September was a big month for new DC titles, but October doesn’t take the foot off the gas at all, with a mixture of new titles and some really fun shifts in existing ones. Let’s get right to it.
10. Brian’s eating good
If you’ve read enough of my writing over the past 12 years, you’ll know that Kyle Rayner is my favorite DC character. While he’s been, essentially, underplayed at DC for the past 20 years, DC is printing up a new compendium, featuring basically the first year and a half of the character and, most importantly, covers one of my favorite eras of all time, which is the “New Titans” team that featured Kyle, Donna Troy, Aresenal, Damage, Terra, Impulse, and more. Now, granted, I haven’t read these issues in 25 years, so I’m very interested to pick this up and see how my memory compares to the reality.
GREEN LANTERN: KYLE RAYNER RISING COMPENDIUM
Written by RON MARZ, MARV WOLFMAN, BEAU SMITH, TOM PEYER, and others
Art by DARRYL BANKS, ROMEO TANGHAL, and others
Cover by DARRYL BANKS and ROMEO TANGHAL
$59.99 US | 704 pages | 6 5/8″ x 10 3/16″ | Softcover | ISBN: 978-1-77952-627-4
ON SALE 11/21/23
Hal Jordan has broken bad. In his grief and fury, he has decimated the once-mighty Green Lantern Corps. But hope still survives when the last Guardian, Ganthet, bestows the sole remaining power ring upon an artist named Kyle Rayner. Possessing an imagination and will unlike any previous Lantern, Rayner becomes Earth’s new Green Lantern! This compendium charts the rise of the Corps’ latest and greatest member as he strives to maintain order in a galaxy without Guardians. Collects Green Lantern #0, #48-65; R.E.B.E.L.S. ’94 #1; New Titans #116-117, #124-125; Guy Gardner: Warrior #27-28; Darkstars #34; and Damage #16.
9. Our Daily Bread
I don’t think anyone expected Mark Waid to bring characters from “Kingdom Come” into “Batman/Superman: World’s Finest,” but that’s where we find ourselves and I, for one, love it. Waid is doing this in a very deliberate and measured way, and making sure that he’s crossing his t’s and dotting his i’s, and so the story feels inspired instead of forced or editorially driven. Plus, Dan Mora continues to be the best, and so this is going to look like a million bucks. I’m still not sure exactly what the end game is for this, but I’m committed to the ride.
BATMAN/SUPERMAN: WORLD’S FINEST #20
Written by MARK WAID
Art and cover by DAN MORA
Variant cover by BJORN BARENDS
1:25 variant cover by DAVID NAKAYAMA
1:50 variant cover by DANIEL SAMPERE
Embossed Foil Magog Helmet variant cover ($7.99 US)
$3.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 10/17/23
The return of Boy Thunder! To find and save Superman’s former protégé, the World’s Finest duo bridges the dimensional gulf between their world and an Earth with a jaded Superman, a broken Batman, and a war-hungry Wonder Woman—the world of Kingdom Come!
8. A real (giant) monkey’s paw situation
If you take every single piece of this solicit separately, there is a ton of good news here. Brian Buccellato? Where’s that guy been! Godzilla comics? Fuck yeah! Christian Duce? I’ve always sort of liked that guy! King Kong comics? Sure, why not! But when you put them all together, and this seems like a truly weird and unnatural book.
I am not someone who believes that all comics need to ‘matter’ in continuity, or that only A-list creators can do big crossovers. That said, when your big San Diego Comic Con news is about an out of continuity crossover with the Legendary Monsterverse written and illustrated by folks that have done very little significant work at DC, or elsewhere, in a few years, and the whole thing seems like an afterthought.
Let it be known, I want this to be awesome, and I will be rooting for it, but this has all of the pieces of a forgettable miniseries baked into it already. It’s going to be an uphill climb.
Continued belowJUSTICE LEAGUE VS. GODZILLA VS. KONG #1
Written by BRIAN BUCCELLATO
Art by CHRISTIAN DUCE
Cover by DREW JOHNSON
Variant cover by JIM LEE and SCOTT WILLIAMS
Variant cover by FRANCESCO MATTINA
1:25 variant cover by DAN MORA
1:50 variant cover by ALAN QUAH
1:100 variant cover by JIM LEE and SCOTT WILLIAMS
Blank sketch cover
Special foil variant cover by RAFAEL ALBUQUERQUE ($6.99 US)
Godzilla “Roar Sound FX” gatefold variant cover by
CHRISTIAN DUCE ($14.99 US) ON SALE 11/14/23
Kong “Roar Sound FX” gatefold variant cover by
CHRISTIAN DUCE ($14.99 US) ON SALE 11/14/23
$4.99 US | 40 pages | Variant $5.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 10/17/23The cataclysmic crossover event of the year is here as the DC Universe clashes with Legendary’s Monsterverse in Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong.
Clark Kent is enjoying a night off with a very important dinner planned with his girlfriend, Lois Lane, when the entire city shudders under the weight of the monstrous Godzilla, who emerges from the bay! What started as a routine clash between the Justice League and the Legion of Doom takes a dangerous turn when the wall between worlds is breached…with Godzilla, Kong, and the Monsterverse emerging on DC’s Earth! What ensues will be a brawl of unprecedented scale and destruction from acclaimed writer Brian Buccellato (Injustice) and bestselling artist Christian Duce (Batman/Fortnite: Zero Point)!
7. Sinson?
The cover above is the David Lafuente 1:25 variant cover to “Green Lantern” #4, which I am highlighting because of this line of text about the backup:
PLUS: Meet the all-new character SINSON, in the first installment of a prelude story the to upcoming Sinister Sons by Peter J. Tomasi and David Lafuente!
First of all, Sinson is a fucking terrible name. Just straight garbo. But I am interested in a book that, based on the above image, appears to be about Damian Wayne having some sort of interaction with the Green Lantern Corps.
It is also very strange that we haven’t had an ongoing Green Lantern book in a few years, and “Sinister Sons” appears to be the third such title (or at least, two ongoings and a miniseries) in 2023. I don’t get it, but I’m here for it.
GREEN LANTERN #4
Written by JEREMY ADAMS and PETER J. TOMASI
Art by XERMANICO and DAVID LAFUENTE
Cover by XERMANICO
Variant cover by EVAN “DOC” SHANER
1:25 variant cover by DAVID LAFUENTE
1:50 variant cover by MIKEL JANIN
$4.99 US | 40 pages | Variant $5.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 10/10/23
After Sinestro’s attack on Ferris Air, Hal calls in a fast friend for help. This brave and bold duo comes one step closer to uncovering the mystery of Sinestro’s plans, all while Hal continues to figure out what it means to be the only Green Lantern on Earth!PLUS: Meet the all-new character SINSON, in the first installment of a prelude story the to upcoming Sinister Sons by Peter J. Tomasi and David Lafuente!
6. She’s a Supergirl, in a Superworld
I am pretty sick of Supergirl being relegated to the background of the Super-family, and even more frustrated of stories about how Kara doesn’t have a place in the DC Universe. And so, I’m instantly frustrated by this. However, the team of Mariko Tamaki and Skylar Patridge is a solid one, and if this leads to a new Supergirl book or backup someplace, I’m here for it.
But please, please, can we tell a story that isn’t a ‘what’s my place?’ one next time?
Continued belowSUPERGIRL SPECIAL #1
Written by MARIKO TAMAKI
Art by SKYLAR PATRIDGE
Cover by JAMAL CAMPBELL
Variant covers by FRANK CHO and WILL JACK
1:25 variant cover by RAMON PEREZ
1:50 variant cover by AMANCAY NAHUELPAN
Foil variant cover by WILL JACK ($8.99 US)
$5.99 US | 48 pages | Variant $6.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 10/31/23GIRL INTERRUPTED!
After joining the Superman Family and their heroic efforts in Metropolis, Kara thought she had found her place in the world. But there’s only room in town for one Supergirl, and Power Girl’s sudden reappearance has made her redundant. Her identity and role are both in question as she looks for answers. Will they lead her out of the city or out of this world?
Find out as critically acclaimed writer Mariko Tamaki (Supergirl: Being Super) returns to the Maid of Might with the help of Skylar Patridge (Wonder Woman)!
5. Our bat-cave, in the middle of our bat-street
There are those, like my DC3cast cohost Vince Ostrowski, who don’t like Christian Ward’s artwork. There are others, like me, who do like what he does. Those like me are correct.
That said, this is about as standard of a Black Label solicit as can exist, and is solely on this list because of what Ward has done, artistically, before this. The solicit also gets a demerit for referencing “Batman: Arkham Asylum” because, as great as an artist as Ward is, as a writer, he’s no Grant Morrison.
BATMAN: CITY OF MADNESS #1
Written by CHRISTIAN WARD
Art and cover by CHRISTIAN WARD
Variant cover by BILL SIENKIEWICZ
1:25 variant cover by MARTIN SIMMONDS
1:50 variant cover by CHRISTIAN WARD
$6.99 US | 48 pages | 1 of 3 | Prestige Plus | 8 1/2″ x 10 7/8″
(all covers are card stock)
ON SALE 10/10/23Buried deep beneath Gotham City there exists another Gotham. This Gotham Below is a living nightmare, populated by twisted mirrors of our Gotham’s denizens, fueled by the fear and hatred flowing down from above. For decades, the doorway between the cities has been sealed and heavily guarded by the Court of Owls. But now the door swings wide, and the twisted version of the Dark Knight has escaped…to trap and train a Robin of his own. Batman must form an uneasy alliance with the Court and its deadly allies to stop him—and to hold back the wave of twisted super-villains, nightmarish versions of his own nemeses, each one worse than the last, that’s spilling into his streets!
Visionary writer-artist Christian Ward unleashes his cosmic-horror take on Batman’s world, in a tribute to disturbing Dark Knight classics like Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: Gothic! You’ll never look at Batman’s villains the same way again…you simply won’t have the stomach for it!
4. The Return of the Return
There was a similar special for the ‘Death of Superman’ anniversary, but this is different. The ‘Return of Superman’ is, perhaps, the weirdest, in a good way, era of Superman comics ever. Getting all of these creators back together to not just revisit those times but celebrate just how strange these books were is a fantastic initiative by DC. With anniversaries for “Knightfall,” “Emerald Twilight,” and more around the corner, let’s get this shit going for more classic DC anniversaries.
RETURN OF SUPERMAN 30TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL #1
Written by DAN JURGENS, LOUISE SIMONSON, JERRY ORDWAY,
and KARL KESEL
Art by TRAVIS MOORE, DAN JURGENS, BRETT BREEDING, JON BOGDANOVE,
BUTCH GUICE, TOM GRUMMETT, and DOUG HAZLEWOOD
Cover by DAN JURGENS
Variant covers by JOHN GIANG, DAVE WILKINS, FRANCIS MANAPUL,
and BEN OLIVER
1:25 variant cover by BRAD WALKER
1:50 variant cover by JON BOGDANOVE
Foil variant cover by DAN JURGENS ($10.99 US)
$9.99 US | 80 pages | Prestige | (all covers card stock)
ON SALE 10/31/23Superman returns! After the tragic events of more than 30 years ago, when Superman met his end at the hands of Doomsday, Metropolis mourned the loss of their greatest hero and soon turned their attention to the search for his successor. Four Supermen rose to the challenge: Superboy, Steel, Eradicator, and Cyborg Superman. Each with their own strengths and weaknesses, they fought in honor of the original Man of Steel. Little did they know, his return was just around the corner!
To celebrate the Reign of the Supermen and Return of Superman, DC has brought back the original creative teams for new stories set in the wake of Superman’s death. It all begins with new Daily Planet editor-in-chief Lois Lane discovering Perry White’s journals from the time and the secrets he kept as he searched for who could be the next Superman. What could this discovery mean for our present? Find out in this special that’s sure to be a classic in the
future!
3. A Superman III riff AND Kong Kenan? My cup runneth over!
Anytime that Clark Kent is separated from Superman, despite the knowledge that this happened in the Silver Age, my 41 years old mind goes to Superman III, young Brian’s first favorite superhero movie. While I don’t think that Phillip Kennedy Johnson is going to have Superman’s suit look dirty and have him flick peanuts into liquor bottles, I will get a dopamine hit from the very idea, and I’ll sleep a little easier.
Continued belowHowever, the real news here is the return of Gene Yang and Viktor Bogdonovic returning to Kong Kenan, the Superman of China, in a new backup. This is one of the best characters and creative team pairings of the past ten years at DC. It’s great to see DC realizing what they have on their hands and giving those two another go at this character.
ACTION COMICS #1058
Written by PHILLIP KENNEDY JOHNSON, GENE LUEN YANG, and GREG HAHN
Art by RAFA SANDOVAL, VIKTOR BOGDANOVIC, and TRAVIS MERCER
Cover by STEVE BEACH
Variant covers by JORGE JIMENEZ and CARLA COHEN
1:25 variant cover by FREDDIE E. WILLIAMS II
1:50 variant cover by JORGE FORNES
Artist Spotlight variant cover by GABRIELE DELL’OTTO
$4.99 US | 48 pages | Variant $5.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 10/24/23Superman versus Clark Kent! When the mysterious young Norah Stone drains Superman’s strength and unleashes an impostor tyrant Superman on Metropolis in his place, a powerless Clark Kent is forced to face the monster alone. Who is Norah Stone? And can Clark protect his identity while fighting this impossible battle? Featuring Gene Luen Yang and Viktor Bogdanovic’s return to the Super-Man of China!
2. The Golden Age meets the Modern Age
While I absolutely love what Geoff Johns did with the JSA in the 00, his revitalizing of the Justice Society has now taken over seven years to get even close to off the ground, and they are still sioled in this Johns-specific corner. This month sees a trio of new miniseries launch for JSA characters, none written by Johns, but by three lieutenants who he’s worked with before: Sandman (Robert Venditti), Alan Scott (Tim Sheridan), and Jay Garrick (Jeremy Adams). Of all of these, the Flash book sounds the most interesting, as it deals most directly with the events of the “Stargirl: The Lost Children” miniseries that somehow managed to come out basically on time.
I want all of this stuff to work, but more than that, I want people to be able to tell JSA stories without waiting another half-decade for Johns to get his shit together or allow someone else to take the keys.
Also, that Sandman book has Riley Rossmo art, so wah wah wee wah that’s going to look fantastic.
JAY GARRICK: THE FLASH #1
Written by JEREMY ADAMS
Art by DIEGO OLORTEGUI
Cover by JORGE CORONA
Variant cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL
Variant cover by SERG ACUNA
Golden Age foil cover by JORGE CORONA ($5.99 US)
$3.99 US | 32 pages | 1 of 6 | Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 10/17/23Spinning out of the events of Stargirl: The Lost Children and Justice Society of America, Jay Garrick is reunited with his long-lost daughter, Judy. After being pulled from the timeline, Judy returns to a world where she and her dad aren’t the only ones that ride the lightning, but is there enough space for her in Jay and Joan’s life? And can they keep up with their teenage daughter and make up for lost time?
1. An unexpected, but exciting, new title
Josie Campbell’s “The New Champion of Shazam” was one of the most pleasant surprises of recent memory at DC. To see Campbell continue with Mary’s story, but also taking on some of the under-utilized Amazonian characters, in an ongoing no less, is incredibly exciting. Do I think it’ll last past 8 issues? I do not, but I’m excited to see what Campbell can do with this cast of characters. I’m not entirely sure why Wonder Girl and Mary Bromfield are paired together, but I’m excited to find out.
AMAZONS ATTACK #1
Written by JOSIE CAMPBELL
Art by VASCO GEORGIEV
Cover by CLAYTON HENRY
Variant covers by MIKE DEODATO JR. and TAJ TENFOLD
1:25 variant cover by VASCO GEORGIEV
1:50 variant cover by MEGHAN HETRICK
$3.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 10/24/23After the shocking events in Wonder Woman, the Amazons are now fighting for a world that no longer wants them! Led by their fearless Queen Nubia, a ragtag group of Amazons featuring Wonder Girl and Faruka II frantically searches for answers as their existence and way of life are threatened. Will the tribes survive their new reputation? Find out in this roller coaster of a debut issue!
Brought to you by rising stars Josie Campbell (The New Champion of Shazam!) and Vasco Georgiev (Batman: Urban Legends), this series promises to be an action-packed adventure featuring the greatest warrior women in the DCU!
See the full solicits over at Newsarama.
