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Warner Bros. has been trying for years to make its DC Comics movies a big hit, but nothing has really worked so far. For decades, different executives promised to make DC’s superheroes like Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman just as popular as Marvel’s stars.

But because of behind-the-scenes problems and creative clashes, DC never quite reached that level of success.

Now, the studio is trying again with a fresh start. The new Superman movie coming out this week is the centerpiece of their plan to bring DC back to life. Warner Bros. hopes this film will earn over $500 million worldwide.

While that’s less than Marvel’s biggest hits, it would still count as a strong success for DC. The movie is also meant to kick off a new DC movie universe. After Superman, there are plans for a Supergirl spin-off, a Green Lantern TV show, and more Batman movies.

Warner Bros. has been trying for years to make its DC Comics movies a huge success, but nothing has really worked out. Despite many promises from different executives, DC heroes like Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman have never quite reached the same level of popularity as Marvel’s Spider-Man or Captain America.

Now, the studio is trying again with a fresh plan. This week, a new Superman movie will hit theaters, kicking off what the studio hopes will be a whole new DC movie universe. Along with the Superman reboot, there are plans for a Supergirl spin-off, a Green Lantern TV show, and several new Batman movies.

The pressure is on for Warner Bros. Discovery, the company that owns DC. CEO David Zaslav has said many times that fixing DC is one of the biggest opportunities for the company. But so far, the company’s stock price hasn’t done...

Warner Bros. is once again taking a big swing at rebooting its DC Comics universe, and this time, they’re putting everything behind a new Superman movie. The studio has struggled for more than 25 years to get its DC characters to match the success of Marvel’s superhero films. Each plan kept falling apart because of studio politics, power struggles, and clashing creative visions. Now, with James Gunn and Peter Safran in charge, Warner Bros. is starting fresh again.

The new Superman film, opening this week, isn’t just another superhero movie. It’s the start of an entirely new DC universe. Gunn, who wrote and directed the movie, is now running DC Studios alongside Safran. They’re in charge of every DC project going forward, movies, shows, animation, even games. That’s never happened before at Warner Bros., and the company is hoping this change will finally bring some consistency.

Warner Bros. has been trying to get its DC superhero movies right for over 25 years, and it hasn’t worked out until now, they hope. With new leaders in charge and a fresh Superman movie hitting theaters, the studio is once again rebooting its DC universe. This time, the plan is clear: a steady release of content and a new direction under James Gunn and Peter Safran.

Gunn, known for his work on Guardians of the Galaxy, is now leading DC Studios along with producer Peter Safran. Together, they’ve laid out a new plan. Going forward, fans can expect one animated film and two live-action DC movies every year. There will also be TV shows, mostly streaming on HBO Max. That’s a lot of content—and a big shift from the messy, uneven rollout DC has had in the past.

This reboot starts with a brand new Superman movie,...

Calling all horror fans! Don’t miss this spooktacular panel celebrating the greatest horror films and characters of all time, and the enduring legacy of Svengoolie as we explore the past, present and future of TV horror hosting. As the last nationally broadcast horror host on the air, Svengoolie represents a unique legacy in television history, blending classic monster movies with comedy and fan engagement to keep this beloved tradition alive since the 1970s – and on MeTV since 2011. This summer Svengoolie is excited to showcase some new movies to the Svengoolie library, including Earth Girls Are Easy which makes its MeTV debut on Saturday, July 26 at 8pm Et/Pt, with the Sven Squad also taking over Svengoolie’s dungeon for the night to serve as official hosts. Attendees will get a Sdcc exclusive Svengoolie and Sven Squad collectible trading card set and a limited edition Svengoolie button!

Legendary horror host...

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When "Batman: The Animated Series" debuted in 1992, Batman's last leading role in animation had been on the final "Super Friends" season: 1985's "The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians." Batman had never exactly faded away, though. There was another Batman cartoon pitch in the late 1980s (one that's totally fallen through the cracks of history since then) in the form of "Batman and the New Robin." This show would've starred Batman alongside the second (and edgiest) Robin, Jason Todd.

"Batman and the New Robin" was going to be produced by Nelvana, and the unearthed series bible was penned by J. Michael Straczynski. Jms, as he's often called, would go on to create the space opera series "Babylon 5," and he's also a prolific comic book writer. In the '80s, though, he was working in children's animation; he'd co-created "She-Ra: Princess of Power...

DC Studios co-ceo James Gunn and DC Comics head Jim Lee have a connection that many fans don’t know about. Both of them grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, and developed a passion for comics during their time there. Lee recently revealed that they both watched Richard Donner’s Superman in the same theater, though probably not at the same time.

James Gunn in a still from Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum | Credits: @InsideOfYouPodcast/YouTube

Gunn and Peter Safran took charge of DC Studios in 2022 and made some crucial decisions including the reboot of Dceu into the new Dcu. Jim Lee became a co-publisher at DC Comics in 2010 and became its sole publisher in 2020 after Dan Didio left the company. He was appointed the Chief Creative Officer in 2018 and the President of the company in 2023.

James Gunn and Jim Lee have a bizarre Superman connection before their time...

DC Comics is in the midst of a new era for its DC Universe, which is the perfect opportunity to highlight some of its underused new characters. DC has currently gone All-In for a new initiative to soft reboot the DC Universe with new stories, new creators, and new heroes at the helm. With so many classic heroes getting the spotlight - for the first time in years - fans can't forget their more recent favorites, either.

Truth be told, the past decade or so has seen a bevy of new superheroes join the fray at DC. That said, many of those new heroes haven't been seen or heard from since they debuted. Whether it's because of timing or the downsides of having a stuffed and stacked roster of talent, some modern heroes have already been forgotten in the larger scope of the DC Universe. Many of these heroes deserve a second chance at superstardom,...

Mad Cave Studios and King Features Syndicate are partnering up for a new Flash Gordon comic universe. Screen Rant has an exclusive look at Flash Gordon: The Girl from Infinity and Flash Gordon: Quarterly #2: The Heart of Arboria. These series will continue the adventures of Flash Gordon, with a non-traditional and modern storyline that promises to maintain the iconic hero's integrity.

Mad Cave Studios has been publishing a Flash Gordon series since earlier this year. It is set to release its fifth issue in December and its sixth in February, with a new arc starting soon. The next offerings, in partnership with King Features Syndicate, include Flash Gordon: The Girl From Infinity, Flash Gordon: Quarterly #2: The Heart of Arboria, and Flash Gordon Adventures. Flash Gordon Adventures will be a graphic novel. The Girl From Infinity will have a preview included in the offerings for Free Comic Book Day...

Warning! Spoilers ahead for DC's I Know What You Did Last Crisis!The course of the DC Universe changed forever all because of a death that Nightwing avoided. A creative decision that didn't pan out is re-examined years later and reveals that Dick Grayson had a drastic effect on his world after escaping the Grim Reaper.

The 2005 event Infinite Crisis saw a lot of heroes meet their maker, including Superman's half-clone Conner Kent, aka Superboy. But this monumental moment was originally conceived with Nightwing in mind, largely due to former DC Comics Co-Publisher Dan Didio's insistence. Years later, Didio returns to pen a story that shows how Nightwing's death altered the very world around him.

DC Confirms Nightwing Was Supposed to Die in Infinite Crisis And the DC Universe Has Been Trying to Kill Him Since

In DC's I Know What You Did Last Crisis's story "Crisis Obscura" by Dan Didio,...

Restless teenager Annabeth discovers that an otherworldly tree from her family's past could be the portal to a modern-day fairy tale in Frank Miller's Pandora (Book 1). Co-written by Anthony Maranville and Chris Silvestri, created by Frank Miller, and featuring artwork by Emma Kubert, Frank Miller's Pandora (Book 1) collects the first six issues of the series and is now available in bookstores and comic shops from Frank Miller Presents and Abrams ComicArts, and as a special treat for Daily Dead readers, we have an exclusive look at an excerpt from the new hardcover edition!

You can see Annabeth's grandpa warn her about how a magical tree in the woods led to the vanishing of her grandmother in our exclusive preview below.

We also have the official press release with additional details, and to learn more about Frank Miller's Pandora, visit Abrams ComicArts and Frank Miller Presents.

Press Release: From Frank Miller...

Comic books are not just fuel for some of the biggest movies and TV shows of all time. Aside from being a genuinely great medium that could enrich the lives of many people who haven't previously wandered down that endless rabbit hole, comics offer the chance to do things that can't be done on screen. They represent imagination that is only limited by what a given artist can do with a pen, and what a writer can dream up. That even extends to utterly bonkers crossovers that couldn't happen anywhere else, like "King Kong" meets "Planet of the Apes." It turns out, the world came very close to getting a DC and "Star Wars" crossover several years back. Why didn't it happen? That's where things get frustrating.

For some historical context, writer Kurt Busiek revealed in 2017 on Twitter that he was working on a "Superman/Star Wars" crossover with the...

Former DC Editor Explains Why the Superman and Star Wars Crossover Did Not Happen - Main Image

Former DC editor Dan Didio recently opened up about the canceled plans for the crossover between Superman and Star Wars.

For decades, we've seen DC collaborate with other properties such as Star Trek, Archie Comics, and even Marvel for special crossover issues where their respective characters team up for an adventure.

Several years ago, there were plans for DC's Superman to crossover with Star Wars which would have excited a lot of fans of both properties. Unfortunately, the plans fell through and the idea was permanently shelved.

Dan Didio on Why the Superman and Star Wars Crossover Plans Fell Through

In his recent appearance at the Tampa Bay Comic Convention, Didio explained why they decided to cancel the planned crossover between Superman and Star Wars.

He admitted that there were creative differences during...

Kryptonite is an iconic part of Superman's lore, but it's almost always the green variant. Tons of differently colored Kryptonite exist, and Red Kryptonite is by far the most underrated - a fact best proven when one story brought back a horrifying redesign of a goofy Red Kryptonite adventure Superman had back in the Silver Age.

The Dark Multiverse is one of the most terrifying parts of DC's cosmology. It's where every story goes wrong, no matter how innocent it might start out. One horrifying example of this dark effect is featured in Sideways #8 by Dan Didio and Max Raynor. In this story, the young hero Sideways runs into a group of people who have been displaced from their homes, and one of them is a terrifying version of Superman.

This version of Superman was exposed to Red Kryptonite on his planet and transformed into a terrifying half-man, half-ant creature.

Mad Cave's new Defenders of the Earth #1 wonderfully subverts the Saturday morning cartoon formula with a dark twist. The original characters from King Features Syndicate, such as Flash Gordon, are back in an engaging new series. Defenders of the Earth #1 combines nostalgia with subversion, making it a must-read for old and new fans alike.

Warning: contains spoilers for Defenders of the Earth #1!

Mad Caves new Defenders of the Earth, series, starring Flash Gordon, wonderfully subverts the Saturday morning cartoon formula. Mad Cave recently acquired the rights to characters from the legendary King Features Syndicate, including Flash Gordon. Mad Cave released Flash Gordon #1 to great acclaim, and they continue the expansion of the line with Defenders of the Earth #1. Based on the classic Saturday morning cartoon, the new series takes bold risks with the formula.

Defenders of the Earth writer Dan Didio is the former executive editor at DC Comics.

Defenders of the Earth...

James Gunn's DC Universe is set to reintroduce classic DC characters such as Superman and Batman. Along with these stalwarts, somewhat lesser known heroes and villains will also be showing up, including the monstrous Creature Commandos. While this reboot offers a chance to put various DC figures on the big and small screen, there are a few that probably won't be an organic fit based on what is currently known.

In some cases, there are DC characters that are deemed too problematic to adapt, as they were controversial even in the comics. Others could also be seen as redundant by the mainstream audience, especially if the new Dcu follows a similar path as the source material. Add in the fact that certain concepts simply never worked on paper, and it's obvious that James Gunn's DC Universe reboot will have to completely ignore certain comic book fiends and heroes.

Bluebird...

DC Comics' I Know What You Did Last Crisis is a new horror anthology set during past crises like Flashpoint, Blackest Night, and Infinite Crisis. The collection features chilling tales of horror, including Professor Pyg in Flashpoint and Scarecrow during Blackest Night, flipping the script on iconic events. The anthology continues DC's success with holiday collections and explores horror in an alternate universe, honoring the publisher's long history.

DC Comics' huge crossover events are already somewhat horrifying: entire dimensions being wiped out, zombie heroes raised from the dead the New 52. However, DC is upping the ante this Halloween with an anthology collection of new horror stories set during events like Infinite Crisis, Zero Hour, Flashpoint, and more. See a sneak preview of the covers and teases of the stories below.

In its September solicitations, DC Comics has revealed DC's I Know What You Did Last Crisis #1, a new horror anthology...

Todd Phillips Joker is a dark and cold portrayal of Gotham, where the elite perpetuate systemic problems while the less fortunate are left to fight over scraps. Arthur Fleck was a long-time resident and struggling artist before circumstances pushed him to become an Elseworlds version of the Clown Prince of Crime, coinciding with the murders of Thomas and Martha Wayne. With Joker: Folie Deux fast approaching, more characters besides Fleck and Harley Quinn will flesh out the story and prove other classic Gothamites are fit for this version of the city.

In a world before Batman, there would be plenty of room and time for younger versions of the caped crusaders friends and rogues to creep their way into Phillips Gotham. Its a world that walks a fine line between cartoonish corruption and realistic grit, so while superpowered or occult characters probably wont fit, many famous Gothamites would easily make themselves at home.

Killer Collectibles highlights five of the most exciting new horror products announced each and every week, from toys and apparel to artwork, records, and much more.

Here are the coolest horror collectibles unveiled this week!

Candy Land Blu-ray from Mvd

One of last year’s indie horror standouts, Candy Land is getting a Blu-ray release on February 5 from Mvd and Roxwell Films. Special features include a commentary by director John Swab and a digital zine.

Swab writes and directs. Olivia Luccardi, Sam Quartin, Eden Brolin, Owen Campbell, Virginia Rand, Guinevere Turner, and William Baldwin star.

In her review, Meagan Navarro said “Candy Land gives a refreshing perspective through its condemnation of religion and its positioning of sex workers as protagonists. It’s a more nuanced and lived-in approach to the sleazy slasher format, and its affecting characters elevate the familiar.”

Art the Clown Doll from Living Dead Doll

Terrifier’s...

According to writer Gail Simone, Mortal Kombat could have been integrated into the DC Universe; this ultimately didn't come to fruition due to corporate decisions, though the writer and DC worked on the project for nearly a year. The crossover would have provided exciting match-ups between iconic characters from both franchises, elevating DC's martial arts properties, while giving Mortal Kombat a chance to develop a cohesive lore. Bringing Mortal Kombat attracted the franchise's passionate fanbase, Simone noted, making it as practical a business decision as it was a cool storytelling opportunity.

If writer Gail Simone had gotten her way, the Mortal Kombat franchise, with its many badass characters and its complex lore, would have been integrated into the DC Universe; ultimately, this didn't happen as a result of "simple corporate stuff," with the project falling apart at a level above her pay grade, after she'd devoted a year to working on it.

ReBoot, a Canadian TV show released in 1994, beat Pixar's Toy Story to become the first fully CGI project. It aired 18 episodes before Toy Story was released. Despite its early achievements, ReBoot faced challenges and struggles throughout its run, while Toy Story became a successful franchise that continues to thrive. ReBoot provided a platform for industry creatives, such as Dan Didio, who went on to have successful careers in the comic book industry.

Pixar released Toy Story in 1995, but a TV show that debuted a year before had already beaten the iconic movie to a major CGI animation achievement. In the mid-1990s, using CGI to animate an entire production was unheard of, as the medium was still very new. Toy Story still holds the title of the first fully CGI movie, but the same animation techniques had already been used to create a TV show.

There is no denying...

There are tons of unbelievable fighters in the DC Universe, from the likes of Lady Shiva to Richard Dragon, and a large amount of these fighters are all members of the Bat-Family. The Bat-Family has heavy hitters such as Dick Grayson, Cassandra Cain, and Batman — some of the greatest martial artists to ever exist in comics. But none of these characters have a 100% win-rate. The only Bat-Family member who is truly undefeated is none other than Bat-Cow.

Batman has adopted, legally and metaphoricallt, many people over his years as a crime fighter: Dick Grayson, Cassandra Cain, Duke Thomas, and many more. But without a doubt one of the most iconic members of the Bat-Family is the Bat-Cow, who is a cow that was adopted by Robin Damian Wayne — not Bruce himself — after the pair stopped a group of criminals in a slaughterhouse in Batman Incorporated #1 by Grant Morrison, Chris Burnham,...

Iconic artist Frank Miller brings Daredevil to life in a variant for the hero's new ongoing series. Miller's Daredevil cover is the latest in a series of variants the comic creator is doing for Marvel Comics.

The solicitations for Marvel Comics' September releases have been released, giving fans a peek at what they can expect in the coming months. Wolverine is taking on a Predator in a highly anticipated crossover while Iron Man and Emma Frost are having the wedding of the year. In addition to such big events, classic series such as Daredevil and Captain America are getting relaunched with new number-one issues.

The debut issues of Daredevil and Captain America have a slew of variants from artists such as Stanley 'Artgerm' Lau, Whilce Portacio, Alexander Lozano, John Romita, Jr., and Michael Cho. But legendary artist Frank Miller is also lending his talents to the two upcoming series.

It’s a brave new world in the comics market, and perhaps the most telling sign of things to come might be the recent promotion of Jim Lee to President of DC Comics. Lee already held the roles of both Publisher and Chief Creative Officer for the company of Batman and Superman fame before this recent promotion. And while this development superficially might seem to be a mere change in titles, in fact this new position might herald a completely new business strategy for running a comic book company in the modern age.

Since Lee's promotion to Publisher in 2020 following the departure of Dan Didio, DC has seen a resurgence in more mature storytelling. The company has placed a greater emphasis on naturalistic pacing and character-driven stories, while at the same time disregarding the rigidity of Didio’s status quo in favor of a dynamic world chock-full characters and coexistent continuities.

At this point, Dick Grayson has been Nightwing almost as long as his time spent as Robin, but there was a moment where DC Comics almost killed the character off and replaced him with another hero: the second Robin, Jason Todd, who had recently returned from the grave and taken the nom de plume Red Hood.

Former DC Co-Publisher Dan Didio recently shared a document via Facebook detailing the initial plans for 2006’s “One Year Later” storyline, a line-wide initiative that saw every DC title jump forward a year. Many titles saw drastic changes, such as the introduction of a new Aquaman, Donna Troy becoming Wonder Woman and the Hawkman title becoming Hawkgirl. According to the document Didio shared, some of the changes could have been even more drastic, including Jason Todd taking up the mantle of Nightwing following the death of Dick Grayson. Todd would have been “rejected by...

Cco and Publisher of DC Comics Jim Lee has just gotten an impressive, new title. As the iconic comic book figure re-ups his contract with DC, Lee is officially named President of the brand.

In a surprising report from The Wrap, DC Comics' Jim Lee is gaining the title of President in addition to his duties as Chief Creative Officer and Publisher. Lee has renewed his deal with DC Comics and will continue to lead the publisher's creative teams as well as guide the effort to bring the DC Universe and its array of characters and storylines into Warner Bros. Discovery's vast media empire. Lee will continue reporting to Pam Lifford, the president of global brands, franchises and experiences at Warner Bros. Discovery. This is the latest development in Lee's ascension at DC Comics, having previously replaced Geoff Johns as Chief Creative Officer in 2018 and later becoming the sole...

In a new interview, former DC Comics Co-Publisher Dan Didio has explained why he believes comics are so obsessed with superheroes, and the problems this causes.Didio has been a controversial figure in DC Comics over the years as one of the most public faces of the company in the 2000s and 2010s. Since his departure from the company in 2020, Didio has been candid about his hopes and fears for mainstream comics, especially those in the direct market, the network through which the biggest American comics are sold. In the direct market, distributors act as the go-betweens between comics companies and comic book stores, which themselves helped create the rise of the market in the 1970s. The complicated and often absurd economics and incentives the system creates are much like Didio himself, endlessly criticized, but undoubtedly influential.

In a recent interview with Zach Rabiroff for The Comics Journal, Didio has...

Dan Didio is inarguably one of the most important shapers of DC Comics in the modern age, and now that he’s left DC, Didio has revealed the company’s "Batman Rule" that limited the character’s dominance over DC’s comics line. Didio’s perspective reveals a lot about the work that goes into comics behind the scenes, and it also raises fascinating questions about the longevity and success of characters as IP in today’s landscape.

Hired in 2002, Didio served as a key creative and managerial figure in DC Comics until his shock departure in 2020. Most famously however, Didio has been a lightning rod for fan criticism. From the disorganization of the New 52, to his wish to kill Nightwing, to the unrealized 5G Initiative, Didio has often acted as the publisher’s public-facing punching bag for fans, an unenviable job if there ever was one. However, whatever one might think of him,...

This article appears in the next issue of Den Of Geek magazine. Get your copy here.

Thirty years ago this month, Milestone Media launched and the comics world listened. Hardware #1 from legendary creators Dwayne McDuffie and Denys Cowan was the company’s first book in February 1993. It was nothing less than a statement of purpose, a book about a Black genius fighting his white industrialist boss (who’s secretly a crime lord) to get pay and recognition for his inventions.

But it wasn’t until the Static Shock cartoon launched on TV in 2004 that Milestone made a broad cultural impact. “For so many of us in that generation, Static [Shock], the cartoon, was the door that opened a lot of things up,” Jordan Clark, a member of the Milestone Initiative’s inaugural class, tells Den of Geek magazine.

Milestone Media and the superheroes it developed—Static and Hardware, Icon and Rocket,...

Written by Joshua Williamson | Art by Daniel Sampere | Published by DC Comics

The Multiverse is, it seems, dying.

DC seem to be ripping up all of the Dan Didio restructuring of the DC Multiverse and returning things to closer to how they were pre-New 52, pre- Final Crisis, Pre- every Crisis. Joshua Williamson was no doubt given a blueprint as what DC Editorial wanted gone, and what they wanted changed, but how he achieved all that was probably mainly up to him and editor Paul Kaminski. So far, it’s been a wild ride. The tone, structure, and heart of all this has been absolutely spot on. It’s almost a shame we are already at issue 5, as we are now clearly approaching the endgame, and we know that this being DC, something big has yet to happen, and when it does it’ll be huge.

Don’t blow it Williamson.

DC has announced their biggest summer crossover since Dark Nights: Death Metal: Joshua Williamson and Daniel Sampere’s Dark Crisis, which will kick off with a #0 issue for Free Comic Book Day. But exactly what Dark Crisis is remains a bit of a mystery beyond some lovely teaser art and a promotional video.

Dark Crisis looks like it springs right out of Williamson’s multiversal revision from Justice League Incarnate. In the fourth issue of that series, we get a reconfigured, welded-together history of the DC Universe that slaps every crisis – from the classic Wolfman/Perez joint, through Zero Hour, Infinite Crisis, 52, Final Crisis, Multiversity, Doomsday Clock, and the Metal Wars – onto one coherent timeline. Behind all of them: The Great Darkness, the nothingness at the start of time, furious about being forced into a truce with the Light.

But where is it all going? Every Crisis ends with a massive status quo shift,...

This article contains spoilers for Superman & The Authority.

The Man of Steel of Superman & The Authority looks a little different than you might be used to. Graying at the temples, a hint of smile lines around his eyes, and a capeless outfit that looks equally ready for some serious work in a laboratory or a super-powered street fight. It’s an older, wiser, Superman, sporting a look befitting a man with a teenage son and years of experience under his belt, and he brings all the patience and wisdom that you’d expect him to have as he reaches superheroic middle age.

And while this look is a holdover from the old 5G publishing initiative, it’s about the only thing from Didio’s Superman pitch that stuck around.

“We went to this restaurant and Dan proposed this notion,” Superman & The Authority writer Grant Morrison tells us by phone. “He said,...

Written by Jeff Lemire | Art by Dustin Nguyen | Published by DC Comics

This book was such a natural idea, it’s a wonder it has never been pitched before. Or maybe it has, and the time wasn’t right. Former DC boss Dan Didio certainly wouldn’t have green lit this book, he hated Dick Grayson. We’ve endlessly looked at Batman and his early years, and at Bruce and his often dysfunctional relationship with the various Robin’s he has taken under his Batwing. Not so much at the very early years of Dick Grayson, that is entirely told with him as the central character, rather as the side story to Bruce’s. We know about the death of Dick’s parents, and how he came to be made Bruce’s ward and Robin, but only in a broad general sense. We haven’t really seen how Dick Grayson...

John Ridley is no stranger to telling stories. The Oscar-winning writer has spent his life weaving yarns both on the page and the screen. He’s also a lifelong comics fan and an accomplished comic book writer.

With The Other History of the DC Universe, he began reshaping one of the oldest and most seminal multiverses in the medium. As that series reaches its midpoint, he’s also just finished his first stint writing one of the most iconic heroes in the DC Comics trinity: Batman. But this isn’t your daddy’s Batman. In fact, Ridley, along with editor Ben Abernathy and artistic collaborator Nick Derington, have crafted a new vision of the Dark Knight.

In Future State: The Next Batman, Lucius Fox’s long absent son, Tim Fox, takes on the mantle. Despite the book’s futuristic setting, this is a back to basics take on the Bat,...

Written by Dan Jurgens, Andy Schmidt, Robert Venditti | Art by Various | Published by DC Comics

Ever since Crisis on Infinite Earths back in the 1980’s, I’ve always been a sucker for those big DC events featuring dozens of heroes and villains. Legends, Zero Hour, Convergence, Countdown, Infinite Crisis, and many others have come and gone before. Being honest, the story hasn’t always lived up to expectations with these events, but the novelty of throwing all these characters together usually makes up for that. I’m especially a sucker for using obscure or third banana level characters, or teaming up characters from different time periods. Hey, don’t judge me, I’m sure I’m not the only one.

Generations Shattered has had something of an odd history, coming out several months later than originally planned, due to Dan Didio’s firing and its original endpoint having to be...

Marie Javins has been promoted to Editor-in-Chief, DC Comics.

A DC vet of six years, she will report to Daniel Cherry III, Senior Vice President and General Manager, DC Comics. Javins first began at DC in a temp position to help the label transfer its businesses from New York to Burbank, CA and then relocated to join the staff.

Javins’ promotion comes nine months after the exit of DC Comics Co-Publisher Dan Didio who also wrote and served in a various DC editorial positions during his decade tenure. She had been working alongside Michelle Wells as DC’s interim editors-in -hief since Bob Harras’ exit this summer.

In her new role, Javins will oversee the development and execution of the label’s annual publishing schedule to grow all DC imprints. She’ll also lead the strategy for expanding worldwide consumer reach of DC Publishing content and provide editorial and creative direction for DC imprints.

The previously announced Batman miniseries from 12 Years of Slave and The Other History of the DC Universe writer John Ridley will feature a person of color in the cape and cowl and not Bruce Wayne.

As revealed in a press release, the yet-to-be-titled miniseries will star “a version of the Caped Crusader different from what many fans know and existing alongside the current Batman run by James Tynion IV and Jorge Jimenez.” That last bit seems to suggest that this new Batman will work opposite Bruce’s Dark Knight to protect Gotham.

Ridley, who is working with Batman Universe and Doom Patrol artist Nick Derington on the four-part miniseries, elaborated on his take on Batman during DC FanDome’s Legacy of the Bat panel.

“I think it’s a pretty safe bet that if I’m writing Batman, it’s probably a little better than a 47% chance he’s going...

DC Comics publisher Jim Lee has revealed that 12 Years a Slave scribe John Ridley is writing a new Batman mini-series that “will have a huge impact on the rest of the line.”

The new project was announced by Lee while talking to THR about the state of DC Comics in the wake of mass layoffs at the comic book publisher. Lee didn’t go into any further detail about the mini-series or how it’ll play into what James Tynion IV is doing on the main Batman book, Tom King and Clay Mann are planning in their Batman/Catwoman maxi-series, and Geoff Johns and Jason Fabok are about to unleash in Three Jokers. While it could just as easily be marketing hyperbole, it does sound like Ridley’s series could bring some major status quo changes to the character.

Since DC Comics first began teasing a big continuity-shattering event called 5G last year,...

It is said that Sir Isaac Newton used his time at home during the 1655 pandemic to discover gravity and invent calculus. Fellow scientist Neil deGrasse Tyson took a different path today with his Covid-19 downtown – he examined the improbabilities of Marvel and DC superheroes.

Today’s tweetstorm from deGrasse covered Superman, Thor, and the Hulk, among others. They’re no strangers to the TV host and astrophysicist. In fact, Superman once visited him in his role as the head of the Hayden Planetarium.

More from DeadlineDC Co-Publisher Dan Didio ExitsRobert Pattinson Is 'The Batman' In Moody New Matt Reeves Camera Test'Birds Of Prey' Breakout Ella Jay Basco Carries Torch For New Generation Of Asian American Representation

Here’s a sampling of what was explored:

In 1991 Marvel introduced a Thor’s Hammer trading card declaring Mjölnir to be made of the Asgardian metal Uru, weighing 42.3 lbs — but they didn’t specify where in the universe.

Writer’s notes: All DC Comics references imply past events. They do not indicate any criticism or suggest answerability from current management.

I’ve built my career around what I call my Studio 54 philosophy. It’s that philosophy that I’ll use to explain how those dancing on Dan Didio’s grave do so at considerable risk.

If you have not read last week’s article, please do so. If you don’t, this is gonna read strangely.

There’s no way to say this without sounding a bit full of myself, so here goes… I’m the Master Of The Universe. Yep, call me Motu if you like, but I am indeed the Master, etc. etc.

To be the Master of anything requires intelligence, the ability to reason, and self-confidence. Believe it or not, reason and self-esteem are more critical than being smart. If I had to pick one overall,...

Big changes are going on over at DC Comics as last week saw co-publisher Dan Didio step down from his position after a decade of being in charge. It’s widely reported that Didio was fired by AT&T as part of a large-scale restructuring and it’s believed that the corporation decided to let Didio go now over concerns surrounding his big 5G relaunch event. A lot is riding on its success, apparently, potentially including the future of DC Comics itself.

Former DC artist Ethan Van Sciver shared his thoughts on Didio’s exit in a YouTube video recently and revealed some worrying intel that he’d heard from his friends in the industry. According to Van Sciver, AT&T is losing interest in comic book publishing all together and, though they will continue the multimedia DC brand across movies, TV, games and merchandise, if 5G doesn’t go as planned,...

By now, you’ve probably heard that Dan Didio is out as the co-publisher of DC Comics. Heidi covers a lot of it:

The departure of Dan Didio as DC Co-Publisher on Friday was both long expected and shocking. His exit was rumored many many times over the years, and every contract renewal was a will he or won’t he suspense movie.

Originally at ComicsBeat.com

Rob Salkowitz over at ICV2 notes that this could be the first clear sign of some major changes in direction since DC’s parent company, Time Warner (now WarnerMedia), was acquired by AT&T last summer.

Didio was something of a polarizing figure because of the direction of DC’s publishing strategy over the past few years. That has led to a lot of speculation about what was behind the sudden move, and whether it’s related to specific issues like DC’s impending...

The Marvel/DC rivalry is legendary amongst superhero fans. Over the decades, the two titans of the comic book industry have battled to be known as the best in the business. Nowadays, with their success on screen via the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’s probably fair to say that Marvel is in ruder health. But could this mean that they’ll finally buy out their eternal rival? That’s what this shocking new rumor suggests.

Last week, Dan Didio stepped down as the Co-Publisher for DC Comics after a decade in the role. It’s widely believed that he was fired as part of a major restructuring going on at AT&T. That remains to be confirmed, but the Lords of the Long Box YouTube channel have released a new report which claims that AT&T’s restructuring plans may include them putting DC up for sale. According to this rumor,...

After 10 years of serving as DC Comics' co-publisher, Dan Didio has now exited the company (per The Hollywood Reporter). DC Comics has confirmed the news, but no official statement or further details have been given. Didio worked as publisher alongside Jim Lee starting in 2010. Before that, he worked for DC as vice president–editorial and then vice president–executive editor -- while working as a writer on titles like Superboy, Metal Men, and The Outsiders along the way. Didio also wrote a regular column called "DC Nation" which would appear at the end of each main superhero issue. […...

Deadline has confirmed that DC Comics Co-Publisher Dan Didio is out after being in the position over the last ten years alongside Jim Lee. Prior that Didio was VP Exec Editor and before that, VP editorial.

During his tenure, Didio saw the 2011 relaunch of The New 52, a contemporary update of the comic book publisher’s superhero back catalog.

Didio was a writer on such properties as The Phantom Stranger, The Outsiders, Sideways, Challengers of the Unknown, the Weirdest Western Tales tie-in issue of The Blackest Night and the 12-issue Metal Men mini-series with artist Shane Davis.

Didio joined DC Comics in January 2002, VP editorial, as well as the writer for Superboy (issues #94 to 100).

Following the success of Marvel's 'Iron Man' (Robert Downey Jr.) appearing in 10 blockbuster films since 2008, development continues on a live-action take of DC Comics "Metal Men", supported by a new 12-issue series, now available, written by Dan Didio and illustrated by Shane Davis, Michelle Delecki, with covers by Davis and Philip Tan:

"...in the new series, the 'Metal Men' discover a warehouse of old robots, older versions of themselves, that are junked and apparently left in disrepair by their creator rather than being rebuilt after their heroic battles.

"Meanwhile, a mysterious liquid 'Nth' metal has appeared in the science site at 'Challenger Mountain'…the same Challenger Mountain that came through from the 'Dark Multiverse' and landed in 'Gotham'.."

"I'm a longtime fan of the 'Metal Men'", said Didio, "With this new series, we explore the essence of what makes the 'Metal Men' human...

"... by...

Jim Dandy Oct 25, 2019

We talk to the creators behind the next entry in the Batman: White Knight universe, Von Freeze

Klaus Janson is a legend in comics. He’s so big that he’s best known for seven different things - he’s the guy who co-created Micro in The Punisher; or the one who drew “Gothic,” one of Grant Morrison’s first and moodiest Batman stories; or the comics storytelling professor at Sva; or the guy who finished Frank Miller’s pencils on Daredevil and The Dark Knight Returns. But on everything he does, his art is immediately distinct: it’s moody and heavy in a way very few new comic artists can successfully accomplish.

One of the few who can pull it off is Sean Murphy. Murphy, who rose to fame working Morrison on Joe the Barbarian, then took off working with Scott Snyder on American Vampire, and...

Aaron Sagers Oct 18, 2019

The horror movie show host is lending his likeness to the DC Universe to stand alongside its iconic heroes.

Move over, Batman, there’s a new hero in the DC Universe with a secret identity who wears black, sports black eye makeup, hangs out in a cavernous setting, and is associated with bats. Of course I am referring to Svengoolie, the horror movie show host who emerged from the gotham that is Chicago, and can now be found in the pages of DC comics with the story “Svengoolie Meets The DC Universe.”

With the alter ego of Rich Koz, Svengoolie’s eponymous comedy show airs Saturdays nationwide on MeTV, where he introduces classic horror flicks, tells jokes, shares trivia, and has a recurring gag with rubber chickens. Koz has portrayed the character since 1979, when he took over for the original Svengoolie, Jerry G. Bishop. Last month, DC...

Following the success of Marvel's 'Iron Man' (Robert Downey Jr.) appearing in 10 blockbuster films since 2008, development continues on a live-action take of DC Comics "Metal Men", supported by a new 12-issue series, now available, written by Dan Didio and illustrated by Shane Davis, Michelle Delecki, with covers by Davis and Philip Tan:

"...in the new series, the 'Metal Men' discover a warehouse of old robots, older versions of themselves, that are junked and apparently left in disrepair by their creator rather than being rebuilt after their heroic battles.

"Meanwhile, a mysterious liquid 'Nth' metal has appeared in the science site at 'Challenger Mountain'…the same Challenger Mountain that came through from the 'Dark Multiverse' and landed in 'Gotham'.."

"I'm a longtime fan of the 'Metal Men'", said Didio, "With this new series, we explore the essence of what makes the 'Metal Men' human...

"... by...

Welcome back to The Hollywood Reporter's weekly Comics Watch, a dive into how the latest books from Marvel, DC and beyond could provide fodder for the big screen. This week tackles DC's Metal Men No. 1, so be warned, there are spoilers for the issue ahead.

DC returns to its vault of wonderfully strange, unlikely and infrequently utilized characters for the latest maxi-series, Metal Men. Written by DC exec Dan Didio, with art by Shane Davis and Michelle Delecki, Metal Men is a canonical story about Will Magnus and his Metal Men, Gold, Iron, Lead, Mercury, Tin and Platinum, in the ...