FIRST LOOK: Grant Morrison's BATMAN INC.

Grant Morrison did an interview with the Geoff Boucher over at Hero Complex and talked about various Batman related projects, including BATMAN, INC.

After time travels and dark challenges, Bruce Wayne is back in Gotham City and writer Grant Morrison has big plans for the hero. I interviewed Morrison about "Batman, Inc.," a new series that launches in October and will present the "franchising" of the caped crusader -- essentially the dark knight of Gotham City drafts, trains and commands a team of heroes who will wear their leader's colors. "It's all about branding," says Morrison. The team will include Dick Grayson, Knight and Squire, El Gaucho and eight others. Their leader, meanwhile, gets that little yellow circle back on his costume. Read all about it below and check out the exclusive art after the jump . -- Geoff Boucher

Here are some highlights from the interview regarding BATMAN INC.:

 Sane or not, Batman is not a guy that plays well with others, at least not all the time. That makes it intriguing to hear that you have plans for the Bruce Wayne to "franchise" Batman and enlist others to wear the costume.

" Oh yeah, I mean, 10 of the team-ups will be like that.  A lot of the experiences that he's been through now, the way I want to play it is that they have changed his focus and his view of what his mission is and what he can accomplish. He starts to bring in more people. The first 12 issues of the book will be team-ups with Batman and different characters as he traveling the world and kind of training people. [SPOILER ALERT: THE REST OF THIS ANSWER REVEALS SOME LONG-VIEW STORY ARC] And at the end we found out what that's all about; it's not just habit or routine. He actually has a big agenda. That leads into where I'm taking this. At the end of the "first season" I want to wind up with a really enormous Batman story. Everything is building up to that kind of climatic arc."

For the characters around Batman, I imagine there's some tension. To wear a Batman costume and join his team, you have to submerge yourself, correct?

"10 of the team-ups will be like that. The second team-up is Batman with El Gaucho, the Argentinian hero. So here's these super macho guys, these alpha males, and the Gaucho isn't sure he wants to wear that bat symbol, He doesn't always agree with Batman but he does agree with his principles and ideals. He agrees with the mission but not the branding. That's what it's all about: Branding."

You can read the entire interview by heading over to Hero Complex.  

What do you think after reading the highlights from Morrrison's interview? AS with anything Morrison, I reserve judgment until I read a few issues.  Will it be ALL STAR SUPERMAN or FINAL CRISIS? We'll have to wait and see.  Let's hope it's more ALL STAR SUPERMAN.

DC'S ANNOUNCES NEW COMIC - BRUCE WAYNE: THE RETURN HOME

THE REAL BATMAN IS BACK!!!

DC Comics has announced a new series of one-shots that takes a look at Bruce Wayne’s return and how it affects those around him. 

In his absence, his closest allies and deadliest enemies have blazed a new path, creating a Gotham that’s different and in many ways more menacing than the city he left behind. So, how do his protégés, allies and foes react to the man that stands before them?

Welcome to BRUCE WAYNE: THE ROAD HOME, eight one-shots that cover the city of Gotham and beyond, from Dick Grayson and Damian to the Birds of Prey to Red Robin to Commissioner Gordon in stories told by some of the industry’s brightest stars, including Adam Beechen, Fabian Nicieza, Mike Barr, Pere Perez, Ramon Bachs, Marc Andreyko, Cliff Richards and Bryan Q. Miller, featuring a connecting, 8-part cover by superstar artist Shane Davis.

Batman Group Editor Mike Marts give us a tease of what to expect:

“Bruce Wayne’s journey back home has been a long and dangerous road, but before he can assume the mantle of the Bat again, he must first figure out how things have changed in the world around him, how relationships have changed…and how those changes will effect his decisions moving forward as the protector of Gotham City.”

BRUCE WAYNE: THE RETURN HOME begins in October.

Source: The Source

Variant Cover for Zantanna #2 is YLLUFREDNOW YPEERC

Gfest is a very big fan Brian Bolland.  The British born comic artist has done some of the most meticulous, detailed and beautiful art in recent memory.  His run Judge Dredd, Camelot 3000 and Batman: the Killing Joke are simply wonderful.

It's no surprise that his variant cover for Zantanna #2 is a uniquely drawn cover that includes vampire-like Batman, Catwoman, and Dr. Light creatures.

Brightest Day #3 Deadman vs. Anti-Monitor

Gfest was devoted to Blackest Night.  It was one of the best comic series in a long, long time.  Geoff Johns, Peter Tomasi and Ivan Reis deserve every award that is available this year.

Although, to date, Brightest Day has not been as exciting or as earth shattering as its predecessor the last three issue still have been a decent bi-monthly read.

The Source released a Brightest Day #3 preview (minor spoilers in pictures) and it's Deadman and the Anit-Monitor going toe-to-toe

Any appearance by the Anti-Monitor always makes Gfest happy.  Enjoy the first few pages of Brightest Day #3.

DC Comics Announces a 15 Pound Comic Book

A 15 Pound Hamburger, for Comparison Purposes

DC Comics announced that it has joined forces with TASCHEN, the book publisher known for its eye for quality, modern design aesthetic and high-end art books spotlighting every aspect of culture: from art and movies to lifestyle and comics, to produce an ultra-comprehensive, extra large book so impressive, even super heroes may have trouble lifting it.

Clocking in at nearly 15 pounds and with over 650 pages, 75 Years of DC Comics: The Art of Modern Mythmaking will feature more than 1,500 images — including covers, interiors, original illustrations, photos, film stills and collectibles — using the latest digital reproduction technology.

Paul Levitz, former DC Comics Publisher and upcoming LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES and ADVENTURE COMICS writer, will provide the narration. Paul’s in-depth essays trace the history of DC Comics, from its beginnings to the modern era.  The book will also features massive fold-out timelines and an in-depth appendix that includes bios on artists, writers, editors, publishers and actors. 

New DC 75th Variant Cover for BATMAN #700

As most of you Gfest readers know, 2010 marks the 75th anniversary of DC Comics.

So, as part of a line-wide celebration of DC Comics’ 75th, they will be rolling out a number of special variant covers by some of the biggest names in the industry.  But these aren’t standard variants. No, these covers will take a classic image from DC’s illustrious history and present a new, re-imagined version by an all-star list of artists.

The first release is a recreation of Detective Comics #168, originally drawn by Lew Sayre Schwartz.  The cover of the issue went down in history as one of the most iconic covers of the Golden Age.
 
Hellboy creator Mike Mignola would does a beautiful recreation of Schwartz's work for DC 75th variant for Batman #700.

Dustin Nyguyen' Cover to Batman Beyond #3

Batman Beyond #3 returns with Batman’s investigation into the murders of Dark Knight villains past and present leads him to old associates of Bruce Wayne…some of whom aren’t so happy to see him. While the mysterious killer picks his next target, the rift between Terry and Bruce widens.

Dustin Nguyen's covers continue to be awesome for this series.  Gfest loves Batman Beyond and as we have said before we are very excited for this mini-series.

New Frank Quietly Batman & Robin #15 Cover

In the final chapter of “Batman Must Die,” all is lost and everything has gone to pieces! Is Dick Grayson alive? Will Damian make a pact with the devil? And what will happen after the final confrontation with Dr. Hurt?

Gfest has a love hate relationship with Grant Morrision.  He's the Brian Michael Bendis of DC Comics. Just when you're ready to give up on him, he will knock a story out of the park.

We hate the false Batman and Robin - Dick Grayson and Damien Wayne.  The only interesting part of this story has been the search for the real Batman, Bruce Wayne. Let's hope Grant gets a big hit to finish off this story arch.

New Tony Harris Justice League Generations Lost #8 Cover

Gfest was thrilled with issue #1 of Justice League Generations Lost.  And we like this glimpse into the future of the series just released by DC Comics. 

DC’s biweekly Justice League event continues! Justice League International has re-formed and tracked Maxwell Lord to Checkmate headquarters. Their plan is simple: break into Checkmate – one of the most heavily guarded facilities on the planet – and capture Max so he can pay for his crimes. But Max has more than one trick up his sleeve as he turns the entire world against the JLI and shows Booster Gold, Captain Atom, Fire, Ice, Blue Beetle and Rocket Red what it truly means to be lost…

Tony Harris does a wonderful job on the Justice League Generations Lost #8 cover.  It's well done and beautiful.  Gfest is very happy to have Maxwell Lord back. He is such a great villain! The very early stages of this book has Gfest very excited.

New Batman #702 Brightest Day Cover

Grant Morrison and Tony Daniel \continue their captivating untold tale of Bruce Wayne and his adventures between Batman R.I.P. and Final Crisis! Discover the shocking secrets that point toward The Return of Bruce Wayne that DC couldn’t show you until now!

Gfest hopes Batman #702 better than The Return of Bruce Wayne #1, which was BORING.... Although, the Tony Daniel cover of this issue freakin beautiful!

NEW Alex Ross Cover Art to Green Hornet #4

Gfest was as shocked as anyone that Kevin Smith's Green Hornet #1 was an incredible hit and it helped propel Dynamite Entertainment as the fifth largest publisher in comics for the month of June.  With the re-orders on Kevin Smith's Green Hornet #1 being achieving such incredible numbers, it catapulted to the #11 slot for dollars and #20 spot for units of the top 100 books in March. 

How pissed is DC that Kevin Smith finally had a successful book but with another company?

The success of the book apparently made an impact because Dynamite just released the gorgeous cover art for Green Hornet #4, which was done by the ever-talented Alex Ross. 

DC Animated Sadly Cancels Numerous BruceTimm Projects

As reported earlier this month by your friends at Gfest, numerous DC Animated Projects have been canceled due to the under-performance of Green Lantern: First Flight and the Wonder Woman movie. 

What Gfest did not know is the severity of the animated cancellations. Wonder Woman's performance was so underwhelming, in fact, that DC Animated has sworn off doing any superheroine features for the foreseeable future. They were actually planning to do an adaptation of Batgirl: Year One, but that project’s been canceled, now. 

Another project that’s been canceled is the adaptation of the"Judas Contract" storyline from Teen Titans.  Bruce Timm also stated in his interview with comicvine that the announced Aquaman feature has also been canceled.