Man of Steel Behind the Scenes Featurette Debuts Online
Here’s a new featurette via Wal-Mart on Man of Steel that has lots of footage and interviews with Cavill, Snyder, Shannon and Adams who calls Superman, “a timeless story.”
Oh my. The revolving doors of writers at DC are spinning again. Today James Robinson who has been steadily working on DC projects for the past half decade today announced he’s off Earth-2 with issue #16 and is no longer working for DC Comics.

Although not part of the original new 52, Earth-2 was one of the strongest of the tier 2 titles ranking 39 of all comics in April and selling 45K copies. Robinson’s collaborator on the book, Nicola Scott, recently confirmed that there would be a second Robinson penned Earth-2 title.
Robinson’s departure is the latest in creator walkoffs. In March Andy Diggle walked off his highly anticipated run on Action after one issue. He was followed by Joshua Hale Fialkov who walked off the Lantern books because he refused to kill off John Stewart.
All of these exits are after DC held a retreat to deal with strife between editorial and creative. Despite the two day retreat, I was told that editorial interference quickly returned.
Given that there was a second book planned, Robinson’s departure probably leaves DC scrambling. When Diggle walked Tony Daniel was left to the task of writing and penciling the remaining two issues. The book was then turned over to Scott Lobdell.
Who would you like to see take on Earth-2?
Earlier today DC posted a preview to a bonus digital comic written by David Goyer being offered with pre-orders of the Man of Steel Blu-Ray combo pack. Seems a bit early given the movie isn’t even out yet. And perhaps it was because the preview has been pulled from the DC Comics site.
But not before the comic pages were downloaded! The comic was drawn by long time Superman artist Jerry Ordway. And there’s a very familiar character appearing in the first few pages.

And it’s not that guy.
(Source: comicbookmovie.com)
I woke up this morning to find many messages from readers telling me to check out the Gutters. Today’s comic, written by the always amazing Jill Pantozzi with art by Amy Mebberson, addresses an issue pretty near to my heart. And, of course, the comments have the usual cast of idiots.

Last week DC showed us the first artwork by Yanick Paquette from Wonder Woman: Earth One, the long, long anticipated take on Wonder Woman by Grant Morrison.
Earlier this week Nathan Fairbairn said on Twitter he is coloring the book (as well as Morrison’s Multiversity.) He also said the book “isn’t due for like a year.” DC has yet to solicit the book but given the release of art and that DC officially announced the book and said “stay tuned to THE SOURCE for more details about WONDER WOMAN: EARTH ONE over the course of the next few weeks!” I had assumed it was arriving this year.
For the announcement, Morrison spoke to Yahoo about the project and, like 90% of what he talks about when interviewed about the book, it involves sex.
“It’s not like a superhero comic. It’s a comic about the sexes and how we feel about one another. And why Wonder Woman kind of represents the best of something, and should be allowed to represent it,” said Morrison. “The Amazons over many thousands of years of living eternally have developed some very strange and ritualized ideas about sex.”
Every time he gives an interview on this book, I start singing this song.
Here’s another look at the artwork (apparently page 6 and 7 from the book)which Morrison says shows:
“Hercules dies!” …”This is the moment where Hippolyta, basically the queen of the Amazons, and the women have been chained up and controlled by Hercules and his men. It’s part of the Greek legend. And she finally turns on him and gets those chains around his neck where they belong.”

Earlier this year CW put on hold the development of the Wonder Woman show prequel Amazon after what I have heard was dissatisfaction with the pilot script. At that time the show was called a maybe for mid-season or Fall of 2014.
We haven’t heard much about it since CW announced that status in January but today at upfronts there was an update. EW is reporting that CW’s Pedowitz said Amazon is still moving foward.
“Oh God yes,” Pedowitz replied, when asked whether the project is still alive. “It’s being redeveloped. We don’t want to produce something” that doesn’t need the franchise justice, he added.
From the sound of that it sounds more like Fall of 2014 but still good to hear it is in development.

(Source: insidetv.ew.com)
It’s the week that DC puts out the majority of its books starring ladies - aka LADEEZ week! (One week - two pages, hmm). I noticed that Batgirl has moved to this week for the month which means DC’s current staff of female writers (Nocenti, Marx, Simone) have books this week. Next month Batgirl returns to mini-ladies week with Worlds’ Finest and Katana and the Pandora book takes its place in LADEEZ week.
What’s up with that?
Anyway, here’s what I’m reading this week.
Let’s start with a first issue! This week I’m going to start with yet another first issue from Image. And like other first issues from Image it’s a big one coming in close to 50 pages for $3.50. If you enjoy stories that look at the thin line between dreams and reality, you’ll enjoy this. You can read a bit more here.

Dark Horse also has a first issue coming out that deals with the power of dreams. It’s a good first issue but be warned some content regarding women and violence. Preview here.

And before I jump into the DC books here’s one from Marvel. I know I go on about how you really need to Fraction’s Hawkeye because it is so good but I probably should mention more how much I really enjoy his writing on FF. This is one of the funnest comics being published right now And you get the amazing art of the Allreds. If you aren’t pick this book, you really should be. This is issue #7; you can start from #1 online.

And now on to DC!

What a gorgeous cover. Hope the story holds up to the cover.

Let’s hope Starling isn’t going to be leaving the DCU anytime soon.

The preview for this looked good. Maybe this is the issue where the book settles in. At least Selina is zipped up.

Sadly this is the last issue of this series. As I’ve said before I think DC handled this book wrong. Instead of giving it revolving back-up and a $3.99 price point Amethyst would have done much better going the Shazam route and introduced the series as a back-up in Justice League Dark and boosting that to $3.99. It took 30 years for this character to get another shot at title. Sadly, I think that’s it for her.
I’ve been back and forth on the Supergirl title for awhile now. I picked it up at the start of the new 52 and dropped it because it was so decompressed. And then I picked up again and then dropped it because of the Super-crossover. Now I’m going to give it another try despite the fact that new writer has suggested it is going to be a bit darker (how much darker can we go?) (and that I wasn’t thrilled with the preview of this issue) Although I am a bit concerned that my first thought on looking at this cover was that it should say “When boobs collide”.
And now you can’t unsee that can you?

What’s on your list?
Trading Card maker Cryptozoic is getting ready to ship its newest DC themed card collection and I’m sure it will be of interest to readers of this blog.

The set includes includes all original art (including several female artists, yay!). There are also original art sketch cards in 1 out every 24 packs. And it will have Katie Cook stickers in each pack. Here’s a look at some of the cards.

Art by Ryan Odagowa. Reminds me of this page by George Perez from Wonder Woman #600
(Source: cryptozoic.com)
Kelly and I are back after an invigorating break with more talk about comics. This week our guest is the awesome Amy Reeder who talks about her Kickstarter comic, Rocket Girl which you really should go support. Why? Because of this:

We talk to Amy about more than just the Kickstarter so go give the interview a listen.
Kelly and I only review one comic this week, Fearless Defenders #4. What do we think? You’ll have to listen! The conversation then turns into a discussion of costumes, ladeez and comics given our interview with Kris Anka, Kelly’s piece on costume redesigns and then Anka’s reaction to the comments on that piece that will make you headdesk and then Robot 6’s article on the whole thing which turned up the sillyness all the way to 11!
Which leads to our newest segment where I will be channeling Michael Shannon’s dramatic reading of the infamous Sorority Letter and will choose the most over the top dudebro rant about ladeez and comics and do my own dramatic reading. Which rant gets these treatment?
Earlier I posted that Target will start offering Justice League branded summer merchandise on May 19. Wonder Woman merchandise will be included and here are your first looks at two pieces.
What better way to lounge through the summer than in a Wonder Woman chair? (That looks kid size to me).

What’s better? Having a snack from your Wonder Woman snack container.
Yes, it’s pink and purple. But it’s Wonder Woman merchandise.

Target has become my go to place to get superhero stuff and I guess they’ll be collecting some more money from me this summer.
Today Target and DC/Warner Bros. announced that starting May 19 there will be more than 50 summer products featuring the full line-up of the Justice League.
The press release states:
Some of the more unexpected items include melamine dinnerware that features a purple and pink-clad Wonder Woman; an apron that transforms the cook into Batman; sand toys that will help beach-goers create Gotham City; and children’s Batman, Wonder Woman and The Flash beach towels that double as capes.
Dinnerware with Wonder Woman on it?

Any thoughts on the previews and announcements for Marvel's Agents of SHIELD?
I’m looking forward to it. #coulsonlives!
Is it possible to create a popular Asian American protagonist that doesn't have a stereotypical background? Looking at Katana, would her character be less interesting if she was born in America instead? I feel like if there is a Japanese character, it equates to "yakuza or samurai background." Aside from maybe "Chew," another current comic like "Epic Kill" have covers where the female lead is donning a sexualized Martial artist Bruce Lee outfit which makes me cringe.
Yes I think there is. Ryan Choi, the Atom created by Gail Simone avoided a lot of those tropes.
If you could erase/change anything from any characters past (including a death), what would you change and why?
Good question but so tough given the different continuities that exist due to the new 52. Also do I erase one character’s death or several with one swoop (I’m looking at you Identity Crisis).
If I stick with the new 52 I’d undo some of the changes to the Amazons. Or the death of Damian Wayne. I understand Morrison’s desire to have his ending, but really aren’t we all just waiting around until he comes back?
I'm not sure if you answered this already, but what, if any, new 52 comics do you like? Thanks!
I’m reading Batman, Batman Inc., Justice League of America, Justice League Dark, Katana, Birds of Prey, Swamp Thing, Animal Man (now in trades for both), Worlds’ Finest and Catwoman. Just picking up The Movement, The Green Team and Superman: Unchained. May be adding Suicide Squad due to the new writer.