What? Where am I? This isn’t my column. How did I get here?
Well, so long as I’m here I may as well talk about DC’s solicits for the month of August, released a week or so ago. There’s more than a fair share of interesting things going on in the DCU in August, and it looks like there will be an equal amount of oddities in September. Hoo boy. Check it out after the cut, and be sure to come back around 1 for Matt’s take on Marvel’s solicits.
An End That Leads to a Beginning?
Read the solicits for every book set in the main DC Universe. Notice anything? Nearly every issue is either a conclusion – including the end to “Grounded” – or a one-and-done, and while a few don’t explicitly say so, one could easily believe the story promised could wrap up in one issue. No “Part 2 of 4″s, or “The first part of an exciting new story!”s here. In fact, a few series are double shipping in order to get to the finish line in time on August. Of course, we aren’t the first to have noticed this, and speculation has been going wild over the past week or so as to what this means… especially since Flashpoint #5 is the only comic DC is releasing the last week of August. Clearly, Flashpoint is going to have an incredible effect on the DCU, but there’s no way DC is going to completely reboot their setting like some people think they are… right?
Trades That Make Sense
Much like they plan to do with All-Star Superman, DC is collection “The Sinestro Corps” – easily the highlight of Geoff Johns’ now legendary run on Green Lantern – in a single, easy to read paperback for $29.99. I wish I had known this before I purchased my separate hardcovers, especially considering one of the issues in my second volume is upside-down. Yeah, weird. Hopefully DC will eventually wizen up and do the same with Blackest Night, so readers won’t have to jump back and forth between the trades for the main title and the Green Lantern “tie-ins” (a.k.a. essential parts of the story).
Still No Finch (or, Why Is Anyone Buying This?)
As Matt noted last month, David Finch is no longer illustrating The Dark Knight. Even so, the issue that was solicited for July has been pushed back to August… and Jay Fabok is still illustrating it. No offense to either Finch or Fabok, but I think we can all agree that the only reason preordered this series in the first place was for Finch’s art. If he’s going to push it back yet again, it should at least be so it can be published with his penciling inside the cover.
Is That the Martian Manhunter?
You bet your chocos it is (though in the Flashpoint world he probably goes by another name). Apparently, he’s the mysterious Outsider’s greatest enemy. Or maybe not, as covers can be deceiving. Either way, I’m a bit more interested in this mini than I was originally. Don’t let me down, Robinson.
I Heart the 90s (DC’s 90s, at Least)
It’s old news at this point, but I must admit that I’m incredibly excited for DC’s Retroactive line, and the 90s issues in particular. Ron Marz writing Kyle Rayner, who will always be the Green Lantern for me, with Darryl Banks illustrating? Yes please. Brian Augustyn writing Wally West and the all-star team of Giffen, DeMatteis, and Maguire returning to the JLI? You shouldn’t have. To me, my childhood.
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Happy Trails, Daniel?
In another Batman-related observation, I’m happy to see that Tony Daniel is off of Batman, though it’s perfectly viable that it’s only for an issue. Maybe I’m being a bit harsh, but I just don’t care for Daniel’s work as a writer. Fabian Nicieza is hardly a brilliant writer, but he can definitely do the job that Batman seems to be delegated to much better than Daniel can; that is, tell good, solid stories that don’t necessarily have a massive impact on the status quo. From what I hear, Daniel isn’t gone for good, but I hope things have shifted and that Nicieza will continue on the book.
Make Way for the Big Seven?
Following the end of Robinson’s latest story arc, Justice League of America‘s solicit says:
Be here for a tale of love, friendship and heroism when this incarnation of the JLA must decide whether they have anything left to offer the DC Universe.
Could this be the end of Robinson’s JLA? I (and two other people) really liked the idea behind Robinson’s eclectic team, but as much as I respect the creator for his earlier work such as Starman, I have to admit that the execution was incredibly flawed. Could this herald the beginning of the long-rumored Johns-written JLA? I guess we’ll find out next month.
Trades That… Kinda Make Sense?
Also related to the JLA, it appears that shortly after finishing up their reprint of Grant Morrison’s run on JLA in deluxe hardcovers, DC will be releasing it in trade yet again, this time with the stories that happened between Morrison’s arcs (this issue the fill is by Mark Millar). They were fine stories, but I’d stick with either the Deluxe Editions or the older paperbacks if you just want Morrison’s run, considering this first volume is $19.99.
Bolland’s Back, Baby!
Apparently, The Spirit #17 will have three short, black & white stories. Apparently, one of them is illustrated by Brian Bolland, legendary artist of The Killing Joke and more amazing covers than perhaps anyone else in the industry. Take my money, DC.
