Well, the announcement of DC’s “Rebirth” initiative has finally arrived and we at DKN want to provide you with the most important information regarding the historic event. Sure, story details have yet to be divulged, but we thankfully know the framework. But before we get to all that, please enjoy this video featuring the man himself, DC Entertainment CCO Geoff Johns, as he gives the first details (via Comic Book Resources).
Furthermore, he had this to say to CBR:
It started when [DC Co-Publishers] Dan [DiDio] and Jim [Lee] came to me and said that they wanted to end things at #52, and work build back to a shared universe and big stories. They wanted to take another look at everything. Dan mentioned the word “Rebirth” to me. I said, look, that word’s incredibly important to me — I feel some pride and ownership of that word. I said it means something extremely specific in my mind, so if we’re going to do something with “Rebirth”, it’s important to me to understand what that means. And like everyone else, I’m skeptical of relaunches. So it had to be something that everyone put everything they had into it. That was special. That had a reason. And “Rebirth” to me is a reason. It’s beyond the back-to-basics approach. It’s not just going back to square one. It’s much, much more than something that simplistic. We all need to do our best to get this right and everyone has come together to create a cohesive universe and terrific stories that work individually as well as together. We’re also doing it by building on everything that’s been published since Action Comics #1 up thru The New 52. The “DC Universe: Rebirth #1” is an 80 page one-shot I’m writing which is re-laying the groundwork for DC’s for the future while celebrating the past and present. It’s not about throwing anything away. It’s quite the opposite.
Now, we come to a press release provided by DC Entertainment. In it, you will find listings of new titles, their shipping schedules, and much more.
-Page DC UNIVERSE: REBIRTH Special by Geoff Johns May 25,
Titles to Ship Twice Monthly,
New $2.99 Price Point Beginning in June
PORTLAND, OR and BURBANK, Calif. (February 18, 2016) – Before a packed house of comics retailers at the ComicsPRO Annual Membership meeting in Portland, DC Entertainment Co-Publishers Dan DiDio and Jim Lee provided a first look at the company’s plans for its massive “REBIRTH” title relaunch scheduled for June.
“At DC we believe in superheroes, and what makes them great,” said Dan DiDio, co-publisher of DC Entertainment. “And, we also believe in the direct market and the core comics fan. REBIRTH is designed to bring back the best of DC’s past, embrace the stories we currently love and move the entire epic universe into the future. We are returning to the essence of the DCU. With REBIRTH we are putting the highest priority on the direct market and we will continue to create and cultivate new opportunities for retailers to thrive and prosper, grow readers, fans and customers.”
Retailers in attendance were also treated to a special personal video message from DC Entertainment Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns. He outlined his perspective on the elements that make DC great and teased attendees with the opening line of his 80-page DC UNIVERSE: REBIRTH Special, on sale May 25th:
“I love this world… But there’s something missing…”
Priced at just $2.99, this one shot will kick off a line-wide title relaunch. Written by Geoff Johns, it will feature an all-star roster of comics’ most popular artists: Ethan Van Sciver (GREEN LANTERN CORPS, EDGE OF OBLIVION), Phil Jimenez (WONDER WOMAN), Ivan Reis (CYBORG, AQUAMAN) and Gary Frank (BATMAN EARTH ONE).
As a follow up to Johns’ REBIRTH Special announcement, DiDio, and Co-Publisher Jim Lee, revealed to retailers plans to provide fans with more story, and more often. Beginning in June, all DC Universe monthly and twice monthly titles will ship at a new, lower price of $2.99. This new lineup includes a combination of DC favorites and new titles; titles will begin their runs under the “REBIRTH” banner and follow with another issue #1 beginning the series proper. In addition, DC’s two flagship legacy titles will resume their original issue numbering, also shipping twice monthly: DETECTIVE COMICS will pick up with issue #934, while ACTION COMICS will continue with issue #957.
A special event revealing all talent and creative teams is scheduled to take place at WonderCon in Los Angeles, CA on Saturday, March 26. This press conference will be live-streamed on the DC Entertainment’s YouTube channel, so everyone can experience firsthand all of the exciting new details surrounding REBIRTH.
The REBIRTH title lineup was announced as follows:
June:
Rebirth Specials:
• AQUAMAN REBIRTH #1
• BATMAN REBIRTH #1
• THE FLASH REBIRTH #1
• GREEN ARROW REBIRTH #1
• GREEN LANTERNS REBIRTH #1
• SUPERMAN REBIRTH #1
• TITANS REBIRTH #1
• WONDER WOMAN REBIRTH #1
New #1 Issues (Shipping twice monthly):
• AQUAMAN #1
• BATMAN #1
• THE FLASH #1
• GREEN ARROW #1
• GREEN LANTERNS #1
• SUPERMAN #1
• WONDER WOMAN #1
New Issues (Shipping twice monthly):
• ACTION COMICS #957
• DETECTIVE COMICS #934
July
Rebirth Specials:
• BATGIRL & THE BIRDS OF PREY REBIRTH #1
• HAL JORDAN & THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS REBIRTH #1
• THE HELLBLAZER REBIRTH #1
• JUSTICE LEAGUE REBIRTH #1
• NIGHTWING REBIRTH #1
• RED HOOD & THE OUTLAWS REBIRTH #1
New #1 Issues (Shipping twice monthly):
• HAL JORDAN & THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS #1
• JUSTICE LEAGUE #1
• NIGHTWING #1
New #1 Issues (Shipping monthly):
• BATGIRL #1
• BATGIRL & THE BIRDS OF PREY #1
• THE HELLBLAZER #1
• RED HOOD & THE OUTLAWS #1
• THE SUPER-MAN #1
• TITANS #1
Fall
Rebirth Specials:
• BATMAN BEYOND REBIRTH #1
• BLUE BEETLE REBIRTH #1
• CYBORG REBIRTH #1
• DEATHSTROKE REBIRTH #1
• EARTH 2 REBIRTH #1
• SUICIDE SQUAD REBIRTH #1
• SUPERGIRL REBIRTH #1
• TEEN TITANS REBIRTH #1
• TRINITY REBIRTH #1
New #1 Issues (Shipping twice monthly):
• CYBORG #1
• DEATHSTROKE #1
• HARLEY QUINN #1
• JUSTICE LEAGUE AMERICA #1
• SUICIDE SQUAD #1
New #1 Issues (Shipping monthly):
• BATMAN BEYOND #1
• BLUE BEETLE #1
• EARTH 2 #1
• GOTHAM ACADEMY: NEXT SEMESTER #1
• SUPERGIRL #1
• SUPERWOMAN #1
• SUPER SONS #1
• TEEN TITANS #1
• TRINITY #1
For more information about REBIRTH and DC Comics, visit the website at DCComics.com.
About DC Entertainment:
DC Entertainment, home to iconic brands DC Comics (Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, The Flash), Vertigo (Sandman, Fables) and MAD, is the creative division charged with strategically integrating its content across Warner Bros. Entertainment and Time Warner. DC Entertainment works in concert with many key Warner Bros. divisions to unleash its stories and characters across all media, including but not limited to film, television, consumer products, home entertainment and interactive games. Publishing thousands of comic books, graphic novels and magazines each year, DC Entertainment is one of the largest English-language publishers of comics in the world.
Stay tuned to DKN for breaking “Rebirth” details throughout the coming months.
