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

This is it. This is the issue that everyone has been waiting for since DC Comics announced that it was relaunching its entire line with all number one issues. History is made as DC has swept most of its history under the rug. The characters are fresh, shiny, and inviting for the general public. As a first issue and introduction to the new DC Universe, how is it? Minor spoilers below.

Five Years Ago…

The issue begins with that tagline as we see the police chasing Batman who is chasing a cloaked figure across rooftops. The police fire on Batman and the cloaked figure. Thankfully, Green Lantern shows up to knock the cloaked figure off the roof, and save the Batman. Most of the book is spent with Batman and Green Lantern talking, and getting to know each other. GL quizzes Batman about what superpowers he possesses. While Batman proves himself by stealing Green Lantern’s ring right off of his hand, a brilliant character moment.

They Say He’s An Alien…

Batman and Green Lantern are able to track the cloaked figure. Who plants an alien bomb, but not before revealing who his master is. (Hint, think about a very tall Superman villain that was created by Jack Kirby, and whose name rhymes with rawhide.) The two survive, and decide to talk to an alien that lives in Metropolis and no longer wears his underwear on the outside.

Need proof that major comic book publishers fear that print comics are a dying commodity? News from DC’s camp may just be that. Word has recently come in that the megapublisher will be changing all current comics that are priced at $3.99 to be slashed down to $2.99 starting in January of 2011.

From a DC press release:

“As Co-Publishers, we listened to our fans and to our partners in the retail community who told us that a $3.99 price point for 32 pages was too expensive. Fans were becoming increasingly reluctant to sample new titles and long term fans were beginning to abandon titles and characters that they’d collected for years.” said Dan DiDio, DC Comics Co-Publisher.

“We needed a progressive pricing strategy that supports our existing business model and, more importantly, allows this creative industry to thrive for years to come. With the exceptions of oversized comic books, like annuals and specials, we are committed to a $2.99 price point.”

When taking into account mini-series, annuals and specials, more than 80% of DC’s comic books will be priced at $2.99.

This effects many of the major titles and ongoing stories such as American Vampire, Batman: The Dark Knight, Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors, and JSA All-Stars as well as many licensed titles like Gears of War, God of War, Kane & Lynch, and Ratchet & Clank. All of those titles will now be slashed down to $2.99.

I’ve always loved history. Discovering what happened in the past is always a great way to make sure things go smoothly in the present and in the future. I also love comics. So, when these two things meet, you can imagine how happy that makes me.

Case in point is the new documentary about the history of DC comics called Secret Origin: The Story of DC Comics. In it you get to see a whole bunch of great current and former DC artists and writers discuss the formation and history of one of the greatest media companies ever. Narrated by Ryan Reynolds, the documentary features interviews and commentary by Neal Adams, Karen Berger, Dan DiDio, Neil Gaiman, Geoff Johns, Jim Lee, Dwayne McDuffie, Grant Morrison, Dennis O’Neil, Paul Pope, Louise Simonson, Mark Waid, Len Wein, and Marv Wolfman. Yes, that’s lot of amazing people.

“From the bans to the breakthroughs, from humble pulp beginnings to the literary rise of the graphic novel, the story of DC Comics holds a mirror to an ever-evolving enterprise and the society reflected in its comic book pages,” said Diane Nelson, President, DC Entertainment. “It’s a true American story – Secret Origin: The Story of DC Comics is a riveting, exciting, surprising revelation of that fascinating history and the men and women who forged it.”

I’ll bet money that that’s completely true. In fact, no bet necessary, I’ll be buying this when it comes out because I know it’s going to be fascinating.

Check out the trailer for the documentary after the jump. Secret Origin arrives on DVD November 9th.

At Comic Con, we got the chance to talk to DC Comics Editor-In-Chief and the Executive Creator Director of DC Universe Online, Jim Lee about the game that everyone around the offices has been clamoring to get a hold of. As you’ll see in the’s interview after the jump, Jim explains what it takes to create such an expansive MMO game. Jim also discusses the newly announced two vs. two simulator mode which allows players the chance to step out of the boots of their own created character and instead play as the iconic heroes of the DC Universe such as Batman or Martian Manhunter.

Lee also discusses the Geoff Johns announcement from the Con for a Suicide Squad video game. Lee describes it was a Dirty Dozen style grittier than your average super hero game. For those who aren’t aware, the Suicide Squad is a team of villains who were put together on a mission where they knew everyone wouldn’t be coming back. It is definitely a darker take on the super hero genre which, if Batman: Arkham Asylum has shown us anything, looks like it is coming out at the right time in this industry.

What you don’t get to see on camera was when Jim mentions to us just how the trailer for the game comes into play. For those who have seen it, the trailer sets up the back-story of why a Luthor from the future comes back and talks to DC’s Trinity pleading for their help. The shockwave he sends on the planet sets forth an explosion of new powers, explaining logically why all these new heroes and villains are created. This ties in directly with the upcoming comics miniseries which will show how these new found powers affect the lives of average citizens who have now been transformed into powered beings.

Check out our interview in its entirety after the jump and stick with us for all things DC Universe Online as the Beta kicks into gear this month.

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?

Looks like changes are underway and DC Entertainment is finally moving forward with its plans and getting things in order. Today, DC Comics announced changes to its executive management structure including the promotions of Editor-In-Chief Dan Didio to Co-Publisher with Jim Lee as well as naming Geoff Johns to the position of Chief Creative Officer. This announcement follows the departure of publisher Paul Levitz, who stepped down in September of 2009.

The full details from a press release posted on DC’s The Source blog are reprinted below.

Jim Lee and Dan DiDio Named Co-Publishers DC Comics
Geoff Johns to Serve as Chief Creative Officer

John Rood Named EVP, Sales, Marketing and Business Development

Patrick Caldon Named EVP, Finance and Administration

(February 18, 2010 – New York, NY and Burbank, CA) DC Entertainment, founded in September 2009 to unleash the power of the DC Comics library of characters across all media platforms, has named its executive management team, including new co-publishers of DC Comics and a Chief Creative Officer, as well as heads of Sales/Marketing/Business Development and Finance/Administration. Diane Nelson, President, DC Entertainment, made the announcement today.

The new senior executive team includes Jim Lee and Dan DiDio, who have been named Co-Publishers of DC Comics, and Geoff Johns, who will serve as Chief Creative Officer of DC Entertainment. Additionally, John Rood has been named Executive Vice President, Sales, Marketing and Business Development, and Patrick Caldon will serve as Executive Vice President, Finance and Administration. Each of these executives will report directly to Nelson.

This past weekend at San Diego Comic-Con, I had the privilege of sitting down with a few other members of the media to talk with legendary artist Jim Lee about his involvement in DC Universe Online, the upcoming MMO for the PC and Playstation 3. We were able to get some insight in to what he learned from the game, the first mention of an expansion from any party involved in the game and even the future of All-Star Batman.

John Carle: First obvious question, how was it working on an MMO for the first time?

Jim Lee: How was it working on an MMO? I’ve been working on it for over four years, so it feels long, but good. I mean I feel like it’s like weight training or something. (Laughs) Like its hard work but at the end of the day, you come out stronger and better for it. So yea, I mean it’s been a real learning experience not just in terms of learning how to build an MMO but also learning about the DC Universe.

Never really thought about what kind of materials all these costumes were made of. Never really thought about what all the different environments and neighborhoods of Gotham and Metropolis look like. And having those answers now, I feel much smarter as a DC fan than I ever did before, yea.

QUESTION: Are you a gamer yourself?

JL: Ah yes, I do game so you know it’s weird because I do get asked that a lot. I just assume everyone games but maybe they don’t. It’d be more interesting if I said, “No I’ve never played a video game before and that’s why I bring a very unique perspective to this.”

Have you had a chance to look at Google’s homepage today? To celebrate the first full day of the San Diego Comic-Con, Google changed their iconic logo into a truly inspired piece by DC artist Jim Lee. The temporary logo features Batman, Plastic Man, Wonder Woman, Robin and Green Lantern’s Hal Jordan.

Aside from the homage to and recognition of Comic-Con as an event in American pop culture, Google is also promoting their new iGoogle comics theme. You can now personalize your homepage with themes ranging from superhero and alternative comics to manga and more.

With over 50 different themes to choose from (Superman, Iron Man and TOKYOPOP to name a few), every comic lover is sure to find a character that suits them. A full list of available themes can be found here.