UPDATE – 01/13/12

The DC Creative wheel keeps spinning and today it landed on Rob Liefeld. While many would assume that Liefeld was done with The New 52 after Hawk & Dove got canceled, he warned folks on his Twitter that there was more to come and boy did it come. Turns out Rob Liefeld will be sticking around DC Comics for a while as he takes the helm on three titles.

First up, Liefeld will be writing and drawing Deathstroke, as of issue #9. No word if it will expand on the work already done by Kyle Higgins and Joe Bennett, but Liefeld does tease his upcoming plans with enthusiasm:

“Deathstroke is tasked with the greatest challenge of his life, taking on the most dangerous prey in the galaxy…LOBO!”

In addition to Deathstroke, Liefeld will be plotting both The Savage Hawkman and Grifter. No word on whether or not the existing creative teams will remain and work with Liefeld as he plots the books. Liefeld dropped a not so subtle hint for fans of Grifter and the Wildstorm universe with this comment:

“Familiar faces emerge warning Grifter that nothing can prepare him for what is coming. His true destiny is revealed and a reluctant hero emerges to lead a strike force of human allies that will deliver the ultimate DEATHBLOW to the impending invasion.”

Liefeld joins The Savage Hawkman and Grifter as plotter as of issue #9 in May on both titles.

This May, DC will add six new titles

* BATMAN INCORPORATED – Writer: Grant Morrison. Artist: Chris Burnham. The acclaimed ongoing writer of ACTION COMICS, Grant Morrison, presents a fresh take on BATMAN INCORPORATED, in which the Batman brand is franchised globally in preparation for a major international threat. * EARTH 2 – Writer: James Robinson. Artist: Nicola Scott. The greatest heroes on a parallel Earth, the Justice Society combats threats that will set them on a collision course with other worlds. * WORLDS’ FINEST – Writer: Paul Levitz. Artists: George Perez and Kevin Maguire. Stranded on our world from a parallel reality, Huntress and Power Girl struggle to find their way back to Earth 2. Perez and Maguire will be the artists on alternating story arcs. * DIAL H – Writer: China Miéville. Artist: Mateus Santoluoco. The first ongoing series from acclaimed novelist China Miéville, this is a bold new take on a cult classic concept about the psychological effects on an everyman who accidentally gains powers to become a hero. * G. I. COMBAT – Writer: J.T. Krul. Artist: Ariel Olivetti. Featuring the return of a classic DC Comics series, THE WAR THAT TIME FORGOT, along with rotating back-up stories and creative teams – including THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER, with writers Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti and artist Dan Panosian; and THE HAUNTED TANK, with writer John Arcudi and artist Scott Kolins. * THE RAVAGERS – Writer: Howard Mackie. Artist: Ian Churchill. Spinning off from TEEN TITANS and SUPERBOY, this series finds four superpowered teens on the run and fighting against the organization that wants to turn them into supervillains.

In doing so, DC will also cancel six titles, so we still end up with a straight 52, which has been a hell of a marketing term for them. Readers can say goodbye to the following titles with their eighth issues:

Blackhawks, Hawk & Dove, Men of War, Mister Terrific, O.M.A.C., and Static Shock.

DC does suggest that some of the characters from these canceled series will appear in the new titles.

As you look over the titles, you’ll see a similar trend to that of the first 52, in that there are plenty of resurrected titles from DC’s past; titles that don’t necessarily indicate a singular character. You’re also seeing names we’re mostly familiar with, shuffling around known DC writers, and people from EIC, Bob Harras’ past at Marvel.

Me? I’m seeing James Robinson working on Justice Society with Nicola Scott on art, and I’m fine with anything else that DC wants to do, because that makes me plenty happy.