Summary of DC Comics news items for January 27th - 29th, 2013!
New DC Nation line up for Cartoon Network omits two fan favorite shows!
Official press releases for the upcoming schedule for Cartoon Network from spring 2013 into summer 2014 have been revealed to media yesterday (Jan. 28th, 2013). As reported by Toonzone's Jim Harvey, currently running DC animation series "Young Justice" and "Green Lantern: The Animated Series" are not listed as returning. Instead, "Teen Titans GO!" will debut in April 2013, with the CGI animated "Beware The Batman" debuting in "summer 2014". While an official cancellation of both shows have been denied by network representatives, they merely state that both shows are airing new content currently. This does not change the fact that production on both shows have stopped, and no new episodes have been ordered. Official cancellation of animated TV shows is usually rare; often times new episodes are simply not ordered for another season.
"Young Justice" (currently called "Young Justice: Invasion") debuted on the network on November 2010 and is produced/story edited/co-written by Greg Weisman - best known for "Gargoyles", "W.I.T.C.H." and "Spectacular Spider-Man". Bruce Timm, iconic producer of almost all of DC animation's TV projects from "Batman: The Animated Series" in 1992-1993 until "Justice League Unlimited" ended in 2006, produced "Green Lantern: The Animated Series" (in addition to producing many direct to video animation projects for DC Entertainment). The end of "Young Justice" marks the fourth TV animation project in a row that Greg Weisman has produced which was either canceled or yanked from his control after two seasons.
Ill tidings boded for both shows (especially "Young Justice") for some time. The toy line for "Young Justice" was cancelled after the first season and the tie-in comics for both were either canceled or shifted to a bi-monthly schedule. Third seasons for both shows were not announced or even hinted at during last year's San Diego Comic Con nor the New York Comic Con, which were ideal venues to do so. A video game for "Young Justice" has been delayed, and the entire DC Nation block was yanked from the network last fall after a mere two weeks without any official explanation. "Young Justice" actually pre-dated the creation of the DC Nation block on Cartoon Network to highlight DC animated projects, including shorts.
"Teen Titans Go!" is a super deformed comedy series which pokes fun at the original Cartoon Network series "Teen Titans", which the network canceled in 2006 after five seasons and a TV movie. That series has aired in syndication on other networks, but not on CN for years. "Beware The Batman" is the latest Batman cartoon, this time animated in CGI and offering Katanna as Batman's sidekick as they tackle more obscure villains such as Professor Pyg, Anarchy and Magpie. Ratings for both "Young Justice" and "Green Lantern: TAS" were strong, but apparently the network seeks another direction.
Wonder Woman's return to TV still a bumpy one!
Back in December, it was announced that The CW was commissioning a pilot for a TV series about a young Wonder Woman called "Amazon" - to follow in the successful molds of "Smallville" and "Arrow". It was to be written by Allen Heinberg, best known for "Grey's Anatomy" and who wrote an arc of the Wonder Woman comic himself. Yesterday, two media industry websites announced that "Amazon" was not exactly a shoe-in for the upcoming season.
Deadline stated that The CW passed on "Amazon" for this season and it could be cycled to the next season unless the network is happy with the final script for the project. The Hollywood Reporter offered a slightly more optimistic take, stating that while The CW wasn't happy with the current pilot's script, the network would "hold a slot open" for the show upon approving of a final draft by Heinberg, which could be picked up mid-season instead of waiting until 2014. Due to the historic success of DC drama projects on the network, "Amazon" is still stated to a priority for them.
Wonder Woman is best recalled for the TV series which aired from 1975-1979 starring Lynda Carter as the titular heroine. Since then the only media project which bore her name which materialized was an animated direct-to-video film in 2009. Joss Whedon tried unsuccessfully to make a film in 2005 and David E. Kelley's pilot for an NBC series in 2011 flopped and was not picked up. The path back to TV may be a struggle worthy of an Amazon herself.
Keith Giffen off LOSH after only two issues?
Back in November, it was announced that Keith Giffen would return to the comic book "Legion Of Super-Heroes" on art, which would see him reunite with longtime writer and former DC publisher Paul Levitz. Now, a rumor has begun that Giffen will leave the title after a mere two issues, with no replacement artist as yet announced. DC Comics has yet to confirm the rumor, but wonky creative team changes haven't been uncommon over the past year. This past December, for instance, writer Gail Simone was fired from "Batgirl", only to be rehired a fortnight later after fan outcry. Giffen, as a writer, creator, and artist, has spent most of his career working at DC Comics; he is best known for co-writing the "Justice League International" era and co-creating Lobo.
"Man of Steel" key for "Justice League" film!
Variety reported yesterday afternoon (Jan. 28th) in a long piece about Warner Brothers new CEO, Kevin Tsujihara, that any movement on a potential "Justice League" film for 2015 relies almost solely on the success (or failure) of this summer's "Man Of Steel" film. Produced by Chris Nolan and directed by Zack Synder, it now stands as the foundation of Warner Brothers' attempt to compete with Marvel Studios' films. Commercial disappointments such as 2006's "Superman Returns" and 2011's "Green Lantern" have spooked the studio towards any major movies with any other DC superheroes aside for Batman, whose recent trilogy wrapped last summer. Such a sentiment was heavily speculated for some time, but this report has all but set it in stone.
Read last week's DC Comics news here!
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