For most, Labor Day is the last exit sign before crossing the border into fall, which means it’s our last chance to have a Friday off under the auspices of “Summer Fridays.” So, in more concrete terms – the DC offices are closed today and Monday, which means there’ll be no new posts until Tuesday. But come back then for a first look at BATMAN #703.

Have a great holiday weekend, all!

The long weekend is almost upon us, and minds tend to wander this close to the end of the work day. So, how about I provide you with a handful of links to click through and get through the day a bit faster?

• This morning, we unveiled a first look at SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE, and the reaction was strong and positive, with pickup from WIRED, AOL COMICS ALLIANCE, THE BEAT, COMIC BOOK RESOURCES, IGN, NEWSARAMA and iFANBOY. That Shane Davis sure can draw, huh?

• THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR spotlighted the recent news of Dick Grayson sticking around as one of two Batmen.

• NEWSARAMA spoke to Batman Group Editor Mike Marts about the decision and the overall landscape of the Bat-books later this year.

• And SPIKE TV announced the nominees for the 2010 SCREAM AWARDS, which include our very own Geoff Johns and J.H. Williams III.

We’ve had a lot of Batman news of late, but one thing we haven’t shared is what the new creative team on BATMAN AND ROBIN will be doing visually. As we unveiled not long ago, Peter Tomasi will be taking over as writer with his former GREEN LANTERN CORPS collaborator Patrick Gleason stepping in as artist.

And now, to end a short week with some cool news, we present you with Gleason’s first cover, for November’s BATMAN AND ROBIN #17.

But that’s not all. NEWSARAMA’s got a lengthy and substantial interview with Tomasi and another Gleason cover to show. So make your way to the site for more clues and snazzy Gleason visuals.

This October, writer J. Michael Straczynski (Superman, Wonder Woman, Babylon 5, “Changeling”) and artist Shane Davis (Green Lantern, Superman/Batman) will take readers on a journey both familiar and new – a story of a last son looking for meaning amidst the skyscrapers and teeming crowds of a great metropolis.

This is a Superman for the 21st century.

With SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE, Straczynski and Davis inject the folk tale and legend that is Superman’s origin with a modern, vital and forward-looking energy that makes for a refreshing, epic and challenging super-hero adventure.

In SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE – the first original graphic novel retelling Superman’s origin — Clark Kent is a man looking for meaning in a new city and an age of failing newspapers, hand-held devices and instant gratification. But when you can fly through the sky and burn objects with a glance – things become a tad more complicated. Doubly so when a fleet of alien ships arrive on your doorstep.

SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE channels the best tales of Superman with a look toward the future, by two of the brightest talents the industry has to offer. We’ve got a first look at the graphic novel below. Prepare to be wowed.

The third chapter of legendary Batman writer/artist Neal Adams’ epic adventure continues, as Bruce Wayne and Alfred strategize the next steps in the Dark Knight’s odyssey – which may lead him straight to the Riddler and Talia.

BATMAN: ODYSSEY #3 hits 9/9.

When Supergirl decides to get away from it all and visit Stephanie Brown on the campus of Gotham City University, a quiet, relaxing weekend turns into a monster movie mash-up. After a science experiment goes horribly wrong, 24 black-and-white Draculas are brought to life, and Batgirl and Supergirl are forced to become vampire hunters in order to stop an army of the celluloid undead.

BATGIRL #14 hits 9/9.

Everybody here at the DC offices is getting ready to clear out for a long weekend and the official end of the summer. Considering how much fun we had these past few months on the DC Nation tour, you’d think we’d be sad to say goodbye to the season. But knowing what I know about how we plan on closing out the year…well let’s just say there is a TON to be excited about. We’ll leave you with this image which contains not one, but two hints as to what you can expect.

Be seeing you,

—Ian Sattler, Senior Story Editor, DCU