SDCC News: DC Nation Panel Report, Kevin Smith Returns to Comics

Posted: Thursday, July 24, 2008
Posted By: Kevin Powers

Source: Comic Book Resources

Article by CBR's Hannibal Tabu

Dan Didio once again rode herd on panel including editors, Ian Sattler, Jann Jones and Mike Carlin, "one-man-band" Keith Giffen, writers Greg Rucka, Peter Tomasi, Bill Willingham, James Robinson (who's soon to be taking over "Justice League"), Judd Winick and Geoff Johns, artist Ethan Van Sciver and VP of Sales Bob Wayne.

"It's got the Spectre, it's got the question and it's got payback," Rucka said of "Revelations." When Rucka talked about how good Billy Tan is on the work, Giffen said, "I thought you were writing it!"

"It's about the pretty pictures," Rucka returned. "Like you used to make."

When asking fans about who should be Batman, on Jason Todd the crowd almost unanimously booed. "Jason Todd it is!" Didio enthused.

Kevin Smith was brought out as a special guest, writing a Batman mini in November, December and January.

"I'm here to talk comic books," Smith said. "I'm doing a three issue Batman miniseries. It will start five years from now and end six years from now. I swored I'd get all the scripts done before we even got started. I've written two scripts, I've got one to go, I'll finish that when my daughter's sixteen. Walt Flanagan will handle art chores. It's called "Batman: Cacophony" and brings back Onomotopoeia, the villain from 'Green Arrow.'"

"Does anybody here really believe I wanna kill Dick Grayson?" Didio asked the crowd. "You wanna kill everyone!" a fan returned. "Join us on the panel, you're a DC editor now!" So the guy walked up on stage and took Carlin's seat.

Robinson stated again that Jack Knight as Starman would not return.

A fan asked if this was the really "Final" Crisis. "When Darkest Knight Crisis comes out, when Flash Rebirth Crisis comes out ..." Didio joked.

One of Geoff Johns advocates was 5'2" and Didio brought him a chair to stand on. When Didio asked him to show off his Sinestro Corps shirt, he almost fell and hurt himself. "Don't kill the customers," a panelist yelled.

Johns said there would be more Ganthet and that Guy Gardner will stay in "Green Lantern Corps" and not get a solo book.

Indigo Lanterns come in April or May, according to Johns.

Catwoman's series may be gone, but she's going to be "prominent" in the Gotham-centric books, Didio said.

Fans were divided between Nightwing being with Oracle or Starfire, and Rucka suggested, "Nightwing should play the field as long as he can."

"Best answer yet," Didio said.

A fan applauded Johns' work with Superman, and Johns said that he was working hard with Robinson and Sterling Gates on "Supergirl" making the Superbooks "more cohesive, but accessible."

"Final Crisis: Resist" will involve Ryan Sook on interior artwork, according to Rucka.

Cary Bates is working on a new Elseworlds project, Carlin said.

Black Adam will be back in "Justice Society of America," Johns said.

"Simon Dark is sticking around," Didio promised.

Andrew Christberg, from "Eli Stone" will take over "Green Arrow," Carlin said.

Zatanna will be back in a Paul Dini series next year.

Johns promised he's stay on "Green Lantern" after "Blackest Night," and the panel closed on that note. Read the full article by CBR's Hannibal Tabu HERE

KP's Take: There's a lot of good stuff in this panel. DC seems to have a lot of stuff mapped out over the next year or so and a lot of cool ideas coming up. I've got to hand it to DiDio, he really handles himself well when facing down the rabid fans.

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