Quick Hits | Dilbert dropped from newspapers after Scott Adams’ racist rant on YouTube

Plus: Copyright office changes decision on AI comic, manga legend Leiji Matsumoto passes away, and news on Dan DiDio, Joseph Illidge and more.

Several newspapers, including those owned by Gannett and Advance Local, have pulled Dilbert by Scott Adams after the creator posted a racist rant on his YouTube channel. In the video, Adams referred to Black people as a “hate group” and encouraged white people to “get the hell away from Black people.”

“…this is a decision based on the principles of this news organization and the community we serve. We are not a home for those who espouse racism. We certainly do not want to provide them with financial support,” Chris Quinn, an editor for The Cleveland Plains Dealer, said. Other Advance Local papers in Michigan, Oregon and other states have followed suit.

USA Today, which is a Gannett paper, said in a tweet that “we lead with inclusion and strive to maintain a respectful and equitable environment for the diverse communities we serve nationwide,” and included an image that said they would no longer carry Dilbert.

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Quick Hits | More details emerge on several Frank Miller Presents projects

Featuring news on Dan DiDio, Christian Cooper, two new comics retailers and more.

Over the weekend, IGN posted a story featuring artwork and quotes from Dan DiDio about Frank Miller Presents, the new initiative he’s been named publisher for. They also revealed the date of publication for Ronin: Book Two, the first project coming out of FMP — Nov. 23. Miller is working with Phillip Tan and Daniel Henriques on the sequel to his 1980s miniseries.

“Frank’s intimately involved in everything going on. The reason why we’re doing Ronin is because it’s never been exploited before,” DiDio told IGN. “We feel that there’s a lot of areas that Frank has story for. And actually, he’s had this story in mind for Ronin: Book Two since the end of the original series 40 years ago. So this is exciting for him to be able to tell that story because he still carries it with him and he’s finally getting it out.”

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Frank Miller, Dan DiDio team to form ‘Frank Miller Presents’

The new publishing venture plans to release a sequel to Miller’s ‘Ronin,’ ‘Sin City’ and more.

Frank Miller, whose career has led him from comics to movies and TV and from Marvel to DC to Dark Horse and more, has announced plans to form his own comics company, Frank Miller Presents.

Miller will serve as president and editor-in-chief, according to The Hollywood Reporter, while former DC Comics publisher Dan DiDio will serve as publisher for the new company. Silenn Thomas, the CEO of Frank Miller Ink, joins them as COO of the new venture.

Per the article, the new company will not only serve as the home for a new Ronin sequel series and a Sin City prequel set in the Old West, it’ll also be the home of new titles by new creators — something Miller says is important to him.

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Dan Didio is out as DC publisher

Didio exits the company after serving as co-publisher for 10 years.

Multiple outlets, including ComicBook.com and the Hollywood Reporter, are reporting that Dan Didio is no longer employed at DC Comics after almost 20 years with the company.

No reason has been given as to what happened or why he was released, and DC has not released a statement yet on Didio or their future plans. Didio has been co-publisher of DC alongside Jim Lee since 2010.

Didio joined DC in 2002 and was promoted to vice president and executive editor in 2004. During his tenure, he oversaw the maxi-series 52, the line-wide relaunch The New 52 in 2011, the subsequent reboot DC Universe Rebirth in 2016, the launch of Black Label and the shuttering of the Vertigo imprint. He has also written several comics for DC over the years, including Superboy, Phantom Stranger, OMAC and the current Metal Men miniseries, among others.

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DiDio + Davis bring Nth Metal to the ‘Metal Men’ this fall

New 12-issue series will explore developments in Metal Men history revealed in ‘Dark Knights: Metal.’

DC Publisher Dan DiDio and Superman: Year One artist Shane Davis will bring back the Metal Men this fall in a new maxi-series that will also include The Nth Metal Man, who was introduced during the Dark Knights: Metal event. Painter Michelle Delecki will work with Davis on the art.

“I’m a longtime fan of the Metal Men and had a chance to write them briefly in the anthology, Wednesday Comics, several years ago,” shares DiDio. “With this new series, we explore the essence of what makes the Metal Men human, by having them caught between Doc Magnus, the man who created them, and the newly introduced The Nth Metal Man, the being that gave them life.  What I’m enjoying most about this book is the chance to stay true to all existing stories, while building out their mythology in exciting new directions.”

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DC rebrands its publishing; Vertigo to go away at end of the year

Black Label will survive as Vertigo, DC Ink and DC Zoom all get the axe.

Rumors of Vertigo’s demise have proven to be true, as DC Comics has announced a rebranding of its content into three age-specific labels: DC Kids, DC and DC Black Label. The Vertigo imprint will be “sunset” at the end of the year, along with the DC Zoom and DC Ink labels.

“We’re returning to a singular presentation of the DC brand that was present throughout most of our history until 1993 when we launched Vertigo to provide an outlet for edgier material,” said DC Publisher Dan DiDio in a press release. “That kind of material is now mainstream across all genres, so we thought it was the right time to bring greater clarity to the DC brand and reinforce our commitment to storytelling for all of our fans in every age group. This new system will replace the age ratings we currently use on our material.”

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‘Detective’ #1000 to feature Dini, Lee, Bendis, Cloonan, Ellis and more

DC Comics has unveiled the line-up for Detective Comics #1000, the landmark issue that arrives in stores in March.

The comic will feature short stories by a variety of creative teams, from classic Batman creators like Denny O’Neil, Paul Dini and Kelley Jones, as well as more recent creators like Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo and Tom King.

“Following in the footsteps of the blockbuster Action Comics #1000, Detective Comics #1000 is going to be a must-have for every kind of Batman fan,” said DC Publisher Dan DiDio. “Everyone we asked to be a part of this monumental issue immediately said yes and we can’t wait for fans to get their hands on the comic book.”

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Bendis’ Wonder Comics line to feature ‘Young Justice,’ ‘Wonder Twins’ and more

David Walker, Sam Humphries, Joe Quinones, Patrick Gleason and more join Bendis for his curated imprint.

Shortly after Brian Michael Bendis signed an exclusive contract with DC Comics, the publisher announced that the writer of Action Comics and Superman would also oversee a curated/”pop-up” imprint that would “feature some of Bendis’ all-time favorite characters in very unique and unusual situations, combined with new characters created specifically for this new imprint.”

Today at the New York Comic Con, DC publishers Dan DiDio and Jim Lee hosted a “Meet the Publishers” panel where Bendis revealed more details about his imprint. The imprint, Wonder Comics, will feature four “teen-focused, in-continuity comic books scheduled to debut in early 2019.”

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Walmart to offer exclusive ‘giant’ anthologies from DC — with new content

New material by Jimmy Palmiotti, Amanda Conner, Dan Jurgens, Tim Seeley, Tom King, Brian Michael Bendis and Andy Kubert joins past stories in new monthly line.

DC Comics and Walmart have teamed up to offer an exclusive line of 100-page “giant” anthologies at the big-box retailer. The anthologies will feature a mix of previously published and new materiel, including new material by Jimmy Palmiotti, Amanda Conner, Patrick “Patch” Zircher, Brian Michael Bendis, Dan Jurgens, Tim Seeley, Rick Leonardi, Steve Buccellato, Andy Kubert, Scott Eaton and Tom King.

“We are extraordinarily excited about working with Walmart to expand the reach of our books,” said DC Publisher Dan DiDio in a statement. “These new monthly books combine new and accessible stories with reprints of classic comic series. It’s a great way for new readers to get into comics and follow the characters they’ve grown to love in TV and film.”

Each of the four titles – Superman Giant, Justice League Of America Giant, Batman Giant and Teen Titans Giant – will arrive in stores by July 1. Beginning in August, the Superman and Justice League titles will arrive in week one of each month, with Batman and Teen Titans arriving approximately two weeks later. They’ll cost $4.99.

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DC Comics announces plans to celebrate ‘Action’ #1000

Oversized issue + a hardcover will help celebrate the milestone.

At the New York Comic Con, DC Comics co-publishers Dan DiDio and Jim Lee revealed the company’s plans for the upcoming 1000th issue of Action Comics, which is set to arrive next March.

Plans include an oversized edition of Action #1000 featuring a story by Peter Tomasi and Dan Jurgens, as well as “an all-star talent line-up writing back-up stories,” including a story co-written by DC COO Geoff Johns and Superman film director Richard Donner. They’ll also publish a hardcover book celebrating the 80th anniversary of Action Comics #1.

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Jeff Lemire returns to DC Comics for ‘The Terrifics,’ Hawkman

Mr. Terrific, Metamorpho, Plastic Man and Phantom Girl will comprise a new team written by Lemire and dranw by Ivan Reis.

Former Animal Man, Green Arrow and Justice League Dark writer Jeff Lemire will return to DC Comics for two titles related to the Fall crossover event Dark Knights: Metal.

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DC, Morrison announce ‘Arkham Asylum 2’, reveal ‘Wonder Woman Earth One’ Vol. 2 art

At the ‘Meet the Publishers’ panel in San Diego, Morrison showed up to share some news with Dan Didio and Jim Lee.

Today at Comic-Con International, DC co-publishers Dan Didio and Jim Lee welcomed a special surprise guest to their “Meet the Publishers” panel: Grant Morrison, writer of, among other things, the Arkham Asylum graphic novel and the more recent Wonder Woman Earth One graphic novel. And he brought news concerning both.

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