In an effort to not repeat ourselves, after San Diego Comic Con, it can be hard to do a solicitations column that isn’t just straight up repeating news we’ve covered in the past month. So, for this month’s Soliciting Multiversity: DC, I will first suggest you look to our news section for stories on some of the biggest releases/announcements from SDCC and beyond. Instead, here are ten books that either went under the radar, have some new details in them, or popped out for another reason. Let’s dig in!
10. Ain’t nothin’ but a gangsta party
Just because this is the Year of the Villain doesn’t mean that DC hasn’t focused on its more sinister characters in the past. “Wanted: The World’s Most Dangerous Villains” was already a reprinting of older work, but here it is again, in a new edition. These are always fun primers on the characters of a bygone era, but I want to draw your attention to one specific title from which a story was drawn: “Doll Man Quarterly” #15.
Let that sink in for a moment. Doll Man, third stringer villain at best, had no only his own quarterly comic, but that it ran at least 15 issues. But psych! It ran for forty seven issues over twelve years. DC can’t make a Green Arrow comic stick in 2019, but in 1941, someone smartly anticipated a Doll Man market that would last a dozen years. Shoosh.
DC’S WANTED: THE WORLD’S MOST DANGEROUS SUPER VILLAINS HC
stories and art by various
cover by NICK CARDY
Take a journey into the dark minds of DC’s most dangerous super-villains in these tales starring The Joker, the Mist, Captain Cold, Signalman, the Puppeteer, Clock King, Mr. Who and many more. Collects WANTED: THE WORLD’S MOST DANGEROUS VILLAINS #1-9 from 1972, which reprinted stories from Action Comics #57 and 69; Batman #25, 84 and 112; World’s Finest Comics #6 and 111; The Flash #114 and 121; Adventure Comics #72 and 77; Green Lantern #1 and 33; Wonder Woman #36; Sensation Comics #66 and 71; More Fun Comics #65, 73 and 76; Flash Comics #86, 90 and 100; All-American Comics #61; Kid Eternity #15; and Doll Man Quarterly #15.
ON SALE 03.11.20
$39.99 US | 256 PAGES
FC | ISBN: 978-1-779501-134
So DC’s Giants are moving from Walmart to the direct market, and it accounts for a few things we’ve seen as of late, mainly the cancellation of both “Scooby Doo Team Up” and “Teen Titans GO!,” both properties that have new Giant comics. It’s not exactly clear what the new creative teams are for any of these, or what exactly we can expect, in terms of consistent new stories in them, but the idea of packaging new and old stories together is an old one, and a wise one.
The other interesting facet is that there are a few titles that are a little more mysterious, such as “DC Ghosts Giant,” listed below. Is this just a spooky stories book from all the normal characters, or are we going to see Gentleman Ghost and other supremely ghoulish characters get the spotlight? I hope it is the latter.
DC GHOSTS GIANT #1
Includes 32 pages of new stories plus classic reprints!
ON SALE 10.30.19
$4.99 US | FC | 96 PAGES
8. For useless, twisting, our new technology
There are so many Black Label Joker and Harley Quinn books that I honestly thought this was a new title that hadn’t yet been announced, since we have had so many of them thus far. And this was announced like two months ago!
Anyway, the talent on this is great, but ugh another Joker/Harley book.
Continued belowJOKER/HARLEY: CRIMINAL SANITY #1
written by KAMI GARCIA
art by MICO SUAYAN and MIKE MAYHEW
cover by FRANCESCO MATTINA
variant cover by MIKE MAYHEW
variant cover by MICO SUAYAN
In Gotham City, where heinous acts of violence are a daily occurrence, the GCPD relies on Harley Quinn, a young forensic psychiatrist and profiler, to consult on their toughest cases. But Harley is haunted by one unsolved case—the night she discovered her roommate’s body marked with the signature of a notorious serial killer known as The Joker.
Five years later, the case remains unsolved and a new series of horrific murders occur throughout the city. As the murders escalate, Harley’s obsession with finding the depraved psychopath responsible leads her down a dangerous path. When the past and the present finally collide, Harley has to decide how far she is willing to go—and how many lines she is willing to cross—to solve these cases once and for all.
Written by #1 New York Times and international bestselling author Kami Garcia (co-author of Beautiful Creatures, author of Unbreakable and X-Files: Agents of Chaos) with art by Mico Suayan (Bloodshot: Reborn) and Mike Mayhew (The Star Wars), JOKER/HARLEY: CRIMINAL SANITY introduces readers to a Joker and Harley Quinn unlike any they’ve seen before, utilizing forensic psychiatry, behavior analysis (profiling) and psychological profiles to create a true-to-life take on these iconic characters that is more terrifying than any psychotic fantasy.
PRESTIGE FORMAT | ON SALE 10.09.19
$5.99 US | 1 of 9 | 40 PAGES
For some important context: “Batman: Creature of the Night” #3 came out in April of 2018. #4 is coming out in October 2019. That’s long enough to totally forget this book exists, get excited when you realize it’s finally getting finished, get bummed when you realize you don’t remember if you read the third issue, and then realize you’ve literally got three months to re-read the first three issues if you want.
But hey, at least it is coming out!
BATMAN: CREATURE OF THE NIGHT #4
written by KURT BUSIEK
art and cover by JOHN PAUL LEON
Bruce Wainwright is not the man he believed himself to be. He never was. But when you’ve unleashed horror on the world…what can you do about it? Is Bruce human after all? Or has he become more than a man? It’s the unmissable finale of one of the best-reviewed miniseries of the year, sure to go down as a modern Batman classic!
PRESTIGE FORMAT
RESOLICIT | ON SALE 10.30.19
$6.99 US | 4 of 4 | 56 PAGES
FC | RATED T+
This issue is resolicited. All previous orders are cancelled.
6. Oh and twisted thoughts that spin ’round my head
I’m sure part of it is because I’m at the mid-way point of my Chronicles of Shazam read through, but I feel like Black Adam has been an important missing piece of the DCU as of late. A one-shot isn’t exactly the cure-all for that, but it recognizes him as one of DC’s most important villains, and that’s a big deal. Plus, with Geoff Johns’s oft-delayed “Shazam” title, it’s nice to know that we will actually get a Shazam/Black Adam story this month.
BLACK ADAM: YEAR OF THE VILLAIN #1
written by PAUL JENKINS
art by INAKI MIRANDA
cover by JOHN ROMITA JR. and KLAUS JANSON
Spinning out of the events of BATMAN/SUPERMAN, Shazam! (infected by the Batman Who Laughs) invades Black Adam’s kingdom! His plan? To turn it into a playground for its new ruler: Billy Batson!
ONE-SHOT | ON SALE 10.23.19
$4.99 US | 40 PAGES
FC | RATED T+
This issue will ship with two covers.
Please see the order form for details.
5. Coming back for more to even the score
DC’s anthology game has been getting better and better, and this lineup is super impressive. Rafael Albuquerque, Jorge Fornes, Paul Dini, Bryan Hill? Yes please; and this cover is *Italian chef kiss emoji*.
SECRETS OF SINISTER HOUSE #1
written by PAUL DINI, RAFAEL ALBUQUERQUE, RAFAEL SCAVONE, BRYAN HILL, DAN WATTERS and others
art by RAFAEL ALBUQUERQUE, CIAN TORMEY, JORGE FORNES and others
cover by JOHN ROMITA JR. and BILL SIENKIEWICZ
Witness what hides within the Sinister House—the DCU’s most horrific secrets and mysteries! Travel alongside Harley Quinn, John Constantine, Detective Chimp, Zatanna, the Atom and others as they face this macabre devastation firsthand! And in the bowels of this dark mansion…we return to the world of the legendary Red Rain to meet once again with the dreaded vampire Batman. Don’t miss this year’s DC Halloween special—because if you do, it’ll haunt you!
PRESTIGE FORMAT
ONE-SHOT | ON SALE 10.09.19
$9.99 US | 80 PAGES
FC | RATED T+
4. There’s one perfect fit and, sugar, this one is it
This is one of the most anticipated comics of the year for me, because Peter Tomasi’s “Superman” and “Super Sons” books established such a great relationship between Damian Wayne and Jon Kent. Seeing Jon, now aged a solid half decade if not more, and Damian interact is going to be fascinating with the dynamic changed due to Jon now, at least appearing, older than Damian. I trust Bendis to make this the reunion we’ve all been anticipating.
Continued belowSUPERMAN #16
written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
art by DAVID LAFUENTE
cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO
variant cover by JASON MASTERS
The Super Sons are back! But now Jon is five years older, and he’s sitting on the biggest decision of his young life. Damian and Jon team up again for a rip-roaring adventure and a huge catch-up! These two best buds have really needed each other, and now they are back!
ON SALE 10.09.19
$3.99 US | 32 PAGES
FC | RATED T
This issue will ship with two covers.
Please see the order form for details.
3. In the early morning when I’m feeling nice, I walk by the mirror and kiss it twice
When I saw this cover, I had a visceral reaction to it. I turned 7 in the summer of 1989, and saw Batman a few times in the movies. I also owned at least two copies of this book: one I got at my local comic shop, and one as a gift from a now forgotten relative/friend of my parents. The Jerry Ordway cover is burned into my brain, and I can’t help but smile when I see this. I think it’s a little cheap to reprint this in hardcover, as its a short book, but adding the original line art is a nice touch, if not some serious page count padding.
BATMAN: THE 1989 MOVIE ADAPTATION DELUXE EDITION HC
written by DENNIS O’NEIL
art and cover by JERRY ORDWAY
In time for the 30th anniversary of the blockbuster movie Batman, DC reprints the official comics adaptation in hardcover for the first time. Written by Dennis O’Neil, the dean of Batman writers, with lush artwork by Jerry Ordway, this story faithfully brings to comics the story from the Academy Award-winning 1989 movie! Collects BATMAN: MOVIE SPECIAL #1, plus high-quality scans of each page of original art presented in black and white to accompany the final colored pages.
ON SALE 11.20.19
$19.99 US | 7.0625” x 10.875” | 144 PAGES
FC | ISBN: 978-1-77950-050-2
2. Speed it up a notch, speed, grunt, no, strength
We all knew that ‘season 1’ of “The Green Lantern” was wrapping up this month, but finding out that the title’s second season won’t feature the words “Green Lantern” in the title is a bit of a mindfuck. Will it be called “Hal Jordan?” Will it shift focus to a different character? Will it just be spoonerized and be called Leen Grantern? Only time will tell, but I can’t wait to begin to put this mystery together.
THE GREEN LANTERN #12
written by GRANT MORRISON
art and cover by LIAM SHARP
variant cover by RILEY ROSSMO
The Green Lanterns will fall! Insidious plans meticulously set in motion since
issue #1 have reached their boiling point. As defeat looms for the Corps, Hal
Jordan’s showdown with his monstrous antimatter counterpart sets the stage for the final pages of this issue—and the moment that will echo throughout the entire DC Universe! How bad is it for Hal and the Corps? There’s no GREEN LANTERN #13 next month…but writer Grant Morrison is crafting the next chapter of this story, and it’s coming soon! Only there’s no “Green Lantern” in the title. After the events of this issue, how could there be?
ON SALE 10.02.19
$4.99 US | 40 PAGES
FC | RATED T+
This issue will ship with two covers.
Please see the order form for details.
1. Took her away, away from me
Man, how can you not be jazzed about this book? Gene Yang, Gurihiru, the title, the cover, the subject matter, c’mon! This is a really strong case for ‘best pairing of creators and subject matter’ we’ve seen in quite some time. Also, it is really sad that we need to remind people that, even in 2019, Superman will still smash the Klan.
SUPERMAN SMASHES THE KLAN #1
written by GENE LUEN YANG
art and cover by GURIHIRU
variant cover by KYLE BAKER
The year is 1946, and the Lee family has moved from Metropolis’ Chinatown to the center of the bustling city. While Dr. Lee is greeted warmly in his new position at the Metropolis Health Department, his two kids, Roberta and Tommy, are more excited about being closer to their famous hero, Superman!
While Tommy adjusts to the fast pace of the city, Roberta feels out of place, as she tries and fails to fit in with the neighborhood kids. As the Lees try to adjust to their new lives, an evil is stirring in Metropolis: the Ku Klux Klan. When the Lee family awakens one night to find a burning cross on their lawn, they consider leaving town. But the Daily Planet offers a reward for information on the KKK, and their top two reporters, Lois Lane and Clark Kent, dig into the story.
When Tommy is kidnapped by the KKK, Superman leaps into action—with help from Roberta! But Superman is still new to his powers—he hasn’t even worked out how to fly yet, so he has to run across town. Will Superman and Roberta reach Tommy in time?
Inspired by the 1940s Superman radio serial “Clan of the Fiery Cross,” Gene Luen Yang (American Born Chinese, Boxers and Saints, The Terrifics, New Super-Man) presents his personal retelling of the adventures of the Lee family as they team up with Superman to smash the Klan.
PRESTIGE FORMAT
BIMONTHLY | ON SALE 10.16.19
APPROXIMATELY 6” x 9”
$7.99 US | 1 of 3 | 80 PAGES
FC | RATED T+
This issue will ship with two covers.
Please see the order form for details.
See the full solicitations at Newsarama.
