SDCC 2008: DCU Panel Brings Titans News

Comic Book Resources reports from San Diego: DC Comics is holding a panel discussion on upcoming projects Saturday afternoon at Comic Con International in San Diego, and CBR is bringing you live coverage from 12:45-1:45 PST. Panelists include Mike Grell, Gail Simone, Grant Morrison, Brad Meltzer, Aaron Lopresti, Nicola Scott, Ian Sattler,Jann Jones, Geoff Johns, Keith Giffen, and Judd Winick. Dan DiDio holds the podium as moderator.

>> Dan DiDio began by calling individual creators to the stage, and first recapped the announcement of Geoff Johns's "The Flash: Rebirth," and invited Johns to the stage. "If you like good comic books, I think you'll enjoy the book," Johns said. The series begins in January.

>> A fan asked whether Flash Wally West would be replaced by Barry Allen. "You'll have to read 'Flash Rebirth," Johns said. "I hope I've shown I am a Wally West fan--I wrote the book for five years."

>> Next, DiDio announced the return of the Milestone characters in the DCU. Static will be joining the Teen Titans.

>> Brad Meltzer spoke of "FC: Last Will and Testament" which is about "the night before everybody knows they're going to die, and what they do." "When you're trying to face death, you seek answers. And you don't always find them, but you keep seeking," Meltzer said. "I can tell you for sure that Geo-Force seeks revenge on Deathstroke for killing his sister."

>> Following up on Meltzer's comments about Geoforce's revenge, "Anybody who read 'Identity Crisis' knows I love Deathstroke... I dress as him... I won't tell you what Greg [Rucka] dresses as," he joked. He said the character would feature prominently in "Last Will and Testament."

>> "We have an upcoming arc that will include every include everyone that's ever been a Titan," Winick said.

>> Asked about plans for the surviving members of "Young Justice," DiDio asked who's left. "Grant, you were asking about characters to kill in Final Crisis, right?" "Thank you for bringing them to my attention," Morrison replied. "I need Black Lanterns," Johns concluded.

>> Does JSA's Damage "get to keep his face?" Johns said he loves the character and that "he's in the first part of his arc."