The New 52

Superman’s origin as the last son of Krypton transplanted to Smallville is now a familiar one, retold many times during the past several decades, on the big screen, the small screen, radio and in the pages of comics. In the Moses-like tale, Jor-El, a scientist on the planet Krypton, rockets his infant son Kal-El to Earth moments before the planet explodes. Light years away in Smallville, Kan., John and Martha Kent find a baby in a farm field, name him Clark and raise him as their son. But “Superman” No. 0, written by Scott Lobdell and illustrated by Kenneth Rocafort, shows a previously untold segment in this origin story. The issue follows his father, Jor-El, as he learns the truth about Krypton’s imminent destruction. Hero Complex readers get a sneak peek at the first six pages of the comic, which […]

This (almost-over) year marked the 55th anniversary of  the most famous Flash of them all, Barry Allen, who was billed as the fastest man alive in the DC Universe but also represented  a graceful and historic herald announcing the Silver Age at DC. There’s been a sense of tragedy connected with character for decades now — themes of fate, sacrifice and death have become major threads in his story tapestry — so it’s no surprise to see a cemetery scene in the pages of “The Flash” No. 4, which arrives on stands next week. We’ve got an exclusive preview (you can quick-click through the pages above or find the links below that lead to larger images)  of the issue, which presents the origin of the mysterious villain called Mob Rule — as well as an intriguing, wintry mood. Cover | Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | […]

Hollywood is working on new movies featuring Superman and Batman and they will give the iconic DC heroes 16 theatrically released feature films between them. But Wonder Woman, the third most famous name in the DC vault, will celebrate her 70th anniversary this December with exactly zero feature films as well as the lingering ignominy of the live-action television pilot that NBC and Warner Bros financed but then deemed too awful to air. What’s the problem? That’s one question our Geoff Boucher asked writer Brian Azzarello and artist Cliff Chiang, the new creative team chronicling the adventures of the Amazon princess in the pages of DC Comics. The pair, who took over the title under The New 52 initiative to revamp or revitalize their entire DC line,  caused a stir right away by changing the heroine’s classic origins story  and giving her something that she’s never had in any of […]

In the halcyon days of mid-1960s counter-culture, Marvel Comics was the obvious comic book publisher of choice on college campuses. DC was the staid old guard, Marvel, the groovy, cosmic alternative. A reflexive course correction by the establishment to skew edgy led DC to some nutty stuff — including “The Hawk and the Dove,” the politically polarized siblings with the on-the-nose names who first appeared in 1968. Brothers Hank and Don Hall received their powers from the Lords of Chaos and Order; Hank was aggressive and strong as Hawk, and Don was pacifist and logical as Dove. When Don died in 1985′s “Crisis on Infinite Earths,” a woman named Dawn Granger was endowed with his power and became the other half of the “Hawk & Dove” duo. The pair underwent several incarnations in the following decades, with Hawk often straddling […]

Aquaman should be riding a big wave this year — this is the 70th anniversary of the deep-sea character and his own title was relaunched in September with superstar writer Geoff Johns at the helm — but I have a sinking feeling that we’re watching the King of the Seven Seas truly become the punch line persona of the DC Universe. We have an exclusive preview of the second issue  above (and you can find larger versions of the images below) and, just like the first issue, every page drips with humor and all of it is aimed at Aquaman and his considerable character heritage, be it the orange shirt, the power to talk to fish or the second-string super-hero status. Clearly, Aquaman has been defeated by his greatest foe: “Entourage.” In comics through the decades, the personality of Aquaman has veered widely; for years […]

Next year marks the 70th anniversary of Mister Terrific, the comic book character with a truly awful fashion sense, even by mystery-men standards of the Roosevelt years (Mr. T rocked a Christmas color scheme and the words “Fair Play” emblazoned across his abdomen). Maybe it’s no coincidence he had no real traction in the public imagination. In 1997 the name was adopted by a very different character in the DC Universe and now, with The New 52 initiative, there’s another rebirth of a sort with cosmic overtones. We have an exclusive preview of issue No. 2, which hits stands in upcoming weeks and features the first appearance of a new villain, Brainstorm, who has nasty ideas about our beloved Los Angeles.  Click through the gallery above, or use the links below to see larger versions. Cover | Page 1-2 | Page 3 | Page 4 | Page 5 – Geoff Boucher RECENT […]

Scott Snyder, a rising star in comics, worked with horror writer Stephen King on “American Vampire,” Snyder’s ongoing Vertigo series. Hero Complex contributor Travis Walecka caught up with Snyder to chat about the series, about horror in general and about King, who today announced “Dr. Sleep,” a sequel to “The Shining,” in a three-part interview. In Part One of the interview, Snyder talked about “Swamp Thing,” one of two revered titles under DC’s relaunch. His second title, “Batman,” is the topic of Part Two of the interview. This is Part Three, the final installment. TW: Horror plays a big role in your books. Where did you get this wild imagination? SS: I don’t know, man. I feel like I watched too many horror movies as a kid. Growing up in Manhattan on East 23rd Street, there was a video store […]

Scott Snyder, the creative force behind the ongoing series “American Vampire,” has been handed the keys to two revered titles under the new DC re-launch: “Batman” and “Swamp Thing.” Hero Complex contributor Travis Walecka caught up with Snyder to chat about his plans for both series. This is Part Two of the interview. Read Part One here. TW: Batman, Aquaman and Superman all appear in “Swamp Thing No. 1,” and you’re also writing “Batman.” Will there be a crossover between your two books? SS: Well, Batman and Swamp Thing, they may hold off for a little bit for a while, only because we want to give them each a chance to establish themselves in their little universes for the first year. But they are in a shared universe, so you’ll see things that will happen in “Swamp Thing” affect other characters […]

Aquaman may be the King of the Seven Seas, but he’s often been one of the most underappreciated heroes in the Justice League, and even in the DC Universe. Someone appreciates him, though, and in fact, is throwing him a 70th birthday party Sunday. The Shrine Auditorium is the host of the shindig, thrown fittingly by the Aquaman Shrine — a site dedicated to all things Aquaman. Attendees are said to include Dan Abnett, Tony Bedard, Kurt Busiek, Nick Cardy, J.M. DeMatteis, Ramona Fradon, Pat Gleason, Dan Jurgens, Paul Levitz and Joe Prado. The marine telepathic hero will receive his relaunch — part of the New 52 initiative — on Wednesday. Sunday is not Arthur’s actual birthday, which according to the DC Comics calendar, is Jan. 29.  This is the day that his first appearance hit stands, in “More Fun […]

“We were supposed to rule the world, Andrew, not hide in the shadows like vermin.” That line from the first issue of DC’s “I, Vampire” speaks to the most popular conflict inside the crowded coffin that is contemporary vampire fiction.  Are vampires destined to be the loner predators at the edge of the human herd? Or should they be emperors sipping arterial wine from golden chalices? It’s a conflict that powers plenty of bloodsucker mythology and now it will be added to the costumed-hero universe of DC with the release of “I, Vampire.” The series from writer Joshua Fialkov and artist Andrea Sorrentino is part of the horror infusion that has arrived in the DC Universe with The New 52 initiative. We have an exclusive preview of “I, Vampire” above. – Geoff Boucher RECENT AND RELATED Nightwing and Captain Atom take off Desperate DC? Heroic hopes for digital ‘Swamp Thing’: […]