by The Comics Outsider

My business is rumors. Comic book rumors. And business is good.

Is a lie a lie if I mean it?

Definitely true.

Maybe not so true.

Mostly lies.

STAN LEE TO MEET A LOT MORE HEROES

Based on the success of the recent Marvel one-shots ("Stan Lee meets the Thing", etc) Stan will be crossing over to meet up with even more comic book characters. Look forward to Stan Lee meeting Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern John Stewart, Green Lantern Guy Gardner, Lobo, Captain Boomerang Jr, all of the characters he'd reimagined for the 'Stan Lee Presents' prestige format series from a few years back, Deathblow, Spawn, the Savage Dragon, Supreme, Grendel, Concrete, Grimjack, Usagi Yojimbo, Buddy Bradley, Cerebus, Jughead, and a very special appearance with the cast of Maus.

SISTER OF THE BAT

Remember back when DC Comics teased the public with the possibility of Bane being Batman's brother?

Well, now you can expect another look at Thomas Wayne's infidelities as they explore which DC Comics female might actually be Bruce Wayne's sister.

Possible candidates will include Lady Shiva, Amanda Waller, and Talia Al Ghul.

ARTISTSWIPING 1?

= ?

ELSEWORLDS NEWS!

Remember the mid-90's annual 'event' where every DC annual was an Elseworlds tale? Time for the sequel. Finally, fanboys and girls alike will get to revisit the worlds of "What If Superman fought in the Revolutionary War" (only this time, it's 1812!) and "What If Catwoman was an Actual Catwoman." Apologies to Uatu.

PLANETARY CONTINUES: KEEPING IT A STRANGE WORLD

Planetary fans take heart: while Warren Ellis and John Cassaday have called it quits on the long-running series, DC has not. Much like the spun-off Top Ten miniseries, Planetary: Strange World will revisit the world and ideas first shown in the world of Planetary. A DC staffer who asked to remain anonymous agreed to comment for your Outsider. "We took great care in choosing who would follow in Warren and John's footsteps as after all, those are some mighty big shoes to fill! So we went with the best talent we felt that we could find to take on this project: written by Tom DeFalco and drawn by Al Milgrom. That's right Marvel! The talent wars continue, and we got two more of yours! Do you like it?! Do you like it?!"

ARTISTSWIPING 2?

= ?

JUST LACKING ACTION

Fans annoyed by the fact that Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman have spent the last three issues of the new JLA series standing in the Batcave looking at pictures won't find much more to be excited about in coming months, when they move upstairs into Wayne Manor's TV room and watch "Deal or No Deal" for the next three issues.

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO RICK JONES?

The ubiquitous sidekick hasn't been seen since a small cameo in the teen comics hit Runaways, some years back. Whatever happened to this mainstay of the Marvel Universe?

The Outsider has the scoop. He's going to be the lead in a hot new inter-medium crossover. We don't want to spoil the surprise but the name of it sounds a lot like Riding Blight. Or perhaps Hiding Right. Sliding Night. You get what I'm saying.

MOORE MONEY... MOORE MONEY...

DC has given up on ever getting back in Alan Moore's good graces.

And, as such, they've decided to market the hell out of his previous work for them.

In the next Previews be sure to look for:
The previously cancelled Watchmen action figures.
Comedian bobble-head.
Rorschach pull-string talking plush.
Dr. Manhattan Magic 8-Ball.
And a new Ozymandias shojo manga.

DC's also going to market toys based on comics of Moore's that they don't even own. A DC Direct product manager told The Outsider "well, we tried to be nice, but we just don't give a crap anymore."

So look for a line of Miracleman toiletries, stationary, and Christmas ornaments from DC Direct next fall. "Ah, what the hell?" said a representative from DC Comics, "it's not like anyone else owns it for real."

Read the previous Comics Outsider.



Discuss this article in our forum.