NEW YORK COMIC CON: DC NATION PANEL

NEW YORK DC Comics on Friday staged its traditional DC Nation panel.

Below are live highlights:

Panelists included Dan DiDio, Bob Wayne, Jann Jones, Keith Giffen, Gail Simone, Jimmy Palmiotti, Sean McKeever, Geoff Johns, Peter Tomasi and Ian Sattler.

* Johns on The Blackest Night: "The dead rise. They kick a lot of ass. It should be a lot of fun."

* DiDio reiterated that DC Univese Zero was a thank you to readers for 104 weekly issues and surveyed audience members for what they think will be in Final Crisis.

* After claiming that he has been criticized for confusional at previous DC Nation panls, DiDio then presented the "DC Nation Time Boards" on the big screen -- for 15 seconds.

* DiDio laid out the Final Crisis plans: the main series by Grant Morrison and J.G. Jones; Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds by Geoff Johns and George Perez; Final Crisis: Revelation by Greg Rucka and Philip Tan; Final Crisis: Requiem by Peter Tomasi and Doug Mahnke; Final Crisis: Superman Beyond, in 3D, by Morrison and Aaron Lopresti; Final Crisis: Rogue's Revenge by Johns and Scott Kolins; Final Crisis: Submit and Final Crisis: Resist, written by Johns, Morrison and Rucka; and Final Crisis: Rage of the Red Lanterns.

* Simone said in Wonder Woman, the best scientists come up with a formula take down Wonder Woman, thus creating a new rogue's gallery for Wonder Woman.

Someone is going to create a new race of Amazons. "We are going to have a new Wonder Woman -- who is a man," she said.

* McKeever will be dealing with Cassie's relationship with Ares.

Supergirl: Cosmic Adventures in the Eighth Grade will be a six-issue kids mini-series launching this fall. The series is by Landry Walker and Eric Jones.

* Wayne said Tiny Titans #1 has completely sold out, but will be a Free Comic Book Day offering.

* DC released an image promoting a new Power Girl series, written by Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti, with art by Amanda Conner.

* DiDio said Blue Beetle isn't one DC's strongest sellers, but the publisher

* Johns said Krypto is "all over" his and James Robinson's plans for Superman.

* McKeever said to watch for Teen Titans #62 and Wonder Dog.

* DiDio said he will explain the Countdown poster image in one of his upcoming columns.

* Johns said that there are plans for Sinestro's sister.

* Johns and Robinson have about 2-1/2 years worth of Superman stories planned.

* Superman Prime's role in Final Crisis? Johns said he goes into the 31st Century and "kind of does his thing."

* DiDio said Trinity features Bruce Wayne as Batman and takes place before Final Crisis.

* DiDio said Catwoman will continue to be seen in the DC Universe even after her book has finished.

* Asked about Flash, DiDio said, "If you're a huge Flash fan, I ask you to bear with us for a little while," he said. "We've got some great stuff coming up."

* Johns said the JSA Annual #1 is called "Welcome to Earth-2" finds Power Girl back on Earth 2. It is drawn by Jerry Ordway.

Following that will be the ongoing Power Girl series.

* DiDio said there was "some disappointment" to Countdown. "We are not going to disappoint you again. We are not working along those lines."

* Wayne said there are no plans for Young Justice collections.

* Asked about breakout stars, DiDio said to look out for Tan.

* Mark Waid's last issue on The Brave and The Bold will be #16.