This is a pretty big bummer of a month for DC, as seven titles are seeing the end of their run (well, five – “Green Lantern: The Lost Army” was retconned into a miniseries that ended last month apparently, and “Doomed” was unceremoniously retroactively cancelled in November, too), but there is an awful lot to discuss, so let’s get right to it.
10. Let’s Try This Again
Back in May, DC released a ‘Director’s Cut’ edition of “The Multiversity: Pax Americana,” which was received very well – despite the fact that the issue that was originally supposed to be presented in this fashion was “The Multiversity” #2 by Ivan Reis. People weren’t quite sure why the books were swapped out, but the thrill of Frank Quietly pencils was too exciting to piss people off, so Reis’s book got put on the shelf.
Until December, when, combined with “The Multiversity” #2, the book is getting the pencils and script of the two issues put together for $7.99. Personally, I’m not a huge fan of these books – I would much rather something oversized, or at least larger than a standard page, so that the pencils really shine. That said, I know many folks who love this, so dig in!
THE MULTIVERSITY #1-2 DIRECTOR’S CUT
Written by GRANT MORRISON
Art and cover by IVAN REIS
On sale DECEMBER 23 • 96 pg, FC, $7.99 US • RATED T
The bookend issues that opened and closed the epic known as THE MULTIVERSITY are re-presented here in this new Director’s Cut Edition, with script pages, sketch material and the art of Ivan Reis presented in pencil form.
9. Fans Who Aren’t Me Are Probably Very Happy About This
I know a lot of people love Harley Quinn, and I know that it is one of the most profitable books DC is publishing. So, adding a second, bimonthly team up book is hardly a poor decision, business-wise. On top of that, fans of all stripes are enjoying with Conner and Palmiotti are doing with the character, so this is is sure to be both a commercial and a critical success. But it isn’t for me at all – sorry! I like Harley one place – in Batman: The Animated Series, and even then she’s my least favorite element of the show. /grump
HARLEY’S LITTLE BLACK BOOK #1
Written by AMANDA CONNER and JIMMY PALMIOTTI
Art by AMANDA CONNER and a bunch of people who owe her favors
Cover by AMANDA CONNER
Variant covers by J. SCOTT CAMPBELL
On sale DECEMBER 2 • 48 pg, FC, $4.99 US • RATED T+
Retailers: This issue will ship with a standard cover, as well as polybagged variant editions. Please see the order form for more information.
It’s the sensational debut of a bimonthly, overstuffed, oversized team-up series in which Harley meets (and almost certainly annoys) the greatest heroes and villains of the DC Universe! First up? The incredible Wonder Woman! There’s a plot to assassinate Wondy, and Harley is convinced that only she could possibly stop it! (Hey, you want to tell her about all the other options? We tried.)
This issue features open-to-order variant covers by J. Scott Campbell that will be shipped in opaque polybags.
8. World’s Finest “World’s Finest” Stories
The Silver Age “World’s Finest” stories are some of the most fun in all of comics – especially once the book became a straight team-up book, and didn’t feature separate Batman and Superman stories. This omnibus covers the first 25 issues of the team-up era, and features art from Curt Swan, Dick Sprang, “and others.” Those others could be my three year old daughter and 11 year old dog, and the other two would make it worth while – this is a must have for comics fans.
Continued belowBATMAN AND SUPERMAN IN WORLD’S FINEST SILVER AGE OMNIBUS VOL. 1 HC
Written by EDMOND HAMILTON and others
Art by CURT SWAN, DICK SPRANG and others
Cover by DARWYN COOKE
On sale MARCH 9 • 640 pg, FC, $75.00 US
Superman and Batman team up in these stories that guest-star Robin, Lois Lane, Lex Luthor and The Joker! Collects stories from SUPERMAN #76 and WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #71-96.
7. The Vertigo Expansion Continues
Four more new Vertigo titles are out this month, headlined by “The Sheriff of Baghdad Babylon,” written by Tom King and illustrated by Mitch Gerards. This is the type of book that Vertigo hasn’t really attempted since “DMZ,” and King (whose past includes a stint at the CIA) is the perfect guy to write this book. King is blowing up right now, between “The Omega Men,” “Grayson,” and soon “The Vision” at Marvel – add this to the mix, and he’s really got a nice little resume going.
THE SHERIFF OF BABYLON #1
Written by TOM KING
Art by MITCH GERADS
Cover by JOHN PAUL LEON
On sale DECEMBER 2 • 32 pg, FC, 1 of 8, $3.99 US • MATURE READERS
Baghdad, 2003. Florida Police officer-turned-military contractor, Chris Henry is tasked with training a new Iraqi police force. When one of his trainees ends up dead, Chris is forced to team up with Nassir, the last remaining cop in Baghdad. Pulling the strings to bring them together is the mysterious Sofia, an American-educated Iraqi who has returned to take control of the city’s criminal underworld. This miniseries is a thrilling wartime crime drama told amid one of the most tumultuous times in modern history.
THE SHERIFF OF BABYLON is a new eight-issue miniseries pulled from GRAYSON cowriter Tom King’s real-life experience as a CIA operations officer and is illustrated by Mitch Gerads, cocreator of The Activity.
6. Hopefully, This Answers Our Most Pressing Question: What Pizza Topping Does Batman Like Best?
James Tynion IV and Freddie Williams II don’t just have the most roman numerals of any creative team working in comics today, but also have the task of attempting to tell a story where the Foot Clan and TMNT have crossed universes into Gotham City. I’m not gonna lie – that is the most comic book-y thing I’ve heard in months, and I love it. Sign me up!
BATMAN/TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #1
Written by JAMES TYNION IV
Art and cover by FREDDIE E. WILLIAMS II
1:50 Variant cover by KEVIN EASTMAN
Blank variant cover
On sale DECEMBER 9 • 32 pg, FC, 1 of 6, $3.99 US • RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with three covers. Please see the order form for details.
DC Comics and IDW team up for the crossover you never saw coming as two of the greatest entertainment icons meet for the first time! In Gotham City, a series of deadly raids leads Batman to believe he’s up against a group of highly trained ninjas known as the Foot Clan! Somehow, they’ve crossed over to another dimension and are determined to take advantage of the situation while looking to get back home. But they haven’t come alone: Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo are hot on their trail. Get ready for excitement as heroes and villains from both worlds clash and team up in an epic battle that threatens the very fabric of reality!
5. DC Declares “Robin War”
This seems like a perfectly reasonable crossover – less than 2 full months, only disrupting one month of your Bat-books. A six part story, with an additional three tie ins, all in books that make sense to cross over (no “Green Lantern Corps” joining ‘Zero Year’ here). I have no real problem with this at all. Is…is this what not being cynical feels like?
Continued belowROBIN WAR #1
Written by TOM KING
Art and cover by KHARY RANDOLPH
1:25 Variant cover by LEE BERMEJO
On sale DECEMBER 2 • 48 pg, FC, 1 of 2, $4.99 US • RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for more information.
THE ROBINS FACE THE COURT OF OWLS!
In part 1 of this new epic, it’s Robins vs. cops! Robins vs. Robins! Robins vs. Batman! And Robins vs. the Court of Owls?!
Damian Wayne returns to Gotham City, and he is not happy. There are kids all over the city calling themselves Robin, Bruce Wayne is no longer Batman and the GCPD, led by the new, armored-up Batman, is cracking down on anybody wearing the “R.” And things only get worse when Red Hood, Red Robin and Grayson all come back to Gotham City…
4. See Ya, “Sensation Comics”
After 17 print editions, “Sensation Comics” is shuttering this December. The book – a digital first, continuity free Wonder Woman book, in the style of “Legends of the Dark Knight” and “The Adventures of Superman” – has been praised up and down for telling really interesting Wondy stories. This is exacerbated by the fact that “Wonder Woman” has been such a huge disappointment since Brian Azzarello and Cliff Chiang’s run ended. Let’s all pour one out for Wonder Woman stories that aren’t exploitative.
SENSATION COMICS FEATURING WONDER WOMAN #17
Written by TRINA ROBBINS
Art by CHRIS GUGLIOTTI
Cover by ANNA DITTMAN
On sale DECEMBER 2 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T • DIGITAL FIRST • FINAL ISSUE
Diana’s compassion is tested when Dr. Barbara Minerva appears, begging for assistance as she seeks out the last remaining source of urzkatarga, the plant that supplies the serum that transforms her into the Cheetah. And if she can’t use it to replenish her supply, she’ll die. But when the Amazon princess/super-hero and the scientist/super-villain make their way to the “Island of Lost Souls,” they find more is at stake than expected!
3. Bye, “Batman ’66”
The monthly “Batman ’66” title is also wrapping up, as the digital first stories end in November. However, DC is continuing this brand through one shots and minis (like “Batman ’66 Meets the Man From U.N.C.L.E.,” which also launches this month), but I think I speak for everyone when I say that I’ll be missing this series, if only for the great artists that worked on it (Scott Kowalchuk, Jonathan Case, etc).
I also think it is interesting that, much like “FF,” Lee Allred, Mike’s brother, is writing the final issue, along with (previously only cover artist) Mike drawing the full issue.
BATMAN ‘66 #30
Written by LEE ALLRED
Art and cover by MICHAEL ALLRED
On sale DECEMBER 16 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED E • DIGITAL FIRST • FINAL ISSUE
BATMAN ‘66 comes to a close as we unleash cover artist Michael Allred on the entire issue! Mobs of villains arrive in Gotham City for what appears to be a full-blown Criminal Convention. But one bad guy is not happy with how he’s being treated, and decides to tip off Batman and Robin. Will even this valuable bit of information be enough to help the Dynamic Duo overcome the overwhelming odds?
2. Jet Away, “Justice League United”
This one stings – big time. Jeff Parker’s “JLU” has been a really fun team up book, bringing together characters from all over DC’s history to fight incredible threats. It is a shame that the book isn’t getting a longer run, especially because Jeff told the DC3 that he has a bunch of great ideas for future installments.
Let’s pour one out for Robotman, Swamp Thing, Stargirl, and all the rest.
JUSTICE LEAGUE UNITED #16
Written by JEFF PARKER
Art and cover by TRAVEL FOREMAN
On sale DECEMBER 9 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T • FINAL ISSUE
Artist Travel Foreman returns for this “trippy” trip to the House of Secrets to reveal at last how Adam Strange came to be trapped in the Zeta Beam! And just what will that mean for the mysterious, reality-warping Breakers that have brought so many disparate heroes and villains to the team?
1.Off You Go, “Omega Men”
Uhh…this was uncancelled? Never mind, then!
THE OMEGA MEN #7
Written by TOM KING
Art by BARNABY BAGENDA
Cover by TREVOR HUTCHISON
On sale DECEMBER 2 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+ • FINAL ISSUE
The Omega Men’s mysterious plan for Kyle Rayner comes to fruition as the former Green Lantern is forced to make the biggest decision of his life—one that could cost millions of lives. Secrets are finally revealed in an epic climax that will change the balance of power in the DC Universe.
For the full solicitations, check out Comic Book Resources.
