Is there a traitor among DC’s new super group? A new Secret Society is forming! One of the villains has the power to attack the Justice League of America from within!
Who could it be?
Justice League of America #1 courtesy DC Comics
We could learn new clues in this week’s Justice League of America #3 by Geoff Johns and David Finch.
The superstar team of Johns and Finch are building up to the big crossover Trinity of Sin in which this team will crossover with Justice League and Justice League Dark.
David Finch at Fan Expo Vancouver 2013, photo by ComicsBlend
Earlier this month at Fan Expo Vancouver I interviewed David Finch. With such an eclectic roster, I asked Finch which members of Justice League of America were his favorites to draw so far. His answer included a surprise and what could be an ominous tease for the team’s youngest member:
Trinity of Sin is a huge crossover that’s been in the works since The New 52 reboot. It’s almost the second anniversary of DC Comics The New 52 relaunch which was controversial but successful. I asked Finch what it was Continue reading JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA’s David Finch
Fan favorite artist David Finch appeared at Fan Expo Vancouver this past weekend. There were huge lines for Finch as fans eagerly waited for a chance to have the acclaimed creator sign their books, get sketches and talk with him about his stellar career. Finch is now a DC Comics exclusive artist (Batman: The Dark Knight, Justice League of America) after amazing runs at Top Cow (Cyberforce) and Marvel Comics (New Avengers, Ultimate X-Men, Ultimatum, Moon Knight.)
Finch joined legendary Iron Man artist and X-O Manowar co-creator Bob Layton and Ultimate Comics X-Men, Incredible Hulk cover artist Kaare Andrews for an engaging sketch duel panel. The three creators gave fans a choice: they spend the entire session working on one sketch each or a rapid fire 5 minutes per sketch. The sketch duel ends with lucky fans leaving with the sketches so the crowd unanimously voted for the chance at 15 fans receiving 15 sketches over three fans getting three sketches.
The battle began with requests for Catwoman, Hulk, Spider-Man, Wolverine and finally Captain America while the creators shared career insights and answered fan questions in a revealing and hilarious session.
David Finch at Fan Expo Vancouver 2013, photo by ComicsBlend
After enjoying the panel I got the opportunity to talk one on one with Finch back at his table. I did have to wait my turn. As you can see above this young fan was extremely chatty and excited as she watched Finch create a sketch just for her.
Batman: Dark Knight #6 courtesy Marvel
After a great run on Batman: The Dark Knight which he co-wrote with Paul Jenkins, Finch is now drawing a new Justice League of America written by Geoff Johns. The eclectic cast includes Catwoman, Katana, Stargirl, Green Arrow, Hawkman, Martian Manhunter, Vibe and the new Green Lantern Simon Baz. I asked Finch which members of the team were his favorites so far. His answer included a surprise and a tease for a dramatic event planned for the youngest hero on the roster:
Phil Jimenez at Fan Expo Vancouver, photo by ComicsBlend
Acclaimed artist Phil Jimenez (Fairest, Wonder Woman, New X-Men) has transformed Warrior Woman! It’s the latest character redesign victory in a stellar comic book career.
Jimenez recently made his first trip to Vancouver, B.C. to appear at Fan Expo Vancouver. Along with sketching for fans and signing comic books Jimenez appeared on a Sketch Duel panel with Stephen Sadowski (JSA, Starman, Avengers) that was an insightful and hilarious highlight of the Expo.
Jimenez and Sadowski are known for their popular redesigns of characters so the first half of the sketch duel challenge was to give a B (or C or maybe D level depending on your opinion) character a new look while they shared insights on their design work and answered fan questions.
After a wave of suggestions from the audience (including Modok, Ma Hunkel, Booster Gold and Legion – that was mine) Jimenez decided on Dazzler and Sadowski took on Jack of Hearts!
As the sketching began Jimenez revealed how fashion design and trends have affected his work citing a Donna Troy look he said was inspired by Emma Peel (played by Diana Rigg) of The Avengers (as in the classic British series!) He went on to say how comics should be fantastical and his design influence was more haute couture than ready to wear.
Sadowski revealed his new takes on Atom Smasher and Hawkgirl on his JSA run as his favorite character redesigns. Busts and body images of female superheroes was a popular audience topic. Sadowski shared that he fought to give Kendra smaller breasts because he felt it would be more appropriate for her hawk-like appearance and the need to be more aerodynamic.
The first half hour ended with a Sadowski revealing a bolder, cleaner and more built version of Jack of Hearts while Jimenez went retro giving the Disco Dazzler big sunglasses and Farrah Fawcett inspired hair!
Dazzler by Phil Jimenez, photo by ComicsBlend
The second half hour was the most unique version of Pictionary you might ever experience. The audience submitted comic book characters, iconic weapons (like Thor’s hammer) or items of a costume (I chose Storm’s headpiece) on cards. Mystique and Wonder Woman cosplayers joined Team Jimenez while Beast and one of a trio (imagine an all male version of the X-Men’s Stepford Cuckoos) of Phoenixes played on Team Sadowski.
Jimenez vs. Sadowski sketch duel at Fan Expo Vancouver, photo by ComicsBlend
Before Watchmen: Ozymandias #1 cover by Jae Lee courtesy DC Comics
Before Watchmen: Ozymandias #1 is out this week. Len Wein was editor of the original Watchmen 12 part series. Wein is writing the new miniseries starring the “smartest man on the planet.”
In an interview with the legendary creator at Fan Expo Vancouver I asked Wein about his role as editor then versus writer now and how it relates to the new stories of Before Watchmen. Continue reading Len Wein on Before Watchmen Ozymandias
DC Comics The New 52 gave Tony Daniel the creative reigns of Detective Comics as writer and artist. Daniel put Batman on the trail of the Gotham Ripper, introduced a new love interest – TV journalist Charlotte Rivers, gave us the dreaded Dollmaker and left one an absolutely freakish cliffhanger with the Joker.
Daniel’s first seven issue are collected in Detective Comics Volume 1: Faces of Death in hardcover out this month. Batman’s pursuit of the new serial killer in Gotham made him a target while balancing his budding romance with Charlotte, who is out to unmask the killer and the Batman. Here’s the link to buy.
One of Daniel’s triumphs has been the clever use of classic rogues and introducing new enemies in Gotham City. Hypnotic is after Batman and Wayne Enterprises in Detective Comics #10 out this week. This issue continued the back story starring Two-Face.
To see and hear Tony in his own words discuss his villains, the Two-Face story and which old school villain he will reintroduce next here’s the link to my interview with Daniel at Fan Expo Vancouver.
DC revealed Detective Comics Annual will hit August 29th. Tony Daniel puts Batman in a battle with The Black Mask. This special Annual is illustrated by Romano Molenaar and Sandu Florea.
Roman Sionis appeared in last week’s Detective Comics #9. I called this one hellish hour in the Night of the Owls. Black Mask was a pawn in Jeremiah Arkham’s insane plan to escape when an army of Talons invaded Arkham Asylum.
If you want to know more of Tony Daniel’s plans for Detective Comics including the New 52 version of an old foe here’s my interview with him from last month’s Fan Expo Vancouver.
