As of March, we are officially a year into the ‘Infinite Frontier’ era of DC Comics. Some of the titles that launched back in March are looking to make big changes this month, where others are chugging along nicely. Let’s dig in.
10. I couldn’t not talk about this
There is no comic series that defines my fandom more than “Who’s Who.” The book was a childhood obsession, which has led to me collecting not just every issue in singles, but also buying the newly released Omnibus Vol 1, and preparing to bind my own auxiliary volumes to build a ‘DC Comics Reference Library’ of sorts. So, this second omnibus is going right on the birthday wishlist.
WHO’S WHO OMNIBUS VOL. 2
Written by VARIOUS
Art by VARIOUS
Cover by BRIAN BOLLAND
$125.00 US | 1,208 pages | 7 1/16″ x 10 7/8″ | Hardcover
ISBN: 978-1-77951-519-3
ON SALE 5/10/22DC’s encyclopedia of heroes and villains steps into the 1990s in this massive hardcover continuing the classic Who’s Who biography series! Also includes the spinoff series Who’s Who in the Legion of Super-Heroes, spotlighting DC’s greatest team of the 30th century. Collects Who’s Who in the Legion of Super-Heroes #1-7, Who’s Who in the DC Universe #1-16, and Who’s Who Update 1993 #1-2.
9. The continued building at the margins
It seems like every month I am shouting out a DC OGN that is aimed at younger readers, but usually there is a tether to the main DCU someplace in there, whether through a locale, a character, or a general concept. This book, however, by Jadzia Axelrod (“Frankenstein’s Support Group For Misunderstood Monsters,” “Cat Ninja Tales”) and Jess Taylor (“Jelly,” “Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins Season III”), appears to be an entirely new creation, specifically for the book market. While I am a firm believer in diversifying DC’s slate of characters to allow for new readers of all stripes, it is a little odd to see this so completely disconnected from DC’s other concepts. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing; in fact, it may wind up being a great thing, but it is surprising.
Mainly, I’m just happy that DC is bringing in new talent, new characters, and aiming at new audiences. I’m excited to check this out.
GALAXY: THE PRETTIEST STAR
Written by JADZIA AXELROD
Art and cover by JESS TAYLOR
$16.99 US | 208 pages | 6″ x 9″ | Softcover
ISBN: 978-1-4012-9853-1
ON SALE 5/17/22Every day in Taylor Barzelay’s life might seem perfect…but every day is torture. Taylor is actually the Galaxy Crowned, an alien princess from the planet Cyandii, and one of the few survivors of an intergalactic war. For six long, painful years, Taylor has accepted her duty to remain in hiding as a boy on Earth. But that all changes when Taylor meets Metropolis girl Katherine “call me Kat” Silverberg, whose confidence is electrifying. Suddenly, Taylor no longer wants to hide, even if exposing her true identity could attract her greatest enemies.
8. Bye bye Bendis
After exactly a year on the title, Brian Michael Bendis is stepping off of the “Justice League” train. We still don’t know exactly who is taking his place yet, but the betting money is on Tom Taylor for a few reason (this tweet doesn’t hurt those odds, either).
Regardless of who is coming on the title, it is interesting to look back at Bendis’s run and wonder if it was anything to write home about. I think that the overarching story, as is often the case with Bendis, was a lot of fun, but it was so decompressed that we wound up getting far less story than, perhaps, we should have from a year long run. If nothing else, I appreciate him breaking out of the ‘Big 7’ team and allowing folks like Black Adam and Naomi to join the team.
Continued belowJUSTICE LEAGUE #74
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Art by EMANUELA LUPACCHINO, WADE VON GRAWBADGER, and SZYMON KUDRANSKI
Cover by YANICK PAQUETTE and NATHAN FAIRBAIRN
Variant cover by ALEX MALEEV
THE BATMAN variant cover by BEN OLIVER
$4.99 US | 40 pages | $5.99 US Variant (card stock)
ON SALE 3/15/22Justice League Dark crossover conclusion! Another full double-size issue crossover spectacular as Xanadoth, the original Lord of Chaos, has returned. With unlimited power and revenge against all on its mind, the Lord of chaos has taken the form of Black Adam and no. One. Is. Safe. The final chapter of the Eisner-winning Bendis Justice League run wraps up with brand-new status quo for all!
7. What is it good for? (Hopefully more than) Absolutely Nothing!
I appreciate how condensed DC is making many of its crossovers in this era, with the “War of Earth-3” taking up just a month, but crossing over with three titles and bookend issues of a miniseries. The issue is that two thirds of these titles were doing really interesting stuff ahead of the crossover, and the one that wasn’t, “Suicide Squad,” is the one that is driving this story forward. I hope that this one-month interruption is just a pause in the stuff that Jeremy Adams and Tim Sheridan are doing in “The Flash” and “Teen Titans Academy,” respectively, and that this isn’t signaling a major shift in these titles going forward.
WAR FOR EARTH-3 #1
Written by ROBBIE THOMPSON and DENNIS HOPELESS
Art by STEVE PUGH
Cover by RAFA SANDOVAL
Variant cover by GLEB MELNIKOV
1:25 variant cover by LIAM SHARP
1:50 variant cover by GUILLIEM MARCH
$5.99 US | 48 pages | 1 of 2 | Variant $6.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 3/1/22The Teen Titans, the Flash and the Suicide Squad all collide on Earth-3—home of the evil Crime Syndicate—on the hunt for former Task Force X mastermind Amanda Waller. As Waller tries to take over the alternate Earth and dethrone evil versions of Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, and other heroes that rule it, her former partner—Rick Flag—arrives on E-3 bent on making Waller pay for her crimes, while the Titans and Flash hunt for a missing academy student they believe was kidnapped by Waller to form her mysterious Justice Squad.
6. Don’t know much about Historia, don’t know much Biologia
The first issue of “Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons” #1 was a visual knock out from Phil Jimenez that left most everyone I know who read it with their jaws on the floor. The series will have a different artist for each chapter, and Gene Ha is up for the second issue. Jimenez leaves gigantic shoes to fill, but Ha is a beast of an artist who has not been around DC very much as of late. In addition, Kelly Sue DeConnick’s work on the first issue is vastly under-appreciated, in part because Jimenez stole the show, but DeConnick is doing really fun, really interesting work in this space. This is one of the best Black Label books, hands down. Do yourself a favor and pick it up.
WONDER WOMAN HISTORIA: THE AMAZONS #2
Written by KELLY SUE DeCONNICK
Art and cover by GENE HA
Variant cover by BECKY CLOONAN
$7.99 US | 72 pages | 2 of 3
Prestige Plus | 8 1/2″ x 10 7/8″
ON SALE 4/5/22The second installment of the jaw-droppingly ambitious history of the Amazons finds their future queen, Hippolyta, cutting a swath through the world of men, desperate to be reunited with the astonishing women who saved her life…but unfortunately for her, they’re hard folk to find. Perhaps it is the will of the Goddesses that they cross paths again…but before that moment, Hippolyta will gather to herself a tribe of her very own—and find that the hearts of all women do not necessarily burn with a flame as righteous as her own…
5. For Bat fans not named Brian
Batman is the most popular, and most frustrating, piece in DC’s stable of heroes. For every solid Bat-book that adds to the character’s mythos and history, there are some that are so niche and particular, that they can often times be a little alienating to fans who don’t fall into that specific corner of fandom.
There are three such books being released in March, none of which represent my Bat-interests, but will likely be something for different chunks of the Bat-universe.
The first is Tom King and David Marquez’s “Batman: Killing Time.” King’s time on “Batman” was incredibly polarizing and, instead of giving him another ongoing, DC seems content to let him do his stories in limited series on the periphery of continuity. That’s fine with me. The best part of this solicit is that there will be a Peach Momoko variant.
Continued belowThe second is the return to the “Batman: White Knight” world of Sean Gordon Murphy, “Batman Beyond the White Knight.” These books look great, but do nothing for me whatsoever. But hey, I know I’m likely in the minority for that.
Finalle, we get “Batman/Faze Clan,” which I refuse to do any further research into. This will likely sell a ton of comics.
BATMAN: KILLING TIME #1
Written by TOM KING
Art and cover by DAVID MARQUEZ
Variant cover by KAEL NGU
1:25 variant cover by ALEX GARNER
1:100 variant cover by PEACH MOMOKO
The Batman variant cover by CARLOS D’ANDA
$4.99 US | 40 pages | 1 of 6 | Variant $5.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 3/1/22Three villains, one Dark Knight, and a deadly heist gone wrong.
Catwoman, the Riddler, and the Penguin join forces to pull off the greatest robbery in the history of Gotham City. And their prize? A mysterious and priceless artifact in the secret possession of Bruce Wayne! But, as the events unfold, what fun is a heist without a bloody double cross or two?
The blockbuster team of Tom King and David Marquez bring an epic, white-knuckled, action-packed tale of a young Batman desperate to recover his most prized possession from a host of violent rogues before the clock strikes the Killing Time…
4. Going Rogue
Joshua Williamson may have wrapped up his “Flash” run for now, but this book takes some of the Flash’s most interesting enemies and tells a future story with those characters. “Rogues” also has the benefit of being illustrated by Leomacs, who has really impressed in their limited DC work on “Lucifer” and “Basketful of Heads.” The Rogues are among the best villains in all of DC, and I’m delighted to see them get this type of a Black Label title. Plus, Williamson’s run was so full of new ideas, the Rogues didn’t get a ton of traditional Rogue-y stuff to do. This will be a nice remedy to that.
ROGUES #1
Written by JOSHUA WILLIAMSON
Art by LEOMACS
Cover by SAM WOLFE CONNELLY
Variant cover by MASSIMILIANO LEOMACS
1:25 variant cover by MICHAEL CHO
$6.99 US | 48 pages | 1 of 4
Prestige Plus | 8 1/2″ x 10 7/8″
ON SALE 3/22/22
17+Ten years ago, the Rogues disbanded and went their separate ways. But time hasn’t been kind to the former blue-collar super-criminals. Caught in an endless cycle of prison, rehab, dead-end jobs, broken relationships, probation, and endless restitution fees, the Rogues are sick of paying for their crimes. Luckily, Captain Cold has a plan. One last job that will leave them all richer than their wildest dreams and free from their past…if they can survive. This is the Rogues as you’ve never seen them before, reimagined by the incredible talents of master storytellers Leomacs (Basketful of Heads) and Joshua Williamson (Batman, The Flash, Infinite Frontier). DC Black Label presents Rogues, a neo-noir heist that will make your blood run cold..
4. Why isn’t this coming out in January?
I know, I know; TV/films have minimal bearing on comic sales. But Naomi debuts on the CW tomorrow, and there isn’t a new Naomi comic for fans who may see it and wander into a comic shop. Sure, the store can point them at the collection of the first volume, but this seems like a really dumb thing to not be prepared better for. Come on DC, this shouldn’t be this difficult!
Continued belowNAOMI SEASON TWO #1
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
and DAVID F. WALKER
Art and cover by JAMAL CAMPBELL
$3.99 US | 32 pages | 1 of 6
ON SALE 3/8/22She’s back! Naomi returns to the pages of her own series to uncover the truth behind the new mysteries around herself and her powers. The entire creative team (Brian Michael Bendis, David F. Walker, and Jamal Campbell) behind the critically acclaimed and Eisner Award-nominated debut series has returned to answer all the questions that surround Naomi, her legacy, and her place in the DC Universe pantheon. Guest-starring Black Adam, Superman, and the Justice League, plus the return of…Zumbado! Soon to be a CW television show from Ava DuVernay!
2. Obejction! OVERRULED
It seems contradictory to say, but DC is both giving the Wonder Woman corner of the universe the most attention it has in years, but also is content to let it sort of do nothing. Each of the three currently running series that are crossing over here (“Wonder Woman,” “Wonder Girl,” and “Nubia and the Amazons”) have introduced really interesting concepts and characters, but have all sort of stalled in the execution of those ideas. “Wonder Girl” in particular did a nice job of bringing Artemis and Cassie Sandsmark into this overall picture, but the delays in shipping and the inconsistency in the issues themselves have led to nothing really coming of that yet.
I want to be super excited for this crossover, and I want Wonder Woman to get more of a focus in everything DC does, but I really wish that these stories were doing more to live up to their potential. Who knows, maybe this is the kick in the pants they all need.
TRIAL OF THE AMAZONS #1
Written by BECKY CLOONAN, MICHAEL W. CONRAD, JOËLLE JONES, VITA AYALA, and STEPHANIE WILLIAMS
Art by JOËLLE JONES, ELENA CASAGRANDE, LAURA BRAGA, & SKYLAR PATRIDGE
Cover by JIM CHEUNG
Variant cover by ROSE BESCH
1:25 variant cover by RAFAEL ALBUQUERQUE
1:100 variant cover by ROSE BESCH
Team variant cover by JEN BARTEL
$4.99 US | 40 pages | 1 of 2 | Variant $5.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 3/1/22After the events of Nubia & the Amazons, the dangers of Doom’s Doorway have found their way to Man’s World and garnered the attention of not one, but all three Amazonian tribes. The Bana-Mighdall consider it to be a weakness in the current regime and have decided to return to the shores of Themyscira to stake their claim over the island. Little do they know, the Esquecida are not far behind, but instead looking for help to combat the evil unleashed. Tempers rise and swords are brandished as the women argue about the best course of action.
Now Queen Nubia must show them all the way to peace by calling for one of the most famous Amazon traditions…the Contest. Who among them is worthy of leading them into the future? Find out as the bravest, wisest, and fiercest warriors compete to be champion of all the Amazons!
DC Comics proudly presents the first Wonder Woman crossover of its kind, brought to you by the writers behind Wonder Woman, Nubia & the Amazons, and Wonder Girl and some of the best and brightest artists in the industry. You won’t want to miss this monumental story that brings all the Wonder Woman titles and characters together and changes them for good!
1. Finally, Mark Waid HAS COME BACK to DC!
Of all of the creators to write for DC over the past forty years, I can’t think of one who is more purely a “DC in their bones” type of a writer than Mark Waid. Due to some editorial mishegoss and bad blood, Waid has not been an active participant at DC in over a decade. That ice started to melt late in 2020, but it took over a year to get to the place we are now, which is Waid on an ongoing series.
More than just being a “DC in their bones” writer, Waid is a “Superman in their bones” writer, so giving him “World’s Finest” is a stroke of genius. This is a story set in the ‘not too distant past,’ so it allows Waid to do his thing without disrupting (the very cool and interesting) current continuity or having to bend over backwards to explain stuff. And, because it is setting up a big future event, this seems like a perfect way to get Waid back into position as a mover/shaker at DC.
Plus, who doesn’t want to see Dan Mora draw this book? Holy moley*, this is exciting.
(Put Waid on a Shazam family book at some point, too)
BATMAN/SUPERMAN: WORLD’S FINEST #1
Written by MARK WAID
Art and cover by DAN MORA
Variant covers by JIM LEE, STANLEY “ARTGERM” LAU, and JASON FABOK
1:25 “SLAP BATTLE” variant covers (2) by CHIP ZDARSKY
1:50 “HIGH FIVE” variant cover by EVAN “DOC” SHANER
1:100 “SEINFELD” variant cover by DAN MORA
Team variant cover by LEE WEEKS
$3.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 3/15/22The Dark Knight. The Man of Steel. They are the two finest superheroes that the world has ever known…and they’re together again in an epic new series from the legendary talents of Mark Waid and Dan Mora! In the not-too-distant past, Superman’s powers are super-charged from a devastating chemical attack by the villain Metallo…and the only ally that the ultra-powerful Man of Tomorrow can turn to in this turbulent hour is Gotham’s own dark vengeance: the Batman. A nearly fatal burst of power drives Bruce Wayne to his own extreme measures to help his friend…enlisting none other than the Doom Patrol for aid. It’s the world’s greatest superheroes from the world’s greatest comic book talent in an epic comic book experience that kicks off the next big events in the DCU. Get ready, it’s time to soar.
For the full solicitations, visit our friends at Newsarama.
