DC Announce A Mini-Relaunch coming June 2015... 24 new titles... 25 continuing titles... Divergence

Friday just gone was a day full of announcements but, and it may come as a surprise for me to say this, DC won the day. They have announced a new wave of titles to hit the shelves in June 2015, a mini re-launch of sorts, with a new story over continuity focus. This philosophy excites me as superheroes can get so bogged down in having to keep within continuity that it can really restrict and hurt the story. DC are obviously learning from the success of the likes of Gotham Academy and the new re-launched Batgirl (Barbara Gordon) both spear headed by the Bat-Office.

Now I got this excited for the New 52 relaunch in 2011, I think I can go close to saying I practically picked up every new #1, which was helped by just starting my first full time job. But looking back now the only title from the original New 52 that I am reading and collecting is Batman from Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo and I have to say it is because this creative team, bar the length of Zero Year which I thought was a little long, are killing it on the title. I did keep reading Justice League for quite some time along with Wonder Woman and Superman. But for some reason or another I dropped several of those titles.

One of the most exciting things about the long list of new titles to be released are the creative line-ups DC are really giving new up and coming talent a shot and also handing over several of the titles to successful Indie creators which I only hope pays off.

Looking at this new list of titles I will highlight the ones I am most excited for and definitely be picking up the 1st issues of. Right lets dive right in, as the saying goes.

Black Canary -- W: Brenden Fletcher, A: Annie Wu;

Black Canary from Brenden Fletcher and Annie Wu, Fletcher is one half of two exciting team bringing us great comics from the Bat Universe, Gotham Academy and Batgirl. He will now be taking on solo writing duties alongside the talented Annie Wu who illustrated a run on Matt Fraction's acclaimed Hawkeye series. To be honest I am more picking up this title for the creative team, other than her appearances in the new Batgirl series I have not read any comics containing Black Canary, but I'll be excited to learn more about the character and see what the creative team produce come June.

Constantine: The Hellblazer -- W: Ming Doyle & James Tynion IV, A: Riley Rossmo;

Another DC character that I have not had much or any contact with. I've heard about popular takes no the character and I know Hellblazer is definitely a comic sometime in my life that I will need to pick up and read. The Dark corner of the DC Universe has always been one of my favourites, even though I haven't read many titles based around the characters, but I do spend a lot of time on Wikipedia reading about certain characters and Snyder's Swamp Thing New 52 run was one of the Dark characters I have read comics containing. The creative team on this book is another one that really excites me, many people know of James Tynion IV as Snyder's protégé but he has really come into his own recently, with some exciting titles with Boom! studios including 'The Woods'. Ming Doyle has been a artist I have long admired who I found while browsing the internet, I own her Flashbacca print which is still to be framed and hung, she has a very distinct style. But on this occasion she will be sharing writing duties with James Tynion IV which I look forward to seeing. Finally on art is Riley Rossmo, a fan favourite artist, I have seen his work in a couple of things mainly Image books and I can not wait to see what he brings to this title.

Dark Universe -- W: James Tynion IV, A: Ming Doyle;

I have read this this is the title that will be taking over from Justice League Dark and also has the same name as the animated movie project being worked on by Guillermo Del Toro. But most importantly the creative team is what is to be excited for, the same two members of the new Constantine title to be released are also the creative team on this book. It would certainly seem that James Tynion IV and Ming Doyle have been given the job of reviving this corner of the DC Universe and it is one that I certainly look forward to seeing. I can't wait to see how Ming Doyle's distinctive art style will bring to these characters, well in June I will be able to find out.

Justice League of America -- W: Bryan Hitch, A: Bryan Hitch

Bit of an honourable mention really, along with Marvel's Civil War by Mark Millar and Steve McNiven I also read Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch's Ultimates which also got me into comics. So although I don't have as much to write about this as I do with the previous announcements I will be looking forward to picking this up and see the very talented Bryan Hitch take on the iconic characters of the DC Universe. 

A few others I may flick through are We Are Robin from Lee Bermejo and Khary Randolph. On a side note it is interesting to see a creative change to the Superman books with Gene Luen Yang taking over the reins on Superman after the end of Geoff John's run, John Romita Jnr will still be on art duties.

Finally more has been released regarding DC comics Free Comic Book Day contribution. The issue will be called Divergence and will contain teasers for the beginning of post Convergence storylines including Geoff Johns and Jason Fabok's Darkseid War within the pages of Justice League, Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo's next arc of Batman and Gene Luen Yang and John Romita Jnr.

To check out the full list of new and continuing titles coming June 2015 click on the link below;

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