DC Comics News 2/21/12: Green Arrow TV Cast, BEFORE WATCHMEN Peak & MegaCon!

- At the top of the month, DC Comics finally confirmed the rumors of a sequel (technically a prequel) release of mini series to the iconic work WATCHMEN by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. Despite the A-List creative talent involved, the reaction by fans online has typically been a cross between "My God, WHY!?" or "How dare they ruin an iconic work of art?" (http://www.examiner.com/comic-books-in-new-york/dc-comics-news-2-6-12-before-watchmen-sequels-announced-dc-jumps-the-shark). This week, an image of Darwyn Cooke's MINUTEMEN mini series hit the web, seen on the left, from Fast Company (http://www.fastcocreate.com/1679856/alan-moore-on-watchmen-s-toxic-cloud-and-creativity-v-big-business). It features the team of superheroes who had basically all retired, been locked up, or been brutally murdered by the "present" time of the mid 1980's set WATCHMEN. Cooke's work has an avid following and the reactions to this have been fairly positive. To be fair to DC, the creators involved in BEFORE WATCHMEN are mostly not tone deaf to the fans' initial reaction; they simply feel up to the challenge of proving the prequel a worthy addition via quality. At any rate, it will sell well. Organized by Hooded Justice (the first major masked vigilante of the WATCHMEN world) in 1939, the roster featured Mothman, Silhouette, Dollar Bill, Captain Metropolis, the Comedian, and the original incarnations of Silk Spectre and Nite-Owl.

- DC Comics is producing a digital comic based on the hit FOX TV show "FRINGE" called BEYOND THE FRINGE, and it will feature an interesting writer; Jhonen Vasquez, creator of JOHNNY THE HOMICIDAL MANIAC for Slave Labor Graphics and the "INVADER ZIM" cartoon series which aired on NICK years ago (http://www.comicsbeat.com/2012/02/14/jhonen-vazquez-comes-to-dc-comics/). He will be joined by artist Becky Cloonan from AMERICAN VIRGIN, NORTHLANDERS and DEMO. Why is DC Comics producing a licensed "FRINGE" comic? Likely because FOX aired "HUMAN TARGET", based off a DC character, for two seasons.

- "ARROW", a TV series from THE CW which is set to feature Green Arrow/Oliver Queen (played by Stephen Arnell) has continued to make casting announcements as it enters the pilot phase. Katie Cassidy, a CW veteran from "SUPERNATURAL", "GOSSIP GIRL" and "MELROSE PLACE" has landed the female lead role of "Laurel" - which is the middle name of Dinah Lance, a.k.a. Black Canary (http://www.superherohype.com/news/articles/169597-katie-cassidy-lands-female-lead-role-in-arrow). In the TV show she is "a young legal clinic attorney who shares a romantic past with Oliver". This is not the first time THE CW has cast the part of Black Canary for a TV show; Rachel Skasten was cast as the character in "BIRDS OF PREY", which came and went on the network for one season (2002-2003). Susanna Thompson, from "DRAGONFLY" and "STAR TREK: VOYAGER" (as the Borg Queen, ironically enough) was also cast as Oliver Queen's mother, Moira Queen. Willa Holland, also from "GOSSIP GIRL" as well as "THE O.C.", has been cast as Thea Queen, "Oliver’s celebutante younger sister who’s testing the boundaries of acceptable behavior" (http://www.deadline.com/2012/02/arrow-nick-stoller-comedy-add-to-casts/). It is worth noting that in the comics, Oliver Queen was a millionaire orphan after his parents died, and became a vigilante after surviving being shipwrecked on an island; he didn't have a family as part of his supporting cast. In this TV series, Queen is a former industrialist turned politician who utilizes archery skills as a vigilante by night; next to lawyers and teenage celebutantes, all this series needs is a beat cop and a sassy minority character to hit every single network TV cliché there is. THE CW is eager to replicate the success that "SMALLVILLE" had, which endured on the network for a decade, starting when it was simply THE WB NETWORK. There are several DC characters with TV shows in some stage of pre-production, although this is the only one entering the pilot phase thus far; THE CW made noises about a TV show featuring Raven from TEEN TITANS back in 2010, but has done little since. Wonder Woman infamously had a pilot shot for NBC by David E. Kelley which failed to get picked up. It is most curious that THE CW is relying on the mainstream audience knowing who Green Arrow is based on his appearances on "SMALLVILLE", yet doesn't feel the need to actually name the show after him.

- While given little coverage, DC Comics appeared at the first major convention of the year, which was held in Orlando, Florida and is called MEGACON. There was a DC ALL ACCESS panel headed by Co-Publisher Dan DiDio and Executive Editor Eddie Berganza, and the Superman Homepage has a summary of what was discussed in terms of DC characters and agenda (http://www.supermanhomepage.com/news.php?readmore=10933). In summary, neither Donna Troy nor Wally West will be showing up anytime soon in the DC New 52 - despite the fact that Bart Allen exists and DC feels an origin of "Barry Allen's grandson from an alternate future" is preferable to the Flash simply having a nephew. Cassandra Cain "would appear in an upcoming title", an answer DC has given regarding the character for roughly three years; it may remind some of a period in the 90's when Marvel Comics brass would say, "this year Wolverine gets his adamantium back" for SIX STRAIGHT YEARS. Static would move on from his canceled title and join TEEN TITANS, which was DC's strategy for him several years ago. The cast of RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS would expand with more characters from R.E.B.E.L.S. The mysterious character Pandora will appear in DC Comics' FREE COMIC BOOK DAY issue and Geoff Johns has written a special origin for her. Power Girl's new costume and how it relates to Superman is also something which will be addressed. Finally, Grant Morrison's MULTIVERSITY will be published, although a date was not given.