DC To Release 'Batman: Earth One' And 'Superman: Earth One'

DC gearing up to release two new graphic novels

 

If you were DC Comics, chances are that you probably would want to expand your audience by utilizing the two biggest names in comic books, right? According to The Source, DC will be releasing two new comics in a graphic novel format which will recount the storylines of Batman and Superman respectively.

SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE and BATMAN: EARTH ONE kick off an ongoing series of original graphic novels featuring “their first years and earliest moments retold in a standalone, original graphic novel format, on a new earth with an all-new continuity.”

SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE will be written by J. Michael Straczynski with art by Shane Davis, and BATMAN: EARTH ONE will be written by Geoff Johns with the art of Gary Frank.

The question remains, how many times will they re-tell the origin stories of these characters? Will a comic like this isolate fans of the characters, or will you be interested in re-reading their back stories? The good thing about this is the fact that DC will be publishing these books in a graphic novel format through Random House. This is a really good way for DC to expound on their franchises and reach new readers as well as re-tell the timeless origin stories of these characters.

In a recent interview with Aintitcoolnews.com, writer Geoff Johns ( Batman) and artist Shane Davis ( Superman) discussed their sentiments regarding the upcoming project.

“What I’m trying to do is to dig in to the character and look at him through modern eyes. If you were to create the Superman story today, for the first time, but keep intact all that works, what would it look like?”
“It is monumental for us as comic readers to see Superman birthed for the first time,” Davis said. “It’s a privilege to realize that you’re the artist that gets to draw it, better yet having the luxury to do it in an original graphic novel. This is going to be epic!”

Writer Geoff Johns also expressed his excitement regarding the upcoming project.

“BATMAN: EARTH ONE allows Gary and I to break the restraints of any continuity and focus on two things: character and story. Add to that the idea of working on a line of graphic novels instead of being limited to twenty-two pages, it’s a challenge and I love a challenge.”

If you ask me, though, all we have really seen lately is the retelling of Superman's origins. I would personally love to see DC take advantage of the fact that these stories will be set in an alternate universe and give readers new plot twists on stories that fans already know by heart.