The document summarizes DC Comics' upcoming relaunch of 52 #1 issues across multiple comic book titles. It provides details on new storylines and creative teams for popular characters like Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and others. The relaunch aims to give the comics a modernized look with updated costumes and storylines to attract new and younger readers. While some fans criticize the move as unnecessary, DC Comics editors insist it is not a full reboot but rather a streamlining of continuity and a new starting point for new readers.

1. DCComics
ReloadedWhy we think DC Comics is rebooting. And why
their editors think they are not?
COMIC
F
HM strikes up a conversation with two
of the most illustrious names in the
comic universe – Bob Harras,
Editor-in-Chief and Eddie Berganza,
Executive Editor of DC Comics. They can’t
hide their excitement and tell us all (well,
almost) about the much-awaited relaunch
from their plush office in Midtown
Manhattan.
DC (Detective Comics) is home to the
largest number of superheroes. And even
though these characters are fictional, we
still consider them a part of the FHM
universe. From Batman to Superman,
Green Lantern to Catwoman, the Justice
League of America and more – made their
first appearance decades ago, but are still
the favourite caped crusaders of us here
in FHM.
So, when DC Comics was reaching the
1000th mark with both their Action and
Detective comics, the think-tank decided to
shake things up and give makeover. Starting
end of August, fans will be recipients of 52
#1 issues studded with fully redesigned
costumes and more current threats to the
heroes across the board, besides more
lethal powers to each of them.
Some ardent fans are going to be
disappointed though as the current list
doesn’t include Power Girl and Justice
Society of America. “We have plans for
every character and hero of DC Comics,
even Power Girl and JSA. But this is just the
beginning and we are not giving out much
info, so fans will have to wait and watch,”
says Bob.
Quiz them about whether it’s a relaunch
or a reboot and Eddie shoots back, “It is not
a reboot. We have all our stories intact. We
are just streamlining, that’s all. The stories
are moving forward, but the concept
remains true to form. We aren’t going back
to show the origin of these comic heroes,
which is what a reboot is.” Point noted. But
why a relaunch all of a sudden? “We have
been noticing what is happening for quite
some time and the changing attitude of the
younger generation has forced us to give
these comics a fresh take,” Bob elaborates.
Gotham city has become grittier. Joker,
the quintessential antagonist has become
nastier. And Superman will no longer sport
red trunks. We also hear he’s going to dump
his wife Lois.
All the 52-superheroes have been given
a fresh perspective. There are oodles of
modern changes brought about in every
characters life. “They are colourful,
younger, and more vivid and their attitude
is contemporary. For instance, Superman is
evolving and Supergirl – the spoilt teenager
is getting better.” Bob adds.
Before he can even pause to take a
breath, we throw our next question – what
new powers will Batman possess? “Well, this
is just the start. There are plenty of
surprises in store, which we cannot reveal at
the moment,” he cautiously says.
Dedicated fans will instantly relate to the
new issues. “They are somewhat similar to
the earlier issues, which our loyal readers
will immediately recognise. But not to
worry, the new readers won’t miss a thing
and will understand every integral part of
the story. We have woven the stories in
such a way that they will not get lost in the
plot,” Eddie reaffirms. During our chitchat,
they also hint that some of the forgotten
heroes and villains will make a comeback in
the new series. Who will they be, of course
remains a mystery as the duo refuse to
divulge any names. However, Eddie does
confirm that all the comics will release in
digital and print formats on the same day.
“We know how much people love their
gadgets, so we consciously took this
decision. Now they can either buy or
download the comic as per their
convenience.” One thing is for certain, BIG
changes are on their way in the DC camp
and even as some are writing it off as
nonsensical, we are eagerly waiting to see
what’s in store – especially for Suicide
Squad and Catwoman. Excited yet?
CATwoman
first appearance: Spring 1940
alter ego: Selina Kyle
new story: She’s addicted to Batman. And of
course to the night and shiny objects. Most of all,
Catwoman is addicted to danger. Her razor-sharp
retractable paws and athleticism will charm you to
shreds (literally). She’s good at being bad, and very
bad at being good. More dangerous things will be
revealed in the new series from writer Judd Winick.
BATMAN
first appearance: May 1939
alter ego: Bruce Wayne
new story: Acclaimed writer Scott Snyder
presents a new era for ‘the most dangerous man on
the earth’. A series of brutal killings hints at an ancient
conspiracy, and Batman learns that Gotham City is
deadlier than he knew. Loaded with umpteen crime
scenes, Batman #1 will be back with his startegies and
combat skills.
first appearance: April
1938
alter ego: Kal-El/Clark Joseph
Kent
new story: Written by George
Pèrez, this year the superhero will
appear without his red trunks. You
heard it right! What is The Man of
Steel’s new status quo? How does it
affect The Daily Planet? Is he finally
breaking up with Lois Lane? There
is no time to answer these questions
now, as the caped-hero must stop a
monstrous threat to Metropolis. A
threat, he himself is to blame for.
superman
first appearance: March 1937
Number of issues: 877 (plus
issues numbered 0 and 1,000,000,
and 12 annuals)
new story: DC’s flagship titles is
packed with new Batman adventures
penned down by acclaimed writer/artist
Tony S. Daniel. Relaunched for the first
time ever, a killer called The Gotham
Ripper is on the loose on Batman’s home
turf – leading The Dark Knight on a
deadly game of cat and mouse.
detective comics
SUICIDE SQAD
first appearance: January 1987
headquarters: Belle Reve Prison
new story: Also known as Task Force X, they’re a team of death-row
super villains recruited by the government to take on missions so dangerous –
they’re sheer suicide! But now with Harley Quinn, Deadshot and King Shark
defeated and imprisoned, are being interrogated about their mission and about
who’s pulling the strings behind their operation. The real question is: Who will
be the first to crack under the pressure? To prevent villains from escaping in the
field, they are shackled with an explosive bracelet that only allows them to
travel a certain distance from the field leader.
FHM
exclusive
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2. THE flash
first appearance: January 1940
nickname: Scarlet Speedster
new story: The Fastest Man Alive is back! In the first
issue, Flash has to fight a villain who is much faster than
him and he can be found everywhere at one time. And if
that’s not bad enough, he is a close friend too!
batgirl
first appearance: April 1961
alter ego: Barbara Gordon
new story: Gordon back as Batgirl is
going to face the city’s deadliest villains and
deal with events from her dark past. The debut
issue is writted by Gail Simone.
teen titans
first appearance: July 1964
unofficial debut: Junior Justice
League
new story: An organisation seeks to kill
super-powered teenagers. Tim Drake
(Batman’s former sidekick), Wonder Girl and
Kid Flash along with other tortured teenage
superheroes stand against a deadly weapon
with roots in another world.
green lantern corps
stormwatch resurrection man
super boy
first appearance: Feb 1945
alter ego: Clark Kent
new story: Engineered in a lab
from Kryptonian and human DNA, the
clone’s super powers make him a deadly
weapon.
first appearance: Sep 2011
alter ego: Carter Hall
new story: His skill at deciphering
lost languages has led him to a job with
an archaeologist who specialises in alien
ruins. This new action series written by
Tony Daniel will take Hawkman (and
readers) where no hero has flown
before.
the savage hawkman
the fury of firestrom
first appearance: March 1978
alter ego: Jason Rusch and
Ronnie Raymond
new story: Nuclear terror brings
together two boys who are worlds
apart. Drawn into a conspiracy, they are
asked to put aside their differences to
confront a threat so BIG it may lead to
a new Cold War!
static shock
grifter
first appearance: August 1992
alter ego: Cole Cash
new story: He is soon going to be
labelled a serial killer when he starts
hunting creatures disguised as humans.
And only he can see them.
first appearance:
September 2011
alter ego: To be disclosed
new story: The new Green
Lantern stars... Sinestro? Writer
Geoff Johns and artist Doug
Mahnke introduce a new Lantern in
the debut issue. DC teased us with
a poster that revealed who is on the
first cover. Not much is being
revealed on this character though.
green lantern
green arrow
first appearance: Nov 1941
alter ego: Oliver Queen
new story: Armed with
cutting-edge weaponry and illegally
gained intel, Ollie travels the world to
bring outlaws to justice. And yes, he
shoots first and asks questions. Guys
who didn’t know, Oliver Queen is also
a billionaire!
first appearance: Jan 2011
alter ego: Bruce Wayne
new story: Batman struggles
against a strangely familair foe. He has
to fight his way through gauntlet of
psychos to nab the mysterious figure
hidden in Arkham Asylum.
batman: the dark
knight
justice league
first appearance: Feb 1960
headquarters: The Hall and
the Satellite
new story: Batman has just found
a dark evil. In order to fight it, he is
required to bring together all other
world’s greatest superheroes. (Justice
League of America will be relaunched
as Justic League)
first appearance: Nov 1995
alter ego: Dinah Laurel Lance and
Ev Crawford
new story: One is wanted for a
murder that she hasn’t committed, while
the other is on the run as she has all the
info. Together as Gotham City’s ops
team, they have to tackle villains that no
one dares to touch and save their lives
from a team that’s out to get them.
justice league dark
captain atom
I, vampire
super girl
batwoman
birds of prey
COMIC
wonder woman
first appearance: December
1941
alter ego: Princess Diana of
Themyscira
new story: Writer Brian Azzarello
sets this daring woman against the most
powerful forces. She is the only one
who dares to protect humanity from
the wrath of these strange forces.
first appearance: Sep 2011
alter ego: To be closed
new story: After the combined
powers of Superman, Batman, Wonder
Woman and Cyborg could not stop the
witch, Enchantress, writer Peter Milligan
pitts Shade the Changing Man,
Madame Xanadu, Deadman, Zatanna
and John Constantine against her.
first appearance: March 1993
Run by: United Nations
new story: Their existence is a
secret. The team is divided – half the
Stormwatch team has to recover
Information hidden deep in the
Himalayas, while the rest have to recruit
two of the deadliest super humans on
the planet: Midnighter and Apollo.
first appearance: April 1993
alter ego: Virgil Ovid Hawkins
new story: As Static, he flashes a
new uniform and better
electromagnetic powers. Writers Scott
McDaniel and John Rozum pit him
against new villains belonging to New
York City’s underworld. However, the
real question is: Can he handle them?
first appearance: September 1959
EXISTENCE: Three billion years
new story: Written by Peter Tomasi, the comic revolves
around conflicts emerging across the universe that Guy Gardner,
John Stewart and Green Lantern have to resolve.
first appearance: May 1997
alter ego: Mitchell “Mitch” Shelley
new story: Resurrection Man is
still dead. But then he can’t dead for
long. And with each rebirth, he get
more unexpected power. To witness his
power, forces are gathering together to
see what is so special about him and
finally who can stop him.
first appearance: March 1960
alter ego: Allen Adam/Nathaniel Christopher Adam
new story: Writer J.T. Krul in the new series will test
this hero, who has no limits thanks to his molecular powers
with a series of omnious events, where he runs the risk of
losing himself.
first appearance: July 1956
alter ego: Katherine “Kathy”
Webb Kane/Katherine “Kate” Rebecca
Kane
new story: Batwoman is back! She
is on a mission to hunt down the villain
who is stealing children. She is training
her cousin as her sidekick and a
government agency is suddenly taking
special interest in her.
first appearance: August 1958
alter ego: Kara Zor-El
new story: As the biological cousin
and female counterpart of Superman,
she’s got the same powers as Superman.
One glitch, she does not have any
affection for the people of the earth, so no
one dares to piss her off! Written by
Michael Green and Mike Johnson she’s
got unpredictable behaviour of a teenager
but is damn good at her superhero stuff.
first appearance: March 1981
alter ego: Andrew Stanton
new story: Thanks to a truce made with ex-lover Mary, (the
Queen of the Damned), Andrew has kept mankind safe from
supernatural powers. But now, the truce has come to an end. He
has to stop Mary and her forces from going on a killing spree.
Words:ShrutiGattani
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