June means the end of school, Pride Month, the warm weather really cranking up here in the Northern Hemisphere, and the start of DC’s most recent Crisis. Let’s dig in.
10. Great work, chum
While there are lots of kids activity books featuring DC characters, DC doesn’t often do these types of books themselves very often. Even more than that, they don’t often put talent like Sholly Fisch on them. Fisch is one of the most underrated writers that DC works with, and he seems like the best possible choice for an interactive graphic novel/activity book like this. I can’t wait to get this for my son.
BATMAN’S MYSTERY CASEBOOK
Written by SHOLLY FISCH
Art and cover by CHRISTOPHER UMINGA
$9.99 US | 144 pages | 5 1/2″ x 8″ | Softcover
ISBN: 978-1-77950-586-6
ON SALE 8/30/22
Batman is a great detective, but he rarely works alone. His sidekicks Robin and Batgirl, his butler Alfred, and the police of Gotham City all play a role in helping him keep his city safe. You can too!
Look for clues!
Analyze evidence!
Solve riddles!
Learn history!
Help the Batman as he goes on his adventures and see if you can spot the answers to these mysteries before he logs them into his casebook.
9. Sorry for the delay
DC’s Milestone relaunch has been quite measured and successful, but has also felt a little bit smaller than maybe it should, both in terms of the size of the line and also in terms of its social impact. Milestone is an incredibly important piece of comics history, and DC hasn’t been leaning into that enough, in my opinion. This title, which acts as both a celebration of Black history and an in-story piece of Milestone Comics, is the first move that feels as ambitious as the line should be. It was supposed to come out in February, but hey, better late than never.
MILESTONES IN HISTORY #1
Written by REGINALD HUDLIN, PAT CHARLES,
TANANARIVE DUE, KARYN PARSONS, ALICE RANDALL,
TOURÉ, and others
Art by RAY-ANTHONY HEIGHT, JAMAL IGLE, ARVELL JONES,
DOMINIKE “DOMO” STANTON , RON WILSON, and others
Cover by CHRISCROSS
Variant cover by DOUG BRAITHWAITE
$9.99 US | 96 pages | One-shot | Prestige
ON SALE 6/14/22
The Dakota Universe is built on the shoulders of giants—and it is time for their stories to be told! In this massive oversize special, a who’s who of talent from many disciplines tell the tales of trailblazing Black and African figures throughout every era of humanity! From the realms of literature, aviation, music, dance, military conquest, and more, the history of the world is Black history, and this special aims to prove it! Plus, don’t miss the shocking final-page reveal that points to the future of the Milestone Universe line!
8. The joke’s on us
If I’m being totally honest, I’ve fallen off “The Joker.” That’s not because of the quality of the book, however, and it’s a title that I keep thinking “I need to catch up on that,” but then seem to never find the time to do. But I’m still astounded at how James Tynion IV basically made a Jim Gordon title under Joker’s banner, and just how understated and interesting it has been. This is also the exact type of book that cannot last forever, and with Tynion wrapping up a lot of his work for hire comics, this seemed inevitable. I’m sure we will see another Joker title soon enough, but I’m hoping not. This book won’t be easily matched or replicated, and this character is best served in smaller portions.
Continued belowTHE JOKER #15
Written by JAMES TYNION IV
Art by GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI and CAM SMITH
Cover by GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI
Variant cover by DIKE RUAN and BRIAN BOLLAND
1:25 variant cover by GUILLEM MARCH
$5.99 US | 40 pages | 15 of 15 | (All covers card stock)
ON SALE 6/14/22
The Clown Prince of Crime had one more trick up his sleeve—a thrilling, surprise final issue! How did Gordon escape Texas? What happened to Bane and Vengeance? Did The Joker get the last laugh? Find out!
7. (In the Name of Love)
DC’s Pride Month celebration last year was a wonderful addition to their publishing line, and this year they are doubling down, both in terms of new books and really pushing forward some of their older LGBTQIA+-focused titles. But the centerpiece of the month is the latest Pride anthology, which features a really fascinating group of characters and creators. I love bringing characters like Jo Mullein and the Ray into the book, and the list of creators, though only partial right now, are full of names that make me want to check this out, which I would already be doing. I love that DC is doing more with various communities throughout the year.
DC PRIDE 2022 #1
Written by DEVIN GRAYSON, STEPHANIE WILLIAMS,
TRAVIS G. MOORE, ALYSSA WONG, and others
Art by NICK ROBLES, BRITTNEY WILLIAMS,
EVAN CAGLE, W. SCOTT FORBES, and others
Cover by PHIL JIMENEZ
Wraparound variant cover by JOSHUA “SWAY” SWABY
1:25 foil variant cover by JEN BARTEL
$9.99 US | 104 pages | One-shot | Prestige Format
ON SALE 5/31/22
DC’s 2022 celebration kicks off with more stories, more characters, and more pride than ever before! This anthology features 13 all-new stories spotlighting LGBTQIA+ fan-favorites new and old including Superman (Jon Kent), Nubia, Tim Drake, Kid Quick, Aquaman (Jackson Hyde), Green Lantern (Jo Mullein), Alysia Yeoh, the Ray, Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, Batwoman, and more! This special also includes:
• A Multiversity: Teen Justice kickoff story spotlighting Kid Quick and written by
the miniseries team, Danny Lore and Ivan Cohen!
• An introduction by activist, actress, and real-life superhero Nicole Maines that
will include a teaser for her upcoming Dreamer project!
• Pinups by P. Craig Russell, J.J. Kirby, and more!
6. She comes on like a rose
This project has been teased for at least a few months, and you can’t help but see why DC was so excited about it. G. Willow Wilson is one of the most selective writers in comics, only doing a few projects at a time, and always making them special. So having her take on Poison Ivy, especially after Ivy’s ‘rebirth’ as part of ‘Fear State,’ seems like an opportunity to shine a light on both the creator and the character in a way that maybe hasn’t happened lately. Ivy has sort of fallen into the ‘Harley’s girlfriend’ angle as of late, and while that is a very interesting part of her character, I’m hoping that this series allows her to do interesting things outside of that relationship, to deepen the current iteration of Ivy into something special.
POISON IVY #1
Written by G. WILLOW WILSON
Art by MARCIO TAKARA
Cover by JESSICA FONG
Variant cover by WARREN LOUW
1:25 variant cover by NICK ROBLES
1:50 variant cover by FRANK CHO
1:100 foil variant cover by WARREN LOUW
Team variant cover by DAN MORA
PRIDE variant cover by KRIS ANKA
$3.99 US | 32 pages | 1 of 6 | Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 6/7/22
Pamela Isley has been a lot of things in her life. A living god, a super-villain, an activist, a scientist, and dead. In a new body that she didn’t ask for and with a renewed sense of purpose, Ivy leaves Gotham and sets out to complete her greatest work—a gift to the world that will heal the damage dealt to it…by ending humanity.
Spinning out of the pages of Batman, DC is proud to present the unbelievable next chapter in Poison Ivy’s life by the incredible creative team of G. Willow Wilson and Marcio Takara. Featuring a stunning cast of variant cover artists, including Warren Louw, Frank Cho, Dan Mora, Nick Robles…and introducing main cover artist Jessica Fong!
5. Please, please do more of these
DC is finally getting more confident in doing books set on other Earths. And while it is cool to see our name in print (stolen from Grant Morrison, obviously), I’m more excited by the possibilities this opens up for future stories on alternate Earths throughout the multiverse. But don’t think that means that I’m just excited by the idea of this line, I’m incredibly excited for this title in particular, and love all the new and upcoming talent on this book. This is DC doing just about everything right: launching it as part of Pride due to Kid Quick’s involvement, giving it a legacy heading, spotlighting new talent. This is a fantastic idea; let’s hope it is executed in a way that honors the idea.
Continued belowMULTIVERSITY: TEEN JUSTICE #1
Written by IVAN COHEN and DANNY LORE
Art by MARCO FAILLA
Cover by ROBBI RODRIGUEZ
Variant cover by STEPHANIE HANS
1:25 variant cover by BENGAL
1:50 variant cover by MARCO FAILLA
PRIDE variant cover by STEPHEN BYRNE
Blank sketch variant cover
$3.99 US | 32 pages | 1 of 6 | Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 6/7/22
Kid Quick—the Future State Flash—and their fellow heroes Supergirl, Robin, Aquagirl, Klarienne the Witch Girl, and Troy take center stage in a miniseries that rocks Earth-11 to its core! Co-writers Ivan Cohen (The Batman & Scooby-Doo Mysteries) and Danny Lore (DC Pride, Champions) join rising-star artist Marco Failla (DCeased: Hope at World’s End) for the incredible debut issue, which begins with an attack by the H.I.V.E. and ends in the Church of Blood! What is Sister Blood’s true mission among the lost souls of New York City? Can Teen Justice get through their growing pains fast enough to learn the answer in time to stop it? And what role will the mysterious Raven—the brooding hero who has refused to join the team in the past—play in the ultimate battle? The secrets of Earth-11’s newest heroes and villains unfold in DC’s most exciting new team title!
4. Heavy is the head that wears the crown
While the very existence of this spoils “Trial of the Amazons” to a certain degree, I’m glad that we aren’t seeing the end of Nubia when that series wraps up. I hope that this series both acts as a proper ending to “Nubia and the Amazons,” as the sixth issue was part of ‘Trial’ and did not address any of the pieces of the mini that weren’t directly related to the crossover, but also can be part of the new Amazonian status quo, and move Nubia in a more prominent role within that corner of the DCU.
NUBIA: QUEEN OF THE AMAZONS #1
Written by STEPHANIE WILLIAMS
Art by ALITHA MARTINEZ and MARK MORALES
Cover by KHARY RANDOLPH
Variant cover by JAE LEE
1:25 variant cover by ALITHA MARTINEZ
PRIDE variant cover by KEVIN WADA
$3.99 US | 32 pages | 1 of 4 | Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 6/7/22
Nubia may be queen, but not all Amazons call Themyscira home, which prompts the new monarch to leave Themyscira for the first time in decades to serve her people in a way Hippolyta never had the opportunity to. Now, as she embarks on her tour through Man’s World to show off the newly established sisterhood, she will be met with joy, distrust, and danger. As she travels to the homes of both the Bana-Mighdall and Esquecida tribes, something lurks in the shadows following her every move. A villain from Nubia’s mysterious past has been waiting for the day the queen joined the outside world again, and they’re ready to make her wish she never left the paradise! Taking place right after the Nubia: Coronation Special, a second miniseries for the fan-favorite Amazon begins! You won’t want to miss the exciting new adventures of the one true queen, brought to you by the creative team behind Nubia & the Amazons—writer Stephanie Williams and artist Alitha Martinez!
3. Tie-in city, population: me
A DC event never really feels like a big event until you get a few tie-in miniseries that run alongside of it. Having a book like “Dark Crisis: Young Justice” is an instant shot in the arm for “Dark Crisis,” as well as a return to the spotlight for DC’s ‘forgotten’ generation of heroes. While I like the overall theme of what Meghan Fitzmartin has done with Tim Drake in the “Batman: Urban Legends” book, I think her writing has left a whole lot to be desired from an execution standpoint. Let’s hope that this series allows her to bring a more focused script, because Laura Braga’s pages on this look amazing already, and it would be a shame to waste them on a sub-par script.
Continued belowDARK CRISIS: YOUNG JUSTICE #1
Written by MEGHAN FITZMARTIN
Art by LAURA BRAGA
Cover by MAX DUNBAR
Variant cover by TODD NAUCK
$3.99 US | 32 pages | 1 of 6 | Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 6/21/22
Crises have always had devastating impacts on the generation of heroes that make up Young Justice, and Dark Crisis will hit them even harder. Tim Drake, Impulse, and Superboy go missing during the Justice League’s funeral. The only person concerned enough to find them? Cassie Sandsmark, a.k.a Wonder Girl. But…the three boys of Young Justice aren’t on this Earth anymore…they’re on the world of their dreams, one they may never want to leave!
2. Are you afraid of the dark?
DC’s modern era is built on crises, and while we can sort of count the “Metal” events as one big crisis, those felt more like the pet projects of a few creators that happened to get really popular and bleed out over the DCU versus a dedicated, long-planned, ground shaking Crisis with a capital C. In fact, this is the first “Crisis” since “Infinite Crisis” to feel like it is more about the story than the creator(s) telling that story, and that’s no disrespect to Joshua Williamson and Daniel Sampere. In fact, that’s a complement, in that this feels like it is more ingrained into the fabric of DC.
Regardless, I’m fully on the hype train for this event, and can’t wait to dig into it.
DARK CRISIS #1
Written by JOSHUA WILLIAMSON
Art and cover by DANIEL SAMPERE
Variant covers by JAMAL CAMPBELL, INHYUK LEE,
GREG CAPULLO, JONATHAN GLAPION, and BRUNO REDONDO
1:25 variant cover by DAN SCHOENING
1:50 variant cover by STEVE BEACH
1:100 foil variant cover by GREG CAPULLO and
JONATHAN GLAPION
Team variant cover by MAHMUD ASRAR
$5.99 US | 40 pages | 1 of 7 | Variant $6.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 6/7/22
Crisis on Infinite Earths. Infinite Crisis. Final Crisis.
And now…Dark Crisis!
The epic event years in the making is finally here! Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and the rest of the Justice League are dead. The remaining heroes are left to protect the world from an onslaught of violent attacks by DC’s greatest villains! Can the legacy heroes step out of the shadows of the classic heroes to form a new Justice League? And will that be enough to stop a darkness greater than anything they’ve ever faced from destroying everything?
Don’t miss out on the first issue of the blockbuster event of the summer!
1. Thank you for coming to my Teth Talk
In nearly any other month, “Dark Crisis” would’ve been the no-doubter top book. But this “Black Adam” title is basically designed for me: written by Christopher Priest with art by Rafa Sandoval, this is the book that made me sit up and pay attention faster than any announced since “Teen Titans Academy.” Everything about this is in my wheelhouse, and Priest talking about how this is not out of continuity, but off on its own like “Deathstroke” is the best possible place for Priest to be.
Plus, Black Adam is a character that Priest will feast on, working his ambiguity, hubris, and responsibility into something truly unique and fun. God DAMN I can’t wait for this.
BLACK ADAM #1
Written by CHRISTOPHER PRIEST
Art by RAFA SANDOVAL
Cover by IRVIN RODRIGUEZ
Variant covers by RAFA SANDOVAL,
MIKEL JANÍN, and LUCIO PARRILLO
1:25 variant cover by CRYSTAL KUNG
1:50 throwback variant cover by CULLY HAMNER
1:100 foil variant cover by LUCIO PARRILLO
Team variant cover by TRAVIS MERCER and DANNY MIKI
$3.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 6/21/22
There is no forgiveness for Black Adam.
This is the reality Teth-Adam, immortal man of indomitable will, must face when he discovers he has been infected with an incurable plague destroying his immortality. Haunted by the specter of centuries of dark deeds, Black Adam transfers his powers to a worthy successor who will redeem Adam’s legacy and defend their ancestral homeland of Kahndaq, only to subsequently become mystically “handcuffed” to him when Adam’s plague is arrested, giving birth to perhaps the most volatile and dysfunctional super-team in DC history! Powered by stunning art by Rafa Sandoval (Justice League) and breathtaking painted covers by Irvin Rodriguez (Detective Comics), writer Christopher Priest (Deathstroke, Justice League) brings his trademark wit and skill for character deconstruction to an entirely fresh examination of the man you love to hate! Get ready to ride the lightning!
For the full solicits, visit our friends at Newsarama.
