NYCC 2011- Star Wars and Batman

Day 1 and 2 are near complete at NYCC so gotta run through some of the most def, ill and straight fly news/announcements that makes me bug out like any urban nerd would.

First stop is Dark Horse Comics-- home to everything Star Wars related and beyond.  Being a mad SW head, I was amped to hear yesterday that Dark Horse was creatively going where they have never gone before.  Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi takes place 25,000 years BBY, where (Before the Battle of Yavin or Ep.IV A New Hope) the world of the 1st Jedi virgance is explored and shared in the rich mythos of SW.

It began with the mysterious pyramid ships—the Tho Yor—scattered to the eight corners of the galaxy, and ended with the establishment of an Order that would change the universe forever. On the planet Tython, in the center of the galaxy, an order of warrior monks strives to maintain peace and to balance the mysterious power known as the Force. But a stranger is coming—one who will destroy both peace and balance, and open the galaxy to exploration and conquest. This is where it all begins!                            

The series concept was created by SW: Legacy collaborators John Ostrander and Jan Duursema as they introduce readers to a time before lightsabers, force blasts and Sith lightning.  From the first image art we can see the mysterious, pyramid shaped vessels that appear to have a symbol resembling that of the Galactic Empire hovering over a very Sith-looking figure.  Hmm..very intrigued I am.  A great jumping on point for longtime readers and those new to the Dark Horse line of Jedi books.  Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi #0 is slated to release on February 1, 2012 with Dawn of the Jedi: Force Storm #1 to follow on Febraury 15.

The other book announcement that got me going is another Darth Vader-centric read delivered by my tops SW scribe (also kicking booty as a co-writer on Batwoman) W. Haden Blackman titled, Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Ghost Prison. 

The upcoming 5-issue series is slated to be released next May 2012 and will be written by Haden Blackman, with artwork by Agustin Alessio.  Ghost Prison takes place a year after Revenge of the Sith and will showcase Darth Vader’s impact on the galaxy in ways fans have never seen.  Darth Vader will serve the Emperor to the best of his abilities, after all – Darth Vader makes no mistakes. 

Ghost Prison also marks the return of Star Wars character Moff Trachta who will be vital to how the series unfolds.

Dark Horse hints at readers to be treated in seeing as to what lengths a young, ruthless Vader will go to in keeping his master, The Emperor safe from an assassination plot.  IN and IN.

Today, DC Comics held the first post New 52 panel with DC All-Access (previously DC Nation) Batman.  The majority of Bat-centric creators-- Mike Marts, Bobbie Chase, Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo, Tony Daniel, David Finch , Kyle Higgins, Peter Tomasi , Chris Burnham and Lee Bermejo were on hand to hear directly from readers, retailers and press how things are going in this new DCU.

Snyder opened with infectious energy commenting on how incredible it is to see the crowd that showed up for all things Batman.  Capullo commented on how Snyder is the best writer he has ever worked with...crazy props being that list puts him above the likes of Robert Kirkman, David Hine, Steve Niles, Fabian Nicieza and Todd McFarlane(Neil Gaiman).  Yes, I would include all of them not on his level of strytelling but questionable on Kirkman though I am a HUGE Snyder fan.  So dope to hear how complimentary both creators are on the best selling DC title of the year and super-charged for the upcoming Court of Owls storyline that Snyder & Capullo express will be their “Long Halloween.” 

They brought up how Bats will find himself in situations where what he thought was Gotham along with vast ties and loyalties all become questionable due to the influence and history of the Owls.  Owls vs Bats.  Sick! 

Tony Daniel stepped up to some high fives from the dynamic duo and took the mic with his cheers from the crowd-- gotta say I think that Detective two issues in is better than the Batman title.  Daniel went on about how fun and exciting it is to bring new creations in from the beginning of his run at the levels of Joker.  Dollmaker, Mathilda (the sexy nurse) and yet to be introduced Jack in the Box look to give us readers enough suspense and enjoyment in seeing how Bats matches up with them.  

Tomasi welcomed the crowd in NYC fashion and got into how Batman & Robin is truly a book centering on the father & son dynamic of Damian and Bruce with similarities to Alfred & Bruce examined.  We have already seen this in ish #2 and the promise from Tomasi is that this will be the core of the first subplots along with new villian Nobody that will soon provide big emotional moments in the months to come.

Bunch of more NYCC updates and coverage to come of course focusing on the kind of shit we like--wish we could cover more but damn that's how it goes sometimes.  Peace!

This post was written by:
big O