We’d be remiss if in all this BATMAN #700 hoopla we didn’t go right to, well, the source of it all: writer Grant Morrison. Grant’s been driving the Dark Knight to some amazingly different and intense places, and it only gets more engaging in the pages of BATMAN #700, which features the superstar writer teaming with a cabal of amazing artists, including Tony Daniel, Andy Kubert, David Finch and frequent collaborator Frank Quitely. So what does he have to say about not only the character, but the issue? Take it away, Grant!  

Well day two of the ComiCon was even better than the first day.  I was able to connect with many more artists than yesterday, I think with the lack of people attending the show, the artists were still sleeping at their tables for the most part :)  Today all the artists seemed more lively, the people were just streaming into the show. **Grail Quest Update –                          After going through and asking AGAIN if any of the vendors had a reasonably priced issue of New Mutants #98, DRAGON LADY COMICS was the only vendor able to assure me that they had a copy withinn my price range at thier store in the warehouse area.  All the other vendors prices ranged from $50.00 to as high... 

All girl metal act KITTIE debuted a brand new music video for “Die My Darling” at the Thrash and Burn Tour Myspace . This is the third video installment from their most recent record, “In The Black” which was released late last year. “We are very excited about the video for ‘Die My Darling’ because we have never done a video quite like this before.  Making die my darling was a great experience!” says drummer and co-founder Mercedes Lander.  

Chris Giarrusso tells the story of the “real” GUARDIANS in backups to the miniseries In August, we’ll know more about the new GUARDIANS OF THE GLOBE: Brit, Outrun, Kaboomerang, Yeti and Bulletproof. But what about the GUARDIANS OF THE GLOBE that never were: Invincible, Spawn, Rick Grimes, Barack Obama and Gary Popper? Chris Giarrusso, creator of G-MAN, will tell their tale in a series of one-page backup stories that will run with each issue of GUARDIANS OF THE GLOBE.  

CHEW #11 features exclusive sneak peek of Kody Chamberlain’s SWEETS Fans who pick up a copy of John Layman and Rob Guillory’s CHEW #11 on June 9, 2010, are in for a treat: an exclusive sneak peek of Kody Chamberlain’s SWEETS! A Lousisiana native, Chamberlain makes his writing debut with this five-issue miniseries. “I’ve been a fan of CHEW from the very beginning,” says Chamberlain. “So, when John and Rob offered up some valuable real estate inside their comic, I decided to give them more than just a preview — I gave them an exclusive! I hope CHEW readers enjoy the peek at four unseen pages of SWEETS.”  

Image Comics reprints first issue of WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BARON VON SHOCK? after sellout Less than a week after its initial release, entertainment impresario Rob Zombie’s WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BARON VON SHOCK? #1 has sold out at the distribution level.  

Image Comics to reprint HAUNT #7 after same-day sellout GREG CAPULLO was warmly welcomed as the full-time penciler on HAUNT during a same-day distributor-level sellout of HAUNT #7! Image Comics is rushing a second printing of this first issue of an all-new story arc, written by ROBERT KIRKMAN and inked by series co-creator TODD McFARLANE.  

In part 3 of “The Flood,” Oracle faces off against the Calculator, while Batgirl is forced to team up with the Calculator’s daughter in an attempt to save the citizens of Gotham City from a crippling techno-plague. But who will save Batgirl from an infected and rampaging Man-Bat?  

As promised, we’ve got an all-star lineup of posts, art and comments rolling out this week. All celebrating the 700th issue of BATMAN. First up, we have a look at an interior page from superstar artist Andy Kubert’s contribution to Grant’s BATMAN #700 story, along with comments from the venerable Mr. Kubert himself. Take it away, Andy!  

   Batman was the hero every kid could aspire to be. Well, at least that was the logic a skinny, geeky kid in Miami used. See, I never expected to be bitten by a radioactive anything, and as far as I knew, I hadn’t been born on another planet — despite sometimes hoping that was the case. But Batman, yeah — that was at least doable, you know?  

Marvel is proud to present your first look at Hit-Monkey #1, from the red-hot creative team behind the world’s deadliest simian, Daniel Way and Dalibor Talijic! He’s taken on Spider-Man and Deadpool (and won), but how did one monkey become the world’s deadliest assassin? At long last, the story fans have been clamoring for is here! Find out how Hit-Monkey came to don his trademark suit and tie and how he became an assassin without equal, in this all new limited series. Fans cant miss the chance to get in on the ground floor with Hit-Monkey #1!  

DEMONICA, the new project featuring members Craig Locicero and Mark Hernandez of FORBIDDEN, vocalist Klaus “Hyr” Hansen, bassist Marc Grabowski and MERCYFUL FATE guitarist Hank Shermann have just signed a deal with start up label Giddy Up! Records.