Broken Frontier

DC Comics, the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world, announced today the launch of 52thecomic.com website that allows fans to enter the fictional world of 52, DC Comics’ ambitious weekly, year long mini-series that chronicles the fate of a world without Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman.

While most comic books traditionally ship on a monthly, or even bi-monthly basis, 52 will be published by DC Comics each and every week for one year, beginning May 10, 2006. The trailblazing series plays out in “real time” with each issue covering the events in one week of the DC Universe. Throughout the course of this historic year, 52thecomic.com will grant readers access to the headlines of the Daily Planet—the workplace of acclaimed journalists Clark Kent and Lois Lane and photographer Jimmy Olson.

52thecomic.com will function as any “real world” newsmagazine would (with its headlines ripped from the pages of 52) with coverage of the events of the day, including national, world and local news, sports coverage and updated weather forecasts. If it’s snowing in an issue of 52, the site will reflect that with an updated weather report. If war breaks out in Khandaq, 52thecomic.com will report on the troops. If the Gotham Knights just lost a close double-header, you can check the score. The site also features a real time clock (which syncs to the time zone of any web user who visits the site) and banner ads promoting the fictional products that stock the shelves of the DC universe.

“A landmark comic book event like 52 deserves an equally creative website,” said DC Comics SVP of Sales & Marketing Stephanie Fierman. “If an imaginary universe were real, this would be its strongest news source.”

Readers will also be vaulted between the panels of the year’s biggest comic book event through the site’s extensive collection of information, including:

• Exclusive audio interviews with writers Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka and Mark Waid – the super group behind 52 – and their artistic collaborators;

• Behind-the-scenes storyboards by 52 breakdown artist and industry legend Keith Giffen;

• Online comic books and character profiles by some of the industry’s top creators.

“52 is created to deliver the kind of cliffhangers, tragedies and triumphs that will drive our fans to visit their local comic book stores each and every week,” said DC Senior Vice President – Executive Editor Dan DiDio. “52thecomic.com is designed to give them a dose of that drama each and every day.”

Imagine: a world without Superman, Batman or Wonder Woman—but not a world without heroes. Visit 52thecomic.com.