Zapp Comics Celebrates DC Comics Re-Launch

Between 100 and 150 comic book fans were crowded into Zapp Comics on Valley Road at midnight Sept. 1 to celebrate DC Comics' massive re-launch campaign with DC Comics editor-in-chief Dan Didio.

Cory Brown of  said he reached out on Facebook and invited people to the midnight celebration that featured customers dressed in costume, others sporting T-shirts of their favorite super heroes and sales on many of the other products.

The first issue, "Justice League" No. 1, was written by Geoff Johns and drawn by Jim Lee and appears to be on the way to becoming a best-seller.

DiDio said he expects that DC’s re-launch will help capture the attention for comic fans and non-fans alike.

“This is a re-launch compared to being a re-boot of a story,” DiDio said.

He explained the goal was to bring new and younger fans to the fold, while at the same time keeping the older fans that have grown up with the characters. The re-launch was announced in May and it features changes to many of the characters. DiDio explained it is a return to what made the characters great.

One such change that has been garnering attention has been the removal of the red underwear on the outside of Superman’s costume. Recent photos of Henry Cavill, who is playing the Last Son of Krypton, show his costume without the red trunks.

“This was something that Zack Snyder [director of “Superman: Man of Steel”] came up on his own,” DiDio  said. “Our goal was to update Superman’s image to something more contemporary.”

He explained that when Superman’s costume was first introduced to the public in the late-1930s, Sueprman’s costume was based on the look a circus strong man, but as time changed, so did the attire of the heroes.

Lauren Wizemann, who came dressed in a Wonder Woman costume, said she was happy to help bring attention to comic book stores.

“I enjoy the world of comic books and I love to do anything that will bring awareness to the industry, so I am here dressed like Wonder Woman,” Wizemann said.

Tom Jeron, who was bringing awareness to an upcoming comic convention in Teaneck, said the industry has been struggling financially said he is happy that DC Comics is going all out for this.

“I love this industry,” Jeron said. “And if it is good for the industry, it is good for business.”

While some fans were happy that many of DC’s titles were getting a re-launch, many were unhappy DC missed out on some titles. For instance, Brian Christman, of the podcast Comic Geek Speak, was on hand to interview DiDio, said he was unhappy that DC Comics was not re-launching “Secret Six.”

“That was a great title,” he said. “I thought Gail Simone’s writing was amazing, and I wish they were bringing that back.”

However, DiDio said that comic was not doing well sale’s wise, but he did say Simone’s writing on the updated “Batgirl” was his favorite of the 52 titles being re-launched.

“She’s an amazing writer,” DiDio said.