It feels a bit silly to be doing a column about the June solicitations, when we are not sure if these comics will be coming out on time, due to the uncertainty with Diamond, and with DC offering no official stance (as of this writing) on their digital solutions during this time. But, in what may be the last of these columns for awhile, let’s look at what is supposed to be coming out in a few months from the Distinguished Competition.
10. A whisper so quiet it ceases to exist
The ‘Sandman Universe’ titles are a strange little corner of DC’s publishing line. I’m not talking about their content, but rather how they are quasi-prestige books that, after launching, no one seems to talk about. I’m including DC in that; it is very rare that you see creators being interviewed about these titles, or DC making a splash about important issues on their social media platforms. And so, somehow, “House of Whispers” has been running for almost two years, and I don’t think I, as a reader, have been marketed an issue since the first one.
Of all the ‘Sandman Universe’ titles, this always seemed to be the odd one out, not tethered enough to “The Sandman” to get the rub in terms of sales of attention, even relative to other books in this line. Whether DC is going to be paring down the line, or if this is the sacrifice for “John Constantine: Hellblazer” to be the fourth title in the line is unknown. But fare thee well to an under-read, under-appreciated title.
HOUSE OF WHISPERS #22
written by NALO HOPKINSON
art and cover by DOMINIKE “DOMO” STANTONThe time has come for both Erzulie and Poquita to take back the power of their twinned Houses…but Anansi will stop at nothing to keep his treasures! The sweeping epic of Erzulie’s war with the trickster god comes to an explosive conclusion!
ON SALE 06.10.20
$3.99 US | 32 PAGES
FC | DC BLACK LABEL
AGES 17+
FINAL ISSUE
9. A rite of passage in any Barbara Gordon story
If you’re reading a Batgirl/Oracle/Barbara Gordon story, at some point, you will encounter one of two characters for an arc that explores Babs’s psyche: the Joker, and James Gordon, Jr. This is a James Jr. story, with hints of the Joker, so bingo on both counts! I think Cecil Castellucci has the chops and creativity to make it more than a rehash of what we’ve seen before, but all of that is hinging on DC giving her a bit of space to tell this story without having to directly tie it into the Joker business happening in the main “Batman” title.
BATGIRL #48
written by CECIL CASTELLUCCI
art by ROBBI RODRIGUEZ
cover by GIUSEPPI CAMUNCOLI
variant cover by IAN MacDONALD
“The Last Joke” part one! Spinning out of the catastrophic history of the Gordon family, Babs is forced to relive the most traumatic events of her life. James Gordon Jr. is back, and he’s on a mission to run the Gordons out of Gotham City—and as we all know, anything involving James Jr. is bad news for Babs and the commissioner. But is her brother capable of tormenting his family on his own? Or has he teamed up with a certain Clown Prince of Crime?
ON SALE 06.24.20
$3.99 US | 32 PAGES
8. What’s going on with Jo Mullein?
“Far Sector” was originally solicited as a 12-issue maxi-series, coming out monthly. As of issue #7, it is no longer being billed as a 12 issue series, nor is it coming out monthly. Now, it is listed as bimonthly, which presumes one of three things: 1) the book isn’t going to make it to 12, but they want to stretch it out so it doesn’t appear as if it is being cancelled early, 2) the book is still 12 issues, but severely delayed, and this is a safety net to get it to 12 without months and months between issues, or 3) it is now an ongoing, but on a slower pace. I’m absolutely fine with options 2 or 3, but please don’t cut this story short, DC. Jemisin and Campbell are doing such interesting work on it, and the Lantern corner of the DCU is in need of a book like this right now.
Continued belowFAR SECTOR #7
written by N.K. JEMISIN
art and cover by JAMAL CAMPBELL
variant cover by STJEPAN ŠEJIĆ
On today’s agenda: a giant mech fight, transforming her consciousness into digital information, and a high-speed pursuit through an alien computer network. All with six minutes of power left. But it’s all in a day’s work for Green Lantern Jo Mullein as she comes closer to unraveling the greatest conspiracy the Green Lantern Corps has ever seen. Far Sector continues on a new bimonthly schedule.
ON SALE 06.24.20
$3.99 US | 32 PAGES
FC | DC BLACK LABEL
AGES 17+ | BIMONTHLY
This issue will ship with two covers.
Please see the order form for details.
7. Legion of Zoom
Whenever I hear a clever name like ‘Legion of Zoom,” I presume it is a Joan of Arcadia situation, and the name was thought up before the concept. But this isn’t that; it’s just a damn good joke that also acts as an perfect descriptor for what the arc is going to be. “The Flash” has put Barry through the ringer, but not quite in a ‘all villainous hands on deck’ sort of way yet, so this is a fresh arc for the title. Hopefully, the solution to this problem involves bringing in some members of the extended Flash family, because it’s about time we got some of that good, good extended speedster camaraderie.
THE FLASH #757
written by JOSHUA WILLIAMSON
art by HOWARD PORTER
cover by RAFA SANDOVAL and JORDI TARRAGONA
variant cover by INHYUK LEE
Wonder Woman 1984 variant cover by NICOLA SCOTT
“Legion of Zoom” part one! As the Flash’s greatest enemies—Gorilla Grodd, the Turtle, Trickster, and Captain Cold—attack Central City at the same time, the Fastest Man Alive finds he’s not fast enough to stop them all or save everyone in danger!
ON SALE 06.10.20
$3.99 US | 32 PAGES
FC | DC
This issue will ship with three covers.
Please see the order form for details.
6. The true friendships were the challenges along the way
One of the benefits of DC increasing their all-ages/middle grade books is the opportunity to focus on some non-superhero characters who are nonetheless inspiring and great characters. Lois Lane is among the ten or so best characters DC has ever published, and she is an amazing role model for kids of all stripes: a hardworking, brilliant, tenacious, risk taking reporter. “Lois Lane and the Friendship Challenge” is set when she’s a middle schooler, and tackles social media and distance between friends. This is a comic many kids likely need, and kudos to DC for putting it together.
Continued belowLOIS LANE AND THE FRIENDSHIP CHALLENGE TP
written by GRACE ELLIS
art and cover by BRITTNEY WILLIAMS
From New York Times bestselling author Grace Ellis (Lumberjanes) and artist Brittney Williams (Goldie Vance) comes a new story about 13-year-old Lois Lane as she navigates the confusing worlds of social media and friendship.
It’s the first day of summer break in the sleepy town of Liberty View, and young Lois Lane bursts onto the scene with what she knows is a sure-to-go-viral video channel. Okay, maybe her platform only receives two views a week (thanks, Mom), and maybe her best friend, Kristen, isn’t quite as enthusiastic about social media, but when Lois sets her mind on something, there’s no turning back.
At the end of the week, the big neighborhood barbecue and bike race will be the perfect backdrop to Lois and Kristen’s #friendshipchallenge video. But when the girls find out the annual fireworks are missing, Lois doubles down on her efforts for fame, testing her friendship in ways she couldn’t imagine.
With Kristen leaving for sleepaway camp after the barbecue and a new girl on the block taking all of Kristen’s attention, will Lois be able to find the missing fireworks, celebrate the summer, and post the best #friendshipchallenge the internet has ever seen? Or will she have to face her challenges IRL?
ON SALE 08.05.20
$9.99 US | FC | 5.5” x 8”
160 PAGES
DC GRAPHIC NOVELS FOR KIDS
ISBN: 978-1-4012-9633-7
5. Si Spurrier, come on down!
DC clearly isn’t committing to a full time “Justice League” scribe yet, especially with 5G and everything associated with it being very much up in the air. And so, we’ve got Si Spurrier on the title for a three issue arc. This seems like a classic ‘drawer’ story, a pre-written tale focusing on classic members on an adventure with little bearing on current continuity. This isn’t a knock on the story or the writer; this is a pretty common solution to a gap in a publishing line, and with the current state of affairs, I would imagine we may be getting a lot of these stories for the time being.
JUSTICE LEAGUE #48
written by SIMON SPURRIER
art by AARON LOPRESTI and MATT RYAN
cover by DAVID MARQUEZ
variant cover by CLAUDIO CASTELLINI
Wonder Woman 1984 variant cover by JIM LEE
As writer Simon Spurrier jumps on board for the start of the three-part tale “The Rule of War,” it’s close encounters…of a Justice League kind! After answering a distress signal from distant space, Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, and Green Lantern discover an abandoned cargo ship full of young aliens! When the League attempts to return the children to their home planet, they are met with awe, terror, and war! Thus begins a three-part storyline that will take the League to a previously unknown planet, with an all-new species, a dangerous mystery, and a new, otherworldly villain.
ON SALE 06.03.20
$3.99 US | 32 PAGES
FC | DC
This issue will ship with three covers.
Please see the order form for details.
4. Fill in or new writer?
Geoff Johns has been (slowly) working his way through the Shazam mythos in this title, but this month, perhaps due to another of his books appearing later on this list, he’s subbed out for Jeff Loveness. This, like Si Spurrier’s story, sounds like a fill in that was written perhaps as a pitch or a Writer’s Workshop assignment that was slid in to this slot in order to fill a gap. Plus, Brandon Peterson on art!
SHAZAM! #14
written by JEFF LOVENESS
art and cover by BRANDON PETERSON
variant cover by DALE KEOWN
After a night battling robots across the globe, Billy Batson finds out not everyone loves superheroes when one of his teachers unleashes a lecture on the ethics of unchecked power and privilege. It’ll take more than just the wisdom of Solomon for the teen hero to figure this one out.
ON SALE 06.24.20
$3.99 US | 32 PAGES
FC | DC
This issue will ship with two covers.
Please see the order form for details.
3. Return to the dead Earth
No one was more suprised by “DCeased” being really good than me, despite really liking Tom Taylor’s DC work thus far. But the zombie concept is pretty played out, even in good hands, so it was a pleasant surprise for the series to be so enjoyable. We are currently getting “Unkillables,” a side story to that original, but “Dead Planet” is a straight up sequel to the original miniseries.
Most excitingly, it places Damian Wayne, Jon Kent, and Cassie Sandsmark as the new Trinity. This is a chance to not only tell another story in this universe, but also to set some real change in motion with some legacy characters. This has a chance to be a long running series of minis, which is something DC hasn’t ever really done, and is an exciting model.
Continued belowDCEASED: DEAD PLANET #1
written by TOM TAYLOR
art by TREVOR HAIRSINE, STEFANO GAUDIANO, and GIGI BALDISSINI
cover by DAVID FINCH
card stock variant cover by FRANCESCO MATTINA
card stock movie homage variant cover by BEN OLIVER
blank variant cover
After a corrupted Anti-Life Equation turned billions into monsters—including Earth’s Greatest Heroes—our planet was as good as dead.
Years later, a distress call brings Damian Wayne, Jon Kent, and Cassie Sandsmark—the Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman of Earth 2—back to a dead planet…but what will this new Justice League find waiting for them? If life still exists on Earth, who—or what—is lying in wait for these heroes?
The original creative team of Tom Taylor and Trevor Hairsine reunite for the sequel to the 2019 blockbuster series DCeased!
ON SALE 06.10.20
$4.99 US | 1 OF 6 | 40 PAGES
FC | DC
CARD STOCK VARIANT COVERS $5.99 US
This issue will ship with four covers.
Please see the order form for details.
2. At least two Jokers too many
There are few ‘big’ mysteries in the DC Universe that I am less interested in than the mystery of the three Jokers. But Geoff Johns has been plotting this for awhile, and his ‘big picture’ DC ideas are usually pretty sound ones, so I’ll give it a shot. Plus, Jason Fabok has been handcuffed to a drawing table for too long perfecting this, and I’m ready for him to get on some new books. Release the poor man!
BATMAN: THREE JOKERS #1
written by GEOFF JOHNS
art by JASON FABOK
cover by JASON FABOK
variant cover by JASON FABOK
1:25 variant cover by TBD
1:50 variant cover by TBD
Thirty years after Batman: The Killing Joke changed comics forever, Three Jokers reexamines the myth of who, or what, The Joker is and what is at the heart of his eternal battle with Batman. New York Times bestselling writer Geoff Johns and Jason Fabok, the writer/artist team that waged the “Darkseid War” in the pages of Justice League, reunite to tell the ultimate story of Batman and The Joker!
After years of anticipation starting in DC Universe: Rebirth #1, the epic miniseries you’ve been waiting for is here: find out why there are three Jokers, and what that means for the Dark Knight and the Clown Prince of Crime. It’s a mystery unlike any Batman has ever faced!
PRESTIGE FORMAT | ON SALE 06.17.20
$6.99 US | 1 OF 3 | 48 PAGES
FC | DC BLACK LABEL
AGES 17+
This issue will ship with four covers.
Please see the order form for details.
1. More like new status woah, amirite?
With no disrespect to Steve Orlando, it is about time that we got a female writer on “Wonder Woman” again. Plus, Mariko Tamaki is fantastic! And Mikel Janin on art? Be still, my heart.
With Wonder Woman 1984 delayed until later in the summer, this book will have a chance to pick up some steam before the film is released. I don’t believe there is too much truth to the ‘movies bring people into comic shops’ argument, but if it is true, having 6 issues to put in someone’s hand of the current run after seeing the film is a damn good thing.
WONDER WOMAN #759
written by MARIKO TAMAKI
art by MIKEL JANÍN
cover by DAVID MARQUEZ
card stock variant cover by JIM LEE
Wonder Woman 1984 movie poster variant cover
It’s a brand-new day for Wonder Woman! As Diana starts to pick up the pieces of her life following her battle with the Four Horsewomen and her run-in with the Phantom Stranger, Man’s World has become more complicated to navigate than ever before. It seems everyone has a take on who Wonder Woman should
be—some who look on her heroics with admiration, and some who lie in wait to seek revenge. A familiar threat is watching Diana’s every move, and now is the perfect time to strike…
ON SALE 06.10.20
$3.99 US | 32 PAGES
CARD STOCK VARIANT COVER $4.99 US
FC | DC
This issue will ship with three covers.
Please see the order form for details.
For the full solicitations, check out Newsarama.
