Ivan Reis

The DC Icons series has been an interesting experiment from DC Collectibles. Following the lengthy run of New 52 figures, shaking things up by putting out characters from the vast DC Comics catalog from all different eras has proven to be quite an exercise. Though the figures in the Icons line are just out of scale with most of its contemporaries, that doesn't diminish the quality of the figures... even if it does make them look just out of place on display with other toys. We got a look at the latest additions --- John Stewart, the Joker, and Firestorm --- just in time for their release this month. All three candidates are strong additions, and give us versions of these characters that have been sorely lacking representation on the toy front.

DC Comics kicked off the start of its next new era and its next pseudo reboot with DC Universe: Rebirth #1 by Geoff Johns, Ethan Van Sciver, Gary Frank and Ivan Reis this week. The issue contains a lot of shocking revelations that will have far-reaching consequences for all DC Universe titles in the coming months, but was it a good comic, and does it fill its readers with the hope and optimism that writer Geoff Johns had promised? ComicsAlliance convened a roundtable of critics Elle Collins, Katie Schenkel, Kieran Shiach, and Andrew Wheeler to break it all down and give their unvarnished opinions of DC's new direction. Spoilers follow.

Today saw the release of DC Universe Rebirth #1, DC Comics' big attempt to right some perceived wrongs the company may have taken over the past five years, and set the stage for a new DC Universe and a new slate of comics due out next month. Towards the back of the issue there is a two-page spread by Ivan Reis featuring the heroes of this new universe totaling over sixty characters, and we've combed through the entire spread and put a name to every face.

DC Comics’ big summer event one-shot DC Universe: Rebirth #1 goes on sale this week, and the internet is abuzz with news, reveals and spoilers concerning one of the biggest comics of the year. The one-shot by Geoff Johns, Ethan Van Sciver, Gary Frank and Ivan Reis sees the return of familiar faces from inside and outside the DC Universe, and DC is already publicizing those revelations in the press, so we’ve rounded up the biggest developments from this blockbuster story from DC-approved sources like USA Today, IGN and CBR, for those readers who want the full rundown. If you don't want to be spoiled for any of the events of DC Universe: Rebirth #1 before the book comes out on Wednesday, go learn about some other comics you could be reading instead. Spoilers for the future of the DC Universe follow.

In the mid-eighties, DC Comics tried a bizarre experiment known as the DC Challenge, a story told by twelve different creative teams over twelve comics, with the catch being that each issue would end on a cliffhanger that the next team would have to get themselves out of. Announced at Emerald City Comic Con, DC is reviving the series in the form of Kamandi Challenge, thirteen creative teams over twelve issues telling one complete story with the classic Jack Kirby character, Kamandi: The Last Boy On Earth. The original DC Challenge featured the likes of Elliot S! Maggin, Mike W. Barr, Dave Gibbons, Gene Colan and so many more legendary creators. and featured the additional caveat that they could use any DC Comics characters, except ones they were currently working with elsewhere. The series culminated in a jam-packed final issue which was divided among six of the previous creative teams.

The one and only Batgirl of Burnside is getting her own DC Icons action figure, complete with motorcycle and smartphone this November. That's it. That's the news. We can wrap it up. I could talk about the rest of the new DC Icons announced by DC Collectibles today (via IGN), but then I wouldn't be able to get in my car to drive to Los Angeles and grab this figure from the production room while all of the DC Collectibles employees are at Toy Fair this weekend. I consider myself a patient man, but I can't wait until November for this. Batgirl was just one of six new figures announced for the Icons line, as well as two accessory packs to add even more Easter egg mayhem to these figures. Technically I guess you would count Grail as a seventh figure even though she's part of a two-pack with Darkseid, but you get what I'm saying. Right?

We are quickly approaching the November 25 release date for Dark Knight III: The Master Race, Frank Miller, Brian Azzarello, Andy Kubert and Klaus Janson's eight-issue miniseries chronicling the final adventure of an older Batman. And, as is the way of things, there are going to be plenty of variant covers for collectors to get their hands on. In addition to the usual variants --- including the 1:5000 sketch variant by Jim Lee that was announced back in August --- there are also going to be retailer-specific covers.

Created by Marv Wolfman and George Perez, Cyborg has slowly moved up the ranks in the DC Universe, growing from Teen Titan into a fully-fledged member of the Justice League. To mark the launch of his new solo series from David F. Walker, Ivan Reis, Joe Prado and Adriano Lucas, we've collected some of the best Cyborg art ever.

Standing alongside the Justice League since the start of the New 52, Victor Stone has long been a calm but grounding presence for the team. Unlike so many other heroes, he cannot take off a mask and cowl and go off to live a regular life. Victor Stone is always Cyborg. That brings a different perspective to superhero life that, one that, up until now, has never been fully explored. This month writer David F. Walker takes on the character for an ongoing series, fresh off a fantastic run on Shaft over at Dynamite. Joined by Ivan Reis, Joe Prado, and Adriano Lucas as the artistic team, Walker has already demonstrated a little of what he plans to bring to the Cyborg series in a 'Sneak Peak' issue published by DC at the end of May. With Cyborg #1 due on shelves next week, we spoke to Walker about how he came on board, working with DC, and finding the humanity in Victor Stone.

The recent free eight-page preview for DC's upcoming Cyborg series by David F. Walker and Ivan Reis revealed a significant change for title character Victor Stone; after having his cybernetic arms severed and his life ended by rampaging monsters, the three-quarters mechanical hero came back to life with new, more human-looking limbs. To some readers it might seem a mere cosmetic makeover, but the change may have deeper implications. To understand why, it's helpful to understand how Cyborg is regarded by black critics.