DC COMICS FORMS ALLIANCE WITH TOP EUROPEAN PUBLISHER, HUMANOIDS
The stars of the European graphic novel are coming to America.
European artists Moebius, Bilal, and Jodorowsky, will soon be joining the likes of Will Eisner (The Spirit), Alan Moore (Watchmen), and New York Times best selling author Neil Gaiman (The Sandman) at DC Comics.
Paul Levitz, President and Publisher of DC Comics (a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company) and Fabrice Giger, founder of the Humanoids Group (owner of Les Humanoïdes Associés and Humanoids Publishing), announced today an agreement that calls for the publication of 36 books per year from Les Humanoïdes Associés, and Humanoids Publishing, as part of the DC Comics catalog. DC retains worldwide English language publishing rights on these titles.
The venture marks the first time that the full array of avant-garde and high-end European graphic novels have been available in the American marketplace. European stars of the Les Humanoïdes Associés library (such as Moebius, Bilal, Jodorowsky), and the big American stars of the Humanoids Publishing Catalog (Charest, Busiek, Cassaday) will now be published under the Humanoids brand name. The steady supply of graphic novels will support DC Comics’ continued efforts to aggressively expand into trade bookstores, while building on its impressive presence in the comic book specialty market.
“This is a rare and wonderful opportunity to bring one of the great catalogs of graphic novels to our audience,” said Paul Levitz, “and to connect an extraordinary tradition of storytelling to a new generation of readers.”
With the first titles slated to be released in July 2004, the Humanoids titles will benefit from a brand new visibility and access to the American market that they have not enjoyed to date. DC will use the same marketing, distribution and promotional strengths for the Humanoids books that do for the rest of their line, which includes Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, and the Vertigo and WildStorm imprints.
Fabrice Giger said, “Through this deal, our books will gain more visibility in the United States. It’s a real opportunity for European comics.”
Based in Paris and Geneva, Les Humanoïdes Associés is one of Europe’s leading publishers of graphic novels. Founded in 1975 by Moebius, Dionnet and Druillet, it published the works of cutting edge artists who revolutionized the world of graphic novels. Les Humanoïdes Associés prestigious catalogue of several hundred titles is focused in fantasy, horror and science-fiction. The company is also the creator of the magazine Metal Hurlant.
Founded in 1999, Humanoids, Inc is the US arm of the Humanoids Group, under the direction of former CAA veteran, Justin Connolly, and Giger himself. Humanoids, Inc. publishes English translations of the French books, commissions new books from US creators for both the French and US markets, sells motion picture and television rights to the graphic novels, sells French animated shows to US networks, and creates new animated television shows and motion pictures with US creators.
DC Comics, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world and home to such iconic characters as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the Sandman. These DC super heroes and others have starred in comic books, movies, television series (both animated and live-action) and cyberspace, thrilling audiences of all ages for generations. DC Comics’ Web site is located at www.dccomics.com.
DC COMICS, CARTOON NETWORK AND KIDS WB! TEAM FOR THE "CREATE YOUR OWN SUPER HERO PROMOTION"
DC Comics, Cartoon Network and Kids WB! have partnered with Hostess to offer kids the opportunity to create their own Super Hero.
This January and February, kids can go online to www.createyourownsuperhero.com to electronically create their own Super Hero and enter the "Create Your Own Super Hero Sweepstakes" for the chance to appear with their Super Hero in a comic strip created by DC Comics.
As part of the grand prize the prizewinner plus one parent/family member or friend will win a trip to New York City for a tour of DC Comics. The consumer does not have to create a Super Hero to enter the sweepstakes.
"Kids today are able to enjoy the action-packed stories and fantasy of their super hero idols on-air, on-line and, of course, in comics," said David McKillips, Vice President of Advertising for DC Comics and MAD Magazine. "This promotion is really unique because it gives kids the chance to transform the fantasy of their imaginations into reality by creating their very own super heroes."
"Hostess is thrilled to partner with DC Comics, Kids WB and Cartoon Network for this exciting promotion." said Kevin Kaul, Marketing Manager at Hostess. "Hostess stands for fun, and the 'Create Your Own Super Hero Sweepstakes' gives kids something fun and enjoyable to do. We think kids are going to absolutely love creating their super hero, as well as the opportunity to enter the sweepstakes and win the grand prize."
Retailers will receive a promotional poster for the program courtesy of DC Comics, Cartoon Network and Kids WB!
GEN13: OCTOBER SURPRISES TP CANCELLED
Please note that the GEN13: OCTOBER SURPRISES TP (DEC030304) has been cancelled. DC Comics does not plan to resolicit this title at a later date.
DC OFFICES CLOSED MONDAY, JANUARY 19
The offices of DC Comics and WildStorm Productions will be closed Monday, January 19 in observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.
SOLD OUT!
Please note that the following items are now sold out at DC:
THE DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN OVERSIZED POSTER (STAR16653)
GOLDEN AGE TP (STAR01134)
UNKNOWN SOLDIER TP (STAR07895)
WONDER WOMAN OVERSIZED POSTER (STAR18295)
ARRIVING IN STORES NEXT WEEK
The following titles are scheduled to arrive in stores on Wednesday, January 21. Make sure your store will have enough.
ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #624
Can Majestic fill the void left by the Man of Steel?
ARROWSMITH #5 (CLIFFHANGER)
Fletcher Arrowsmith learns the truth about rumored war atrocities...
BATMAN ADVENTURES #10
Misunderstood by the cops, Batman needs Catwoman’s help to escape them.
BATMAN: GOTHAM KNIGHTS #49
At last — the final Bane story!
BIRDS OF PREY #63
Lady Shiva makes Black Canary an offer that could change the course of her life.
DC: THE NEW FRONTIER #1
Darwyn Cooke’s chronicle the DC Universe's Silver Age begins here!
HUMAN TARGET #6 (VERTIGO)
Chris Chance faces his faith — and lack of it — when danger strikes a church. Mature.
iCANDY #5
The true origins of Candy are revealed as she battles the enigmatic Korben.
JSA #57
Part 3 of "Black Reign," the 6-part crossover with HAWKMAN!
JUSTICE LEAGUE ADVENTURES VOL. 1: THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN TP Collecting issues #3, 6 and 10-12!
JUSTICE LEAGUE ADVENTURES VOL. 2: FRIENDS AND FOES TP Collecting issues #13-14, 16 and 19-20!
KAMIKAZE #4 (CLIFFHANGER)
The search for the mythical sport continues!
LUCIFER #46 (VERTIGO)
Part 1 of the new 4-part story “Stitchglass Slide.” Mature.
NIGHTWING: BIG GUNS TP
Collecting NIGHTWING #46-50 and more!
OUTSIDERS #8
Enter: the Huntress! Only Nightwing’s not happy about it…
THE POSSESSED #6 (CLIFFHANGER)
The climatic confrontation between the Possessed and the ultimate evil lurking within Ironwood. Mature.
THE POWERPUFF GIRLS #46
The Gangreen Gang nabs Townsville’s socks and Mojo Jojo grabs the Narrator!
ROBIN #122
Robin’s in for the battle of his life against madman mob-enforcer Johnny Warren.
ROSE & THORN #2
If Rose is given a clean bill of mental health, where does that leave Thorn?
SLEEPER #12 (WILDSTORM)
The conclusion to Season One of SLEEPER! Mature.
WONDER WOMAN ARCHIVES VOL. 4 HC
Reprinting stories from SENSATION COMICS #25-32 and WONDER WOMAN #8-9 (1944)!
DC DIRECT
THE SANDMAN MANGA STATUE
Designed by Jill Thompson, this limited edition, hand-painted cold-cast porcelain statue measures 9 1/2” tall x 4 1/2” wide x 4 1/2” deep.
VERTIGO: DESIRE MINI-BUST
Designed by Kevin Nowlan, this limited edition, hand-painted cold-cast porcelain mini-bust measures 5 1/2” tall x 2” wide x 1 3/4” deep.
SMALLVILLE, STATIC SHOCK, JUSTICE LEAGUE AND TEEN TITANS EPISODE SCHEDULES
DC has been supplied with the following episode schedule for Smallville and Static Shock on the WB and Justice League and Teen Titans on the Cartoon Network. All times are Eastern and Pacific:
1/13 (10:00 pm) "Brave and the Bold, Pt. 1" (Justice League)
1/13 (10:30 pm) " Brave and the Bold, Pt. 2" (Justice League)
1/14 (3:30 pm) "Hard as Nails" (Static Shock)
1/14 (8:00 pm) "Asylum" (Smallville - New)
1/14 (10:00 pm) "Fury, Pt. 1" (Justice League)
1/14 (10:30 pm) "Fury, Pt. 2" (Justice League)
1/15 (3:30 pm) "A League of Their Own, Pt. 1" (Static Shock)
1/15 (10:00 pm) "Legends, Pt. 1" (Justice League)
1/15 (10:30 pm) "Legends, Pt. 2" (Justice League)
1/16 (3:30 pm) "A League of Their Own, Pt. 2" (Static Shock)
1/17 (9:00 am) "Nevermore" (Teen Titans on the WB)
1/17 (11:30 pm) "Future Shock" (Static Shock - New)
1/17 (12:00 pm) "How Long is Forever" (Teen Titans)
1/17 (9:00 pm) "Every Dog Has His Day" (Teen Titans - New)
1/17 (10:00 pm) "A Better World, Pt. 1" (Justice League)
1/17 (10:30 pm) "A Better World, Pt. 2" (Justice League)
1/18 (1:00 am) "A Better World, Pt. 1" (Justice League in Widescreen)
1/18 (1:30 am) "A Better World, Pt. 2" (Justice League in Widescreen)
1/18 (7:00 pm) "Nicodemus" (Smallville)
1/18 (10:00 pm) "Every Dog Has His Day" (Teen Titans)
1/19 (3:30 pm) "The New Kid" (Static Shock)
1/19 (10:00 pm) "A Knight of Shadows, Pt. 1" (Justice League)
1/19 (10:30 pm) "A Knight of Shadows, Pt. 2" (Justice League)
1/20 (3:30 pm) "Child’s Play" (Static Shock)
1/20 (10:00 pm) "Metamorphosis, Pt. 1" (Justice League)
1/20 (10:30 pm) "Metamorphosis, Pt. 2" (Justice League)
1/21 (3:30 pm) "Attack of the Living Brain Puppets" (Static Shock)
1/21 (8:00 pm) "Whisper" (Smallville - New)
1/21 (10:00 pm) "Twilight of the Gods, Pt. 1" (Justice League)
1/21 (10:30 pm) "Twilight of the Gods, Pt. 2" (Justice League)
1/22 (3:30 pm) "She-Bang" (Static Shock)
1/22 (10:00 pm) "Tabula Rasa, Pt. 1" (Justice League)
1/22 (10:30 pm) "Tabula Rasa, Pt. 2" (Justice League)
1/23 (3:30 pm) "The Parent Trap" (Static Shock)
1/24 (9:00 am) "Forces of Nature" (Teen Titans on the WB)
1/24 (11:30 am) "She-Back!" (Static Shock - New)
1/24 (12:00 pm) "Every Dog Has His Day" (Teen Titans)
1/24 (3:00 pm) "Apprentice, Pt. 1" (Teen Titans)
1/24 (3:30 pm) "Apprentice, Pt. 2" (Teen Titans)
1/24 (9:00 pm) "Terra" (Teen Titans - New)
1/24 (10:00 pm) "Eclipsed, Pt. 1" (Justice League)
1/24 (10:30 pm) "Eclipsed, Pt. 2" (Justice League)
1/25 (1:00 am) "Eclipsed, Pt. 1" (Justice League in Widescreen)
1/25 (1:30 am) "Eclipsed, Pt. 2" (Justice League in Widescreen)
1/25 (7:00 pm) "Stray" (Smallville)
1/25 (10:00 pm) "Terra" (Teen Titans)
1/26 (3:30 pm) "TBA" (Static Shock)
1/26 (10:00 pm) "Only A Dream, Pt. 1" (Justice League)
1/26 (10:30 pm) "Only A Dream, Pt. 2" (Justice League)
1/27 (3:30 pm) "TBA" (Static Shock)
SHIPPING CHANGES
In-Store Date
MAD MAGAZINE #438 (Direct Sales Edition) NOV030288 1/14/04 1/7/04
MAD MAGAZINE #438 (Newsstand Edition) SEP035220 1/14/04 1/7/04
ARROWSMITH #5 (CLIFFHANGER) SEP030291 1/21/04 11/19/03
THE POSSESSED #6 (CLIFFHANGER) OCT030280 1/21/04 12/17/03
SLEEPER #12 (WILDSTORM) OCT030282 1/21/04 12/17/03
GLOBAL FREQUENCY #11 (WILDSTORM) JUN030223 1/28/04 8/27/03
SUPERMAN: METROPOLIS #12 NOV030215 1/28/04 1/21/04
TOM STRONG'S TERRIFIC TALES #9 (ABC) OCT030295 1/28/04 12/24/03
TWO-STEP #2 (CLIFFHANGER) SEP030307 1/28/04 11/12/03
LOBO UNBOUND #5 NOV030242 2/4/04 1/21/04
SUPERMAN/BATMAN #6 NOV030212 2/11/04 1/21/04
TWO-STEP #3 (CLIFFHANGER) OCT030290 2/11/04 12/10/03
ARROWSMITH #6 (CLIFFHANGER) NOV030258 2/18/04 1/21/04
AVENGERS/JLA #4 OCT030233 2/18/04 12/31/03
SMAX #5 (ABC) NOV030270 2/18/04 1/21/04
GLOBAL FREQUENCY #12 (WILDSTORM) JUL030228 2/25/04 9/24/03
THE NEW T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS #1 APR030203 TBD 6/4/03
THE NEW T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS #2 MAY030197 TBD 7/9/03
ARRIVING IN STORES THIS WEEK:
RELEASE DATE — JANUARY 14, 2004
ACTION COMICS #811 NOV030209
AQUAMAN #14 NOV030219
BATMAN: DEATH AND THE MAIDENS #6 NOV030198
BATMAN: LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT #175 NOV030193
THE DEMON: DRIVEN OUT #5 NOV030221
FABLES #21 (VERTIGO) NOV030271
FALLEN ANGEL #7 NOV030223
GLOBAL FREQUENCY: PLANET ABLAZE TP (WILDSTORM) NOV030260
GOTHAM CENTRAL #15 NOV030203
GREEN ARROW #34 NOV030225
HAWKMAN #23 NOV030234
H-E-R-O #12 NOV030230
JLA: ZATANNA'S SEARCH TP NOV030232
MAD MAGAZINE #438 (Direct Sales Edition) NOV030288
MAD MAGAZINE #438 (Newsstand Edition) SEP035220
NIGHTWING #89 NOV030204
OUTSIDERS: LOOKING FOR TROUBLE TP NOV030244
THE SAGA OF SEVEN SUNS: VEILED ALLIANCES HC (WILDSTORM) OCT030281
SCOOBY-DOO #80 NOV030257
STORMWATCH: TEAM ACHILLES #19 (WILDSTORM) NOV030264
SUPERMAN: SECRET IDENTITY #1 NOV030218
TEEN TITANS #7 NOV030248
THUNDERCATS: HAMMERHAND'S REVENGE #4 (WILDSTORM) NOV030265
DC DIRECT
JUSTICE LEAGUE ANIMATED: MARTIAN MANHUNTER WALL PLAQUE JUL030255
PROMO ITEMS
THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS ACTION FIGURES PROMO POSTER PROMM8199
DC/HOSTESS CREATE YOUR OWN SUPERHERO PROMO POSTER PROMM1005
GREEN LANTERN BOOKENDS PROMO POSTER PROMM8200
WONDER WOMAN INVISIBLE PLANE REPLICA PROMO POSTER PROMM8201
ARRIVING IN STORES NEXT WEEK:
RELEASE DATE — JANUARY 21, 2004
ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #624 NOV030210
ARROWSMITH #5 (CLIFFHANGER) SEP030291
BATMAN ADVENTURES #10 NOV030196
BATMAN: GOTHAM KNIGHTS #49 NOV030194
BIRDS OF PREY #63 NOV030201
DC: THE NEW FRONTIER #1 NOV030222
HUMAN TARGET #6 (VERTIGO) NOV030273
iCANDY #5 NOV030237
JSA #57 NOV030235
JUSTICE LEAGUE ADVENTURES VOL. 1: THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN TP NOV030239
JUSTICE LEAGUE ADVENTURES VOL. 2: FRIENDS AND FOES TP NOV030241
KAMIKAZE #4 (CLIFFHANGER) NOV030262
LUCIFER #46 NOV030276
NIGHTWING: BIG GUNS TP NOV030205
OUTSIDERS #8 NOV030243
THE POSSESSED #6 (CLIFFHANGER) OCT030280
THE POWERPUFF GIRLS #46 NOV030256
ROBIN #122 NOV030207
ROSE & THORN #2 NOV030247
SLEEPER #12 (WILDSTORM) OCT030282
WONDER WOMAN ARCHIVES VOL. 4 HC NOV030251
DC DIRECT
THE SANDMAN MANGA STATUE JUL030256
VERTIGO: DESIRE MINI-BUST JUL030257
ARRIVING IN STORES IN TWO WEEKS:
RELEASE DATE — JANUARY 28, 2004
BATGIRL #48 NOV030195
BATMAN #623 NOV030192
CAPER #4 NOV030220
CARTOON CARTOONS #26 NOV030252
CATWOMAN #27 NOV030202
THE FLASH #206 NOV030224
GLOBAL FREQUENCY #11 (WILDSTORM) JUN030223
GREEN ARROW: THE SOUNDS OF VIOLENCE TP NOV030227
GREEN LANTERN #173 NOV030229
HAWKMAN #24 NOV030236
HELLBLAZER #192 (VERTIGO) NOV030272
JLA #92 NOV030231
THE LEGION #29 NOV030240
THE LOSERS #8 (VERTIGO) NOV030274
MIDNIGHT MASS: HERE THERE BE MONSTERS #1 (VERTIGO) NOV030279
PRIDE AND JOY TP (VERTIGO) NOV030282
PROMETHEA #29 (ABC) NOV030269
REIGN OF THE ZODIAC #6 NOV030246
SUPERMAN #201 NOV030211
SUPERMAN: METROPOLIS #12 NOV030215
TEEN TITANS GO! #3 NOV030249
THUNDERCATS: THE RETURN TP (WILDSTORM) NOV030266
TOM STRONG'S TERRIFIC TALES #9 (ABC) OCT030295
TWO-STEP #2 (CLIFFHANGER) SEP030307
WILDCATS Version 3.0 #18 (WILDSTORM) NOV030268
WONDER WOMAN #200 NOV030250
DC DIRECT
CLASSIC ANIMATION MAQUETTE SERIES: FLEISCHER STUDIOS’ STYLE SUPERMAN JUL030253
KINGDOM COME SERIES 1 ACTION FIGURE ASSORTMENT (A/O) JUL035047
KINGDOM COME SERIES 1 MASTER ACTION FIGURE ASSORTMENT (A/O) JUL035048
KINGDOM COME: HAWKMAN ACTION FIGURE (A/O) JUL035052
KINGDOM COME: GREEN LANTERN ACTION FIGURE (A/O) JUL035051
KINGDOM COME: SUPERMAN ACTION FIGURE (A/O) JUL035049
KINGDOM COME: WONDER WOMAN ACTION FIGURE (A/O) JUL035050
