Just when you thought DC would calm down after the backlash of their drastic logo change earlier this month, they’re here to alter more of your childhood favorites by bringing us a series of prequels to Alan Moore’s epic Watchmen series from decades ago with their Before Watchmen line of books.

Catchy name, right? That’s about the caliber of originality you can expect to see with these books, with the major saving grace being the talent that DC has gathered for the event. Here’s what they had to say.

Stepping up to the challenge is a group of the comic book industry’s most iconoclastic writers and artists – including Brian Azzarello (100 BULLETS), Lee Bermejo (JOKER), Amanda Conner (POWER GIRL), Darwyn Cooke (JUSTICE LEAGUE: NEW FRONTIER), John Higgins (WATCHMEN), Adam Hughes (CATWOMAN), J.G. Jones (FINAL CRISIS), Andy Kubert (FLASHPOINT), Joe Kubert (SGT. ROCK), Jae Lee (BATMAN: JEKYLL AND HYDE), J. Michael Straczynski (SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE) and Len Wein (SWAMP THING).

BEFORE WATCHMEN includes:

• RORSCHACH (4 issues) – Writer: Brian Azzarello. Artist: Lee Bermejo
• MINUTEMEN (6 issues) – Writer/Artist: Darwyn Cooke
• COMEDIAN (6 issues) – Writer: Brian Azzarello. Artist: J.G. Jones
• DR. MANHATTAN (4 issues) – Writer: J. Michael Straczynski. Artist: Adam Hughes
• NITE OWL (4 issues) – Writer: J. Michael Straczynski. Artists: Andy and Joe Kubert
• OZYMANDIAS (6 issues) – Writer: Len Wein. Artist: Jae Lee
• SILK SPECTRE (4 issues) – Writer: Darwyn Cooke. Artist: Amanda Conner

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Vampires may be yesterday’s Zombies, but that doesn’t mean they still don’t look cool while wearing leather and killing werewolves. Luckily enough, that means it’s time for another installment of the Underworld series.

There was a nasty rumor that Kate Beckinsale wouldn’t return for this sequel a while back, but that was immediately quashed. Here’s what we can expect to see from the plot, courtesy of Bloody Disgusting.

“After being held in a coma-like state for fifteen years, vampire Selene (Kate Beckinsale) learns that she has a fourteen-year-old vampire/Lycan hybrid daughter, Nissa, and when she finds her they must stop BioCom from creating super Lycans that will kill them all.”

So basically, this is Kill Bill with leather-bound vampires and scary werewolves. We aren’t complaining, but do they think this was an original idea? Let’s hope so, as Sheild writer John Hlavin and comic favorite J. Michael Straczynski are taking on the script.

Catch Underworld 4: New Dawn in theaters in both 3D and 2D on January 20th, 2012.

It looks like DC Comics has decided to make a few changes to one of its most enduring characters. To commemorate the 600th issue of the Wonder Woman comic, the publisher has decided the character needs a makeover.

Wonder Woman‘s costume is being changed to reflect her new origin by the incoming creative team of J. Michael Straczynski and artist Don Kramer. The costume was designed by Jim Lee, one of the top comic artists in the industry who was also named co-publisher of DC Comics earlier this year.

“She’s been locked into pretty much the exact same outfit since her debut in 1941,” said Straczynski in the article . “If you’re going to make a statement about bringing Wonder Woman into the 21st century, you need to be bold and you need to make it visual. I wanted to toughen her up, and give her a modern sensibility.”

In addition, DC reportedly wants to make the character more contemporary and more suited for and “international film franchise.”

“The original costume was the American flag brought to life,” said Lee. “This one is a little more universal.”

In the rebooted origin story conceived by Straczynski, unknown forces have changed history by destroying Wonder Woman’s island home in the past. Now, she was raised in the outside world by a few surviving Amazons, giving her greater ties to both humans and Amazons. She is also less powerful than before, but her powers may return as things progress.

Check out larger versions of the new Wonder Woman after the break, courtesy of Deadline. Wonder Woman # 600 is out in comic stores today. Are you happy with the changes to Wonder Woman or do you think they should have left her alone?

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Good news for comics and Sci-Fi fans: Babylon 5 creator J. Michael Straczynski, who’s no stranger to the world of comics having penned several titles for Marvel, will be taking over DC Comics’ Superman and Wonder Woman titles on an ongoing basis, starting in July.

According to the DC Comics Blog:

Starting in July with SUPERMAN #701 and WONDER WOMAN #601, superstar writer J. Michael Straczynski—a man who’s created layered and compelling characters and worlds on the big screen, on television and across the comic book spectrum—dives head-first into the DC Universe by taking the ongoing writing reins for two-thirds of the fabled DCU trinity.

Straczynski himself is very excited to take on these two iconic characters. According to the writer:

“For as long as I’ve been doing conventions (starting in the early Cretaceous period, when it was just me and a handful of pterosaurs on a panel debating whether or not mammals with opposable thumbs were really necessary to the writing of quality comics, a point still hotly debated today), there has always been the same question from folks in the audience: “Is there any one character who is your dream character to write for?” The answer has always been the same: Superman.

When I first came over to DC, that dream was realized in part by Dan DiDio’s gracious invitation to write the first of potentially many Superman original graphic novels. Now the dream has come fully true with the opportunity to write for the mainstream title, in a story that returns Superman to his roots in a way that will have the whole country talking about him in ways that we haven’t seen in a long time.

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With both Chris and Matt extremely busy and the American Thanksgiving this week, you know what that means? The Canadians are taking over The Flickcast (are you with me Sal?).

Having celebrated Thanksgiving weeks ago, we’re in the clear to keep the geek news coming while our neighbors to the South take a few days off.  So be prepared to face sentences ending with “eh”, weird dialect (can you say “aboot”) and an abundance of unnecessary apologizing.  Alright, maybe I’m overstating all that but let me take a moment to wish a very Happy upcoming Thanksgiving from all of us up North.

Now, let’s get to that geek news I was talking aboot. Speaking with Collider, writer J. Michael Stracynski commented on one of our highly anticipated film adaptions, Max Brooks’ World War Z. Even having written five drafts of the film Stracynski only had one response as to whether the script was finished, “One never knows.”

He did however mention that a director (no name was given) was attached to the project and Paramount was looking to get the film done having invested so much money in development so far. Given the unique first person narrative of the story Stracynski took a somewhat simple approach to adapting the book for film:

“A series of interviews, so I basically said, ‘Well, who did those interviews?’ And you tell the story of the guy who works for the UN going around the planet interviewing folks to see what happened to them and report on what happened. Through his eyes, you see flashbacks of those storylines.”

The great thing about this is that Stracynski is one of the best character-driven writers in the industry in my opinion.  As great as the zombies will be, the characters should be as equally entertaining to watch. We can’t wait to see World War Z move forward and will keep you posted as more news develops, eh!

Even with Thanksgiving right around the corner, that hasn’t stopped Marvel from dropping some great comics this week for your reading pleasure. Some of the one’s we’re particularly interested in this week include the latest issue of Avengers: The Initiative, the new Hulk, the latest Criminal: The Sinners and Dark Wolverine #80.

Be sure to check out the list of all the upcoming Marvel comics below. And, as always, be sure to click through for some cool cover art from some of these comics after the jump as well. Now go and enjoy some Thanksgiving comics.

Comics On-Sale:
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #613 (GNTLT)
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #613 VILLAIN VARIANT (GNTLT)
AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE #30
CRIMINAL: THE SINNERS #2
DAREDEVIL #501 2ND PRINTING VARIANT
DARK AVENGERS: ARES #2
DARK REIGN: THE LIST – HULK 2ND PRINTING VARIANT
DARK REIGN: THE LIST – SECRET WARRIORS 2ND PRINTING VARIANT
DARK TOWER: THE FALL OF GILEAD #6
DARK TOWER: THE FALL OF GILEAD #6 RANEY VARIANT
DARK TOWER: THE FALL OF GILEAD #6 SKETCH VARIANT
DARK WOLVERINE #80

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We’ve been pretty excited for Warner Bros.’ newest action film, Ninja Assassin around the office, and we just came across a few clips that got us even more excited. The film hits theaters a week from Wednesday, but we thought it would be okay if we gave you on a sneak peak now.

The film, co-written by comics’ “Who’s Who” J. Michael Straczynski, is about a cult of ninja killers who raise a boy to become a superior ninja. Later, he learns that the ways of his clan need to be stopped. Straczynski has been the man behind such other fan favorites as Spider-Man and Silver Surfer in comics, and Babylon 5, Jeremiah, and even The Real Ghostbusters on TV.

In both 3D and Digital theaters, the film is said to be visually stunning. With James McTeigue (V For Vendetta) behind the wheel, you can believe that the film won’t be boring. We’ll be sure to have plenty more coverage of the film, including a review next week.

In the meantime, check out these new clips (totaling nearly 7 minutes!) from Ninja Assassin, in theaters November 25th.

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