DC is hiring YA authors.

[Green Lantern wannabe]

DC Entertainment, the home of Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman and a legion of other heroes, is planning two new graphic novel imprints aimed at younger readers. DC Zoom will feature stories for middle school readers, and DC Ink will focus on young adults. Books from the two divisions are scheduled to come out in the fall.

I haven't read a YA novel in ages, but I think that's wonderful - I have always wanted to write YA books.

[Robotman]

Gotta get them hooked early.

The DC Superhero Girls line seems to be doing relatively well and I know a few people who have daughters who love the DC Bombshells (I love the Bombshells myself!). So it’s a good idea to branch out and have something for everybody.

[Lee Stone]

Gotta get them hooked early.

The DC Superhero Girls line seems to be doing relatively well and I know a few people who have daughters who love the DC Bombshells (I love the Bombshells myself!). So it’s a good idea to branch out and have something for everybody.

They also had moderate success with Gotham Academy.

[millernumber1]

Gotta get them hooked early.

The DC Superhero Girls line seems to be doing relatively well and I know a few people who have daughters who love the DC Bombshells (I love the Bombshells myself!). So it’s a good idea to branch out and have something for everybody.

I think more importantly is the fact that to survive, comics need new readers, and traditionally that has been children. However, for the past decade, comics haven't really reached out to kids, and I think that's a problem for the longevity of the current system.

[JackDaw]

I think more importantly is the fact that to survive, comics need new readers, and traditionally that has been children. However, for the past decade, comics haven't really reached out to kids, and I think that's a problem for the longevity of the current system.

That’s true.

But if these new comics are pitched at same audience as YA novels (late teens/ early 20’s) is that the “issue” they will really address? Isn’t it more about providing a “bridge” to keep kids already reading comics to DC’s adult line?

[Incognito]

They also had moderate success with Gotham Academy.

I like Gotham Academy, I think DC Comics should add a YA imprint into the mainstream DC Universe, like 'Young Animal' is a mature-imprint setting in the DC Universe.

[PyroTwilight]

Hmmm. Whatever happened to the Dustin Nguyen artwork kids books?

I remember reading one and I think a second came out. Featured Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman as little kids.

Oh there we go. Secret Hero Society. Seems it's still coming out too, that's great. And seems like it's as least 3 books long so far.

But yeah. Pushes for kids to get into the characters is always good to me.

[Frontier]

Hmmm. Whatever happened to the Dustin Nguyen artwork kids books?

I remember reading one and I think a second came out. Featured Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman as little kids.

Oh there we go. Secret Hero Society. Seems it's still coming out too, that's great. And seems like it's as least 3 books long so far.

But yeah. Pushes for kids to get into the characters is always good to me.

I wouldn't be surprised to see that get re-branded for DC Zoom like they're doing with the DC Super Hero Girls graphic novels.

[Pohzee]

What makes it this line YA? Is it soapier? Most DC are already written at a very low reading level.

[ed2962]

Interesting. Let's see how long it takes before someone is either burning their books Youtube or claiming that DC has gone full "SWJ" and is ruining comics.

[CaptCleghorn]

Interesting. Let's see how long it takes before someone is either burning their books Youtube or claiming that DC has gone full "SWJ" and is ruining comics.

You don't know the horror of a company publishing a book I might not want to buy. Although, you know, that's really not a bad thing. Guess i better bring this camera equipment back to the store. Where's my receipt? And remind me to cancel that youtube account!

[Lee Stone]

What makes it this line YA? Is it soapier? Most DC are already written at a very low reading level.

From one of the Newsarama articles:

“They are character studies, not necessarily superhero stories.”

So, yes, it appears to be a bit more soapy. More focused on characters, personalities and life issues and less on the 'pow, bam, boff'.
And with them being books geared for younger readers, there (hopefully) won't be a surprise graphic decapitation/impaling or an excessive use of foul language.

[Vanguard-01]

From the look of things, it looks like they're borrowing heavily from the Manga format. That's a very good idea. Teenagers, and especially teenage girls, are eating Manga up at a ridiculous rate. Clearly they're doing SOMETHING right to appeal to kids.

Stack this up with the success of DCSHG, and DC might just pull ahead in the race to gain a new audience.

[Green Lantern wannabe]

Interesting. Let's see how long it takes before someone is either burning their books Youtube or claiming that DC has gone full "SWJ" and is ruining comics.

What's SWJ, may I ask?

[Bored at 3:00AM]

What's SWJ, may I ask?

Social Justice Warrior. It's either a derogatory term for people who advocate for more representation for minorities and women in society, or a badge of honor, depending upon who you ask.