As we inch closer to a reboot/reset/new start for a lot of our key DC characters, December is a weird month at DC, but not without its interesting titles.
10. More Tales
I’m not thrilled about three more ‘Tales from the Dark Multiverse’ titles coming out when there are a lot of perfectly good series that got cancelled or never got made. Retelling old stories under this banner works better in theory than in concept, and none of these, as of yet, have been particularly good or interesting.
That said, the next three are from writers Vita Ayala, Steve Orlando, and Collin Kelly and Jackson Lazing. Those writers have varied styles, and have done a lot of work that can explicitly pointed to as not safe, not by the numbers. And so, if they can do something more interesting with this format, I’m all for it. I’m especially excited to see what Ayala does on ‘War of the Gods,’ one of my favorite 90s DC events.
TALES FROM THE DARK MULTIVERSE: WONDER WOMAN: WAR OF THE GODS #1
written by VITA AYALA
art by ARIEL OLIVETTI
cover by DAVID MARQUEZ
PRESTIGE FORMAT
ONE SHOT | ON SALE 12/1/20
$5.99 US | 48 PAGES | FC | DC
The realms of the gods have been turned upside down and inside out, on the verge of engulfing Earth and its people. Only one hero stands to defend it: Wonder Woman! But that is another world and another story. Behold the mirror image of this tale taking place in the Dark Multiverse, with a Wonder Woman who is ready to destroy it all! Cursed by the evil
goddess of magic, Hecate, our beloved Diana has become a weapon of vengeance ready to tear down any god or superhero that stands in her way. Will Earth and its heroes survive her might? Or are they doomed to worship the dark princess of the Amazons for the rest of eternity?!
9. Let the Suffering Begin!
After being teased/threatened with this title for almost a year now, we are finally getting Tom King’s conclusion to his Batman story, which already seems anachronistic and weird after James Tynion has entered the ‘main’ Batman title. It’s no secret that I felt that King’s “Batman” represents the worst the character has been written in decades, and nothing should fill you with more dread than “from the team that brought you ‘Heroes in Crisis’ comes…”
But this book is kind of a big deal, in part because of the creators’ pedigree, in part because it is allowed a creator to finish his ‘epic’ tale, and in part because, sadly, people will lap this up.
BATMAN/CATWOMAN #1
written by TOM KING
art and cover by CLAY MANN
variant cover by JIM LEE and SCOTT WILLIAMS
variant cover by TRAVIS CHAREST
blank variant cover
ON SALE 12/1/20
$4.99 US | 32 PAGES | 1 OF 12 | FC
DC BLACK LABEL
CARD STOCK COVERS
At last, Tom King returns to the rocky, romantic saga of Batman and Catwoman with his Heroes in Crisis collaborator, superstar artist Clay Mann!
Echoing plot points from King’s epic Batman run, this sweeping tale is told across three timelines: the past, when the Bat and the Cat first fell in love; the present, where their union is threatened by one of Batman’s lost loves; and the future, where the couple have a happy life and legacy—including their daughter Helena, the Batwoman. And as the story begins, after a long marriage, Bruce Wayne passes away—which frees Selina Kyle to settle an old score.
At every stage of their relationship, Bruce and Selina have an unwelcome chaperone: The Joker!
Oh, and that lost love of Bruce’s? It’s Andrea Beaumont—a.k.a. Phantasm. Just thought you’d want to know.
8. Nubia Returns
Nubia is a character that has been through numerous changes, some sparked from “Crisis on Infinite Earths,” since her introduction in the early 1970s. One of the first female, Black superheroes, Nubia has never really taken the prominent role that she probably should have after her introduction. While DC isn’t giving Nubia an going series, they are committed to introducing the character to a larger audience with this graphic novel, which hopefully is the first of many. L.L. McKinney is a young adult author who is currently writing a series that retells Alice in Wonderland from the perspective of an African American girl. So, McKinney has experience taking a predominantly white style and bringing it into a more inclusive place.
Continued belowOf all the books released this month, due to both the bookstore market and also how DC has been pushing its OGNs in a really effective way, this may be the most read book discussed in this column this month. That’s a good thing! It’s positive for so many reasons, from representation to a potential path to monthly comics to just highlighting new talent.
NUBIA: REAL ONE TP
written by L.L. McKINNEY
art and cover by ROBYN SMITH
ON SALE 2/2/21
$16.99 US | 208 PAGES | 6″ x 9″ | FC
ISBN: 978-1-4012-9640-7
Nubia has always been a little bit…different. As a baby she showcased Amazon-like strength by pushing over a tree to rescue her neighbor’s cat. But despite her having similar abilities, the world has no problem telling her that she’s no Wonder Woman. And even if she were, they wouldn’t want her. Every time she comes to the rescue, she’s reminded of how people see her: as a threat. Her moms do their best to keep her safe, but Nubia can’t deny the fire within her, even if she’s a little awkward about it sometimes. Even if it means people assume the worst.
When Nubia’s best friend, Quisha, is threatened by a boy who thinks he owns the town, Nubia will risk it all—her safety, her home, and her crush on that cute kid in English class—to become the hero society tells her she isn’t.
7. The first single from Dangerous
A new volume of “Batman: Black and White” has been teased for years now on social media, and so finally seeing it come to fruition is fun. These books are never my favorite, as I’m as interested in the serialized aspect of comics than I am anything else, but this lineup of creators is hard to look past. Emma Rios doing a story, G. Willow Wilson and Greg Smallwood teaming up, J.H. Williams returning to DC! Come on, even if you’re not a huge Bat-person, this lineup should go a long way to getting you to check this out.
BATMAN BLACK AND WHITE #1
written by JAMES TYNION IV, J.H. WILLIAMS III, PAUL DINI, EMMA RIOS, and G. WILLOW WILSON
art by TRADD MOORE, J.H. WILLIAMS III, ANDY KUBERT, EMMA RIOS, and GREG SMALLWOOD
cover by GREG CAPULLO
variant cover by J.H. WILLIAMS III
Talia variant cover by PEACH MOMOKO
blank variant cover
PRESTIGE FORMAT | ON SALE 12/8/20
$5.99 US | 48 PAGES | 1 OF 6 | FC | DC
The iconic anthology series returns with a brand-new slate of comics’ most exciting and innovative storytellers to explore the Batman mythos in stark black-and-white!
In this debut issue:
• James Tynion IV and Tradd Moore explore the world of Ra’s al Ghul and the League of Assassins
• J.H. Williams III returns to DC Comics for a trip through the Dark Knight’s history
• Emma Rios explores the eternal struggle of the Dark Knight
• Paul Dini and Andy Kubert pit Batman against an infestation of ninja Man-Bats in the Batcave
• G. Willow Wilson and Greg Smallwood portray Batman in his strangest standoff ever with Killer Croc
With a lineup this strong and a cover by legendary Batman artist Greg Capullo, you won’t want to miss the start of this tremendous collection of Batman tales by some of comics’ top creators!
6. Jurgens’d for the…last time?
“Batman Beyond” has somehow limped through the entirety of ‘Rebirth’ without ever being a critical or commercial darling. By issue #4, “Batman Beyond” had already slipped under 30,000 copies a month, and one year later had fallen below 20,000 copies, which is usually the kill point for a DC series. But no! 34 issues followed after January 2018’s #16, but here we are, at the end of Dan Jurgens’s very long run on the character. This series has felt plodding from the start and, despite having great art, has never been something really worth checking out. It’s inclusion on this list is more for the absurdity of this dull book lasting to #50. Good riddance, “Batman Beyond.”
Continued belowBATMAN BEYOND #50
written by DAN JURGENS
art by SEAN CHEN and SEAN PARSONS
cover by DAN MORA
variant cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL
ON SALE 12/22/20
$3.99 US | 32 PAGES | FC | DC
FINAL ISSUE
The finale of Dan Jurgens’s iconic run on Batman Beyond finds Terry McGinnis accused of crimes he didn’t commit! When one of his greatest rogues, the formidable Inque, poses as Batman and causes havoc around Gotham City, Wonder Woman will stop by to confront Batman Beyond. Will Terry be able to convince her that he’s innocent or will he find himself the enemy of one of the DC Universe’s greatest heroes? The epic conclusion of the series is here!
5. What a weird event
I think it was in a text message, but I told my DC3cast cohosts that “Endless Winter” would be “2020’s ‘JLApe: Gorilla Warfare.” And while that remains to be seen, it does seem to be in the mold of an event that is designed to fill space rather than break too much new ground. The event is written entirely by two returning DC stars from the 90s, Andy Lanning and Ron Marz, and runs across a bunch of the DC titles for December, as well as a few one-shots and two bookending specials. As excited as I am to see Black Adam be a part of an event with the Viking Prince and Queen Hippolyta, and as good as the artists involved are, and despite really liking both of these writers, I just can’t get too excited about this event.
I think a big part of that is that DC has given such little hype behind this series. If this was something that the company really believed in, the marketing would’ve been totally different. But this is coming at a time when DC is in flux, and this appears to be a bandaid to help them through a particularly rough spot. And that’s ok! But if they pretended just a little more, this maybe could’ve been a bigger deal.
JUSTICE LEAGUE: ENDLESS WINTER #1
written by ANDY LANNING and RON MARZ
art by HOWARD PORTER
backup story art by MARCO SANTUCCI
cover by MIKEL JANÍN
card stock variant cover by DANIEL WARREN JOHNSON
ON SALE 12/1/20
$4.99 US | 40 PAGES | 1 OF 2 | FC | DC
CARD STOCK COVER $5.99
“Endless Winter” chapter one! The crossover event of the season begins here! The Justice League encounters an extinction-level global storm brewing at the former site of the Fortress of Solitude. Enter the Frost King, a monster mad with power with an army at his command! What devastating mystery lies in his past? And how does he tied to Queen Hippolyta, Swamp Thing, Viking Prince, and their reluctant ally, Black Adam? Two timelines will reveal further clues and secrets throughout each chapter of this blockbuster tale!
4. 5G, by any other name, is still Generations or something
The 5G initiative at DC, or whatever it was actually called, never got off the ground, but we’ve seen bits and pieces of it trickle out in anthologies, in teases (like next month’s ‘Future State’) and in this solicit, where we get what is clearly a piece of that concept. It’s hard to say exactly what all of this will look like when it is done, but on one hand, I’m glad to see this work see release. On the other, how fucking weird is all of this going to be?
Continued belowGENERATIONS SHATTERED #1
written by DAN JURGENS, ANDY SCHMIDT, and ROBERT VENDITTI
art by IVAN REIS, BRYAN HITCH, KEVIN NOWLAN, AARON LOPRESTI, FERNANDO PASARIN, PAUL PELLETIER, and others
cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO
card stock variant cover by LEE BERMEJO
PRESTIGE FORMAT
ONE SHOT | ON SALE 1/5/21
$9.99 US | 80 PAGES | FC | DC
A threat of cosmic proportion to DC’s newest (and oldest) universe compels one of the most unusual groups of heroes ever assembled to take on the most mysterious foe they have ever encountered. What started in Detective Comics #1027 explodes out of Dark Nights: Death Metal to tell the story of the generations-spanning history of the DC Universe! Join the original Batman, Kamandi, Starfire, Sinestro, Booster Gold, Dr. Light, Steel, and Sinestro in their quest to save the universe before time runs out…
3. Return of the Waid
Buried four names deep in one of the never ending ‘Death Metal’ tie-ins is a name that some readers have been hoping to see in a new DC solicitation for a long time: Mark Waid. Waid left DC after Dan DiDio, reportedly, offered him “Action Comics” before quickly rescinding it. He vowed to never work for DC again, but most folks read that as “never work for Dan DiDio again.” Well, DiDio is gone, so welcome back Mark Waid! With Bendis leaving the Superman books (more on that later), could Waid’s lifelong dream finally be coming true? Time will tell.
DARK NIGHTS: DEATH METAL: THE LAST STORIES OF THE DC UNIVERSE #1
written by SCOTT SNYDER, JAMES TYNION IV, JOSHUA WILLIAMSON, MARK WAID, GAIL SIMONE, MARIKO TAMAKI, JEFF LEMIRE, CECIL CASTELLUCCI, and CHRISTOPHER SEBELA
art by FRANCIS MANAPUL and others
cover by TULA LOTAY
variant cover by GARY FRANK
PRESTIGE FORMAT | ONE SHOT | ON SALE 12/8/20
$8.99 US | 80 PAGES | FC | DC
The last battle against the Batman Who Laughs is at hand…the final fight for everything in the universe. And while the night is usually darkest just before the dawn, what would be the last thing you’d do if you weren’t sure the dawn would ever arrive? Join our heroes in their waning hours as we show their journeys through what could be their final moments…heroes
that have fought a million times before, but are keenly aware this could be their endgame. These are the stolen moments detailing the last stories of the DC Universe.
2. For the first time solo!
Jinny Hex is a character that Brian Bendis created for “Young Justice,” a descendent of Jonah Hex’s who carries a trunk full of, well, something magical, with her at all times. It’s exciting to see this character get a one-shot, especially under the pen of Mags Visaggio. Visaggio, whose “Eternity Girl” is one of the best DC miniseries of the 21st century, is very excited about this one-shot, and implied that if this does well, there may be more Jinny Hex in her future. Let’s make that happen.
JINNY HEX SPECIAL #1
written by MAGDALENE VISAGGIO
art by GLEB MELNIKOV
cover by NICK DERINGTON
1:25 card stock Jinny Hex variant cover by NICK DERINGTON
ONE SHOT | ON SALE 12/29/20
$4.99 US | 48 PAGES | FC | DC
CARD STOCK VARIANT COVER $5.99 US
NEW-VILLAIN ALERT: THREE-EYED JACK!
Jinny Hex stars- in her first solo adventure—and she’s ready and raring to go! Bursting out of the pages of Young Justice, this fan-favorite gal is heading back home to take care of some unfinished business! Hoping to take some time off from Multiverse conflict, Jinny reconnects with some old friends and family. But that all goes out the window when a new foe called Three-Eyed Jack transports her town back to the Old West. Now it’s up to Jinny to face off with this super-powered gunslinger and save her town! But Jinny’s about to learn that some threats are closer to her heart than expected.
1. The end of the Bendis era of Superman
Some people are predicting that Bendis leaving the super-titles means that he’s leaving DC. He’s denied that to yours truly, though this exit does seem a little abrupt. Personally, I believe that he’s not done with the character, and will be doing either a “Justice League” title, or a Super-family event. But that doesn’t change the fact that this run is ending. And while it has felt a little long in places, it has been a fantastically solid run across two titles. I hope that this is just the first chapter in a long book of Bendis at DC.
ACTION COMICS #1028
written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
art and cover by JOHN ROMITA JR. and KLAUS JANSON
card stock variant cover by RAFAEL GRAMPÁ
ON SALE 12/22/20
$3.99 US | 32 PAGES | FC | DC
CARD STOCK VARIANT COVER $4.99 US
The powerhouse creative team of Brian Michael Bendis, John Romita Jr., and Klaus Janson wrap up their run on Action Comics with “House of Kent: Epilogue”! With the final fate of Metropolis’s underworld revealed at last, it’s time for each member of the House of Kent to face their unknown futures head on, including Lois, Conner, Jon, Kara, Jimmy, and, of course, Clark Kent! This standalone Superman story connects threads from Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen, Lois Lane, Superman, Justice League, Legion of Super-Heroes, and other unforgettable series in epic—and unexpected—ways!
For the full solicitations, check out Newsarama.
