The Noose: January 17

There's a lot of news to catch you up on, especially since I've been waiting to compile some of these press releases into a lengthy list of updated material. Here are just some of the exciting things happening in the horror world right now.

DC Comics to release more of their "New 52" comics series

Last year, DC Comics came out with a landslide of new comics dubbed the "New 52". Featuring 52 new comic series, either offshoots of original comics or entirely new collaborations, the immense number of new series was a fresh start for DC Comics' fans who wanted to begin a new comic series without needing to know dense backstory. In May 2012, DC Comics will again release a set of new comics, this time with a second wave of six first-issue series. Below, find the titles and descriptions of each:

"*   BATMAN INCORPORATED - Writer: Grant Morrison. Artist: Chris Burnham. The acclaimed ongoing writer of ACTION COMICS, Grant Morrison, presents a fresh take on BATMAN INCORPORATED, in which the Batman brand is franchised globally in preparation for a major international threat.

 *   EARTH 2 - Writer: James Robinson. Artist: Nicola Scott. The greatest heroes on a parallel Earth, the Justice Society combats threats that will set them on a collision course with other worlds.

 *   WORLDS' FINEST - Writer: Paul Levitz. Artists: George Perez and Kevin Maguire. Stranded on our world from a parallel reality, Huntress and Power Girl struggle to find their way back to Earth 2. Perez and Maguire will be the artists on alternating story arcs.

 *   DIAL H - Writer: China Miéville. Artist: Mateus Santoluoco. The first ongoing series from acclaimed novelist China Miéville, this is a bold new take on a cult classic concept about the psychological effects on an everyman who accidentally gains powers to become a hero.

 *   G.I. COMBAT - Writer: J.T. Krul. Artist: Ariel Olivetti. Featuring the return of a classic DC Comics series, THE WAR THAT TIME FORGOT, along with rotating back-up stories and creative teams - including THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER, with writers Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti and artist Dan Panosian; and THE HAUNTED TANK, with writer John Arcudi and artist Scott Kolins.

 *   THE RAVAGERS - Writer: Howard Mackie. Artist: Ian Churchill. Spinning off from TEEN TITANS and SUPERBOY, this series finds four superpowered teens on the run and fighting against the organization that wants to turn them into supervillains."

Girl With the Dragon Tattoo to become graphic novel, emphasis on graphic

Speaking of DC Comics, the comic producer has picked up the rights to produce a graphic novel based on Stieg Larsson's ridiculously popular crime fiction novel The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. The book will be written by Denise Mina, who you might remember featured on here about a year ago with her previous graphic novel A Sickness in the Family. Expect this graphic novel to feature plenty of the violence you'd expect from the dragon tattoo girl; I just hope they get the tattoo right.

Chicago Fear Fest looking for frightening shorts for their film festival; please don't send your khakis

If you've been working on a short horror film, now is the time to get it prepared, because in Chicago, a massive indie horror fest will be coming shortly. Led by Horror Enterprises Flashback Weekend, Horror Society, Sinister Visions, and Zombie Army Productions, the Chicago Fear Fest is a weekend getaway for horror fans and indie filmmakers who want to see some carnage. The festival is currently accepting film submissions - take a look at the press releases' verbage for how films will be judged:

"Films will be judged based in 3 different categories: Best Feature, Best Short and Audience Favorite. The winning director of each category will be invited to appear as a featured celebrity guest at the Flashback Weekend Chicago Horror Convention to be held August 10-12, 2012 in Rosemont, IL."

Interested, or got something worth submitting? Head on over to the Chicago Fear Fest website for more info.