Batman, Catwoman Get New Digital Comics

, in a report that discusses the "Beyond" and Smallville comics that fans already knew about (Smallville Season 11, #1 launched today from DC's digital app), announced a couple of upcoming digital-first or digital-only comics from the publisher. Beginning in May, the paper reports, Ame-Comi Girls will launch from the publisher; it's described in the article as "a weekly series available on Mondays based on DC's product line featuring Japanese manga-style versions of Wonder Woman and other superheroines written by Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray." Bleeding Cool points out that the character designs in the series seem to be based on the anime-inspired vinyl figures DC has released for many of their female characters. It seems unlikely to dissuade fans and critics worried about Catwoman having a T+ rating in the New 52. A second title announced in the article, beginning in June, appears not yet to have a title, although there's some speculation that it might be designed as a follow-up to the fan-favorite Batman Black & White. Bleeding Cool reported some time ago that they had heard rumors of a reboot of the concept with artist Ariel Olivetti participting. USA Today describes the title as a weekly which tells stories "outside of regular DC Comics continuity and featur[ing] artists

and writers such as Ben Templesmith, Steve Niles, B. Clay Moore, Nicola Scott and Joshua Hale Fialkov. One all-star issue teams writer — and Lost co-creator —Damon Lindelof with artist Jeff Lemire (Animal Man,Sweet Tooth)." "Our goal has always been from the very beginning to have something for everyone. The opportunities that digital opens up, it really allows us to go for as wide an audience as possible," says Hank Kanalz, DC's senior vice president for digital, in the article. There are a couple of notable things about this announcement; first of all, like Smallville, they have all foregone the normal Wednesday delivery date for new comics. In Smallville's case, the series runs weekly on Fridays, just like last year's season of the TV show. According to the article, the Batman anthology will run on Thursdays while Ame-Comi Girls is a Monday release. Unlike Smallville, there doesn't appear to be any plans to collect these stories as a monthly periodical comic, meaning that they can announce the projects sooner to completion and delivery as there is no need to solicit the product through Diamond three months in advance.