After a few months of slightly less than Earth-shattering solicits, May brings the thunder. Let’s dig right in.
10. Lucha!
DC’s been upping its collectibles game as of late, and these luchador inspired superheroes look awesome. The $35 price tag is a little steep, but one of these definitely belongs on my desk.
Also, who picked Metallo II as one of the launch figures?
DC ¡LUCHA EXPLOSIVA! BATMAN, DEATHSTROKE, SUPERMAN, METALLO II, WONDER WOMAN AND THE CHEETAH ACTION FIGURES
Técnicos! Rudos! Superhero and wrestling fans—“¡A la lucha!” The wrestling collectible event of the year is here! From the team at DC Collectibles comes a joyful and imaginative new universe that combines the enthralling world of Mexican wrestling and the heroic history of DC Comics: DC ¡LUCHA EXPLOSIVA!This all-new line of 7″ action figures take its roots from the deep history of Lucha Libre and Mexican luchadores. Each figure is a Latin American-inspired reimagining of a classic DC hero or villain, complete with an all-new backstory drawn from Mexico’s rich cultural history.
With six figures set for release in 2019 and more coming in the years following, fans will be able to create epic storylines of betrayal and redemption, alliances made and broken and emerging heroes and villains. Which figure will you choose to be the campeón?
• Allocations may occur
• Final products may differ from
images shown
$35.00 US
EACH FIGURE SOLD SEPARATELY
9. Oh, deary
DC Ink and DC Zoom are, perhaps, the most exciting things DC are involved in this year. This book, featuring the amazing art of Gustavo Duarte, who killed it on the “Bizarro” series from the ‘DC You’ days, is a really fun concept: the Justice League answers its fan mail! I know that the majority of Multiversity readers may not be buying all-ages books for themselves (which, come on now), but this seems like the perfect gift for a kid in your life. Or, for yourself if you can get over yourself, you stuck up, fictional avatar I’ve created in my mind.
DEAR JUSTICE LEAGUE TP
written by MICHAEL NORTHROP
art and cover by GUSTAVO DUARTE
The greatest heroes in the DC Universe, the Justice League of America, answer mail from their biggest fans—kids!—courtesy of Michael Northrop, New York Times bestselling author of TombQuest, and artist Gustavo Duarte (BIZARRO).
Does Superman ever make mistakes? What was Wonder Woman’s 11th birthday like? Does Aquaman smell like fish? In this new middle grade graphic novel, iconic heroes are asked questions both big and small, and when they are not busy saving the world, the Justice League even finds time to respond. Their honest and humorous answers will surprise and delight readers of any age, as it turns out that being a superhero is not too different from being a kid.
Full of feats, follies, and colorful illustrations, Dear Justice League gives readers the inside scoop on everyday heroics, no matter who wears the cape!
ON SALE 07.31.19
$9.99 US | 160 PAGES
FC | 5.5” x 8”
ISBN: 978-1-4012-8413-8
8. Na-na-na-na-na-na-na-Turtles!
The TMNT/Batman crossover books hit the trilogy mark this month, with James Tynion IV and Freddie E. Williams III (or, VII, as they shall forever collectively be known) returning to the fold. This is being billed as the concluding chapter of the saga which, let’s be real, seems pretty incredible that this somewhat random mashup has lasted for three different minis. This would’ve literally been my dream book as a ten year old, and more proof that we live in the best of all possible (comic) worlds.
Continued belowBATMAN/TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES III #1
written by JAMES TYNION IV
art and cover by FREDDIE E. WILLIAMS II
variant cover by KEVIN EASTMAN
The 80th anniversary of Batman collides with the 35th anniversary of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in this stunning concluding miniseries to the BATMAN/TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES trilogy. Our heroes have battled the evil of the Foot Clan in Gotham City and Bane in New York, but now Krang has gotten his hands on the most dangerous technologies in the DC Universe—and no universe is safe from his wrath! Co-published with IDW.
ON SALE 05.01.19
$3.99 US | 1 of 6 | 32 PAGES
FC | RATED T
This issue will ship with two covers.
Please see the order form for details.
7. The first look at a young Barry Allen
It’s sort of amazing that we’ve never had a definitive early Barry Allen/Flash tale. But due to the Silver Age starting more or less in the middle of Barry’s story (after his origin), we never saw Barry’s growing pains. But here we are, from the definitive Flash writer of the 21st century, Josh Williamson, and Howard Porter, one of the most iconic recent Flash artists in his own right.
“Flash Year One” has always been said to fit into Williamson’s larger “Flash” run, and I’m really curious to see how that exactly works. It’s cool that it is not a separate purchase for those reading the book, but it’s also going to be weird to basically leave the current story in limbo.
THE FLASH #70
written by JOSHUA WILLIAMSON
art and cover by HOWARD PORTER
variant cover by TONI INFANTE
“The Flash Year One” starts here! Barry Allen feels helpless in his life in Central City. As a forensic scientist, he’s always catching criminals after they’ve committed their crimes. All that changes one fateful night when Barry is struck by a bolt of lightning and doused in chemicals. When he wakes from a coma, he realizes he can run at incredible speeds. Can Barry master these powers and be the hero his city needs…or will the powers burn through him?
ON SALE 05.08.19
$3.99 US | 32 PAGES
FC | RATED T
This issue will ship with two covers.
Please see the order form for details.
6. Heroes in Bye-Bye
Thank Christ.
HEROES IN CRISIS #9
written by TOM KING
art and cover by CLAY MANN
variant cover by RYAN SOOK
The most-talked-about miniseries of the year reaches its stunning finale! The mystery behind the murders at Sanctuary is solved, but the mind behind it is one the heroes never expected. With their deepest secrets exposed, the Trinity has to consider how to carry on. Should the tragedy cause them to redouble their efforts to help their hurting comrades, or will they need to close up shop? The answers will be found in the ashes of this final showdown, and the fates of Booster Gold, Harley Quinn and the rest hang in the balance.
ON SALE 05.22.19
$3.99 US | 9 of 9 | 32 PAGES
FC | RATED T+
This issue will ship with two covers.
Please see the order form for details.
5. You know that classic start of a year, May 1
Declaring a year’s theme/intentions in the fifth month of said year is weird, but DC is rolling out another $.25 comic that will continue/lead into stories from “Justice League” and “Action Comics.” I do sort of wish this was just a Free Comic Book Day offering, but whatever. We’re getting a Zoom/Ink sampler, which is also dope, we we should get both. I dunno.
Continued belowDC’S YEAR OF THE VILLAIN #1
written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS, SCOTT SNYDER and JAMES TYNION IV
art by JIM CHEUNG, ALEX MALEEV and FRANCIS MANAPUL
cover by GREG CAPULLO
1:100 Cheetah variant cover by STANLEY “ARTGERM” LAU
1:250 Lex Luthor variant cover by ALEX MALEEV
1:500 The Batman Who Laughs variant cover by JIM CHEUNG
Evil is winning! Lex Luthor and The Legion of Doom conspire with Cosmic Gods, bending mankind toward a dark destiny. Elsewhere, the scourge of Leviathan spreads unchecked, seizing power in every corner of the world. And all the while the Batman Who Laughs busies himself in the shadows, aligned with no one—yet with sinister plans for all.
The carnage starts here as the badguys take center stage in “The Year of the Villain,” the most treacherous event in DC Comics history. Some act with united goals, others with plans selfish and secret, every one of them on a monstrous collision course against Batman, Superman and the heroes of the DC Universe. And our heroes will fail us.
Don’t miss the start of “The Year of the Villain,” featuring the talents of writers Brian Michael Bendis, Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV, artists Jim Cheung, Alex Maleev and Francis Manapul and cover artist Greg Capullo—all for just $0.25!
ONE-SHOT | ON SALE 05.01.19
$0.25 US | 32 PAGES | FC | RATED T+
This issue will ship with four covers. Please see the order form for details.
4. A pooch paradise
DC’s last few of these anthologies have been super fun, whether the very horny “Mysteries of Love in Space” or the really clever “Nuclear Winter” special. This one has got everything: Krypto, Bat-Cow, Ferdinand, everything. These are silly and slight, but super fun.
If they could knock the price down a couple of bucks to make it more of a guilt-free impulse buy, I think the overall acceptance of these titles would be much, much better.
DOG DAYS OF SUMMER #1
written by G. WILLOW WILSON, JOSHUA WILLIAMSON, MARIKO TAMAKI, DAN DiDIO, COLLIN KELLY, JACKSON LANZING and others
art by STJEPAN SEJIC, TOMY RANEY, CULLY HAMNER, KYLE HOTZ, CIAN TORMEY and others
cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL
“Who let the dogs out?” DC does this summer as we unleash the beast within and join Krypto and Superman, Bat-Cow and Batman, Wonder Woman and Ferdinand and many more for eight sun-kissed stories in this can’t-miss animal-sized spectacular!
ONE-SHOT | PRESTIGE FORMAT
ON SALE 05.29.19
$9.99 US | 80 PAGES
FC | RATED T
3. I can’t believe it is really called this
Tom Taylor is one of those writers that improves books that seem like bad ideas (see “Injustice”) to levels that makes them must-reads. This book isn’t necessarily a terrible idea – a zombie book in the DCU could be cool – but it has the worst name possible. But more than just trusting Taylor, look at the artistic talent attached: Trevor Harisine (“2000AD,” “Divinity”), Stefano Gaudiano (“Daredevil,” “Gotham Central”), and James Harren (“B.P.R.D.,” “Rumble”). Holy smokes, this book is going to look gorgeous.
Like I said, even if the premise is a little shaky, I trust this collection of talent to turn out some good stuff.
DCEASED #1
written by TOM TAYLOR
art by TREVOR HAIRSINE, STEFANO GAUDIANO and JAMES HARREN
cover by GREG CAPULLO
variant cover by FRANCESCO MATTINA
horror movie variant cover by YASMINE PUTRI
“I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was Death, and Hades was following close behind him.”—Revelation 6:8
A mysterious techno-virus has been released on Earth, infecting 600 million people and turning them instantly into violent, monstrous engines of destruction.
The heroes of the DCU are caught completely unprepared for a pandemic of this magnitude and struggle to save their loved ones first…but what happens to the World’s Greatest Heroes if the world ends?
New York Times best-selling writer Tom Taylor (INJUSTICE) returns with a terrifying new tale and is joined by artists Trevor Hairsine (LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT) and Stefano Gaudiano (The Walking Dead).
ON SALE 05.01.19
$3.99 US | 1 of 6 | 32 PAGES
FC | RATED T+
This issue will ship with three covers.
Please see the order form for details.
2. I hope Tandy shows up
This book has been teased for quite some time, and it’s a little surreal that it is actually here: the “final” Scott Snyder/Greg Capullo Bat-title. The premise seems particularly in line with what Snyder has been building to in his Bat-titles dating back to “Batman” #1 in 2011. Capullo’s Batman has been a revelation, and totally remade his career. As interesting as this book sounds, and it does sound interesting, I’m more intrigued by what Snyder and Capullo will cook up after this book than by the book itself.
Plus, I’m sick of Joker stories.
Continued belowBATMAN: LAST KNIGHT ON EARTH #1
written by SCOTT SNYDER
art by GREG CAPULLO and JONATHAN GLAPION
cover by GREG CAPULLO
variant cover by JOCK
Bruce Wayne wakes up in Arkham Asylum. Young. Sane.
And…he was never Batman.
So begins this sprawling tale of the Dark Knight as he embarks on a quest through a devastated DC landscape featuring a massive cast of familiar faces from the DC Universe. As he tries to piece together the mystery of his past, he must unravel the cause of this terrible future and track down the unspeakable force that destroyed the world as he knew it…
From the powerhouse creative team of writer Scott Snyder and artist Greg Capullo, the team that reinvented Batman from the emotional depths of “Court of Owls” to the bombastic power of DARK NIGHTS: METAL, DC Black Label is proud to present the bimonthly, three-issue miniseries BATMAN: LAST KNIGHT ON EARTH, published at DC’s standard comic trim size.
This could be the last Batman story ever told…
PRESTIGE FORMAT | ON SALE 05.29.19
$5.99 US | 1 of 3 | 56 PAGES
FC | MATURE READERS
This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for details.
1. Not just Leviathan is rising
This is the good stuff. Like I said about “Last Knight on Earth,” I’m far more interested in what is spinning out of this book. Namely, a Jimmy Olsen title by Matt Fraction and Steve Lieber, and a Lois Lane book by Greg Rucka and Mike Perkins. These have been long rumored to be written by Rucka and Fraction, but Lieber and Perkins really put the announcement over the top. These are some top notch creators on books that have been missing for a long, long time.
This also shows just how well Bendis is shepherding the Super-titles right now. This book also features a co-writing credit for Marc Andreyko, showing that Supergirl will likely also have a hand in this. Between the coming Superboy(s) situation in “Young Justice” and “Superman,” this is the most fleshed out and developed the Metropolis side of DC has felt since the days of ‘New Krypton.’ And I’m here for it.
SUPERMAN: LEVIATHAN RISING SPECIAL #1
written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS,
MATT FRACTION, GREG RUCKA and MARC ANDREYKO
art by YANICK PAQUETTE, STEVE LIEBER and MIKE PERKINS
cover by YANICK PAQUETTE
An all-star roster of writers and artists highlight the new threat of Leviathan, but also tees up new ongoing series for Jimmy Olsen by writer Matt Fraction and artist Steve Lieber, and Lois Lane by writer Greg Rucka and artist Mike Perkins, coming in June! As Leviathan enacts a plan to take down Superman, it’s up to Lois, Jimmy and the heroes of the DC Universe to rescue the Man of Steel.
ONE-SHOT | PRESTIGE FORMAT
ON SALE 05.29.19
$9.99 US | 80 PAGES
FC | RATED T
Check out the full solicitations over at Newsarama.
