Looks like the Justice League roster is about to get bigger! Justice League #16 ended with a teaser sure to get fans in a frenzy over who might join DC’s flagship team and title.
But before I keep going I should give you a…..
SPOILER ALERT!
IF YOU HAVE NOT READ JUSTICE LEAGUE #16 YOU MAY WANT TO STOP READING NOW.
SERIOUSLY.
OK.
HERE IT COMES.
DC Comics Creative Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns will pen an episode of the new series Arrow on The CW. Johns will write episode 107 titled Muse of Fire.
“I’m thrilled to be writing this episode of ARROW, and while I can’t give too much away, I think comic fans are going to like what we have in store for them – keep an eye out for the Huntress,” Johns tells The Source.
The Huntress is a vigilante, starred in her own series, has been a member of Birds of Prey and part of the Batman family. Helena Bertinelli is the daughter of a mafia boss out for revenge when her family is wiped out.
Here’s the official character description:
“Helena is a potential love interest for Oliver Queen; a fellow vigilante, set on destroying her father’s organized crime empire. But Helena’s blind pursuit of revenge will put her on a collision course with the Arrow.”
Jessica De Gouw will portray The Huntress. I’m thrilled to Helena on television and hope she may appear in a Batman movie some day.
By Editor
Come for the kiss. Stay for the drama. Justice League #12 features the much hyped kiss between Superman and Wonder Woman but this issue packs a ton of other great moments and leaves me wanting more.
Most non-comic book readers have been upset about Lois Lane getting ditched. Most of them don’t know about the rebooted New 52 continuity. Wonder Woman’s great love gets a world of hurt in this story. League government liaison Steve Trevor is the poor guy who gets dumped then fired by the Amazon princess.
This story may be remembered as the issue that brought Clark and Diana together but the team nearly rips apart. The new villain Graves uses his powers to torment the League with ghosts of their pasts.
The aftermath of the battle is the best part of the story. One member quits. One member makes a play for leadership. All of them are under fire from the country they’re trying to protect thanks to the villain’s manipulations.
Jim Lee is acclaimed for his beautiful art, muscled heroes, gorgeous heroines and big screen action. I have to point out the heartbreaking anguish of Diana, the battered Steve Trevor and Superman’s desperate fear when he thinks he might lose Diana.
The best part of the story is after the great showdown with the new villain. The fallout of the fight is one standout moment after another. Lee draws the hell out of big fight sequences but his best work in this issue is when he’s showing the emotionally beaten Diana leave Steve for Superman.
The final pages show the New 52 debut of a character with her own agenda for the Justice League, the threat of Graves is not over and the fractures within the team will shake out into huge conflicts in upcoming issues. I came for the super kiss. Johns and Lee have me seduced by what’s next.
By Editor
DC Comics announced a brand new Justice League of America series by Geoff Johns (Justice League, Green Lantern) and David Finch (Batman: The Dark Knight) at Fan Expo Canada.
Steve Trevor will recruit an eclectic team of heroes to fight the Secret Society of Super Villains. Th roster pulls from the New 52, JSA and a shocker.
Martian Manhunter, Catwoman, Hawkman, Green Arrow, Stargirl, Vibe, Katana and the new Green Lantern. (Baz will be the first Arab Lantern debuting in September’s Green Lantern #0)
Geoff Johns tells MTV Geek why this new version of the team forms:
“The idea of why the JLA forms, and what it is, and what it’s in reaction to… It kind of spins out of Justice League #12; what happens in that, and then subsequent issues, because JLA comes out next year some time. But the book itself is a group of heroes that aren’t necessarily coming together because they want to be together… They’ve been selected specifically. They all want, or need something that Steve Trevor, and the other person behind the scenes that’s in charge of this team can provide.
The first arc is going to deal with something they learn is called The Secret Society of Super-Villains.”
There are a lot of surprise choices in this roster – Vibe? The choice that will make me try this book is Catwoman. Why is Batman’s femme fatale on the team?
“Catwoman is a very different perspective, and is brought in for a very different reason. She stays because they have something that she wants… And it’s not at all what you’d expect. It’s not a big diamond, it’s not a get out of jail free card, it’s something she’s been searching for that’s going to lead to a whole exploration of a side of Selina Kyle we haven’t yet seen.
But she is going to have a lot of fun on the team, she is going to be the Veronica to Stargirl’s Betty, if you will, and she has a new dynamic because we haven’t really seen her interact much with all these characters. Some of them not at all, like Vibe, and Stargirl… There’s not a lot of interaction between her and Martian Manhunter, and I don’t think she’s ever interacted with Steve Trevor that I can remember. Catwoman has a very different reason for being on the team.”
For more from Geoff Johns here’s the MTV Geek link.
Justice League of America arrives in 2013.
By Editor
A new Green Lantern from the Middle East? DC Comics revealed the cover to Green Lantern #0 by Geoff Johns and Doug Manke scheduled for September. After seeing the writing on the hero’s arm on the cover I did some searching and I think this Comic Book Resources post does a good job wrapping up the potential for this character.
What does this mean for Hal Jordan and Sinestro? For the one year anniversary of The New 52 DC is numbering all titles zero and will be stand-alone stories.
This moves follows the reintroduction of Alan Scott as a gay man and Green Lantern of Earth 2 and continues DC’s commitment to add more diversity. Given this is a stand-alone story it may be a test to see if this character could receive his own title or be part of the Green Lantern Corps.
I think this may be the first time a Muslim character has been introduced since Dust in Grant Morrison’s New X-Men era.
By Editor
DC’s greatest heroes united only to be blasted by Darkseid! Can the team regroup to stop the ultimate villain? Geoff Johns and Jim Lee’s Justice League #6 arrives this week.
USA Today has an exclusive preview images of the climatic battle and interviews wth the creators.
“You really see Batman’s superpower is elevating the others around him,” said Johns. “Other than being a great tactician and a great fighter, he does know how to motivate people in the right way and crack into them like a safe.”
“Every character steps up and does something important in taking down Darkseid and saving the day. That’s the trick to any team book facing one ultimate bad guy is how do you get every character doing something meaningful, and the story delivers on that,” adds Lee.
This issue has a backup story setting the stage for the next arc in issue 7 and brings the Justice League 5 years forward into present day DC Comics New 52 continuity. Thanks to The Source.
Johns and Lee have succeeded beautifully at creating a new origin for these iconic characters. It’s been a thrill ride with action, humor and drama. I have to agree with Johns that Batman has this power to inspire. Bruce Wayne and Hal Jordan’s interaction has been a favorite part of this arc. I can’t wait for the big throwdown this week!
The team behind Superman: Secret Origin create a new graphic novel exploring the transformation of Bruce Wayne into Batman. The Source revealed Geoff Johns and Gary Frank’s Batman: Earth One will debut in July 4th.
This is being called an all new take on the Dark Knight mythos. Bruce Wayne is determined to bring his parents’ killer to justice. The Mayor of Gotham City is his target.
DC Comics gave fans some details of this year’s DC Comics – The New 52 Free Comic Book Day Edition.
The Source revealed the legendary Jim Lee and other top artist will contribute to the issue.
Geoff Johns will contribute a brand new story.
Fans can expect previews of “Second Wave” titles, including Batman Incorporated, Dial H for Hero, Earth 2, G.I. Combat, The Ravagers and World’s Finest.
Free Comic Book Day is Saturday, May 5th.