While it’s hard to cover every single detail that occurs at San Diego Comic-Con, Dane has been in the thick of it, attending several of the DC Comics panels that occurred on Thursday. After the break we’ll have some new details about Flashpoint, Grant Morrison‘s run on Batman and Action Comics, and the first public reactions to the New 52.

From the Flashpoint panel:

• Sterling Gates on the Flashpoint: Kid Flash – Lost series: Issue #3 dovetails into Flashpoint #5 and Gates will “do something with the speed force that has never been done.” Also, Wally West will show up in Kid Flash #3 in ‘a way you wouldn’t expect.’
• Editor Eddie Berganza stated that there will be a two-page spread that will show how the DC Universe transitions from Flashpoint to the New 52. He also said that it’s doubtful that we’ll see any of the Flashpoint character versions again. ” These characters are very particular in their placing,” said Berganza. “I mean, Aquaman is trying to sink the world, I don’t think that would fit into what Geoff [Johns] has planned for Justice League, but never say never.”

From the Grant Morrison panel:

• Morrison would love to write Wonder Woman saying, “I have ideas.” He later mentioned there is some “Wonder Woman work in the background.”
• Will close out his Batman arc with a 12-issue series called ‘Leviathan’ and said “You will cry. Many times.”
• His Action Comics run will be a long run, similar to that of his Batman run.
• The Superman in Action Comics is an early version of All-Star Superman, saying that Clark will do as much good as a reporter as Superman will do as a hero.
• Morrison also put some fears to rest about a ‘brooding Superman.’ Clark will keep a smile on his face, “you can’t make him too much like Batman.”
• While Batman was about puzzles, Morrison said that Action Comics is all about momentum.
• The series will start off five years ago, catching up to present day in issue #7 and then will go back and forth in the timeline.

From the New 52 panel:

• Didio did a lot of sweating and fidgeting while people asked why he is destroying their favorite characters.
• Confirmed there isn’t a place for Wally West in the reboot, but there is one for current Batgirl Stephanie Brown.
• The reason that Barbara will be Batgirl is because she’s the most recognizable Batgirl.
• Wonder Woman will have retractable pants. Yeah, you read that right.
• There are no plans for a future crossover event.
• T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents will return with Nick Spencer writing, but Xombi won’t.

DC posted a bunch of preview art over on The Source, which we’ve included below. Make sure to sound off in the comments below with your thoughts on what DC had to say in today’s panels!

“It’s a pretty different continuity, which I think has always been the challenging part of bringing Chloe into the DC Comics Universe. She’s never existed in the comics before, so in order to make a part of Clark’s life when he was a teenager in Smallville, you’d have to do it somewhat retroactively, and it would age Chloe as a character a lot, since Superman is well past that part of his life in the books.”

Chloe Sullivan is the only character from the tv show to appear in every season, apart from Clark Kent himself. And although she will only appear in five episodes in the final season, Chloe will keep Jimmy on his toes in the comics for a while. Spencer adds,

“She and Jimmy have a previous relationship and that causes him to embark on a huge adventure that takes him across space and alternate realities to prove something to himself and her.”

Source: TV Guide

“Death appearing in Action Comics was my own mad idea, the extreme case of putting Luthor up against characters he’s not used to dealing with.

“I’m very pleased that, after I ran the idea by him, Neil Gaiman approved me using Death in this issue. He’s been very supportive. It’s so interesting to see her back in the DC Universe. Though Vertigo readers can rest assured that the character, and the way she’s used, will be true to the spirit of what has gone before.”

However, this quote from the Comic Book Resources interview with Cornell is quite hilarious:

My wife said when I first got the book, “Well, at least they can’t cancel ‘Action Comics.’” [Laughter]

I’m a huge Cornell fan, and if Gaiman has given his approval, then it sounds like Death is in more than capable hands. We’ll find out for sure this October.  Hit the jump for the full cover image!

What do you think of this announcement? Do you trust Cornell with one of Gaiman’s beloved characters? Sound off in our comments!

[Via Comic Book Resources and DC's The Source]