A bat-bombshell was dropped in the first 15 minutes of Thursday’s DC Nation panel. Kevin Smith will be making his return to the DCU with a three-issue Batman run that will have guest appearances by Mr. Zsasz and Deadshot. The villain of the series is one familiar to Smith. Onomatopoeia, the silent killer from Smith’s Green Arrow run will be the main villain of the story.

Smith also announced the artist, saying “I’m gonna say a name, and I’m gonna be the only one excited.” Walt Flanagan, Smith’s long-time friend, will make his art-debut at DC.

Smith joked the first issue will drop five years from now, and finish six years later. He later admitted he had already written two scripts, with the pencils on the first issue almost completed. “I’m great at first books,” said Smith. “I’m Mr. Foreplay.” The first issue will ship November, after the conclusion to Batman: RIP

Other announcements at the 2008 DC Nation panel:
- Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Sciver will reunite yet again for Flash: Rebirth, scheduled for January.
- Paul Dini is working on a Zatanna series.
- Fans were asked what they thought of Keith Giffen and Paul Levitz on Legion of Superheroes, but no confirmation or additional details were given.