November is going to be a huge month for DC – it begins, in earnest, the integration of “Watchmen” into the main DC Universe, it sees “Metal” ramp up, it sees Tim Drake fully back in the fold, and we’ve got so much to talk about that we’re skipping two of the things I just mentioned!
10. Another “New Talent Showcase”
Last year’s “New Talent Showcase” was a weird trainwreck of a comic that seemed to be culled from projects from the DC Workshops. The appearance – and I have no evidence of this – is that these were pitches that the creators had to work up for their program and then were collected. That’s fine, I suppose, but it is a bit of a weird reading experience to get these stories that are anything but standalone, and some which were contradictory to modern continuity.
Now, who knows what we are getting with this iteration, but there is a lot of really interesting talent collected here, doing stories based on characters like Doctor Fate and Duke Thomas, so I’m going to check it out, even if the last volume was a real miss.
NEW TALENT SHOWCASE 2017 #1
Written by Erica Harrell, Desirée Proctor, David Accampo, Aaron Gillespie, Al Letson, Tony Patrick and Owl Goingback
Art by Sam Lotfi, Minkyu Jung, Lynne Yoshii, Siya Oum, Matt Merhoff, Lalit Sharma and Jagdish Kumar
Montage cover by JIM LEE, SCOTT WILLIAMS and others
The latest graduates from the DC Talent Development Workshops show off their skills in stories starring some of DC’s greatest characters. In these tales, Poison Ivy fights an ancient demon, Doctor Fate is confronted by the cost of magic, Red Hood and Duke Thomas face off in a training day simulation and so much more!
On sale NOVEMBER 29 • 80 pg, FC, $7.99 US • RATED T
9. Miniseries fever – catch it!
This month DC is launching a number of minis, from “Batman and the Signal” from Scott Snyder, Tony Patrick, and Cully Hamner, to “Batman: Creature of the Night” from Kurt Busierk and John Paul Leon, to “The Demon: Hell on Earth” by Andrew Constant, Andrew Hennessey, and Brad Walker, to this, a reunion between Tony Isabella and DC Comics. While the former two series I mentioned are likely ‘bigger’ stories in the grand scheme of things, and while the Demon mini marks a new creator coming to DC, this is the most significant release for a few reasons.
First of all, Isabella has not written for DC in quite some time, so to see him return to his creation is a big deal. The character is also launching on a new television series next year, so the move makes sense in that sense. Plus, we’ve seen the character mentioned as part of Batman’s Outsiders in “Dark Nights: Metal,” so DC clearly has big plans for the character. I’m a little surprised that this is a mini instead of an ongoing, but it is much more DC’s style to bring back a creator for a mini, and to allow a new, sexier creative team launch an ongoing.
First up, I’m going to guess is an Outsiders series and, if the show is a hit, a solo series later next year.
BLACK LIGHTNING: COLD DEAD HANDS #1
Written by TONY ISABELLA
Art and cover by CLAYTON HENRY
Variant cover by KEN LASHLEY
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for details.
All-new mini-series by original creator Tony Isabella teamed with superstar artist Clayton Henry! Black Lightning is back and things are not the same! In his home town of Cleveland, high school teacher Jefferson Pierce is a role model for his students. As Black Lightning, he’s fighting to keep them safe, even as his city’s streets are invaded by local gangs with deadly super-weapons. And wait until you see who their supplier is! Real-world issues in a super-hero world! Expect the unexpected!
On sale NOVEMBER 1 • 32 pg, FC, 1 of 6, $3.99 US • RATED T
8. A new Vertigo mini
Continued below
Vertigo seems to be planning next August as the moment where they really work break things wide open, and so for now, it appears that we’ll be getting more books like this – interesting miniseries that might have been ongoings five years ago. Seeley doing a horror book is a no-brainer, and Vertigo could use a horror infusion, so this is a nice fit. But I’m really starting to get excited for what’s coming next year.
IMAGINARY FIENDS #1
Written by TIM SEELEY
Art by STEPHEN MOLNAR
Cover by RICHARD PACE
“Polly Peachpit.” Those were the words ten-year-old Brinke Calle said when she was found covered in her own blood by the woods in rural Cannon Falls, MN. Her best friend, Melba, had just attempted to murder her because a spider girl named Polly Peachpit told her to.
Since that day, Melba has spent seven years in a mental health facility. Tomorrow is her eighteenth birthday. Tomorrow, she’ll be transferred to a federal prison. Tomorrow, her real sentence will begin.
That is, until she receives a visit from FBI Agent Virgil Crockett. Crockett explains that there is another world beyond ours, where hungry spectral aliens stalk the minds of the impressionable and weak. These things, called IMPs (Interdimensional Mental Parasites) feed on compliance. They convince hosts to do things for them, and the more they feed, the stronger they become. More IMPs stream into the world each day, invisible to everyone but his or her hosts.
After years of drugs and counseling, Polly and Melba have developed a unique relationship—and to Crockett, this relationship represents something her people can work with. In exchange for release from prison, Crockett asks Melba (and Polly) to serve as IMP hunters. For Melba, it’s a chance to prove that she’s innocent, convinced to murder by a monster…a monster she must now unleash.
On sale NOVEMBER 15 • 32 pg, FC, 1 of 6, $3.99 US • MATURE READERS
7. Aquaman in dream world
The main “Aquaman” series has, perhaps, never been better than it is right now, and with the “Underworld” arc ending this month, it makes sense that the annual is a standalone story that doesn’t have to affect the overall story all that much. That said, Max Fiumara of “Abe Sapien” doing a 48 page Aquaman story is the stuff of dreams, and this looks super dope, so I’ll be picking this up for sure.
Also, this is a five-Wednesday month, which means annuals galore.
AQUAMAN ANNUAL #1
Written by PHILLIP KENNEDY JOHNSON
Art and cover by MAX FIUMARA
Aquaman’s dream of unity between surface and sea has come true! A utopia of human and Atlantean ingenuity, and a symbol of harmony between the two cultures, the city of Crownspire is Arthur Curry’s greatest achievement. There Aquaman, Mera, and Tom Curry live in content. But who built Crownspire? Where is Murk? And what exactly is Tom Curry?
Something is very wrong with Aquaman’s world, and if he doesn’t find out soon he may never live to see another day.
On sale NOVEMBER 29 • 48 pg, FC, $4.99 US • RATED T
6. The end of “Cyborg?”
This is pure speculation, but we know a number of series are ending at #18 – “Superwoman” and “Blue Beetle,” specifically – and this solicit looks pretty finite. Plus, check out that cover – that’s a last issue’s cover, isn’t it?
This book simply hasn’t been very good, and nothing about it screams import. They’re going to want to give the character/book a rest from the solo spotlight before the movie happens, if it ever does. This seems like a good time to put the title out of its misery and relaunch it a year down the road with a more exciting creative team/premise.
Continued belowCYBORG #18
Written by JOHN SEMPER JR.
Art by WILL CONRAD
Cover by ERIC CANETE
JUSTICE LEAGUE variant cover by DUSTIN NGUYEN
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for details. Includes a code for a free digital download of this issue.
“SINGULARITY AFTERMATH” finale! Detroit is under attack by Anomaly and his deadly collection of cybernetic monsters! Together with Black Narcissus, Cyborg faces off against Anomaly’s army—including Vic Stone’s opposite number, the cybernetic soldier Aldous—in the final showdown between man and machine.
On sale NOVEMBER 1 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
5. Meet the weird Jetsons
I know that “The Flinstones” was a big hit, and that DC is trying a similar approach with “The Jetsons,” but this does not seem to be cut from the same stone (see what I did there?) as its Bedrock counterpart. Mark Russell and Steve Pugh had a totally unique point of view they brought to that book – here, Jimmy Palmiotti and Pier Brito are going to have to do some heavy lifting, especially in light of the lackluster preview we got earlier this year.
That said, I’m on board with them attempting something fresh – there’s nothing to say that this can’t be special. I’m just going to need to be convinced.
THE JETSONS #1
Written by JIMMY PALMIOTTI
Art by PIER BRITO
Cover by AMANDA CONNER
Variant cover by DAVE JOHNSON
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for details.
Meet George Jetson, a family man living an analog life in a digital world. His wife, Jane, is a brilliant NASA scientist working off-world at a conference, his daughter Judy is a social butterfly trying to discover her calling, and his boy Elroy is either doing homework or using robotic technology to break the rules. Strangest of all, George’s mother has downloaded herself into Rosie the robot!
Join this postmodern family as doom rockets toward them from the outer reaches of the galaxy on a crash course of destruction!
On sale NOVEMBER 1 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
4. That creative shuffle
A few sneaky little changes to the line are happening this month, and all deserve a mention. “Green Arrow” is going monthly, following other great books like “Deathstroke” and “Aquaman” (and a not so great one in “Cyborg”). I’m not too worried about the book’s future, but I’ll be missing this twice each month.
“The Hellblazer” has a new creative team in Richard Kadrey and Davide Fabbri, whether this is a fill in or a new development, I’m not sure, but Tim Seeley and Jesus Merino just started in August, so it’s odd one way or the other. I think this might be signaling a #18 cancellation as well.
But most interesting to me are a pair of co-writers joining successful books. Jody Houser is joining Steve Orlando on “Supergirl,” and Michael Moreci is joining Joshua Williamson on “The Flash.” This is interesting for a bunch of reasons – first of all, Williamson and Orlando are established creators with some recent DC success, but they aren’t all that much more experienced than the folks that are joining them, so it’s not a mentor/mentee situation.
But most interesting to me is the types of stories they are joining. “Supergirl” is doing a DEO-centric arc, and “The Flash” is bringing Wally back to the main book. Could this be ways to get these new writers some experience on these characters before launching new books? A Wally book is probably overdue, and a DEO book sounds really interesting to me. Much like Christopher Sebela co-writing the Steph Brown-centric “Detective Comics” arcs leads me to believe he’s going to be doing a Spoiler book, this seems like a possibility for the other two as well. I’m down.
THE FLASH #34
Written by JOSHUA WILLIAMSON and MICHAEL MORECI
Art by POP MHAN
Cover by NEIL GOOGE
JUSTICE LEAGUE variant cover by MIKE McKONE
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for details.
“Black Hole” part one! When a shocking reunion leads to an even more dire discovery about The Flash’s new powers, Barry and Wally will have to confront their rocky past if they both hope to get out alive!
On sale NOVEMBER 8 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
3. Mystik U! What?
This was announced back in the “DC You” era, and has sat on the shelf for 2+ years. But here we are, and with Mike Norton art! I’m down with this idea, and I think it is good that they waited until “Gotham Academy” had wrapped/was on hiatus before launching a second ‘young heroes learning at a school’ book.
Continued belowI love that Zatanna is getting a stronger presence in the DCU, as it is completely overdue. We need a Zatanna and the Shadow Pact book now!
MYSTIK U #1
Written by ALISA KWITNEY
Art by MIKE NORTON
Cover by JULIAN TOTINO TEDESCO
Leave the world of the mundane behind and step through the magical doors of Mystik U! After a tragic accident, a young Zatanna Zatara, under the guidance of Rose Psychic, enrolls in a mysterious university that teaches its students how to master their unique brands of magic. Will Zatanna fit in with her new classmates (Enchantress, Sargon the Sorcerer, Faust and more!) and unlock her true potential? Find out in this exciting bimonthly miniseries from novelist Alisa Kwitney (DESTINY) and Mike Norton (Revival, Runaways)!
On sale NOVEMBER 29 • 48 pg, FC, 1 of 3, $5.99 US • RATED T+
2. Lemire Found
After a few years away, Jeff Lemire is back at DC, both with the upcoming “The Terrifics,” as well as this Hawkman one-shot, with art by Bryan Hitch and Kevin Nowlan. Hawkman is a tricky character, but I have no doubt that Lemire can handle him, and will bring him back into the DC fold properly.
Lemire has hinted that, perhaps, he has a Hawkman ongoing coming after this and, if that’s the case, this is going to be a really important issue.
HAWKMAN: FOUND #1
Written by JEFF LEMIRE
Art by BRYAN HITCH and KEVIN NOWLAN
Cover by BRYAN HITCH
Variant cover by JIM LEE and SCOTT WILLIAMS
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for details.
One of DC’S greatest heroes is missing! No one has seen or heard from Carter Hall—a.k.a. Hawkman—in years. Reincarnated repeatedly since the dawn of humanity, Hawkman has spent his many lives uncovering history’s most fantastic mysteries, and now he has become one himself! Take a journey into the one of the darkest corners of the DC Universe as a mysterious man tries to piece together what happened to Hawkman, and how it all connects to the events of DARK NIGHTS: METAL!
ADVANCE SOLICITED • ONE-SHOT • On sale DECEMBER 20 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • FOIL-STAMPED COVER • RATED T+
1. The Clock strikes one
We all know what this is, and we are all aware that it could be a disaster. I am trying to trust Geoff Johns and not be my usual cynical self about the idea of a Doctor Manhattan/Superman story. But that fear is absolutely there – this could be a trainwreck, but it is going to be an incredibly important trainwreck, and that adds both an intrigue and a danger to it.
We’re here, it’s happening, let’s lean into it.
DOOMSDAY CLOCK #1
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art and cover by GARY FRANK
Variant cover by GARY FRANK
Lenticular cover
Retailers: This issue will ship with three covers. Please see the order form for details.
DC Comics presents to you a 12-issue maxiseries from the critically acclaimed team of writer Geoff Johns, artist Gary Frank and colorist Brad Anderson. You are not prepared for what lies ahead within these pages, good readers.
On sale NOVEMBER 22 • 40 pg, FC, 1 of 12, $4.99 US • RATED T+
Check out the full slate of solicitations over at Newsarama.
