A poster given out at the end of the panel.
DC Comics offered fans a look at the future of its superhero universe during the DC Next Level panel at New York Comic Con 2026. The presentation featured new series announcements, exclusive artwork, and updates on some of DC’s biggest characters, including Batman, Static, Vixen, and the Legion of Super-Heroes.
Moderated by DC Editor-in-Chief Marie Javins, the panel brought together an impressive lineup of creators. The first wave included Joshua Williamson, Matt Fraction, Javier Rodríguez, Deniz Camp, Stephanie Williams, Khary Randolph, and Cody Ziglar. James Harren, Michael Walsh, and Jamal Campbell joined the stage later in the presentation.
Throughout the panel, the creators emphasized how DC’s various publishing initiatives fit together. Williamson explained that All In and Next Level are part of the same larger vision, with himself and Scott Snyder working to make the initiatives feel like one connected story.
Here’s everything revealed during the panel.
Swamp Thing returns in ‘Hallowed Ground’
One of the first announcements was Swamp Thing: Hallowed Ground, a new project from writer Steve Foxe and artist Riccardo Federici.
Williamson described the project as something Swamp Thing fans should be excited about, although additional story details were not revealed.
Matt Fraction offered his own humorous summary of the character’s origins, joking that Swamp Thing was bitten by a radioactive swamp.
Batman has a secret agenda in ‘Batman: Justice Year’
Fans were treated to a first look at Batman: Justice Year from Joshua Williamson and Bruno Redondo.
The story features Batman pursuing a secret objective involving the Justice League. Rather than simply working alongside his fellow heroes, Batman intends to spy on the team.
The revelation suggests that the Dark Knight’s relationship with the League will be a major component of the upcoming story.
‘Batman: Shadow of the Bat’ explores a world of constant disasters
Deniz Camp and Javier Rodríguez discussed their upcoming Batman: Shadow of the Bat, sharing new interior artwork and insight into the series’ direction.
Camp described its setting as a world of constant disasters, with Batman struggling to find his humanity while confronting evil.
Rodríguez explained that the artwork will explore the concept of Batman operating in shadow, using the visual possibilities of the character’s identity as an important part of the storytelling.
The series will also introduce a new supporting cast and concepts designed to expand Batman’s world.
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Camp compared his interest in Batman’s humanity to themes explored in his work on The Ultimates, while Rodríguez emphasized the importance of the supporting characters.
A variant cover by Chris Samnee was also shown during the presentation.
Chris Samnee cover.
Fraction couldn’t resist joking that the regular Batman series doesn’t have any shadows because Batman is dead.
Vixen gets new villains, a love interest, and a Detroit setting
Stephanie Williams and Khary Randolph shared additional details about their upcoming Vixen series, including character designs and plans to redefine Mari McCabe’s powers.
The creators want Vixen’s abilities to feel distinct from those of Animal Man, establishing a clearer identity for how she interacts with the animal kingdom.
Detroit will also play an important role in the series, with Williams and Randolph looking to showcase the city throughout the story.
A new villain will appear in the first issue, while a love interest connected to the Bat-Family will also enter the picture.
Randolph explained that Williams had been developing the project for years, motivating him to bring his best work to the series. The pair also discussed their previous collaborations on Nubia and the Milestone special.
Cover artists include W. Scott Forbes, David Nakayama, and Jock.
Cody Ziglar promises more Static and Dakota
Cody Ziglar took the stage to discuss Static, acknowledging that fans have been eager to see more of Virgil Hawkins and the wider Dakota Universe.
Ziglar said Static hasn’t appeared nearly enough in recent years, something his upcoming project intends to address.
The writer also revealed that he read the official Dakota Universe bible while preparing for the series, an experience that helped recontextualize his approach to the characters and their world.
One particularly interesting detail emerged during the discussion: Dakota has more metahumans than any other city.
Ziglar also spoke about immediately recognizing Static’s identity when he first encountered the character’s artwork.
Williamson enthusiastically praised the project, expressing his excitement for Static’s return.
Superman’s Marilyn Midnight storyline brings Jimmy Olsen into the spotlight
Joshua Williamson discussed upcoming developments in Superman, including a storyline involving Marilyn Midnight, a supernatural character appearing in the series.
Jimmy Olsen will play a major role in the arc, which will feature artwork by Xermánico.
Williamson expressed particular excitement about the artwork, suggesting readers have plenty to look forward to as the story unfolds.
‘Legion of Super-Heroes’ adds Timber Wolf and Kid Quantum
The panel also offered a closer look at the upcoming Legion of Super-Heroes series.
Timber Wolf and Kid Quantum will join the cast, with new artwork revealing additional character interactions, including Saturn Girl speaking with the Emerald Empress.
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Artist Hayden Sherman has gone to considerable lengths to establish the book’s futuristic setting, even creating a language for the telepathic people from Saturn Girl’s homeworld.
Colored interior pages were also shown, giving attendees another look at the series’ visual direction.
Matt Fraction teases Bruce Wayne’s assassination and Matches Malone’s return
Matt Fraction discussed what’s ahead in the main Batman series, sharing interior artwork from Batman #15.
The writer compared his approach to Batman mysteries to Columbo, emphasizing the detective elements of his run.
One of the biggest teases involved Bruce Wayne being “assassinated,” forcing Batman to investigate the case while operating as Matches Malone.
Fraction also discussed plans involving the villain Minotaur and teased the introduction of another alter ego.
The writer spoke about the collaborative atmosphere among DC’s creators, noting how frequently ideas and characters are shared between titles.
He also expressed gratitude for the response to his run, joking that writing the main Batman title feels like opening for the Beatles, a reference to the enormous popularity of Absolute Batman.
More titles are coming out of ‘Bad Seeds’
DC confirmed that additional titles will emerge from the ongoing Bad Seeds event, although specific projects were not announced.
The creative premise behind the event was described through an intriguing question: If Gotham City is the one character shared by all the Batman titles, what happens when Gotham itself turns against its heroes?
That idea will continue to shape the interconnected stories, with further announcements expected down the line.
James Harren puts a new spin on ‘The Demon’
James Harren discussed his upcoming take on The Demon, including a different approach to Jason Blood.
Harren explained that he wanted Jason to look like someone who had lived for 100 years while carrying the terrible burden of his curse.
The artist also expressed surprise that some fans had described the demons in his artwork as cute, an unexpected reaction to his monstrous designs.
Jonah Hex faces ghosts without his guns
Michael Walsh discussed the upcoming Jonah Hex project, which finds the legendary Western antihero in an unusual predicament.
Hex is no longer using his guns, a decision that becomes particularly challenging when ghosts begin appearing.
Despite the character’s new approach to conflict, Walsh assured fans that the story won’t be entirely peaceful.
After all, as the creator pointed out, you can’t have Jonah Hex without at least a little violence.
Zatanna explores the possibilities of DC’s magical world
The presentation also featured a look at Zatanna, with Campbell discussing the creative ambitions behind the project.
The goal is to showcase Zatanna and demonstrate the possibilities of DC’s magical universe, opening the door to new interpretations of the character and her supernatural surroundings.
New ‘Starfire’ series announced for early 2027
One of the panel’s biggest new announcements was Starfire, an upcoming series from writer Alyssa Wong and artist Belén Ortega, scheduled for early 2027.
The creative team described the project as “Red Sonja meets One Piece,” suggesting an action-packed, gladiatorial direction for the fan-favorite Titan.
Ortega spoke about the excitement of creating something special with another passionate creator.
The series also promises an emotional journey, with the creative goal described as breaking readers’ hearts before filling them back up again.
No artwork was available to show during the panel, but the announcement offered an early indication of what fans can expect from Starfire’s next adventure.
‘Superboy-Prime Special’ will take Prime home
DC closed out its new title announcements with the reveal of a Superboy-Prime Special.
The story will focus on Superboy-Prime going home, an intriguing premise given the character’s complicated history with the DC Multiverse.
Three pieces of artwork were shown, but no details on the creative team or release date were provided.
DC Next Level continues to expand
Between the new Starfire and Swamp Thing projects, the return of Static, and the expanding Batman storylines, DC Next Level is shaping up to be a significant part of the publisher’s plans for 2027.
The panel also made clear that DC’s creators are working closely together, with the All In and Next Level initiatives intended to contribute to a larger, connected publishing direction.
With more Bad Seeds titles on the horizon and plenty of mysteries still surrounding Batman, Superman, and the rest of the DC Universe, there’s much more to come.
A poster given out at the end of the panel.
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