Goodbye New 52: New Books, Creative Teams and Continuing Series Announced by DC Comics
Image source: DC COmics
DC Comics just announced 24 new series and 25 returning series for its comic book lineup in June; ultimately ending the New 52 imprint.
While the current story continuity will remain the same, DC Comics will no longer use the New 52 label that’s been all over its books since the 2011 reboot. Come June, DC Comics will be publishing 49 books. “This heralds in a new era for the DC Universe which will allow us to publish something for everyone, be more expansive and modern in our approach and tell stories that better reflect the society around us,” DC Entertainment Co-Publisher Dan DiDio said in a press release. “Whether you’ve been a DC fan your whole life, or whether you are new to comics – there will be a book for you beginning in June.”
DC Comics will offer DC Comics: Divergence as its Free Comic Books Day title on Saturday, May 2, giving readers a peak at the new stories planned for June. Three eight-page previews of Batman by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo, Justice League by Geoff Johns and Jason Fabok, and Superman by Gene Luen Yang and John Romita, Jr will be featured in the comic. DC Comics: Divergence and the June relaunch follows the end of the “Convergence” event, which brings different DC universes together by Braniac for a “grand, devastating experiment.”
Regarding the new DC series, IGN announced eight of them this morning:
- Batman Beyond by writer Dan Jurgens & artist Bernard Chang
- Cyborg by writer David L. Walker & artists Ivan Reis and Joe Prado
- Dark Universe by writer James Tynion IV & artist Ming Doyle
- Doomed by writer Scott Lobdell & artist Javier Fernandez
- Harley Quinn/Power Girl by writers Jimmy Palmiotti, Amanda Conner & artist Stephane Roux (4 issue mini-series)
- Red Hood/Arsenal by writer Scott Lobdell & artist Denis Medri
- Starfire by writers Jimmy Palmiotti, Amanda Conner & artist Emanuela Lupacchino
- We Are Robin by writer Lee Bermejo & artists Rob Haynes and Khary Randolph
Comic Book Resources followed with seven exclusive announcements:
- Justice League of America by writer/artist Brian Hitch (pictured above)
- Bizzaro by writer Heath Corson & artist Gustavo Duarte (6 issue mini-series)
- Bat-Mite by writer Mark Russell & artist Ben Caldwell (6 issue mini-series)
- Omega Men by writer Tom King & artist Barnaby Bagenda
- Mystic U (tentative title) by writer Alisa Kwitney & artist Mauricet
- Section Eight by writer Garth Ennis & artist John McCrea
- Dr. Fate by writer Paul Levitz & artist Sonny Liew
According to Bleeding Cool, Patrick Gleason will write and draw Robin, Son of Batman. Justice League 3000 will relaunch as Justice League 3001 with the same creative team of Keith Giffen and Howard Porter. Earth 2 will also be relaunched as Earth 2: Society by Daniel Wilson and Jorge Jiminez.
Two other new series include Black Canary by Batgirl co-writer Brenden Fletcher and artist Annie Wu, and Prez by Mark Russell and artist Ben Caldwell.
The list of series continuing their run in June:
- Action Comics by writer Greg Pak & artist Aaron Kuder
- Aquaman by writer Cullen Bunn & artist Trevor McCarthy
- Batgirl by writers Cameron Stewart, Brenden Fletcher & artist Babs Tarr
- Batman by writer Scott Snyder & artist Greg Capullo
- Detective Comics by Brian Buccelato & artist Francis Manapul
- Batman/Superman by writer Greg Pak & artist Ardian Syaf
- Catwoman by writer Genevieve Valentine & artist David Messina
- Deathstroke by writer Tony Daniel & artist Tony Daniel
- Flash by writers Rob Venditti, Van Jensen & artist Brett Booth
- Gotham Academy by writers Becky Cloonan, Brenden Fletcher & artist Karl Kerschl
- Gotham By Midnight by writer Ray Fawkes & artist Juan Ferreyra
- Grayson by writers Tim King, Tim Seeley & artist Mikel Janin
- Green Arrow by writer Ben Percy & artist Richard Zircher
- Green Lantern by writer Robert Venditti & artist Billy Tan
- Harley Quinn by writers Amanda Conner, Jimmy Palmiotti & artist Chad Hardin
- Justice League by writer Geoff Johns & artist Jason Fabok
- Justice League United by writer TBD & artists Travel Foreman, Paul Pelletier
- Lobo by writer Cullen Bunn & artist Cliff Richards
- Secret Six by writer Gail Simone & artist Dale Eaglesham
- Sinestro by writer Cullen Bunn & artist Brad Walker
- New Suicide Squad by writer Sean Ryan & artist Carlos D’Anda
- Superman by writer Gene Luen Yang & artist John Romita, Jr.
- Superman/Wonder Woman by writer Peter Tomasi & artist Doug Mahnke
- Teen Titans by writer Will Pfeifer & artist Kenneth Rodafort
- Wonder Woman by writer Meridith Finch & artist David Finch
14 series ending their runs in March are:
- Aquaman and the Others
- Arkham Manor
- Batman Eternal
- Batwoman
- Green Lantern: New Guardians
- Infinity Man and the Forever People
- Injustice: Gods Among Us – Year Three
- Klarion
- Red Lanterns
- Secret Origins
- Star-Spangled War Stories Featuring G.I. Zombie
- Swamp Thing
- Trinity of Sin
- World’s Finest
The June relaunch is being seen as DC’s latest efforts reach a widespread audience that it failed to achieved in its initial relaunch. Based on the preview art, Bizarro and Bat-Mite appear more comical than anything DC Comics has released in recent years. Cyborg getting a solo title by an African-American writer offers an alternative from the white-dominated superhero scene. And Starfire, who was a lightning rod for controversy over her new design and characterization in the New 52, has undergone a redesign that resembles her more favorable animated counterpart.
Below are the preview images DC Comics has released for its June relaunch.
