New York Comic-Con: Friday's Announcements

Here’s a quick glance at today’s announcements from the New York Comic-Con:

There are going to be two Batmans according to Dan Didio. The current Dick Grayson Batman, who protects Gothan City, and the returning Bruce Wayne Batman (alive!), who is going into the Bat-business with the Grant Morrison-penned Batman: Incorporated. Earlier this week my buddy claimed that there was no other character that had a larger run of ongoings than Batman; I corrected him because I believe there are more X-Books. If I was correct, I'm sure things will change come 2011 with the addition of four new titles: Batwoman, Batman: Dark Knight, and the aforementioned Morrison book. I’m interested in seeing what Morrison has in store Bruce-Batman as the character branches out to become a franchise (at least that is my understanding).

After a spat of rotating cast and creative teams on The New Teen Titans, DC is promising a greater consistency on both fronts.

Dark Knight: Boy Wonder, the continuation of the Frank Miller/Jim Lee opus All-Star Batman and Robin, will be reintroduced to the world after what will be an almost three year absence from the comic shelves (holy patience!). Once again, I implore DC to begin using a summary page at the start of their books!

A possible announcement of a new creative team on Superman/Batman may be made this weekend. I sure hope so. Now that Bruce Wayne is back and healthier than ever, I would like to see this book be one of DC’s cornerstone books as opposed to the anthology series it has become over the past few years.

Something mysterious is coming from the X-Universe called Age of X. The retro cover with a bunch of familiar mutant silhouettes is pretty damn cool looking. This story may be akin to the Age of Apocalypse storyline (my favorite X-crossover event) where the X-Universe was completely revamped for four months back in the 90’s. More to come.

IDW is going to release Godzilla beginning in February. This title will feature guest spots from Rodan and Mothra among others. Meh. Interest-wise, this speaks to me much in the way a Transformers comic does. Which is not at all. But I may just pick this little nugget up to see what the unnamed writer can do with this property.

Sit tight for Saturday—there are bound to be some exciting revelations!

The Newest New Teen Titans

Geoff Johns kind of spoiled me with his initial run on his New Teen Titans relaunch back in 2003.  He crerated a great chemistry between Robin (Tim Drake) and Superboy.  When Superboy was killed off in the maxi-crossover event Infinite Crisis, my favorite part of the book was killed off and the book just didn't click with me anymore.  For whatever reason, I am an enormous fan of the pairing of Batman-family and Superman-family characters.  Last month I read (and re-read) Batgirl #14 which coupled the title character with Supergirl in an excellent one-shot.

Batman and Superman have become the Peanut Butter and Jelly of the the DC Universe and placing their proteges together is something I have grown quite fond of.  I'm finally ready to pick up the The New Teen Titans again as writer J.T. Krull begins his run for the following three reasons: 1) regular artist Nicola Scott is pencilling the book and her work is vibrant and exciting, 2) Superboy is alive again and back on the team's roster, and 3) the inclusion of the latest Robin, Damian Wayne.  I have quickly warmed up to the offspring of Bruce Wayne under the guidance of his creator, Grant Morrison.

Damian is an unruly ten-year old without an ounce of fear.  He has barely been able to work on a two-person team so there should be an endless number of opporunities to be had once he joins the family dynamic that is the Teen Titans.

The New Teen Titans #88 goes on sale in October and has been previewed in many DC titles published last week and this week.