J. Michael Straczynski will no longer write the monthly Superman and Wonder Woman comics, and will instead devote his efforts to graphic novels and limited series, according to an announcement from DC Comics.  The switch to new scripters will occur with Superman #707 (#703 was released in October) and Wonder Woman #605 (#604 was released in October). 

Straczynski will immediately begin working on a sequel to the sold out #1 seller Superman:  Earth One (see “Top 300 Graphic Novels—October”).

Chris Roberson will take over scripting on Superman; Phil Hester on Wonder Woman.  Both will work from JMS’s story notes.  “It’s still my story, I’m involved in both books, and they’re going to continue in the direction we set up,” Straczynski said.

Straczynski said he sees the market moving away from ongoing monthly comics, and plans to take a one to five year sabbatical from writing them.  “I’m taking full advantage of the situation to take a one- to five-year sabbatical from writing monthlies in order to go exclusively into writing graphic novels like Superman Earth One and Samaritan X, along with the occasional high-visibility miniseries,” he said.  “I think that’s where the business is going, and creatively, limited series and graphic novels have always been my strong suit in that they let me tell cohesive stories with a beginning, middle, and end.  They can also be written and drawn before anything is ever announced or solicited….”