WILDSTORM UNVEILS NEW BRANDING
Starting with the EX MACHINA promotional items, projects from WildStorm Productions will feature a new set of branding marks. The three redesigned brands — to be displayed on covers, advertising, posters, the WildStorm website and elsewhere — encompass series set in the WildStorm Universe, creator-driven projects, and licensed and other properties.
The brands will appear on all WildStorm projects and include the following:
• WILDSTORM UNIVERSE: for projects set in the same universe, such as SLEEPER, THE AUTHORITY, SLEEPER SEASON 2, PLANETARY and others.
• WILDSTORM SIGNATURE SERIES: for creator-driven projects such as ASTRO CITY, ARROWSMITH and EX MACHINA that are not part of the WildStorm Universe.
• WILDSTORM: for licensed properties such as THUNDERCATS and others.
“It just made more and more sense in recent years to consolidate what we publish into a more manageable number of imprints,” says Jim Lee, WildStorm Editorial Director. “The idea is to push the WildStorm name and imprint to the forefront so that there is a clear call-out to kickass books. Now we can focus our efforts more than ever on WildStorm and America’s Best Comics.”
“We’re refocusing the public’s attention on WildStorm as a core brand,” says Richard Bruning, DC’s Senior VP — Creative Director. “By putting the WildStorm name on all their projects, whether they’re creator-driven, licensed, or part of the WildStorm Universe, it makes it easier for readers to find the books that share that WildStorm style of energy and excitement.”
The brands also will appear on all WildStorm marketing materials, including posters, house and trade ads, and WildStorm issues of HORIZON.
The initial titles bearing the WildStorm Universe brand include:
• SLEEPER SEASON 2 #1
• STORMWATCH: TEAM ACHILLES #23
• THE AUTHORITY #13
• WILDCATS VERSION 3.0 #22
• THE AUTHORITY: MORE KEV #1
• SLEEPER VOLUME 2: ALL FALSE MOVES TP
• PLANETARY VOLUME 3: LEAVING THE TWENTIETH CENTURY HC
The initial titles bearing the WildStorm Signature Series brand include:
• EX MACHINA #1
• ARROWSMITH: SO SMART IN THEIR FINE UNIFORMS TP
The initial titles bearing the WildStorm brand include:
• THUNDERCATS: ENEMY’S PRIDE #1
SCULPTOR JOHN G. MATHEWS SIGNS
TWO-YEAR EXCLUSIVE WITH DC COMICS
John G. “Jack” Mathews has signed a two-year exclusive with DC Comics. Mathews has sculpted DC Direct items including the JOKER and HARLEY QUINN MARIONETTES, the BATMAN FIRST APPEARANCE ACTION FIGURE, and the line of CLASSIC ANIMATION MAQUETTES.
“Working with DC Direct over the past few years has been a great experience for me not only because of the cool stuff I get to work on, but because of the great people I get to work with,” says Mathews. “I'm absolutely delighted to sign on, and honored to join the roster of exceptional talent both within and outside the company. This gives me the opportunity to focus my creative energies in one direction, instead of being scattered among many clients. I'm looking forward to the next couple of years!”
“We couldn’t be happier to have Jack on board,” says Georg Brewer, DC’s VP — Design & Retail Product Development. “The work he’s done so far for DC Direct has been outstanding; he continues to surprise us with the quality of his work on each new project.”
Upcoming DC Direct items sculpted by Mathews are available as follows:
• The BATMAN HUSH 2: RIDDLER ACTION FIGURE, offered only as part of the BATMAN: HUSH SERIES 2 ACTION FIGURES Master Case (APR040392) and Inner Case (APR040393). Both are available for advance reorder and scheduled to arrive in stores on October 13.
• The BATMAN HUSH 2: NIGHTWING ACTION FIGURE (APR040396) is available for advance reorder and is scheduled to arrive in stores on October 13.
• The FIRST APPEARANCE: BATMAN ACTION FIGURE (DEC030332) is available for advance reorder and is scheduled to arrive in stores on June 30.
• The DC COMICS CLASSIC ANIMATION MAQUETTE SERIES: BATMAN THE ANIMATED SERIES: THE JOKER (JAN040308) is available for advance reorder and is scheduled to arrive in stores on July 7.
• The DC COMICS CLASSIC ANIMATION MAQUETTE SERIES: BATMAN THE ANIMATED SERIES: BATMAN (MAR040381) is available for advance reorder and is scheduled to arrive in stores on September 8.
• The HARLEY QUINN MARIONETTE (MAR040389) is available for advance reorder and is scheduled to arrive in stores on September 29.
BACK TO PRESS!
As part of DC's commitment to retailers and readers alike, selected items go back to press when quantities become low. The following titles have been reprinted and are available for order:
BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE (STAR15169) (13th printing)
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA: THE NAIL TP (MAR045122)
(2nd printing now priced $14.95/$22.95 Can)
THE SANDMAN: WORLD’S END TP (STAR01024) (6th printing)
WATCHMEN TP (STAR00236) (13th printing)
SOLD OUT!
Please note that the following items are now sold out at DC:
ARTEMIS ACTION FIGURE (STAR12885)
HITMAN TP (STAR02992)
HUMAN TARGET: FINAL CUT HC (STAR15893)
ARRIVING IN STORES NEXT WEEK
The following titles are scheduled to arrive in stores on Wednesday, May 12. Make sure your store will have enough.
ACTION COMICS #815
The Superman revolution continues as the Man of Steel gets ready to take on Gog!
AQUAMAN #18
Aquaman discovers that the disaster that sunk San Diego was caused deliberately!
BATMAN #627
The 5-part “As the Crow Flies” continues as BATMAN ships biweekly in May!
BATMAN: CITY OF LIGHT #8
This conclusion to the dramatic miniseries brings Batman face-to-face with the Purge!
BATMAN: LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT #179 The amazing origin of Fat Man and Little Boy, from BATMAN’s “Broken City,” in a stand-alone issue!
BITE CLUB #2 (VERTIGO)
Hot girls in bikinis collide with blood smoothies as this explosive new miniseries continues. Mature.
FABLES #25 (VERTIGO)
Bigby arrives at the farm only to be greeted by an army of gun-toting wooden soldiers. Mature.
FALLEN ANGEL #11
The Fallen Angel has her final confrontation with Wilde. Mature.
GOTHAM CENTRAL #19
Driver investigates a 10-year old mass-murder case! Plus, the return of Harvey Bullock!
GREEN ARROW #38
Only Ollie, Connor and guest-star Batman can save the city from demonic hordes!
A GREGORY TREASURY VOL. 2 TP
Collecting the third and fourth volumes in a manga-sized book! Mature.
H-E-R-O #16
Robby Reed follows a killer’s trail, hoping he can stop the super-powered maniac.
JLA #98
In the penultimate chapter of “The Tenth Circle," the JLA discovers the coven's dark plans!
JSA #61
As the dead continue to rise, the JSA must decide how to stop them.
MAD MAGAZINE #442
Run, don’t walk, to pick up this issue of MAD! Don’t fight us on this!
MAD XL #27
Another jam-packed issue of MAD XL!
THE MONOLITH #4
Something ancient and sinister lurks beneath Journey’s End Cemetery...
NIGHTWING #93
The final chapter in the year-long downward spiral for Nightwing!
ORBITER SC (VERTIGO)
A softcover edition of Warren Ellis’s and Colleen Doran’s original graphic novel. Mature.
SAMURAI JACK SPECIAL #1 - NEW PRINTING The origin of Samurai Jack in a spectacular super-sized comic!
SCOOBY-DOO #84
A ghost-loving town is haunted by its own founder: a vengeful pirate!
SMALLVILLE #8
It's the conclusion of the special Smallville multi-media crossover!
STORMWATCH: TEAM ACHILLES #22 (WILDSTORM) Santini and Team Achilles travel to Africa to aid a new ally. Mature.
TEEN TITANS #11
Raven and the last standing Titan must save their teammates from Brother Blood.
TERRA OBSCURA TP (ABC)
Collecting the critically acclaimed 6-issue miniseries!
TOUCH #2 (DC FOCUS)
Hit the Vegas Strip in the DC FOCUS series that looks at good vs. greed!
TWO-STEP #3 (CLIFFHANGER)
The chase continues as Rosi and Tony flee Filthy Ron! Mature.
WILDCATS Version 3.0 #21 (WILDSTORM)
Grifter's teams assembles in Europe, but can they save Zealot from Coda? Mature.
DC DIRECT
JUSTICE LEAGUE ANIMATED: BATMAN MINI-MAQUETTE This hand-painted, cold-cast porcelain mini-maquette measures 6” tall x 2 1/4” wide x 1 3/4” deep.
VERTIGO: DESPAIR MINI-BUST
This limited edition mini-bust measures 5 1/2” high x 2 1/4” wide x 2 3/8” deep
SHIPPING CHANGES
JIM LEE BATMAN #619 HEROES POSTER (DC DIRECT) FEB040324 5/5/04 5/12/04
JIM LEE BATMAN #619 VILLAINS POSTER (DC DIRECT) FEB040325 5/5/04 5/12/04
TOM STRONG #26 (ABC) FEB040297 5/5/04 4/14/04
BATMAN: CITY OF LIGHT #8 MAR040281 5/12/04 5/5/04
MAD MAGAZINE #442 MAR040378 5/12/04 5/5/04
THE MONOLITH #4 MAR040328 5/12/04 5/5/04
SAMURAI JACK SPECIAL #1 — NEW PRINTING MAR040346 5/12/04 5/5/04
SMALLVILLE #8 MAR040296 5/12/04 5/19/04
TWO-STEP #3 (CLIFFHANGER) OCT030290 5/12/04 12/10/03
VERTIGO: DESPAIR MINI-BUST (DC DIRECT) NOV030303 5/12/04 5/5/04
WILDCATS Version 3.0 #21 (WILDSTORM) MAR040354 5/12/04 5/5/04
GREEN ARROW MINI-STATUE (DC DIRECT) NOV030293 5/19/04 5/26/04
CHALLENGERS OF THE UNKNOWN ARCHIVES VOL. 2 HC APR040300 5/26/04 6/9/2004
EMPIRE TP MAR040303 5/26/04 5/12/04
BATMAN: DEATH AND THE MAIDENS #9 FEB040227 6/2/04 4/14/04
GLOBAL FREQUENCY #12 (WILDSTORM) JUL030228 6/9/04 9/24/03
ARRIVING IN STORES THIS WEEK:
RELEASE DATE — MAY 5, 2004
DC 100-PAGE SUPER SPECTACULAR: WORLD’S GREATEST SUPER-HEROES — FACSIMILE EDITION MAR040302
DETECTIVE COMICS #794 MAR040272
ENGINEHEAD #2 MAR040304
THE FILTH TP (VERTIGO) MAR040361
FIRESTORM #1 MAR040306
HARD TIME #4 (DC FOCUS) MAR040314
JUSTICE LEAGUE ADVENTURES #31 MAR040324
LOONEY TUNES #114 MAR040343
PLASTIC MAN #6 MAR040330
ROBOTECH: INVASION #5 (WILDSTORM) MAR040350
THE SANDMAN PRESENTS: THESSALY — WITCH FOR HIRE #4 (VERTIGO) MAR040371
SUPERMAN: BIRTHRIGHT #10 MAR040295
SWAMP THING #3 (VERTIGO) MAR040374
T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS ARCHIVES VOL. 4 HC MAR040340
TOM STRONG #26 (ABC) FEB040297
Y: THE LAST MAN #22 (VERTIGO) MAR040377
DC DIRECT
JIM LEE BATMAN #619 HEROES POSTER FEB040324
JIM LEE BATMAN #619 VILLAINS POSTER FEB040325
TEEN TITANS: STARFIRE MAQUETTE NOV030302
ARRIVING IN STORES NEXT WEEK:
RELEASE DATE — MAY 12, 2004
ACTION COMICS #815 MAR040291
AQUAMAN #18 MAR040297
BATMAN #627 MAR040273
BATMAN: CITY OF LIGHT #8 MAR040281
BATMAN: LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT #179 MAR040275
BITE CLUB #2 (VERTIGO) MAR040357
FABLES #25 (VERTIGO) MAR040360
FALLEN ANGEL #11 MAR040305
GOTHAM CENTRAL #19 MAR040287
GREEN ARROW #38 MAR040310
A GREGORY TREASURY VOL. 2 TP MAR040339
H-E-R-O #16 MAR040316
JLA #98 MAR040317
JSA #61 MAR040323
MAD MAGAZINE #442 MAR040378
MAD XL #27 MAR040379
THE MONOLITH #4 MAR040328
NIGHTWING #93 MAR040288
ORBITER SC (VERTIGO) MAR040369
SAMURAI JACK SPECIAL #1 - NEW PRINTING MAR040346
SCOOBY-DOO #84 MAR040347
SMALLVILLE #8 MAR040296
STORMWATCH: TEAM ACHILLES #22 (WILDSTORM) MAR040351
TEEN TITANS #11 MAR040333
TERRA OBSCURA TP (ABC) MAR040356
TOUCH #2 (DC FOCUS) MAR040338
TWO-STEP #3 (CLIFFHANGER) OCT030290
WILDCATS Version 3.0 #21 (WILDSTORM) MAR040354
DC DIRECT
JUSTICE LEAGUE ANIMATED: BATMAN MINI-MAQUETTE NOV030294
VERTIGO: DESPAIR MINI-BUST NOV030303
ARRIVING IN STORES IN TWO WEEKS:
RELEASE DATE — MAY 19, 2004
ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #628 MAR040292
THE AUTHORITY #12 (WILDSTORM) MAR040348
BATMAN ADVENTURES #14 MAR040280
BATMAN: GOTHAM KNIGHTS #53 MAR040276
BATMAN/SUPERMAN/WONDER WOMAN: TRINITY HC MAR040298
BIRDS OF PREY #67 MAR040285
FRACTION #2 (DC FOCUS) MAR040309
HAWKMAN #28 MAR040315
HUMAN TARGET #10 (VERTIGO) MAR040364
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA: ANOTHER NAIL #1 MAR040319
LUCIFER #50 (VERTIGO) MAR040367
NEW TEEN TITANS ARCHIVES VOL. 2 HC MAR040334
OUTSIDERS #12 MAR040329
THE POWERPUFF GIRLS #50 MAR040344
ROBIN #126 MAR040290
ROSE & THORN #6 MAR040332
SEAGUY #1 (VERTIGO) MAR040373
SUPERMAN/BATMAN #10 MAR040294
THUNDERCATS: DOGS OF WAR TP (WILDSTORM) MAR040352
TRANSMETROPOLITAN: ONE MORE TIME TP (VERTIGO) MAR040375
WONDER WOMAN #204 MAR040337
DC DIRECT
BATMAN HUSH ACTION FIGURES INNER CASE NOV030297
BATMAN HUSH ACTION FIGURES MASTER CASE NOV030296
BATMAN HUSH BATMAN ACTION FIGURE NOV030298
BATMAN HUSH HUNTRESS ACTION FIGURE NOV030299
BATMAN HUSH JOKER ACTION FIGURE NOV030300
BATMAN HUSH POISON IVY ACTION FIGURE NOV030301
GREEN ARROW MINI-STATUE NOV030293
