Jim Lee & Brian Azzarello Launch BATMAN: EUROPA Miniseries in 2011

Normally, I am the first to jump on the "too many batman title" bandwagon, but I am going to make an exception for this little miniseries.  The reasons why?  It's a miniseries and Jim Lee, Brian Azzarello, and many other top-notch writers and artists are involved on the project.   

From DC's The Source:

Coming in January BATMAN: EUROPA, a four-issue mini-series written to gritty perfection by FIRST WAVE’s Brian Azzarello and Matteo Casali with an all-star cast of artists, including Giuseppe Camuncoli (who is handling layouts for the entire series!), Diego Latorre and Jock. With a first issue painted over Cammo’s layouts by none other than superstar artist and DC Comics Co-Publisher Jim Lee, who as you know, is no stranger to Batman. And if it involves Jim, you can guarantee it’s a major Batman tale.

In the pages of BATMAN: EUROPA, the impossible has happened – the Batman is on the brink of defeat, at the hands of a virus with no cure. Surely there’s someone that can help him? Well, there is – the Joker. Who infected Batman with the virus? What does the Joker have to do to save him? And how can it all happen before the Dark Knight collapses? Together, the unlikely teammates and arch-foes travel through Europe cobbling together clues while the clock ticks down.

Here is the first cover from the series, by Jim Lee, and it is beautiful.  I cannot wait to read this tale. 

DC Set to Release New & Improved LUTHOR Hardcover Book

October sees the release of the NEW AND IMPROVED Luthor. A new hardcover collection of the original mini-series by Brian Azzarello and Lee Bermejo with all new story pages (half an issue’s worth) and bonus sketchbook material.

Also, when DC sayd new story material, they really mean it. They've actually added new sequences throughout the book as well as adding pieces to existing scenes and re-shuffling the position of others.

This ‘new cut’ really enhances the original story and broadens it. For example, here are a couple pages we added to issue three, sans coloring and lettering.

In the original version, the fight between Superman and Batman was cut off towards the end. These two new pages continue the last page of the fight and allow readers to really find out what Superman was after.

These pages are beautiful.  The scene with Superman and Batman is amazing.  I normally do not rebuy "updates" books.  I am going to make an exception this time.

"Calvin and Hobbes", meet "Joker and Lex"

This comic strip has been everywhere over the last few days.  If you've seen, please ignore, but if you have not, please enjoy this wonderful comic entitled, “Joker and Lex,” by Lee Bermejo and writer Brian Azzarello.  This  Calvin and Hobbes-esque contribution to the Superman/Batman all-star 75th-issue spectacular is simply amazing.  This strip would make even Bill Watterson smile.