MARVEL COMICS FOR JUNE

Marvel Comics has released its solicitation information for June.

For a rundown, with cover images, CLICK HERE.

For a rundown of trade paperbacks, CLICK HERE.

THE PUNISHER MOVIE UPDATE

The Punisher movie had one of the biggest presences as the Wizard World Los Angeles convention opened Friday night in Long Beach, Calif.

The Punisher booth featured Frank Castle's bullet-riddled car, props and clothes from the film, the trailer and numerous giveways, including posters. There were also kiosks for the new Punisher videogame from THQ.

Artist Tim Bradstreet, who designed the recent Punisher posters, was at the booth.

Click on the thumbnails below for photos from the convention on Friday, and look for more from The Punisher at Wizard World here this weekend in The Continuum.

DC COMMEMORATES JULIUS SCHWARTZ

In commemoration of Julius Schwartz's tremendous contributions to comics, DC Comics will celebrate his legacy with eight stand-alone DC Comics Presents Specials showcasing his unique vision beginning in July.

These Specials pay tribute to Schwartz via one of his best-known editorial trademarks: the cover-driven story.

Some of comics' biggest names take up the Schwartz challenge, with eight classic Silver Age covers each providing inspiration for two 11-page stories by writers and artists who either worked with Schwartz or were inspired by his work. Each issue also includes Harlan Ellison's tribute to Julie, along with the original covers that serve as the inspiration for this once-in-a-lifetime tribute.

"Now that Julie can no longer keep us from embarrassing him, it seems appropriate to celebrate his extraordinary career by challenging a core of writers and artists with one of his favorite tricks," said Paul Levitz, DC Comics President & Publisher, and writer of one of the stories. "I'm frightened by the company that I'm being placed in, but we're all even more frightened that he'll show back up and fix what we've done."

"We actually were developing this project in celebration of Julie's 60th anniversary with DC," said Dan DiDio, DC's VP -- Editorial. "It's an opportunity to show our appreciation for his many accomplishments, working with some of the greatest talents in comics. This project is truly a labor of love for all involved in DC editorial."

These titles ship one per week in July beginning with:

DC COMICS PRESENTS: BATMAN

The cover to Batman #183, re-created by Adam Hughes, features a seeming "couch potato" Dark Knight. The stories are by Geoff Johns with art by Carmine Infantino and Joe Giella and by Len Wein with art by Andy Kuhn.

DC COMICS PRESENTS: MYSTERY IN SPACE

Alex Ross pays tribute to the cover of Mystery in Space #82, featuring Adam Strange's dilemma of having to decide the fate of two worlds. By Grant Morrison with art by Jerry Ordway and Elliot S. Maggin with art by J.H. Williams III.

DC COMICS PRESENTS: GREEN LANTERN

Brian Bolland reinterprets the cover of Green Lantern #31, where the Emerald Gladiator offers "Power Rings For Sale." By Brian Azzarello with art by Norm Breyfogle and Sal Buscema and Martin Pasko with art by Scott McDaniel & Andy Owens.

DC COMICS PRESENTS: HAWKMAN

José Luis García-López illustrates Hawkman's battle with a winged gorilla from the cover of Hawkman #6. By Kurt Busiek with art by Walter Simonson and Cary Bates with art by John Byrne.

And in August, look for four more DC Comics Presents Specials showcasing Superman, the Flash, the Atom, and the Justice League of America, with new stories featuring the work of Stan Lee, Darwyn Cooke, Paul Levitz, Keith Giffen, Dennis O'Neil, Doug Mahnke, Jeph Loeb, Dave Gibbons, Mark Waid, Peter David, Harlan Ellison, Marv Wolfman, Dustin Nguyen Joe Giella and more.

BRIEFLY