In addition to their wild sounding Free Comic Book Day issue, DC’s May is a stacked month of both new books and looks into the past (which will undoubtedly lead to new stuff in the future). Let’s dig in.
10. A great starter kit
It’s nice to see DC recognizing the bookstore market, and also the idea that people might see their kids getting into comics, and need a good introduction to a wide swath of DC characters. This pack has four books that cover a pretty wide range of tones, and have something for every young reader. There is also a young adult set, which is likely a little less handy, due to folks having a better sense of their taste by middle school, but it is a solid though process for DC to be focusing in this way.
DC GRAPHIC NOVELS FOR KIDS BOX SET 1
written by MICHAEL NORTHROP, FRANCO, MEG CABOT, and KIRK SCROGGS
art by GUSTAVO DUARTE, ART BALTAZAR, FRANCO, CARA McGEE, and KIRK SCROGGS
Four of DC’s acclaimed graphic novels for kids are collected in one brand-new box set! Dear Justice League shows the World’s Greatest Heroes answering fan letters while fighting for justice. Superman of Smallville is about Clark Kent’s efforts to become a hero while still living in his midwest home. Black Canary: Ignite stars 13-year-old Dinah Lance, determined to win a battle of the bands while discovering her own heroic destiny. The Secret Spiral of Swamp Kid is about Russell Weinwright, who’s trying to learn why he’s half kid and half swamp creature.
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9. Spinning out of “Justice League Dark”
Man-Bat is having a moment in ‘Rebirth.’ Always a sort of foggy middleground between straight up villain and misunderstood genius, having him on a Justice League team is a great move for the character. Here, it appears that we are placing him squarely back in Gotham for a solo tale. While I like him better as part of the JLD, I really can’t fault DC for wanting to beef up his character a bit.
Plus, this is illustrated by Sumit Kumar of “These Savage Shores,” so the book will likely be one of the better looking on the stands in May.
MAN-BAT #1
written by DAVE WIELGOSZ
art by SUMIT KUMAR
cover by KYLE HOTZ
variant cover by KEVIN NOWLAN
For years Kirk Langstrom has struggled with his monstrous alter ego Man-Bat and the serum that transformed him. But he’s finally hit rock bottom following a devastating setback, and he’s going to take out his anger on every single citizen of Gotham City. Will the combined might of Batman and the GCPD be enough to stop Langstrom once and for all? Or will this just be the start of Man-Bat’s devastation?
ON SALE 05.06.20
$3.99 US | 1 OF 5 | 32 PAGES
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8. So that is what happened!
It was announced back at New York Comic Con that G. Willow Wilson would be taking over “The Dreaming,” which made us quite confused when “The Dreaming” was cancelled as of April.
Well, now we know why! “The Dreaming: Waking Hours” is a new 12-issue maxiseries by Wilson and Nick Robles, the team that was announced back in October as taking over the book. This all makes a lot more sense now, and I’m glad to see “The Dreaming” continue.
Continued belowTHE DREAMING: WAKING HOURS #1
written by G. WILLOW WILSON
art by NICK ROBLES
cover by BILL SIENKIEWICZ
card stock variant cover by NICK ROBLES
A new chapter in the Sandman saga begins with an all-new miniseries populated by faces both familiar and new!
One of Dream’s heaviest responsibilities is the creation of nightmares—the beings that haunt our sleep and turn our thoughts toward darkness. In the form of Ruin, the nightmare of catastrophic failure, Dream was certain he’d built his next masterpiece…but Ruin can’t help but live up to his name, sending every situation into a spiral of unexpected consequences. Unfortunately, Shakespearean scholar (and exhausted new mother) Lindy has dreamed of Ruin…and in the process, she’s delivered him unto the waking world!
The Sandman Universe is changing—and Hugo and World Fantasy award-winning writer G. Willow Wilson (Wonder Woman, Ms. Marvel, The Bird King) and breakout artist Nick Robles (Euthanauts) are here to welcome you!
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AGES 17+
7. Return to the Diniverse
It is always a good time to revisit Batman: The Animated Series, and when Paul Dini is on board, we’re even happier. “Batman: The Adventures Continue” is a six issue miniseries by Batman: TAS veterans Dini, Alan Burnett, and Ty Templeton, and looks to introduce characters like Jason Todd and Azrael that never appeared on the television series. This is the good, good stuff.
BATMAN: THE ADVENTURES CONTINUE #1
written by PAUL DINI and ALAN BURNETT
art by TY TEMPLETON
cover by DAVE JOHNSON
variant cover by DAN MORA
blank variant cover
From the visionary producers of Batman: The Animated Series come all-new stories in this seminal animated world. In this opening chapter, Wayne Enterprises in Gotham City is attacked by a giant robot that steals an entire room from the laboratory. Who’s controlling the robot? How will Batman stop the mechanized menace? And what does it all have to do with Lex Luthor’s sudden appearance in Gotham?
ON SALE 05.06.20
$3.99 US | 1 OF 6 | 32 PAGES
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DIGITAL FIRST
6. 80 Emerald Years
These ’80th Anniversary’ issues are usually hit or miss, but they usually produce some spectacular highlights along with sentimental dreck and boring throwaways written by celebrities. But celebrating Green Lantern is different, because Green Lantern, like the Flash or Robin, doesn’t mean one person; it means a huge legacy. It’s a celebration of the idea of the Green Lantern, rather than just one person.
So that means that, hopefully, we will get stories from Alan Scott to Simon Baz, and everyone in between. Seeing names like Ron Marz and Darryl Banks means that we’re likely getting an old school Kyle Rayner story, which is reason enough for me to pick up this book.
GREEN LANTERN 8OTH ANNIVERSARY 100-PAGE SUPER SPECTACULAR #1
written by GEOFF JOHNS, MARIKO TAMAKI, PETER J. TOMASI, JEFF LEMIRE, ROBERT VENDITTI, DENNIS O’NEIL, SINA GRACE, CHARLOTTE FULLERTON, RON MARZ, JAMES TYNION IV, and others
art by IVAN REIS, FERNANDO PASARIN, DARRYL BANKS, MIKE GRELL, RAFA SANDOVAL, and others
cover by LIAM SHARP
1940s variant cover by NICOLA SCOTT
1950s variant cover by MATT TAYLOR
1960s variant cover by DOUG MAHNKE
1970s variant cover by NEAL ADAMS
1980s variant cover by DAVID FINCH
1990s variant cover by PHILIP TAN
2000s variant cover by IVAN REIS and OCLAIR ALBERT
2010s variant cover by JIM LEE and SCOTT WILLIAMS
blank variant cover
In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil could ever escape their sight! The Green Lanterns are celebrating 80 years of keeping the DC Universe safe. Join us to see tales of all of the universe’s most legendary Green Lanterns: Alan Scott, Hal Jordan, John Stewart, Guy Gardner, Kyle Rayner, Jessica Cruz, Simon Baz, and appearances from other cosmic favorites! A legendary lineup of creators including Geoff Johns, Peter J. Tomasi, Jeff Lemire, Ivan Reis, and others will be keeping the galaxy glowing bright!
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ON SALE 05.20.20
$9.99 US | 96 PAGES
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5. An encore
The only reasons that this isn’t higher up the list are ones of expectation: we’ve known this is coming, and it is coming so long after the story last ‘wrapped.’ Nearly four months will pass between the Justice League running into the void of the unknown and where this series picks up. That’s not especially long by many standards, but when the rest of the DC Universe is carrying on without issue, it somewhat dulls the effects of the ‘Earth shattering’ story.
But look, Snyder has been telling a giant story for years now, and I’m excited to see where it is going next, even if the name ‘Death Metal’ is pretty dumb.
Continued belowDARK NIGHTS: DEATH METAL #1
written by SCOTT SNYDER
art by GREG CAPULLO and JONATHAN GLAPION
card stock foil cover by GREG CAPULLO and JONATHAN GLAPION
Batman variant cover by DAVID FINCH
Superman variant cover by FRANCESCO MATTINA
Wonder Woman variant cover by STANLEY “ARTGERM” LAU
1:100 variant cover by GREG CAPULLO and JONATHAN GLAPION
Black and white party variant cover by GREG CAPULLO and JONATHAN GLAPION
blank variant cover
Get ready for the earth-shattering encore! The legendary team behind Dark Nights: Metal and Batman: Last Knight on Earth take center stage and reunite for one last tour.
When the Earth is enveloped by the Dark Multiverse, the Justice League is at the mercy of the Batman Who Laughs. Humanity struggles to survive in a hellish landscape twisted beyond recognition, while Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman have all been separated and fight to survive. Unleash the beast and let the head banging begin!
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4. He’s baaaaaaack
Look, there’s no denying that Superboy Prime is one of the best villains at DC, especially in the hands of Geoff Johns, who made him a part of both “Infinite Crisis” and “The Sinestro Corps War.” But he’s also a perfect Shazam-family villain, as he, too, is a teenager imbued with godlike powers. It’s a wonderful inversion of the usual Captain Marvel/Superman pairing, and I can’t wait to read it.
SHAZAM! #13
written by GEOFF JOHNS
art and cover by DALE EAGLESHAM
card stock variant cover by JULIAN TOTINO TEDESCO
He’s baaaaaaack!
The greatest kid superhero ever faces the worst teen supervillain as Billy Batson and the Shazam family confront Superboy Prime. Superboy Prime has the powers of Superman and none of his heroic morality—can even Shazam stop the most powerful threat he and his family have ever encountered?
ON SALE 05.27.20
$3.99 US | 32 PAGES
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This issue will ship with two covers.
Please see the order form for details.
3. Fare thee well (again)
“Supergirl” took a few months off after #20, only to be resurrected when Brian Bendis came on the ‘Super’ books, and Marc Andrekyo and Kevin Maguire relaunched the book. Well, we’re at the end (again) for this once-resurrected series, which departs after its 42nd issue. Andreyko left a few months ago, and Jody Houser and Rachael Stott have had the unfortunate responsibility of telling ‘The Infected’ tales of Kara ever since.
I can’t believe that DC will let this sit dormant for too long, but with the changing of the guard over there, who can really be too sure?
SUPERGIRL #42
written by JODY HOUSER
art by RACHAEL STOTT
cover by CARMINE DI GIANDOMENICO
card stock variant cover by DERRICK CHEW
Deemed a threat by the U.S. military, Supergirl is now a wanted villain! General Corvid has come for our hero—and she won’t give up until Kara’s gone for good. Meanwhile, the superstorm rages stronger than ever, while hundreds remain helpless against it. Can Supergirl prove that she’s the hero the people once believed her to be? Or will she let everyone down—including herself? Find out in the pulse-pounding series conclusion!
ON SALE 05.27.20
$3.99 US | 32 PAGES
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FINAL ISSUE
This issue will ship with two covers.
Please see the order form for details.
2. The most dangerous game
Speaking of Andreyko, he’s back with a look at the various Manhunters throughout the years. This seems directly tied into the ‘Generations’ story that we will talk about more in just a moment. But this is more of the aforementioned good, good stuff: Andreyko on a Kate Spencer book. The fact that this isn’t a bigger deal is proof that people haven’t been paying enough attention. Celebrate this, sheeple!
MANHUNTERS: THE SECRET HISTORY #1
written by MARC ANDREYKO
art and cover by RENATO GUEDES
variant cover byJ AE LEE
After the revelation of Leviathan’s true identity in the pages of Event Leviathan, Kate Spencer—an earlier Manhunter—must go on a quest to uncover just how deep Leviathan’s plans go. What Kate didn’t expect is a conspiracy that goes back to the very beginnings of DC history! Unearthing the past to save the future, this is Manhunters: The Secret History! Eisner Award-winning writer Marc Andreyko returns to his classic crime-fighter in this hard-hitting miniseries that will reverberate across the DC Universe!
ON SALE 05.13.20
$3.99 US | 1 OF 5 | 32 PAGES
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This issue will ship with two covers.
Please see the order form for details.
1. It all starts here
We still don’t have a ton of details about this new series of one-shots, starting with May’s “Generation One: Age of Mysteries,” but this all ties into the timeline that DC has been talking about for quite some time, and the re-establishment of Wonder Woman as the ‘first’ hero, and the attempts to clean up the various continuity messes.
Continued belowOf course, we all know that there is no cleaning up of continuity, just a reshuffling of the deck, but this reshuffling looks particularly exciting. Again, with DiDio, the person, reportedly, behind the new timeline, now gone, who knows what this will bring. But hey, I’m here for the ride.
GENERATION ONE
The march toward DC’s future begins here!
By an all-star team of writers and artists!
In May, DC launches a series of special one-shots that detail the history of the DC Universe starting with the debut of Wonder Woman, DC’s first superhero, and leading all the way to a bold new era unlike anything you’ve seen before. before. It starts on Free Comic Book Day with Generation Zero, and continues in May with Generation One—with each subsequent month seeing a new one-shot spotlighting the next generation of DC’s super-heroic legacy.
The secret history of the DC Universe unfolds before us as seen through the eyes of Wonder Woman, Lucius Fox, King Faraday, and more!
What is the previously undocumented “big bang” of the heroic age? What was the real reason behind the Justice Society’s retirement? Which hero of the Golden Age makes a shocking transformation into its greatest villain? The answers set up the boldest DC storylines ever told in this, the first of five one-shot issues that chronicle the history of the DC Universe and lays the groundwork for excitement yet to come!
ONE-SHOT
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ON SALE 05.27.20
$5.99 US | 48 PAGES
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For the full solicits, head on over to Newsarama.
