March 13, 2007

WILDSTORM UPDATES PUBLISHING PLANS FOR A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, FRIDAY THE 13TH AND TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE

Starting in June, WildStorm’s titles based on popular horror movies from New Line Cinema —
A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, FRIDAY THE 13TH and TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE — will change from monthly comics to a series of specials and miniseries.

“This new approach to these franchises should provide retailers with more opportunities to introduce them to new readers,” says Hank Kanalz, VP — General Manager, WildStorm.

The first of the specials will be TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE: CUT!, coming in June. Written by Will Pfeifer, with art by Stefano Raffaele and a cover by Darick Robertson, CUT! takes place thirty years after the gruesome events of the infamous “Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” as film school grads come to Travis County to document the Hewitt clan. But has the terror really ended? Has Leatherface really faded into urban myth? TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE: CUT! will be solicited in the April Previews.

TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE comes to end as an ongoing series with issue #6 (FEB070342), scheduled to arrive in stores on April 18.


Nightmare On Elm Street #6

Also in June, the eighth and final issue of the ongoing A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET series will arrive in stores. WildStorm will continue publishing A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, starting with a six-part mini-series scheduled for later this year.

FRIDAY THE 13TH comes to an end as an ongoing series with issue #6 (MAR070260), scheduled to arrive in stores on May 9. WildStorm will continue publishing FRIDAY THE 13TH, starting with a two-part Special, “Pamela’s Tale” scheduled to begin in July.

WRITER ARNOLD DRAKE DIES AT AGE 83

Writer Arnold Drake, a mainstay at DC Comics during the 60s and 70s and best known as the creator of THE DOOM PATROL and DEADMAN, died Monday at the age of 83 of complications stemming from a recent bout with pneumonia.

“Arnold was one of the craftsmen who built the DC universe,” said Paul Levitz, President and Publisher of DC Comics. “He loved telling tales, making readers laugh or jump in their seats, and making the world a more interesting place. He went out as he lived—talking with me two weeks ago at the NY Comic Con about new tweaks to the Deadman legend, for a film version being developed, and enjoying every twist he added.”

Born on March 1, 1924, Drake began his writing career as a journalism student at the University of Missouri and later at New York University. It was a meeting with BATMAN creator Bob Kane that opened the door for Drake to enter the comic book field. Kane worked with Drake on a number of his first stories, later introducing him to the editorial staff at DC Comics. Drake’s early writing credits for DC included HOUSE OF MYSTERY, MY GREATEST ADVENTURE, STRANGE ADVENTURES and BATMAN.

Drake’s uncanny knack for revitalizing staid properties, in addition to his ability to introduce exciting and energetic new characters to the DC mythos cemented his place among the most prolific and well-respected writers of his era. Working with fellow writer Bob Haney and artist Bruno Premiani, Drake gave birth to the Doom Patrol, a team of outlaw and freakish heroes that first appeared in the pages of the DC anthology series MY GREATEST ADVENTURE. Similarly, in tandem with legendary artist Carmine Infantino, Drake introduced the deceased superhero DEADMAN as a feature in STRANGE ADVENTURES.

In addition to his voluminous work for DC, Drake also worked for Marvel Comics — introducing Havok and Lorna Dane/Polaris during a short, but essential stint on X-Men — and Gold Key, most notably writing the Star Trek and Twilight Zone comics for the latter. Drake also penned It Rhymes with Lust, considered by many to be a precursor to the graphic novel, in 1950.

In recent years, Drake had reconnected with his fans, becoming a regular presence at comic conventions, continuing to be a strong advocate for aging Golden and Silver Age creators. Drake was the first recipient of the Bill Finger Award in 2005, which honors creators not given proper recognition for their creative work in the field of comics.

CONTENT CLARIFICATION FOR HELLBLAZER: THE DEVIL YOU KNOW TP

The upcoming HELLBLAZER: THE DEVIL YOU KNOW TP (FEB070354) collects HELLBLAZER #10-13, HELLBLAZER ANNUAL #1 and THE HORRORIST #1-2. These issues are written by Jamie Delano and illustrated by Richard Piers Rayner, Mark Buckingham, Mike Hoffman, Bryan Talbot, Dean Motter and David Lloyd.

The HELLBLAZER: THE DEVIL YOU KNOW TP (FEB070354) is solicited in the February Previews and is scheduled to arrive in stores on May 9.

BATMAN: BLACK & WHITE VOL. 3 HC ON FINAL ORDER CUT OFF THIS WEEK

Please note that the BATMAN: BLACK & WHITE VOLUME 3 HC (FEB070258) is on Final Order Cutoff on Thursday, March 15. Originally solicited as a TP, it is scheduled to arrive in stores on May 16 with a cover price of $24.99 U.S.

CORRECTION ON BATMAN: EGO AND OTHER TAILS HCS
Please note that the BATMAN: EGO AND OTHER TAILS HC (MAR070177) was listed incorrectly in the March Previews Order Form. This title is a hardcover, scheduled to arrive in stores on June 20 with a cover price of $24.99 U.S. Retailers may adjust orders on it through the new Final Order Cutoff date of April 5.

BACK TO PRESS!
The following titles have been reprinted and are available for order:

JLA: AMERICAN DREAMS TP (DEC068186) (3rd printing) now priced $9.99/11.99
LAND OF THE BLINDFOLDED VOL. 4 (MAY050268) (2nd printing)
SUPERMAN: RETURN OF SUPERMAN TP (OCT058018) (8th printing)

SOLD OUT!
Please note that the following items are now sold out at DC:

ALL STAR BATMAN AND ROBIN THE BOY WONDER POSTER (JUL050330)
BATMAN 13” DELUXE COLLECTOR FIGURE (MAR060404)
BATMAN BLACK AND WHITE VOL. 2 HC (STAR16489)
ELSEWORLDS SERIES 2 MASTER CASE ACTION FIGURE ASST (JAN060390)
THE FLASH: BORN TO RUN TP (STAR09279)
GREEN LANTERN/SUPERMAN: LEGENDS OF THE GREEN FLAME (STAR12105)
MAD BATHROOM COMPANION: TURD IN A SERIES TP (STAR18155)
SUPERMAN 1:4 SCALE MUSEUM QUALITY STATUE (MAR060402)

DCCOMICS.COM UPDATE
Retailers now may get an advance look at selected upcoming DC projects at dccomics.com. New on the site are Sneak Peeks of the following titles which were solicited in Previews.

ROBIN #160 — JAN070263
http://www.dccomics.com/comics/?cm=6928

TEEN TITANS #44 — DEC060249
http://www.dccomics.com/comics/?cm=6832

SHIPPING CHANGES

FABLES #58 (VERTIGO) DEC060298 3/14/07 2/14/07
MAD MAGAZINE #476 JAN070331 3/14/07 3/7/07
MYSTERY IN SPACE #7 JAN070308 3/14/07 3/7/07
SUPERMAN #660 NOV060188 3/14/07 1/17/07
TEEN TITANS #44 DEC060249 3/14/07 2/14/07
BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL #4 JAN070260 3/21/07 3/14/07
DC MINIMATES WAVE TWO (DC DIRECT) DEC060321 3/21/07 3/28/07
THE EXTERMINATORS #15 (VERTIGO) JAN070371 3/21/07 3/7/07
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #4 JAN070299 3/21/07 3/7/07
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #4 VARIANT EDITION JAN070300 3/21/07 3/7/07
SUPERGIRL #15 JAN070270 3/21/07 3/7/07
Y: THE LAST MAN #55 JAN070382 3/21/07 3/7/07
100 BULLETS #82 (VERTIGO) JAN070364 3/28/07 3/14/07
ACTION COMICS #847 DEC060189 3/28/07 2/28/07
DMZ #17 (VERTIGO) JAN070370 3/28/07 3/14/07
FABLES #59 (VERTIGO) JAN070372 3/28/07 3/14/07
GREEN ARROW: CRAWLING FROM THE WRECKAGE TP DEC060217 3/28/07 3/14/07
RUSH CITY #6 OCT060222 3/28/07 12/27/06
SUPERMAN CONFIDENTIAL #4 DEC060197 3/28/07 2/7/07
BATMAN: BLACK & WHITE STATUE BY MATT WAGNER (DC DIRECT) SEP060336 4/4/07 4/18/07
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #7 COVER A JAN070296 4/4/07 3/21/07
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #7 COVER B JAN070297 4/4/07 3/21/07
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #7 VARIANT EDITION JAN070298 4/4/07 3/21/07
LOVELESS #17 (VERTIGO) JAN070375 4/4/07 3/28/07
SUPERGIRL AND THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #28 JAN070314 4/4/07 3/28/07
SUPERMAN #661 DEC060191 4/4/07 2/14/07
SUPERMAN/BATMAN #33 NOV060190 4/4/07 1/24/07
TIME GUARDIAN VOL. 1 (CMX) DEC060262 4/4/07 3/28/07
TRIALS OF SHAZAM! #6 DEC060246 4/4/07 2/28/07
ALL STAR SUPERMAN #7 OCT060165 4/11/07 12/20/06
AMERICAN VIRGIN #13 (VERTIGO) JAN070365 4/11/07 3/28/07
ASTRO CITY: THE DARK AGE BOOK 2 #3 (WILDSTORM) OCT060266 4/11/07 12/27/06
MANHUNTER #30 FEB070290 4/11/07 4/4/07
TEEN TITANS #45 JAN070321 4/11/07 3/14/07
100 BULLETS #83 (VERTIGO) FEB070343 4/18/07 4/11/07
BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL #5 FEB070251 4/18/07 4/11/07
DC MINIMATES WAVE THREE (DC DIRECT) DEC060322 4/18/07 4/25/07
DMZ #18 (VERTIGO) FEB070349 4/18/07 4/11/07
THE EXTERMINATORS #16 (VERTIGO) FEB070351 4/18/07 4/4/07
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #8 FEB070281 4/18/07 4/4/07
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #8 VARIANT EDITION FEB070282 4/18/07 4/4/07
SUPERMAN #662 JAN070269 4/18/07 3/14/07
SUPERMAN/BATMAN #34 JAN070273 4/18/07 3/21/07
ACTION COMICS #848 JAN070267 4/25/07 3/28/07
TEEN TITANS #46 FEB070301 4/25/07 4/11/07
WILDCATS #2 (WILDSTORM) JAN070347 5/30/07 3/28/07
WILDCATS #2 VARIANT EDITION (WILDSTORM) JAN070348 5/30/07 3/28/07
SUPERMAN CONFIDENTIAL #5 FEB070259 6/20/07 4/4/07
THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN: THE BLACK DOSSIER HC (ABC) JUL060241 TBA 10/25/06

ARRIVING IN STORES THIS WEEK:
RELEASE DATE — MARCH 14, 2007

52 WEEK 45 JAN070275
ACTION COMICS #845 (2ND PRINT) JAN078074
THE BATMAN STRIKES! #31 (JOHNNY DC) JAN070324
CARTOON NETWORK ACTION PACK #11 (JOHNNY DC) JAN070328
CRISIS ON MULTIPLE EARTHS: THE TEAM-UPS VOL. 2 TP DEC060208
EMMA VOL. 3 (DMZ) DEC060264
FABLES #58 (VERTIGO) DEC060298
FRIDAY THE 13TH #4 (WILDSTORM) JAN070362
GEN13 #6 (WILDSTORM) JAN070346
GREEN ARROW #72 JAN070289
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #10 JAN070294
GRIFTER & MIDNIGHTER #1 (WILDSTORM) JAN070342
JLA CLASSIFIED #36 JAN070301
MAD CLASSICS #14 JAN070332
MAD MAGAZINE #476 JAN070331
MARTIAN MANHUNTER #8 JAN070306
MOON CHILD VOL. 6 (DMZ) DEC060266
MYSTERY IN SPACE #7 JAN070308
ROBIN #160 JAN070263
SANDMAN MYSTERY THEATRE: SLEEP OF REASON #4 (VERTIGO) JAN070378
STORMWATCH PHD #5 (WILDSTORM) JAN070350
SUPERMAN #660 NOV060188
SUPERMAN/ BATMAN: THE GREATEST STORIES EVER TOLD TP DEC060196
TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED #6 JAN070322
TEEN TITANS #44 DEC060249
WILDSTORM FINE ARTS: SPOTLIGHT ON J. SCOTT CAMPBELL (WILDSTORM) JAN070354
WONDER WOMAN #5 JAN070319

DC DIRECT
WOMEN OF THE DC UNIVERSE: ZATANNA BUST AUG060310

ARRIVING IN STORES NEXT WEEK:
RELEASE DATE — MARCH 21, 2007

52 WEEK 46 JAN070276
AQUAMAN: SWORD OF ATLANTIS #50 JAN070279
ARMY @ LOVE #1 (VERTIGO) JAN070363
BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL #4 JAN070260
BIRDS OF PREY #104 JAN070282
THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #2 JAN070284
CHECKMATE #12 JAN070285
DEADMAN #8 (VERTIGO) JAN070369
DEADMAN VOL. 1: DEADMAN WALKING TP (VERTIGO) DEC060295
DEATHBLOW #4 (WILDSTORM) JAN070344
DEATHBLOW #4 VARIANT EDITION (WILDSTORM) JAN070345
DETECTIVE COMICS #830 JAN070259
THE EXTERMINATORS #15 (VERTIGO) JAN070371
THE FLASH: THE FASTEST MAN ALIVE #10 JAN070287
THE FLASH: THE FASTEST MAN ALIVE TP DEC060214
HELLBLAZER #230 (VERTIGO) JAN070376
ION #12 JAN070295
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #4 JAN070299
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #4 VARIANT EDITION JAN070300
THE OMEGA MEN #6 JAN070309
RED MENACE #5 (WILDSTORM) JAN070359
ROBIN: WANTED TP DEC060187
SCOOBY-DOO #118 (JOHNNY DC) JAN070330
SEIMADEN VOL. 8 (CMX) DEC060268
SHADOWPACT #11 JAN070312
SHADOWPACT: THE PENTACLE PLOT TP DEC060240
SHOWCASE PRESENTS: HAWKMAN VOL. 1 TP DEC060241
THE SPIRIT #4 JAN070313
SUPERGIRL #15 JAN070270
TESTAMENT #16 (VERTIGO) JAN070381
TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE #5 (WILDSTORM) JAN070361
TOWER OF THE FUTURE VOL. 6 (CMX) DEC060269
Y: THE LAST MAN #55 (VERTIGO) JAN070382

DC DIRECT
DC MINIMATES WAVE TWO DEC060321
ELSEWORLDS SERIES 3 ACTION FIGURE MASTER CASE ASSORTMENT AUG060303
ELSEWORLDS SERIES 3 ACTION FIGURE INNER CASE ASSORTMENT AUG060304
ELSEWORLDS SERIES 3 ELSEWORLDS FINEST: SUPERGIRL ACTION FIGURE AUG060305
ELSEWORLDS SERIES 3 ELSEWORLDS FINEST: BATGIRL ACTION FIGURE AUG060306
ELSEWORLDS SERIES 3 KINGDOM COME: NIGHTSTAR ACTION FIGURE AUG060307
ELSEWORLDS SERIES 3 KINGDOM COME: AQUAMAN ACTION FIGURE AUG060308
ELSEWORLDS SERIES 3 RED SON: GREEN LANTERN ACTION FIGURE AUG060309

ARRIVING IN STORES IN TWO WEEKS:
RELEASE DATE — MARCH 28, 2007

100 BULLETS #82 (VERTIGO) JAN070364
52 WEEK 47 JAN070277
ACTION COMICS #847 DEC060189
BATMAN #664 JAN070257
BATMAN: SNOW TP DEC060182
BLUE BEETLE #13 JAN070283
CARTOON NETWORK BLOCK PARTY #31 (JOHNNY DC) JAN070329
CATWOMAN #65 JAN070262
CONNOR HAWKE: DRAGON'S BLOOD #5 JAN070290
CROSSING MIDNIGHT #5 (VERTIGO) JAN070368
DMZ #17 (VERTIGO) JAN070370
FABLES #59 (VERTIGO) JAN070372
FIRESTORM: THE NUCLEAR MAN #34 JAN070288
GREEN ARROW: CRAWLING FROM THE WRECKAGE TP DEC060217
GREEN LANTERN #18 JAN070293
GREEN LANTERN: REBIRTH TP DEC060220
HAWKGIRL #62 JAN070291
JACK OF FABLES #9 (VERTIGO) JAN070373
JSA CLASSIFIED #24 JAN070302
LOVELESS VOL. 2: THICKER THAN BLACKWATER TP (VERTIGO) DEC060301
NINJA SCROLL #7 (WILDSTORM) JAN070358
OYAYUBIHIME INFINITY VOL. 4 (CMX) DEC060265
RUSH CITY #6 OCT060222
SECRET SIX: SIX DEGREES OF DEVASTATION TP DEC060243
SPIRIT #1 (2ND PRINT) JAN078204
SUPERMAN ACTION COMICS ARCHIVES VOL. 5 HC NOV060193
SUPERMAN CONFIDENTIAL #4 DEC060197
TEEN TITANS GO! #41 (JOHNNY DC) JAN070326
WETWORKS #7 (WILDSTORM) JAN070351
WONDER WOMAN #6 JAN070320

DC DIRECT
BATMAN THROUGH THE AGES BOXED SET AUG060311