DC announces 11 Surprise titles for 2021

 Today DC Comics gave a virtual presentation to comic book retailers at this year's annual ComicsPro event, and announced 11 new titles that it plans to publish in 2021.

The upcoming new titles include (as briefly described by DC): 

• Deathstroke Inc.
• Harley Quinn Animated Series sequel
• A Wonder Woman 80th Anniversary title
• Elseworld (1/2 of the new center of the new DC Omniverse) 
• "DC Vampires" (described as a working title)
• Robin and Batman
• Joker: A Puzzle Box
• The Legend of Batman
• Crush and Lobo
• Nubia and the Amazons
• DC Middle Ages

In a follow-up announcement, the publisher said more information will be forthcoming on these projects throughout the year. 

The publisher also announced their intention to participate in Free Comic Book Day 2021 on August 14, another annual event that has traditionally happened on the first Saturday in May but was scuttled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 crisis and was scheduled this year for August for the same reason.

DC initially announced a May 1 date, but Newsarama has confirmed that was in error. 

The publisher reports its virtual presentation to the retailer-only audience included DC publisher and chief creative officer Jim Lee, new SVP and general manager Daniel Cherry III, and editor-in-chief Marie Javins, with Lee "reaffirming DC's commitment to publishing comic books and the direct market."

DC says it referenced 2020 sales successes such as Batman: Three Jokers, DCeased: Dead Planet, Batman: The Joker War, and Dark Nights: Death Metal.

According to DC, Javins commented on the "positive reception received by new characters such as Punchline, Clownhunter, Liar Liar, and Ghost-Maker and spoke to DC's ongoing commitment to a more additive universe of characters."