WIZARD WORLD CHICAGO -- DC COMICS' VERTIGO PANEL

ROSEMONT, ILL. -- Continuing its plans to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Hellblazer next year, DC Comics announced a new mini-series at its Vertigo panel at Wizard World Chicago on Friday.

Hellblazer Presents: Chas -- The Knowledge will be written by Simon Oliver, with art by Goran Sudzuka.

The series spotlights Constantine's cab driver/sidekick. The Knowledge is a term that comes from the extreme test of routes that London drives must pass -- and it also has an occult meaning.

"This is going to a really gritty, funny, outrageous kind of series," editor Jonathan Vankin said.

Vankin said that Croation artist Sudzuka flew to London and took hundreds of photographs to prepare for the series.

Vankin was joined on the panel by Bob Wayne, Peter Gross, Brian Azzarello, Jonathan Varkin, Tony Moore and Matt Wagner.

Following are highlights:

* Brian Wood's Northlanders is scheduled for December.

* Vankin on The Un-Men: "It's a very smart series and very witty."

Wagner said he think The Un-Men will be a break-out series for artist Mike Hawthorne.

* The Exterminators #23 will have a guest cover by Glenn Fabry. The issue concludes a five-issue arc drawn by Darick Robertson.

Moore returns with The Exterminators #24.

"Issue 24 is probably one of the craziest things I've ever drawn," Moore said, explaining the story is set on a cruise ship and includes a scene where a man's head busts open and butterflies come out.

Vankin said The Exterminators #25 might be even crazier.

* Gross said Testament ends with #22. "It's really a great conclusion to the series," he said. "When you read it, you'll think there's no reason to go on with it."

* Azzarello on 100 Bullets: "We're wrapping things up, unfortunately, although Karen (Berger, editor) wants it to keep going. It's going to be really tough to leave series behind. I stuck my foot in my mouth when I said there were going to be 100 issues, so there will be 100 issues."

Azzarello said there could be a sequel.

* Azzarello said there is no one redeemable in Loveless. "Daniel Zezelj is doing another three issues," he said. "It's going to to be taking place in the future, turn of the century. All of the characters are dead but they've left foot prints."

Marcelo Fruin then returns for an arc.

* Jack of Fables #16 will be a Halloween issue.

* Incognegro is scheduled for February. Vankin said Mat Johnson turned in such a nearly perfect script he wasn't sure what to do with it.

* Wagner said he is four issues into the ongoing Madame Xanadu. "It's kind of an odd project because it was something presented to me," Wagner said.

Editor Bob Schreck hooked up Wagner with artist Amy Hadley for what Wagner called "my most feminine story."

Wagner said the character was a bit of a blank slate, so he could retcon her origin into a centuries-long romance between her and the Phantom Stranger. The story takes place during five different time periods.

Wagner said he also wants to develop The Phantom Stranger as "a behind-the-scenes manipulator."

* Wayne reiterated that Vertigo is not part of the DC Multiverse.

* Wagner said he's on board for 10 issues of Madame Xanadu. "Karen would love for me to stay on for a long time, but I'm not sure."

* Gross said he's working on a new series that has not been announced yet. He said the book doesn't even has a title yet, but it will have a water-color look.

* Azzarello said he had an ending in mind for 100 Bullets since its inception. "It will have an ending, but it won't be so tight that it can't be revisited," he said.

* Vankin said there are no current plans for Swamp Thing. He added it appears that the character probably won't appear in The Un-Men.

* Vankin said there are no immediate plans with Brian K. Vaughan, but anticpates the writer working with Vertigo at some point.

* Moore said he'll be working on a five-issue arc of The Exterminators starting in January.

* Vankin said Berger has read a script for HBO's Preacher series and "it's pretty good."