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We have a glimpse of Lazarus Planet Alpha #1, the launch issue for the new Lazarus Planet event at DC Comics. With Damian Wayne in charge of the superhero response against the magic of the Lazarus volcano raining down on Earth, and a badly injured Batman delegating power, responsibility and authority to his thirteen-year-old son. And Monkey Prince’s King Fire Bull as the individual who started it all.
King Fire Bull has so far made mention of an anonymous in monkey prince #2 as Grand Ruler of Flame Planet and appeared #8, but may be a bit more prominent in the rest of the DC Universe in the future.
“NEW HEROES WILL BE BORN AND THE POWERS OF EXISTING HEROES WILL BE CHANGED FOREVER.”
At the climax of December’s Batman vs. Robin #4, a Lazarus volcano erupts, spewing dangerous, life-changing chemicals into Earth’s atmosphere.
“This amount of magic can’t be contained, so when it bursts, it spits Lazarus resin and creates a violent ‘rainstorm’ that covers the world,” says superstar writer and architect Mark Waid. DC Universe: Lazarus Planet event.
Monkey Prince writer Gene Luen Yang will help craft the two-month Lazarus Planet event alongside Waid. “Traditionally, Nezha is a deceitful god who often dances that line between good and evil,” Yang says. “In Batman/Superman: World’s Finest, Mark brought it into the DC Universe and tied it specifically to elements of the Batman mythos.”
Waid is no stranger to the DC Universe in the past year, penning the hit series Batman/Superman: World’s Finest and Batman vs. Robin, who set the stage for this event, from Lazarus Planet: Alpha #1 in January.
“In Batman/Superman: World’s Finest, we introduced the Devil Nezha, an ancient evil that could only be contained in the tomb on a remote island,” Waid explains. “Once our heroes sealed it inside, we unveiled the surprise: the tomb is on Lazarus Island. Then in Batman vs. Robin, we learn that Mother Soul, the great-grand- Damian’s mother from her side al Ghul, sought out Nezha and used Damian to free him once again.”
“Writers and artists are embracing this freedom to do some of the best work I’ve seen in a long time,” Waid continues. “Everyone has been incredibly cooperative and willing to share ideas to make their own stories even better.”
“NEZHA IS A TRICKSTER GOD WHO OFTEN DANCES ON THAT LINE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL.”
Lazarus Volcano will make its rumbles known throughout the DC Universe in a series of one-shots led by star talent, including Francis Manapul, Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Leah Williams, Max Dunbar, Clayton Henry, Tim Seeley and Marguerite Sauvage. Fan-favorite heroes from the DC Universe will be heavily invested in uncovering the secrets of Lazarus Resin.
“Power Girl is part of the team trying to free Earth’s magical artifacts from the Tower of Doom, where Nezha has imprisoned them,” Waid explains. “Poison Ivy, on the other hand, is part of the team that explores one of Ra’s al Ghul’s mountain headquarters in search of clues to counter the resin. Ra’s was aware of her background as a brilliant biochemist who , like him, is eager to restore a functioning ecosystem before our planet succumbs to global war.”
“WRITERS AND ARTISTS ACCEPT THIS FREEDOM TO DO SOME OF THE BEST WORK…”
The full story scope begins in Lazarus Planet: Alpha and continues in the unique ties Lazarus Planet: Assault on Krypton, Lazarus Planet: We Once Were Gods, Lazarus Planet: Dark Fate, Lazarus Planet: Next Evolution, and Lazarus Planet : Legends Reborn, all leading up to the fateful finale of Lazarus Planet: Omega and the aftermath of Lazarus Planet: Revenge of the Gods.
After the events of Lazarus Planet, the gods of the multiverse decide to bring down the heroes they once called champions and the world they were sworn to protect.
The team of gods is led by the wizard Shazam of Earth-O, who has been given a vision of Lazarus Resin like he has never seen before.
As if major changes to existing heroes and the introduction of all-new ones weren’t enough, Lazarus Planet has a ton of surprises in store for even the most hardcore DC fans. “There’s a fusion of Cyborg and Blue Beetle, a key role for Blue Devil, the most powerful Shazam lightning bolt in history, Swamp Thing vs. Nezha, and a really, really, really ugly turn for Batman,” teases Waid.
“Mark’s premise for Lazarus Planet is so much fun that the rest of us can’t help but react with all the creativity we can muster,” Yang said. “Even as a fan, I can’t wait to read what everyone comes up with.”
Written by MARK WAID and GENE LUEN YANG
Art by RICCARDO FEDERICI, BILLY TAN, and more
Cover of DAVID MARQUEZ and ALEJANDRO SÁNCHEZ
Variant covers by RICCARDO FEDERICI, FRANCESCO MATTINA,
MATEUS MANHANINI, NATHAN SZERDY and JORGE CORONA
Trading Card Variant
Variant cover 1:25 by JOHN GIANG
Variant cover sheet 1:50 by AL KAPLAN
1:100 sheet variant cover by DAVID MARQUEZ and ALEJANDRO SÁNCHEZ
Team Variant Cover by SCOTT GODLEWSKI
$5.99 USD | 48 pages | Variant US$6.99 (card stock)
ON SALE 10/1/23
CHANGE THE WORLD. Following the (literally) explosive events of Batman vs. Robin #4, the Lazarus Volcano has erupted, spewing dangerous, life-changing chemicals into the Earth’s atmosphere! As these Lazarus clouds rain down on the planet, people all over the world begin to develop strange new abilities, observe their already extraordinary abilities
change and witness an unprecedented multitude of chaos! It’s up to Damian Wayne to issue the distress call for those who can still hear it: come to the ruins of the Hall of Justice and help save the world! Poison Ivy, Power Girl, Cyborg, Batman and more answer the call… but why could fate
of all life as we know it rests in the hands of… Monkey Prince?
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