News You Already Know: Baltimore Con 08' Edition

* The official announcement of the Avengers creative changes came at the Marvel panel. Brian Micheal Bendis will continue to write "New Avengers" and will be the writer on the new "Dark Avengers" series. Dan Slott will be the new writer on "Mighty Avengers" and Chris Gage will be the solo writer for "Avengers: Initiative". Expect roster changes on all the teams after "Secret Invasion". Dan Slott has confirmed that old-school favorite Jocasta will be part of his line-up, along with a founding member of the Avengers. It should also be noted that Dan Slott is not keen on using anyone that already has a monthly title.

* "Spider-Woman: Agent of SWORD" will debut in March of 2009. The creative team will reunite Benis and Alex Maleev who have not worked together since their amazing run on "Daredevil".

* "Black Panter" is getting another relaunch after "secret Invasion" Reggie Hudlin will continue to be the writer.

* "Ultimates 4" is still on tap to happen. Jeff Loeb is currently working on the title with Frank Cho.

* DC announced "Final Crisis: Rage of the Red Lanterns". This one-shot will be the introduction of the Red Lanterns. They decide to show up when they hear that Sinestro is going to be executed. Don't get the wrong idea, they're not showing up to save him. They want to do the execution.

* "Super-Man: New Krypton" will deal with newly restored Kandor and what it's like having 100,000 super-powered citizen running around. Here's a hint, some of thee guys are not going to be as helpful as Kal-El. Also expect a new Nightwing, Flamebird, and Super-Woman.

* Black Adam and Isis will be taking center stage in the next story arc of Justice Society. Guess what? Isis isn't dead! She was hidden by Felix Faust. How's Black Adam going to handle this?

* Terror Titans #4 will feature the first DC appearance of Static, from the Milestone universe. It was previously announced that Static would be joining the Teen Titans soon.

* In Janurary DC will be releasing some specials that feature the worst of worst. Villains getting their own special include, Deathstroke, Solomon Grundy, Kobra, and Prometheus.

* This year's "DC Holiday Special" will feature an 8 page Aquaman story with art by Ian Churchill. Still no word on the previously announced "Young Aquaman" by up and coming writer Evan Stone.

* "Black Lightening: Year One" is slated for a March release.

Crazy Ass Rumors

Welcome back to Crazy Ass Rumors. The title pretty much sums it up so let's get started.

* Silver Age Flash, Barry Allen has been dead for a long time. He died during a little crossover called "Crisis on Infinite Earths". Every time DC has a Crisis, the fanboys demand the return of Barry Allen. With Grant Morrison's "Final Crisis" approaching, fans of the original scarlet speedster are speculating that this could be the event that would return Barry Allen to the realm of the living. The rumor I've come across is that Barry Allen is returning but in the form of a Black Lantern. After a small stint as a Black Lantern he will be restored to his good old living self. Does this mean Wally is going to die during "Final Crisis"?

* The secret invasion going on in the Marvel universe has everyone curious as to who is or isn't a Skrull. Before the invasion started we were promised by Marvel that Tony Stark was NOT a Skrull. Many fans wanted to believe that Mr.Stark would be revealed as a Skrull and not just the dick that started Civil War. Now there's a strong rumor going around that Tony Stark is a Skrull but has only been one since the end of Civil War.

* Speaking of Skrulls. Johnny Storm from the Fantastic Four once married a Skrull. Look for her to return in the "Fantastic Four: Secret Invasion" special. There's now a rumor going around that Johnny wasn't the only hero to marry someone with green skin. The Black Panther has a secret invasion tie-in coming up from writer Jason Aaron. Some are speculating that this tie-in will reveal that Black Panther's wife, Storm is actually a Skrull. This might also explain as to why Storm will be back with the X-Men in Warren Ellis' "Astonishing X-Men" run.

* DC Comics has been giving Batman rouge, The Penguin a pretty good run lately. Rumor has it they're killing him off in the last issue of "Gotham Underground".