>DC’s Next Level initiative is picking up steam in 2026, and April is shaping up to be a major turning point. After March’s high-profile launches like Batwoman by Greg Rucka and DaNi, Deathstroke: The Terminator by Tony Fleecs and Carmine di Giandomenico, and Lobo by Skottie Young and Jorge Corona, DC is expanding the line with two bold new titles: Zatanna by Jamal Campbell and The Fury of Firestorm by Jeff Lemire and Rafael De Latorre.
>>152140679>DC has announced 'The Fury of Firestorm' by Jeff Lemire and Rafael De Latorre. It releases on April 1st!"The community of Bedford, Colorado, is a sleepy small town. The people say hello to their neighbors, attend town hall meetings, and root for the local high school football team on Friday nights. But this idyllic small town is thrown upside down when the Nuclear Man arrives and starts…experimenting. Firestorm has turned buildings to sand and people to glass with no remorse and no warning. But what exactly provoked Ronnie Raymond to commit this heinous act, and can anyone contain the fury that is Firestorm?"
>>152140689>DC has announced Zatanna, a new ongoing series from Jamal Campbell continuing his previous run. It debuts on April 29"Zatanna Zatara embarks on her greatest tour yet! As the newest—and first—Prime Magus in millennia, it is now Zatanna’s sworn responsibility to oversee and guide the world of magic. All eyes are on her. How will she accomplish this grand task? How will she shoulder this heaviest of responsibilities? How will she confront the horrors waiting in forgotten histories? With a wink, a flourish, and a whole lot of magic!".
>>152140689>>152140697more art for both at: https://aiptcomics.com/2026/01/15/dcs-next-level-zatanna-firestorm/
>>152140710
>>152140689Lemire has said that this is experimental and reminds him of when he wrote Moon Knight
>>152140758interedesting
I'm surprised we're getting even more Zatanna. Did her last run do that well?
>>152140722So her cape is her hair?
>>152140935It was a mini and the whole point of Next Level is to let the creatives do whatever character they want
>>152140935Both her last two minis were pretty well-received and did probably okay enough for them to consider investing in an ongoing
>>152140970>>152140983Forgive me. After being around Marvel for so long, I forgot how it felt to see a mini end up as an ongoing. I'm genuinely very happy
Will Slipknot be there?
>>152140697>more thicc zatana
>>152140679>Lobo by Skottie YoungBut is this guy funny?
>>152140722Fuck me I just know Campbell has a fuck ton of art of Zee getting blacked so he can self insert
>Firestorm by Lemire>Zatanna by Campbell>Lobo by Young>Deathstroke by Fleecs>Batwoman by Rucka>The Demon by James Harren (unconfirmed but likely)>Legion of Superheroes by Josh Williamson (unconfirmed? but likely) that probably leaves...>Shadow of the Bat by Deniz Camp>Barbara Gordon: Breakout by Mariko TamakiPlus>Jonah Hex>Teen Titans (which is separate from the "New Titans" with Jon, Spoiler, etc)
>>152141224Maybe we'll finally see Firestorm villains being used outside of fodder for events, crowd scenes, and the Suicide Squad.I hope to see Metroplex, I feel like he should be a bigger enemy to them than he is.
>>152141666>MetroplexMeant to say Multiplex, he was the professor's assistant and their very first enemy.Also, I vaguely recall that he got his powers the same way Ronnie and Stein did, they should do something with that.
Firestorm is one of those characters they keep trying to push but never really finds much of an audience it feels like
>>152140679>Zatanna by Jamal Campbell This shitter again?>and The Fury of Firestorm by Jeff Lemire and Rafael De Latorre.Boring art.They really couldn't find better talent? When's the next Absolute title?
>>152140710I see they're finally going to acknowledge how fucked up Firestorm is as a concept after they decided to stick with the Doomsday Clock retcon.
>>152140679>>152140697>>152140722>they're FINALLY giving Zatanna nice, thick thighs and a big, fat assIt took them long enough. Also, kek, of course it's a black dude who finally does the needful.
>>152140689Pretty sure Firestorm is gonna show up in Absolute Flash eventually too, Lemire is going all in on this character for some reason
>>152142233>Lemire is going all in on this character for some reasonBeause Firestorm is one of his personal faves
>>152141278I liked his Rocket Raccoon stuff
>>152140679DC is not beating the allegations
>>152141666*Firestorm villains aside from Killer FrostIs there any other villain who's more popular than their heroic adversary?
>>152142586Darkseid, Doctor Doom and arguably Loki.
>Firestormhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXgnZkFNLGo
>>152142606>DoomFucking Hell how could I forgetI remember reading a top reasons why the Fantastic Four should join the MCU and it was really a list for why Doctor Doom should be in the MCUIt was literally a punchline as the last reason basically going "The F4 are lame and corny but Doctor Doom is really cool"
>>152141933Firestorm is just fundamentally broken and retarded. They were never trying with him. Even in his original series the best villains they could come up with were.. an ice villain #2837427, a shittier Vermin and a guy who throws rope really good.
>>152141933Captain Atom's always been cooler
>>152141933Firestorm is the Tron of DC superheroes
>>152142635Strange, since one of his series lasted for 8 years
>>152140679I feel like whenever DC does a push for new titles it's always the same characters.>Zatanna>Batwoman>DeathstrokeAt least Firestorm is somewhat out there I guess.
>>15214266380's DC was something elseZoomer fans flock to it even and discuss how it was this time where almost anyone can get a series that can last for yearsAll In seems to be partially designed to cater to that but the moment the series' drop like flies I fully expect people to rush into conspiracy and not get that sales matterIf a character like Green Arrow (who's not Batman tier but isn't exactly fully obscure either) fell below cancellation line, what hope does Firestorm and Zatanna have?>>152142689To be fair, this time around they just let almost whatever talent do whoever they wantIt's a far cry from when Gail Simone discussed how DC would actively prevent writers from handling their personal favorites (for understandable reasons from a certain pov)
>>152142044What’s the Doomsday Clock retcon?
>>152142663Firestorm has fans (including his own fansite) but he's an acquired tasteAgain, he's DC's TronDoesn't really draw dimesShows up as part of ensemble packageComes back every now and then by itself
>>152140679DC are really retarded for going this hard on Next Level when Absolute has been such a success. They should be announcing new Absolute titles not slop like Zatanna by Campbell again.
>>152142586>Deathstroke (Dick/Titans) outside of comics>Solomon Grundy (Alan) in and out of comics>Vandal (Alan) outside of comics>Mystique (Carol) in and out of comics
>>152143315It's probably a good thing they're not going nuts with a bunch of new Absolute titles but it is weird admittedly, where is Absolute Aquaman even?
>>152141620Legion by Williamson is confirmed
>>152142635Killer Frost actually using thermodynamics logic for ice powers is interesting.
>>152143665>>152143315Absolute is obviously a flash in the pan, it's better to keep it as close to the chest as possible
>>152140689I love the firestorm series by Gerry Conway but the character has been useless ever since
>>152143627People that outright jumped ship to a different hero sure are an interesting interaction in hero v villain popularity.
>>152140697Why is zatanna fat
>>152143746But which legion
>>152143315This might be bait if not, I think it's good to have a mix. You don't want to overhandle the Absolute stuff or else you get too many hands on the pot and editorial gets more handsy. I want more series in it too but having other initiatives going on alongside it mean that there's less pressure on it.
>>152140679>Lobo by Skottie Young and Jorge CoronaBring back my girl Crush, even in a cameo, and my money is yoursI'm sick of DC binning their good new characters
>>152143665Aquaman just got a new ongoing after nearly 10 years. I wouldn't be surprised if someone in charge thought that less people would bother with it if they also came out with an Absolute Aquaman book around the same time. All the other Absolute books are based on characters that are consistently in print, except for Martian Manhunter who is kind of a blank slate since he doesn't have a mainline book at all.
>>152140679Why is Zatanna 45 and fat now
>>152143878>I think it's good to have a mix.This must be bait. They announced 6 new series and another two possible somewhat confirmed one, none of them are Absolute despite that line being the big seller. This isn't a mix, it's ignoring one and going all in on the other.
>>152143847I should read the '80s series but the Jason Rusch series is good once Moore and Igle take over. I don't have high hopes for this series because modern DC fucking sucks and I've never liked any comic by Lemire I've tried to read.>>152142750Stein was an asshole and the "accident" that created Firestorm was actually something he did on purpose so he could study metahumans.
>>152140679Who cares?
>>152143863Who cares? Williamson sucks so it's going to suck and I'll just continue re-reading old Legion so I can get actual good LoSH stories.
Bring back The Ray
>>152143863Whatever the reset is after his edgelord Legion future is averted I assume"Like what you know but slightly different" has been Williamson's MO for 2 soft reboots at this point
>>152143903Didn't they say there were gonna be 2 more minis? Admittedly, it would be very funny if Zatanna got her own Absolute mini as well once her shit got handled. All in (get it?) due time, anon. I'm sure Aquaman and some others will get their reveals soon. Martian Manhunter is almost done as well.Having it be only a handful of series so far has made me more likely to read it all at least. You do have a point though and I am curious how things will look like a year or two from now.
>>152143932Is that worth reading at all? It's '90s Priest so I can't imagine it's awful but I'm fairly sure his DC stuff is a lot more mixed than his Marvel stuff.
>>152143972>miniAbsolute Zatanna is strictly within Absolute Wonder Woman's ongoingShe hasn't had her own series announced yet
>>152143975I remember liking it but its been a while since I've read it
>>152143972Green Arrow is confirmed for this summer I believe>inb4hesdeadIt's probably Roy
>>152144000No, anon. Green Arrow and Catwomen were confirmed. The Zatanna thing was a joke since she's getting so much recently.>>152144051I saw someone guess it'll be zombie Green Arrow because DC said it would be a "horror title" and it got a chuckle out of me.
>>152144131Oh sorry I misread it my bad
>>152143932Yes. We need more LBGTQ comics.
>>152143975The first mini is pretty good. Stronger concept than execution but it's nice. The Priest run sucks.
