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Huh. Apparently, when DC said they weren't going to shelve Batwoman, they might really have meant it. Whoda thunk it?
...Yes. Yes, I am.
I wonder if this means that JH will be writing the back end of the "Elegy" arc that he and Rucka had originally planned, or if that will be shelved for another storyline. And what this means for Detective, and for the Question. Presumably, she's not going to be a backup title in Batwoman, and one assumes that once Bruce is back, he'll take over the lead in Detective again. (Or Batman will, anyway.)
It's going to be interesting to see what Reeder does with the artwork on the second arc. I love her work on Madame Xanadu, but it's very very different than the style Williams uses for Batwoman (assuming that his visual storytelling style won't change). In the last Detective arc, Jock's style was very different from Williams', but still worked -- it did seem like maybe he was trying to echo some of the odd layouts Williams works with, but then, Jock's visual style is also fairly distinctive on its own. I'm sure that Reeder can produce a style all her own for Batwoman, if needed, based on what she's managed with Madame Xanadu. (I'm guessing that perhaps this may be what Ms. Reeder refers to in her LJ when she says, "my work-related announcement is that at some point there may be an announcement...about various work-related things. Uh...not sure when those will come, and if they'll be peacemeal, but they're very, very cool and I hope they will stretch me because I'm due for a good stretching." I wonder if she'll be working on both Madame Xanadu and this, or if MX will be handed to another artist -- other artists have worked on the series so far, as well as Reeder -- or if perhaps this means that Madame may be endangered; I really hope that it's doing well enough to continue. (Vertigo titles selling rather dreadfully, on the whole, it wouldn't surprise me if it's having problems. MX did make the March 2010 chart of the top 300 titles, although 8200 copies is kind of low -- although, actually, not for Vertigo. The best selling DC title -- and best selling overall -- last month was Blackest Night #8, with 135,000 copies; the best selling Vertigo title last month was Fables, with 20,000 copies.)
So, all things considered, yes, I am actually excited.
Of course (because a true fanboy is never satisfied), an actual launch date might have been nice.
(EDIT: And it turns out that Reeder will be completing this arc of Madame Xanadu, doing one more issue of a special arc, and then she's done with MX. And it's not clear from what she says whether or not Madame herself might also be done after the next arc. Ah, well.)
IT’S OFFICIAL: BATWOMAN ONGOING SERIES
Alex Segura, The Source, dcu.blog.dccomics.com
Last week, artist J.H. Williams III was nominated for two Eisners — best penciler/inker and cover artist — for his much-acclaimed run on Batwoman in DETECTIVE COMICS. His art was praised and recognized not only by the Eisners but across the mainstream and comic trade press for its fluid and versatile look in presenting Kate Kane and helping define her as a lasting character. J.H.’s distinctive style and creative page layouts were a key part of the book’s success.
Don’t expect that to change. In fact, J.H.'s role is about to be expanded. In the coming months, Batwoman will settle into more permanent digs of her own — namely, an ongoing series both written and drawn by Williams. He'll be getting a co-writer in W. Haden Blackman, a writer known for his work in the Star Wars universe, including the Star Wars: Galaxies MMO and The Force Unleashed video game. Additionally, MADAME XANADU artist Amy Reeder will be stepping in to handle the art for the second arc in the series. More on that later. [...] "Our goal is to tell a riveting action adventure tale with some heart and drama to it," Williams said. "We want the reader to learn even more about who Kate Kane is as Batwoman — showing why she is an important addition to the Bat Family of heroes beyond what has already been addressed. We are also wanting to really make sure we start building additions to her own 'rogues gallery.' Just how will Kate deal with the fallout between her and her father, Jacob? Will Kate be able to find love other than Renee Montoya, a.k.a. The Question? And as far as flavor — there will be a sprinkle of creepy beings, myth and legends, government agency intrigue, and a surprise return of a fan-favorite character." [...]
[...] “I’m very excited to be working on BATWOMAN,” Blackman said. “I have a real affinity for the character. Jim [Williams III] and Greg [Rucka] have done an amazing job of establishing her as a premiere character in the DC Universe and I’m looking forward to using that as a launching pad to tell all-new stories with her. The opportunity to work with Jim is something we’ve been talking about for a long time and for me it’s really the best job in comics – getting the chance to work with someone who is truly one of the top talents in the industry.
“The thing that really attracts me to Batwoman as a character is her combination of a really strong, personal story and a dark, superheroic one. She has that perfect combination and I’m looking forward to the chance to take some of the classic aspects of vigilante comics and reinterpret them through the lens of this character.”
Excited yet?...
...Yes. Yes, I am.
I wonder if this means that JH will be writing the back end of the "Elegy" arc that he and Rucka had originally planned, or if that will be shelved for another storyline. And what this means for Detective, and for the Question. Presumably, she's not going to be a backup title in Batwoman, and one assumes that once Bruce is back, he'll take over the lead in Detective again. (Or Batman will, anyway.)
It's going to be interesting to see what Reeder does with the artwork on the second arc. I love her work on Madame Xanadu, but it's very very different than the style Williams uses for Batwoman (assuming that his visual storytelling style won't change). In the last Detective arc, Jock's style was very different from Williams', but still worked -- it did seem like maybe he was trying to echo some of the odd layouts Williams works with, but then, Jock's visual style is also fairly distinctive on its own. I'm sure that Reeder can produce a style all her own for Batwoman, if needed, based on what she's managed with Madame Xanadu. (I'm guessing that perhaps this may be what Ms. Reeder refers to in her LJ when she says, "my work-related announcement is that at some point there may be an announcement...about various work-related things. Uh...not sure when those will come, and if they'll be peacemeal, but they're very, very cool and I hope they will stretch me because I'm due for a good stretching." I wonder if she'll be working on both Madame Xanadu and this, or if MX will be handed to another artist -- other artists have worked on the series so far, as well as Reeder -- or if perhaps this means that Madame may be endangered; I really hope that it's doing well enough to continue. (Vertigo titles selling rather dreadfully, on the whole, it wouldn't surprise me if it's having problems. MX did make the March 2010 chart of the top 300 titles, although 8200 copies is kind of low -- although, actually, not for Vertigo. The best selling DC title -- and best selling overall -- last month was Blackest Night #8, with 135,000 copies; the best selling Vertigo title last month was Fables, with 20,000 copies.)
So, all things considered, yes, I am actually excited.
Of course (because a true fanboy is never satisfied), an actual launch date might have been nice.
(EDIT: And it turns out that Reeder will be completing this arc of Madame Xanadu, doing one more issue of a special arc, and then she's done with MX. And it's not clear from what she says whether or not Madame herself might also be done after the next arc. Ah, well.)