Garth Ennis, Bryan Hitch and John McCrea working on new DC Comics projects

By John Freeman on February 6, 2015

Art by Bryan Hitch for Justice League America

Various comic sites including Comic Book Resources and IGN have published details of new series coming from DC Comics in June following the end of their “New 52” imprint – and they include projects from writer and artist Bryan Hitch and writer and artist team Garth Ennis and John McCrea.

The post-New 52 publishing line, launching on 3rd June 2015, will consist of 24 brand new comics, and 25 ongoing comics that will continue without a break in their numbering. The relaunch will follow the company’s “Convergence” event which runs through April and May that will see different universes from DC’s multiverse brought together by Brainiac for a grand, devastating experiment.

Bryan Hitch, who wrote and drew his creator-owned series Real Heroes for Image Comics, returns DC to write and draw Justice League of America. He cut his teeth drawing superheroes and other projects for Marvel UK and is best known for his art for The Authority and The Ultimates and has also worked as a concept artist on the Doctor Who TV series.

Garth Ennis and John McCrea, who previously worked on the DC title Hitman in the 1990s, are back at the company with a limited series Section Eight, based on the characters who first appeared in Hitman back in 1997

The other new DC Comics announced so far are:

Batman Beyond written by Dan Jurgens with art from Bernard Chang
Bat-Mite written by Jimmy Palmiotti, Amanda Conner
Bizarro written by Heath Corson; art by Gustavo Duarte
Black Canary written by Brenden Fletcher
Constantine: The Hellblazer written by Ming Doyle; art by Riley Rossmo (replacing the current Constantine book)
Cyborg written byDavid L. Walker; art by Ivan Reis and Joe Prado
Dark Universe written by James Tynion IV; art by Ming Doyle
Doctor Fate written by Paul Levitz; art by Sonny Liew
Doomed written by Scott Lobdell; art by Javier Fernandez
Mystic U witten by Alisa Kwitney;; art by Mauricet (Mauricet is the creator of the irreverent cartoon Cosmic Patrol which featured in Brtiiain’s STRIP Magazine)
Omega Men written by Tom King; art by Barnaby Bagenda
Prez written by Mark Russell; art by Ben Caldwell
Red Hood/Arsenal written by Scott Lobdell; art by Denis Medri
Starfire written by Jimmy Palmiotti, Amanda Conner; art by Emanuela Lupacchino
We Are Robin written by Lee Bermejo; art by Rob Haynes and Khary Randolph

“This heralds in a new era for the DC Universe which will allow us to publish something for everyone, be more expansive and modern in our approach and tell stories that better reflect the society around us,” said DC Entertainment Co-Publisher Dan DiDio in a press release. “Whether you’ve been a DC fan your whole life, or whether you are new to comics – there will be a book for you beginning in June.”

Many regular DC Comics books will continue, detailed as follows:

Action Comics written by Greg Pak; art by Aaron Kuder
Aquaman written by Cullen Bunn; art by Trevor McCarthy
Batgirl written by Cameron Stewart, Brenden Fletcher; art by Babs Tarr
Batman written by Scott Snyder; art by Greg Capullo
Detective Comics written by Brian Buccelato; art by Francis Manapul
Batman/Superman written by Greg Pak; art by Ardian Syaf
Catwoman written by Genevieve Valentine; art by David Messina
Deathstroke written and drawn by Tony Daniel
Flash written by Rob Venditti, Van Jensen; art by Brett Booth
Gotham Academy written by Becky Cloonan, Brenden Fletcher; art by Karl Kerschl
Gotham By Midnight written by Ray Fawke; art by Juan Ferreyra
Grayson written by Tim King, Tim Seeley; art by Mikel Janin
Green Arrow written by Ben Percy; art by Richard Zircher
Green Lantern written by Robert Venditti; art by Billy Tan
Harley Quinn written by Amanda Conner, Jimmy Palmiotti; art by Chad Hardin
Justice League written by Geoff Johns; art by Jason Fabok
Justice League United written by TBD; art by Travel Foreman, Paul Pelletier
Lobo written by Cullen Bunn; art by Cliff Richards
Secret Six written by Gail Simone; art by Dale Eaglesham
Sinestro written by Cullen Bunn; art by Brad Walker
New Suicide Squad written by Sean Ryan; art by Carlos D’Anda
Superman written by Gene Luen Yang; art by John Romita, Jr.
Superman/Wonder Woman written by Peter Tomasi; art by Doug Mahnke
Teen Titans written by Will Pfeifer; art by Kenneth Rodafort
Wonder Woman written by Meridith Finch; art by David Finch

A first look at upcoming storylines will be the focus of DC Entertainment’s Free Comic Book Day issue – DC Comics: Divergence – available Saturday 2nd May, featuring three eight-page previews for the June releases of Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s Batman, as well as Geoff Johns and Jason Fabok’s launch of the Darkseid War within Justice League featuring the biggest villains in the DCU – Darkseid and the Anti-Monitor, and Gene Luen Yang’s DC Comics debut with celebrated artist John Romita, Jr on Superman. More than half-a million free issues of the DC Entertainment sampler will be given away at comic book retailers globally.

“In this new era of storytelling, story will trump continuity as we continue to empower creators to tell the best stories in the industry,” said DiDio.

• To learn more about the June DC Universe slate, visit www.dccomics.com

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.