DC recently launched new imprints of their graphic novels: DC Ink, for young adult readers, and DC Zoom, for middle grade readers. Therefore, there was a lot for the creative team and talent to share at Comic-Con International’s DC Young Readers panel. On hand to discuss the latest in DC Super Hero Girls, as well as upcoming titles from DC Ink and DC Zoom, were Dustin Nguyen (Batman: Streets of Gotham), Art Baltazar and Franco (Tiny Titans), Danielle Paige (Mera), Sarah Kuhn (Shadow of the Batgirl), Michele Wells (DC VP Content Strategy), Agnes Garbowska (DC Super Hero Girls), Monica Kubina (DC Super Hero Girls) and DC Group Editor Marie Javins.

Moderator Ashley Eckstein (DC Super Hero Girls) began the conversation with Michele Wells, who introduced the new titles. Announced earlier this year, Michele described DC Zoom (ages 8-12) and DC Ink (13-up) as having “out of continuity stories. They’re full books… set to the continuity of the core of the characters are.”

RELATED: DC Announces New Titles for YA Imprints DC Zoom, DC Ink

When asked about her reaction when DC approached her, Danielle Paige exclaimed, “So incredibly excited!… I was surprised and thrilled at the opportunity to pitch to DC.”

“When you get the call, you drop everything else you’re doing… I canceled the pizza and Pay Per View, and I’m getting on the plane” Art Baltazar joked.

Meanwhile, Sarah Kuhn described her reaction as “I try to play it cool, but when I got this, I wrote back right away with lots of exclamation points.”

Responding to a question about writing adult stories for young audiences, Danielle Paige said, “Making things palatable in YA is something I’ve always done.” Danielle Paige is penning the DC Ink graphic novel Mera: Tidebreaker, due out April 2019.

“I pitched Aquaman first, as the Little Mermaid, and I wrote it in all seriousness… Mera actually did grow up under the sea, so what if instead of the Little Mermaid following him to land because she loves him, she follows him to land to kill him?” Paige said about the idea behind Tidebreaker.

Speaking further on Mera, Michele Wells talked about how she is a very strong character driven by loyalty, but also she’s a teenage girl. The struggle Mera has, Wells said, is between “loyalty to her people and loyalty to her heart.”

RELATED: DC Comics’ Embrace of Young Readers Is Key to Its Future

Sarah Kuhn’s Shadow of the Batgirl was her bucket list Batgirl character. In detailing her experience so far, Kuhn said it’s “basically a retelling of the origin story. The aspects of the characters I’ve loved are her deep relationships with Barbara Gordon and other people in her life… I wanted to do something about her finding her family and having that mentorship. I wanted to really explore the relationships between female superheroes. And I added a character that’s basically a superhero Asian auntie.”

“What I came to love about writing comics was the collaborative aspect… I had the artist and the editor to collaborate and see how it develops. I like it as a way from getting away from being alone with the story in a room by yourself,” added Sarah about her writing process.

Titles coming out under the DC Ink line are:

Dick Grayson: Lost Carnival by Michael Moreci (writer)

Gotham High by Melissa de la Cruz (writer), Thomas Pitilli (illustration)

Oracle Rising by Marieke Nijkamp (writer)

Shadow of the Batgirl by Sarah Kuhn (writer)

Truth or Consequences: A Jack Hyde Story by Alex Sanchez (writer)

Winder Woman: Tempest Tossed by Laurie Halse Anderson

Page 2: DC's Zoom Imprint Roster Explains Why They're Excited to Write For A Younger Audience

Under the DC Zoom imprint, artist Dustin Nguyen is working on Batman Tales: Once Upon a Crime, fairy tales with Batman mythos. “We’ve always wanted to tell these stories… It doesn’t actually take place in the fairy tale world, but it’s Gotham fairy tale world. It’s going to be a lot of fun,” said Dustin.

Superman of Smallville by Art Baltazar and Franco will be on sale June 2019. Baltazar based his characterization of young Superman on his son. “I asked my son ‘if you were Superman, what would you wear?’ He said, ‘My jeans and blue shirt.’ So that’s what I drew.” Art also confirmed that the ‘S’ on their version of Superman is Henry Cavill’s, the most modern Superman.

RELATED: DC Reveals Zoom & Ink Lineups, Including Superman Smashes the Klan

In an existing popular series, DC Super Hero Girls: Spaced Out will release in May 2019. It’s written by Shea Fontana with art by Agnes Garbowska and cover colored by Monica Kubina.

Artist Agnes Garbowska in her work with Spaced Out said, “It’s pure happiness and awesomeness… I get to draw all my favorite superheroes as awesome teenagers with awesome outfits. It’s a really happy book to work on.”

Artist Monica Kubina added, “It’s been everything I wanted it to be… It’s so amazing: I get to work on what I’ve always a wanted to work on and inspire my young boys to see girls in this light.”

About her boys and her work on DC Super Hero Girls, Monica shared, “As I would get the scripts, they’d want to read them. It’s great to get perspective from the kids. They don’t see that they’re girls – they see that they’re kids.”

“The book does not talk down to kids. It treats them with a level of respect and it’s been fabulous to watch the fan’s reaction,” said DC Group editor Marie Javins about DC Super Hero Girls.

RELATED: DC Launches New Young Reader and Middle Grade Imprints

DC just announced that its first DC Zoom story starring Wonder Woman will be called Diana, Princess of the Amazons, written by Shannon and Dean Hale.

Additional titles in the DC Zoom line are:

Dear Justice League by Michael Northrop (writer), Gustavo Duarte (illustrator)

Green Lantern Legacy by Minh Lê (writer), Andie Tong (illustrator)

Superman Smashes the Klan by Gene Luen Yang (writer), Gurihiri Studios (illustrator)

When Eckstein asked about what the panelists hope to achieve with both of these imprints for young readers, Franco said, “I think every story that’s out is someone’s first introduction to those characters and comics. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard ‘my kid learned to read from your book.’ There’s nothing better to hear those words at a convention.”

Answering the same question, Dustin said: “We’ve always wanted to create something where you read it and put it down and have a conversation about it later.”

“I want to give young Asian girls and girls of color what I always wished I had: a girl at the center of the story, but she still manages to triumph. She’s definitely the hero, not the sidekick or villain” Sarah Kuhn said.

“Gaining empathy is important,” answered Michele Wells, while Monica Kubina replied, “As a parent, empowering kids is the greatest job anyone could have.”