DC Comics will expand even further later this year with its “Black Label” imprint, announced today by the publisher. It’s stated aim, according to the official press release, 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,” and the initial lineup of books will include new stories starring DC’s Trinity of Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman.
Creators announced for DC Black Label’s launch slate include Frank Miller, John Romita Jr., the fan-favorite Batman team of Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo, and Bitch Planet co-creator Kelly Sue DeConnick, in her first major work for DC Comics since a three-issue stint on Supergirl in 2011. Previously announced projects Superman: Year One, by Miller and Romita, and the John Ridley-written The Other History of the DC Universe, will both be released under the Black Label banner. An artist has not yet been named for The Other History of the DC Universe.
DC Black Label will launch in August with the debut of Superman: Year One, a three-part series. Mark Doyle, Executive Editor of DC Comics’ mature readers imprint Vertigo, will also oversee DC Black Label.