Welcome to the weekend edition of Comics Relief, where in today’s installment we’ve got news on Bryan Hitch’s epic new take on the classic version of the Justice League of America, plus Thanos’ creator returns to draw his baby, and a special effects legend pays homage to the Joker. First off though, we’ve got the latest tease on what to expect from the Marvel universe once Secret Wars wraps up…

After Secret Wars Ends, Prepare For “All-New Marvel”

We know that after Secret Wars ends, the Marvel Universe will jump forward eight months in time, giving us an all-new status quo. Just what that stats quo is remains a mystery for now, although there are heavy hints from the publisher that many refugees from the Ultimate Universe and other realities will be inhabiting the mainstream Marvel Universe. This week Marvel announced the company branding for their new initiative, so say goodbye to “Marvel NOW!” and hello to “All-New, All-Different Marvel”. More details are expected soon, but in the meantime, all we have is this image. Oh, and expect a lot of new #1 issues.

Special Effects Legend Rick Baker Pays Homage To Greg Capullo’s Most Twisted Joker

One of the most iconic images to come out of Scott Snyder’s and Greg Capullo’s recent run on Batman was the twisted Joker “mask” made of his own face that he cut off, and then re-attached, in the Death of the Family story arc. Now one of the biggest names is movie make-up, arguably the biggest name, Rick Baker, known for his work on An American Werewolf in London, Men In Black, and even the original Star Wars (his IMDB credits are as big as it gets) has gone ahead and done his own homage to Greg Capullo’s work. You can see on example of Baker’s Capullo-esque Joker below, and to see more, click on the following link: [Comic Book Resources]

YouTube Comedy Team SMOSH Teams Up With Dynamite Entertainment

The YouTube based comedy team known as SMOSH have announced that they are coming together with publisher Dynamite Entertainment for a new line of comics. SMOSH is the name of duo Anthony Padilla and Ian Andrew Hecox, and their YouTube channel network is said to have over 30 million subscribers.

Although no titles have been announced yet, Padilla and Hecox will be involved in every aspect of their creation, which will include working on new as well as already existing character. Although no official release date is set for their first comic, the first title from the partnership is expected to be come out sometime this winter. [The Hollywood Reporter]

Thanos’ Creator Jim Starlin Draws The Cosmic Villain Once Again On Secret Wars Variant Cover

If you’ve been reading Marvel’s Secret Wars at all, you know that Thanos is poised to be a major player in that story, not to mention the role he’ll play in the MCU in the years ahead. Now as a variant cover for issue #4 of Secret Wars, Thanos’ creator Jim Starlin returns to illustrate the character he originally brought to life some forty years ago. Secret Wars #4 is brought to you be the creative team of Jonathan Hickman and Esad Ribic, with the main cover being illustrated by Alex Ross. Below is the variant cover, with Thanos as drawn by his creator, along with other members of his cabal, including Namor and Terrax. [Newsarama]

Is DC Going To Start Sharing Story Pages With Ads Again?

Think your average comic book has way too many ads? Well, if you do, then you’re probably not going to love this news. It looks like DC is going to be publishing ads on the same pages as artwork, a practice that was done a long time ago, although it was mostly done away with by the eighties. According to Bleeding Cool, their sources are telling them that DC Comics are planning to run half-page double spread ads in their print comics soon. As a result, creators have been told to draft their story breaking in mind that one page will be split into two for the print comic – but also that it will be recombined for the collected edition. If this turns out to be correct, how long before Marvel and others follow suit? [Bleeding Cool]

Nominees Announced For First Ever Dwayne McDuffie Kid’s Comics Awards

The shortlist has been announced for the inaugural Dwayne McDuffie Award for Kids’ Comics, named in honor of the late great comics creator who helped create Milestone Comics and worked on the now-classic Justice League Unlimited animated series. The 10 finalists for the kids’ comics award were selected by three judges: Kids Read Comics co-founders Edith Donnell and Dan Merritt, and ROBOT 6 contributor Brigid Alverson, who edits the School Library Journal’s Good Comics for Kids blog.

The winner of the inaugural award will be announced at the Kids Read Comics festival, held June 20-21 at the Ann Arbor District Library in Michigan. Among the finalists in the competition are such books as Bird and Squirrel on Ice by James Burks, Costume Quest: Invasion of the Candy Snatchers by Zac Gorman, and The Magical Monsters of Turkey Hollow by Jim Henson and Jerry Juhl, adapted and illustrated by Roger Langridge. For the full line-up of nominees, click on the following link: [Comic Book Resources]

Bryan Hitch’s New Justice League of America #1 Gets 7 Amazing Interlocking Variant Covers

Bryan Hitch, who made his name several years back drawing The Authority for Wildstorm, and then helped Mark Millar usher in The Ultimates, which was a huge influence on Marvel’s Avengers film, is now coming back to DC in June, and helping them launch their all-new Justice League of America series, featuring the big seven heroes in big widescreen action. The first issue will feature a total of seven different covers featuring the individual members of the League, which together form one big interlocking image from Hitch. Let’s hope that Hitch’s JLA is as much an influence on Zack Snyder’s Justice League movie as Ultimates was on The Avengers. Check out all seven covers in the gallery below: [USA Today]