Add blog post announcing MetronInfo v1.2

blog/2026-10-28-metroninfo-v1-2/index.md

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+---
+slug: metroninfo-v1-2
+title: MetronInfo V1.2
+date: 2026-10-28T12:00
+authors: [ bpepple ]
+tags: [ metadata, comic, comicvine, metron ]
+---
+
+Following up on the [v1.1 release](/blog/metroninfo-v1-1) from July,
+[MetronInfo v1.2](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Metron-Project/metroninfo/refs/heads/master/schema/v1.2/MetronInfo.xsd)
+is out. This release is focused on the `Series` element, adding three new optional elements and loosening the
+restrictions on language codes.
+
+<!-- truncate -->
+
+## What's New
+
+### Series EndYear
+
+An optional element for the year a series ended, complementing the existing `StartYear` element. Like `StartYear`, it
+must be a 4 digit value. The schema checks that `EndYear` isn't earlier than `StartYear`, and that a series with a
+`Status` of `Ongoing` doesn't have an `EndYear`.
+
+### Series Status
+
+An optional element for the publication status of the series. It must be one of the following values:
+
+- **Cancelled**
+- **Completed**
+- **Hiatus**
+- **Ongoing**
+
+### Series Summary
+
+An optional description or summary of the series itself. This is separate from the existing top-level `Summary`
+element, which describes the individual book.
+
+### Language Codes
+
+The `lang` attribute (used by `Series` and the `Name` element of `AlternativeNames`) previously only accepted a
+two-letter lowercase code like `en` or `ja`. It now accepts [BCP 47](https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/bcp47) language
+tags, so values like `fil`, `pt-BR`, and `zh-Hant` are now valid. This makes it possible to distinguish things like
+Brazilian and European Portuguese, or Traditional and Simplified Chinese.
+
+Here's an example of a `Series` element using the new elements:
+
+```xml
+<Series lang="en" id="1234">
+    <Name>Black Lightning</Name>
+    <SortName>Black Lightning</SortName>
+    <Volume>1</Volume>
+    <Format>Single Issue</Format>
+    <StartYear>1977</StartYear>
+    <EndYear>1978</EndYear>
+    <Status>Cancelled</Status>
+    <IssueCount>11</IssueCount>
+    <Summary>Jefferson Pierce returns to his old neighborhood to fight crime as Black Lightning.</Summary>
+</Series>
+```
+
+All of the changes are documented in full on the [MetronInfo documentation](/docs/metroninfo/documentation) page, and
+the raw schema is up on the [schema page](/docs/metroninfo/schemas/v1.2).
+
+## What Software Currently Supports It?
+
+The following software already supports MetronInfo v1.2:
+
+- [Darkseid](https://github.com/Metron-Project/darkseid) as of
+  [v9.1.0](https://github.com/Metron-Project/darkseid/releases/tag/v9.1.0)
+- [Comicbox](https://github.com/ajslater/comicbox) as of
+  [v5.5.0](https://github.com/ajslater/comicbox/releases/tag/v5.5.0)
+- [Codex](https://github.com/ajslater/codex) as of [v2.5.7](https://github.com/ajslater/codex/releases/tag/v2.5.7)
+
+If you maintain other software that reads or writes MetronInfo.xml, feel free to create a PR to update the
+README or [contact me](mailto:bpepple@metron.cloud?subject=MetronInfo%20Support&body=Please%20add%20the%20following%20software%20to%20the%20README:%20)
+to get it added to the list.
+
+## Upgrading
+
+This is a backwards-compatible change. The new elements are optional, and the new language code rules accept every
+value the old ones did, so any existing v1.0 or v1.1 documents remain valid. If you're validating against the schema in
+your own tooling, just point it at the [v1.2 schema](https://github.com/Metron-Project/metroninfo/tree/master/schema/v1.2)
+instead of v1.1.
+
+As with v1.1, the `EndYear` checks are written as XSD 1.1 assertions, so they're only enforced by a validator that
+supports XSD 1.1 (for example, Saxon or Xerces-J with XSD 1.1 enabled).
+
+## Future
+
+As always, if you have suggestions for the schema, please file a
+[feature request](https://github.com/Metron-Project/metroninfo/issues/new?assignees=&labels=&projects=&template=feature_request.md&title=),
+[bug report](https://github.com/Metron-Project/metroninfo/issues/new?assignees=&labels=&projects=&template=bug_report.md&title=),
+or start a [discussion](https://github.com/Metron-Project/metroninfo/discussions).
+
+Thanks again to everyone who's contributed feedback and pull requests to the schema.