Comic News And Reviews

Nov 10th 2010 By: Alan Kistler

There was a lot of awesomeness to take in during last week's DC Universe Online press event at Sony's offices in Austin, Tx., but one of the highlights of the trip was sitting down with signature story writer Marv Wolfman. The prolific Teen Titans and Crisis on Infinite Earths scribe has contributed hundreds of missions to the upcoming MMORPG, which will pit players against everyone from the Scarecrow in the sewers of Gotham, to Doomsday in Smallville, to Trigon in DC's underworld. ComicsAlliance Editor-In-Chief Laura Hudson and contributing correspondent Alan Kistler caught up with Wolfman to learn more about his experience making one of the most anticipated games of 2011 accessible to both current comic book fans and new players.

When asked about the difference between his comic book and videogame work, Wolfman compared his storytelling goals to that of a travel guide steering road trippers across the country, suggesting all of the best monuments and sites with the knowledge that the choice is ultimately up to those behind the wheel.

Wolfman also broke down the importance of making the game and its characters accessible to non comic readers, emphasizing the importance of making each hero and villain's motivations clear through their actions in each story.

"I had the same exact problem when I did a book called Crisis on Infinite Earths. That was aimed, very much, towards Marvel readers at the time, to try and show them how many great characters DC had. And you have to walk a very fine line where you are not disappointing any regular DC fans, but you're trying to make the characters clear enough for others."

Watch our full interview below:

Disclosure: Sony Online Entertainment provided for airfare, hotel, and meal costs for this visit.

View the original article here

Nov 10th 2010 By: Caleb Goellner

Back in June DC Comics took its first step toward a more digital future by releasing a signature digital comics sales app via comiXology on mobile devices like the iPad and iPhone. Today, as reported by DC's The Source, the publisher is taking its branding even further with a DC Comics online storefront powered by comiXology that further emphasizes DC's digital convergence at home and on the go. What's more, the new site is stocked with freshly digitized versions of classics like Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns along with free first issues of established series like The Authority to give new readers a convenient starting point.

While DC's new digital storefront itself doesn't seem to be a huge shift from its existing setup at Comics by comiXology, an emphasis on publisher-specific branding and a slate of high profile digital releases is a solid approach to getting new eyes into the DCU.

DC Co-Publisher Jim Lee sums up the benefits of the new system at The Source:

"We¹re thrilled today to announce the opening of our brand new DC Comics storefront. What does the latest development to our ongoing Digital Publishing Initiative mean for you, the ever-devout DC Comics fan? Well, for one--it¹s going to allow you all the ability to purchase and download comics from your desktop and laptop computers from our very own website. And because we want to make the purchasing, storage and management of your comics digital library as easy and convenient as possible, we¹ve made sure that our storefront is powered by comiXology which means if you buy a DC digital comic like the chartbusting Death of Superman on your Mac or PC at home, you can read the very same series on-the-go using your iPhone, iPad or laptop using our DC app without paying any a penny more or creating any new logins. Or vice versa."

Aside from The Dark Knight Returns and The Death of Superman story arcs, Lee also hails the digital release of Identity Crisis and Superman: For Tomorrow, plus titles such as Transmetropolitan, The Invisibles and 100 Bullets.

What's interesting about these selections is the fairly balanced number of releases from DC proper, Vertigo and the now shuttered Wildstorm. Of the eight items specifically mentioned in DC's announcement, four are from DC proper (three if you don't count TDKR, as it's an "Elseworlds" story) while three are from Vertigo and one is from Wildstorm. Despite whatever restructuring shakeups have occurred at the publisher in recent months, this balance sends a message about the kind of audience DC thinks or hopes will be attracted to spending money in the digital space at this point in time.

DC didn't list content pricing in its announcement, but it's likely that the $1.99 per issue precedent established on comiXology will stay in place in its new online storefront.

[Via The Source]

View the original article here

DC Universe Online, the massively multiplayer role-playing game set the world of DC Comics, is slated to debut this spring, but ComicsAlliance had the chance to play the game early at the Sony Online Entertainment offices in Austin, Texas. SPOILER: It was totally awesome. We'll have detailed notes on our first-hand experience playing the game, but first we've got a photo tour of the SOE offices, which were a crazy fun place to visit. The worst thing about that place was having to leave at the end, since sadly the massive Red Bull and soda fridge is now a place I can only visit in my dreams. There was tons and tons and tons of concept art on display, and we've got photos to share.
Legendary writer Marv Wolfman was on hand, since worked on DCUO as well. He too is amused by the rotating motivational parody posters in the lobby. Or maybe just gold farmers generally.

This wall of concept art went on... and on... and on...

...and on...

and on.

A digital rendering of the famous Jim Lee Superman art.

The desk of one DCUO staff member who was already pretty firmly on the DC Comics bandwagon.

Note the three extra sketches specifically of Wonder Woman's butt. It's all in the details.

Diagrams of game functions that we didn't actually understand

Scarecrow and Circe art

A handmade plaque on a cubicle wall tells you everything you need to know

If your job involves a meeting room labeled "Batcave," you're probably doing something right with your life.

Disclosure: Sony Online Entertainment provided for airfare, hotel, and meal costs for this visit.

View the original article here

If you thought Sony Online Entertainment had run out of things to show off about DC Universe Online, think again. The developers released a new video this week highlighting one of the DC Universe's more familiar locations: the Metropolis Police Department, which serves a crucial function in the massively multiplayer role-playing game based on the DC Comics superheroes.

The Metropolis Police Department is one of several "safe houses" to be found in the world of DC Universe Online. Located in the center of the iconic city, the MPD is a hub of important information and commerce necessary to advance through the game. There, you can congregate with other players and DC superheroes, purchase upgrades, and learn information from the interactive "wanted" posters, such as where to find your enemies and how to defeat them. The Metropolis Police Department also serves as a gateway to other locations within the game.

Think of it like those caves in The Legend of Zelda games, only a really big cave with everything you need in one place that's a whole lot easier to find and not populated only by cranky old hermits and cryptic old crones. Unless you count Dan Turpin and Maggie Sawyer -- which you'd better not.

View the original article here