin Maguire (“Justice League”) and Freddie Williams II (“Captain Atom”).

Maguire and Williams entertained fans and would-be creators in a panel aimed at sharing tips on breaking in to comics. Maguire, who’s been professionally drawing since the mid-1980s, cracked up the crowd, saying he wasn’t sure how he got in and couldn’t really explain how he’d stayed in the industry so long.

“I haven’t broken in since 1986; it’s so different now,” he said. “I’m just here to provide color commentary.”

Tanga in "My Greatest Adventure."

Maguire sent in samples in the early 1980s to Marvel. That led to his becoming part of Romita’s Raiders, an internship-type program at Marvel doing corrections and working with art director John Romita. During that time, he also sent samples to editor Andy Helfer at DC, which led to Maguire’s being offered a comic book at DC Comics.

“I did a book for DC called ‘Wild Card’ that was never published,” Maguire said. “On the strength of that, I got offered ‘Silver Surfer’ at Marvel. And to counter that, DC offered me ‘Justice League.’”

“Justice League,” written by Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis, became a best-seller in the late 1980s, featuring more humor than was typical for a superhero book of the time. Maguire’s expressively drawn faces were part of that.

“I do improv and acting on the side, just for fun, so I’m always thinking about, ‘What is the character feeling? How are they reacting to what’s going on?’” Maguire said. “How does that reflect how they stand, how they gesture, what’s going on with their face? To me, it just seems like an essential part of storytelling.”

Maguire currently is writing and drawing a story starring Tanga, a charming superpowered alien, in the anthology series “My Greatest Adventure.”

“I love writing my own stuff,” Maguire said. “It’s so much more satisfying for me to be telling my own stories and having my own sense of humor out there.”

- By Matthew Price
WORD BALLOONS
From Friday’s The Oklahoman

Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) announced today the upcoming launch of its second Downloadable Content (DLC) pack for DC Universe Online.  “Lightning Strikes,” set to be released worldwide later this year, will include  a new adventure with super-speedster The Flash.

The pack will launch simultaneously on the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Windows PC, and will also introduce the game’s eighth power set: electricity powers.

“In this DLC pack, fans have the opportunity to immerse themselves in another great character and action-packed story from the DC Universe,” said Jens Andersen, Creative Director for DC Universe Online, in a news release. “With exciting gameplay, a new power set and new locations to share with your friends, we packed a whole new kind of fun into this DLC pack and are eager for our players to dive into another legendary adventure.”

The pack will also feature The Flash-themed characters and content with new maps and features, including, as described by SOE:

Central City – An all-new map that offers players a more open world experience that provides on-going gameplay, with solo and group missions.

The Flash Museum Duo – Players can now experience the Central City of today and tomorrow. In The Flash Museum Duo, players can travel back in time to the very moment when Barry Allen became The Flash and battle foes inside the Central City Police Station!

Electricity Powers – Players now have the opportunity to get the new Electricity Power set for current and new characters. The new Electricity Power set allows players to leverage the lightning power of electricity and use new types of attacks in combat. Electricity Powers include the Tesla Ball, which creates a floating ball of electricity that zaps nearby enemies; the Shockwave, which shoots streams of electric bolts at enemies; and Ionic Drain, which drains energy from the environment to replenish a player’s health while simultaneously damaging surrounding enemies.

New Gear – Players can earn all-new gear sets including the new Zoom-inspired gear set for villains, and the new Black Lightning-inspired gear set for heroes.

New Characters – Lightning Strikes brings players new iconic DC Universe characters including Livewire, Black Lightning, The Top, The Trickster, Static and more. New characters — such as Livewire — will be featured as new “Inspired By” options for players who can choose to create a new character inspired by some of DC Universe’s legendary characters. Additional new characters — such as Black Lighting — serve as a bounty mission that players can fight if they choose to be a villain.

The pack will be free for “Legendary” players, and available for $9.99 for free and premium players through the PlayStation Network Store, through the in-game Marketplace and on PC from the DC Universe Online website.

- Matt Price

James Bond news, Dark Knight Rises preview coming, and Lord of the Rings gets a new videogame in this week’s Planet 46 Comics Podcast

JAMES BOND – SKYFALL IS COMING
The 23rd James Bond adventure will be titled SKYFALL. The film is directed by Academy Award winner Sam Mendes and stars Daniel Craig, who returns for his third film as James Bond 007. In production now, the film will begin its worldwide roll-out in the UK and Ireland on October 26th 2012 and in North America on November 9th 2012.
Cast members include Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Dame Judi Dench, Naomie Harris and Bérénice Marlohe. The filmmakers also announced Ralph Fiennes, Albert Finney and Ben Whishaw.

LORD OF THE RINGS: WAR IN THE NORTH RELEASED
War in the North follows three heroes on adventures hinted at, but never before seen in the books or films. The game features 3-player co-op and is based visually on Peter Jackson’s version of the Tolkien world. Trailer available here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuzWUbOBXq0&feature=pyv

DARK KNIGHT TRAILER IN DECEMBER?
On December 16, a six minute prologue for “The Dark Knight Rises” is set to debut on some IMAX showings of “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol.” Batman-on-Film and Batman-News report the first full trailer for “The Dark Knight Rises” could premiere on the same day, on Warner Bros. “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.”

REVIEW FILE: Hawk and Dove #3, Uncanny X-Men #1, Action Comics #3, New Mutants #33 and Fear Itself 7.1: Captain America.
Comics read in 2011: 1,661. Still to go: 350.

Young Justice Season One, Vol. 2 DVD

Superheroic proteges get top billing in “Young Justice,” the Cartoon Network animated series featuring Robin, Superboy, Aqualad, Kid Flash, Miss Martian and Artemis.

The second volume contains episodes 5-8 of season one. “Young Justice” focuses on teen superheroes who are trying to establish themselves to their mentors while at the same time dealing with some typical teen issues. They’re helped by the Justice League heroes, including Batman, Superman, Green Arrow, Red Tornado and Black Canary, who often provide insight or training to the young heroes.

In “Schooled,” Superman’s misunderstanding of Superboy (voiced by Nolan North) causes the Boy of Steel to try to take on a powerful villain alone.

Artemis (Stephanie Lemelin), whom Green Arrow introduces as his niece, makes her first appearance in “Infiltrator.”

Green Arrow’s former partner Red Arrow rescues a scientist building a high-tech hacking weapon for a group called the Shadows. He asks Young Justice to protect her so she can develop a virus to defeat her weapon.

Crispin Freeman brings a cool but serious vibe to Red Arrow, who has his suspicions about Artemis.

This episode provides some clever banter when the team is telepathically linked by Miss Martian (Danica McKellar), and each team member can overhear the others’ thoughts.

In “Denial,” the team is sent to rescue Kent Nelson, who in the past was mystic superhero Doctor Fate.

In the Aqualad-heavy episode “Downtime,” Batman (voiced by Bruce Greenwood) senses that Aqualad (Khary Payton) is distracted, and he fears his distraction could harm the team. He asks Aqualad to return to Atlantis, and determine whether he wants to stay there or to remain as the leader of Young Justice. Fans get information about Aqualad’s origins and find out about his reasons for wishing he had remained in Atlantis. Yuri Lowenthal voices Garth, who some will recognize as the original Aqualad in the comics.

The action is well-done, and the characters are developed well. Jason Spisak voices Wally West, aka Kid Flash, and Jesse McCartney provides the voice of Dick Grayson, aka Robin.

The release is bare bones, with the only extras being two trailers for other Warner products.

While you can argue with the release strategy of putting out the episodes on DVD four at a time, the content in “Season One, Vol. 2” is definitely worth watching for superhero fans.

— Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman

Batman: Year One Two-Disc Special Edition DVD

Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli’s “Batman: Year One” is a comic-book classic, recounting the early adventures of Batman and police Lt. James Gordon in a corrupt, crime-infested Gotham City. The story was originally serialized in issues 404 through 407 of DC Comics’ “Batman” title in 1987.

“Year One” has been influential in nearly all the Batman adaptations in other media since, including “Mask of the Phantasm” and Christopher Nolan’s “Batman Begins” and “The Dark Knight.” Miller’s darker takes on Batman in “Year One” and the earlier “Dark Knight Returns” were influential on the 1989 “Batman” film as well.

With so much history hanging on this story, there’s a lot for the direct-to-video animated adaptation to hold up. The extremely faithful adaptation, produced by Bruce Timm and co-directed by Lauren Montgomery and Sam Liu, succeeds as the best direct-to-video DC Comics movie to date.

The cast includes Ben McKenzie as Bruce Wayne/Batman, Bryan Cranston as James Gordon, Eliza Dushku as Selina Kyle/Catwoman and Katee Sackhoff as Sarah Essen. Cranston, whom many know from “Breaking Bad,” is a fantastic Gordon. “Year One” is Gordon’s story as much as it is Batman’s, and Cranston hits every emotion needed to pull off the complex character. Gordon’s a good man and a good cop; but Gotham City will put both of those characterizations to the test, as corruption and double-dealing test his faith and resolve.

Extras include a “Catwoman” short, written by Paul Dini; two Catwoman-centric episodes of previous “Batman” animated series; and a documentary on the importance of Miller and the “Year One” story to the Batman mythos.

— Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman

Hawk and Dove #3 (DC Comics)

Comics writer and Oklahoma native Sterling Gates returns to Norman on Wednesday to sign at Speeding Bullet Comics, 614 N Porter Ave. in Norman.

Gates will sign his books from 5 pm to 8 pm on Wednesday, Nov. 2.

Gates is writing “Hawk and Dove” as part of DC Comics’ “The New 52” line, which launched in September and set sales records. The New 52 is a company-wide relaunch, offering a new take on DC’s classic characters.  Gates is working with artist Rob Liefeld (“Youngblood”) on “Hawk and Dove.”  A preview of “Hawk and Dove” issue #3 is available at Hero Complex.

Other new Sterling Gates projects:
Captain Victory from Dynamite:  Captain Victory is a space epic based on the works of Jack Kirby.
Unite and Take Over:  Gates provided a story for this anthology based on the songs of the Smiths.
Gathering Vol. 6:  Gates wrote a story for this horror anthology comic.

Gates grew up in Tulsa and graduated from the University of Oklahoma.  He currently lives in Los Angeles.  For more information about the signing, call 405 360-6866 or visit www.speedingbulletcomics.com.

- Matt Price
Matt Price is one of the owners of Speeding Bullet Comics.

In 1992, “The Batman Adventures,” inspired by Batman: The Animated Series, began its run at DC Comics.  Originally planned as a six-issue miniseries, the comic went on to run for 36 issues plus three annuals.

I recently re-read issues 1-12 of the series, which provide accessible, enjoyable done-in-one Batman tales (with some continuing plots or subplots).

The first three issues feature various members of Batman’s rogues gallery being convinced to commit small crimes for another key villain.  Dick Grayson as Robin gets a prominent role in issues 4 and 5, featuring Scarecrow.  And issue 6 is a locked-room mystery that puts Bruce Wayne under arrest on a murder complaint.

According to the Comics Reporter, it’s the 63rd birthday of popular horror artist Bernie Wrightson.

He’s known as the co-creator of “Swamp Thing” and for his work on comic book titles from “House of Mystery” to “Batman: The Cult.”

I read “Batman/Aliens” from 1997 last night, a two-part series written by Ron Marz with art by Bernie Wrightson, and Wrightson does as well as anyone in making the alien creatures of the “Aliens” universe truly disturbing.

His work on “Creepy” and as an illustrator of “Frankenstein” have been reprinted in the past year, and are worth seeking out.  Wrightson has recently worked with writer Steve Niles on projects including “The Ghoul” and “Doc Macabre.”

- Matt Price
Comics read in 2011: 1,608  Still to go: 403.

Hayley Atwell is on the Planet 46 NewsOK Comics Podcast; a Punisher TV pilot is in the works; and you could win Robot Chicken season 5.

CAPTAIN AMERICA ON DVD/HAYLEY ATWELL ON THE PLANET 46 COMICS PODCAST
Hayley Atwell plays British agent Peggy Carter in “Captain America: The First Avenger.”
Atwell talked about doing a lot of training to become Agent Carter, but also about keeping the character sophisticated.
“We looked at kind of old Hollywood glamour, the Lauren Bacalls, and the pencil skirts of the 40s, and found a way to make the uniform look practical and strong, but also sexy and sophisticated as well,” she said.
She’s also looking forward to seeing her pal Chris Evans in “The Avengers.” She said the two of them got on very well on-set.
“He was great fun. We hung out a lot. He’s a really smart guy, and I thought he brought so much sensitivity to this role. Not just the physical aspect of it, which he obviously was clearly capable of doing, but then you see there’s quite a sensitive side to what Chris can do as an actor. And he was a gentleman, and he was very sweet. I felt like one of the guys being around him, but I also felt looked after by him. He’s had a lot more experience working with Hollywood than I have.”

ROBOT CHICKEN SEASON 5 GIVEAWAY
The Planet 46 Comics Podcast is giving away Season 5 of Robot Chicken, featuring 20 uncensored episodes from the series’ two-part fifth season, including nine never-before-seen episodes and sketches fueled by the series’ signature pop culture parodies. They are also stocked with hours and hours of bonus materials ranging from deleted scenes and episode commentary with celebrity guests, to behind-the-scenes featurettes. Plus, the series’ 100th episode is included on this release.
Want to win a copy? Tell us who is your favorite celebrity guest voice on Robot Chicken!
Chris Evans, Jon Favreau, Stan Lee, Hulk Hogan, Kristin Chenoweth, Bruce Campbell, James Marsden, David Hasselhoff, Vanessa Hudgens, Scarlett Johansson,
Dean Cain, Dom DeLuise, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Rosario Dawson and more have all appeared on the show.

PUNISHER TV SHOW
Deadline reports Fox has handed a put pilot commitment to The Punisher, a series based on the Marvel comic from Ed Bernero and ABC Studios. The show is described as an hour-long procedural with a Marvel Comics twist.
It’s not the only comic-book show that may arrive on FOX — the network is also developing “The Spectre.”

REVIEW FILE:
Justice League #2, Batman #2, Cold War #1, Fear Itself #7, Avengers #18
Comics read in 2011: 1606. Still to go: 405

Lois Lane and Clark Kent discuss daily journalism in the “Superman” #2 preview provided by DC Comics to the Wall Street Journal. The preview reveals that Lois Lane has been promoted to an executive position at The Daily Planet.

“Superman” #2 is written by George Perez, who also provides the art breakdowns and cover.  Art is by Jesus Merino.  The issue goes on sale Wednesday.

- Matt Price