Exciting news on the comic book front. If you are a fan of DC or comics in general, odds are you have heard of DC relaunching 52 titles from their extensive universe, and you are anxiously awaiting for Wednesday August 31st!

Wednesday marks the date for the beginning of the new 52. Justice League #1 will be the first comic to start the relaunch. If you aren’t familiar with whats going on over at DC right now, lets get you filled in. A few months back DC shared with us the awesome news that they would be relaunching  some of their biggest series and adding a few new faces into the mix. Comic sales were declining and the head hanchos at DC felt a change was needed. These issues will all start back at issue #1 in hopes of drawing in a new generation of comic book fans.

At first I had my reservations about all of this, but DC pointed out that when they say reboot it really only means a “soft” reboot. Well, what the hell’s a soft reboot? This means that many characters and titles will be revamped and re-imagined, but much of the DC Universe‘s history will remain intact. So we will see some titles where our favorite heroes or villains origins have changed or updated to better interact with today’s settings and some where the stories continue but in a slightly different way.

Along with the character changes, DC is also changing their publishing format with the addition of same day releases on all digital comics. This saddens me a bit because I feel that we will see an even bigger decline in comic book shops. I’m a fan of actual physical copies of my books — comics included. I enjoy spending time at comic book stores (although I already have to drive quite a ways just to find one).

It would have been such a shame if they committed to a complete and total reboot of the universe because their have been so many ground breaking, not to mention amazing stories published in the last 70 plus years. Some arcs that will still remain in the DC continuity include: Blackest Night, Brightest Day, Batman: A Death in the Family and Batman: The Killing Joke. These are only a few so don’t feel screwed if your favorite arcs were left out.

While this relaunch will be sure to have some fans foaming at the mouth, I think overall things will turn out all right. Marvel comics took this route a quite a few years back now with their launch of their Ultimate titles. DC seems to be doing this on a much bigger scale though. Whereas Ultimate was just a new title (Ultimate Spider-Man, Ultimate X-Men, Ultimate Iron Man, Etc.) alongside their original counterparts, the DC reboot will have given up their counterparts entirely.

All in all, I’m pretty damn excited for this! I will continue to read the books I’ve missed from years past, but with this relaunch it will allow readers to start from the beginning and grow alongside the stories. As cheesy as that is, I think it will be nice to follow along from day one. With Wednesday only a day away, I’m counting down the hours till I can escape work and fly to The Source and pick up my copy of Justice League #1. For a full list of titles included in this relaunch check below. For more information and specifics on each title check out DCcomics.com.

August 31st -

JUSTICE LEAGUE #1
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art and cover by JIM LEE and SCOTT WILLIAMS
1:25 Variant cover by DAVID FINCH
Comics superstars Geoff Johns and Jim Lee make history! In a universe where super heroes are strange and new, Batman has discovered a dark evil that requires him to unite the Worlds Greatest Heroes! This spectacular debut issue is also offered as a special combo pack edition, polybagged with a redemption code for a digital download of the issue.

ACTION COMICS #1
Written by GRANT MORRISON
Art by RAGS MORALES and RICK BRYANT
Cover by RAGS MORALES
Variant cover by JIM LEE and SCOTT WILLIAMS
The one and only Grant Morrison (ALL-STAR SUPERMAN) returns to Superman, joined by sensational artist Rags Morales (IDENTITY CRISIS), to bring you tales of The Man of Steel unlike any you’ve ever read! This extra-sized debut issue is the cornerstone of the entire DC Universe!

ANIMAL MAN #1
Written by JEFF LEMIRE
Art by TRAVEL FOREMAN and DAN GREEN
Cover by TRAVEL FOREMAN
Buddy Baker has gone from “super” man to family man – but is he strong enough to hold his family together when Maxine, his young daughter, starts to manifest her own dangerous powers? Find out in this dramatic new series from writer Jeff Lemire (SWEET TOOTH) and artist Travel Foreman (The Immortal Iron Fist).

BATGIRL #1
Written by GAIL SIMONE
Art by ARDIAN SYAF and VICENTE CIFUENTES
Cover by ADAM HUGHES
Yes, it’s really happening! Barbara Gordon is back as Batgirl – and she’s going to have to face the city’s most horrifying new villains as well as the dark secrets from her past. You won’t want to miss this stunning debut issue from fan-favorite BIRDS OF PREY writer Gail Simone!

BATWING #1
Written by JUDD WINICK
Art and cover by BEN OLIVER
Africa, a land of beauty – and of great horror. A land of creation and
conflict. It is in desperate need of a defender, and from the ranks of Batman
Incorporated comes a soldier to carry on the legacy of The Dark Knight in the
most tumultuous region on Earth. Meet Batwing, the Batman of Africa!

DETECTIVE COMICS #1
Written by TONY S. DANIEL
Art by TONY S. DANIEL and RYAN WINN
Cover by TONY S. DANIEL
DC’s flagship title is relaunched for the first time ever, with new Batman adventures from acclaimed writer/artist Tony S. Daniel! A killer called The Gotham Ripper is on the loose on Batman’s home turf – leading The Dark Knight on a deadly game of cat and mouse.

GREEN ARROW #1
Written by J.T. KRUL
Art by DAN JURGENS and NORM RAPMUND
Cover by BRETT BOOTH and ROB HUNTER
Green Arrow is on the hunt. Driven by inner demons, Ollie Queen travels the world and brings outlaws to justice…by breaking every law.Now, armed with cutting-edge weaponry and illegally gained intel (courtesy of his team at QCore), Green Arrow is shooting first and asking questions later.

HAWK AND DOVE #1
Written by STERLING GATES
Art and cover by ROB LIEFELD
Hank Hall is not happy. He’s not happy to have Dawn Granger as a new partner in his war on crime. He’s not happy that she’s dating the ghostly Super Hero, Deadman. He’s not happy to learn that someone is trying to plunge the United States into a new civil war! Now it’s up to Hawk and Dove to root out the forces behind this conflict and stop them before they turn the U.S. into a wasteland! And who is the monster lurking in the shadows, watching Hawk and Dove from afar? Find out in this new series from Sterling Gates (FLASHPOINT: KID FLASH LOST) and artist Rob Liefeld (X-Force, Youngblood)!

JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL #1
Written by DAN JURGENS
Art by AARON LOPRESTI and MATT RYAN
Cover by AARON LOPRESTI
With the growing presence of super beings around the world, the United Nations resolves to create a new group called Justice League International. Batman, Booster Gold, Green Lantern Guy Gardner, August General in Iron, Fire, Ice, Vixen and Rocket Red are charged with promoting unity and trust – but can they reach that goal without killing each other first?

MEN OF WAR #1
Written by IVAN BRANDON
Art by TOM DERENICK
Cover by VIKTOR KALVACHEV
On the ground and on the front lines, a young, headstrong soldier known as Joe Rock assumes command of Easy Company – a team of ex-military men turned contractors. Will they survive the battle-scarred landscape carved by the DCU’s Super-Villains? Find out in this explosive new series from Ivan Brandon (Viking, DOC SAVAGE) and Tom Derenick (JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA)!

O.M.A.C. #1
Written by DAN DIDIO and KEITH GIFFEN
Art and cover by KEITH GIFFEN and SCOTT KOBLISH
The all-seeing Brother Eye satellite has unleashed a new beast upon the DC Universe in this smashing new series! Kevin Kho has become an unwilling participant in a war between Checkmate and Brother Eye as he is transformed into the One Machine Army Corp known only as O.M.A.C.!

STATIC SHOCK #1
Written by SCOTT McDANIEL and JOHN ROZUM
Art and cover by SCOTT McDANIEL and JONATHAN GLAPION
The brilliant, slightly awkward high school student Virgil Hawkins transforms into the cocky electromagnetic hero Static! A mysterious tragedy forces the Hawkins family to relocate from Dakota to New York City! Virgil embarks upon new adventures in a new high school and a new internship at S.T.A.R. Labs! As Static, he dons a new uniform and establishes a new secret headquarters! But is he ready to take on the new villains who lurk in New York City’s underworld?

STORMWATCH #1
Written by PAUL CORNELL
Art and cover by MIGUEL SEPULVEDA
They are Stormwatch, a dangerous super human police force whose
existence is kept secret from the world Directly following the ominous events of SUPERMAN #1, Adam One leads half the Stormwatch team to recover something (or someone) from deep in the Himalayas. Meanwhile, Jack Hawksmoor and the rest of the Stormwatch crew look to recruit two of the deadliest super humans on the planet: Midnighter and Apollo! And if they say no? Perhaps the Martian Manhunter can change their minds…

SWAMP THING #1
Written by SCOTT SNYDER
Art and cover by YANICK PAQUETTE
One of the world’s most iconic characters has returned to the heart
of the DC Universe, and every step he takes will shake the foundations of the Earth! Alec Holland has his life back…but the Green has plans for it. A monstrous evil is rising in the desert, and it’ll take a monster of another kind to defend life as we know it!

BATMAN AND ROBIN #1
Written by PETER J. TOMASI
Art and cover by PATRICK GLEASON and MICK GRAY
Battling evil with his son, Damian, at his side, Batman now realizes that the hardest part of the job may be trying to work together! As Batman and Robin try to adjust to their new partnership, a figure emerges from Bruce Wayne’s past: His name is NoBody, and he’s not happy that Batman Incorporated is shining a light on his own shadowy war against evil…

BATWOMAN #1
Written by J.H. WILLIAMS III and W. HADEN BLACKMAN
Art and cover by J.H. WILLIAMS III
At last! Batwoman’s new series begins, from the multiple award-winning creative team of J.H. Williams III and Haden Blackman! In “Hydrology,” part 1 of 5, Batwoman faces deadly new challenges in her war against Gotham City’s underworld – and new trials in her life as Kate Kane. Who or what is stealing children from the barrio, and for what vile purpose? Will Kate train her cousin, Bette Kane (a.k.a. Flamebird), as her new sidekick? How will she handle unsettling revelations about her father, Colonel Jacob Kane?

DEATHSTROKE #1
Written by KYLE HIGGINS
Art by JOE BENNETT and ART THIBERT
Cover by SIMON BISLEY
“Friends die, family disappoints, but a legacy… That lives forever.” Slade Wilson is the best mercenary in the DCU, and he’s been doing this a long time. Some might say too long. But they’ll learn: Never turn your back on Deathstroke the Terminator. He won’t quit, no matter how high the stakes. Kyle Higgins (BATMAN: GATES OF GOTHAM) and Joe Bennett (TEEN TITANS) team up to bring you the finest in mayhem and gore.

DEMON KNIGHTS #1
Written by PAUL CORNELL
Art by DIOGENES NEVES and OCLAIR ALBERT
Cover by TONY S. DANIEL
Set in the Dark Ages of the DC Universe, a barbarian horde is massing to crush civilization. It’s fallen to Madame Xanadu and Jason Blood, the man with a monster inside him, to stand in their way – though the demon Etrigan has no interest in protecting anyone or anything other than himself! It’ll take more than their own power to stop an army fueled by bloodlust and dark sorcery, and some very surprising heroes – and villains – will have no choice but to join the fray!

FRANKENSTEIN, AGENT OF S.H.A.D.E. #1
Written by JEFF LEMIRE
Art by ALBERTO PONTICELLI
Cover by J.G. JONES
It’s Frankenstein as you’ve never seen him before, in a dark new series from acclaimed writer Jeff Lemire (SWEET TOOTH) and artist Alberto Ponticelli (UNKNOWN SOLDIER)! Frankenstein is part of a network of strange beings who work for an even stranger government organization: The Super Human Advanced Defense Executive! But can he protect the world from threats even more horrifying than himself? And since he’s vilified for who and what he is, will he even want to take on this mission?

GREEN LANTERN #1
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art by DOUG MAHNKE and CHRISTIAN ALAMY
Cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO
Variant cover by GREG CAPULLO
The red-hot GREEN LANTERN team of writer Geoff Johns and artist Doug Mahnke introduce an unexpected new Lantern.

GRIFTER #1
Written by NATHAN EDMONDSON
Art by CAFU
Cover by CAFU and BIT
The DCU’s most wanted man stars in his own series! Cole Cash is a
charming grifter few can resist. And yet he’s about to be branded a serial killer when he begins hunting and exterminating inhuman creatures hidden in human form – creatures only he can see! Can the biggest sweet talker of all time talk his way out of this one when even his brother thinks he’s gone over the edge?

LEGION LOST #1
Written by FABIAN NICIEZA
Art and cover by PETE WOODS
Seven heroes from the 31st century have traveled back to the present
day. Their mission: Save their future from annihilation. But when the future tech they brought with them fails, they find themselves trapped in a nightmarish world that, for them, is the ultimate struggle to survive! Don’t miss the start of this all-new LEGION series illustrated by Pete Woods – fresh off his spectacular run on ACTION COMICS – who is joined by writer Fabian Nicieza (RED ROBIN)!

MISTER TERRIFIC #1
Written by ERIC WALLACE
Art by ROGER ROBINSON
Cover by J.G. JONES
The world’s third-smartest man – and one of its most eligible bachelors – uses his brains and fists against science gone mad in this new series from Eric Wallace (TITANS) and Roger Robinson!Michael Holt is the head of a successful high-tech corporation and an institute that recruits and encourages the finest minds of the next generation to excel. As Mister Terrific he inhabits a world of amazement few others know exists, let alone can comprehend.

RED LANTERNS #1
Written by PETER MILLIGAN
Art and cover by ED BENES and ROB HUNTER
Atrocitus and his Red Lantern Corps return in their own
series, battling against injustice in the most bloody ways imaginable!

RESURRECTION MAN #1
Written by DAN ABNETT and ANDY LANNING
Art by FERNANDO DAGNINO
Cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO
It’s the return of Mitch Shelly – and he’s still dead. Resurrection Man can’t stay dead for long, though – and with each rebirth comes new and unexpected powers. But his many returns have not gone unnoticed, and forces are gathering to learn what’s so special about him – and to see which of them will finally stop Resurrection Man dead.

SUICIDE SQUAD #1
Written by ADAM GLASS
Art by MARCO RUDY
Cover by RYAN BENJAMIN
They’re a team of death-row super villains recruited by the government to take on missions so dangerous – they’re sheer suicide!Harley Quinn! Deadshot! King Shark! Defeated and imprisoned, they’re being interrogated about their mission – and about who’s pulling the strings behind this illegal operation. Who will be the first to crack under the pressure?

SUPERBOY #1
Written by SCOTT LOBDELL
Art by RB SILVA and ROB LEAN
Cover by ERIC CANETE
They thought he was just an experiment – and a failed one at that! Grown from a combination of Kryptonian and human DNA, the Clone was no more than a set of data to the scientists of Project N.O.W.H.E.R.E. But when the scope of his stunning powers was revealed, he became a deadly weapon! Now the question is: Can a clone develop a conscience?

BATMAN #1
Written by SCOTT SNYDER
Art by GREG CAPULLO and JONATHAN GLAPION
Cover by GREG CAPULLO
Variant cover by ETHAN VAN SCIVER
Be here for the start of a new era for The Dark Knight from writer Scott Snyder (AMERICAN VAMPIRE, BATMAN: GATES OF GOTHAM) and artist Greg Capullo (Spawn)! A series of brutal killings hints at an ancient conspiracy, and Batman learns that Gotham City is deadlier than he knew.

BIRDS OF PREY #1
Written by DUANE SWIERCZYNSKI
Art and cover by JESUS SAIZ
One is wanted for a murder she didn’t commit. The other is on the run because she knows too much. They are Dinah Laurel Lance and Ev Crawford – a.k.a. Black Canary and Starling – and together, as Gotham City’s covert ops team, they’re taking down the villains other heroes can’t touch. But now they’ve attracted the attention of a grizzled newspaper reporter who wants to expose them, as well as a creepy, chameleon-like strike team that’s out to kill them.Don’t miss the start of this hard-hitting new series from mystery novelist/comics writer Duane Swierczynski (Expiration Date, Cable).

BLUE BEETLE #1
Written by TONY BEDARD
Art by IG GUARA and RUY JOSE
Cover by TYLER KIRKHAM and SAL REGLA
It’s not easy being Jaime Reyes. He has to deal with high school, family and all the drama that comes with being a teenager. Also, he’s linked to a powerful scarab created by an alien race known as the Reach who seek to subjugate planets – or annihilate them. It’s up to one teen hero to turn this instrument of destruction into a force for good.

CAPTAIN ATOM #1
Written by J.T. KRUL
Art by FREDDIE WILLIAMS II
Cover by STANLEY “ARTGERM” LAU
Charged by nuclear energy, possessing vast molecular powers, Captain Atom has the potential to be a literal god among men – a hero without limits. But the question is: Will he lose himself in the process? Don’t miss the start of a legend from writer J.T. Krul (GREEN ARROW, TEEN TITANS) and artist Freddie Williams II (JSA ALL-STARS)!

CATWOMAN #1
Written by JUDD WINICK
Art and cover by GUILLEM MARCH
Meet Catwoman. She’s addicted to the night. Addicted to shiny objects. Addicted to Batman. Most of all, Catwoman is addicted to danger. She can’t help herself, and the truth is – she doesn’t want to. She’s good at being bad, and very bad at being good. Find out more about what makes Catwoman tick in this new series from writer Judd Winick (BATMAN: UNDER THE HOOD) and artist Guillem March (GOTHAM CITY SIRENS)!

DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS #1
Written by PAUL JENKINS
Art by BERNARD CHANG
Cover by RYAN SOOK
It’s the start of a new series spotlighting some of the DC Universes’s most exciting super heroes! First up is Deadman, straight from the pages of BRIGHTEST DAY, in a five-issue epic where the body-hopping hero meets his match in a new foe who wants to make sure the souls that Deadman helps out go straight to Hell!

GREEN LANTERN CORPS #1
Written by PETER J. TOMASI
Art by FERNANDO PASARIN and SCOTT HANNA
Cover by DOUG MAHNKE and CHRISTIAN ALAMY
When deadly conflicts emerge across the universe, it’s up to Guy Gardner, John Stewart and an elite Green Lantern strike force to keep the peace – or else.

LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #1
Written by PAUL LEVITZ
Art by FRANCIS PORTELA
Cover by KARL KERSCHL
The Legion of Super-Heroes has been decimated by the worst disaster in its history. Now, the students of the Legion Academy must rise to the challenge of helping the team rebuild – but a threat of almost unstoppable power is rising at the edge of Dominator space, and if the new recruits fail, the Legion Espionage Squad may be the first casualties in a war that could split worlds in half!

NIGHTWING #1
Written by KYLE HIGGINS
Art and cover by EDDY BARROWS and JP MAYER
Dick Grayson flies high once more as Nightwing in a new series from hot new writer Kyle Higgins (BATMAN: GATES OF GOTHAM)! And as he embraces his destiny, Haley’s Circus, the big top where Dick once performed, returns to Gotham City – bringing with it murder, mystery and superhuman evil. Nightwing must confront his past, among former friends and enemies from his circus days, while uncovering a much greater evil!

RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #1
Written by SCOTT LOBDELL
Art and cover by KENNETH ROCAFORT
No sooner has Batman’s former sidekick, Jason Todd, put his past as the Red Hood behind him than he finds himself cornered by a pair of modern day outlaws: Green Arrow’s rejected sidekick Arsenal, the damaged soldier of fortune, and the alien Starfire, a former prisoner of intergalactic war who won’t be chained again. As a loner, Jason has absolutely no interest in this motley crew of outlaws. So what’s he going to do when they choose the Red Hood as their leader? Find out in this hot new series from writer Scott Lobdell (WILDC.A.T.S, Uncanny X-Men), featuring art by rising star Kenneth Rocafort (ACTION COMICS)!

SUPERGIRL #1
Written by MICHAEL GREEN and MIKE JOHNSON
Art and cover by MAHMUD ASRAR
Meet Supergirl. She’s got the unpredictable behavior of a teenager, the same powers as Superman – and none of his affection for the people of Earth. So don’t piss her off!

WONDER WOMAN #1
Written by BRIAN AZZARELLO
Art and cover by CLIFF CHIANG
The Gods walk among us. To them, our lives are playthings. Only one
woman would dare to protect humanity from the wrath of such strange and powerful forces. But is she one of us – or one of them?

ALL-STAR WESTERN #1
Written by JUSTIN GRAY and JIMMY PALMIOTTI
Art and cover by MORITAT
Even when Gotham City was just a one-horse town, crime was rampant – and things only get worse when bounty hunter Jonah Hex comes to town. Can Amadeus Arkham, a pioneer in criminal psychology, enlist Hex’s special brand of justice to help the Gotham Police Department track down a vicious serial killer? Find out in this new series from HEX writers Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti, with lush artwork by Moritat (THE SPIRIT)!

AQUAMAN #1
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art and cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO
The superstar creators from BLACKEST NIGHT and BRIGHTEST DAY reunite to take AQUAMAN to amazing new depths! Aquaman has renounced the throne of Atlantis – but the sea will not release Arthur Curry so easily. Now, from a forgotten corner of the ocean emerges… The Trench! A broken race of creatures that should not exist, an unspeakable need driving them, The Trench will be the
most talked-about new characters in the DC Universe!

BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT #1
Written by DAVID FINCH
Art by DAVID FINCH and RICHARD FRIEND
Cover by DAVID FINCH
The Dark Knight struggles against a deadly – yet strangely familiar – foe in this phenomenal debut issue from superstar writer/artist David Finch (BRIGHTEST DAY, ACTION COMICS)! As a mysterious figure slinks through the halls of Arkham Asylum, Batman must fight his way through a gauntlet of psychos, and Bruce Wayne faces the unexpected legal ramifications of Batman Incorporated!

BLACKHAWKS #1
Written by MIKE COSTA
Art and cover by KEN LASHLEY
Welcome to a world waging a new kind of war that’s faster and more
brutal than ever before. It’s fought by those who would make the innocent their targets, using computers, smart weapons and laser-guided missiles. The new enemy is hard to find – and closer to home than we think. Between us and them stand the Blackhawks, an elite force of military specialists equipped with the latest
in cutting-edge hardware and vehicles. Their mission: Kill the bad guys before they kill us.

THE FLASH #1
Written by FRANCIS MANAPUL and BRIAN BUCCELLATO
Art and cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL
Variant cover by IVAN REIS and TIM TOWNSEND
The Fastest Man Alive returns to his own monthly series from the writer/artist team of Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato! The Flash knows he can’t be everywhere at once, but what happens when he faces an all-new villain who really can! As if that’s not bad enough, this villain is a close friend!

THE FURY OF FIRESTORM #1
Written by ETHAN VAN SCIVER and GAIL SIMONE
Art by YILDIRAY CINAR
Cover by ETHAN VAN SCIVER
Jason Rusch and Ronnie Raymond. These two high school students are worlds apart – and now they’re drawn into a conspiracy of super-science that bonds them forever in a way they can’t explain or control. The dark secrets of the murderous Dog Team and its Firestorm Protocol force them to put aside their differences to confront a threat so terrifying that it may lead to a new Cold War! Welcome to a major new vision of nuclear terrorfrom writers Ethan Van Sciver and Gail Simone with astonishing art by Yildiray Cinar!

GREEN LANTERN: NEW GUARDIANS #1
Written by TONY BEDARD
Art and cover by TYLER KIRKHAM and BATT
Kyle Rayner has assembled the most powerful team in
all the universe, selected from the full spectrum of corps. But can he even keep this volatile group together?

I, VAMPIRE #1
Written by JOSHUA HALE FIALKOV
Art by ANDREA SORRENTINO
Cover by JENNY FRISON
For hundreds of years, vampire Andrew Stanton kept mankind safe from the horrors of the supernatural world, thanks to a truce he made with his ex-lover Mary, the Queen of the Damned. But now that truce has reached a bloody end and Andrew must do everything in his power to stop Mary and her dark forces from going on a killing spree – and she plans to start with the heroes of the DCU!

JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #1
Written by PETER MILLIGAN
Art by MIKEL JANIN
Cover by RYAN SOOK
The witch known as The Enchantress has gone mad, unleashing forces that not even the combined powers of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and Cyborg can stop. And if those heroes can’t handle the job, who will stand against this mystical madness? Shade the Changing Man, Madame Xanadu, Deadman, Zatanna and John Constantine may be our only hope – but how can we put our trust in beings whose very presence makes ordinary people break out in a cold sweat?

THE SAVAGE HAWKMAN #1
Written by TONY S. DANIEL
Art and cover by PHILIP TAN
Carter Hall’s skill at deciphering lost languages has led him to a
job with an archaeologist who specializes in alien ruins – but will the doctor’s latest discovery spread an alien plague through New York City? No matter the personal cost, Carter Hall must don his wings and become the new, savage Hawkman to survive! Witness the start of a new action series from writer Tony S. Daniel and artist Philip Tan that will take Hawkman where no hero has flown before!

SUPERMAN #1
Written by GEORGE PEREZ
Breakdowns and cover by GEORGE PEREZ
Art by JESUS MERINO
The new adventures of Superman begin here! What is The Man of Steel’s startling new status quo? How does it affect Lois Lane and The Daily Planet? There’s no time for answers now, because Superman must stop a monstrous threat to Metropolis – one that he somehow is the cause of!

TEEN TITANS #1
Written by SCOTT LOBDELL
Art and cover by BRETT BOOTH and NORM RAPMUND
Tim Drake, Batman’s former sidekick, is back in action when
an international organization seeks to capture, kill or co-opt super-powered teenagers. As Red Robin, he’s going to have to team up with the mysterious and belligerent powerhouse thief known as Wonder Girl and the hyperactive speedster calling himself Kid Flash to stand any chance at all against a living, breathing weapon with roots in another world! They – along with a few other tortured teen heroes – will be the Teen Titans in this new series from writer Scott Lobdell (WILDC.A.T.S, Uncanny X-Men) and artist Brett Booth (JUSTICE
LEAGUE OF AMERICA)!

VOODOO #1
Written by RON MARZ
Art and cover by SAMI BASRI
Who is Voodoo? Is she hero, villain – or both? Learn the truth about Priscilla Kitaen as she leaves a trail of violence across America. Discover the new DCU through her eyes, because the things she sees are not always what they seem…

 What do you think? Which titles are you going to dive into?

Well this is certainly a pleasant surprise. Most of the comic-book/movie community has been cautiously optimistic about Zack Snyder’s Superman because a) The bad taste of Superman Returns in still in our mouths and b) Well, Sucker Punch was atrocious, so Zack has some work to day to get back in our good graces. THIS is a good start. Warner Bros. has just released the first official production photo of Henry Cavill in action as Supes, and as I said, it is BADASS. Check it out after the break.

Click image to enlarge.

Right off the bat, the “Snyder feel” is all over this image. With the crisp, contrasting and visually-striking color combos, you know this is a Zack Snyder film. A visual feel that looks completely different than any other Superman adapation before; which is a good thing. I also really like the iconic cosutome. People have complained about the scaliness of the blue parts of Supes’ get up, as they are very similar to Spider-Man’s. But hey, this is a reboot. A fresh start. A new beginning. So that means a different route with everything from story, action and costumes alike.

Last thing I’ll mention is Cavill’s intense glare set within an action scene, featuring a demolished vault door. A look and scene set up that was surely intentional to let fans know that this isn’t your grandma’s Superman. It’s going to be darker. It’s going to be more adult. It’s going to have A LOT more action. It’s just (hopefully) going to have a lot more awesomeness than any previous Superman film. I’m really impressed, and this has made me only more excited.

See the full press release from WB below:

Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures have provided the first look at the new Man of Steel, revealing star Henry Cavill as Superman in the film from director Zack Snyder.

The film also stars three-time Oscar® nominee Amy Adams (The Fighter) as Daily Planet journalist Lois Lane, and Oscar® nominee Laurence Fishburne (What’s Love Got to Do with It) as her editor-in-chief, Perry White. Starring as Clark Kent’s adoptive parents, Martha and Jonathan Kent, are Oscar® nominee Diane Lane (Unfaithful) and Academy Award® winner Kevin Costner (Dances with Wolves).

Squaring off against the superhero are two other surviving Kryptonians, the villainous General Zod, played by Oscar® nominee Michael Shannon (Revolutionary Road), and Faora, Zod’s evil partner, played by Antje Traue. Also from Superman’s native Krypton are Lara Lor-Van, Superman’s mother, played by Julia Ormond, and Superman’s father, Jor-El, portrayed by Academy Award® winner Russell Crowe (Gladiator).

Rounding out the cast are Harry Lennix as U.S. military man General Swanwick, as well as Christopher Meloni as Colonel Hardy.

Man of Steel is being produced by Charles Roven, Emma Thomas, Christopher Nolan and Deborah Snyder. The screenplay was written by David S. Goyer, from a story by Goyer and Nolan, based upon Superman characters created by Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster and published by DC Comics. Thomas Tull and Lloyd Phillips are serving as executive producers.

Man of Steel hits theaters June 13, 2013.

[via Superhero Hype]

What Do You Think? Do you like the look? Has this changed your opinion about the film?

BIG news on the superhero movie casting front. As you know, Zack Snyder has been piling up the acting talent for his upcoming Superman reboot, Man of Steel, over the past few months. So far, he has Henry Cavill (Clark Kent), Amy Adams (Lois Lane), Michael Shannon (Zod), Diane Lane (Martha Kent) and Kevin Costner (Pa Kent) rounding out the impressive cast. But there has been a major casting hole thus far, that has now been filled. I am of course referring to Superman’s bilogical father from Krypton, Jor-El, who was famously played by Marlon Brando in Richard Donner’s Superman films. Now, he will be played by none other than Russell Crowe. I mean…that’s just awesome.

It’s kind of surprisng that Snyder has been able to lure in these A-list, Oscar-winning actors – especially with the recent bombing of Sucker Punch, and Synder’s general, albeit misdirected disdain with a section of fan boys. But, oh wait. What’s that? Ohhhh yeah, Christopher F***ing Nolan is the story crafter/exec producer of this Superman reboot, and you bet your ass his involvement and influence has been very appealing to this cast. Variety is report (via First Showing), that Nolan had “all along been seeking an A-list thesp for Jor-El,” after he agreed with WB to come aboard and “shepard the project.” And thank GOD he did.

Zack Snyder is directing Man of Steel based on a script from David S. Goyer, spawned from story that he and Nolan developed together to bring Superman into “a modern context” in a way that hasn’t been done before. Shooting for Man of Steel is set to kick off this August, with a release date of December 2012.

What Do You Think? Will Crowe make a good Jor-El?

KNEEL BEFORE… Michael Shannon?? Yes it is confirmed. Phenomenal character actor Michael Shannon, who can be currently seen chasing Nucky Thompson in Boardwalk Empire, has officially been cast as General Zod in Zack Snyder’s Superman reboot, which has now also been officially titled the long rumored Man of Steel. Shannon joins the film as the main villain along with an already stellar cast, including: Henry Cavill, Diane Lane, Kevin Costner and Amy Adams as Lois Lane.

So, this is probably going to please people who were dreading Lex Luthor being the villain and frustrate those who wanted a new villian like Braniac. As most of you recall, General Zod appeared in Superman and Superman II along Christopher Reeves, then played by Terrance Stamp; and the young version of Major Zod most recently appeard on Smallville. So, I mean, I absolutely love the Michael Shannon casting, but I’m still a little iffy on Zod being the main villian for Man of Steel.

Zack Snyder had a few choice words on Shannon joining the cast as his villian:

Zod is not only one of Superman’s most formidable enemies, but one of the most significant because he has insights into Superman that others don’t. Michael is a powerful actor who can project both the intelligence and the malice of the character, making him perfect for the role.

See the official press release from Warner Bros. below:

Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures announced today that Michael Shannon will star in the role of General Zod in director Zack Snyder’s new Superman film, titled “Man of Steel.”

s General Zod, Shannon will go toe-to-toe with Henry Cavill, who plays the new Clark Kent/Superman in the film. The main cast also includes Amy Adams as Lois Lane, and Diane Lane and Kevin Costner as Martha and Jonathan Kent.

Michael Shannon was honored with an Academy Award® nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Sam Mendes’ “Revolutionary Road,” with Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. Shannon was most recently seen in the award-winning HBO drama series “Boardwalk Empire,” from executive producer Martin Scorsese. He will next be seen in Sony Pictures Classics’, “Take Shelter,” from director/writer Jeff Nichols.

Charles Roven, Emma Thomas, Christopher Nolan and Deborah Snyder are the producers of the film. The screenplay is being written by David S. Goyer based on a story by Goyer and Nolan. Thomas Tull and Lloyd Phillips are serving as executive producers.

“Man of Steel” will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

Man of Steel hits theaters December 2012.

What Do You Think of Shannon as Zod? Do you wish he was playing a different villain?

FINALLY! After months of rumors and speculation on who would don the red cape in Zack Snyder/Christopher Nolan’s upcoming Superman reboot (tentatively titled Superman: Man of Steel), we now have official word via a Warner Bros. press release that Henry Cavill has been given the job. Cavill is a relatively “unknown” actor, which fits into the criteria Snyder and Nolan had set in narrowing down their search for Clark Kent. Over the past five years he’s played Charles Brandon on Showtime’s fantastic period drama about the life and times of King Henry VIII, The Tudors.

I think it’s a great choice. Not only because Cavill is a fine actor who looks the part and will no doubt make a great Superman, but he’s been turned down for almost every major superhero role over the past five or six years. He was considered to play Batman in Nolan’s franchise reboot, Green Lantern, and was even a finalist to play Supes in Brian Singer’s Superman Returns in 2006; the role of course ended up going to Brandon Routh. It’s just nice to see a good actor finally becoming the bride after years of being a bridesmaid.

The response from the internet today has been mostly positive, except for a select few who are outraged that Cavill is British, claiming that Superman NEEDS to be portrayed by an American actor. But hey, Christian Bale is Welsh (Batman), Andrew Garfield is British (Spider-Man), and we just saw an American actor portray Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.); so I see no reason why this should upset anyone. It’s called ACTING, people. Cavill isn’t going to have a British accent in Superman. So who gives a crap?

Some fans have already powered up Photoshop to give us a glimpse of what Cavill could look like, and I think he looks perfect. See below.

Bad. Ass. Zack Snyder had some nice things to say about his new leading man via the Warner Bros. press release about the casting announcement, which you can read below.

Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures announced today that Henry Cavill has won the coveted role of Superman, the iconic superhero.

The film will be directed by Zack Snyder, who stated, “In the pantheon of superheroes, Superman is the most recognized and revered character of all time, and I am honored to be a part of his return to the big screen. I also join Warner Bros., Legendary and the producers in saying how excited we are about the casting of Henry. He is the perfect choice to don the cape and S shield.”

Charles Roven, Emma Thomas, Christopher Nolan and Deborah Snyder are the producers of the film. The screenplay is being written by David S. Goyer based on a story by Goyer and Nolan. Thomas Tull and Lloyd Phillips are serving as executive producers.

Cavill recently wrapped production on “The Cold Light of Day” and stars in the upcoming “Immortals,” opening this fall.

Targeted for release in December 2012, the new Superman movie will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

Pre-production for the film is currently underway, with Snyder & Co. scouting filming locations. Superman: Man of Steel hits theaters December 17, 2012.

[via Deadline, Slashfilm]

What Do You Think? Discuss.

As Inception prepares to unleash its awesomeness on DVD and Blu-ray next week and solidify itself as a major awards season contender, there’s still a couple small indie projects he’s currently working on that people are drooling to know more about: his Batman finale The Dark Knight Rises, and the Superman reboot he’s producing with director Zack Snyder. This week, the director revealed a few juicy tidbits, as well as debunked an outlandish rumor about his two massive 2012 comic-book films.

First up, The Dark Knight Rises. As of now, Nolan is putting the finishing touches on the script that he wrote with his brother Jonah, which is due in January. He also revealed that he still “hasn’t finished casting at all.” So for those of you craving to know who else will be brought on to join the TDKR roster, and more importantly in what capacity, patience is a virtue.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many unsubstantiated rumors circling an upcoming film as this, and earlier this week that streak continued with a ridiculous “report” that Nolan was planning to combine pieces of unused footage of Heath Ledger’s Joker from The Dark Knight with CGI, in the form of a brief cameo in TDKR. Let’s just put any Heath returning rumors to rest as Nolan’s producing partner and wife, Emma Thomas, had this to say on the subject:

I heard the rumor. We’re not doing that.

Moving along, this shouldn’t need any official confirmation as pretty much everyone expected this to be Nolan’s last trip to Gotham. But for those of you still clinging on to some hope that Nolan & Co. might return for another Batman film, the director shared his thoughts on completing his trilogy, as well as some of the pressure that’s been lifted off his shoulders after the massive success of Inception:

I feel very glad that I’m doing another Batman film. I think it would have been daunting to sit down and write an original script after Inception. I love working within the realm and rules of our Batman world. It’s kind of nice to have someplace to go that I’m super-excited about.

I must say that I’m glad — I’m very, very glad — to be embarking on the last chapter of our Batman saga without any sense of obligation or duty to the studio. They did very well with Inception. So I’m able to go into finishing our story in a very enthusiastic way.

So there you have it. Let’s move on, shall we?

Now to The Man of Steel. I think most people would agree that the thought and hope was that Nolan would be an integral, on-set presence in Zack Snyder’s Superman reboot; as Nolan and David Goyer crafted the story for the film. Well unfortunately, Christopher Nolan is only one man, and working on two $200 million comic-book blockbuster simultaneously is just too much to ask, as Thomas revealed that they would be handing over the Superman reigns entirely into Snyder’s hands. “We are handing it off to him,” she said at the party. For those of you pushing the panic button, remember that Nolan’s hand prints will still be all over this film, as he had a major part in crafting the story, which is the most important part, and is Nolan’s strength and Snyder’s weakness.

Finally, we have official confirmation that the great Hans Zimmer will indeed be providing the music for Superman. Along with Nolan’s involvement, this is absolutely the best news to come out of this film thus far. Zimmer is absolutely brilliant, and will surely get recognized for his amazing Inception score come Oscar time. All movie fans are familiar with and love John William’s iconic Superman theme from the Richard Donner films, but hey, this is a reboot and we need some new blood. Zimmer talked about “reinventing” Superman’s music:

It’s a hard one. but I followed one of the most iconic things on ‘Batman’ with Christopher Nolan as well, and it’s the same thing. You are allowed to reinvent, but you have to try to be as good or at least as iconic and it has to resonate and it has to become a part of the zeitgeist. That’s the job. On ‘Gladiator’ I remember people always talking about ‘Spartacus’ and I kept telling them, ‘When you saw “Spartacus” and how it affected it you, that’s how I want a modern audience to be affected by what we do now.’ So I think ultimately you’re supposed to reinvent.

CAN. NOT. WAIT.

[Sources: MTV, Hit Fix, EW, THR]

What Do You Think? Discuss.

It’s official. After months of fan speculation, and weeks of anticipation after it was announced that Christopher Nolan was meeting with directors to helm his David Goyer-scripted Superman reboot, Nolan and Warner Bros. have found their man to make Supes fly on the silver screen once again: 300/Watchmen director Zack Snyder. Snyder was amongst that shortlist of directors who had reportedly met with Nolan about the superhero project, but it wasn’t until today that Deadline confirmed with the director that he had indeed snagged the coveted gig.

While I had previously expressed apprehension about Synder’s directorial contention, I’m pleased to say that I’m very satisfied with Nolan and Warner Bros.’ decision. Any movie fan can’t say that 300 wasn’t a ground-breaking visual feast. And I don’t care what anyone says, but Watchmen was f**king awesome. MTV spoke with Snyder after the news broke earlier today, and the director expressed his excitement about getting this chance:

It is pretty awesome. ‘m really excited, and I feel like it’s an amazing opportunity.

We’re excited too, Zack. Well, at least some of us are. I must say that I’ve seen a disappointing about of Haterade spilled all over different movie forums on the web today. People are CERTAIN that Snyder can’t tackle Supes because of his signature stylized film-making approach. But remember, the story for this Superman reboot was created by David Goyer and, oh what’s his name? That’s right, CHRISTOPHER NOLAN. If there’s anyone who should recieve the loyal and unconditional trust of turning out a quality comic-book film from movie fans, it’s Nolan. And with the combination of Snyder’s knack for crafting eye-popping action, and Nolan’s stellar ability to put together a compelling story, this can’t miss.

Snyder talked more about Nolan and the way they’re attempting to finally make a convincing Superman film that will be different than before:

All I’ll say is that those guys — Chris and David — have created an amazing story. The ‘Why [remake] Superman?’ is definitely being looked at with care, that’s all I could hope for as a director. Everyone always says, ‘Why Superman? Why is he relevant? Who is he now?’ I think those guys have done an amazing job with that. That’s the real trick

As if that wasn’t enough Superman news to wet your appetite for the next few weeks, The Hollywood Reporter has the scoop that the villain for Snyder’s Superman will be General Zod. Nolan has stated many times how deeply he admires Richard Donner’s Superman from 1978, even modeling his ensemble casting for Batman Begins after the film. So it comes as no surprise that Zod will be the main baddie to battle Superman.

I think one of the problems that Bryan Singer’s Superman Returns faced in 2006 was, as much as iconic villain as Lex Luthor is, he is a mortal human being. There isn’t that much of a physical threat for an invincible superhero with unlimited powers, minus Kryptonite. Zod, on the other hand, is an alien-being, like Superman, with the ability to physically challenge The Man of Steel.

So there you have it. Zack Snyder will be teaming up with Christopher Nolan and David Goyer to bring us, hopefully, the badass, modern version of Superman that we’ve all been waiting for. Snyder said that he would get straight to work on Supes as soon as he’s finished on post-production with his upcoming film, Sucker Punch.

Zack Snyder’s Superman, tentatively titled The Man of Steel, is set to hit theaters in December 2012. I can’t wait. Stay tuned to The Movie Mash for more updates.

What Do You Think? Discuss.

Deadline is reporting that Christopher Nolan has narrowed down a short list of five directors to potentially direct the David Goyer-scripted Superman reboot, which he is producing, due out in theaters December 2012. The report said that Nolan and wife/producing partner Emma Thomas have even begun meeting with said directors to discuss whether they’d be right for the project. He’s also doing all this as he’s working on the script for Batman 3 that his brother Jonah wrote. See which directors are on Nolan’s list after the break.

In alphabetical order:

• Duncan Jones (Moon, Source Code)
• Jonathan Liebesman (Battle: Los Angeles, Clash of the Titans 2 [upcoming])
• Matt Reeves (Let Me In, Cloverfield)
• Tony Scott (Man on Fire, The Taking of Pelham 123)
• Zack Snyder (300, Watchmen, Sucker Punch)

Very eye brow raising, isn’t it? There isn’t anything in the report saying how Nolan settled on these particular directors. Actually, I’m starting to second guess the legitimacy of these names. Both Snyder and Liebesman have prior obligations that would undoubtedly cause scheduling conflicts with fast-tracked, $200+ Superman movie. Snyder looks keen to direct Frank Miller’s 300 spin-off, Xerxes next. And Liebesman has already committed to directing Clash of the Titans sequel for Warner Bros. Also, Ain’t It Cool News head honcho Harry Knowles Tweeted:

fyi – SUPERMAN director story – “most of the names on that list have never been discussed” fyi…

So, even with the conflicting reports, it’s still fun to speculate. And there is surely some truth to the report, as Deadline is usually very reliable. If this ends up being the the fab five for Supes, here is how I would rank them in order of preference:

1. Duncan Jones–For those of you who haven’t seen his indie sci-fi drama Moon, you really should. Jones wrote and directed the film, which is a great character study of a man’s progression into madness,  featuring a brilliant performance by Sam Rockwell. Jones just recently wrapped production on his newest sci-fi drama Source Code, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, which is due out next year. Jones is a young, talented director, with a passion for science fiction, which Superman most definitely is. And he’s got a great sensibility for storytelling and character development, which Superman most definitely needs. I think with Nolan’s guidence, he would make the best choice.

2. Matt Reeves–He’s the guy who directed Cloverfield, which I really enjoyed. I thought was a very innovative sci-fi/action/disaster movie that he made very unique and memorable. His current film, Let Me In, is  getting RAVE reviews, and looks to be a home run. Reeves is also fairly young, 44, and seems to have a visionary sense that is just starting to grow. For me, Jones just “feels” right for the job, but if it ends up being Reeves, I’ll be  happy too.

3. Zack Snyder–Snyder has already proven that he “gets” comic books as source material, as both 300 and Watchmen were great graphic novel adaptations. He’s also worked with huge budgets before, so that would be a plus. BUT, Snyder has a very distinct and apparent stylized way of film-making that may not be right for Superman. If he were to get it, I would be totally fine with it. But again, scheduling could be a problem.

4. Jonathan Liebesman–The only movie if seen of this guy is Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The beginning from 2006. I mean, I think he did a good job directing? It was pretty much just Leatherface torturing people for two hours. But he did just wrap on Battle: Los Angleles, the slated alien invasion-action film that has been described as “Independence Day meets Black Hawk Down.” That is scheduled for a May 2011 release. So, I haven’t seen enough of Liebesman’s work to make an accurate judgment, which is why he’s #4.

5. Tony Scott–I’m just going to say this as plain as I can: HELL F*CKING NO! Look, I love a lot of Tony Scott’s movies. Top Gun, Crimson Tide and Enemy of the State are all classics, but his music video, seizure-inducing editing and puzzling current fetish with trains, makes Tony Scott is a no-brainer thumbs down. Plus he’s pushing 70 years-old. Superman needs a young, energetic vision to create a young, energetic reboot.

Stay tuned to The Movie Mash for more updates.

What Do You Think? Discuss.

“And here, we…go!” It’s official. It’s true. And man is it a great day to bee a comic-book movie fan. About a month ago we posted news that not only was Warner Bros. getting their crap together for a much needed Superman reboot, but that Batman savior Christopher Nolan was going to have an integral part in its development. At that time, it was not confirmed, it was just industry chatter. It is now a fact. And we know this, because the man of the hour has said so himself.

Geoff Boucher of the L.A. Times’ Hero Complex blog visited Mr. Nolan and his producing partner/wife Emma Thomas at his super secret editing suite attached to his Hollywood home, where he’s currently putting the finishing touches on Inception, opening worldwide July 16. While there, he was finally able to get Nolan to talk about those spiraling internet rumors regarding the “Will he/won’t he?” speculation of his involvement in a Superman reboot and the inevitable sequel to The Dark Knight; currently referred to by us movie bloggers as Batman 3.

The Man of Steel Begins…Again

Speaking the first time about Superman, Nolan shares where he’s at with making Supes fly:

It’s very exciting; we have a fantastic story. And we feel we can do it right. We know the milieu, if you will, we know the genre and how to get it done right.

This quote isn’t going to make Marvel execs jump out their windows due to panic and fear (maybe it will), but the fact that he is actually stating that they have an idea and is reiterating his team’s confidence in their comic-book adaptation abilities, is indeed very exciting.

Nolan then went on to elaborate on the conception of Team Nolan’s idea for this epic project in the DC movie universe. The idea came from Nolan’s friend and collaborative partner David S. Goyer (co-writer of Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, creator of ABC’s Flash Forward). As they were brainstorming ideas for Batman 3, Goyer paused for a minute and asked Nolan his thoughts on an idea he had for Superman:

He basically told me, ‘I have this thought about how you would approach Superman. I immediately got it, loved it and thought: That is a way of approaching the story I’ve never seen before that makes it incredibly exciting. I wanted to get Emma and I involved in shepherding the project right away and getting it to the studio and getting it going in an exciting way.

So as of now, Goyer is currently in the beginning stages of writing the script for Superman, which will be based on the story he and Nolan come up with together. Nolan will also undoubtedly be consulted constantly as Goyer’s screenplay develops.

Another huge thing that Nolan revealed regarding his visions for the respective DC movies is that they will be completely separate; they being Superman and Batman. Nolan’s entire ambitious and unique vision for his take on Batman was to ground him in complete reality, where movie-goers could actually imagine a rich billionaire using his money to buy gadgets and fight crime. This approach, unfortunately for many, should spell a “No go” for the much talked about possibility of a Batman/Superman cross-over film:

Each serves to the internal logic of the story. They have nothing to do with each other.

Now, as I’ve made the respective rounds around the blogosphere today, a lot of fanboys and comic-book fans are spitting mad with such anecdotes as, “how can he say Superman and Batman have nothing to do with each other? There’s Justice League, and Bruce Wayne and Clark Kent often interact within the comic realm.” Well, I think it’s quite easy to infer from Nolan’s statement that he simply means, in his film adaptations of each character, they will have nothing to do with each other, as that is the superhero universe that has already been constructed with Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. So for now, it seems like a Justice League movie would be out of the question. FOR NOW.

The End of Nolan’s Batman Saga

As much as Warner Bros. wants to get a Superman reboot up and running, their first priority is getting going on Batman 3. I mean, all Nolan did was give WB over $1.3 billion, 10 Oscar nominations and and eternity of credibility. And I also think it’s safe to say that fans are willing to sacrifice their children for another Nolan Batman film, not sure the same can be said for a Superman reboot. With that said, Nolan confirmed that his brother Jonah Nolan (co-writer of Batman Begins and The Dark Knight) is currently hard at work on the script for Batman 3. He also spoke a little on where he is with the project and where envisions (kind of) the rewards of being able to end the Batman tale he started over six years ago:

Without getting into specifics, the key thing that makes the third film a great possibility for us is that we want to finish our story. And in viewing it as the finishing of a story rather than infinitely blowing up the balloon and expanding the story. We have a great ensemble, that’s one of the attractions of doing another film, since we’ve been having a great time for years.

I’m very excited about the end of the film, the conclusion, and what we’ve done with the characters. My brother has come up with some pretty exciting stuff. Unlike the comics, these things don’t go on forever in film and viewing it as a story with an end is useful. Viewing it as an ending, that sets you very much on the right track about the appropriate conclusion and the essence of what tale we’re telling. And it harkens back to that priority of trying to find the reality in these fantastic stories. That’s what we do.

Geoff did try and probe Nolan on possible Batman 3 villains, to which Nolan of course did not even dare go into. He did say flat out that Mr. Freeze is “out of the question. ” Thank god! “Chiiiilllllll!!! Chiilllll!!!”

So there you have it Movie Mashers. Batman 3 IS being written as you read and Christopher Nolan is FOR SURE going to be involved, although he did not confirm that he is going to direct it. However, that means absolutely nothing as Nolan has proven to be a filmmaker who shows great respect for the films he makes and never publicly commits to DIRECT a future project until the one he’s currently working on is blowing the minds of audiences in theaters. Inception doesn’t come out for another four months. Look for an official confirmation from his own words around that time.

What Do You Think? Discuss.

It seems as though Christopher Nolan is the new CEO, Chairman and creative controller of Warner Bros. He re-defined the superhero genre with his dark, gritty, character-driven reboot on the Batman franchise. Nolan’s Batman films have grossed nearly $1.5 billion worldwide, garnered universal critical acclaim and 10 Oscar nominations. He gave WB first dibs to buy his original script for Inception, which they gobbled up before any other studio could even look at it. Now, with time running out on WB’s copyright claim to the Superman property, which expires in 2013, they’re pulling out all the stops to make sure this newest incarnation of the Man of Steel proceeds in the right direction; by having Nolan “mentor the development” of the project.

Nikki Finke at Deadline.com has the scoop of Nolan’s new role as “Godfather” of the Superman reboot. Nolan is NOT directing or writing the Superman project (at least not yet anyway). The last we saw of the Man of Steel on the big screen was in 2006 with Bryan Singer’s Superman Returns, starring Brandon Routh. No mention of who will be directing, writing or starring in this reboot, but you can bet that Nolan will have an integral part in deciding who does what.

WB’s first priority with Nolan is, of course, getting him to return to the Batman franchise with a follow-up to The Dark Knight. Just yesterday it was “announced” that Batman Begins/The Dark Knight writers David Goyer and Nolan’s brother Jonah Nolan, are in the beginning stages of writing the script for Batman 3. In Ms. Finke’s Deadline report today, she claims the following: “he’s (Chris) also hatched an idea for Warner Bros’ third Batman installment.” He’s “hatched” an idea? Not quite sure what exactly that entails, but Ms. Finke is a usually reliable Hollywood source, so we should be able to nerdgasm at that very vague sentence.

Since the first Superman film franchise that ran from 1978-1987 starring Christopher Reeve, there have been many attempts by now high-profile filmmakers to make their mark on a rebooted Superman franchise. Tim Burton tried to make one with Nicolas Cage, a then-relatively unknown J.J. Abrams wrote the first script for a trilogy but wasn’t a big enough name to direct. Brett Ratner (Rush Hour trilogy) and McG (Terminator Salvation) then tried to do it with Abrams script, but both never got there. Then of course Bryan Singer got the nod in 06′ with Returns.

So now what are we to expect from Christopher Nolan’s Superman movie? The mythology and themes surrounding the Man of Steel in the comic-books is very different to that of Batman. Nolan was very successful in his psychological study of Bruce Wayne, and the grounding of the villains and the Batman universe in reality. But that’s not going to work for Superman. Superman has limitless superpowers and is invincible, minus his vulnerability to krypoinite. That fantastical, supernatural approach is something Nolan has not attempted yet (although I expect Inception to disprove that). Whatever happens, the fact that Christopher Nolan has been brought on this project in any capacity, is a damn good thing.

What Do You Think? Discuss.