DC Announces Milestone relaunch! Static, Hardware, Icon, Rocket and several new characters to debut!

From DC Comics:

Today, at New York Comic Con, DC Publisher Jim Lee, writer/producer/director Reginald Hudlin and Milestone co-founder and artist Denys Cowan announced the return of popular characters of the Dakota Universe in a new collaboration called Earth M in spring 2018. Cowan, Hudlin and Lee were joined by Milestone co-founder Derek Dingle and Earth M collaborators Alice Randall, Ken Lashley and Greg Pak to share details of the re-emergence of classic Milestone characters, including Static Shock, Icon and Rocket, as well as brand-new character creations which will debut in a series of different titles under the Earth M imprint.

Fans also received a surprise visit from The Walking Dead comic creator and writer Robert Kirkman, who stopped by to show a first look at his upcoming AMC documentary featuring the creation and history of Milestone Media. This episode is just one of six parts which comprise AMC Visionaries: Robert Kirkman’s Secret History of Comics—a new series focusing on different, significant chapters in American comic book history. The miniseries is set to premiere on Sunday, November 12, at 11p.m. ET/PT.

“We know fans have been waiting for the return of Milestone Media and we’re excited to collaborate with Reggie and Denys to build this new Earth M universe,” said Lee. “This world will reintroduce iconic characters fans know and love—along with new, bold, original concepts—creating a new platform dedicated to inclusion and great storytelling.”

The launch book will be titled MILESTONE, and will create the foundation and over-arching storyline for future Earth M titles. The series, from writer Reginald Hudlin and artist Ken Lashley, will focus on Icon and Rocket and will feature other classic Dakota Universe characters from the ‘90s.

Panelists shared more details on other titles readers can expect:

STATIC SHOCK, an ongoing series from Hudlin and Kyle Baker, focusing on 14-year-old Virgil Hawkins, a kid with a love of comics and science who develops dazzling, electric superpowers.

DUO, a new Earth M miniseries written by Greg Pak, introducing the twisted story of a couple sharing one body for eternity.

LOVE ARMY, a miniseries with story by Hudlin, about a secret army of women with amazing abilities and super-strength, sworn to protect the planet.

EARTH M, an anthology featuring a mysterious new vigilante character.

Source: DC Comics

Commentary:  I actually own every Milestone comic that has been ever released.  When I was a kid, my mom happened to be in the mall, and Dwayne McDuffie was doing a signing for the newly released HARDWARE.  She met him, really enjoyed his story and idealogy, and bought the book.  I was immediately hooked on Milestone.  I didn't have enough money at the time to follow every series, but I bought most of them, and eventually I had the whole collection, which I still have and treasure.  It was just so different from anything else that was coming out at the time (or since).  I even wrote a lengthy Critical Depth piece on Milestone about a year and a half ago...

It seems like every few years, there is been talk about a MIlestone relaunch.  Earlier this year, a lawsuit broke out between Dwayne McDuffie's wife and the other Milestone partners.  Just a few days ago, I said to a friend, "Unfortunately, I do think this may close that window [to DC ever bringing back Milestone].  At this point, it's not going to be worth the hassle to DC, I would think."  Obviously, I was wrong...and I've never been happier to be wrong in my entire life!

I would have liked to see a few more classic Milestone characters get their own book, but Static, Rocket, Icon, and Hardware seem to be a big part of this, so I can't complain too much.  I still would love to see a modern take on Blood Syndicate though.  Either way, you can definitely count me in as a customer.  I am glad that Milestone is finally happening again.  Hopefully it will be a great success.  There is a lot of talk about diversity, but Milestone did it first, and still to this day, far better than anyone else.