DC Entertainment Steps Up For Africa With “We Can Be Heroes” Campaign
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We can give a lot of crap to DC regarding its rotating creative teams, book cancellations, and changing logos. One thing we can’t take away from them is their humanitarian spirit.
Yesterday on the DC Source blog, DC Entertainment and its parent companies in Warner Bros. and Time Warner announced that they will begin the “We Can Be Heroes” campaign to help support a devastating drought and famine happening right now in the Horn of Africa. DC Entertainment in particular will 100% match each donation sent to this fund that will then be distributed amidst the partner organizations.
“This campaign goes straight to the heart of our core competency, as Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment both have a rich legacy of telling socially relevant, compelling stories with characters embraced by global audiences,” said Robinov. “The fact that we’re able to take what we do and use it to raise awareness—and inspire action—around a cause as important as this is gratifying. With the support of the entire Studio and our Time Warner sister companies, this campaign, like the DC Comics super heroes, will make a great impact on an important issue.”
You can learn more about the initiative on the We Can Be Heroes site.
The New DC Comics Logos Revealed – Now In Technicolor!
We had been hearing rumblings at DC Comics about the logo changes for quite some time. Trademarks had been filed by the company, showing off a gray and very static image that made the comic book community send out a collective groan.
DC’s Source blog though just confirmed sweeping revisions to that logo that will match up more with the themes of their characters and applications. Below you’ll see what those changes represent:
The various themes for the DC superhero books
A close-up of possibly what a Batman title’s logo would use
It seems like you can interact with the logo on iOS apps as well
DC seems to have a modernization approach to these changes as detailed below:
“It was our goal to capture DC Entertainment in a dynamic and provocative identity. Our solution is a living expression which changes and adapts to the characters, story lines and the ways fans are consuming content,” explains Nicolas Aparicio, Executive Creative Director at Landor’s San Francisco office. “The new identity is built for the digital age, and can easily be animated and customized to take full advantage of the interactivity offered across all media platforms.”
Personally, it’s going to take some getting used to, but I think it’s the right approach. They didn’t do much to update their logo when they launched the new 52 last September. And it’s not like their previous logo differentiated too much from the one 10 years ago. Overall, they’ve modernized it and adapted it to the digital strategy they had in mind when this re-launch first came to be.
10 bucks says Alan Moore is not going to like the Watchmen logo…
CBF Comic Interviews #1 : Jim Zub
The man behind the success that is Skullkickers and Makeshift Miracle is back on Comic Book Fury for 2012 to share his plans for the new year. In this exquisite interview (at least to my knowledge), we get the following from Jim Zub:
- Reflections on a great 2011 for his comics properties
- The next arc of Skullkickers for 2012
- A Munchkin Skullkickers game? Is Jim killing off the Wizard of Oz or something?
- What is Makeshift Miracle and what do we have to look forward to next with the series?
- His 2012 readings and predictions for the industry
If you haven’t caught on to his Skullkickers work, volumes one and two are out now for your purchasing and viewing pleasure. And you can check for updates on the main Skullkickers site.
And check out the online feed of Makeshift Miracle currently running now!
You can also check Jim’s shenanigans out on his live journal. He also stays afloat on that social media space you crazy kids love to talk about.
Music provided by Mondo Ray – Nothing
CBF Quick Picks #104 : Wolverine & The X-Men #4
We’re back for the 2012 gala!
It’s been a couple of weeks, but we’re back in action to give you our regularly scheduled programming. This week, we take a slice of the pie from the 3 top publishers:
- It’s ok to come back to Green Lantern #5 – Geoff Johns and Doug Mahnke have put this book back on track and the direction it goes into its next arc can lead to many possibilities.
- Severed #6 is finally showing its cards in this penultimate chapter. It’s tense, gritty, and scary – just what I expected from the Scotts.
- Wolverine & The X-Men #4 is an interesting blend of the light-hearted and tragic. Whether you want to hear about how the professors handle the school or Deathlok’s look into Evan’s future, you have a lot to take from Jason Aaron and Nick Bradshaw’s new arc.
Music provided by The Audible Dark – Die Trying
The Court of Owls Expand Further Into Batman’s Books
If you’re not reading Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s current run on Batman, just stop what you’re doing and go buy the issues. I don’t care if you’re on the toilet right now. Just go. You’ll be fine.
But seriously, what Snyder once did for Detective Comics, he’s doing it again with Batman, as he adds more history to a legacy that already has a well-built legacy over its 70+ year existence. Yesterday though, DC announced new back-up stories to the Batman book that will start with April’s 8th issue and explore the secret history of the Court of Owls. To further add to the excitement, it will be Rafael Albuquerque penciling the back-ups, who you already know collaborates with Snyder on Vertigo’s American Vampire.
These images from issue #8 are already making us wish time machines existed (Albuquerque on the left, Capullo on the right) :
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There’s also word that this arc will become a much bigger event contained within the Batman books. I can definitely dig that.
With the back-up additions though, that obviously means a page increase, which means starting in April, you’ll be paying $3.99 for your Batman fix. In my book, that’s a small price to pay to get more Snyder goodness.
DC’s Earth One Projects Rolls On
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When DC had announced these Earth One projects many moons ago, one wondered if Batman’s would ever get off the ground what with Geoff Johns already committed to his CCO duties, other writing projects, and the New 52. Earlier this morning, the DC Source blog released this article and the above preview pages from Gary Frank to show that the project is alive and well.
The premise of the book is quite intriguing:
“Gary and I are tackling BATMAN from the beginning, before he knows what he’s doing and with a very different ultimate goal in mind,” said Johns. “He’s never left Gotham. And our Gotham and the people in it are very gray. Our heroes unlikely. Our villains hidden. Our story is only beginning with volume one.”
Amazon currently lists this to be released in July, but we know how well release dates are dependable on there.
Not to be outdone though, later in the day, DC Source showcased what was to come for volume two of Superman: Earth One. J. Michael Straczynski and Shane Davis are returning as the creative team. No firm release date except that it’s coming out this year.
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Say what you will about JMS’ recent output and the mixed reception to the first volume. Volume one was a huge sales success for DC and it’s no surprise that they’re not going to let this one slide without a sequel:
“Thematically, if Volume One was about Clark figuring out where he belongs, then Volume Two is about Superman trying to figure out where he belongs in all this, even as the world does the same at their end. How far can he push his power before he becomes something other than what he intended to become?”
One can wonder now if these will sell well in the midst of DC’s success with the new 52…
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