In June, DC celebrates an iconic character, brings back annuals and forgotten miniseries, and continue their recent success of showcasing representation. Let’s dig in.
10. It’s not easy being Green Arrow
It’s interesting that two characters we will be spotlighting this month are also characters who have/had successful television series, but haven’t really had sustained series in a good while. It’s crazy that these characters are Supergirl and Green Arrow, two of the more iconic characters in DC’s history, as well as two of the most storied. As Green Arrow celebrates his 80th anniversary, there does appear to be more with him on the horizon, especially as he is both a member of Brian Bendis’s “Justice League” and part of the “Event Leviathan: Checkmate” series (more on that in a bit.)
But more than that, ‘Infinite Frontier’ has already seen the return of Connor Hawke and Roy Harper, and this special’s solicitations talk about lots of other Arrow accomplices showing up. Add to that a who’s who of classic Arrow creators, including Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino and Ben Percy and Otto Schmidt, the creators who represent the last two really great “Green Arrow” runs, as well as luminaries like Mike Grell and Phil Hester, and this should be a really fun special.
Green Arrow 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular #1
written by JEFF LEMIRE, BENJAMIN PERCY, MIKE GRELL, PHIL HESTER, MARIKO TAMAKI, STEPHANIE PHILLIPS, TOM TAYLOR, RAM V, VITA AYALA, BRANDON THOMAS, DEVIN GRAYSON, AND LARRY O’NEIL.
art by ANDREA SORRENTINO, OTTO SCHMIDT, MIKE GRELL, PHIL HESTER, JAVIER RODRIGUEZ, CHRISTOPHER MOONEYHAM, NICOLA SCOTT, JORGE CORONA, LAURA BRAGA, CHRISTOPHER MITTEN, AND JORGE FORNÉS
cover by DAN MORA
decade variant covers by MICHAEL CHO, DANIEL WARREN JOHNSON, NEAL ADAMS, DERRICK CHEW, GARY FRANK, HOWARD PORTER, JEN BARTEL AND SIMONE DI MEO
ON SALE 6/29/2021
$9.99 US | 96 PAGES | Prestige | FC | DCCELEBRATING THE EMERALD ARCHER’S 80TH ANNIVERSARY! For the last eight decades Green Arrow has been one of the premier (and loudest) characters in the DCU, always at the forefront of where the superhero genre is headed. This over-sized anniversary issue follows in those footsteps, as an all-star lineup of Green Arrow creators, alongside some of the gifted creators of the modern era who have been inpsired by Oliver Queen, unite to pay tribute to the Battling Bowman. See what the past, present and future have in store for Oliver Queen, Black Canary, Connor Hawke, Arsenal, Red Arrow, Speedy, and more in this epic special!
9. Black Label returns
I’m not exactly sure what the DC plan with Black Label is; it appears that every few months a new series is announced, but I can’t really discern a pattern of any kind. But hey, James Tynion IV and Alvaro Martinez Bueno are one of the best pairings in comics, and seeing them take on a horror tale is a fun opportunity. We’ll see if the solicit calling this Tynion’s ‘most ambitious story yet’ rings true.
Continued belowThe Nice House on the Lake #1
written by JAMES TYNION IV
art by ÁLVARO MARTÍNEZ BUENO
cover by ÁLVARO MARTÍNEZ BUENO
card stock variant cover by MARTIN
SIMMONDS
ON SALE 6/1/2021
AGES 17+ | 1 of 12
$3.99 US | 32 PAGES | FC | DC BLACK LABEL
card stock variant cover $4.99 US | FC | DCEveryone who was invited to the house knows Walter—well, they know him a little, anyway. Some met him in childhood; some met him months ago. And Walter’s always been a little…off. But after the hardest year of their lives, nobody was going to turn down Walter’s invitation to an astonishingly beautiful house in the woods, overlooking an enormous sylvan lake. It’s beautiful, it’s opulent, it’s private—so a week of putting up with Walter’s weird little schemes and nicknames in exchange for the vacation of a lifetime? Why not? All of them were at that moment in their lives when they could feel themselves pulling away from their other friends; wouldn’t a chance to reconnect be…nice?
With Something Is Killing The Children and The Department of Truth, James Tynion IV has changed the face of horror in modern comics — now get ready for his most ambitious story yet, alongside his Detective Comics partner Álvaro Martínez Bueno!
8. Better late than never
One of the many series to be delayed by covid-19 and, likely, by the ‘Infinite Frontier’ initiative, was the sequel to Brian Bendis and Alex Maleev’s “Event Leviathan.” The sequel, titled “Event Leviathan: Checkmate,” seems to be tying into Bendis’s “Justice League,” and will hopefully not feel like a book delayed 14 months.
Event Leviathan: Checkmate #1
written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
art by ALEX MALEEV
cover by ALEX MALEEV
card stock variant cover by MATT TAYLOR
ON SALE 6/22/2021
$3.99 US | 32 PAGES | FC | DC
card stock variant cover $4.99 US | FC | DCThe dark forces of Leviathan have torn through the DC Universe, and now no one can be trusted. No one…not even the person writing to you about this book! That’s why you find out in Justice League #63 that Green Arrow has been secretly funding a group called CHECKMATE because not even the Justice League itself can be trusted. The mysterious MR. KING has helped Green Arrow assemble the greatest team of super—spies the world has ever seen! LOIS LANE, THE QUESTION, ROBIN, STEVE TREVOR, MANHUNTER, BONES, and TALIA Ah GHUL! will have to outsmart the smartest people in the world before they destroy everything! PLUS! A new mystery character is tip toeing though the shadows! They call him…the DAEMON ROSE! And he is hunting Lois Lane right under Superman’s nose! It’s an all–new spine-chilling thriller from the eisner award-winning team of Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev!
7. I understand so little of this
Look, you don’t come to a 38 year old man for an informed take on Fortnite. But I will say this for DC: this is likely something that will have benefits beyond all but the most impactful comic series. This isn’t to say this comic will be any good – it likely won’t be. This isn’t to say that this story will make any sense – it likely won’t. But comics, as an industry, are always looking for gateways for new fans to climb on board, and Fortnite is a huge touchpoint for a lot of younger potential readers. If this gets a few kids into DC Comics, great. If this increases visibility of DC characters, great. As long as projects like this don’t take away from better, straight up comics projects, I don’t see the harm.
Just don’t do NFTs next.
Batman/Fortnite: Zero Point #1
story consultant and concept by Donald Mustard
pencils by Reilly Brown
inks by Nelson Faro DeCastro
cover by Mikel Janín
card stock variant cover by Kenneth Rocafort
$4.99 US FC | DC
premium card stock variant cover by Donald
Mustard $5.99 US FC | DC
$4.99 US | 32 PAGES | FC | DC ON SALE 4/20/2021A crack splits the sky above Gotham City…a tear in reality itself. This rift pulls the Dark Knight into a bizarre and unfamiliar world, with no memory of who he is or where he came from…Batman has been drawn into Fortnite! As our hero fights to recall his past and escape an endless loop of chaos and struggle, he’ll come face to face with the likes of Renegade Raider, Fishstick, Bandolier, and more. While the World’s Greatest Detective strives to make sense of this strange new world, he’ll uncover the shocking truth about the Island, what lies beyond the Loop, and how everything is connected to the mysterious Zero Point. Uncover secrets never before revealed in the game or anywhere else! Every fan of Batman, Fortnite, stunning art , and edge-of-your-seat excitement won’t want to miss the Caped Crusader facing off against Fortnite champions on the Island in a desperate attempt to save not only himself, but other familiar faces from the DCU…and perhaps the Multiverse itself!
Each print issue includes a redeemable code for a bonus digital cosmetic in Fortnite inspired by the comic. Get the new Rebirth Harley Quinn Outfit with issue #1. Digital issues of Batman/Fortnite: Zero Point downloaded from DC UNIVERSE INFINITE (US only) will also include these bonus digital codes.
6. Cold blooded
Continued below
In a month this packed, a miniseries like this would likely not be one of the ten books spotlighted. That’s no slight to anyone involved, but there are so many Bat-minis, it’s hard for any of them to really stand out. But Liam Sharp has been one of DC’s most engaging artists since his return to comics in 2016, and everything that he’s done has been notable for one reason or another.
I’m specifically interested to see if Sharp continues the more digital/stylized artwork we saw towards the end of “The Green Lantern Season 2” or return to his more meticulous work of his earlier days.
Batman: Reptilian #1
written by GARTH ENNIS
art by LIAM SHARP
cover by LIAM SHARP
card stock variant cover by CULLY HAMNER 1:25 variant cover by BILL SIENKIEWICZ
ON SALE 6/22/2021
AGES 17+
$3.99 US | 32 PAGES | FC | DC
card stock variant cover $4.99 US| FC | DCWhat strikes fear into the hearts of those who terrorize Gotham? It used to be Batman, but something far more frightening than a mere man stalks the shadows—and it’s after Gotham’s villains. How savage must a monster be to haunt the dreams of monsters? Pick up this dark and bone-chilling tale by comics legends Garth Ennis and Liam Sharp to find out!
5. Family drama
Very few characters scream ’90s’ more than Lobo. Most of the attempts to bring back Lobo have fallen flat due to a lack of original ideas or, in one weird instance, trying to make him sexy? But so far, giving Lobo a daughter has been the most interesting revision to the character in 20+ years, and Crush has been an interesting character beyond just being the daughter of the Main Man. Pair ’em together, and there is likely some fun to be had here. Plus, Mariko Tamaki and AMancay Nahuelpan aren’t going to do a typical Lobo book. I’m ready to be impressed by this.
Crush & Lobo #1
written by MARIKO TAMAKI
art by AMANCAY NAHUELPAN
cover by KRIS ANKA
Pride card stock variant cover by
YOSHI YOSHITANI $4.99 US
1:25 variant cover by CHRISTIAN WARD
$4.99 US
Team variant cover by DAN HIPP $4.99 USIn case anyone was wondering, Crush is doing just fine, actually. Sure, she recently walked away from her classmates at the Roy Harper Titans Academy and effectively quit being a
Teen Titan in a blaze of glory. And okay, her relationship with her too-good-to-be-true girlfriend Katie is kind of on the rocks, if you want to get all technical about it. Oh, and she recently found out Lobo’s in space jail, but that’s cool, because he’s the worst. OKAY, maybe Crush has some STUFF, but that doesn’t mean she’s gonna DO anything about it, like actually go to space and confront her dad and all her problems, because everything is FINE.
…Right?
4. Welcome back, House of El
One of the best parts of ‘Future State’ was the “Superman: House of El” one-shot, which saw a thousand years of Superman’s bloodline represented in the pages of one epic story. Now, writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson returns to that timeline for an annual story. This is good news for a few reasons, beyond just the ‘those characters are dope’ reasons.
First, it’s nice to see DC go to the ‘2021 Annual’ numberings, as it just makes things simpler. It’s always weird to try to figure out when an annual came out, especially as some books wouldn’t have an annual every year. But more than that, it’s also nice to see annuals being used for something special and unique. Often times, an annual is a one-shot that doesn’t deal with what is going on in the ‘main’ title very much, but isn’t its own thing, either. And so, the stories are often slight and forgettable. And, this also seems to play into the theme of the ‘Infinite’ in the ‘Infinite Frontier,’ and allowing creators to return to odd/out of time status quos for stories when appropriate. This is good stuff.
Continued belowAction Comics 2021 Annual
written by PHILLIP KENNEDY JOHNSON
art by SIYA OUM
cover by SCOTT GODLEWSKI
variant cover by VALENTINE DE LANDRO
ON SALE 6/29/2021
$5.99 US | 48 PAGES | FC | DC
card stock variant cover $6.99 US | FC | DCThe return of Future State’s House of El! It’s time to head back to tomorrow, as Superman’s descendants face a threat from today. This special tale connects to “Warworld Rising” as the actions of Clark Kent in the present reverberate, leaving long-lasting changes…and a deadly threat for the House of El to reckon with. Can Brandon Kent, the Superman of his era, stop the danger from hurting the next generation? Also, for those wanting to know more about Brandon’s relationshop with Theand’r, the Tamaranean queen, prepare yourself for a little romance as well.
3. Why only eight issues?
DC has not been able to do Supergirl right in some time. Even the good runs of late, like Vita Ayala and Steve Orlando’s, have been cut short and have dealt with a lot of weird baggage. I fear that giving Tom King eight issues to make her brooding isn’t going to help either. My only hope for this story is that the combination of Bilquis Evely and the overall tenor of ‘Infinite Horizon’ allows this to not be the grimdark nightmare that it has the potential to be.
Also, I don’t know who needs to hear it, but Supergirl needs either an ongoing or a leading role in a team book/anthology. She’s inarguably the second most recognizable female character DC has, and the fact that DC hasn’t figured out how to market her comic to an audience that has millions of people watching her adventures on TV is insane.
Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow #1
written by TOM KING
art by BILQUIS EVELY
cover by BILQUIS EVELY
card stock variant cover by GARY FRANK
blank variant cover
ON SALE 6/15/2021
$4.99 US | 32 PAGES | 1 (OF 8) | FC | DCKara Zor-El has seen some epic adventures over the years, but finds her life without meaning or purpose. Here she is, a young woman who saw her planet destroyed and was sent to Earth to protect a baby cousin who ended up not needing her. What was it all for? Wherever she goes, people only see her through the lens of Superman’s fame. Just when Supergirl thinks she’s had enough, everything changes. An alien girl seeks her out for a vicious mission. Her world has been destroyed, and the bad guys responsible are still out there. She wants revenge, and if Supergirl doesn’t help her, she’ll do it herself, whatever the cost. Now a Kryptonian, a dog, and an angry, heartbroken child head out into space on a journey that will shake them to their very core.
2. To the multiverse!
The “Infinite Frontier” #0 issue was so much fun, and so when it turned out to also be the prequel to the miniseries of the same name, there was much rejoicing. The fact that the cover of the first issue has Alan Scott and his kids, President Superman, Roy Harper, Barry Allen, and (maybe) Black Canary is exciting to this DC fan of a certain age, as is the fact that the great Xermanico is getting a spotlight on a big book like this. Joshua Williamson has been a behind the scenes player for DC for some time now, but this seems like his ascendency into the true top of DC’s braintrust. And I’m here for it.
Continued belowInfinite Frontier #1
written by JOSHUA WILLIAMSON
art by XERMANICO
cover by MITCH GERADS
card stock variant cover by BRYAN HITCH
$4.99 US | 40 PAGES | 1 (OF 6) | FC | DC
DC ON SALE 6/22/2021When our heroes saved the Muliverse from Perpetua in Dark Nights: Death Metal, everything was put back where it belonged…and we do mean everything. All the damage from all the Crises was undone, and heroes long thought gone returned from whatever exile they had been in. Most of them, at least. Alan Scott, the Green Lantern from the Justice Society of America, has noticed some of his allies are still missing in action, and he’s determined to find them. There are others, though, who would rather remain hidden than explain themselves, like Roy Harper, a.k.a. Arsenal, a man who should be dead but now is not. Plus, what does all this mean for the DCU’s place in the Multiverse? On opposite sides of a dimensional divide, both Barry Allen and President Superman ponder this question. Not to mention the Darkseid of it all! Or a team of Multiversal heroes called Justice Incarnate!
1. Representation matters
DC has been much, much better lately at spotlighting diversity on and off the page. This “DC Pride” special follows up “DC Festival of Heroes: The Asian Superhero Celebration” which was solicited for May, and both of these are great examples of how DC should be using its diversity to celebrate their characters and inspire their readers.
Now, this is not to say that this is all that DC should be doing to be not just advocates but trailblazers for the LGBTQIA+ community. It’s hard not to notice that the characters featured on this cover currently have no ongoing series, despite one having a television series (and yes, I know it’s a different character under the cowl, but you get my point). But steps like this don’t have to be hollow or purely symbolic. DC, do better by promoting diversity all over your line.
DC Pride #1
written by JAMES TYNION IV, MARIKO TAMAKI, STEVE ORLANDO, VITA AYALA, NICOLE MAINES, DANNY LORE, SAM JOHNS,
SINA GRACE, AND ANDREW WHEELER
art by KLAUS JANSON, AMY REEDER, STEPHEN BYRNE, TRUNG LÊNGUYEN, LUCIANO VECCHIO, LISA STERLE, RACHAEL STOTT, RO STEIN, TED BRANDT, SKYLAR PATRIDGE, AND MORE!
cover by JIM LEE, SCOTT WILLIAMS, AND TAMRA BONVILLAIN
Pride card stock variant cover by JEN BARTEL
ON SALE 6/8/2021
$9.99 US | 80 PAGES | Prestige | DCDC celebrates Pride Month with nine all-new stories starring fan-favorite LGBTQIA+ characters Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, Midnighter, Extraño, Batwoman, Aqualad, Alan Scott, Obsidian, Future State Flash, Renee Montoya, Pied Piper, and many more! This anthology will also feature:
—The thrilling introduction of new hero DREAMER in the DCU
(as seen on The CW’s Supergirl)!
—A pinup gallery with art by Travis Moore, Kris Anka, Kevin Wada, Sophie Campbell, Nick Robles, and more!
—Six exciting new profiles of DCTV’s LGBTQIA+ characters and the actors who play them!
You can see the full solicitations over at Newsarama.
