DC COMICS

DIRECT CHANNEL

DC Comics, 1700 Broadway, New York, NY 10019

For more information on all of DC’s titles, visit the fully searchable Comics or Graphic Novels  
sections of dccomics.com.

      June 13, 2006 19 pages Issue #783

DC COMICS SLATES A NEW STORY FOR JLA CLASSIFIED #26

This August, JLA CLASSIFIED #26 will feature the first chapter of “Sacred Trust,” a new 6-part tale of the Justice League! 
 
“Sacred Trust” replaces the “Kid Amazo” story originally scheduled for this issue and solicited in the June Previews (Volume XVI #6).  The “Kid Amazo” story will be resolicited in JLA CLASSIFIED at a later date. 
 
All previous orders for JLA CLASSIFIED #26 under the item code JUN060190 are cancelled. 
 
Written by Howard Chaykin, with art and a cover by Kilian Plunkett & Tom Nguyen, “Sacred Trust” begins when the United Nations forbids the Justice League from getting involved in meta-human activities outside the United States, resulting in a rift between the Leaguers themselves!  What will be the right course of action?  And will “plausible deniability” protect anyone from the fall-out? 
 
JLA CLASSIFIED #26 will be retro-resolicited in the July Previews (Volume XVI #17), and is scheduled to arrive in stores on August 30. 
 
The July Previews also will include the solicitation for JLA CLASSIFIED #27, part 2 of “Sacred Trust.”  This issue is scheduled to arrive in stores on September 13.

SCULPTOR RAY VILLAFANE SIGNS EXCLUSIVE CONTRACT WITH 
DC DIRECT

DC Direct has announced that sculptor Ray Villafane has signed an exclusive deal with the company to work on upcoming DC Direct products. 
 
“Signing someone of Ray’s caliber is a real coup for us,” explained Georg Brewer, Vice President of Design and DC Direct Creative.  “We are always looking to have the most talented sculptors work on the greatest characters, and bringing Ray into the DC Direct family is part of that goal.” 
 
Villafane attended the School of Visual Arts in New York.  In 1991 he graduated with a BFA in Illustration and a degree to teach kindergarten – 12th grade art. 
 
Despite a promising career in illustration, Ray followed his passion for working with children and became an art teacher in Northern Michigan.  After 12 years of teaching, in 2003 Ray felt it was time to move on and refocus on his art.  Ray decided to try his hand at sculpting.  Within three months he had landed his first professional job. 
 
His career as a sculptor took off overnight and within a year, Ray’s clients included Bowen Designs, McFarlane Toys, Sideshow Collectibles and DC Direct. 
 
After two years of juggling his sculpting and teaching, Ray decided to focus strictly on his work for DC Direct. 
 
“Joining DC is very exciting,” Villafane said.  “Working on such timeless characters is an honor.  The individuals with whom I’ve had the opportunity to work with at DC have been nothing short of great.  I am confident that working closely together we will help bring about some of the best collectibles and action figures that the comic book industry has to offer.”

52 WEEK 10 ON FINAL ORDER CUTOFF THIS WEEK!

52 WEEK 10 (MAY060153) is on final order increase cutoff this week, and Wednesday, June 14 is the last chance for retailers to adjust their initial orders up or down on this issue. 
 
52 WEEK 10 is written by Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka and Mark Waid, with breakdowns by Keith Giffen, art by Chris Batista, Jimmy Palmiotti & Jack Jadson and a cover by J.G. Jones.  This issue also features the next “History of the DCU” backup feature, written by Dan Jurgens and illustrated by Jurgens & Andy Lanning.  This issue is scheduled to arrive in stores on July 12 with a cover price of $2.50 U.S.

BATMAN STRIKES COLLECTIONS TO BE RESOLICITED

Please note that all orders for the BATMAN STRIKES VOL. 3: DUTY CALLS (MAY060191) and BATMAN STRIKES VOL. 4: BEHIND THE SHADOWS (MAY060192) TPs have been cancelled.  These titles will be resolicited at a later date.

SEVEN SOLDIERS VOL. 4 TP TO BE RESOLICITED

Due to the delay of SEVEN SOLDIERS #1, the SEVEN SOLDIERS VOL. 4 TP (FEB060291) has been postponed.  All orders on the TP have been cancelled; this item will be resolicited at a later date.  

DCCOMICS.COM UPDATE

Retailers now may get an advance look at selected upcoming DC projects at dccomics.com.  New on the site are Sneak Peeks of the following titles which were solicited in Previews.  

      THE CREEPER #1 (of 6) — JUN060178 
 http://www.dccomics.com/comics/?cm=5744 

      MARTIAN MANHUNTER #1 (of 8) — JUN060206

      http://www.dccomics.com/comics/?cm=5798 

DC COMICS CLOSED ON FRIDAY, JUNE 16

Please note that the offices of DC Comics and WildStorm will be closed on Friday, June 16 for a special summer holiday.

BACK TO PRESS!

As part of DC’s commitment to retailers and readers alike, selected items go back to press when quantities become low.  The following titles have been reprinted and are available for order: 
 
BATMAN: WAR GAMES ACT THREE TP (JUL050202) (2^nd printing) 
THE FLASH: THE SECRET OF BARRY ALLEN TP (MAY050230) (2^nd printing) 
JLA: ROCK OF AGES TP (APR068118) (4^th printing) Now priced $14.99/19.99 
THE KINGDOM TP (APR068118) (3^rd printing) Now priced $19.99/26.99 
THE OMAC PROJECT TP (SEP050257) (2^nd printing) 
PROMETHEA BOOK 3 TP (APR068029) (2^nd printing) Now priced $14.99/19.99 
SUPERMAN: GODFALL TP (APR050322) (2^nd printing) 
SUPERMAN: THE MAN OF STEEL VOL. 2 TP (MAR068126) (2^nd printing) Now priced $19.99/26.99 
SWAMP THING: REUNION TP (APR068126) (2^nd printing) Now priced $19.99/26.99

THIS WEEK’S SNEAK PEEK

One copy of each of the titles below arrived in participating stores one week before their in-store date, and are all available for advance reorder.  To join DC’s Sneak Peek program, simply contact your Diamond service rep by calling 1-800-45COMIC or emailing to [email protected].

Retailers participating in DC’s Sneak Peek Program will receive one copy each of the following DC titles with a June 21 in-store date on Wednesday, June 14.

The following DC items are priced at 70% off through July 3, 2006: 
 
ITEM   SALE         RETAIL  SALE  
CODE   ITEM        PRICE PRICE

DEC050228  BATMAN: JOURNEY INTO KNIGHT #7    $2.50  $0.75 
JAN060285  BATMAN: JOURNEY INTO KNIGHT #8    $2.50  $0.75 
JAN060284  BATMAN: LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT #202 $2.50  $0.75 
FEB060223  BATMAN: LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT #203 $2.50  $0.75 
FEB060298  THE BATMAN STRIKES! #20    $2.25  $0.68 
DEC050252  BIRDS OF PREY #91     $2.50  $0.75 
FEB060258  BIRDS OF PREY #93     $2.50  $0.75 
FEB060259  BLOOD OF THE DEMON #14    $2.50  $0.75 
FEB060274  HARD TIME SEASON TWO #5    $2.50  $0.75 
DEC050332  HELLBLAZER #217       $2.75  $0.83 
JAN060379  HELLBLAZER #218       $2.75  $0.83 
FEB060332  HELLBLAZER #219       $2.75  $0.83 
FEB060302  HI HI PUFFY AMIYUMI #3     $2.25  $0.68 
JAN060317  JLA CLASSIFIED #19     $2.99  $0.90 
FEB060279  JLA CLASSIFIED #20     $2.99  $0.90 
JAN060319  JSA CLASSIFIED #10     $2.50  $0.75 
FEB060283  JSA CLASSIFIED #11     $2.50  $0.75 
DEC050334  LUCIFER #71       $2.75  $0.83 
JAN060382  LUCIFER #72       $2.75  $0.83 
SEP050271  MAD KIDS #1      $4.99  $1.50 
FEB060305  MAD KIDS #3      $4.99  $1.50 
FEB060304  MAD MAGAZINE #465     $3.99  $1.20 
FEB060325  MAJESTIC #16      $2.99  $0.90 
DEC050272  MANHUNTER #19      $2.50  $0.75 
FEB060284  MANHUNTER #21      $2.50  $0.75 
FEB060301  SCOOBY DOO #107      $2.25  $0.68 
FEB060338  SWAMP THING #26      $2.99  $0.90 
JAN060362  TEAM ZERO #4       $2.99  $0.90 
FEB060322  TEAM ZERO #5       $2.99  $0.90 
JAN060336  TEEN TITANS GO #29     $2.25  $0.68 
JAN060366  THE WINTER MEN #4      $2.99  $0.90

ARRIVING IN STORES NEXT WEEK

The following titles are scheduled to arrive in stores on Wednesday, June 21.  Make sure your store will have enough. 

NOT TO BE OVERLOOKED

Be sure you’ve got enough copies of the following hot projects — check your orders and process any increases before Wednesday, June 21. 

RETURNABLE ITEMS

Returnable Books Key