Although this weekend’s WonderCon is being described as low-key and laid-back, there’s been a handful of announcements from publishers and creators, including Phil Jimenez’s next series — for Marvel — more details on the DC animated projects, some creator-exclusive agreements, and confirmation of the end of Green Arrow.
At Friday’s Phil Jimenez spotlight panel, the creator revealed he’ll be penciling Amazing Spider-Man beginning this fall, alternating story arcs with other artists. No writer was named.
At Saturday’s “DCU: Great Expectations” panel, Executive Editor Dan DiDio announced that writers Tony Bedard and Adam Beechen and artist Jim Calafiore have signed exclusive contracts with the publisher.
During the “DC Nation” panel, Green Arrow writer Judd Winick confirmed that the series will end with June’s Issue 75, which concludes with Oliver Queen offering an engagement ring to Black Canary.
“I’m done, and DC is as well, with the monthly book Green Arrow,” Winick told Newsarama. I’m not done, and DC is not done with Green Arrow. And that’s all I say.”
The previously announced Green Arrow: Year One miniseries, by The Losers team of Andy Diggle and Jock, will kick off in July, along with a Black Canary miniseries by Bedard (Countdown, Exiles) and Paulo Siqueira (Birds of Prey).
At Saturday’s “DC Universe: Super Heroes Go DVD” panel, producer Bruce Timm provided details on the the first animated feature, Superman: Doomsday, set for release on Sept. 18. Perhaps most surprising is that it will be rated PG-13.
“A trailer was shown from the film, showing many short sequences from the animated film,” IGN reported from the panel. “Superman was shown fighting Doomsday as well as the classic shot where he’s being held by Lois. Several shots clearly showed blood and Superman even coughed up blood at one point. The end of the sequences shown featured Superman’s hand bursting from his gravesite.”
(Update: Newsarama has posted more extensive coverage of the panel. It also has the official press release.)
Timm and executive producer Gregory Noveck also mentioned the next animated projects — New Frontier and Teen Titans: The Judas Contract — and hinted at what might be in store beyond that.
“Wonder Woman was mentioned as a potential as was Aquaman,” IGN reports. “A Green Arrow/Green Lantern storyline by Denny O’Neill was also mentioned. Jeph Loeb’s Batman story Hush had also been suggested. Timm specifically said that while he likes to do the bigger characters that he’s also extremely interested in working with the smaller ones. It was also mentioned that there are approximately six projects in the works at the moment.”
OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST
On the Supergirl front: At the “DCU: Great Expectations” panel, DiDio announced that Matt Idelson will take over as editor of Supergirl. Idelson said the series, which has received a lot of online criticism, “will become a little more user-friendly.”
When asked about the possibility of an all-ages Supergirl title by newly DC-exclusive writer Sean McKeever, Coordinating Editor Jann Jones replied, “Stay tuned, we’ll have some stuff coming up shortly.”
And on the Stephanie Brown front: At the “DC Nation” panel, DiDio said there are no plans for a Stephanie Brown (Spoiler/Robin) trophy case in the Batcave — something that’s been campaigned for by Project Girl Wonder.
“I’d own it; I’d own it all“: At Friday’s Slave Labor panel, Publisher Dan Vado was asked what he would do differently if he had a chance to do it all over again. He replied: “I would not publish creator-owned work. It’s a terrible business model as a publisher. … When you’ve got an environment where someone can come in, cut their teeth with you, then turn around and walk out, taking the stuff that you put money into with them, it’s just not a healthy way to do it. I would not offer creator-owned contracts, I’d own it; I’d own it all.”
Vado’s comments have spawned an interesting discussion at Warren Ellis’ Engine forum.
Groo meets Conan? When asked during Friday’s Dark Horse panel about a seemingly rejected Groo/Conan crossover, Director of Marketing Dirk Wood indicated that there was movement this week that suggest the project is still very much alive.
Goodbye, Hero Squared: Boom! Studios Publisher Ross Richie told Ian Brill that the series will be coming to an end.
OTHER PANEL COVERAGE
Newsarama: Spotlight on Judd Winick
Newsarama: Spotlight on Michael Turner
Newsarama: Spotlight on Tony Harris
Newsarama: Spotlight on Jeph Loeb
CBR: Spotlight on Brian K. Vaughan
Slashfilm: Spotlight on Brian K. Vaughan
The Pulse: Noel Neill: The Original Lois Lane
Newsarama: IDW Publishing panel
CBR: Spotlight on Greg Weisman
Slashfilm: Disney-Pixar Presents: Ratatoullie
Great White Snark: Richard Hatch panel
Outtakes at Home: Richard Hatch panel
PHOTO COVERAGE
CNET News: The wonders of WonderCon
Wired: Game Life: WonderCon: Where celebrities go to die
Wired: Game Life: The littlest Link cosplayer
Laughing Squid: WonderCon 2007
Vincent’s MySpace blog: WonderCon Day 1 and 2
Flickr: assorted images tagged “WonderCon”
OTHER COVERAGE
IESB.net: Spider-Man 3 trailer footage
IESB.net: Video interview with producer Joel Silver
San Jose Mercury News: Opening day
San Jose Mercury News: A few more thoughts
The Oregonian’s Steve Duin: Comics, Porn and The Mob
Mark Evanier: Nick Cardy and Gene Colan
Jennifer de Guzman: I sound so cynical
Wired: Annalee Newitz: What Do Elite Comic Book Geeks Call Themselves?
Wired: Annalee Newitz: Brian K. Vaughan is a Feminist Who Supports Out Troops
Great White Snark: San Francisco leaves its gay mark on WonderCon
WonderCon concludes today. We’ll update as more reports are posted.
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