DC announces big plans for ‘Action Comics’ in 2024

Those plans include Bizarro, a Brainiac crossover event and Jason Aaron.

DC revealed big plans for their flagship title, Action Comics, in 2024 this weekend at the New York Comic Con. In what they’re calling the Superman Superstars initiative — which even has its own logo, shown above — Action will feature rotating creative teams telling stories about the Superman Family, starting in January with a new story by Jason Aaron and John Timms featuring the return of Bizarro.

“I’ve been writing comics for almost 20 years, and I’ve certainly enjoyed my share of special moments and exciting projects along the way, but getting to write Superman for the very first time, in the pages of Action Comics no less, the one that started it all, goes down as one of the absolute most significant honors of my career,” said Aaron. “So the amazing John Timms and I are doing our very best to give readers a Superman tale full of action and surprises, the most Bizarro of all Bizarro stories, in what Bizarro himself would call the worst Bizarro story ever told’!”

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DC announces six new Elseworlds projects for 2024

Andy Diggle, Leandro Fernandez, Greg Smallwood, Clay Mann and more will tell stories from across the DC multiverse.

DC will venture into the far corners of its multiverse next year with six new projects that were announced this week at the New York Comic Con.

Three of the projects are sequels to previous Elseworlds tales, including the well-regarded Gotham by Gaslight from 1989. They’ve also announced follow-ups to the recent Dark Knights of Steel miniseries and DC vs. Vampires, where several DC characters were turned into vampires and preceded to try and take over the world.

“Out-of-continuity stories have always been a pillar of DC publishing, granting creators the ability to explore all the wild corners of the DC Universe,” said DC Executive Editor Ben Abernathy. “We’re excited to bring a whole new slate of titles under the Elseworlds banner in 2024, combining some all-new titles from top storytellers, as well as sequels from the current DC line that fit that same out-of-continuity aesthetic.”

Here’s a look at the six projects:

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Bill Willingham says ‘Fables’ is now in the public domain; DC says ‘Nope’

Willingham severs ties with the publisher with extreme prejudice.

Citing ongoing problems in working with DC Comics, Fables writer Bill Willingham has said he is releasing Fables into the public domain.

The quick version:

  • On Sept. 14, Willingham sent out on a press release on his Substack saying that as of Sept. 15, “the comic book property called Fables, including all related Fables spin-offs and characters, is now in the public domain.”
  • Willingham followed the next day with another post where he interviewed himself, citing problems he’s had with DC in recent years and saying “DC doesn’t seem to be capable of acting fairly and above-board.”
  • DC responded with their own statement, saying that they own Fables and that the company “reserves all rights and will take such action as DC deems necessary or appropriate to protect its intellectual property rights.”

So what’s this all about? Let’s break it down …

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Aaron + Mahnke will take Batman ‘Off-World’ in November

The writer of ‘Scalped’ and ‘The Other Side’ returns to DC following the end of his exclusive contract with Marvel.

After years — decades, even — of plotting the course of Marvel titles like Thor, Wolverine and the X-Men and Avengers, writer Jason Aaron has returned to DC for a new Batman story.

Aaron will team with artists Doug Mahnke and Jamie Mendoza for Batman: Off-World, which he describes as “a different sort of Batman story.”

“One that sees a young Dark Knight undertaking his very first trip into space,” Aaron said in his newsletter. “A journey that’s inspired by some of the DC books that made me a comics fan as a kid, and ultimately set the course for the rest of my life.”

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‘G’nort’s Illustrated Swimsuit Edition’ makes it easy for everyone to be Batman

DC reveals the back cover and more variants for the upcoming special.

In a world where everyone wants to be Batman, DC is making it easy with the release of G’nort’s Illustrated Swimsuit Edition next month. The one-shot, which was announced in May, will feature 48 pages of art and two complete stories, but it’s the back cover that Batfans may want to pay attention to.

You might remember back when the title was announced that J. Scott Campbell and Tanya Lehoux have created a variant cover for the title featuring Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle at the beach. Even on his day off, Bruce can’t help but be Batman:

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Slugfest | SDCC news + more

Today’s round-up includes items on Ms. Marvel, ‘Operation Sunshine,’ Zod, Supergirl and more.

Slugfest is a roundup of cool announcements about projects coming to a shelf near you from comics creators, publishers and more. Today’s edition includes some San Diego news we didn’t get to this past week, plus a few other items to note. Hit the links for more information.

If you read the Hellfire Gala 2023 special this week, then you know Ms. Marvel is playing a big role in what happens next to our favorite mutants. At San Diego, Marvel revealed more about Ms. Marvel: The New Mutant, the Fall of X miniseries featuring the recently resurrected Inhuman/mutant.

Here’s a look at the covers for the first three issues, along with the solicitation information (which was “hidden” when Marvel originally released their solicitations, to keep everything a surprise).

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Christian Ward takes Batman into a ‘City of Madness’ in a new Black Label series

The three-issue series will feature the Court of Owls and a twisted version of Batman.

DC’s solicitations for October arrived today, revealing a project from Christian Ward that originated from a social media post last year.

“One day I’ll do my cosmic horror Batman,” Ward wrote on Twitter (0r X, or whatever it’s called now). Someone was listening, because that image spawned a three-issue, 48-page Black Label series from DC, and it kicks off Oct. 10.

With this being the day after San Diego, it might seem odd that DC wouldn’t have mentioned such a major project at the convention, but there is something appropriate about Ward essentially announcing it on Twitter. Here’s the original tweet:

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Beast Boy leads the pack in ‘Titans: Beast World’

The crossover event will spin out of Tom Taylor and Nicola Scott’s work on ‘Titans.’

When an interstellar Sea Star that rivals Starro the Conqueror threatens Earth, one hero will step up to save the world — Beast Boy.

In San Diego today, DC announced Titans: Beast World, a crossover event spinning out of Tom Taylor and Nicola Scott’s work on Titans. The event will begin in Tales of the Titans #4, which spotlights Beast Boy, and will continue through Janaury.

“I’m beyond excited to bring this DC crossover event to life starting in November with our new Titans: Beast World series, featuring art by the incomparable Ivan Reis. ‘Beast World’ will also thread the needle between the current series that I’m writing about the Titans,” said Taylor. “Friends will fall. Super Heroes will rise. And nothing will ever be the same again. Earth is about to become…Beast World.”

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‘Outsiders’ get a ‘Planetary’-style makeover in a new series

Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly will helm the new series, which starts in November.

At a panel in San Diego today focused on all things Gotham, writers Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly revealed they’re working on a new Outsiders title, which will feature Batwoman and Luke Fox (aka Batwing).

But hey, if you get some Planetary vibes from the main cover — the old Wildstorm title by Warren Ellis and John Cassaday — you aren’t alone. Not only does the series feature a new version of The Drummer, but Luke Fox seems to be sporting an Elijah Snow-esque ensemble:

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The Justice League will throw down with Godzilla and King Kong in a new miniseries

Brian Buccellato, Christian Duce and Luis Guerrero will bring together two worlds filled with big characters.

DC kicked off the first full day of the San Diego Comic Con with a king-sized announcement — a crossover featuring the Justice League, Godzilla and King Kong.

DC will work with Legendary Comics and Toho International on Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong, the seven-issue miniseries, which will be written by Brian Buccellato, with art by Christian Duce and colorist Luis Guerrero.

“As a comics fan—there’s nothing more fun and exciting than exploring those amazing ‘What If’ situations that come up when fandoms cross streams,” said Jim Lee, DC president, publisher and CCO. “In this case, it’s a match-up of the world’s greatest super heroes in the Justice League who take on not only the King of the Monsters—Godzilla—but the mighty Kong himself! It’s a crossover no-holds-barred battle, decades in the making, and no bona fide comics fan will want to miss it!”

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John Stewart returns to Earth in ‘Green Lantern: War Journal’

The new series kicks off in September.

John Stewart will spin off into his own title in September after appearing as a back-up in the current Green Lantern title. While this hasn’t been a secret — they teased a variant cover for the first issue at MegaCon — they have confirmed that the new title will indeed be called Green Lantern: War Journal, and it’ll kick off in September as part of the Dawn of DC initiative.

Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Montos will bring John Stewart back to Earth for a post-superhero life that doesn’t go as expected (at least not for him).

“The most epic ’80s sci-fi action movie you haven’t seen is coming, and it’s set in the DCU,” said Johnson. “That’s what Montos and I are giving readers. The prologue stories in the back of Green Lantern #1-3 have a clear sci-fi/fantasy feel, but when Green Lantern: War Journal #1 drops, it’s going to start feeling less like Dune and a lot more like PredatorThe Terminator and Aliens. Sometimes you just need ’80s James Cameron, and that’s what this is. By the end of this series, readers are going to know exactly who John Stewart is, and why he was born to be a Green Lantern.” 

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Rafael Grampá celebrates Batman Day with ‘Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham’

The Black Label miniseries will follow a Batman who gives up being Bruce Wayne.

Mesmo Delivery creator and Dark Knight Returns: The Golden Child artist Rafael Grampá will return to Gotham this fall for Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham, a Black Label miniseries that will arrive just in time for Batman Day on Sept. 16.

In the miniseries, Batman will decide to “kill off” his Bruce Wayne identity and dedicate his life to fighting crime as Batman. Mat Lopes joins him on colors.

“When his origin was introduced in Batman #1 in the 1940s, Bruce Wayne swore revenge by the spirits of his murdered parents and—driven by his belief in an omen—became Batman,” said Grampá. “For me, this subtle aspect of Bruce’s belief system has always been the fundamental core of Batman, and through that lens I recognized this untold story. Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham explores ‘who he is and why he came to be.’ It makes my dream of bringing my own interpretation of Batman to life a reality as I delve into the darkest corners of his essence. I sincerely hope readers enjoy the ride.”

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