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Comics Relief: REBIRTH to Restore Classic Elements to The DC Universe

Welcome to your weekend edition of Comics Relief kids! Today’s a hefty one, with lots of news about DC’s big Rebirth event. So let’s get started on all the juicy details, shall we?

DC Reveals First Rebirth Details

After almost a month of vague teases, we now have more details on just what DC’s Rebirth is going to be. Announced this week at ComicsPRO, Rebirth will be a line-wide event that will restart the majority of the publisher’s titles, from issue # 1, for the first time since the New 52 began in 2011. Starting this summer, DC will release Rebirth specials for 23 of its ongoing titles before jumping into the relaunched series. Not going back to a #1 issue, however, are Action Comics and Detective Comics, which will resume their original numbering.

The number of monthly titles published by DC will drop to 32, but 17 of those titles will be published bi-weekly. The price of each comic will once again be $2.99 across the line. Kicking all of this off will be a special 80-page DC Universe: Rebirth one-shot that will be released on May 25, from the all-star creative team of Geoff Johns with artists Ivan Reis, Phil Jimenez, Ethan Van Sciver and more.

So what do we know about what Rebirth actually is, in terms of story? Hints can be found in the video DC released featuring writer and DC CCO Geoff Johns. In the video, he makes references to how his previous hit series Green Lantern: Rebirth and Flash: Rebirth brought back classic elements of those heroes and made them more popular than ever. You can watch the whole video below:

Based on the images seen in the video — the pre-Flashpoint versions of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the Teen Titans — it seems to indicate that a lot of elements from DC Universe history are coming back. There’s also a glimpse of the scene in Flashpoint where the Flash gives Batman a letter from his father from an alternate reality, indicating that the New 52 reality was also an alternate timeline itself. The letter was always DC’s “get out of jail free card” if the New 52 continuity didn’t stick with fans.

The teaser image released for Rebirth also shows some interesting silhouttes; we see what looks like Kid Flash, the Jay Garrick Golden Age Flash, what appears to be Superboy and Supergirl, a female Green Lantern, and more. Creative teams for each title is expected to be revealed at Wonder Con next month. For the full scoop on DC Rebirth, including the list of titles coming out and their release dates, check out our full story here: [Nerdist]

Marvel Announces Deadpool vs Gambit mini-series

One character has the biggest movie in the world right now. The other hopes to have half of that success later this year. Now Marvel has announced the two are going to fight it out in a new five part mini-series called, appropriately enough, Deadpool vs. Gambit. The new miniseries will reveal the secret, shared history of Wade Wilson and Remy LeBeau.

The mini will be written by Ben Acker & Ben Blacker and artist Danilo Beyruth, and will “tell tales of Deadpool and Gambit’s time as conmen working together on jobs just long enough to stab each other in the back.” Kevin Wada will provide covers for each of the five issues. You can see his full cover for Deadpool vs. Gambit #1 below. [Comic Book]

Titan brings Hammer Horror to comics

From the late ’50s to the early ’70s, British movie studio Hammer Films ruled the world of gothic horror cinema, with movies about Dracula, Frankenstein,the Mummy and the rest, starring the likes of acting legends Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. Now, Titan Comics has announced at ComicsPRO that a new line of comics based on Hammer Horror is coming this year. No creative teams have been announced yet, or even titles, but expect lots of creepy castles and scantily dressed women. [Bleeding Cool]

Stan Lee Announces last ever Canadian Convention appearance

While comic book legend Stan Lee might have more fire left in him than many people even half his age, the truth is, the man is still 93 years old. Because of his advanced age, Stan the Man has decided that his visit to the Fan Expo in Toronto this September will be his last Canadian appearance, saying he hopes to make it “mean something.” Lee said “It’s so pleasant to go somewhere where people like you and want to hear what you have to say. It’s very flattering. But I’m 93 years old. I don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to do it. I want to make this one big event.” [Comics Beat]

Free Comic Book Day to ship 6 million comics this year

This year marks fifteen years of Free Comic Book Day, and Diamond Comics Distributors has announced that more comics have been ordered for the event than ever before. With over 2,300 stores participating this year, May 7, 2016 will find over 6 million free comics available, marking a 7% increase over last year’s number of 5.6 million comics ordered.

FCBD spokesperson Dan Manser said in a statement “Free Comic Book Day is a wonderful event for independently owned and operated comic book shops. It provides them a great opportunity to connect with new and existing customers and gain momentum moving into the summer months and the rest of 2016.” [CBR]

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Marvel creates special Guardians of the Galaxy comic for children’s hospitals

Marvel Comics has been working with Disney and Children’s hospitals all over the country for several years now by sending comic book posters and care packages. Now, they’ve created a new custom Guardians of the Galaxy comic with the creative team of Zub and Wellinton Alves.  According to Marvel, this special issue will be delivered to roughly 450 hospitals across the country, in an effort to bring some brightness into the lives of sick children. [Comic Book]

Star Wars: The Force Awakens adaptation coming this summer

Now that the film has been out for two months and broken every record under the twin suns, Star Wars: The Force Awakens is getting a five-part comic book mini-series adaptation from Marvel Comics. The series will be written by Chuck Wendig (Star Wars: Aftermath), with art from Luke Ross and covers from Secret Wars artist Esad Ribic. The old Star Wars movie adaptations gave fans glimpses into scenes cut from the movie…will this one do the same? How did Poe Dameron get off of Jakku anyhow?? You can see preview images of Rey, Finn and Poe from the new comic in our gallery below: [CBR]

IMAGES: DC Comics / Marvel Comics / Titans Comics

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