DIDIO AND LEE ON THE FUTURE

2010 was a huge year for DC. Just take a look at all of our titles on NPR’s Monkey See blog’s and Entertainment Weekly’s Shelf Life blog’s “Best of 2010” lists: DC’s BATWOMAN: ELEGY, ABSOLUTE ALL-STAR SUPERMAN, WEDNESDAY COMICS, ACTION COMICS, and Vertigo’s REVOLVER, STUCK RUBBER BABY, and HOW TO UNDERSTAND ISRAEL IN 60 DAYS OR LESS.

Well, we’re not going to slow down. 2011 is going to be even bigger.

Co-publishers Jim Lee and Dan Didio recently spoke with Newsarama and Comic Book Resources about the many highlights of the past year and what we all can look forward to in the next.

AMERICAN VAMPIRE goes to war and Sean Murphy draws mini-series

You may have heard that the next AMERICAN VAMPIRE storyline is a World War II epic. The first issue of this sprawling, romantic, action-packed tale of heroism and horror has a variant cover by the talented young artist Sean Murphy (JOE THE BARBARIAN) that illustrates the massive scope of what’s to come.

Here's an exclusive first look at the variant cover by Sean Murphy for issue #13:
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We are excited to announce that Sean is drawing an AMERICAN VAMPIRE mini-series that will coincide with this storyline to begin this Spring. Amazing, right? We’re thrilled.

LETTER COLUMNS RETURN TO VERTIGO COMIC BOOKS

The New Year is here in the dark halls of VERTIGO and we'd like to
welcome you to a cool, new feature in all our monthly books - the return
of LETTERS COLUMNS!

Back in the day, letters pages were really the only way for fans,
editors and creators to have a dialogue. Obviously the interwebs have
changed all that, but in a world that's increasingly Hi-tech, we thought
it would be great to bring back something a little more Low-fi.

But we need YOUR help! We need you to start sending us emails or...wait
for it...REAL letters ASAP. Tell us what you love, what you hate, what
you're reading and why (or why not?) Each title will have its own column
and, by and large, the editors will be the people responding to you.
Occasionally we might be hearing directly from the creators (they're
only a phone call /text/email away) but really this is your chance to
tell us directly what you think of the job we're doing.

But while we're waiting for your insightful missives, this seemed like a
perfect place to (re-) introduce ourselves so you know who's who. So,
without further ado, the 2011 Vertigo starting line-up...

KAREN BERGER - The Captain. What else is there to say? She's been here
since before the beginning. She's editing THE UNWRITTEN and is the kind
and benevolent overseer of us all.

SHELLY BOND - The Fabulous One. Edits FABLES, HELLBLAZER, iZOMBIE and
HOUSE OF MYSTERY.

WILL DENNIS. The Snarky Veteran. Edits DMZ, SCALPED, and SPACEMAN.

MARK DOYLE - The Dauphin. Edits AMERICAN VAMPIRE, NORTHLANDERS and SWEET
TOOTH. Assists on SCALPED & DMZ.

SARAH LITT - International Woman of Mystery. She assists Karen and has a
lot of irons in the fire.

GREG LOCKARD & JOE HUGHES- The Rookies. The latest additions to the V-
team so go easy on them. Greg will be working with Shelly and Joe will
be covering all the other bases.

Now we've all got tons of other incredible projects we handle - original
graphic novels, miniseries, specials - and we will be adding NEW
monthlies as the year progresses. We've just listed the titles that will
have letters columns so you know to whom you should address your
comments.

Below is some of essential information you'll need to help get your
letters to us and see print. We can't wait to hear from you (seriously!)
and since we haven't said it yet...THANK YOU for reading and supporting
our books! Vertigo is proud to be the home where the best writers and
artists push comics storytelling beyond its limits. We do it for you and
couldn't do it without you.

--The Vertigo Seven

To submit a letter to the editor go to: www.dcletterspage.com

Letters may be sent by regular mail to this address:

Letters to the Editor
DC Comics
1700 Broadway
New York, NY 10019
ATTN: VERTIGO

Please include your full name, address, and telephone number for
confirmation purposes. Letters should be no longer than 500 words and
should not include attachments. Letters may be edited for length or
clarity and may be published in any medium. Letters become the property
of DC Comics. Unpublished letters will not be returned or acknowledged.
Published letters may identify the writer by first name, hometown, state
or country.

HOLDING THE LINE AT $2.99

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There was a lot of excitement at panels, in the press, and on Twitter and Facebook when we first announced that DC Comics and Vertigo will be holding the line at $2.99 for standard format ongoing comic book titles. These changes were for you, the fans, and retailers shared your excitement. We were just getting started.

As we begin the New Year, the pricing changes are going into effect and the timing couldn’t be better. We have a number of exciting storylines beginning in January, February and March that we believe will connect with the readers who have already been following the titles–and will most definitely be of interest to fans who aren’t yet buying the titles each and every month. We’re talking about stories like the Prelude to FLASHPOINT in FLASH, the WAR OF THE GREEN LANTERNS, REIGN OF DOOMSDAY, and BATMAN BEYOND, to name just a few…

And this isn’t just about the DC Universe.

Critically acclaimed, fan favorite Vertigo titles all have major storylines starting this winter. AMERICAN VAMPIRE kicks off a truly epic WWII storyline. THE UNWRITTEN promises major reveals inside the belly of a whale. And, believe it or not, superheroes show up in FABLES, in ways that defy your expectations.

And don’t even get us started about the return of…

Ah, but that would be saying too much. We’ll be making announcements and previewing big stories over the course of the next two weeks on THE SOURCE and GRAPHIC CONTENT, and we can’t spoil it all here. But know this: we’re listening to you, the fans, about pricing and format. We want to hear about which titles you are loving—and which books you used to love, but have drifted away from. We want to know what characters you want to see more of in the New Year. Because we want you to be there with us, each and every week throughout the year, whether you buy monthly comic books, wait for the trades or download issues at the DC digital store.

In 2011, heroes will return. Creators will take chances. DC will hold the line.

Dan and Jim

DCU in 2011: A DC Nation note from Diane Nelson

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Hi, Diane Nelson here with a very special New Year’s greeting to all of the DC Nation.

Let me start by saying it’s quite the privilege to be kicking off the new year with this column. Over the last year plus, since becoming President of DC Entertainment, I’ve had the opportunity to meet several of you at conventions and to see firsthand the excitement and loyalty you have to our characters and stories. We at DC have just come off an incredible year in comics where events like BRIGHTEST DAY, BATMAN: THE RETURN and SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE captured the attention of even the most casual of fans, in both print and digital. In looking back at 2010, we have so much of which to be proud. And we’re only just beginning!

In this upcoming year we are planning projects and events to capture and explore the depth and breadth of our character library, not just in comics, but in all media. From gaming, with the launch of DC Universe Online, to film, with the most anticipated movie of the year, GREEN LANTERN, there will be more opportunities to enjoy these characters and stories than ever before.

So much of what we do is with you, the fan, in mind. Our every effort is to insure the quality and integrity of the characters and stories you have grown to love, no matter in which medium they are showcased. If we were to make one New Year’s resolution for the company, it would be to make DC the leader in all media, while growing the reach of comics to more fans - existing and new. We are taking steps to achieve this goal through new digital distribution plans and, just as important, by keeping our current line of comics affordable by holding the $2.99 price!

There are so many talented people working here at DC across all three of our brands — DC Universe, Vertigo and MAD. Each and every one of them is dedicated to making DC Entertainment the best it can be. Even though I’m new to the world of comics, I have quickly come to understand the excitement comics and their characters bring to fans. That excitement is infectious; I feel it in the halls of DC, at conventions — frankly, anywhere someone asks me what I do; I always get the same look of envy and awe when I say I work for DC. It’s a great feeling of pride and family and one I know each of you shares on some level. So let’s lift a glass to celebrate what has come before while celebrating what’s yet to come. It’s going to be a great journey.

Wishing you all the happiest of New Years and hope you will continue to join us for all that we have planned in the year ahead.

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