Norm Breyfogle has passed away at age 58

The artist most associated with Batman in the late 1980s/early 1990s and the co-creator of Malibu’s Prime passed away this past Monday.

Norm Breyfogle, one of the artists most associated with Batman in the late 1980s and early 1990s, has passed away. His friend Daniel Best posted the news on Facebook.

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DC Comics goes nuclear this Christmas

‘DC Nuclear Winter Special’ features 10 holiday stories set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland.

DC Comics will continue their holiday on-shot tradition, albeit with a somewhat radioactive theme this year — DC Nuclear Winter Special will arrive in comic shops and bomb shelters in November.

Like in previous years, the holiday special will feature various characters from the DC Universe, all in stories featuring a “nuclear winter” theme. The release says it’ll include stories starring Batman, Superman and Flash, while the cover also shows Wonder Woman, Harley Quinn and Kamandi (the latter of which makes perfect sense).

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Bendis + Gaydos’ first Batman comic will appear in ‘Pearl’ #1

‘Citizen Wayne’ re-imagines ‘Citizen Kane,’ but with Batman.

Although mainly known for their work at Marvel over the last couple decades, Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Gaydos did a short Batman story, “Citizen Wayne,” that appeared in Batman Chronicles #21 way back in 2000.

It’s been 18 years since that story saw print, and this week DC Comics announced plans to reprint it in the first issue of Bendis and Gaydos’ Pearl series. The new Jinxworld series launches next week.

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No laughing matter: Snyder + Jock bring back ‘The Batman Who Laughs’

The ‘Dark Knights: Metal’ villain gets his own miniseries starting in November.

One of the evil Batmen who plagued the DC Universe in the big crossover event series Dark Knights: Metal will return this fall, as The Batman Who Laughs gets his own six-issue series by Scott Snyder and Jock.

Metal, for those who aren’t familiar, pitted the DC heroes against evil amalgamations of Batman + another character. The Batman Who Laughs, you may have guessed, is a mash-up of Batman and the Joker. As this image by Jock will attest, he’s bad news:

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DC confirms Marc Silvestri’s Batman project

‘Batman/Joker: The Deadly Duo’ will feature the Dark Knight and the Clown Prince of Crime teaming up.

Marc Silvestri’s long-rumored Batman project is a go at DC Comics, as the publisher confirmed this week in San Diego that the Cyberforce creator is working on Batman/Joker: The Deadly Duo.

No word yet on exactly when it will come out, but Silvestri said the book will be about seven and a half issues long and will feature someone “screwing” with the Joker, according to The Beat. Batman is forced to team up with the Joker when this mysterious person kidnaps Jim Gordon.

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Two new artists join DC’s Artist Alley statue line

Joe Ledbetter and Chrissie Zullo will tackle a range of DC characters in the popular vinyl figures line next year.

Two new creators are moving into DC’s Artist Alley, as Joe Ledbetter and Chrissie Zullo join the likes of Chris Uminga, HaiNaNu “Nooligan” Saulque and Sho Murase in creating vinyl statues for the line.

Ledbetter will put his signature spin on Batman, Penguin, Catwoman and Robin.

“I’m a huge Batman fan and to have the opportunity to work with DC Collectibles on a set of Batman characters is a huge deal in my world,” Ledbetter said in a press release. “I just love the idea of a bat in a Batman suit, a penguin as the Penguin, etc. There’s something there that’s quite funny and interesting and really excites me. I like to think that these animal Batman characters inhabit a parallel universe where Gotham City is entirely populated by anthropomorphic critters, including the Caped Crusader himself. I think the fun, enthusiasm and love of Batman, Robin, Penguin and Catwoman will shine through on these designer toys and I hope they find a special place on collector’s shelves.”

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Sam Kieth returns to the Maxx with ‘Batman/The Maxx: Arkham Dreams’

IDW and DC Comics team up to publish a five-issue miniseries starring the Dark Knight and Arkham’s newest patient: The Maxx.

Sam Kieth’s The Maxx hasn’t been seen in about a decade, but that changes in September when IDW Publishing and DC Comics come together to present Batman/The Maxx: Arkham Dreams. The first issue of the five-issue miniseries, written and drawn by Kieth, will feature covers by Kieth and DC CCO/Publisher Jim Lee.
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C2E2: Joëlle Jones working on new ‘Catwoman’ series, statue

Catwoman’s new series puts her back on the streets against a new villain.

At C2E2 in Chicago this weekend, Batman artist Joëlle Jones announced two new projects involving Bruce Wayne’s fiancée, Selina Kyle, A.K.A. Catwoman.

First up, starting this summer is a new Catwoman ongoing series, written and drawn by Jones. The new series will spin out of the big Batman wedding, which is set to occur in Batman #50.

“But if you’re expecting a romantic tale set during a tropical honeymoon or focused on Selina and Bruce’s newly wedded bliss, think again,” DC revealed in a press release. “Catwoman’s back on the streets dealing with a mysterious copycat and taking on a brand new, as-yet-unrevealed villain in the Eisner nominated Jones’ debut storyline.”

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DC’s Black Label imprint to offer out-of-continuity comics from ‘top talent’

DC Comics has announced Black Label, a new imprint aimed at giving creators the freedom to create out-of-continuity stories and future “perennially best-selling, critically acclaimed books.”

“Many of our perennially best-selling, critically acclaimed books were produced when we unleashed our top talent on standalone, often out-of-continuity projects featuring our most iconic characters, a prime example being Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns,” DC Entertainment co-publisher Jim Lee said in a statement about the new imprint. “Creating DC Black Label doubles down on our commitment to working with all-star talent and trusting them to tell epic, moving stories that only they can tell with the highest levels of creative freedom.”

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Comics Lowdown: Who created Batman?

Cape Cod man says his dad invented Batman! Plus: Pepe the Frog, Frank Miller, another comic convention legal battle and more!

Batman Claim: Although his claims have been met with some skepticism, Frank Foster III is firmly convinced his father invented Batman. The Cape Cod octogenarian has a number of sketches by his father, Frank Foster II, which depict a superhero with many of the same characteristics as DC’s Batman; the sketches are dated 1932, and one of them has several possible names, with a checkmark next to “Batman.” Frank Foster II went to art school with Li’l Abner creator Al Capp and in the 1930s, when he was living in New York, showed his portfolio to several comics publishers; the younger Foster believes someone may have seen the sketches and stolen the idea. He tried to interest several auction houses in the drawings, but none would take them, so he will be selling them on eBay. Foster elaborates further on his claims at his website.

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‘The Brave and the Bold’ returns next year from Liam Sharp

Batman and Wonder Woman will team up to solve the mystery of a dead Irish god in a six-issue miniseries.

DC Comics will resurrect The Brave and the Bold next year starring Batman and Wonder Woman, in a six-issue series by Liam Sharp. The duo will team up to solve the mystery of who killed an Irish god.

“The fact that they’ve pegged it to ‘The Brave and the Bold’ makes so much sense. It’s thrilling,” Sharp told The Washington Post’s Comic Riffs. “It kind of gave it even more gravitas and gave it a real reason for being. It just seemed like perfect timing. There’s an element of classicness to the whole concept as well. It just gives it more weight.”

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Josh Simmons creates more bootleg Batman

Simmons teams with artist Patrick Keck for “Twilight of the Bat.”

A few years back Black River creator Josh Simmons shared with the world a very wellreceived and unauthorized Batman comic, which you can read right now on the Study Group website.

Now Simmons has returned to “G—– City” with artist Patrick Keck to tell another story about “Bats,” his buddy “Joke Man” and some mysterious cupcakes. “Twilight of the Bat” debuted this past weekend at the Short Run Comix and Arts Festival in Seattle, and is now available on the Cold Cube Press website.

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