What you assume…Clark Kent loves Lois Lane. Lois loves Superman. Clark and Jimmy Olsen are best friends…is very different in The New 52.
Action Comics #19 is out this week with a new creative team. (Writer Andy Diggle and artist Tony Daniel have already announced their departures from the book.) DC Comics shared a first look inside the new beginning for the Man of Steel and exploring the status quo of Clark’s complicated relationships.
Next month’s Action Comics #19 was to be a new beginning for the Man of Steel with a new creative team. Writer Andy Diggle revealed via Twitter he was leaving the Superman book.
“Sadly I’ve decided to walk away from Action Comics for professional reasons. It was the toughest decision I’ve ever had to make, especially with Superman’s 75th Anniversary and Man of Steel on the horizon. But it was the right decision. Onwards.”
Later today DC Comics Executive Director of Publicity Alex Segura revealed his Twitter:
Fans of creator Tony Daniel lined up at Emerald City Comicon 2013 for signatures and sketches from his recent work on Batman, Battle for the Cowl and Detective Comics but soon the artist will take on another DC Comics icon.
Daniel will join writer Andy Diggle for the adventures of Superman in Action Comics #19. DC shared a sneak peek of Daniel’s rendering of Superman, his allies and greatest enemy: Lex Luthor.
The Man of Steel goes wild with cat scratch fever (technically it was a bite)in the Congo in this week’s Justice League #14 courtesy DC Comics. Geoff Johns and guest artist Tony Daniel gave a classic campy villainess a savage New 52 debut in the previous issue.
Justice League #14 courtesy DC Comics
After last week ‘s attack Superman has turned against his team, the search for Barbara Minerva reaches a new dead but the Justice League may find new allies to stop the Goddess of the Hunt’s warpath.
Justice League #14 courtesy DC Comics
Tony Daniel will be taking over Action Comics (with writer Andy Diggle) so this is a perfect opportunity to see how he will handle the Man of Steel. Daniel really shines with this Wonder Woman and his ferocious take on the Cheetah!
Love Bites! Wonder Woman’s romantic kiss with Superman is interrupted by the bite of a classic villainess reborn!
The Cheetah roars and rips her away into DC Comics The New 52 this week in Justice League #13. Superman and Wonder Woman’s passionate kiss from last issue leads a hero left alone but the attraction is still burning when they reunite later in the Watchtower.
The real stars of this issue are the Cheetah, Wonder Woman and Tony Daniel! The Batman/Detective Comics writer creates a savage showdown between the Amazon and her friend turned mortal enemy in Central Park. The title splash page should be a poster on the walls of Diana worshipping geeks. By the end of the issue the team is in the Congo tracking down the villainess when she attacks and Geoff Johns leaves us with a savage cliffhanger. Johns and Daniel transformed a villain with a silly past into a badass with a ferocious future!
Writer Jeff Lemire joins Johns on the backup story with Steve Trevor drinking after being dumped romantically by Wonder Woman and professionally by the Justice League. The appearance of another hero sets the stage for Trevor’s comeback in Justice League of America #1 coming soon.
The Cheetah attacks in this week’s Justice League #13 with guest artist Tony Daniel. The recent Detective Comics writer/artist teams with Geoff Johns to reintroduce this infamous Wonder Woman enemy to DC Comics The New 52. The Cheetah’s roaring reintroduction in Justice League #13 is part of the buildup to The Trinity War.
“I’m thrilled and honored to again work with Geoff Johns on this JUSTICE LEAGUE arc,” Daniel told THE SOURCE. “It’s going to be a lot of fun and I can’t wait to work on my favorite characters. JUSTICE LEAGUE is the first book I pull because of the big stories and the great Jim Lee art inside. I’m very happy that I get a chance to focus all my energy on making my best artwork for Geoff and the fans of JUSTICE LEAGUE.”
“Tony and I will be re-introducing one of DC’s iconic villains – the Cheetah – and uncovering her mysterious connection to Wonder Woman and the Justice League,” added Johns. “For me, the Cheetah is up there with Black Manta, Sinestro and Captain Cold as one of the most iconic villains in the DC Universe, and she’ll become a major villainous force in 2012 and beyond. The fallout from JUSTICE LEAGUE #12 starts here as we head towards next year’s TRINITY WAR.”
Justice League #13 arrives this week. Tony Daniel will join Andy Diggle on Action Comics in 2013.
The Man of Steel will have a new creative team and new look in 2013. DC Comics announced that Andy Diggle (The Losers, Green Arrow: Year One, Daredevil) and Tony Daniel (Batman, Detective Comics) will create Superman’s new adventures in Action Comics.
“I’ve always had a positive experience working with DC Comics, and it’s amazing to be welcomed back into the fold in such fine style,” Diggle tells THE SOURCE. “Even in an industry dominated by superheroes, Superman is THE superhero – the original and best – and I’m flattered, daunted and inspired in equal measure at being given the opportunity to build on such an incredible and historic legacy. The word ‘iconic’ is bandied around a lot in comics, but Superman defines the term. I’m excited to be working with Tony Daniel, whose artistic and storytelling skills will be bringing the world(s) of Superman to stunning visual life. Together we’ll be carving out spectacular new adventures that respect the past while redefining the future of the Man of Steel.”
Tony Daniel relaunched Detective Comics starring Batman and talks about moving from Gotham City’s dark hero to the Metropolis Man of Steel.
“First, let me say that I am really excited to be working with Andy Diggle on ACTION COMICS,” continued Daniel. “Superman is a character I’ve wanted to work on for quite a while now and I’m now very fortunate to be given this tremendous opportunity to work with such an iconic character. I look forward to drawing each and every character in Superman’s universe. I anticipate this being a fun ride for me and hopefully for Superman fans as well. I can’t wait to get Andy’s first script and sharpening my pencils! Thank you everyone for your support of my work on BATMAN and DETECTIVE COMICS over the years. I already miss the Dark Knight, but I look forward to starting anew with the Man of Steel in ACTION COMICS. I hope to see you all in Metropolis!”
Justice League #12 courtesy DC Comics
Superman and Wonder Woman recently began a romance in Justice League #12. Diggle talked with Comic Book Resources about his direction for the series including the Clark/Lois/Diana interaction.
“I don’t know how much I can talk about how it will relate to other titles, but like I said, I very much want to balance the extremely epic, massive-scale action heroics with the human side of Kal-El and Clark Kent too. I would like to see him explored a little bit more. And I would like to see his relationship with Lois Lane explored a little bit more in the New 52.
Obviously, the relationship with Wonder Woman is going to complicate that whole dynamic. That could all seem pretty predictable, but with the Wonder Woman wildcard there, it makes everything a little bit more interesting and dramatic.
One of things that really appeals to me about coming into “Action Comics” now is the fact that, with the creation of the New 52, continuity has stopped exploding for the first time in years. It’s created a level playing field where you can actually go in and start building new stories from the ground up without having the continuity turmoil, which used to be the case for a long time. It’s actually very exciting to build something new, and everyone at DC is pulling in the same direction. Everyone is building this new continuity from the ground up and giving it a degree of internal cohesion and internal logic rather than piecing it together over decades, which is what we had before. That’s exactly what you want as a writer in a shared universe.”
Diggle said to expect classic characters like Daily Planet Editor Perry White, Jimmy Olsen and Lex Luthor. The writer said he’s like to “more of the backstory of Krypton.”
What about that suit in the promo art? Is sure looks more steel than the traditional blue.
The new team begins with March’s Action Comics #18.
Tony Daniel wraps up his year on Detective Comics with the rogues running the show! Detective Comics Annual #1 picks up after the Night of the Owls tie-in issue. Black Mask is back. Roman Sionis turns the table on Dr. Jeremiah Arkham and is reviving the False Face Society. Daniel uses Clayface, Tweetledum and Tweetledee but it’s how he uses a mystery villain against Sionis that’s the most wicked use of the rogues.
Romano Molenaar and Pere Perez split the art duties on this story. Both artists have styles that remind me of Tony Daniel and Gary Frank. Batman’s showdown with a new foe, the big reveal and final showdown are great moments in the carnival setting.
When villains are this fun it’s ok to have Batman in the background as he tracks down the Black Mask. This story is a perfect fit for the Annual style. Daniel will draw next month’s Detective Comics #0 then joins Geoff Johns on Justice League.
