Scott Snyder had said a few weeks ago on Twitter that the solicits for June, July, and August would all be ‘huge’ for DC. His words are correct, at least for June. This doesn’t even cover the Hanna-Barbera crossovers, the Batman wedding preludes, Christopher Sebela doing some “Harley Quinn” issues, Hope Larson being off “Batgirl” (at least for a month), or the “Superman: Blue” collection that belongs on every self-respecting fan of weird costumes. Let’s dig in!
10. The New 52est of the New 52 gets an ominibus
One of the things that I pride the DC3cast on is our ability to change our minds. There is no better example of this than the amount that we truly enjoy the current, ‘Rebirth’ era, “Red Hood and the Outlaws” run by Scott Lobdell and Dexter Soy. Because I can’t think of a comic I disliked more in the New 52 than “Red Hood and the Outlaws” by Scott Lobdell and Kenneth Rocafort. I love Rocafort’s art, but Lobdell’s book was the absolute worst of the New 52: oversexed and needlessly violent, messing with continuity for no real reason.
But obviously my view was not held by the masses, as the first half of this run is getting a hardcover omnibus, with the implication that the there is a volume two on the way as well. I won’t be picking this up, but good for someone?
RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS: THE NEW 52 OMNIBUS VOL. 1 HC
Written by SCOTT LOBDELL, JAMES TYNION IV and others
Art by KENNETH ROCAFORT, TIMOTHY GREEN II, JULIUS GOPEZ, PASQUAL FERRY, BRETT BOOTH, TYLER KIRKHAM and others
Cover by TYLER KIRKHAM and MATT BANNING
Red Hood, Arsenal and Starfire join forces to battle everything from The Joker to space aliens to the League of Assassins. And when Jason and the team find out that Starfire is one of the most feared (and dangerous) commanders in all of space, their adventures head for the stars and beyond to help decide the fate of the throne of Tamaran. Collects Red Hood and the Outlaws #0-27, Teen Titans #16, Batman #17 and Red Hood and the Outlaws Annual #1.
On sale OCTOBER 10 • 736 pg, FC, $99.99 US
ISBN: 978-1-4012-8466-4
9. ‘The New Age of Heroes’ continues
I am a fan of both Steve Orlando and Ryan Sook, so the creative team on this book was enough to hook me no matter what. But the ‘New Age of Heroes’ has been a really weird line thus far, and I wasn’t exactly sold on another title from this line. But then, DC released this piece with Sook and Orlando talking about the book, and I suddenly took notice. I really enjoyed the discussion, and am now pretty excited about the title.
THE UNEXPECTED #1
Written by STEVE ORLANDO
Art by RYAN SOOK and CARY NORD • Cover by RYAN SOOK
In the aftermath of DARK NIGHTS: METAL, the DC Universe has been forever changed as new heroes are called out of the shadows. Amid this all is Janet Fals…Firebrand! Once a paramedic dedicated to saving lives, she must now start a fight once every 24 hours to feed the Conflict Engine that’s replaced her heart. But Janet’s heart isn’t just a curse—it’s a beacon, drawing out both the mysterious Neon the Unknown and the seductive, malevolent Bad Samaritan. One of them wants to cut out her heart, the other wants to save it—but neither of them knows the true danger hidden within that will kick off a superhero manhunt ranging from Thanagar to the deepest heart of the Dark Multiverse!
On sale JUNE 6 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US •
FOLDOUT COVER • RATED T
8. End of New Super-Man (again?)
It’s no secret that “New Super-Man” was supposed to wrap up at #18, but was given a stay of execution by the DC brass, and the book transitioned into “New Super-Man and the Justice League of China.” Well, as they are preparing for their ‘final mission,’ it looks like “New Super-Man” might not make it too much longer. This is, undoubtedly, a bummer, as this book has been a delight – something else I was initially wrong about – and deserves to continue. But getting 25ish issues today is nothing to sneeze at, and will make a nice omnibus on my shelf one day. I hope.
Continued belowNEW SUPER-MAN AND THE JUSTICE LEAGUE OF CHINA #24
Written by GENE LUEN YANG • Art by BRENT PEEPLES and MATT SANTORELLI • Cover by PHILIP TAN
Variant cover by BERNARD CHANG • Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for details.
“Fear the Future”! New Super-Man and the Justice League of China prepare for their final mission, and the fate of the Chinese metahuman future lies in the treacherous realm of ghosts! The team must enter the realm and confront their greatest fears to discover the path forward for their country—and help restore balance to the entire world in the process!
On sale JUNE 13 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
7. Wait, “Shade” is a miniseries?
One of the things that instantly caught my eye about this month’s solicitations was the unexpected designation that “Shade, the Changing Woman” is a six issue miniseries. None of the first three issues were solicited as such, but #4 clearly marks that. I am hoping this isn’t the case, because I want more of the Megan/Shade story, and because of all of the ‘New Animal’ books, this one (along with “Cave Carson”) seems like it has the best combination of a creative team that can produce things on time (sorry, “Doom Patrol!”) and a concept that can have legs in the overall DC multiverse (sorry, “Mother Panic: Gotham AD!”).
SHADE, THE CHANGING WOMAN #4
Written by CECIL CASTELLUCCI
Art by MARLEY ZARCONE
Backup story art by JAMIE COE
Cover by BECKY CLOONAN
After her homeworld was destroyed, Shade became a refugee on Meta, where her family was deemed unfit to raise her. Then two decades later, she was taken by Madness to Earth, where she was placed in another’s body and lived out the consequences of a life she never lived. In order to deal with these traumas, Shade buried her heart. Now new and old threats pursue her and her friends, but without a heart, can Shade even pretend to care about these outward horrors—let alone the ones she herself caused?
On sale JUNE 27 • 32 pg, FC, 4 of 6 • $3.99 US • MATURE READERS
6. Let’s pour one out for Bombshells
This got a passing mention last month, but this deserves a full entry here. “Bombshells” has been far more successful than any line of comics based off of statues has any right to be, and most of that credit goes to Marguerite Bennett and her frequent partner Marguerite Sauvage. They crafted a world that produced some of the most complete and satisfying stories of the past few years.
Taken together, the two volumes lasted 3 years and 50+ issues, and that is something to behold. I hope that this pairing gets a new book soon (*cough* Wonder Woman *cough*), so that they can continue their DC hot streak.
BOMBSHELLS UNITED #19
Written by MARGUERITE BENNETT
Art by ANEKE and MARGUERITE SAUVAGE
Cover by MARGUERITE SAUVAGE
In this final issue, the war—and the Bombshells—come to an end at last. With grief and with grace, the world is changed—forever.
On sale JUNE 6 • 32 pg, FC • $2.99 US • RATED T+ • DIGITAL FIRST • FINAL ISSUE
5. Eel-o, baaaaaaaaaby
We already covered this in some detail, but this has been a book that Gail Simone has been talking about for some time now. It’s nice to see her get a chance to tell this story, and to have the benefit of Plas being in “The Terrifics” right now to, hopefully, boost the audience for this. Plastic Man is a classic DC character that has had a rough…oh, 30 years? I feel like Simone, along with Jeff Lemire, have the ability to make him fit nicely into the ‘Rebirth’ era – let’s make it happen!
Continued belowPLASTIC MAN #1
Written by GAIL SIMONE • Art by ADRIANA MELO • Cover by AARON LOPRESTI • Variant cover by AMANDA CONNER
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for details.
Meet Eel O’Brian: a petty thug, thief and con artist who runs a strip club. Hey, he’s also dead, at least according to the gang that tossed him out like last week’s garbage. Literally. Don’t worry, though—he bounced back from all that, and now he’s trying to make a new life for himself, but the effort is stretching him pretty thin. How can he get revenge on his old boss, keep a street kid out of trouble, make a dancer fall in love with him and stop a mysterious society from taking over the world? Eel has no idea!
On sale JUNE 13 • 32 pg, FC, 1 of 6, $3.99 US • RATED T+
4. Bendis Begins
This issue marks the true start of the Brian Bendis era of Superman comics, after a piece in “Action Comics” #1000 and the prelude story in “DC Nation” #0. I am not the world’s biggest Bendis fan, but his start at DC has me intrigued. I’m a little worried about Lois and Jon, as they are mentioned as being ‘missing’ or in peril in just about all 6 solicits for this series.
I don’t think DC is dumb enough to let Bendis take them off the table, but I’m a nervous guy. I just hope that Bendis can continue to shine the spotlight on Superman as the cornerstone of the DCU, something DC tends to forget now and then.
THE MAN OF STEEL #1
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS • Art by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO • Cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO
Retailers: Includes a code for a free digital download of this issue.
A new era begins for Superman as a threat from his earliest origins reemerges to destroy the Last Son of Krypton. As Superman struggles to come to grips with what has happened to his wife and son, he must also face a new threat that’s determined to burn down Metropolis!
RETRO-SOLICITED • On sale MAY 30 • 32 pg, FC, 1 of 6, $3.99 US • RATED T
3. Please let this be good
When I wrote about this news, I highlighted the history of Hawkman as both a reason for his diminished popularity and his lack of use in many DC books. Here, I want to somewhat express my concern over the choice of writer. I hope that Venditti and Hitch do great work here – they are both capable of it. But Venditti’s DC run has not been particularly noteworthy for me. Hawkman is a character that has roots both in space and in ancient history which, as my pal Vince pointed out on the DC3cast, makes him sort of the X-O Manowar of the DC Universe. He said this as a joke, as Venditti wrote that Valiant title for 50 issues, but the point is a valid one. Venditti can do good work with this sort of character.
But his “Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps” has been a snoozefest, and I don’t think he’s added much, if anything, to the overall Lantern mythology, despite writing the characters for 5 years. That isn’t the type of voice that I think DC needs to revitalize one of their absolute classic characters. Here’s hoping the run is more “X-O” than “Hal.”
HAWKMAN #1
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI • Art and cover by BRYAN HITCH • Variant cover by STJEPAN SEJIC
Retailers: These issues will ship with two covers each. Please see the order form for details.
Spinning out of the events of DARK NIGHTS: METAL, Carter Hall returns to the DC Universe! An explorer of the ancient and unknown, Hawkman finds himself embroiled in a long-standing mission to discover the true purpose of his many reincarnations. Carter races around the globe trying to piece together an ancient prophecy, but will he be able to face down his past lives lurking around every corner?
On sale JUNE 13 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
2. Building the Outsiders in “Detective Comics”
Between the solicits, what Scott Snyder said at WonderCon, the Black Lightning TV series, and hints dropped in the preludes to “Dark Nights Metal,” it appears that Bryan Hill will be writing an “Outsiders” series later in 2018. This is the start of that, with Black Lightning training Duke and Cass. I love this idea, and I hope that DC brings back more classic Outsiders (specifically my boy Geo-Force) to round out the team.
Hill has been cutting his DC teeth on “The Wildstorm: Michael Cray,” but I’m excited to see what he does here. This also, wisely, gives a little breathing room between James Tynion’s “Detective” run and whoever is coming in for the next long run.
Continued belowDETECTIVE COMICS #982
Written by BRYAN HILL • Art by MIGUEL MENDONÇA • Cover by EDDY BARROWS • Variant cover by MARK BROOKS
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for details.
“On The Outside” part one! Duke Thomas. Cassandra Cain. They and other young heroes don’t intend to stand down, no matter what Batman thinks is best. Who can Batman trust to guide them? They need a teacher…and Black Lightning fits the bill!
On sale JUNE 13 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
1. New Justice
I’ve already written a lot of words about this new initiative, but it is super exciting to me. The connectivity described by Snyder is something I’ve longed for in DC books, but most especially in the team books. While there are some decisions I’m less enamored with (Adam Glass on “Teen Titans”), this has been super jazzed for these books.
Also, important to note: DC’s press release mentions that both “Justice League Dark” and “Justice League: Odyssey” will launch in June. The solicits don’t reflect that, but dang that’s a solid month if they do.
JUSTICE LEAGUE #1
Written by SCOTT SNYDER • Art by JIM CHEUNG and MARK MORALES • Cover by JIM CHEUNG • Variant cover by JIM LEE and SCOTT WILLIAMS • Blank variant cover available
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for details.
“THE TOTALITY” part one! A brand-new era begins here! Comics legends Scott Snyder and Jim Cheung launch the Justice League into a cosmos-shaking mystery that will draw out their most terrible foes…in ways our heroes couldn’t possibly imagine! In this debut issue, Martian Manhunter struggles to protect the team from an incoming threat that will shatter the world as they know it, while a familiar face strikes out on a dark path…
On sale JUNE 6 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T+
Check out the full solicitations over at Newsarama.
