The Hollywood Reporter – Comic-Con: ‘Earth-M’ Graphic Novels, Comic Series Planned by DC, Milestone Media

The Hollywood Reporter – July 11, 2015

THR Earth M

New line will revive series like ‘Static Shock’ and introduce new characters.

Increasing its commitment towards diversity in publishing, DC Entertainment announced a new partnership with Milestone Media that will see the creation of “Earth-M,” a newly-established parallel world in the mainstream DC Universe featuring the company’s characters.

Milestone, headed by Reginald Hudlin, Derek Dingle and Denys Cowan, announced its relaunch earlier this year and will publish up to two hardcover graphic novels a year, in addition to a number of mini-series and one-off titles. These titles will include a relaunch of Static Shock, the 1990s comic book that went on to become a successful animated series through Warner Bros animation and is currently in development as a live-action web series, written by Hudlin, who told reporters that he has already written 107 pages of script for the project.

Milestone Media originally published comic titles through DC from 1993 through 1997, with series including Static, Blood Syndicate, Hardware and Icon. In addition to featuring characters who offered an alternative to the white superheroes that dominated the comic book racks, the company was known for finding new talent, with creators including John Paul Leon and Sandman: Overture artist J.H. Williams publishing early work with the company.

In a statement, DC co-publisher Jim Lee — who will be drawing one of the new Milestone titles — said that partnering with Milestone is “a huge step forward for [DC] in bringing readers a more diversified lineup as part of the New DC Universe, and we’re anxiously looking forward to telling new stories that are socially and culturally impactful and representative of the world in which we live.”

Hudlin added, “Milestone Media was the first company to create a superhero universe full of Black, Latino, Asian and white superheroes — both gay and straight. Its fanbase was equally diverse. This new relationship will enable us to not only revive classic Milestone characters, but introduce new ones as well.”