io9Books & Comics

DC’s Secret Six Is Making a Very Weird Jump to Television

Another DC TV show is apparently on the way—and it’s at CBS, best known in DC circles for, well…getting its last DC superhero show and then promptly dumping it a season later. Maybe this one is the long-awaited exciting pitch they’d been hoping for? Deadline reports that CBS has given a pilot commitment to a … Continued

io9Books & Comics

After Revealing Bruce Wayne’s Penis in Batman: Damned, DC Is Rethinking Its Black Label Imprint

In the months leading up to its launch, DC Comics touted its new Black Label imprint as a part of its publishing arm where big-name comics creators could tell bold, mature stories about its heroes, exploring aspects of their lives that more mainstream titles tend not to. Brian Azzarello and Lee Bermejo’s Batman: Damned made … Continued

io9Books & Comics

Young Justice‘s Return Spearheads Brian Michael Bendis’ Teen-Focused DC Imprint

The beloved Young Justice animated show isn’t the only thing making a comeback—the original teen team-up comic itself is making a return to shelves, headlining a new comics imprint curated by Brian Michael Bendis. Announced today at New York Comic Con, Young Justice will spearhead Bendis’ new teen-focused DC imprint, called Wonder Comics, telling all-new, … Continued

io9

Postal Apocalypse: Is Batman Depressed?

This week’s Postal Apocalypse has some of my favorite questions ever, so let me go ahead and dump my metaphorical mailbag on the metaphorical floor so a genuinely fake but otherwise metaphorical mailman can really read some real letters. This week: Why X-wings actually aren’t called X-wings, what would have happened if Thanos had snapped … Continued

io9Books & Comics

Harley Quinn‘s First Trailer Breaks the Fourth Wall to Take Jabs at DC and Marvel

Harley Quinn is one of DC’s most iconic characters—and it all began with her first appearance in Batman: The Animated Series. DC Universe’s upcoming Harley Quinn series is taking the antihero back to her animated roots, and the show’s first trailer is a delightful peek at just what all we can expect from this incarnation … Continued

io9Books & Comics

There’s More Depth to DC Universe’s Titans Than You Think

The internet let out something of a collective groan after the first trailer of DC Universe’s new live-action Titans series dropped, in large part because of the show’s dark tone and Robin’s now-infamous “fuck Batman.” But Titans is something more than yet another glimpse of a gritty, hardboiled DC Elseworld. It’s a story about the … Continued

io9Books & Comics

Why Norm Breyfogle Was One of the Best Artists to Ever Draw Batman

The best Batman artists always do something cool with the Dark Knight’s cape. It’s a given. Norm Breyfogle did that and so much more, re-inventing almost every visual aspect of Batman’s mythos. Last week, the sad news of Norm Breyfogle’s death hit the comics community hard. The 58-year-old artist was a veteran of DC, Marvel, … Continued

io9Books & Comics

Krypton Has Found Someone to Play Lobo and Add to Superman’s Convoluted Backstory

Turns out, should Krypton be believed, the story of how Superman’s homeworld eventually blew the hell up was way weirder than we ever knew. That’s thanks to the magic of time travel—and also the DC Entertainment show’s innate desire to throw any character it can into the mix. The latest attempt, Lobo, now has a … Continued

io9Books & Comics

Entourage‘s Version of the Aquaman Movie Hype Was Surprisingly On Point

The year was 2005. Mariah Carey’s “We Belong Together” was at the top of the charts, North Korea had just revealed it possessed nuclear weapons, and the second season of HBO’s Entourage shifted its focus to the world of big-budget superhero movies. In the world of Entourage, James Cameron’s Aquaman was the film that changed … Continued

io9Movies

Birds of Prey Lands Its Huntress and Black Canary

The cast of Birds of Prey finally has more to report than rumors and “Margot Robbie returns as Harley Quinn.” Deadline confirms that Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Jurnee Smollett-Bell have emerged victorious from the competitive casting process; both have signed on for the Cathy Yan-directed DC film. Robbie, of course, previously played breakout character Harley … Continued

io9Television

Oliver Queen’s Butt Naked and Kicking Ass in the Latest Arrow Season 7 Trailer

Showering can be dangerous no matter who and where you are (see: soap and hard, slippery surfaces). But it’s especially precarious for vigilantes locked up in prisons full of criminals they had a part in apprehending. We’ve known for some time that Arrow’s seventh season would focus on Oliver Queen going to prison, surviving a … Continued

io9Books & Comics

DC Regrets Showing You Batman’s Batawang

If you picked up a physical copy of writer Brian Azzarello and artist Lee Bermejo’s Batman: Damned this week, then you were treated to a passing glimpse of a totally-nude Bruce Wayne in the Batcave. From the sounds of it, DC regrets greenlighting the decision to show off Batman’s penis. According to The Hollywood Reporter, … Continued

io9Television

Actress Brec Bassinger Is the Hero of DC Universe’s Stargirl

While none of the DC Universe streaming platform’s original shows based on comics have actually begun airing yet, Warner Bros. and DC are quickly moving forward with the production of the recently announced Stargirl series. Bella and The Bulldogs’ Brec Bassinger has been cast as Courtney Whitmore, the teen who becomes the hero Stargirl after … Continued

io9

Postal Apocalypse: What Will the Marvel Cinematic Universe Look Like After Avengers 4?

So immediately upon re-opening up the mailbag last week, I got sick. Turns out maybe you shouldn’t leave a bag in an irradiated wasteland for a year and then immediately start sticking your hand in there. But no matter! This week: How to protect your budding nerd children, a Star Trek special effects dilemma, and … Continued

io9Books & Comics

Bruce Wayne’s Censored Penis Is the Least Interesting Thing About Batman: Damned

By now you’ve probably heard about the moment in Brian Azzarello and artist Lee Bermejo’s new DC Black Label series Batman: Damned, where a completely-naked Bruce Wayne’s penis is seen on panel. Go on, take a moment, and let the bats out of your belfry. As eye-catching as that particular panel is, it’s the least … Continued

io9Books & Comics

The Martian Manhunter Is Getting the Spotlight He Deserves in a New Series From Steve Orlando

Even though J’onn J’onzz is one of the most important and iconic members of the Justice League, the character has always been shrouded in a stifling amount of mystery. That’s in large part because there aren’t that many seminal stories about him. That’s changing this December with a new Martian Manhunter series from writer Steve … Continued

io9Books & Comics

Dick Grayson and Jason Todd Cross Paths in the Latest Titans Photos

As much as Batman fancies himself a loner, everyone knows that in his deepest heart of hearts, he knows he’s not himself if he’s not working with a partner. Given how Titans’ Dick Grayson is well on his way to stepping out of Batman’s shadow, it was only a matter of time before Jason Todd … Continued

io9Books & Comics

New Titans Photos Give Us a Better Look at How DC Universe Is Reimagining the Heroes

We’re still a few weeks away from the premiere of DC Universe’s live-action Titans series, and while details about how the titular team will come together are still sparse, the newest series of images from the streaming show shed a little light on just what all’s going to go down. Unlike other Teen Titans-centric shows … Continued

io9

An Artist Inspired by Ukiyo-e Creates Absolutely Stunning Illustrations of Superheroes

As a kid, Gifu City artist Dakota Alexander developed a lifelong love for ukiyo-e, a style of traditional Japanese woodblock painting that became popular during the Edo period. Like many young people, Alexander also happened to have a fondness for comic books and superheroes. Ukiyo-e paintings have traditionally depicted epic, dramatic scenes plucked from significant … Continued

io9Books & Comics

One Reason Tom King’s Batman Run Is So Great Is That It’s Inspired by Raiders of the Lost Ark

Tom King’s nearly 60-issue run on Batman has been one of my favorite takes on the Dark Knight in years. King’s critical interrogation of the humanity buried beneath the bat cowl, and the indomitable power of Batman as a symbol are just a few of its myriad strengths, but others are down to a certain … Continued