Comics Continuum by Rob Allstetter: Thursday, January 12, 2012

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 12, 2012

DC COMICS' NEW 52 - SECOND WAVE

DC Comics has canceled six titles and replaced them with a "Second Wave" for its New 52 in May.

Blackhawks, Hawk and Dove, Men of War, Mister Terrific, O.M.A.C. and Static Shock will conclude with their eighth issues in April.

New titles -- with description from DC -- are:

Batman Incorporated -- Writer: Grant Morrison. Artist: Chris Burnham. Morrison, presents a fresh take on Batman Incorporated, in which the Batman brand is franchised globally in preparation for a major international threat.

Earth 2 -- Writer: James Robinson. Artist: Nicola Scott. The greatest heroes on a parallel Earth, the Justice Society combats threats that will set them on a collision course with other worlds.

World's Finest --- Writer: Paul Levitz. Artist: George Perez and Kevin Maguire. Stranded on our world from a parallel reality, Huntress and Power Girl struggle to find their way back to Earth 2. Perez and Maguire will be the artists on alternating story arcs.

Dial H --- Writer: Chris Mieville. Artist: Mateus Santoluoco. The first ongoing series from novelist China Mieville, this is a bold new take on a cult classic concept about the psychological effects on an everyman who accidentally gains powers to become a hero.

G.I. Combat --- Writer: J.T. Krul. Artist: Ariel Olivetti. Featuring the return of a classic DC Comics series, The War That Time Forgot, along with rotating back-up stories and creative teams – including The Unknown Soldier, with writers Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti and artist Dan Panosian; and The Haunted Tank, with writer John Arcudi and artist Scott Kolins.

The Ravagers --- Writer: J.T. Krul. Artist: Ian Churchill Spinning off from Teen Titans and Superboy, this series finds four superpowered teens on the run and fighting against the organization that wants to turn them into supervillains.

"The excitement of the initial launch of DC Comics-The New 52 was in seeing the re-imagining of these classic characters and concepts," said Bob Harras, DC's editor-in-chief. "The Second Wave is all about world-building.

"Many of the characters from our canceled books will appear in DC Comics-The New 52 titles, and in some very surprising ways. We're developing stories that reach from cultures around the globe to parallel worlds. We're just getting started."

MARVEL COMICS' THE OMEGA EFFECT CROSSOVER

Marvel Comics has announced a three-part cross between Avenging Spider-Man, Daredevil and The Punisher called The Omega Effect.

"Daredevil recently required a device that makes him the most dangerous man alive," said editor Steve Wacker, referring to the hard drive that Daredevil took from the big five crime families in Daredevil #6. "Who would want to take down the most dangerous man alive? Frank Castle."

Reed Richards, who created the device, enlists Spider-Man to retrieve it from Daredevil.

"Giving this device to The Punisher is like handing an atomic grenade to...well...Frank Castle," said Daredevil writer Mark Waid.

"It's several players from different walks of life with similar goals who try to work together, but as the story progresses, different allegiances arise and backstabbing takes place."

Waid and Greg Rucka will co-write Avenging Spider-Man #6, which kicks off the story.

"When Mark told me some of his bigger plans for Daredevil, it became clear to me that some of the things I was doing in Punisher fit," Rucka said. "We're working together without bending or breaking either of our books."

The Omega Effect promo art is by Marco Checchetto, who also provides Punisher #10 cover and does the art for all thress issue. Marcos Martin does the cover for Daredevil #11, and Steve McNiven the cover for Avenging Spider-Man #6.

"Marco is my secret weapon," Wacker said. "And he loves all these characters. He is a workhorse. He is the Italian Stallion. His style runs the line between the gritty streets of Punisher to the skies with Spider-Man and Daredevil. He can make you look up to heroes or look down on them."

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MARVEL COMICS NEWS ROUNDUP

Marvel Comics has released three more Avengers vs. X-Men teaser images.

They feature Colossus vs. the Thing, Daredevil vs. Archangel and Spider-Woman vs. Gambit.

Click on the thumbnails for larger images.

In other Marvel news, the publisher has announced second printings for titles that have sold out at Diamond.

Following is a rundown of the new printings:

* Scarlet Spider #1, by Chris Yost and Ryan Stegman, in stores on Feb. 15.

* Avengers Annual #1, by Brian Michael Bendis and Gabrielle Dell'otto, in stores on Feb. 15.

* Avengers: X-Sanction #2, by Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness, in stores on Feb. 15.

* Carnage USA #2, by Zeb Wells and Clayton Crain, in stores on Feb. 15.

* Defenders #2, by Matt Fraction and Terry Dodson, in stores on Feb. 15.

* Incredible Hulk #3, by Jason Aaron and Marc Silvestri, in stores on Feb. 15.

* Uncanny X-Force #19, by Rick Remender and Robbi Rodriguez, in stores on Feb. 15.

Click on the thumbnails for larger images.

THE SUPER HERO SQUAD ON THE HUB

The Hub Television network has acquired the animated series The Super Hero Squad Show from Marvel Animation.

The show's 52 episodes previously aired on Cartoon Network. No new episodes were announced.

The half-hour series will join The Hub's weekday lineup beginning Monday, Jan. 30, at 4 p.m. ET, with additional presentations during the weekend.

"We're delighted to be adding The Super Hero Squad Show to our lineup," said Margaret Loesch, president and CEO of The Hub. "This terrific, high quality series is a bullseye for our key demographic and is perfectly aligned with our strategy of building our schedule with strong, beloved brands that audiences know and embrace. Additionally, we're thrilled to be associated with Marvel Animation. As one of the world's preeminent character-based entertainment companies, Marvel has a superb reputation for providing quality entertainment."

BRIEFLY

* Dark Horse Comics has announced The Many Murders of Miss Cranbourne will premiere in Dark Horse Presents #8, in stores on Feb. 1.

The story is written by Rich Johnston, with art by Simon Rohrmuller.

Here's how Dark Horse describes the story:

"In 'The Vicar Slash'd from Side to Side,' Miss Cranbourne is at odds with the local man of God, and so introduces him to his maker. But in a 1940s English village held together by gossip and sharp looks, how will Miss Cranbourne ensure people look in the direction she'd prefer? And what happens when a man from Scotland Yard arrives to take over the case? This is Dexter meets Miss Marple."

* AMC will air marathons of the first season of The Walking Dead on Tuesday, Jan. 18 and Wednesday, Jan. 19 beginning at 8 p.m. (ET).

* Ryan Reynolds as Green Lantern won the People's Choice Award for Favorite Superhero on Wednesday night.