1. Dick is NOT happy

   

Probably the biggest takeaway (and the one with the most shock value) from the Titans TV series trailer is Dick Grayson dropping a majestic F-bomb while referring to his mentor. The boy from the circus definitely has a lot of angst to work through here, and whether or not it’s because he’s grown tired of hanging out in chilly rooftops while staring into space, we’ll just have to wait to find out.

Producer and co-writer Geoff Johns does have a few words to say about the potty-mouthed ward of the Dark Knight. “If you look at when Robin first left Batman in the comics, there was a lot of uneasiness and him being lost. Titans is really a series about these different characters that are all lost in their lives; just like the greatest comic book run ever, by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez, it’s about all these lost characters finding one another. And they’re all struggling with something, and Robin is clearly struggling with his past with Batman,” he says.

That’s a long way to go from simply blurting out “Holy cow, Batman” every chance he gets.

2. It’ll be dark and gritty…again

Even though Brenton Thwaites as Dick Grayson/Robin looks absolutely amazing in that sort of comic-accurate costume, one does wonder just how dark the show is willing to go. We’ve had enough of all that already, with all the Nolan-esque grittiness that was the highlight of the Batman mythos back then. Now though, with Rachel Roth/Raven (played by Teagan Croft) as a troubled emo girl making everything go dark, we can’t help but get worried that we might have another too-dark DC show in our hands. We can only hope that Anna Diop as Koriand’r/Starfire and Ryan Potter as Gar Logan/Beast Boy can add enough sunshine into this otherwise grim-looking world.

3. Lots of supers are joining the Titans party

Aside from the Doom Patrol, we’ve got Minka Kelly as Dawn Granger/Dove and Alan Ritchson as the bruiser Hank Hall appearing in the show as welcome side-characters. It’s also been rumored that more of the Bat-family and even the villain Trigon will be showing up, and from what we can tell from the released episode titles, we’ll also get to see Jason Todd and Donna Troy thrown in the mix. Regardless of the tone of the show, we can bet it’s going to center heavily on a coming-of-age story and how the floundering characters build a superteam of their own (and that’s away from under the Caped Crusader’s extremely dark wing).

What are YOU most excited about in the upcoming Titans TV series under DC’s streaming service? Do you agree with how the team is being portrayed so far? Let us know all your thoughts (and violent reactions) in the comments section below!

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Covers are a very important part of comics — they’re meant to entice readers with art that hypes the story. Some have become so famous and so recognizable that they’ve been parodied and re-rendered as homages. Some of them featured the first appearance of a superhero, and other glorified timeless and action-packed moments. Either way, the following comic book covers are nothing less than iconic!

Iron Man #128

The Demon in a Bottle story arc is by far the most famous Iron Man story. It tackles Tony Stark’s drinking problem and its on full display with this cover. Seeing Stark look at his drunken reflection is just plain haunting! This cover really embodies just how bad addiction can be and what it can turn even the best of us into. Since then, the cover has become Iron Man’s most recognizable cover and has revieved plenty of homages through the tears. Needless to say, it’s a good long look in the mirror we don’t want to look away from!

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns

Regarded as one of Batman’s greatest stories, The Dark Knight Returns has a few iconic covers of its own! Probably the most recognizable one, however, has to be the first issue! It’s a simple cover with Batman’s silhouette leaping into action against a lightning strike. It excels at reflecting the gritty mood of the story and stands among some of Frank Miller’s finest work.

Giant Size X-Men #1

As far as X-Men comics go, this one here is a classic! It features the first appearances of some of your favorite X-Men running right at the reader. This was a whole new start for the X-Men, which was illustrated with how the new team is bursting through an apparent comic cover featuring the old team. With that in mind, it has that “out with the old, in with the new” feeling to it! It’s colorful, adventurous, exciting, and quite possibly the most famous X-Men comic cover!

Amazing Spider-Man #50

Spider-Man’s first appearance in Amazing Fantasy #15 is a pretty iconic comic book cover.  This was the cover to a single-issue story where Peter Parker gives up on being Spider-Man. The art depicts just that with Peter walking away as Spider-Man is in the distance looking back at him. It generates this feeling of uncertainty and I can imagine someone thinking Spider-Man was legitimately finished. Thankfully, a book can’t always be judged by its cover, and obviously, Spidey carried on!

This cover has become very famous since then and many have provided their own take on it. Even the Spider-Man series would use a variation of this cover later with the roles reversed — with Spider-Man walking away from Peter Parker!

Action Comics #1

The one that started it all for the “Man of Steel!”

Action Comics #1 has to be the most famous comic cover of all time! It’s as classic as it is simple with Superman smashing a car while some bad guys flee the scene! That simplicity went a long way with its tons of homages and parodies rendered on a regular basis. What else is there to say? Every comic fan in the world knows how iconic this cover is!

Was there one I missed? Which iconic comic book covers do you like the best? Let me know in the comments below!

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1. The complicated origins of Cheetah

   

Now that it’s been confirmed that comedienne Kristen Wiig will be playing the live-action version of the character in the next Wonder Woman film, we’re all itching to know which incarnation of Cheetah the SNL star will be playing, because yes, there have been lots of them (there was even a male version of the character).

Cheetah is actually one of Diana’s oldest recurring villains. She debuted in 1943 as Priscilla Rich, who resorted to villainy because of her split personality. The second Cheetah was Deborah Domaine, introduced in 1980 as the niece of Rich. Brainwashed by the terrorist organization Kobra, she took up Rich’s mantle and never looked back.

The most popular incarnation of Cheetah (and most probably the one we’ll see in Wonder Woman 2) follows the story of Barbara Ann Minerva, an unfortunate archaeologist who craved immortality and thus ingested a chemical meant only for virgins (which she was not). Brewed by worshippers of Urzkartaga, the chemical causes Minerva extreme pain, and she rages with bloodlust whenever she is in her cheetah form.

2. Cheetah and Wonder Woman’s relationship

   

Perhaps in an effort to make Cheetah more meaningful to the readers, the creators rebooted her character into becoming one of Diana’s closest friends. In the Rebirth launch, Barbara has been obsessed with the Amazons since forever, and her obsession leads to her catastrophic fate. She befriends Diana, but when an expedition funded by villain Veronica Cale attempts to locate Themyscira, things take a tragic turn and Barbara becomes cursed with the transformation. She blames Diana for this ill-fated mishap, and Diana in turn is tortured by the idea that she failed to save her friend.

3. Cheetah’s powers and abilities

   

While the first two incarnations of the character didn’t actually have any superpowers, Barbara does. It’s perfectly understandable to wonder just how a humanoid cheetah’s powers can possibly rival that of the Amazonian warrior princess, but when Barbara transforms into the Cheetah, she gains superhuman strength, durability, speed, agility, and enhanced senses. Her claws and fangs can actually hurt Wonder Woman, and her intelligence as an archaeologist knows no bounds.

It will definitely be interesting to see just how Kristen Wiig will play her, and how DC plans to mold the character into a really good portrayal. The studio hasn’t exactly had a perfect record when it comes to casting, so we’re desperately hoping they’ll be right on the money with this one. If it turns into a pleasant surprise for fans, then we’re definitely up for it!

What do YOU think about the casting decision, and are you excited about Wonder Woman 84 film as well? Let us know your thoughts and violent reactions in the comments section below!

The post Who is Cheetah? The Basics on the Next Wonder Woman Villain appeared first on The Source by SuperHeroStuff.

During San Diego Comic Con, the big news had nothing to do with a casting announcement or a new comic series. The big news was Walt Disney Pictures announcing James Gunn, writer and director of the first two Guardians of the Galaxy films, had been fired from the upcoming third GOTG film. Gunn got the axe over old tweets that joke about rape and pedophilia.

In a statement, Chairman of Walt Disney Studios Alan Horne said “The offensive attitudes and statements discovered on James’ Twitter feed are indefensible and inconsistent with our studio’s values, and we have severed our business relationship with him.” 

Now, the impetus behind rediscovering these tweets was certainly political. Whether or not you agree with Disney’s decision to fire Gunn is up to you. That, however, isn’t entirely the focus of this editorial.

My question to you is, can you separate the art from the artist?

For me it is possible, but a little hard. It’s a case by case basis, though. I can’t enjoy Horrible Bosses like I used to thanks to Kevin Spacey. I enjoy stuff with Robert Downey Jr. because to me he seems to be a changed man and paid his debt to society. Same for Mark Wahlberg. Three completely different circumstances between the men, I know.

If you aren’t one of my three loyal readers (myself included in that list), Guardians of the Galaxy is my all-time favorite movie. When I saw the 2014 film, something inside my brain clicked. Seeing that movie was an experience I’ll never forget. I have been chasing that cinematic high ever since.

But after seeing some of those tweets, the shine has come off a little bit for me. I’ll still like the movie and its sequel, but for now, it will be a tad difficult not thinking about what Gunn said in those tweets when watching the movie.

Yes, Gunn has apologized for making those attempts at jokes. To be fair, Gunn wasn’t working for Marvel Studios when he posted those tweets. Whether not you feel people should judge others for things they say in the past is up to you.

I will not disown the movie by any stretch. Why suddenly discredit the work of Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista and the rest of the cast and crew for stuff Gunn did? After all, the film is bigger than James Gunn. I also happen to be a big fan of Kevin Smith and Seth MacFarlane, both who have made names for themselves by being provocative with their humor.

Now is the part where you come in. Are you able to separate the art from the artist? Agree with Disney’s decision on firing Gunn? Can you like a film, TV series, or music despite what the creator does or says? Chime in below in the comment section.

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1. The first appearance of Cloak and Dagger

   

The TV series is said to be a departure from the original source material, but in the comics, the duo first appeared in Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #64 (March 1982). As “street-level” superheroes, Cloak and Dagger are similar to Spider-Man in that they normally don’t join forces with more cosmic beings and teams that often. Still, because of the fans’ great reception, Cloak and Dagger eventually scored their own series apart from the friendly neighborhood web-slinger.

2. Tyrone and Tandy’s origins

   

Seventeen-year-old Tyrone “Ty” Johnson (Cloak) is a teen who ran away from guilt. Because of his debilitating stutter, he was unable to prevent his friend from mistakenly being shot by the police.

Sixteen-year-old Tandy Bowen (Dagger), on the other hand, was the daughter of a wealthy supermodel mom in Ohio—a mother who never had time for her, prompting her to run away as well. When Tyrone retrieved Tandy’s stolen purse from a thief in New York (even though he initially wanted to rob her first), they instantly became friends.

Unfortunately for them, chemists working for a criminal known as Silvermane forced them to be exposed repeatedly to synthetic heroin, and when they finally had the chance to break free, the side effects of the drug caused them to develop superpowers, setting them on the path to declare war on the New York drug trade.

3. Their superpowers

   

Tyrone, a.k.a. “Cloak”, manipulates the dark dimension for intangibility and the ability to teleport others through his cloak. A side-effect of this is his insatiable hunger that can be appeased by the life forms of those he absorbs, or by Dagger’s light.

Tandy, a.k.a. “Dagger,” can, on the other hand, manipulate light and create psionic daggers of some sort.  Tandy’s “light daggers” can drain vitality or heal others from addiction as well, but often she needs to drain her energy lest it builds up and overcharges—making Cloak and Dagger quite the mutually dependent team.

4. Cloak and Dagger as mutants

   

Cloak and Dagger may have already had interesting origins, but back during the height of the X-Men’s fame, the declining sales of the duo’s comic led the higher-ups to rename the series as The Mutant Misadventures of Cloak and Dagger. Riding on the popularity of the X-Men, it was revealed that Tyrone and Tandy were mutants all along.

The resulting new series had them teaming up with the New Mutants for a while, despite not joining Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters. Of course, with the Marvel-Fox merger as a big possibility looming over the horizon, who knows what we can expect from the TV show?

5. Cleaning up the streets

   

Still, despite their stints with the X-Men which had them fighting off more cosmic supervillains, they still focused on regular criminals rather than costumed villains, particularly against the drug trade. With their strong anti-drug message, they fought off addictions and eradicated gangs—a feat that’s truly fitting for issues of our time.

This, perhaps, is why there’s no better time than now to launch a live-action series based on these two.

Which elements from the comic book would you want to see in the show? Sound off in the comments section below!

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The end has come. The Marvel Universe has been torn asunder and Thanos reigns supreme on top the rubble! Old but still strong, Thanos is so close to finally achieving his goal, but there’s one final challenge. To overcome it, Thanos will have to team up with an unlikely ally: himself!

The Thanos Wins story arc seems pretty straight forward at first, but let me tell you, it’s anything but. Throughout this six-issue story, Donny Cates excels at showing just who Thanos is at his core while crafting this haunting but gloriously dark future for the Marvel Universe. This bleak, desolate world is heightened thanks to the detailed art of Geoff Shaw!

Cates uses Thanos’ history and experiences to show the reader how it influenced his current and future self. And yes, he certainly highlighted the Titan’s legendary brutality.

There were so many awesome moments in this arc that I’m actually not sure which one was my favorite. To name a few, there’s Thanos’ Chitauri conquest, the Silver Surfer wielding Mjölnir, Lady Death’s appearance, and the final confrontation. And all of this was boosted by strong and memorable dialogue throughout.

At his core, Thanos is someone who is willing to do whatever it takes to reach his goals.  Thanos is willing to cut down all who stand in the way of his goals, which is no surprise; however, dear readers, even you will be shocked when it comes to his final kill.

This story is also the first appearance of the new Cosmic Ghost Rider! At first, his character comes off as just simple comic relief, but when you realize who he is, you forigve his earlier behavior.

(***SPOILER ALERT***)

I was pretty surprised that the Punisher of all people was actually this wise-cracking hellspawn! The story of how he became the rider, then Galactus’ herald, and then Thanos’ right hand man is very interesting. It’s crazy, but it plays off the insanity of the future Thanos created. Fortunately, if you liked this character, there is more to come — fans liked him so much that Marvel’s giving him a five-issue miniseries!

Overall, Thanos Wins is a look into Thanos’ very being, and it doesn’t hold back. It has an appropriate dark tone, great dialogue, great artwork, and twists that you don’t see coming. If you’re looking to scratch that Thanos itch, I recommend giving this a read.

The post Thanos Wins Review: Kings Do Not Beg appeared first on The Source by SuperHeroStuff.

On its own, Ant-Man and the Wasp makes for a fantastic Marvel movie—with the action and the humor and the perfectly timed comedic beats pulled off flawlessly by the witty genius of Paul Rudd—and it might have been perfectly acceptable if the fate of the entire galaxy wasn’t at stake in the current MCU timeline.

Back then, a Marvel superhero’s biggest concern could be keeping an identity secret or trying to foil overachieving board members. Everything was lighter, simpler. But unfortunately, now that all the Marvel movies have progressed to this point, audiences simply can’t be expected to revert their mindsets back pre-Infinity War. Now, everyone’s waiting to find answers—or at the very least, some semblance of peace—because of the heart-shattering events from the last Marvel movie, and sadly, Ant-Man and the Wasp offers nothing of the sort.

Set two years after Captain America: Civil War, the movie zeroes in on Scott Lang’s (Paul Rudd) life as he spends his days in house arrest. This is due to the fact that he violated the Sokovia Accords by helping out Captain America during the events of Civil War, so his biggest concern at the moment is to convince FBI agent Jimmy Woo (Randall Park) that he’s behaving nicely inside his San Francisco apartment. It all goes down the drain when Hope (Evangeline Lilly, who kicks some serious ass, by the way) and Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) drag him out of hiding to help them find the original Wasp (Michelle Pfeiffer) inside the quantum realm.

After a variety of antics and hijinks, our heroes soon find themselves being chased down by other players in the field, namely, Hannah John-Kamen’s Ghost, Laurence Fishburne’s Bill Foster, and Walter Goggins’ Sonny Burch—all wanting a piece of the proverbial pie (in this case, the pie being Hank Pym’s super-shrinking lab).

Plenty of things go wrong and plenty of things go right, too—the stellar performances of Scott’s “partners-in-crime” Michael Peña, David Dastmalchian, and T.I. included. Randall Park as FBI agent Woo shines in this one with his awkward banter and his penchant for and frustration with close-up magic tricks. Even Michael Peña’s iconic “storytelling” makes a welcome comeback here as well, with hilarious encounters with a Hello Kitty Pez dispenser and a Hot Wheels canister.

Admittedly, Ant-Man and the Wasp is fun and entertaining, as it doesn’t take itself very seriously, and some might feel that it’s a breath of fresh air. There are a lot of comic book elements that are a joy to watch, like the breathtaking small-and-big-and-small-again fight sequences and millions of ants forming Google Maps-like arrows in the air.

Paul Rudd’s boyish charm might even make the forgettable narrative forgivable, and even though the stakes are low, the warmth and emotional connection between family and friends is incredibly high. I particularly reveled in the emotional resonance of Scott playing in a makeshift cardboard funhouse with his daughter, Cassie (Abby Ryder Fortson).

It’s all well and good, but with the looming threat of the galaxy’s total annihilation lurking there in the back of my mind, I can’t help but feel like the light-heartedness of this film is, well, too light-hearted. There’s a lot of scientific quantum mumbo-jumbo thrown in there somewhere, but I just find it really hard to care for their circumstances when I still haven’t gotten over the finger-snapping of a certain Mad Titan (is it just me?).

Overall, Ant-Man and the Wasp is a wonderful movie, if only it were set in a timeline that doesn’t immediately follow Infinity War. It might be a tad unfair to judge the whole movie based solely on its place in the MCU, but that’s the reality of the release dates, and it really is quite unfortunate. Come for the laugh-out-loud moments, though—there is no shortage of those—and stay for two post-credits scenes afterward.

Ant-Man and the Wasp comes out in theaters on July 6, 2018 nationwide.

The post Ant-Man and the Wasp Movie Review (with Mild Spoilers!) appeared first on The Source by SuperHeroStuff.

Wonder Woman’s Lasso of Truth

Wonder Woman is a hero adept with many different weapons, but she has one that stands above the others. No, it’s not an invisible jet — it’s the Lasso of Truth! This golden rope was forged by the gods and is so strong, not even the mightiest can break it. The lasso isn’t just for tying people up — it actually has a few different uses. It can restore memories, undo mind control, and of course, make someone tell the truth! Wonder Woman has made great use of the lasso as weapon for battle and interrogation! This magical lariat can do it all, and it’s by far Wonder Woman’s most reliable tool.

Spider-Man’s Web Shooters

Spider-Man can do almost everything a spider can — the only thing he can’t do is shoot webs from his body! Luckily, Peter Parker is a science wiz and solved that problem himself by inventing his own web shooters. The web shooters can make artificial webs using Peter’s special web formula, and they can be used for many things, like creating web balls, web parachutes, web nets, and more. They also provide Spidey’s main source of transportation, allowing him to swing around the city. Over the years, Spider-Man’s improved the web shooters to include multiple web cartridges and other features like rapid-fire or “taser webbing.” These babies have seen Spider-Man through thick and thin and things just wouldn’t be the same without them.

Captain America’s Shield

It’s been through World War II, survived being frozen for decades, and is as much a symbol of Captain America as the American flag. Captain America’s shield is his weapon of choice, and it’s not hard to see why. The shield is made of vibranium, so it’s nearly indestructible, and it’s able to absorb massive impacts. Even so, Captain America is almost never without his trusty shield.

The Green Lantern Ring

If you have the will to overcome great fear, you may just become part of the Green Lantern Corps! That’s all well and good, but no Lantern is effective without their special Power Ring. The Lantern ring can do just about anything! It can make you fly, survive the vacuum of space, translate any language, and create anything with your mind. The ring’s constructs are as strong as you want them to be and the only limit is your imagination! This little trinket can also customize the uniform of any Lantern. It’s small but mighty, and just as iconic as the Lantern symbol on the uniform.

Batman’s Batarangs

If there’s one superhero who’s never short on gear, it’s Batman! The guy’s got a whole utility belt of goodies, including smoke pellets, grappling hooks, and sooooo much more. But, Batman’s most iconic tool is the Batarang! These bat-shaped shuriken are always with Batman in any situation. They can stun enemies and are strong enough to knock fire arms out of a criminal’s hands. Over the years, Batman has made special Batarangs for every occasion. For example, there’s homing Batarangs, magnetic, freeze, remote control, and even explosive Batarangs, just to name a few. Whenever Gotham’s in trouble, you can expect Batman to save it with his iconic go-to piece of superhero gear!

Did I miss one? What’s your favorite piece of superhero gear? Let me know in the comments below!

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The long wait is finally over! After 14 years, the Parr family are back in action in the latest Disney/Pixar film, Incredibles 2!

Picking up immediately where the original 2004 film left off, the Incredibles take on the Underminer (voice of John Ratzenberger) who wants to bring destruction to Metroville. After saving the city but causing some destruction, the Parrs relocate to a new spiffy mansion! However, Winston Deavor (Mr. Show and Better Call Saul‘s Bob Odenkirk), a business man who wants to make superheroes legal again, gets in contact with Mr. Incredible (Craig T Nelson), Elastigirl (Holly Hunter) and Frozone (Samuel L Jackson). Elastigirl is then chosen to be the face for the campaign while she hunts down a new villain named the Screenslaver!

As far as sequels go, this is one of Disney and Pixar’s best. I wouldn’t say it is as great as Toy Story 3, but it is certainly up there. The first film is still a better movie, but this is by no means a disappointment. The Incredibles is an all-time great, so it was going to be impossible to top. Brad Bird (director and writer of the first Incredibles film and this one) did an amazing job. The action scenes were fantastic. The plot made perfect sense. Elastigirl takes the spotlight this time, which is a nice change of pace. If Mr. Incredible was the main character, then it would be the first film all over again.

The animation is amazing. There seems to be even more detail put into almost every object and character on screen. The outfits worn by the Incredibles now have texture, and every hair looks like it was individually animated. The design of the characters and the retro world they live in is outstanding.

The voice talent is also top-notch. Nelson and Hunter have a great back and forth as the married crime fighting duo. Sarah Vowell (returning as Violet) and Huck Milner (the new voice of the speedy Dash) also have great chemistry. Odenkirk and Catherine Keener (Winston’s sister Evelyn) are great additions to the series.

If you are looking for a fun night out for the family, Incredibles 2 will definitely fit the bill.

A heads-up to parents reading this: When I saw Incredibles 2, there were about 20 minutes of previews and a 10-minute short before the film. So, if you have a little kid who is fussy or can’t sit still, I’d recommend arriving later than the posted start time for the film if you see it.

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The site also claims that “beginning in August, the Superman and Justice League titles will arrive in week one of each month, with the second pair, Batman and Teen Titans, arriving approximately two weeks later.” And what’s the best part for the 100-page books!? Each issue will only cost $4.99!

Each title will not only feature a previously unreleased new story, but will also feature some “greatest hits” stories from key DC Comics. For example, Superman Giant #1 will feature chapter one of the two-part “Endurance,” a new, original story written by Jimmy Palmiotti with art by Tom Derenick. In the story, the Daily Planet sends Clark Kent to Tornado Alley to do a story on the area, but when the storm hits, it turns out that this mild-mannered reporter is more helpful as Superman. Besides this story, the issue will also feature The Terrifics #1 (2018), Green Lantern #1 (2005), and Superman/Batman #1 (2003).

September’s Superman Giant #3 features writer Tom King and artist Andy Kubert on a new 12-part adventure titled “Up in the Sky!” When a little girl is kidnapped and taken from Earth, Superman embarks on a galaxy-spanning mission to find the perpetrators … but has to decide what lengths he will go to in order to save one life!

The Teen Titans Giant #1 will feature an original six-part Teen Titans story by Dan Jurgens with art by Scot Eaton, Wayne Faucher and Jim Charalampidis, in which the Teen Titans’ pizza dinner is interrupted by the introduction of a new villain, the Disruptor.

Teaming up with the Fearsome Five and working as an agent of H.I.V.E., the Disruptor had one mission: kill the Teen Titans! The battle spills onto the streets of San Francisco, putting its citizens at risk, while H.I.V.E. uses this distraction to begin their plan for world conquest! This issue will also include Super Sons #1 (2017), Sideways #1 (2018), and Teen Titans #1 (2003).

Batman Giant #1 will have Batman on the case of a missing girl in “One More Chance,” an all-new story by writer Jimmy Palmiotti and artist Patrick “Patch” Zircher. Batman is the world’s greatest detective, but what happens when the trail in his newest case leads him back to a place from his past that he never expected to revisit?

The issue will also include Batman #608 (2002), Nightwing #1 (2011), and Harley Quinn #1 (2011). Beginning with issue #3 in September, writer Brian Michael Bendis makes his DC debut on the Dark Knight with a 12-part story, “Universe.” Batman’s run-in with the Riddler leads the Caped Crusader into a mystery that spans the globe!

Finally, Justice League of America Giant #1 will focus on Wonder Woman in “The Conversion,” an all-new story from Tim Seeley and artists Rick Leonardi and Steve Buccellato. In this single-issue story, Wonder Woman comes face to face with Ares, god of war — who sees her as a promising new recruit! The issue also features Justice League #1 (2011), The Flash #1 (2011), and Aquaman #1 (2011).

In issue #2, Seeley teams up with artists Felipe Watanabe and Chris Sotomayor on “Mother’s Day,” a stand-alone story where Wonder Woman returns to Paradise Island for the first time since her exile, only to find that the Amazons – and Queen Hippolyta – have been abducted by Echidna, the mythological Mother of Monsters, with a brood of unstoppable beasts as children!

Issue #3 begins another original 12-part Wonder Woman story by Harley Quinn co-writers Amanda Conner and Palmiotti called “Come Back to Me.” When Steve Trevor’s plane crashes on an island outside of time itself, it’s up to Wonder Woman to rescue him from this mysterious land full of monsters, dinosaurs, and some very surprising citizens.

So, while this sounds like a GREAT deal for comic book fans with a Walmart in their vicinity, what does it actually mean for your favorite comic book shop? Again, these issues with new stories will be sold exclusively at Walmart, so the place you go to for your weekly pull list can’t get them! My opinion is that it’s something of a small blessing that the mega chain store doesn’t sell all of the usual weekly release titles. If it did, I fear the comic book shops we’ve all grown to know and love would lose A LOT of business!

Since DC is packaging these new stories with previously-released material (so far, nothing pre-2002!), it’s clear that one of the company’s reasons for this mass marketing is to get a broader audience and get more potential fans by reprinting a lot of number one issues, giving new readers a chance to experience the more contemporary adventures of its flagship characters (even though they are reprinting a majority of the “New 52” stories rather than “Rebirth”).

Some comic book store owners may not like the idea of exclusive issues going to a big box store like Walmart. Is Walmart trying to edge out smaller comic book stores? I don’t think so. I can understand the concerns comic store owners have — concerns of a major company like DC not giving its full support to the comic book stores who read and love their stories, and instead giving exclusive content to a big store chain not known for selling weekly released issues.

And I know collectors and casual readers alike will be going to Walmart to buy these exclusive comics. Nevertheless, I don’t think the comic book store as a whole will see any negative impact from this move. If anything, I believe this move will increase interest in DC’s titles and ultimately benefit the comic book stores.

Compare the $4.99 Walmart price to what the two big companies — DC and Marvel — cost right now in a comic book shop: DC’s typical issues at 32 pages cost $3.99, and Marvel’s typical issues, also at 32 pages, cost either $3.99 or $4.99. Yes, that means new, potential readers are getting a great deal. But if they wish to continue reading up on their favorite hero(es), they’ll need to make a trip to the comic store, increasing sales. And as fellow Source writer Keith O’Neil wrote in one of his last articles, that’s a great thing for comic book fans all around!

There is no say yet on exactly how long DC plans on running these “Giant” exclusives; the Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman anthologies already have 12-parters in the works. But Walmart’s carrying of exclusives will not replace the sense of community a comic book store offers. At my local comic shop, I can not only get the weekly new releases of my favorite titles, but also talk with the clerks and owners about what’s going on in comics, what’s coming down the road, get recommendations for other titles I may like, and discuss what we love about these books or argue about favorite characters. That’s not something you get at any box store!

Overall, if these exclusives will help expand the readership and fandom of these books and characters, thus improving book sales and keeping alive our favorite medium, then I’m all for it!

What about you? How do you feel about this bold move by DC Comics and Walmart? Let us know in the comments below!

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