DC LAUNCHES NEW PUBLISHING IMPRINT DC BLACK LABEL BRINGS EDGY AND PROVOCATIVE STANDALONE STORIES TO THE LEGENDS OF BATMAN, SUPERMAN AND WONDER WOMAN

 

ALL-STAR WRITERS FRANK MILLER, SCOTT SNYDER, BRIAN AZZARELLO, KELLY SUE DeCONNICK, GREG RUCKA AND JOHN RIDLEY JOIN DC BLACK LABEL WITH THEIR ULTIMATE TAKES ON MODERN SUPERHERO STORYTELLING COLLABORATING WITH SUPER-STAR ARTISTS JOHN ROMITA JR., GREG CAPULLO, LEE BERMEJO AND PHIL JIMENEZ

 

BURBANK, CA (March 8, 2018) – DC Black Label, a new publishing imprint from DC Entertainment, gives premier talent the opportunity to expand upon the canon of DC’s iconic Super Hero comic book characters with unique, standalone stories that are outside of the current DC Universe continuity. An all-star lineup of creative teams will craft their own personal definitive DC stories in the tradition of compelling literary works like BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE, DC: THE NEW FRONTIER and WATCHMEN.

 

“Many of our perennially best-selling, critically acclaimed books were produced when we unleashed our top talent on standalone, often out-of-continuity projects featuring our most iconic characters, a prime example being Frank Miller’s THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS,” explains publisher Jim Lee. “Creating DC Black Label doubles down on our commitment to working with all-star talent and trusting them to tell epic, moving stories that only they can tell with the highest levels of creative freedom.”

 

DC Black Label makes its publishing debut with the previously announced SUPERMAN: YEAR ONE saga from legendary author Frank Miller and artist John Romita Jr. The three-part prestige series will hit shelves August 2018. John Ridley’s THE OTHER HISTORY OF THE DC UNIVERSE, announced in January, will be published under the new imprint as well. And Kelly Sue DeConnick (Bitch Planet) joins DC Black Label for her first major work with the company, alongside artist Phil Jimenez, with WONDER WOMAN HISTORIA: THE AMAZONS.

 

Each DC Black Label series will have a unique format and release schedule to best serve the story and creative vision. In addition, the new imprint will be brought to life with a stylized new logo, evoking the sense of sophistication fans can expect in these new series. 

 

“DC Black Label offers leading writers and artists of any industry the opportunity to tell their definitive DC stories without being confined to canon,” explains executive editor Mark Doyle. “We are carefully crafting each series to fit the vision of the creative team. All of these creators are masters of their craft. I’m psyched to be working on a Wonder Woman story with Kelly Sue and Phil, helping to bring John’s vision of THE OTHER HISTORY OF THE DC UNIVERSE to life and reuniting with some of the greatest Batman talents in the industry.”

 

The following books round out the first wave of DC Black Label titles:

  

SUPERMAN: YEAR ONE from Frank Miller (THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS, BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT: MASTER RACE) and John Romita Jr. (ALL-STAR BATMAN, SUPERMAN) 

A groundbreaking, definitive treatment of Superman’s classic origin story in honor of his 80th anniversary. This story details new revelations that reframe the Man of Steel’s most famous milestones—from Kal-El’s frantic exile from Krypton, to Clark Kent’s childhood in Kansas, to his inevitable rise to become the most powerful and inspiring superhero of all time.

 

BATMAN: LAST KNIGHT ON EARTH from Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo, the creative team behind DARK KNIGHTS: METAL

Batman wakes up in a desert. He doesn’t know what year it is or how The Joker’s head is alive in a jar beside him, but it’s the beginning of a quest unlike anything the Dark Knight has undertaken before. In this strange future, villains are triumphant and society has liberated itself from the burden of ethical codes. Fighting to survive while in search of answers, Bruce Wayne uncovers the truth about his role in this new world—and begins the last Batman story ever told.

 

BATMAN: DAMNED from Brian Azzarello and Lee Bermejo, the creative team behind JOKER

On a deserted Gotham City bridge, a body is found. Whispers spread the news: Joker is dead. But is this a dream come true or a nightmare being born? Now Batman and DC’s outlaw magician John Constantine must hunt the truth through a Gotham City hellscape. The city’s supernatural recesses are laced with hints about a killer's identity, but the Dark Knight’s descent into horror will test his sanity and the limits of rationality, as he must face a horror that doesn't wear a mask.

 

WONDER WOMAN HISTORIA: THE AMAZONS from Kelly Sue DeConnick (Bitch Planet) and Phil Jimenez (INFINITE CRISIS)

A Homeric epic of the lost history of the Amazons and Queen Hippolyta’s rise to power. Featuring monsters and myths, this three-book saga spans history from the creation of the Amazons to the moment Steve Trevor washes up on the shores of Paradise Island, changing our world forever.

 

WONDER WOMAN: DIANA'S DAUGHTER (working title) from Greg Rucka (WONDER WOMAN, BATWOMAN)

It's been 20 years since the world stopped looking to the skies for hope, help, and inspiration. Now the world keeps its eyes down, and the powers that have risen have every intention of keeping things that way. Amongst a scattered, broken resistance, a young woman seeks to reclaim what has been forgotten, and on the way will learn the truth about herself, her heritage, and her destiny.

 

THE OTHER HISTORY OF THE DC UNIVERSE from John Ridley (12 Years a Slave, THE AMERICAN WAY)

A compelling literary series analyzing iconic DC moments and charting sociopolitical gains through the perspectives of DC Super Heroes who come from traditionally disenfranchised groups, including John Stewart, Extraño, Vixen, Supergirl, Katana and Rene Montoya, among others. At its core, the story focuses on the lives of those behind the costumes, and their endeavors to overcome real-world issues. It isn’t about saving the world, it’s about having the strength to simply be who you are.

 

For continued updates on DC Black Label and these series, check DCComics.com.

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  • I'm looking forward to a number of these titles -- The Other History of the DC Universe, the two Wonder Woman books, and -- surprisingly -- Superman: Year One. I've gotten really tired of Miller in the past decade or so, but I think some of that has to do with his choice of protagonists. I'm much more interested in what he as to say about Superman if Superman is the center of the story, rather than a foil to make Batman look good. The Batman/Constantine teamup could be fun, too. 

    So I guess, everything but another Scott Snyder Batman/Joker story. Because I swear to hell, if I read another paragraph of exposition in that damn Joker font, my eyes are going to boil and pop.

  • "Black Label" sounds like a brand of whiskey.

  • After the story that sorta combined the post-Crisis Superman with the post-52 Superman, I'm a little confused about what "happened" and what didn't. So I could use a primer on what is considered canon for Supes now. I don't think Miller's gonna give me that! But you're right, Rob, it will be interesting to see what Millers says about the Man of Steel, especially given his current politics.

    I'm actually interested in all of these. I enjoyed Elseworlds, for the most part, and this is in that vein. DC's big three are so iconic that they can be transplanted into different eras and histories and so forth while retaining their essence. 

  • THE OTHER HISTORY OF THE DC UNIVERSE  sounds interesting.

  • ...because I've often said that comic books these days just aren't dark enough.

    And they're retelling Superman's origin again? C'mon, DC! Let's see something new rather than endlessly recycling the same story.

  • Normally I agree with this sentiment -- but when DC is also making major pushes with its DC Ink and DC Zoom lines, I can't begrudge them for trying to reach more mature readers as well. Especially since the lineup of creators is generally known for putting out high-quality comics, rather than salacious, pandering "adult" fare. This seems like a very different animal than Marvel's MAX line -- and even that put out some excellent comics. 

    Jeff of Earth-J said:

    ...because I've often said that comic books these days just aren't dark enough.

  • Just being facetious. Didn’t mean to sound so knee-jerk. I’ll be trying Wonder Woman Historia, The Other Side of the DC Universe, and (yes) Superman: Year One.

  • Wasn't the first Alias series MAX? I also remember reading the Nick Fury MAX series, and The Punisher. I enjoyed all three of those, so I don't have any ill feeling about that line at all. Were there some salacious books I didn't read?

    Rob Staeger (Grodd Mod) said:

    Normally I agree with this sentiment -- but when DC is also making major pushes with its DC Ink and DC Zoom lines, I can't begrudge them for trying to reach more mature readers as well. Especially since the lineup of creators is generally known for putting out high-quality comics, rather than salacious, pandering "adult" fare. This seems like a very different animal than Marvel's MAX line -- and even that put out some excellent comics. 

    Jeff of Earth-J said:

    ...because I've often said that comic books these days just aren't dark enough.

  • Maybe salacious was the wrong word -- though that Nick Fury book (was that Ennis/Robertson?) seemed a little bit "let's do it because we can get away with it" to me, IIRC. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but that doesn't seem like Black Label's M.O. at all.  There was a War Machine weekly that seemed a little dodgy to me, too -- for violence, not sex. 

    Judging from the solicitations and the creators involved, Black Label seems a little higher-minded to me...although the post-apocalypse Batman story with the Joker's head in a jar will probably prove me wrong. 

  • Oh, right, I hated that War Machine book. 

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