Justice League Odyssey 1 Featured News 

WonderCon ’18: ‘New Justice’ Initiative Detailed by Scott Synder at DC’s ‘Meet the Publishers’ Panel

By | March 24th, 2018
Posted in News | 4 Comments

At today’s ‘Meet the Publishers’ panel at WonderCon, DC’s co-publishers Dan DiDio and Jim Lee ran down various corners of the DC publishing line, from DC Ink and Zoom to Vertigo to Mad. Aside from revealing a new Mad logo and the cover to the first issue of the re-launched magazine, there wasn’t anything incredibly newsworthy to come out of the first half of the panel.

The second half changed all of that.

After welcoming Editor in Chief Bob Harras to the stage, Lee and DiDio brought out Scott Snyder who somehow managed to cram an hour’s worth of spoilers and information into his 20 minutes on stage. The highlights of his chat were about two new Justice League titles which, along with his “Justice League” book, make up the core of ‘New Justice,’ the corner of the DCU spinning out of “Dark Nights Metal,” which wraps up this week, as well as ‘No Justice,’ the Justice League event happening weekly in May.

But first, Synder talked a bit about the ‘New Justice’ landscape, centered around the Hall of Justice. The Hall will feature ‘magical portals’ that take these various teams to their own headquarters. These teams all talk with one another, and will feature in each others’ books at times – but also have their own jurisdictions. Synder also mentioned that he is bringing back the Legion of Doom, and that those issues will be co-written by James Tynion IV.

Snyder ended the “Justice League” chat with this list of things on the first page of the first issue: DC One Million, the original Monitor, the Quintessence, Doctor Canus from “Kamandi: The Last Boy on Earth,” and an energy source that will ‘blow up the omniverse.’ This sounds appropriately nuts.

Justice League Dark #1

The first book announced was “Justice League Dark” from writer James Tynion IV with art by Alvaro Martinez, Raul Fernandez, and Brad Anderson. Paraphrasing Synder, at the end of “Metal,” magic is disrupted, and the people who created magic in the DCU are coming to take it back. The team is led by Wonder Woman, and features Zatanna, Swamp Thing, Constantine, Man-Bat, Detective Chimp, and Dr. Fate. Klarion was also teased to be part of the book as well.

Snyder referred to this as Tynion’s ‘dream project’ at DC.

Justice League Odyssey #1

The second book announced was “Justice League: Odyssey” by Joshua Williamson and Stjepan Sejic. This cosmic team is made up of Cyborg, Starfire, Azrael, Jessica Cruz, and Darkseid. Snyder called Darkseid the team’s Hannibal Lector, and mentioned the story would feature the Source Wall, Darkseid’s dad, and more – including an aborted, due to spoilers, conversation about ‘all of Brainiac’s bottles,’ presuming meaning the various worlds he’s trapped. He called it a ‘crazy space Western,’ and said that the team flies around in an Old Brainiac head with flames painted on the side.

Snyder mentioned how he wanted to pitch this as “Justice League: WTF,” with WTF standing for Wild (something with a T that hadn’t been decided) Frontier, but it was shot down.

Despite missing the June solicitations, the attached DC press release says both new Justice League books are set to launch in June.

Teen Titans #20

Briefly discussed were both Titans titles as well. Adam Glass (Supernatural, “Suicide Squad”) will be writing “Teen Titans” starting with #20, with art by Bernard Chang (“Batman Beyond,” “Nightwing”). The team will be led by Robin who, after ‘No Justice,’ wants to do things “his own way.” Red Arrow and Kid Flash will join him, as well as characters ‘old and new,’ including Crush, Lobo’s daughter. (She went unnamed in the press release, but Jorge Jiménez identified her and provided concept art for CBR.)

Dan Abnett will continue to write the older “Titans” book, with a new team and a new mission statement. They are the ‘graduated’ Teen Titans, and are learning how to become the Justice League. Led by Nightwing and Raven, the team will also include Steel, Beast Boy, and the returning Miss Martian.

Snyder also mentioned a book by Bryan Edward Hill, which will spin out of his “Detective Comics” run. This is seemingly going to be a new Outsiders title, featuring Black Lightning, Duke, and Cassandra Cain, based on what we know about Hill’s “Detective” run thus far.

Continued below

Read the full press release below, and check out more images at DCComics.com.

BIG NEWS FROM DC’S FIRST-EVER PUBLISHERS PANEL LIVESTREAM AT WONDERCON

JUSTICE LEAGUE Writer Scott Snyder Announces Two New Justice League Titles and Talent Teams Spinning Out of JUSTICE LEAGUE: NO JUSTICE Miniseries

Television Writer Adam Glass and Bernard Chang Revealed as New Team on TEEN TITANS in July

Award-Winning Writer Nalo Hopkinson Gives Fans First Look at Art from THE SANDMAN UNIVERSE

Exclusive Reveal of the Debut Issue of the “New” MAD Magazine

DC started Wondercon Saturday morning with a bang, courtesy of a livestreamed panel hosted by DC Publishers Dan DiDio and Jim Lee. Streaming live to fans nationwide, Dan and Jim, along with some of DC’s top editors and finest comic book talent, discussed some of the upcoming initiatives that have keep DC on the leading edge of publishing.

Anytime you get Dan and Jim together on a panel you can expect some breaking news, and this year’s livestream was no exception. Superstar writer Scott Snyder was on hand to talk to the publisher about not only the blockbuster finish fans can expect when DARK NIGHTS: METAL reaches its conclusion with issue #6 (March 28) but he also revealed some big plans for Justice League. Snyder dished the latest on the JUSTICE LEAGUE: NO JUSTICE four issue miniseries he’s working on with co-writers James Tynion IV (DETECTIVE COMICS) and Joshua Williamson (THE FLASH, Vertigo’s DEATHBED) and artist Francis Manapul (TRINITY), as well as his plans for JUSTICE LEAGUE, with newly-acquired artist Jim Cheung and rising star Jorge Jimenez.

But jaws really dropped when he announced that not one, but two all-new Justice League titles will debut from the May miniseries, each featuring new team rosters: JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK, written by Tynion with art by Alvaro Martinez, Raul Fernandez (inker) and Brad Anderson (colors) and JUSTICE LEAGUE ODYSSEY, written by Williamson, with art by Stjepan Sejic. Both titles are scheduled to launch in June.

Snyder wasn’t finished there; he hinted that the conclusion of METAL #6 would have repercussions throughout the DC Universe, and he wasn’t kidding when he announced that Adam Glass, writer for popular TV shows Supernatural and Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders would be joining fan-favorite artist Bernard Chang as the new talent team for TEEN TITANS, beginning with issue #20 in June. In addition to Damian Wayne (Robin) leading Kid Flash and Red Arrow into new adventures, several completely new characters will be added to the roster, including the daughter of the Main Man and everyone’s favorite(?) Czarnian, Lobo!

Last month, Vertigo shocked readers when they announced the return to the Dreaming in a Neil Gaiman-curated THE SANDMAN UNIVERSE imprint this August. Today, Vertigo and DC Black Label Executive Editor Mark Doyle, along with guest Nalo Hopkinson who will pen the HOUSE OF WHISPERS title, gave fans a first look at Bilquis Evely’s interiors for THE SANDMAN UNIVERSE #1. Hopkinson shared her excitement for the transition from novelist to comic book writer, and shared some first insights into the mysterious new house and its proprietor. THE SANDMAN UNIVERSE #1 is available August 8, 2018.

MAD magazine’s “Usual Gang of Idiots” featured a mix of old and new this time around, with the publishers talking to new Executive Editor Bill Morrison about what fans can expect from the new version of America’s #1 humor magazine (in a field of one). The fears of old-school MAD fans were quickly put to rest when long-time artist and “Spy vs. Spy” creator Sergio Aragones took the stage and had a chance to reflect on his past work and upcoming involvement with this new-look MAD. Patience was quickly rewarded as well, when fans in attendance and online got a tease of what the book will look like as a brand-new wrap around cover for MAD #1 (on sale April 17), featuring a new logo, was revealed.


Brian Salvatore

Brian Salvatore is an editor, podcaster, reviewer, writer at large, and general task master at Multiversity. When not writing, he can be found playing music, hanging out with his kids, or playing music with his kids. He also has a dog named Lola, a rowboat, and once met Jimmy Carter. Feel free to email him about good beer, the New York Mets, or the best way to make Chicken Parmagiana (add a thin slice of prosciutto under the cheese).

EMAIL | ARTICLES