DC Entertainment has unveiled their latest comic book initiative, the DC Black Label imprint. According to the official press release, the aim of this new imprint is to provide “premier talent the opportunity to expand upon the canon of DC’s iconic superhero comic book characters with unique, standalone stories that are outside of the current DC Universe continuity.”
“Many of our perennially bestselling, critically acclaimed books were produced when we unleashed our top talent on standalone, often out-of-continuity projects featuring our most iconic characters, a prime example being Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns. Creating DC Black Label doubles down on our commitment to working with all-star talent and trusting them to tell epic, moving stories that only they can tell with the highest levels of creative freedom,” shared DC Entertainment co-publisher Jim Lee.
Kicking off the DC Black Label is the previously announced Superman: Year One saga from legendary Miller and artist John Romita, Jr. This three-part series will hit shelves August 2018. Also being published under the new imprint is John Ridley’s The Other History of the DC Universe. Kelly Sue DeConnick (Bitch Planet) joins DC Black Label, alongside artist Phil Jimenez, with Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons.
Each DC Black Label series will have a unique format and release schedule to best serve the story and creative vision. Additionally, the new imprint will be brought to life with a new style evoking, “the sense of sophistication fans can expect in these new series.”
“DC Black Label offers leading writers and artists of any industry the opportunity to tell their definitive DC stories without being confined to canon,” added executive editor Mark Doyle. “We are carefully crafting each series to fit the vision of the creative team. All of these creators are masters of their craft. I’m psyched to be working on a Wonder Woman story with Kelly Sue and Phil, helping to bring John’s vision of The Other History of the DC Universe to life and reuniting with some of the greatest Batman talents in the industry.”
Brian Azzarello and Lee Bermejo are also reteaming under the DC Black Label imprint for Batman: Damned, along with Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s Batman: Last Knight on Earth and the return of writer Greg Rucka to Wonder Woman, with Wonder Woman: Diana’s Daughter.
The new line is scheduled to launch in August with the first issue of the three part Superman: Year One.