Born Again Comic Nerd

The “Night of the Owls” is coming this May, pitting the extended Bat-family against the deadly Court of Owls. A shadowy secret society with roots that date back to Gotham City’s earliest history, the Court employs a cadre of timeless, sinister assassins known as Talons to execute its malevolent will.

Even the BATMAN back-up features its own Talon, brought to life by artist Rafael Albuquerque. “I’ve tried to bring a clerical look,” he said. “Ceremonial, but also, something an assassin could use. Needless to say that I’ve followed what Greg awesomely did on the original Talon design, but also tried to do something different, with more leather than metal, and a cloak, to resemble almost a religious look to him.”

So whilst at the London Super Comic Con yesterday, i felt a little bad that i had missed out of Stan Lee tickets, i mean, how many opportunities will you get to meet Stan ‘The Man’. whilst quing to meet Mr Mark Bucingham, a huge crowd began to grow in the stall to the left of me. The reason being was that Stan Lee was having a walk around the con. tried to lean in a get a picture, but there were just to many people. So after seeing him get his picture taken with The Black Cat i decided to give up. Whilst heading back to the line,i got bumped aside by a few people, and bumped in to someone, i turned round and it was Big Stan. i looked nervousley at his security, then Stan looked at me and said “Sorry” and i quickly to a snap, i mean, i would have been rude not to, right?.

While at the London Super Comic Con, I had to go and have a chat with Brian Bolland about one of my favourite books, The Killing Joke, and to grab a sneaky autograph while i was there.

Continuing on my current theme of getting sketches done. He is a snap of Mr David Lloyd co-creator and illustrator of V for Vendetta, doing a sketch of V for me

As a huge Fables fan, i was super excited to get a sketch of Rose Red from Mr Mark Buckingham at the London Super Comic Con yesterday.

Here is a lovely picture of Mr George Perez doing a custom Batman sketch for me at the London Super Comic Con yesterday.

Marvel Comics and MTV have announced a new online documentary called Avengers Vs. X-Men: War Journals. The video series will go behind the scenes of the upcoming comic book event where the Avengers battle the X-Men.
Avengers Vs. X-Men: War Journals will go inside Marvel offices, creative retreats, key planning meetings and creator studios. The episodes will start appearing on MTV.com beginning on March 28, 2012.
“This is the biggest story Marvel’s ever told and we’re excited to partner with MTV for a special look at how Avengers VS X-Men came together,” said Axel Alonso, who is Editor In Chief of Marvel Comics. “We’ve never shown just what goes on in our top secret meetings—from the development of our best ideas to heated debates—and this is the first time fans will see just how it all goes down, along with new insights into key moments of this series.”

“Since launch, MTV Geek has been committed to providing the ultimate access and coverage and can’t wait to present fans this inside look at Marvel’s creative process,” said MTV Digital Executive Producer Tom Akel. “The characters and talent involved in Avengers Vs X-Men are iconic and we’ll be with them every step of the way to chronicle the making of this epic event.”
Avengers Vs X-Men #1 is scheduled to arrive in comic book stores on April 4, 2012. The series will run for twelve issues and talent involved includes Brian Bendis, Jason Aaron, Matt Fraction, Jonathan Hickman, Ed Brubaker, John Romita JR, Olivier Coipel & Adam Kubert.

Today, DC Comics via its blog The Source, released a new teaser image by Ian Churchill for the New 52’s “Second Wave” book “The Ravagers” written by Howard Mackie. Likely the cover for “The Ravagers” #1, Churchill’s image features Caitlin “Red” Fairchild as the central figure, flanked by five other characters — including a powered-up individual on the right who bears a striking resemblance to the Legion of Superheroes’ Timber Wolf.

Earlier this week, the publisher announced “Teen Titans Annual” #1 as part of a crossover in May between Lobdell’s “Teen Titans” #9 and “Superboy” #9 and Tom DeFalco’s “Legion Lost” #9 and would help provide context for Lobdell and Churchill’s “The Ravagers” #1. Lobdell expounded on the content of the annual issue, teasing the interaction between Superboy, the Titans and the Legion.

“You know how comics used to have cover copy that read ‘This issue has it all!’… then you’d read the issue and, well, it had some but not all? Well this Annual really does have it all!” Lobdell told The Source. “We finally get to see the oft-mentioned Colony — where the N.O.W.H.E.R.E. leader named Harvest has been keeping the hundred or so teenagers (did I say hundred?!) for who-knows-how-long. We get to see the Teen Titans in pitched battle against the Legion Lost (You can understand why Red Robin is skeptical about a team of teenagers claiming to come from the 30th Century, and why Tyroc is scratching his head over the existence of a team that — according to the history progs — is still some eight years away from being formed!). Then there’s the introduction of half the roster of the new ‘Ravagers’ series! It has been eight issues since Red Robin threw down the gauntlet to Harvest, and now we’re going to see if the Teen Titans have what it takes to shut down N.O.W.H.E.R.E. once and for all! Yes, there’s a reason why this story could only take place in an annual — because there is just too much story to be contained in one of the monthly books!”

“The Ravagers” #1 and the crossover between “Teen Titans,” “Superboy” and “Legion Lost” launches in May

In one of the closing scenes of last May’s Smallville series finale, Chloe Sullivan tells her Superman-worshipping son, “There will always be more adventures for another day.” That day is about to arrive, thanks to a new comic-book series that picks up where the long-running show left off. On April 13, DC Comics launches Smallville Season 11 in digital format (and later in print collections).

Season 11 begins six months after Clark Kent defeated Darkseid and stopped the planet Apokolips from crashing into Earth. He’s now settling into life as the Man of Steel while continuing to carry on his dual identity as a mild-mannered reporter at the Daily Planet. “It’s Clark’s first year as Superman,” says writer Bryan Q. Miller, who was also a writer on the TV show and has previously scripted DC’s Teen Titans and Batgirl comics. “He’s riding the high of everything working out so far. And he enjoys that he can stop and shake hands with folks after he saves them.”

Don’t expect the good times to last forever. Lex Luthor — brought back from the dead as Smallville ended but wiped of his memories, including that Clark is super-powered alien — will be one of Superman’s main adversaries in the series. “Most people are thrilled that Superman saved the world by moving a planet out of the way,” Miller says, “but Lex and a handful of others are concerned that there’s a guy out there who can move planets.”

Fans of the TV show will no doubt be thrilled to see many of the supporting cast featured prominently in the story. “It’s a continuation of the lives of characters seen weekly over the course of 10 years,” Miller says. “It’s an ensemble book with Clark Kent at the core. Clark just so happens to now be Superman.” That ensemble includes Lois Lane, his fiancé and fellow reporter; his childhood best friend, Chloe; and Oliver Queen, aka the Green Arrow. As was teased in the finale, Chloe and Ollie are now married. (In fact, she’s going by the name Chloe Sullivan-Queen.)

The first arc of Smallville Season 11 is scheduled to include 12 chapters, which will be available via the DC Comics app on Apple, Android and Windows mobile devices, as well as online at read.dccomics.com. The first print edition goes on sale May 16 and will collect the opening four chapters, along with an episode guide to the TV show. The digital covers (including the one pictured above) are the work of artist Cat Staggs, while Gary Frank will handle the print covers. Pere Pérez, who worked with Miller on the Batgirl comic, will handle the interior art

Here’s an exclusive look at the first print edition cover, by artist Gary Frank

DC Direct, the exclusive collectibles division of DC Entertainment, announced today an extensive line-up of new collectibles based on flagship publishing and film initiatives. Leading into New York Toy Fair, DC Direct unveiled two new collectible statues based on character art from the recently announced BEFORE WATCHMEN, a series of all-new stories that expand on the universe of best-selling graphic novel, WATCHMEN. Prototypes for Rorschach and Comedian statues will be unveiled at the show, kicking off the new BEFORE WATCHMEN product line that will go on sale later this year, exclusively from DC Direct.

Also announced today is an extensive line-up of THE DARK KNIGHT RISES collectibles based on characters from the highly-anticipated upcoming Warner Bros. film. The line includes statues, busts and action figures based on iconic characters from the film including Batman, Catwoman and Bane.

“The DC Direct team has put together an amazing line-up for 2012,” stated Geoff Johns, Chief Creative Officer for DC Entertainment. “THE DARK KNIGHT RISES and BEFORE WATCHMEN lines are especially exciting, and the team has set the bar high as far as creative execution. We’re proud and psyched to share these collectibles with the world at Toy Fair. This is the tip of the iceberg with what we’ve got planned for DC Direct this year and beyond.”

DC Direct product descriptions include:

BEFORE WATCHMEN Rorschach – 9” resin statue
BEFORE WATCHMEN Comedian – 9” resin statue
THE DARK KNIGHT RISES Batman Icon – 13” resin statue
THE DARK KNIGHT RISES Catwoman Icon – 7” resin statue
THE DARK KNIGHT RISES Bane Icon – 12.5” resin statue