by Vaneta Rogers
The DC Universe panel on Saturday afternoon at WizardWorld: Chicago focused on the new direct-to-DVD animation projects the company is developing, as well as taking questions from fans. Panelists included Dan Didio, Geoff Johns, Keith Giffen, Bob Wayne, Adam Kubert, Andy Kubert, Tony Daniel, Paul Levitz, and Jim Starlin.
[as he have all weekend, we encourage you to check out coverage of DC Universe panel from the San Diego Comic-Con, just two weeks ago]
Didio set the tone for the panel by introducing his boss, DC Comics President Paul Levitz, after sucking in some helium from a balloon. "You think you're the only ones who wonder what he's been smoking?" Levitz joked after the high-pitched introduction.
During the discussion, Didio asked each panelist to share a secret from something they were doing for DC.
Starlin: "Comet has a talking dog."
Daniel: "Supergirl almost made OYL Titans."
Johns: The fourth issue of the Action Comics series he's writing with Richard Donner, which is being drawn by Adam Kubert, will be in 3D. But when Didio pointed out that the publisher hadn't approved that idea yet, Johns said, "Paul, can we make an issue of Action Comics in 3D?," to which the fans applauded enthusiastically.
Giffen then joked that his secret was "the 6th issue of Blue Beetle is going to be in 3D”. Continuing the joke Levitz deadpanned, "Unfortunately it's canceled as of the 5th issue."
Wayne: "I read the issues of 52 before I set the print runs."
Adam Kubert: "I just finished a cover with Bizarro on it."
Andy Kubert: "Batman's son is nuts."
Levitz talked about the new animation projects, saying they will have a different approach than past animation projects from DC because they will market to an older audience. "I like to call them two- generational," he said, indicating that they'll be enjoyable for children as well as their parents who grew up with those stories. Levitz said each DVD will have "an art style that harkens back to the original story."
He shared slides of the concept art for the three DC universe animated movies currently under development and commented on each, including the Justice League/New Frontier, Superman/Doomsday and The New Teen Titans: Judas Contract.
Levitz said that if the DVDs were successful, there would be a potential for more projects, and challenged fans to make suggestions on what stories they'd like to see in the future. He joked that the many fans who have been suggesting the “Great Darkness Saga” from the Legion of Superheroes series "because Keith Giffen has been giving you $5 bills: We've heard you."
The panel then turned to the audience who asked a series of questions:
When one fan remarked that Alan Scott was looking like Nick Fury, Johns joked that, "Alan Scott's going to fight Nick Fury in Justice Society of American #2."
One fan suggested Dark Knight Returns as an animated DVD. "It's certainly a possibility," Levitz said. "Part of the difficulty there would be Frank Miller's schedule."
Questioned about when the Nightwing-Oracle marriage proposal would be addressed, Didio said it would be a special story within Nightwing.
Where's Darwyn Cooke's The Spirit? "That will start off with a Batman/The Spirit one-shot this winter, followed by The Spirit series."
Will there be a weekly comic like 52 after it's done? Keith Giffen immediately joked, "Sit down!" But Didio told the fan, "We're looking at it."
Will there be a New Earth Kamandi soon? Johns said, "Sure." Didio pointed out that the ending of Battle for Bludhaven, where the bunker Command D was shown, should give a hint about whether or not fans will see Kamandi.
Will there be a “History of DC Universe” book so fans can find out the new history as it exists after Infinite Crisis? It will all be explained in 52, between the actual story and the back-up stories. "Basically you have to buy 52 comics to find out what's going on in the DC Universe," Didio joked.
Will there be more Bruce Timm style animated series? "I think the biggest challenge is that Bruce feels like he's been there, done that," Levitz said. When he wrapped up Justice League, DC talked to him about several things he could do, and that wasn't his first priority because he's been doing it 17 years in that style, he said. "He has a tremendous versatility as an artist, and many, many interests."
When the panel was asked what they were most interested in working on in the DC Universe that they haven't worked on before, Jim Starlin indicated he has a new project coming from DC that hasn't been announced that would answer that question. "I'd like to work on the next project that I'm going to work on that I can't talk about. And I think I'd like to do Green Lantern/Hal Jordan."
Levitz: "I'm with Jim on Green Lantern."
Daniel: "I think it's an even tie between Superman and Batman."
Johns: Suicide Squad.
Giffen: "Doom Patrol."
Wayne: "Probably the Time Masters sequel."
Adam Kubert: "Metal Men."
Andy Kubert: "There's actually two. Challengers of the Unknown and Green Lantern."
To the question from a fan that there were too many great books coming out from DC and he can't afford them all, Bob Wayne said, "Bring me a list of what you're buying, and I'll help you cut out titles. Sort it by publisher."
Asked about the digital format being used by DC Comics in the future, Levitz said: "Not yet. I think we're going to see that world happen." He pointed out that his son is on the computer more than him, so while today's readers would rather read their comics on paper, people in his son's generation might want comics on a computer screen. "I'm interested in the creation of comics that are intended to be viewed on a computer screen," such as web comics and Flash animation. "I think you'll see us experiment in these areas in the next few years."
Will anything from Impact Comics exist in the DCU? "We don't have any current plans to do so. If enough of you think it's a good idea, stop by and tell Dan you think it's a good idea."
How long will Johns and Donner be on Action Comics? "I keep introducing Donner to concepts and he keeps wanting to do them," Johns said, indicating that he's on the series as long as they keep coming up with ideas and wanting to do it.
Are the John Stewart stories “Cosmic Odyssey” and “Mosaic” still in continuity? Johns: "Yes."
Will there be a Johnny DC Legion comic based on the new cartoon? Or an All-Star Legion? Didio: "I think there's a really good chance of that."
Demon? Didio: "Demon's going to be in Shadowpact."
Phantom Stranger? "In Blue Beetle."
Will there be more All-Star books like All-Star Green Lantern? Didio: "Yes," and then he joked, "we announced All-Star Ma Hunkel yesterday."
Why the change between the darker feel of Identity Crisis and Infinite Crisis to the less dark feel in the DCU now? "I feel it's organic," Johns said. "It's always darkest before the dawn." Didio added, "The greater the threat, the greater the hero." And Keith Giffen explained that fans should think of Infinite Crisis and Identity Crisis as the "last brutal days of winter, and 52 was the first couple days of spring."
Is Kathy Kane related to Betty Kane? Giffen joked: "They're dating."
Asked about the hint in Brad Meltzer's Justice League of America #0 issue that there might be a new Earth discovered. Bob Wayne: "Next question."
Has the fact that Power Girl's powers go crazy when she's near Supergirl been explained? Didio: "Not yet."
Where is Arsenal? Johns: "He's going to be in Green Lantern." Didio: "He has a big role in the DCU. You'll see him soon."
Who's doing Nightwing? Marv Wolfman has extended his arc to more than four issues. "Marv's going to be on it a little longer."
Why consider kill Nightwing in Infinite Crisis? Johns joked, "He was drunk," and Giffen said, "he had it coming."
Who will be on the Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters team? Didio: The team will at least include Phantom Lady, Black Condor, Firebrand, Ray, Human Bomb, Dollman...
Formerly Known as Justice League on Adult Swim or direct to DVD? "We'll note the suggestion."
How did Veridum become human again? "Grant [Morrison] will explain it all."
Will anything good be happening to "poor Ralph Dibney" soon? Giffen just shook his head no.
Will The Question get a mini-series or title after 52? Didio: "He's gotta make it out of 52 first."
Will there be more stories about the Secret Six after the initial six-issue mini? Didio: "If it sells well yes."
Where are Batman stories going in the future? Didio: "Hopefully #1 in sales."
Where's Krona's Egg (seen in JLA/Avengers)? Johns: "Ask Kurt [Busiek]." Didio: "He's got it in his cabinet. I think it's lunch."
Will Barry Allen ever come back like Hal Jordan and Oliver Queen? After loud boos from the crowd Didio said, "I think the answer's no." Johns added: "He's like Bucky. He's gotta stay ... oh…"
Static or other Milestone characters? Levitz: "We keep talking about it. Nothing's come together yet. Dwayne McDuffie has been talking to Dan about bringing him into the DCU. But Dwayne's had some health issues."
Where's John Stewart one year later? Johns: He has a "pretty major role" in upcoming issues of Green Lantern.
Will we ever see Superman so powerful again that he can blow out stars with his breath? Johns: "He still can't turn the world around backwards."
Will Jason Todd/Red Hood show up in any more stories soon? Didio said that considering Judd Winick explored that character in Batman and is now writing Green Arrow, fans might want to look there for the character.
Newsarama's WizardWorld: Chicago '06 coverage is sponsored by ValiantFans.com, home to the fans of the VALIANT Universe.
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