Notice anything missing from the DC section of Diamond Distributors’ list of books to be released next week…? Here’s a clue: It’s been the top-selling book for the last few months, and an embarrassing – but not necessarily surprising – choice for the first New 52 book to miss a scheduled ship date. Yes, Justice League #5 has been delayed according to current shipping updates, fulfilling every naysayer’s expectations since Jim Lee was announced as the series artist.
The book is apparently only slipping a week, but given its third week placement in DC’s monthly schedule, that makes it perilously close to slipping a calendar month in future. Lee is also off the book for #7 and #8 (Gene Ha is filling in with #7, #8′s artist hasn’t been revealed yet, I don’t think…?), allowing the book to get back on time if #6 stays on the later schedule, but nonetheless: the flagship of the line shipping late is sure to cause some red faces over at DC – and if it manages to slip into another month altogether, it’ll also impact the publisher’s bottom line. What is the likelihood that we’ll see some unannounced fill-in artist helping Lee with #6 to ensure that doesn’t happen?
January 12th, 2012 at 1:26 pm
His wife just gave birth, give the man a break
January 12th, 2012 at 4:41 pm
Only late one week, huh? All Star Batman and Robin will continue in February 2011 and will continue every month from there on time until finished.
Fill-ins already? I cynically thought DC would pull Jim Lee from Justice League after, like, 6 issues. And I was right. I still call it a bait and switch.
January 12th, 2012 at 7:13 pm
I don’t think Jim Lee will be permanently leaving the book anytime soon. Giving Jim a break was schedule to give him time off when his wife had their baby. I know many read Justice League specifically to see Lee’s work (me included); I think if Jim were to leave the book this early, some would stop picking it up.
January 13th, 2012 at 7:29 am
While I like Jim Lee’s artwork, he’s not a dealbreaker for me. I want the Justice League to feature the big names. I wouldn’t read it written by Johns and drawn by Lee if it wasn’t anything but DC’s big guns. I think that the book needs to keep big name creators on it but if Lee is not able to keep it monthly, alternate arcs with someone else.
January 13th, 2012 at 9:18 am
No shit.
January 13th, 2012 at 9:29 am
ZOMG the Mayans were right!
It’s a week, it’s not All Star Batman and Robin. I would prefer the occasional week or two slip if it means consistency with creative teams.
January 13th, 2012 at 4:35 pm
“…APPARENTLY only slipping a week…” Maybe you should check out the ACTUAL company that’s publishing it, because DC says it’s shipping next week ON TIME.
January 13th, 2012 at 9:07 pm
My bad, folks. DC confirmed it’ll be a week late.
January 15th, 2012 at 11:13 am
Graeme, how do you feel about Newsarama posting a link to this on the Facebook page, but soliciting everyone’s opinion THERE, significantly cutting down on the traffic your post generates?
January 15th, 2012 at 11:18 am
@Beezow Doo-Doo Zopittybop-Bop-Bop It’s only a bait-and-switch if they listed a particular issue as having an artist and release it with another. Nobody ever promised he’d do every issue or every arc.
I remember when Paris Cullins used to launch series’ and then they would hand it off to someone else. Yes, it used to irritate me but I learned they often use a top artist to launch a book, then move it to someone else.
January 15th, 2012 at 11:28 am
Like D stated, his wife just gave birth so one week is not a big deal. At all. You know what’s not a surprise either? Newsarama playing the part Chicken Little (the sky is falling!)
And the fill in artist for issue 8 is Carlos D’Anda.
January 15th, 2012 at 12:07 pm
At least it’s not two years late like All-Star Batman & Robin!!!
January 15th, 2012 at 12:14 pm
…..THE WORLD IS ENDINGGGGG!!!! WE’RE ALL GONNA DIIIIEEEEE!!! ;D
Late by a week, by Jim Lee (past of lateness) or not, I’ll wait. No biggie. Nothing to fret over.