As the end of the year approaches, DC is also wrapping up its “Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths” event, but there doesn’t appear to be an immediate status quo shift, the way that there was after, say “Dark Nights: Death Metal.” However, there is a lot happening and changing come the end of the year. Let’s get to it.
10. Putting a stake in the heart of this line
While there is absolutely a place for stories like “DC vs Vampires,” I’m not sure there was a place for a 12-issue maxi-series plus a supplemental six issue mini series. There’s just not enough here to justify 18 issues worth of story. That said, there is absolutely an audience for this sort of book, and hopefully this book scratched an itch for them.
DC VS. VAMPIRES #12
Written by MATTHEW ROSENBERG and JAMES TYNION IV
Art by OTTO SCHMIDT
Cover by GUILLEM MARCH
Variant cover by NATHAN SZERDY
1:25 variant cover by FILYA BRATUKHIN
$3.99 US | 32 pages | 12 of 12 | Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 12/27/22
The cataclysmic final issue of the bestselling series will end with a bang and a whimper! Green Arrow will lead humanity’s final charge from the blood mines of Smallville. Supergirl’s mission to get off-world comes to an explosive end. And it’s Batgirl versus Nightwing for the fate of the entire planet—the stakes couldn’t be higher as the future of humankind is on the line!
9. The battle of the flowing capes resumes
For folks younger than yours truly, I’m not sure I can properly state how big of a deal “Spawn” was at one point. Todd McFarlane’s creation was bigger than comics for a bit, with a film, an HBO animated series, and a buzz about the book representing the ‘future’ of comics. While that pedigree may never have been fully realized, “Spawn” is still an important book for a lot of reasons, and is the only ‘original’ Image character, save maybe the Savage Dragon, for whom a crossover with a DC property would still be newsworthy. The fact that Greg Capullo, an iconic artist for both halves of this crossover, is drawing the book adds to the intrigue. If nothing else, this book will look great.
BATMAN/SPAWN #1
Written by TODD McFARLANE
Art and cover by GREG CAPULLO
Variant covers by TODD McFARLANE, GABRIELE DELL’OTTO, SEAN MURPHY, FRANCESCO MATTINA, J. SCOTT CAMPBELL and JIM LEE
Blank sketch cover
Team variant cover by GREG CAPULLO and TODD McFARLANE
1:25 variant cover by JOSHUA MIDDLETON
1:50 variant cover by BRETT BOOTH
1:100 variant cover by JIM LEE
1:250 variant cover by TODD McFARLANE INKED
1:666 signed variant cover by TODD McFARLANE
1:666 signed variant cover by GREG CAPULLO
1:1000 signed variant cover by TODD McFARLANE and GREG CAPULLO
$6.99 US | 48 pages | Prestige | One-shot (all covers are card stock)
ON SALE 12/13/22
Two dark heroes, cursed by tragedy, find their paths again crossing…but not by choice! What sinister foe is at work, pitting the Dark Knight against the Hellspawn? From the shadows of Gotham City to New York City, this epic event is the blockbuster you’ve been waiting almost two decades for!
8. Pouring one out for a real one
It is amazing that “Batman: Urban Legends” lasted almost two years, and I don’t say that because of the quality of the book. The book has remained quite good, but the anthology is one of the most underused delivery systems for mainstream comics. This book has done a lot of work bringing characters like Duke Thomas, Jason Todd, Azrael, and more into the spotlight for a few issues, as well as giving creators short-term projects on less marquee characters, such as Chris Burnham telling an Alfred detective tale. The book should be the model for the bigger families of DC and Marvel, but it is sadly closing its doors.
Continued belowBATMAN: URBAN LEGENDS #23
Written by JAMAL CAMPBELL, JOEY ESPOSITO, DENNIS CULVER, and KENNY PORTER
Art by JAMAL CAMPBELL, VASCO GEORGIEV, HAYDEN SHERMAN, and SIMONE DI MEO
Cover by NIKOLA ČIŽMEŠIJA
Variant cover by JAMAL CAMPBELL
Variant cover by CULLY HAMNER
$7.99 US | 64 pages | Prestige
(all covers are card stock)
ON SALE 1/10/23
The final issue of the landmark anthology series is here! Jamal Campbell’s epic Nightwing two-parter draws to a close. Batman has to defeat the Time Commander to get the Waynes back to their time. The first graduating class of Arkham Academy decides their fate and future course! And in a flashback story to the beginning of Dick Grayson’s tenure as Robin, he has to save Batman’s life. FINAL ISSUE.
7. Hit ’em with infinite heins
With a new creative team starting in January, this sees the end of Stephanie Phillips’s two-year run on the character, and they’re celebrating the end of the run by putting Harley through the multiversal lens. While Harley can grow stale quickly, I’ve really enjoyed Phillips’s take on the character and supporting cast, and I’m glad to see the run going out with a bang.
HARLEY QUINN #25
Written by STEPHANIE PHILLIPS
Art by MATTEO LOLLI
Cover by JONBOY MEYERS
Variant cover by FRANCESCO MATTINA
1:25 variant cover by JENNY FRISON
1:50 variant cover by EJIKURE
Holiday variant cover by CHRIS BURNHAM
$4.99 US | 40 pages | Variant $5.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 12/27/22
There can be only one Harley Quinn…or, ya know, maybe like 100? The Multiverse is a strange place. Old Lady Harley, Harley Who Laughs, Harley who joined a bowling league in Indiana for the free chicken wings…we’ve got the whole gang together and we’re ready to put the fun in this Multiversal murder mystery, and maybe also cause more murder with a side of mayhem. Join the team for an epic 25th issue of Harley Quinn!
6. The clock is ticking
The idea of a ’60 second war’ in the pages of “The Flash” is a really fun one, and I’m glad to see Jeremy Adams continue to use the entire Flash family in this title. With the book now double shipping, it’s going to be interesting to see if that is a ‘permanent’ move, or just one for the duration of this arc, much like how “Detective Comics” was double shipping a few months ago.
THE FLASH #790
Written by JEREMY ADAMS
Art by ROGER CRUZ
Cover by TAURIN CLARKE
Variant covers by DANIEL BAYLISS and IBRAHIM MOUSTAFA
1:25 variant cover by TAURIN CLARKE
1:50 foil variant cover by TAURIN CLARKE
$3.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 1/3/23
As any super-speedster worth their salt will tell you, time can move pretty slow for the incredibly fast. So what happens when an entire armada of conquering speedster aliens shows up on Earth’s doorstep? The most intense battle the Earth has ever waged in the span of 60 seconds begins!
5. Danger is my street’s middle name
Longtime readers of this column know my distrust of Tom King books by now, but the cockles of my old, grinchy heart are warmed by a book starring Starman, Metamorpho, and Warlord. This doesn’t look as bleak and nihilistic as King’s work has tended to be, so here’s hoping that this book may have some – dare I say? – fun in it.
Continued belowDANGER STREET #1
Written by TOM KING
Art and cover by JORGE FORNÉS
Variant cover by STEVE RUDE
1:25 variant cover by LEE WEEKS
1:50 variant cover by BEN OLIVER
$4.99 US | 40 pages | 1 of 12 |
Variant $5.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 12/13/22
Joining the Justice League is a goal for any superhero, but what happens when a quest for membership takes a sinister turn? Join Starman, Metamorpho, and Warlord as they look to prove themselves worthy by summoning and defeating Darkseid in battle. Soon they’ll learn that calling upon a New God never ends well, and their world is headed for a crisis as a result!
The journey to save the day will be a treacherous one filled with princesses, knights, and all kinds of monsters. Each person the heroes encounter plays a crucial role in this sprawling yet gripping narrative that is a little bit silly, a whole lot dark, and completely cool. Expect the unexpected with a supporting cast featuring Manhunter, Lady Copy, the Green Team, and the Creeper!
Inspired by the heroes and villains of 1st Issue Special, Tom King and Jorge Fornés (Rorschach) return for an unforgettable maxiseries that reimagines these characters and their stories. A multi-character, multilayered crime drama starring some of DC’s most obscure creations. No one will see it coming, but everyone will want to see where it goes!
4. The micro-milestone
I know that DC is always looking for reasons to jack up the cover price on a book, but making every 50 issues a cause for celebration seems a little cheap. The two exceptions to this are “Action Comics” and “Detective Comics.” Once you get over 1000 issues, celebrate whenever you want to.
What is interesting about this title is that it looks to be a capstone to the past few years of stories, it also promises a look into the future, and it does so with the two current Superman scribes – Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Tom Taylor – as well as the architect of “Dark Crisis,” Joshua Williamson. Is this a hint at Williamson taking over a Super book, or is this just so “Dark Crisis” focused that it made sense for Williamson to write a piece of it? We’ll find out two days after Christmas.
ACTION COMICS #1050
Written by PHILLIP KENNEDY JOHNSON, TOM TAYLOR, and JOSHUA WILLIAMSON
Art by MIKE PERKINS, CLAYTON HENRY, and NICK DRAGOTTA
Cover by STEVE BEACH
Variant covers by JIM LEE, ALEX ROSS, MEGAN HUANG, CRYSTAL KUNG, LEE WEEKS, JOHN GIANG, RAHZZAH, GABRIELE DELL’OTTO, MIKE PERKINS, RILEY ROSSMO, DAN PARENT, STEVE LIEBER, SIMONE DI MEO, PAMELA HOOGEBOOM, NATHAN SZERDY, and RAFAEL SARMENTO
1:25 variant cover by JONBOY MEYERS
1:50 variant cover by AL BARRIONUEVO
1:75 wraparound variant cover by ALEXANDER LOZANO
1:100 variant cover by STEVE RUDE
1:250 variant cover by MICHAEL ALLRED
1:500 variant cover by ARIEL COLÓN
1:1050 inks variant cover by JIM LEE
Foil variant cover by ALEX ROSS
Team trading card variant cover by VARIOUS
DC Holiday Card variant cover by JIM LEE, SCOTT WILLIAMS, and ALEX SINCLAIR
$5.99 US | 48 pages | Variant $6.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 12/27/22
The Dark Crisis is over, and a new dawn shines on the DCU! In the wake of cataclysmic battles with Mongul, Henry Bendix, and Pariah’s Dark Army, Kal-El is back on Earth and here to stay. And the people of our planet are ready to look up, up, and away into a brighter tomorrow. Well…most of the people. Clark Kent’s reunion with Lois and his son, Jon Kent, proves fleeting when strikes the ultimate attack from Superman’s greatest adversary: Lex Luthor. But this time something is different…Luthor has stolen something from Clark’s life, something so important that it will change the very planet itself! If you think you’ve seen the biggest battle between Superman and Lex Luthor—think again! This clash will rock the course of their lives forever…and it’s only the beginning.
Two years’ worth of Superman stories come to a head in this oversize anniversary issue with all-star talent that launches Superman and the DCU into an exciting new era!
3. You can be anything you want, even after you die
DC’s handling of the “Sandman” universe has been weird and smudgy, with books starting and stopping, and the overarching narrative, if there even is one any more, being a little muddled, especially as there isn’t, well, a “Sandman” title. But “Dead Boy Detectives” is one of the most celebrated pieces of “Sandman” related books, and seeing Pornsak Pichetshote, who has been doing great work over the past few years, get the nod to write this is a good sign. Plus, Jeff Stokely’s art will likely be worth the price of admission.
That said? I’m still not as all-in on this line as I expected to be.
Continued belowTHE SANDMAN UNIVERSE: DEAD BOY DETECTIVES #1
Written by PORNSAK PICHETSHOTE
Art by JEFF STOKELY
Cover by NIMIT MALAVIA
Variant cover by ALEX ECKMAN-LAWN
Variant cover by TYLER CROOK
1:25 variant cover by FILIPE ANDRADE
1:50 variant cover by YOSHITAKA AMANO
$3.99 US | 32 pages | 1 of 6 |
Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 12/27/22
The Sandman Universe grows as two of its most beloved characters return to the spotlight! Charles Rowland and Edwin Paine have been detectives for decades—and dead best friends even longer. But their investigation into a Thai American girl’s disappearance from her Los Angeles home puts them on a collision course with new and terrifying ghosts that could give even a dead boy nightmares—including a bloodthirsty krasue. Even scarier than the ghosts? Though neither wants to admit it, the boys might be growing apart. And perilously close by to the boys’ adventure, Thessaly the witch finds herself held hostage by dangerous magics—both a threat to her life and an insult to her ego that simply will not go unanswered…
Eisner Award-winning writer Pornsak Pichetshote (The Good Asian, Infidel) is joined by celebrated artist Jeff Stokely to take the Dead Boys to the scariest place of all: the heart of Hollywood!
2. Listen up, True Believers
It is wild – wild – to me that DC is rolling out the red carpet for Stan Lee’s centennial. This is even stranger than when DC made a bigger deal of Jack Kirby’s 100th birthday than Marvel did, because Kirby has important DC roots. Stan Lee did one batch of poorly received miniseries based on him remixing DC’s biggest characters. It’s wild, but it is also great. The multiverse allows all of this stuff to live forever, and so why not revisit these bizarre, half-baked concepts? Plus, look at the artists: Lee Weeks, Kevin Maguire, Jerry Ordway, Juan Ferreyra, Hayden Sherman! Come one now!
TALES FROM EARTH-6: A CELEBRATION OF STAN LEE #1
Written by MICHAEL USLAN, MARK WAID, JERRY ORDWAY, KENNY PORTER, STEPHANIE WILLIAMS, MICHAEL W. CONRAD, BECKY CLOONAN, COLLIN KELLY, JACKSON LANZING, STEVE ORLANDO, ZAC THOMPSON, and MEGHAN FITZMARTIN
Art by LEE WEEKS, KEVIN MAGUIRE, JERRY ORDWAY, KARL MOSTERT, JUAN FERREYRA, ANTHONY MARQUES, PABLO M COLLAR, MAX DUNBAR, and HAYDEN SHERMAN
Cover by JIM CHEUNG
Batman variant cover by STEVE BEACH
Justice League variant cover by RILEY ROSSMO
Green Lantern variant cover by JASON HOWARD
Sandman variant cover by KELLEY JONES
Superman variant cover by ARIEL COLON
Shazam variant cover by KYLE HOTZ
Flash variant cover by CHRISTIAN WARD
Wonder Woman variant cover by CLAYTON HENRY
Aquaman variant cover by JORGE CORONA
Catwoman variant cover by DAN PANOSIAN
1:25 variant cover by CULLY HAMNER
$9.99 US | 96 pages | Prestige | One-shot (all covers are card stock)
ON SALE 12/27/22
Over 20 years ago, Stan Lee reimagined the entire DC Universe. A criminal turned nocturnal warrior for justice, a champion from the Brazilian Amazon, an intergalactic lawman, and more sprang to existence from Stan’s mind with the help of Michael Uslan. To celebrate the legendary comic book icon’s 100th birthday, dive into 10 new adventures featuring his version of the DC Universe! Batman faces down a villainous new threat, the Choker! Green Lantern digs deep when Nekron arrives to consume the World Tree! The Justice League teams up with a familiar face in order to save the day! Shazam ventures into a top-secret facility to face off against a mind-blowing (and brain-burgling) enemy! The Flash uses her time-bending speed abilities to attempt to reverse the tragedies of her past, but may rob herself of her powers in the process! Chaos ensues when Wonder Woman becomes the editor of the National Exposer!
1. [Barenaked Ladies plays]
The words “DC architect Mark Waid” should be music to any DC fan out there, and giving Waid the keys to the newly resurrected ‘infinite multiverse’ is just the best. Plus, this gives DC a chance to make all of their new miniseries, like “Jurassic League” canon in one way or another. Do I think anything super meaningful will come from this title? Maybe not, but to see Waid have fun with all of these toys, with Dan Jurgens art to boot, Christmas is coming twelve days early this year.
DARK CRISIS: BIG BANG #1
Written by MARK WAID
Art by DAN JURGENS and others
Cover by MIKEL JANÍN
Variant covers by ARIEL COLÓN, NATHAN SZERDY, FREDDIE E. WILLIAMS II, and CRYSTAL KUNG
1:25 foil variant cover by MIKEL JANÍN
$3.99 US | 32 pages | One-shot | Variant
$4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 12/13/22
After the monumental events of Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths #4, Pariah has successfully resurrected the infinite Multiverse…and all of reality is still reeling from the event. Join Doctor Multiverse on a haunting journey through these newly re-formed realities, from The Jurassic League to DC: Mech…from Dark Knights of Steel to Batman ’89 and back again…in a guest-star-galore all-new epic by comics legend and DC architect Mark Waid!
To see the full solicits, check out Newsarama.
