Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Next Level

  • SDCC: Deniz Camp and Javier Rodríguez Reteam at DC for ‘Shadow of the Bat’

    SDCC: Deniz Camp and Javier Rodríguez Reteam at DC for ‘Shadow of the Bat’

    When DC’s Next Level initiative was first unveiled, two high-profile titles were teased without creative teams attached: The Demon and Shadow of the Bat.  A visceral horror take on Etrigan by James Harren was finally announced and DC used its SDCC Gotham panel to finally deliver the main event—and they’re reuniting one of the most critically acclaimed creative duos in modern comics to pull it off.

    Writer Deniz Camp and artist Javier Rodríguez—fresh off their critically acclaimed, Eisner-nominated run on Absolute Martian Manhunter—are officially taking the reins of Batman: Shadow of the Bat.

    Operating directly within main DC Universe canon, the series will run parallel to the mainline events unfolding in Matt Fraction’s Batman and Tom Taylor’s Detective Comics.

    The Premise: The Fallout of Institutional Failure

    The series kicks off with a massive explosion at an abandoned Ace Chemicals plant—the infamous birthplace of The Joker. The blast releases a massive wave of psychogenic chemicals across Gotham City, giving rise to an entirely new wave of threats, citizens, and villains who are all fundamentally shaped by living in the Dark Knight’s shadow.

    However, Camp made it clear during the panel that the series isn’t just about punching costume-clad rogues. It’s a grounded, heavy-hitting exploration of how a city copes with perpetual, systemic disaster. “It’s Batman coming to terms with the failure of our institutions and the trauma of his own, paralleled with the trauma of the people of Gotham after a massive chemical plant explosion, along with every other traumatic event they’ve experienced,” explained Camp.

    Camp and Rodríguez proved on Absolute Martian Manhunter that they excel at taking classic superhero archetypes and filtering them through high-concept, deeply human, and visually inventive lenses. Giving them a flagship Next Level title inside Gotham allows them to bring that exact same secret sauce to Bruce Wayne. By focusing on new characters, new villains, and the socio-economic reality of being an ordinary citizen in a city protected by a billionaire vigilante, Shadow of the Bat promises to offer a distinct, thought-provoking perspective that complements the broader Gotham publishing line.

  • SDCC: DC ‘Next Level’ Initiative Expands Again with First-Ever ‘Vixen’ Ongoing and ‘Static’ Relaunch

    SDCC: DC ‘Next Level’ Initiative Expands Again with First-Ever ‘Vixen’ Ongoing and ‘Static’ Relaunch

    During its DC Next Level panel at San Diego Comic-Con, the publisher announced two high-profile ongoing series starring fan-favorite Black superheroes: a landmark Vixen title and a long-awaited return for Static.

    Both books fall under the banner of DC’s Next Level publishing push—an initiative designed to give top-tier creators room to build accessible, character-defining runs that play in the DC Universe without getting bogged down by massive crossover continuity.

    Vixen: Mari McCabe Takes Center Stage

    After decades as a core Justice League member and a standout supporting player across the DC Universe, Mari McCabe is officially getting her flowers. Vixen #1 marks the first-ever ongoing solo series for the character in her 45-year history.

    • The Creative Team: Two-time Eisner nominee Stephanie Williams (Temporal, Roots of Madness) and fan-favorite artist Khary Randolph (Excellence, Spawn).
    • The Pitch: Williams explained that the series will re-frame Mari on her own terms—a high-fashion international icon who unapologetically owns her double life. During the panel, Williams summed up the vibe: “It’s like if Rihanna finally decided to be a superhero.”

    Static: Bang Baby Returns to the Mainstream

    Virgil Hawkins is officially back on the solo beat. Following his recent appearance with the New Titans and integration into the broader DC Universe, Static is headlining his first ongoing series in 15 years.

    • The Creative Team: Writer Cody Ziglar (Miles Morales: Spider-Man, Deadpool) and artist Diego Olortegui (Justice Society of America).
    • The Pitch: Ziglar, who has proven his ability to write kinetic, fresh, modern teenage heroes, brings his energetic voice to Milestone’s flagship hero. According to Ziglar, the series will focus on Virgil “dusting off the cobwebs and reintroducing himself to the superhero world” as he navigates new threats and higher stakes.

    With Vixen reclaiming her fashion-and-heroics crown and Static stepping back into the ongoing spotlight, DC’s Next Level slate is quickly becoming one of the most exciting corners of the publisher’s lineup.

  • Horror on the Frontier: Michael Walsh Takes Jonah Hex into Dark Supernatural Waters in DC Next Level’s ‘Jonah Hex and the Shadow of Death’

    Horror on the Frontier: Michael Walsh Takes Jonah Hex into Dark Supernatural Waters in DC Next Level’s ‘Jonah Hex and the Shadow of Death’

    DC’s Next Level initiative is riding out into the Old West, and it’s bringing a massive dose of folk horror along for the ride.

    Announced during DC’s San Diego Comic-Con Next Level panel, acclaimed creator Michael Walsh (The Silver Coin, Universal Monsters: Frankenstein) is writing and illustrating Jonah Hex and the Shadow of Death. Launching in October, the six-issue miniseries thrusts DC’s premier bounty hunter into a terrifying, psychological horror-western that leans heavily into the supernatural.

    The Premise: No Peace for the Scarred

    The series picks up with Jonah Hex attempting to do the impossible: leave his bloody past behind. Settling into a quiet life in the small frontier town of Ashecott, Hex thinks he’s finally hung up his guns for good.

    However, tranquility doesn’t last long on the wild frontier. An ancient, malevolent force—older than the town itself—descends upon Ashecott, targeting a young child possessing mysterious, extraordinary abilities. With terrifying entities closing in, Hex is forced to pull his revolvers back out and confront a nightmare unlike anything he’s ever faced.

    Jonah Hex hasn’t headlined his own standalone title in over a decade. While the antihero has traditionally drifted between classic grit and sci-fi time travel, handing the reins over to a horror maestro like Walsh is an inspired direction.

    Walsh has proven he is one of the premier atmospheric storytellers in modern comics. Letting him handle both script and art duties guarantees a moody, visceral “Weird West” tale that fits seamlessly alongside DC’s creator-driven Next Level strategy.

    The Creative Breakdown

    • Writer & Artist: Michael Walsh
    • Format: 6-Issue Limited Series
    • Release Window: October 2026
    • The Vibe: Folk horror meets psychological frontier suspense

    With DC’s Next Level line expanding beyond traditional superheroes to encompass books like Batwoman, Lobo, and now Jonah Hex, the publisher is proving it’s willing to lean hard into genre storytelling. If you’re a fan of The Sixth Gun or classic Vertigo horror, this October release deserves an immediate spot on your pull list.

  • James Harren Unleashes Hell on Earth in ‘The Demon’ This October

    James Harren Unleashes Hell on Earth in ‘The Demon’ This October

    DC’s Next Level panel at San Diego Comic-Con has officially made good on what might be the worst-kept secret in the industry: Etrigan is back, and he’s bringing pure, unadulterated body horror with him.

    Superstar artist and writer James Harren (Ultramega, Rumble) is both writing and drawing The Demon, an all-new series launching on October 7, 2026. Joined by legendary colorist Dave Stewart and letterer Clayton Cowles, Harren’s take on Jack Kirby’s iconic 1972 creation is being built ground-up as an accessible, terrifying entry point into Etrigan’s mythology.

    The Premise: Hell on Earth

    The series paints a grim picture of a world infested by unseen horrors. Beasts from Hell are roaming among us, feasting on humanity’s souls and leaving hollow husks behind.

    Only one man can see these invisible predators and cast them back into the pit: Jason Blood. However, Blood is a shell of his former, 1,500-year-old self—wandering the earth, haunted by the memory of a long-gone Merlin, and trying to drown out the roaring demonic voice in his head begging to be let out. To save humanity, Blood is forced to confront the nightmare bound to his own soul and decide if he can truly unleash the Demon Etrigan once again.

    If you’ve read Harren’s work on Ultramega or his B.P.R.D. arcs, you know his signature style is defined by explosive action, hyper-detailed creature designs, and unmatched kinetic violence. Handing him total auteur control over Etrigan makes this one of the most exciting creator-driven projects on DC’s entire fall lineup.

    Scott Snyder teased that when Harren came on board, his passion project was crystal clear. “I went to somebody I love and was like, ‘Look, I think you’re fantastic. What do you want to do?’ And they wanted to do a horror book… Their pitch was essentially a book that allows you to walk right in knowing nothing about The Demon and just be completely enveloped by this awesome mythology about a guy who’s cursed with this alternate demonic presence inside of him. It’s a straight-up horror book.“

    The Variant Cover Lineup:

    DC is making sure issue #1 hits with maximum impact, lining up a killer set of variant covers from a who’s who of modern indie and horror talent:

    • Main Cover: James Harren
    • Variant Covers: Daniel Warren Johnson, Michael Walsh, Hayden Sherman, and John McCrea

    Alongside Michael Walsh’s Jonah Hex and the Shadow of Death, James Harren’s The Demon signals that DC’s “Next Level” push isn’t afraid to embrace dark, genre-heavy storytelling. If you’re looking for visceral, heavy-metal horror on your pull list this spooky season, October 7 can’t get here fast enough.