Tag Archives: varian johnson

DC Reveals Mister Miracle: The Great Escape

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Hitting shelves on January 18 2022, Mister Miracle: The Great Escape is a new DC young adult graphic novel that provides a fresh look into DC’s iconic character Scott Free aka Mister Miracle.

Desperate to leave Apokolips, an oppressive world ruled by Lord Darkseid, Scott’s great escape will take nothing short of a miracle as no one has ever left the planet on their own free will. A student at the Goodness Academy, Scott brews up a foolproof plan to escape to planet Earth—all while struggling to understand his identity, PTSD from growing up in the fire pits of Apokolips, and somehow falling in love with his number one enemy, Big Barda, who has made keeping Scott on Apokolips her number one priority.

Crafted by Coretta Scott King Honor-winning author Varian Johnson and Afro-futurist artist Daniel Isles, this coming of age tale follows Scott as he escapes from oppressive forces. Not only does Scott Free’s plan have to work for Scott to make it out alive—but his found family’s freedom depends on it.

Mister Miracle: The Great Escape marks both Johnson and Isles’ debut project with DC and is scheduled to hit stores and online retailers everywhere books are sold on January 18, 2022.

Escaping Apokolips is hard enough when you don’t know your real name, struggle with PTSD, and have a giant crush on your biggest enemy…but escaping as a hero will take nothing short of a miracle.

Scott Free is a student at the Goodness Academy, on the planet Apokolips, ruled by Lord Darkseid. Sounds pretty cool, right? Wrong. Scott Free wants nothing more than to leave Apokolips for planet Earth; the only problem is that no one has ever left Apokolips of their own free will…or alive. Scott Free has a plan, a foolproof plan, a plan that his found family depends on for their own freedom. But that plan never involved falling in love with the head of the Female Furies, Big Barda–the one person tasked with ensuring he never escapes.

DC Debuts a Trailer for Mayim Bialik’s ‘Flash Facts’ Graphic Novel

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Have you ever wondered what’s at the bottom of the sea? Why polar ice melts? Or which tools forensic scientists use to solve a crime?

If so, it’s time to get up to speed!

Flash Facts—DC’s newest middle grade graphic novel—takes readers ages 8-12 on 10 thrilling adventures, mixing heroic tales of DC Super Heroes with valuable lessons in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). The anthology is curated by Big Bang Theory star, author, and scientist Mayim Bialik, PhD, and is written and drawn by some of the biggest names in middle grade and comics publishing including Varian Johnson (Twins), Cecil Castellucci (Shade, the Changing Girl), Kirk Scroggs (Snoop Troop, The Secret Spiral of Swamp Kid), Michael Northrop (Tomb Quest, Dear Justice League), Isaac Goodhart (Under the Moon: A Catwoman Tale) and many more. Today, DC released the official trailer ahead of the book’s debut on February 2, 2021.

A first of its kind for DC, Flash Facts is a unique pairing of STEM, comics and DC Super Heroes. The book provides a helpful bridge between lessons taught inside the classroom and our everyday lives by demonstrating some of the most kid-approved subjects like virtual reality, 3-D printing, forensics, space and so much more, through iconic DC characters like Batman, the Flash, Supergirl and Cyborg who use STEM as part of their hero identity.

In the age of at-home learning, parents and teachers can feel at ease giving Flash Facts to their aspiring superheroes knowing the book was vetted by a team of educational experts to ensure scientific accuracy. After reading, kids and families can put their newfound STEM knowledge to the test with a collection of fun, super-heroic science experiments at the back of the book.

See here for the official book trailer—narrated by Bialik—revealed today, and below for the official book description. Flash Facts races into stores and online retailers on February 2, 2021, and is available to pre-order now.

See Flash Facts, DC’s First-Ever STEM Graphic Novel for Kids

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Flash Facts is DC‘s first-ever STEM-focused graphic novel for kids. Out in stores on February 2, 2021, the middle-grade anthology is curated by Mayim Bialik and features a collection of short stories from writers and artists including Varian Johnson, Cecil Castellucci, Kirk Scroggs, Michael Northrop, Isaac Goodhart, and many more.

Today, DC released the full Batman chapter, “If You Can’t Take the Heat,” co-written by twin brothers Varian Johnson and Darian Johnson, and illustrated by Vic Regis. The short story features Batman demonstrating 3-D printing for kids.

ALA 2019: DC Reveals a Massive Slate of Graphic Novels Geared Towards Young Adults and Middle Grade Readers Releasing Through 2021

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The 2019 convention for the American Library Association (ALA) kicked off with huge news that DC was consolidating its line under three “brands.” That left many to wonder about the future of the DC Zoom and DC Ink graphic novel lines. Launched last year, the new graphic novel imprints were focused on the young adult and middle grade readers and have been hits so far. DC followed up those concerns with an announcement of a slate of graphic novel releases aimed at those young adult and middle grade readers.

These graphic novels continue the focus on stories not part of DC’s ongoing continuity making them accessible to new fans. The releases also focus on the original mandate of YA titles being about “everyday aspirations, struggles, and triumphs,” while the middle grade releases being focused on stories about “friends, family, and growing up.”

Spring 2020 Lineup

Young Adult Titles

  • Gotham High – Written by Melissa de la Cruz and illustrated by Thomas Pitilli (February 2020)
  • The Oracle Code – Written by Marieke Nijkamp and illustrated by Manuel Preitano (March 2020)

Middle Grade Titles

  • Green Lantern: Legacy – Written by Minh Lê and illustrated by Andie Tong (January 2020)                       
Batman Tales: Once Upon a Crime
Zatanna & the House of Secrets
  • Batman: Overdrive – Written by Shea Fontana and illustrated by Marcelo DiChiara (March 2020)
Batman: Overdrive
DC Super Hero Girls: Powerless
  • Anti/Hero – Written by Kate Karyus Quinn and Demitria Lunetta and illustrated by Maca Gil (April 2020)
  • ArkhaManiacs – Written by Art Baltazar and Franco and illustrated by Art Baltazar (April 2020)
ArkhaManiacs
My Video Game Ate My Homework

Upcoming Titles Debuting in 2020 and 2021

  • Upcoming Young Adult Titles (Not all titles are final)
    • Catwoman: Soulstealer – Adapted by Louise Simonson from Sarah J. Maas’ DC Icon prose novel and illustrated by Samantha Dodge
    • Galaxy: The Prettiest Star – Written by Jadzia Axelrod and illustrated by Cait Zellers
    • House of El Book 1 – Written by Claudia Gray and illustrated by Eric Zawadzki
    • I Am Not Starfire—Written by Mariko Tamaki
    • Mister Miracle – Written by Varian Johnson
    • Nubia – Written by L.L. McKinney and illustrated by Robyn Smith
    • Swamp Thing – Written by Maggie Stiefvater and illustrated by Morgan Beem           
    • Teen Titans: Beast Boy – Written by Kami Garcia and illustrated by Gabriel Picolo
    • Victor & Nora: A Mr. Freeze Story – Written by Lauren Myracle and illustrated by Isaac Goodhart
    • Whistle – Written by E. Lockhart and illustrated by Manuel Preitano
    • Wonder Woman: Tempest Tossed – Written by Laurie Halse Anderson and illustrated by Leila del Duca
    • You Brought Me the Ocean – Written by Alex Sanchez and illustrated by Julie Maroh
    • Zatanna: The Jewel of Gravesend – Written by Alys Arden and illustrated by Jacquelin De Leon
  • Upcoming Middle Grade Titles (Not all titles are final)                         
    • Amethyst: Princess of Gemworld – Written by Shannon and Dean Hale
    • Batman and Robin…and Howard – Written and illustrated by Jeffrey Brown
    • DC Super Hero Girls – Written by Amy Wolfram
    • Dear Super-Villains – Written by Michael Northrop and illustrated by Gustavo Duarte
    • Green Arrow: Stranded – Written by Brendan Deneen and illustrated by Caleb Hosalla
    • Indestructibles Book 1—Written by Ridley Pearson
    • Lois Lane – Written by Grace Ellis and illustrated by Brittney Williams
    • Metropolis Grove – Written and illustrated by Drew Brockington
    • Primer – Written by Thomas Krajewski and Jennifer Muro and illustrated by Gretel Lusky
    • Superman Smashes the Klan – Written by Gene Luen Yang and illustrated by Gurihiru
    • Super Sons Book 3: Escape to Landis – Written by Ridley Pearson and illustrated by Ile Gonzalez          
    • Teen Titans Go! to Camp – Written by Sholly Fisch
    • Teen Titans Go! Roll with It – Written by Heather Nuhfer and P.C. Morrissey 
    • The Mystery of the Meanest Teacher: A Johnny Constantine Graphic Novel – Written by Ryan North and illustrated by Derek Charm