June brings the end of two long-running DC series (both to be relaunched in September and likely to revert to their legacy numberings as they approach the next big milestone), a few series for long-running side characters, and DC’s annual Pride celebration, which seemingly get better every year.
10. Remember Wonder Girl?
This new collection of Joëlle Jones’s Wonder Girl comics is a great reminder of just how weird the last three years have been for DC. Yara Flor was supposed to be one of the cornerstones of the DCU fo years to come, with a CW show in the works, and prominent placement in the ‘Future State’ stories. However, Flor has been almost completely ignored since, with cameo appearances in “Dark Crisis” and…well, that’s about it for the past year.
I don’t get why DC decided to pump the brakes on Yara, because the character clearly had something unique to offer, as well as a dynamite creator in Jones. Even Jace Fox, a character with similar hype but less fan acceptance, had a longer running series. I just don’t get it.
WONDER GIRL: HOMECOMING
Written by JOELLE JONES
Art by JOELLE JONES, ADRIANA MELO, and LEILA DEL DUCA
Cover by JOELLE JONES
$19.99 US | 272 pages | Softcover | 6 5/8” x 10 3/16” | ISBN: 978-1-77952-039-5
ON SALE 8/15/23
The story of Wonder Girl, Yara Flor, starts here!
Raised in the exotic, far-off land of Boise, Idaho, Yara has always felt something was missing from her life—and now she is headed to Brazil to find it! Unbeknownst to Yara, her arrival will set off a series of events that will change the world of Wonder Woman forever. Her return has been foretold by an ancient prophecy, and with that comes the undivided attention of benevolent gods from pantheons beyond. Danger lurks around every corner, but is this young hero ready for her journey?
9. Is this a great Wonder Woman run, or just a great run?
A new edition of this omnibus is a perfect time to revisit a question that has been following around this run since it started: while there is little doubt at how good this comic is, is it a great Wonder Woman story? Brian Azzarello and Cliff Chiang created something really special and unique in this run, but much of it doesn’t feel like a true Wonder Woman story. Because of that, this is sort of the most ‘New 52’ book of any, as it did what that line was supposed to do, which is reimagine and re-characterize key aspects of the DC Universe.
If you can read this as an Elseworlds type story, it’s one of the best Wonder Woman runs of all time. If you haven’t experienced it, I suggest you try exactly that.
WONDER WOMAN BY BRIAN AZZARELLO & CLIFF CHIANG OMNIBUS (2023 EDITION)
Written by BRIAN AZZARELLO
Art by CLIFF CHIANG, TONY AKINS, DAN GREEN, KANO, and others
Cover by CLIFF CHIANG
$150.00 US | 928 pages | 7 1/16″ x 10 7/8″ | Hardcover | ISBN: 978-1-77952-423-2
ON SALE 8/15/23
Offered again! Writer Brian Azzarello (100 Bullets, Dark Knight III: The Master Race) and artist Cliff Chiang’s (Paper Girls) reimagining of one of comics’ most iconic characters—Wonder Woman—is collected here in a single volume!This bold take on the Amazonian warrior princess collects the full run from Wonder Woman #0-35, #23.2, and a story from Secret Origins #6 as well as nearly 50 pages of character designs, sketch material, scripts, and more.
8. [Burgess Meredith noises]
Tom King loves doing these sorts of books; titles that are on the border of continuity but don’t need to be too tethered to anything else going on in the DCU. And, as much as I’ve picked on King in this column in the past, I would much rather him write this book than a more mainline DC title [spoiler alert for later in this column: I’m not going to be happy come September].
Also, Stefano Gaudiano is an interesting artist for a Penguin title. This has potential to be interesting at the least, as long as it doesn’t begin with Oswald singing some nursery rhyme or some shit.
Continued belowTHE PENGUIN #1
Written by TOM KING
Art and cover by STEFANO GAUDIANO and SCORPIO STEELE
Variant covers by BRIAN BOLLAND, NATHAN SZERDY, and DAVID MARQUEZ
1:25 variant cover by KAEL NGU
1:50 variant cover by NATHAN SZERDY
$3.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 6/20/23
REVENGE IS FOR THE BIRDS.
After retiring to Metropolis following his “death,” Oswald Cobblepot finds himself forced back into the unpredictable and violent Gotham City underworld as a pawn for the United States intelligence community!Gotham’s criminal element has been evolving since he was last in the city, with his bastard twin children ruling the Iceberg Lounge. And what of the man he framed for his death—Batman? Is the Penguin walking into a death sentence?
From award-winning and bestselling writer Tom King (Batman, The Human Target) and artist Stefano Gaudiano
(Gotham Central, The Walking Dead) comes a bloody, hard-boiled tale of redemption and revenge!
7. Such a smart move
I will continue to extol the virtues of DC’s Pride month celebrations later in this column, but DC has been doing right by the LGBTQIA+ community over the past few years with their Pride month celebrations. This book is a really interesting one, as it allows readers to catch up on some of the queer characters from DC’s history. Now, I wish this also included more stories, like Mikaal’s from “Starman,” but I get wanting to keep this relatively affordable as well.
What’s weird to me is that there is a new Alan Scott story by Tim Sheridan and Cian Tormey in this, and not in the Pride anthology we’re talking about later. But if the solicit is to be believed and this is the start of a new Sheridan Alan Scott book, sign me the hell up.
DC PRIDE: THROUGH THE YEARS #1
Written by GREG RUCKA, WILLIAM MESSNER-LOEBS, STEVE ORLANDO, VITA AYALA, and TIM SHERIDAN
Art by J.H. WILLIAMS III, GREG LaROCQUE, JAMAL CAMPBELL, and CIAN TORMEY
Cover by DEREK CHARM
$9.99 US | 80 pages | One-shot | Prestige
ON SALE 6/13/23
Take a journey through over 30 years of fan-favorite LGBTQIA+ characters in the DC Universe with this collection that not only remembers and celebrates three landmark issues of days past but also teases exciting new stories yet to come!DC Pride: Through the Years collects:
• The Flash #53 (1991), in which villain-turned-hero Pied Piper comes out to his friend the Flash and helps thwart a
dastardly villain
• Detective Comics #854 (2009), the thrilling beginning of Batwoman’s first solo series, which would launch her into
stardom
• Supergirl #19 (2018), which tells the story of Lee Serano—a nonbinary teenager who befriends the Girl of Steel
• An all-new story starring Alan Scott, which will light the way to his next great adventure as Green Lantern!
6. Build up the Milestone corner!
It took a long time for DC to really commit to the Milestone reboot, but since they’ve done so, the books have been good and feature lots of interesting creators. But what hasn’t felt as effective as it possibly could is the world building, because the miniseries have been relatively siloed. By having a Static team up book, there can be an effort to bring the world together a little bit more and, hopefully, build to a feeling of connectivity that will allow the books to thrive in a different way.
STATIC TEAM-UP: ANANSI #1
Written by EVAN NARCISSE
Art by CHARLES STEWART III
Cover by NIKOLAS DRAPER-IVEY
Variant cover by NATACHA BUSTOS
1:25 variant by EDWIN GALMON
$3.99 US | 32 pages | One-shot | Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 6/6/23
In a story set before the events of Static: Shadows of Dakota, the Static Shock animated series fan-favorite African superhero Anansi pays a visit to Dakota City, investigating a supernatural disturbance…but he’s going to need Static’s help to explore the occult side of the Milestone Universe!
5. Fare thee well, lesser Bat-books
Continued belowIn June, both “Batgirls” and “Tim Drake: Robin” wrap up. While there are always a ton of Bat-books on the shelves, each of these had its own thing going, and it’s a shame to see them wrap up, even if I never really, personally, dug either one all that much. I am sad to see books featuring LGBTQIA+ and female leads go away, too, even though I don’t think that is the reason either book is wrapping up (that is likely because both were pretty boring).
But this continues the move toward a more unified slate for ‘Dawn of DC,’ with a lot of the books that weren’t contributing to the metanarrative of the line. While I love a nice, interconnected story, most of DC’s best eras weren’t so strict that stores couldn’t be told on the outskirts of that bigger story. I hope DC doesn’t lose sight of that.
BATGIRLS #19
Written by BECKY CLOONAN and MICHAEL W. CONRAD
Art by ROBBI RODRIGUEZ
Cover by JORGE CORONA
Variant cover by DAVE MARQUEZ
1:25 variant cover by ROBBI RODRIGUEZ
$3.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 6/20/23
The people of the Hill have had enough of Gunbunny and Gunhawk’s demands and take to the streets to march in solidarity with the Batgirls. Moved by this, the Batgirls join in, proving to both the city and the snipers that Gothamites should not be underestimated—and that we can overcome even the darkest of times if we have each other. Come join the Batgirls in the march to celebrate them in this last issue of the beloved series!
4. Giving Diana a break
I’ve been an outspoke crank about the quality of “Wonder Woman” in the ‘Infinite Frontier’ era, and so it is a mixed bag of emotions when I see that un is ending, but being replaced with a Tom King-penned ongoing in September. The Cloonan/Conrad era has been a lot of what bugs me about modern comics, which is decompressed stories that don’t really move a character forward.
King stories aren’t guilty of that trait, but are guilty of being preachy and overwrought, and the press release announcing the book sounds like both of those things, while also aping a George Pérez beat from thirty years earlier. But I’m willing to give it a chance because there has been so little done with Diana in so long. Why can’t DC seem to get her stories right more than once a decade?
WONDER WOMAN #800
Written by BECKY CLOONAN, MICHAEL W. CONRAD, and TOM KING
Art by JOELLE JONES, TODD NAUCK, DANIEL SAMPERE, and others
Cover by YANICK PAQUETTE
Variant covers by BRIAN BOLLAND, JAMAL CAMPBELL, BILQUIS EVELY, and BELEN ORTEGA
1:25 variant cover by MEGAN HUANG
1:50 black-and-white variant cover by YANICK PAQUETTE
Special foil variant cover by DANIEL SAMPERE ($7.99 US)
DC Pride variant cover by BRANDT & STEIN
Swimsuit variant cover by MICHAEL ALLRED
$5.99 US | 48 pages | Variant $6.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 6/20/23
“Whatever Happened to the Warrior of Truth?” concludes in a landmark 800th issue! Diana’s visions become more vivid as she finds herself trapped in the dreams of those around her! As she struggles to escape, her life as Wonder Woman hangs in the balance. When the dust settles, will she still be the Amazons’ greatest champion? Find out in this extra-special celebration!
3. Fare thee well, Jeremy Adams
The other side of the #800 coin is “The Flash” wrapping up. Jeremy Adams has been saddled with subpar art for almost the entire run, but that hasn’t stopped the book from being absolutely rad the entire time. Adams has a great feel for Wally and his entire family, and I am legitimately bummed out to see his time on the book come to an end.
That said, the Si Spurrier pitch for September’s relaunch sounds weird and different, and could be fun. But let’s pour one out for Adams, the best “Flash” writer since Geoff Johns (and I say that as a guy who legitimately liked Josh Williamson’s run).
Continued belowTHE FLASH #800
Written by JEREMY ADAMS, MARK WAID, JOSHUA WILLIAMSON, GEOFF JOHNS, and SIMON SPURRIER
Art by FERNANDO PASARIN & OCLAIR ALBERT, TODD NAUCK, CARMINE DI GIANDOMENICO, SCOTT KOLINS, and
MIKE DEODATO JR.
Cover by TAURIN CLARKE
Variant covers by MICHAEL CHO, JEFF DEKAL, SIMONE DI MEO, DAVID NAKAYAMA, and OTTO SCHMIDT
Special foil variant cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL ($6.99 US)
1:25 variant cover by JAVIER RODRIGUEZ
1:50 variant cover by MATT TAYLOR
The Flash movie variant cover by JONBOY MEYERS
$4.99 US | 48 pages | Variant $5.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 6/6/23
An oversize anniversary issue concludes writer Jeremy Adams’s acclaimed tenure, with special guests Mark Waid, Joshua Williamson, and Geoff Johns joining the celebration! As the Adams run races to the finish line, get a prelude to the new Dawn of DC chapter of the Fastest Man Alive’s adventures from the dream team of Simon Spurrier (Coda, Detective Comics) and Mike Deodato Jr. (Avengers)!
2. It’s about time
While the ‘Death and Return of Superman’ has a checkered history of good and bad ideas, John Henry Irons remains one of the best characters DC has created post-“Crisis on Infinite Earths.” There have been lots of good and bad things tossed at Steel since his debut, but his current role in the DCU is one that allows him to be both a mentor/important member of the Metropolis community and a superhero. By bringing Natasha in more prominently, it creates a corner within a corner of the DCU.
The only complaints I have about this book are that it is a mini instead of an ongoing (I know, I know, the ongoing is dead…) and that they’re rolling the dice on a ‘celebrity’ writer in Michael Dorn. Dorn may have amazing ideas, and I’m going to give this a fair try, but it is frustrating to see so many fantastic writers with open schedules and actors waltzing into writing gigs. Again, that’s not on Dorn, but it’s a trend that is frustrating.
STEELWORKS #1
Written by MICHAEL DORN
Art by SAMI BASRI
Cover by CLAY MANN
Variant covers by JON BOGDANOVE and SAMI BASRI
1:25 variant cover by ARIEL COLON
1:50 variant cover by HELENE LENOBLE
DC Pride variant cover by JOSHUA “SWAY” SWABY
$3.99 US | 32 pages | 1 of 6 | Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 6/6/23
FORGING THE FUTURE!
The Metropolis of the future is here today, but can it survive a terrorist who’s out for revenge against its builder—John Henry Irons, a.k.a. Steel—and his company, Steelworks…and who possesses secrets that could undo everything John has worked so hard to build?While John’s professional life is firing on all cylinders, his personal life is even better, as his on-again, off-again relationship with Lana Lang might be back on, permanently. Now he must decide whether it’s time to give up being Steel once and for all. But does John even know who he would be without his superhero identity? How does the
other Steel—John’s niece, Natasha Irons—feel about his momentous decision? And does any of that matter if Steelworks crumbles around him when he lacks the superpowers to fight back? Writer Michael Dorn (the voice of Steel in Superman: The Animated Series) teams up with artist Sami Basri (Harley Quinn, Catwoman) to bring you the next chapter of Steel’s saga in this not-to-be missed six-issue miniseries!
1. This looks so incredible
Even without a Grant Morrison story, this year’s Pride anthology looks really cool. We love to see DC focus on the characters on the periphery of their line, and put them in a book that will get into a lot of hands. But the Morrison story puts this over the top.
More than that, though, DC has been doing really amazing work with these anthologies, and the Pride one feels like a must read every single year. We have also been seeing more queer characters featured outside of this yearly celebration, which is obviously the goal. I just hope that this year’s anthology can further that goal.
Continued belowDC PRIDE 2023 #1
Written by GRANT MORRISON, NICOLE MAINES, CHRISTOPHER CANTWELL, NADIA SHAMMAS, and others!
Art by HAYDEN SHERMAN, PAULINA GANUCHEAU, STEPHEN SADOWSKI, SKYLAR PATRDIGE, MILDRED LOUIS, and
others!
Cover by MATEUS MANHANINI
Wraparound variant cover by GABRIEL PICOLO
Variant cover by OSCAR VEGA
Special foil variant cover by JEN BARTEL ($11.99 US)
$9.99 US | 104 pages | One-shot | Prestige | (all covers are card stock)
ON SALE 5/30/23
DC Pride is back again with a brave and bold and all-new collection of stories starring DC’s fan-favorite stable of LGBTQIA+ characters—many of whom will find themselves in thrilling team-ups the likes of which you’ve never seen before!Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy go to extreme measures to get a little alone time…but there’s nowhere on the planet Crush can’t crash! Jon Kent gets a comprehensive course in dark magic when John Constantine sics a golem on him. Tim Drake and Connor Hawke learn that there’s nothing more awkward than reuniting with an old friend after you’ve both come out and one of you was indoctrinated by the League of Shadows for a while. Circuit Breaker struggles to stifle his powers after the Flash of Earth-11 leaps out of the time stream and knocks them both into another dimension. Just how far would Flashlight go to honor his lost love? All these stories and many more in DC
Pride 2023!This year’s anthology also includes:
• An introduction by Phil Jimenez!
• A 5-page preview of Dreamer’s YA debut written by Nicole Maines and drawn by Rye Hickman!
• A parade of pinups by Babs Tarr, Maria Llovet, Brandt & Stein, Noah Dao, Travis G. Moore, and more!
For the full solicitations, check out the Beat.
