Batman Day is Swinging Into Stores June 23rd!

As part of the celebrations for 75 Years of the Dark Knight, DC Entertainment announced that this June 23rd will be Batman Day. Working with thousands of comic shops and bookstores, throughout the United States, a special edition of Detective Comics #27 will be distributed freely, re-imagining the original from 1939 in which the character made his debut.

The script will be by Brad Meltzer and all the art is the responsibility of Chip Kidd.

Also, the stores will have all kinds of collectibles available, including a commemorative cape, book marks with the most important graphic novels of the character and four masks created by artist Ryan Sook, who used famous interpretations of The Batman, like the first appearance, the 1960s television series and the graphic novel The Dark Knight Returns.

On the same day, Robin Rises- Omega #1 , by Peter Tomasi and Andy Kubert, and Grayson # 1, by Tim Seeley and Mikel Janin, will both be released.

The publisher plans to release the special edition of Detective Comics #27 for a free download.

(Original Article: DC declara 23 de julho como o Dia do Batman, written by Samir Naliato on May 13, 2014. Republished and translated with permission by UniversoHQ.) 

Culture of Comics already detailed some of DC's Bat-Celebration efforts including commemorative covers and animated shorts on Cartoon Network. Son of Batman came out last week on DVD with Batman: Assault on Arkham arriving in August. Gotham will be on Fox this fall, Mondays at 8.

Comics Invade TV

While X-Box, Netflix, and Playstation are developing comic book inspired content, the airwaves will not be without for the 2014-2015 television season.


Matt Ryan (Criminal Minds) will star in Constantine, “Master of the occult” and attuned to all things mystical, John Constantine is a demon hunter by profession and a disagreeable character by personality. The series starts when an old friend’s daughter, Liv (Lucy Griffiths) is kidnapped by a demon. The two team up to face the forces of darkness and straddle the line between hero and antihero. The series is produced by Daniel Cerone (The Mentalist) and David S. Goyer (Batman Begins). Constantine is set to air 10 pm on Fridays on NBC this fall.








Constantine had a self titled movie in 2005, starring Keanu Reeves in the title role. John Constantine was created by Alan Moore (V for Vendetta, Watchmen) during his run on Swamp Thing. He was created out of a desire from the artists to draw a character who looked like singer-songwriter Sting. The character won his own series, Hellblazer, shortly after.





Gotham is a prequel to Batman. Detective James Gordon (Ben McKenzie of The OC) and Harvey Bullock (Daniel Logue) are investigating the murder of Thomas and Martha Wayne. Alfred Pennyworth (Sean Pertwee) is taking care of the newly orphaned Bruce Wayne (a young David Mazouz). Villians are also seen in their infancy. Oswald Cobblepot (Robin Lord Taylor), Edward Nygma (Cory Michael Smith), Ivy (Clare Foley), and Selina Kyle (Camren Bicondova) are all present on the promotional poster with teasers for The Joker. Jada Pinkett Smith will appear as Fish Mooney the crime lord and Zabryna Guevara will play Captain Sarah Essen, important to the Gotham PD mythos. Bullock’s partner, fan favorite Renee Montoya, is confirmed to be on the show. Gotham is coming to Fox soon.









Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. was granted a second season. With that comes Agent Carter, a crime and espionage series set in the 1940s. Peggy Carter, played by Hayley Atwell, was first seen in Captain America working for the Strategic Scientific Reserve. Agent Carter was a “Marvel One Shot” packaged in with Iron Man 3. Carter was invited by Howard Stark (Dominic Cooper) to co-head the newly minted S.H.I.E.L.D.. Dominic Cooper and Hayley Atwell will reprise their roles, and the show has involvement from the writers of the Captain America films: Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely. Tara Butters and Michele Fazekas act as show runners. Agent Carter will debut along with Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. in the fall on ABC.




iZombie will premiere on The CW by producers Rob Thomas (Veronica Mars, 90210) and Diane Ruggiero (Veronica Mars). The characters names and stories have been changed. The zombie main character is Liv, portrayed by Rose McIver (Power Rangers:RPM, Once Upon a Time). Robert Buckley (One Tree Hill) will play her involved ex. Alexandra Krosney (Last Man Standing, Transformers Prime) as Peyton, David Anders (Once Upon a Time, The Vampire Diaries) as Blaine, and Jenna Berman as Monica will also star. The series is loosely based on the source material. iZombie was published by Vertigo in 2010, by Chris Roberson and Michael Allred. In the comics, Gwen Dylan is a “revenant”(zombie) and gravedigger who makes friends with a ghost from the 1960s, Ellie, and a were-terrier, Scott. The series was nominated for an Eisner.




Another new series, The Flash, will air on The CW this fall. Grant Gustin stars as The Flash (Barry Allen). Iris West (Candice Patton) will play a big role as well. Killer Frost, Professor Zoom, and Vibe “inspired” characters will also have notable roles in the series. Gustin first appeared as Allen/Flash in Arrow’s second season in “The Scientist” and “Three Ghosts”. The two shows are set in the same universe and share executive producers Greg Berlanti and Andrew Kreisberg. The pilot was co-written with DC’s chief creative officer Geoff Johns (Green Lantern, Justice League). Barry Allen ushered in the Silver Age of Comics when he took over the role of The Flash in Showcase #4 (1956) by Robert Kanigher, John Broome, and Carmine Infantino. Arrow, starting Steven Amell as Oliver Queen (Green Arrow), was renewed for a third season back in February. Green Arrow first appeared in More Fun Comics #73 in 1941 by Mort Weisinger and George Papp.



The Walking Dead on AMC will spin off with a series focusing on another corner of The Walking Dead universe. With a completely new location, and a new cast, the still untitled series will be produced by creator Robert Kirkman, Walking Dead’s Gale Anne Hurd, and Dave Erickson (Sons of Anarchy, Low Winter Sun). Season five of The Walking Dead is scheduled to begin in October.

The Year of the Bat

If you walk into a comic book shop in July and see all Batman covers…don’t be fooled! DC is honoring Batman’s 75th anniversary in July by printing special edition covers on twenty one publications, Batman centric and otherwise. So far Jim Steranko, Kevin Nowlan, Klaus Janson, Walt Simonson, Graham Nolan, Cliff Chiang, Sean Murphy, Dave Johnson, Dan Jurgens, and Mike Kaluta have been announced, with more announcements on the way. Variant issues are nothing new, Marvel and DC have celebrated with line-wide special covers for various events (Lego versions, anniversaries, and breast cancer awareness).

The covers will appear on these titles:

ACTION COMICS #33
AQUAMAN #33
BATGIRL #33
BATMAN #33
BATMAN AND ROBIN #33
BATMAN/SUPERMAN #13
BATWOMAN #33
DETECTIVE COMICS #33
EARTH 2 #25
GRAYSON #1
GREEN LANTERN #33
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #33
HARLEY QUINN #8
JUSTICE LEAGUE #33
JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #33
JUSTICE LEAGUE UNITED #3
SUPERMAN #33
SUPERMAN/WONDER WOMAN #10
TEEN TITANS #1
THE FLASH #33
WONDER WOMAN #33

Comics legend Jim Steranko's cover art to Detective Comics #33 out in July(DC Comics)

The special comics can be found at comic book stores. Find the closest comic book shop near you at Comic Shop Locator!(US and Canada only, sorry!)



DC animation is also celebrating Batman’s 75th. Bruce Timm(creator of the beloved Batman: The Animated Series and spin off series, including Justice League) produced a short in celebration. The short sets batman in the 1930s atmosphere he was created in. Watch the “Batman: Strange Days” below featuring the original voice actor, Kevin Conroy.

Darwyn Cooke, best known for The New Frontier miniseries showing the age of heroes among Kennedy’s administration, got his start storyboarding for the Batman cartoons. He animated the opening title sequence for Batman Beyond. Cooke returned to animation to produce a special Batman Beyond film, seen below, Conroy plays a retired Bruce Wayne and Terry McGinnis, the Batman of the future, is played by Will Friedle. 

If you were looking to celebrate Batman’s 75th, Bleeding Cool News published a feature about the 8 best Batman stories, results may vary.

Batman first appeared in 1939's Detective Comics # 27, created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger.

Spandex and the Stage: Super-heroic Performances

More news has been released about the comic spectacular starting  this summer. But you won't only find your favorite superheroes in the pages of comic books; they are touring the United States! So far, 3 night engagements have been scheduled for 55 cities, with 10 other US cities “coming soon” as well as a promise for Canadian cities. The tour starts in Tampa Bay, Florida on July 10^th. Ticket prices range from $40-$120 plus ticketing fees. Click here to see the city closest to you! Dates go until 2016.

In the stage show Spider-man, Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, Thor, Nick Fury, Hawkeye, Black Widow and X-Men Wolverine and Storm battle Green Goblin and Loki. Advertised as :“a mind-blowing, live-action arena experience, featuring the greatest Marvel super heroes and villains,” the show boasts new special effects and technology. Marvel Universe Live is produced by Field Entertainment- the ones who tour Ringling Bros Barnum and Baily's Circus, Monster Jam and Disney on Ice. 

Marvel is not a stranger to stage shows.Their Broadway show just ended in early January. Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark premiered June 14, 2011 at the New York Foxwoods Theatre. Bono and The Edge wrote the music and the script is a collaboration between playwright Glen Berger, comic book writer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and director Julie Taymor(Across the Universe, Broadway’s The Lion King). The play was plagued with bad luck and went down in history as being the most expensive Broadway production. It is now being adapted for the Las Vegas stage, opening next year. 

DC already has experience in the stage show. Batman Live Arena Tour premiered July 2011 in England, followed by Brazil, Argentina and Chile, then finally going on a North American tour in 2012…ending December 2012 due to low sales. The Arena show was well received and had great special effects and a pretty diverse cast of characters(Batman, Alfred, Dick Grayson/Robin, Commissioner Gordon, Joker, Harley Quinn, Penguin, Riddler, Two Face, Scarecrow, and Catwoman), as well as complex scenery and ,of course, a heavily featured Batmobile. 

Both publishers have stakes in the theme park industry, as well. DC partnering up with Six Flags and Marvel Comics have been a mainstay at Universal Studios Islands of Adventure. As most theme parks, the costumed superheroes are among the attractions to greet guests and pose for a photo. Marvel has recently been bought by The Walt Disney Company. So, who knows? Maybe we can see Spider-man walking around Main Street USA at Disney World in the near future...

"Based on _________" Comics as a Second Medium

Licensed comic books are nothing new. Take a popular movie, TV show, toy line or even video game and try to sell a comic based off it.Often less long lasting than in house publications, licensed properties add an  extra, and more complicated step-owner approval. Rarely making required reading lists, it is an uphill battle.

IDW, Boom Studios,Dark Horse and Archie have been recent masters of expanding on the source material, rather than strictly portraying the story they are adapting. IDW has GI Joe, My Little Pony, Transformers(all owned by Hasbro) ,Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles(Nickelodeon/Viacom) and the Cartoon Network properties. Boom Studios’ Kaboom imprint has Peanuts, Adventure Time, Garfield, and Regular Show. Dark Horse just lost Star Wars but still has Avatar: The Last Airbender, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Planet of the Apes and Alien among others.  Archie’s Sonic the Hedgehog(Sega) series has outlasted all the redesigns and is currently releasing its 256^th issue and Mega Man is on issue 30.

DC Comics

In the past few years, DC and Marvel have been finding a new audience in TV viewers. DC released a Vampire Diaries digital first series last year. Marvel released a graphic novel based on the popular Disney’s Once Upon A Time. Like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, DC is continuing Batman Beyond and Smallville.  DC made headlines last year when they revived Batman ’66, a new take on the pop culture phenomenon staring Adam West and Burt Ward. This capitalizes on fans who enjoy the shows and want more of it and may not be regulars at the comic book store. The instant gratification of digital gives the comics less risk, buy and try for 99 cents.

Newcomer Lion Forge Comics signed an exclusive deal with NBCUniversal last summer. Showcasing digital only stories based on Knight Rider and Airwolf(Miami Vice coming soon) the publisher is quickly churning out material, among in-house properties as well. The comics are mainly sold on Amazon for use on the Kindle, but can also be purchased on the apple iBooks store. The digital publisher announced plans for an all ages imprint: ROAR Comics, starting with Punky Brewster and Saved by the Bell available soon.

Lion Forge/NBCUniversal

Nostalgia is a huge business with today’s culture and comic book adaptions are here to stay, for better or worse. What properties would you like to see revived in comic books? 

Best news of the week- 1/19-1/25

*DC Comics released their April Solicitations. With that comes the news that six titles are ending. Nothing new with the revolving door that has been the New52's out with the old, in with more new number 1's. Among the cancelled are four of the original titles (Nightwing, Teen Titans, Stormwatch, and Suicide Squad), Superman Unchained, as well as the phased out Justice League of America(Upgrading to Justice League United).
*Batman takes over with a weekly series that is planned to run for 52 weeks. Batman Eternal is set to be written by Kyle Higgins(Nightwing), Scott Snyder(Batman, Superman Unchained), Tim Seeley(Hack/Slash), Ray Fawkes(Constantine, Justice League Dark), James Tynion IV(Red Hood and the Outlaws, Talon), and a brief stint with John Layman(Chew, Planetary).
 *World's Finest also confirmed the all ages Beware the Batman comic is ending its run prematurely with issue 6. Cartoon Network has yet to announce when the animated series is returning.

Valiant Entertainment

*DC quietly released a direct to video animated special this past Tuesday in an exclusive deal with Target stores. Director Giancarlo Volpe (Green Lantern the Animated Series) returns to lead a medley of voice talent and superheroes in this 55 minute movie, updated from a classic Superfriends episode. Read Volpe's interview with comicbook.com here!

*"Anyone can be killed" is something any comic book fan would roll their eyes at. But, Valiant Entertainment is promising "dead is dead" in their two year old universe. A main character of their team book Harbinger is going to bite the bullet. Read more at USA Today. 

*Astute Ninja Turtles fans have found what could be the first picture portraying how the turtles will appear in the new film (directed be Jonathan Liebesman with Megan Fox as April O' Neil). This Michelangelo children's costume has pants, sunglasses, tattoos and dog tags. 

Aniplex/Cartoon Network

IDW/ Cartoon Network

 *The Powerpuff Girls returned to TV this week for a special which aired Monday on Cartoon Network. IDW got some flack for an upcoming variant cover which "sexualized" the young superheroes and Cartoon Network quickly pulled the plug on the cover. Meanwhile, the brand already had success with a more grown up appearance overseas with their Powerpuff Girls Z anime.

Grant Morrison's Robin returns in new animated feature

In 2006, DC Comics made waves contracting Grant Morrison to take the reigns of Batman.  The  world renowned Scottish author, scribe of such works as All Star Superman, JLA, The Invisibles, We3, New X-Men, The Authority and countless other works started his Dark Knight tenure by introducing an illegitimate son,  Damian, the lovechild of Bruce Wayne and a terrorist’s daughter, Talia al Ghul.

Much of Morrison’s off and on story line involves Damian coming to terms with who he is as a human as well as who he is within the Batman family, forming strong bonds with Bruce and the original Robin, Dick Grayson. Damian assumes the role of the fifth in continuity Robin. The Bat-family saw many changes over the years, but Grant Morrison welcomed and referenced the changes, culminating in his two volume, Batman Incorporated- a celebration of the varied cast that Batman has met over his 70+ years as the caped crusader.

In 2011, DC editorial decided to revamp their whole universe, relaunching fifty two new series with unstable ties to the past. Grant Morrison (promoted to Action Comics(Superman) writer), was given mostly free reign when he restarted his Batman Incorporated series, picking up almost seamlessly from the past continuity. His 7 year tenure ended this past  July with Inc.’s issue 13, effectively taking his toys and going home. For now, Damian Wayne is out of service (save for the four issue miniseries taking place in an uncertain future…comics are complicated).

 Damian was a breath of fresh air in the sidekick position. More cunning, rebellious and dangerous than his wide eyed teen counterparts, the child quickly grew on readers. It came as no surprise when DC Animation announced an animated adaptation of Morrison’s first Bat-tale, Batman and Son- featuring the introduction of Damian. This Direct to DVD movie will be available this Spring. The cast has been announced but the production crew is still unknown.

If this movie is anything like the two-part The Dark Knight Returns adaptation of Frank Miller’s  1986 classic reinventing the art of the graphic novel…it will do well. But, I have a feeling most of the public will buy this while asking the question, “Batman has a son?”

In the meantime, I recommend checking out “Batman and Son” available at bookstores, comic book stores or on Amazon. I am waiting for an omnibus that will collect the whole Batman, Inc series; no doubt DC will release it this year in the absence of new Morrison Batman stories.

Check out the trailer for the movie here!
Update 1/22/2014
Warner Bros Animation has confirmed that the DVD is to be released on  Tuesday May 6, 2014. This will be following Free Comic Book Day weekend and the opening of The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Seems to be a great time to be a comic book fan! Check out the cover art!

Warner Bros Animation/DC Entertainment