DC Comics has released the cover to “Batman/Superman” #1, drawn by Jae Lee and colored by June Chung. Official solicit information below — the book hits stores in June. Ask your local retailer to pre-order it for you today!
BATMAN/SUPERMAN #1
Written by GREG PAK
Art and cover by JAE LEE
1:100 B&W variant cover by JAE LEE
1:25 BATMAN variant cover by KENNETH ROCAFORT
1:25 SUPERMAN variant cover by GUILLEM MARCH
“We Can Be Heroes” blank variant cover available
On sale JUNE 5 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US
A new epic begins with the debut of this new, ongoing series! Don’t miss the first fateful meeting of Batman and Superman in The New 52!
This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue
Interesting exploration of the Hercules/Howlett relationship in “X-Treme X-Men”
A Tumblr user named saintnoname has written about the stereotype-breaking relationship between Hercules and Howlett in my “X-Treme X-Men” book. The kicker:
I love this relationship to bits and pieces, and the way it subverts so many different tropes. It really is something beautiful.
I’m writing “Batman/Superman”!
Big news! I’m writing a new ongoing “Batman/Superman” comic book for DC Comics! The book will be illustrated by the great Jae Lee (check out some concept art above) and the first story arc will show the very first meeting of Superman and Batman in the new DC Universe.
From the Newsarama interview:
The huge attraction of this story to me is the chance to explore who these characters are in their very early, raw years. So this story begins around the time of Morrison’s Action #1, when both of these men are young and wild and dangerous. Anything can happen. They’ve never even heard of each other before – never even heard the word “superhero.”
So how will Clark react the first time he sees an insanely dangerous combatant dressed like a giant bat? And how will Bruce react at the sight of an alien with the power to bend steel in his bare hands? It’s a hugely fun place to dive in with these characters.
From the Comic Book Resources interview:
…both of the characters have been important to me at different times of my life, and the chance to work with them today — particularly telling this story — is tremendous.
From the USA Today interview:
The atmosphere and strong image depth of Lee’s drawing style — colored by his wife — is key for a series like Batman/Superman “where you’ve got these two complementary and contradictory figures who are coming from two very different places,” Pak says.
“The idea of Jae Lee drawing Batman is sort of a no-brainer. That makes total sense. (But) he’s doing some cool new stuff and when you put these two characters together, they’ve got different palettes and environments.”
Google Glass and “Vision Machine”
Google and “Vision Machine” agree — in the future, people will rock their interactive augmented reality eyewear while wearing big earth tone hoodies!
Today Google released a new promotional video for Google Glass, a pair of glasses that provide the viewer with an interactive overlay on the real world.
If you’re interested in how Google Glass might affect your life in the next few years, read “Vision Machine” today. “Vision Machine” is a FREE graphic novel and iPad app written by Greg Pak and drawn by R.B. Silva that explores what happens when Sprout Computers releases the iEye, a pair of glasses that lets you instantly record, edit, add special effects to, and share anything you can see or imagine.
It’s a brand new world of insane creative opportunities — and tremendous privacy and surveillance challenges.
The future is here. Prepare yourself.
Free Jonathan Coulton (or just buy his music)
UPDATE: Jonathan has just made “Baby Got Back (In the Style of Glee)” available for purchase on iTunes! BUY IT NOW. Proceeds to charity. Read all about it here.
Laura Hudson has a great overview of the “Glee”/Jonathan Coulton situation over at Wired. If you’re agitated by the whole thing, may I humbly suggest channeling your emotions productively by buying some of Jonathan’s (awesome) music. Here’s the order page.
A few personal recommendations (comic book fans in particular may enjoy the super-villain/sci fi elements of a number of these songs):
“Code Monkey”
“Chiron Beta Prime”
“Better”
“Curl”
“Re: Your Brains”
“Creepy Doll”
“Skullcrusher Mountain”
Also fantastic is the live album “BEST. SHOW. EVER.” Which lives up to its name.
Enjoy!
FULL DISCLOSURE: Jonathan appears in the video extras of the iPad app of my “Vision Machine” graphic novel, which you can download for free right here.
The Importance of Eyebrows in Self-Portraiture
I had to draw a self-portrait for a secret project. And I learned how important eyebrows are. Check it out.
25 Best Hulk Covers Ever — according to me!
EW.com’s nifty new Cape Town site asked me to list my 25 favorite Hulk comic book covers of all time. So I did! Check it out.
Please help Peter David by buying his books
Photo credit: 5of7 on Flickr
The great writer Peter David suffered a stroke over the holidays and is now the beginning stages of recovery. His wonderful wife Kathleen has been posting updates at www.peterdavid.net, and her latest note touches on the financial strain that this event will have on the family.
The quickest way for folks like us to help out is to buy Peter’s books, especially those published by Crazy 8 Books, which pay the most royalties the most quickly to Peter and his family.
Peter is a fantastic storyteller whose legendary Hulk work made a big impression on me and who has always been a fun companion at conventions and signings over the years. So of course I’m buying all these books as soon as I finish this post. Here are some quick links you can use to buy them yourself:
Pulling Up Stakes, Part 1
Pulling Up Stakes, Part 2
The Camelot Papers
Darkness of the Light
Heights of the Depths
All the best and thanks for your consideration!
My “Astonishing X-Men” run is just 99¢ a pop at Comixology today!
Comixology launched a new 99¢ sale today that includes “Astonishing X-Men” #44, 45, 46, and 47, the “Exalted” storyline I did with artist Mike McKone that set up my “X-Treme X-Men” book.
Click here to make with the buying!
Greg Pak talks “X-Treme X-Men” in CBR’s first “X-Position” of 2013
X-Man fans interviewed me about “X-Treme X-Men” at Comic Book Resources. Here’s an excerpt:
Which is your favorite character to write in X-Treme and what sets this book apart from other X-Titles?
I love all my babies equally. But Howlett and Dazzler are probably my faves. I’m pretty much in love with Howlett’s tough guy exterior, great good heart, and propensity for blushing. He’s a tough guy sweetheart, which is a ton of fun to write. And my girl Dazzler just makes me smile. She’s got very little filter — if she’s thinking it, she’s probably saying it, which is an endearing quality and a ton of fun to write. And she also strikes me as a fundamentally decent person who’s always been an underdog and maybe doesn’t even realize how huge a hero she really is. Again, endearing and a ton of fun to write.