WIZARD WORLD CHICAGO: VERTIGO PANEL

ROSEMONT, Ill. -- Papa Midnite, the supporting character from Hellblazer, will be getting his own mini-series, it was announced at DC Comics' Vertigo panel at Wizard World Chicago on Sunday.

The five-issue series, launching in February, is written by Mat Johnson (author of Hunting in Harlem) and drawn by Tony Akins. "It's about what Papa Midnite is doing now and also his origins," said Vertigo editor Jonathan Vankin, adding that the story involves a rebellion of slaves in 18th Century Manhattan.

Akins, best known for his work on Fables, described it as "a costume drama hip hop vodoo blazing book I'm really sinking my teeth into."

In other news from the panel:

* Brian K. Vaughan on his upcoming plans for Y: The Last Man: "In #30, we'll find out why Yorick survived the plague. And pretty soon we'll be leaving the United States and finding out how the plague affected the rest of the world."

* DC's Bob Wayne said there are talks about a possible Grant Morrison Omnibus, which would collect various stories.

* Wayne said a Seaguy trade paperback is on the schedule, although he couldn't remember exactly when the book will be released.

* Timothy Green will be giving Enrqiue Breccia a spell on Swamp Thing, providing the art for #13-14.

* Michael Kaluta is the new cover artist for Lucifer. Interior artist Peter Gross said that Kaluta will probably do covers for the rest of the series' run, which is planned for 75 issues. "We're turning the corning for the final act of the three-act set," Gross said.

* Next year's Fables hardcover original graphic novel will be called 1001 Nights of Snowfall. Fables cover artist James Jean will contribute his first-ever interior art, and will be joined by several artists, including Charles Vess.

* Vimanarama, a three-issue mini-series by Morrison and Philip Bond, is targeted for release early next year.

* Angeltown, a five-issue mini-series, by crime novelist Gary Phillips and artist Shawn Martinbrough, launches in November. The neo-noir tale stars private investigator Nate Hollis, who must take on poisonous politicos, ruthless gangsters and crooked cops in the sun-drenched streets and shadowed suites of Los Angeles.

* Vankin on Mike Carey's comics adaptation of Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere: "He's keeping the spirit of his book, but he's adding his own touches as well."