2002 was a huge year for comics—lucky for us 2003 is going to blow it away.
From the movies to new projects from the industry’s top creators 2003 is one of the biggest years comics have seen in awhile. Just check out these events…

More Batman
Writer Jeph Loeb and artist Jim Lee have rocketed Batman up Diamond’s Top 100 with the team’s first storyarc “Hush,” and in 2003 it doesn’t look like they’ll be slowing down. The duos already planned a confrontation with the Joker and a World’s Finest reunion with Superman. For years fans begged for Loeb to write a regular Batman book like his dark, noir take on the Dark Knight in The Long Halloween. And for years fans begged Jim Lee to take on another monthly title. Now they’ve got both and it was well worth the wait.

Comic Movies
If you thought the hype around the “Spider-Man” movie was huge, just wait until there are four comic book films released in a six month span. Beginning with “Daredevil” in February, comic book films are making their biggest impact ever in 2003. In May, the sequel to “X-Men” opens with Hugh Jackman returning as Wolverine and Allan Cumming taking on the new role of Nightcrawler. Then in June, “The Hulk” opens with a huge special effects budget and Ang Lee directing. And finally in July, Alan Moore’s “League of Extraordinary Gentlemen” gets the Hollywood treatment with Sean Connery taking the role of Allan Quatermain.

JLA/Avengers
There is no bigger project than JLA/Avengers.
Kurt Busiek and George Pérez’s four-issue, prestige-format presentation of the teaming between the JLA and Avengers is almost too big to describe. Besides the obvious talent of Busiek on projects such as Avengers and Marvels, Pérez has ampt up his duties on the project, not just penciling but also inking every page and panel.
The still unscheduled mini-series will reportedly see fan-favorite battles like Captain America versus Batman and team ups like Hawkeye and Green Arrow.

Mike Turner’s New Projects
Mike Turner’s back, baby.
After a long hiatus due to cancer therapy, the superstar artist is back with Fathom and two new projects. But Turner’s not doing it all alone. He’s enlisted both writers Geoff Johns (JSA/Avengers) and Jeph Loeb (Batman) to write his two newest creations. According to Turner, Dragonfly: Soulfire revolves around a young telepath living in a future world he must protect. Ekos, written by Johns, will centers around a mystical world that must defend its self from alien invaders. Both series, Dragonfly and Ekos, will be previewed in Wizard #139 (available on February 26th). Voting by fans will then determine which of the new projects Turner takes on first.

Wolverine #1
Don’t miss this issue. When writer Greg Rucka (Queen & Country) and penciler Darick Robertson (Transmetropolitian) take over Wolverine it’ll become one the hottest issues of 2003. And remember Marvel doesn’t over print. Need proof? Let’s let Rucka tell you…
“[Wolverine is] the original Marvel bad ass,” says Rucka. “He makes everyone else in the Marvel Universe look candy ass. The Punisher wouldn’t stand a chance against him. He is the hardest of the hard, and it’s not because of his abilities or his talent it’s his head and his heart. He is the wolf in the urban jungle.”
Nuff said, right?

Silvestri Back on X-Men
If you think Jim Lee on Batman is huge, wait until you see Marc Silvestri on New X-Men.
Silvestri, who redefined the X-Men in the ’90s before breaking away from Marvel with his Image cohorts, plans to take on a short storyarc with writer Grant Morrison (The Filth) some time in 2003. Although plans for what the storyarc will entail is still top secret at the House of Ideas, fans are sure to race to their pull lists and make sure this issue sells out almost immediately.

1602?
If you want to start a message board debate bring up Neil Gaiman’s triumphant return to Marvel after an almost decade long absence.
So little is know about the project that even insiders at Marvel aren’t in the know. Reportedly only a select few editors have even read the proposal and artist Andy Kubert only sends completed pages directly to colorist Richard Isanove, who then sends final files to Marvel EiC Joe Quesada. Rumors have swirled for months now that the series could cover everything from Marvel’s past to its distant future but no one at the House if talking.

WRITER’S BIO: Mike Cotton is a staff writer for Wizard: The Comics Magazine. For all the comic book news fit to print, check out Wizard on sale every month at comic book specialty shops and newsstands everywhere.

The Cotton Club Archive

August 7 , 2003 - HOLLYWOOD RUN DOWN July 31, 2003 - SPIDER-MAN 2 July 24, 2003 - BAG MAN July 17, 2003 - Moore or Less July 10, 2003 - Ink Test July 2, 2003 - HURRICANE WARNING June 25, 2003 - BANNER BANTER June 10, 2003 - PETER DAVID June 3 , 2003 - PAUL JENKINS May 28 , 2003 - GEOFF JOHNS May 21 , 2003 - BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS May 14 , 2003 - PHIL JIMENEZ May 9 , 2003 - Don't F[l]inch April 29 , 2003 - The X-Factors April 17 , 2003 - X2 Reviewed January 13, 2003 - Game Boy - WizKid’s HeroClix January 3, 2003- 2003 Bigger than 2002? December 20 , 2002 - Ring Bearer - A two-bit tour for ‘Two Towers’ novices December 13 , 2002 - ‘Sine of the Times December 6 , 2002 - Killer Read November 30, 2002 - Lex's World November 23, 2002 - Truth and Consequences November 15, 2002 - Triple X November 8 , 2002 - Giving the Devil his Due October 31, 2002 - Superhero DVD Preview October 25, 2002 - Mad Cow October 18 , 2002 - 80's a Go-GO October 11 , 2002 - Best Bets on Bats October 4, 2002 - Hunters & Pray September 27 , 2002 - The War Within September 19 , 2002 - Lee-Der of the pack. September 13 , 2002 - The Next Generation. September 6 , 2002 - Marvel Melee. August 30, 2002 - Breaking In. Joe Quesada reveals the ins and outs of getting work at Marvel. August 23, 2002 - Painted Into a Corner. An Interview with Greg Hildebrandt. August 16, 2002 - X-citing News on X-Men 2!