DC K.O. might have wrapped up its final round, but DC Comics isn’t close to done delivering top tier stories from top tier talent. On Saturday at Emerald City Comic Con, Gotham Group editor Rob Levin gathered a collection of talent – including Jeph Loeb (Batman: The Long Halloween, Superman For All Seasons), Jason Aaron (Absolute Superman), Kyle Starks (End of Life, Peacemaker Tries Hard), Tony Fleecs (Stray, Local Man), Denys Cowan (Hardware, The Question) and G. Willow Wilson (Poison Ivy) to discuss their plans for upcoming DC titles.
Loeb is launching a new series titled Batman/Wonder Woman: The Truth, which takes place between Batman: Hush and Hush 2 and features Wonder Woman and Batman teaming up after the Joker and Harley Quinn steal something from the Amazon princess. It also features the artwork of Jim Cheung, whom Loeb has wanted to work with since New Avengers. Loeb would also assure fans that Hush 2 would be completed by next year, due to Jim Lee juggling art duties on other projects like a story in the Superman/Spider-Man crossover and his regular duties as DC publisher.
Aaron discussed the developments in Absolute Superman, particularly Absolute Superman #17. “I was fresh off the banana boat when Scott Snyder called me up,” he said about how he started writing the book. Future issues will bring King Shazam into the mix, while Aaron teased that he has a Superman character slated to appear that no one will see coming. “Issue #25 is also a big one,” he said, refusing to elaborate further.
Wilson is making a big move with Poison Ivy #42, which sees Ivy become the mayor of Gotham City. If you think that’ll end in disaster, Wilson agrees, saying Ivy will struggle with legitimate political power. “She’s going to have to make some choices when she’s in that chair. And not all of them are good.” She also listed how Ivy tends to burn bridges, particularly as recent issues saw her cross the Parliament of Trees.
Cowan will join Dan Watters on Nightwing #136, marking his first time illustrating the former Boy Wonder. “There are certain things you have to get right about Nightwing,” Cowan joked, even comparing Dick Grayson to what Brad Pitt would be like as a superhero. He also said that Watters’ scripts reminded him of his work with Denny O’Neil on The Question.
Fleecs will make his DC writing debut with Deathstroke: The Terminator, which is part of DC’s “Next Level” Initiative. He’s also joined by Carmine Di Giandomenico (Spider-Man: Noir, Batman: The Knight), and Fleecs confirmed that the two plan to drag Slade Wilson down to his lowest. “It’s funny. I’m telling this story about an awful guy who’s empty inside, but every scene looks like a Michael Bay movie,” Fleecs quipped. Fans of DC’s villains will also be happy to learn that Deadshot and Deathblow will be making appearances in a future issue.
Finally, talk turned to Starks’ work on End of Life, which helped kick off DC’s revival of the Vertigo brand. “Everyone wants to kill him because he sucks,” Starks joked about protagonist Eddie Stallion. Levin also mentioned that he felt End of Life had “Preacher” energy since it takes place in a small town, and I completely agree. Whether it’s superheroes, supervillians, Absolute, Vertigo or the Next Level, DC’s got something for everyone.
