At this point in July, we aren’t quite at “Metal” yet, we’re inching towards the Justice League film, and we may or may not be any closer to unpacking this whole “Watchmen” debacle yet, but I can say this: there are some damn fine comics coming from DC that month.
10. You Need Dick
“Grayson” remains one of the top 5 or so New 52 books, and it was the coming out party for Tim Seeley, Tom King, and Mikal Janin, all of who saw their critical stock rise considerably after the book took off. Now, you can have their entire run in one handy package, even if that package is likely to give you a hernia from lifting it, at nearly 800 pages.
GRAYSON: THE SUPERSPY OMNIBUS HC
Written by TOM KING, TIM SEELEY and others
Art by MIKEL JANIN, STEPHEN MOONEY, CARMINE DI GIANDOMENICO, ROGE ANTONIO and others
Cover by MIKEL JANIN
Collects all of Dick Grayson’s adventures as Agent 37 for the spy organization known as Spyral! Faking his death, and entering a game of cat and mouse, Dick must take down Spyral from the inside in order to save his loved ones. This omnibus edition collects GRAYSON #1-20, SECRET ORIGINS #8, GRAYSON ANNUAL #1-3, GRAYSON: FUTURE’S END #1, ROBIN WAR #1-2 and NIGHTWING: REBIRTH #1, with appearances by Batman, Superman and more!
On sale OCTOBER 18 • 792 pg, FC, $99.99 US
9. Pure speculation
So every month, I try to read DC’s tea leaves with their advance solicitations of trades and collections. This month, they’re publishing a Wonder Girl, aka Cassie Sandsmark, collection, which is a little odd, as we haven’t seen her in quite some time. I’ve been saying for awhile now that there needs to be a book for her ‘generation’ of Teen Titans, for folks like Tim Drake, Kon-El, Miss Martian, etc, probably published under the “Young Justice” title. If that’s the case, maybe this is the precursor to that? Time will tell.
WONDER GIRL: ADVENTURES OF A TEEN TITAN TP
Written by ROBERT KANIGHER, BRUNO PREMIANI, JOHN BYRNE and others
Art by ROSS ANDRU, BOB HANEY, NEAL ADAMS, JOHN BYRNE and others
Cover by NICOLA SCOTT and DOUG HAZLEWOOD
The adventures of Wonder Girl are collected for the first time! These stories include appearances by Wonder Woman, the Teen Titans and more from the pages of WONDER WOMAN #105 (1959), THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #60, TEEN TITANS #22, ADVENTURE COMICS #461, WONDER WOMAN #105 and 113, WONDER WOMAN: DONNA TROY #1 and WONDER GIRL #1.
On sale AUGUST 30 • 168 pg, FC, $14.99 US
8. Bless the saints, it isn’t Brett Booth!
“Titans” has been really hampered by Brett Booth’s artwork; I’m not trying to pick on the guy, but I really feel he is the wrong choice for the book for a number of reasons (rubbery pizza aside). V. Ken Marion isn’t exactly my first choice (where you at, Lee Weeks?), but to see someone other than Booth on the book, especially after Kenneth Rocafort did #11, means that maybe, just maybe, we’ll get a new regular artist soon. Come on, Lee Weeks!
TITANS #13
Written by DAN ABNETT
Art by V KEN MARION and NORM RAPMUND
Cover by KENNETH ROCAFORT
Variant cover by DAN MORA
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.
“JUDAS AMONG US”! As Omen begins her investigation into the identity of the team’s traitor, the Titans launch a full assault on H.I.V.E., who they believe hold the key to restoring Bumblebee’s broken mind. Meanwhile, tensions rise when Roy discovers Wally and Donna’s blossoming romance—which threatens to tear the Titans apart!
On sale JULY 12 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
7. Bogdanovic switching Super books
This book has two things going for it – first of all, I love seeing the extended Super family fighting together, but more importantly for our discussion, it sees Viktor Bogdanovic of “New Super-Man” jumping over to “Action” for a bit. Bogdanovic has been truly great on the adventures of Kenan Kong and the Justice League of China, and I’m interested to see how his style survives being Jurgens’d.
Continued belowACTION COMICS #983
Written by DAN JURGENS
Art by VIKTOR BOGDANOVIC and JONATHAN GLAPION
Cover by CLAY MANN
Variant cover by GARY FRANK
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for details.
“REVENGE” part one! A beaten and battered Superman can barely hold his own against the revenge squad of his greatest foes—but hope rushes from the horizon as the Superman family arrives!
On sale JULY 12 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
6. There’s a party going on around here. A celebration of WildStorm’s 25 years
A number of the classic WildStorm creators are returning to the projects that, in many ways, broke them into the industry for this hardcover collection of new stories, pinups, and more. While I can’t claim to be the world’s biggest WildStorm fan (like many lines/companies, I pick and choose), it is cool and exciting to see so many people returning to their roots for a book like this. For much of the 21st century, DC has run from its history, but it seems Rebirth is changing all of that, and that’s a very good thing.
WILDSTORM: A CELEBRATION OF 25 YEARS HC
Written by BRANDON CHOI, J. SCOTT CAMPBELL, WARREN ELLIS, CHRISTOS GAGE and others
Art by JIM LEE, SCOTT WILLIAMS, J. SCOTT CAMPBELL, BRYAN HITCH, PAUL NEARY, DUSTIN NGUYEN, BRETT BOOTH and others
Cover by JIM LEE and SCOTT WILLIAMS
In 1992 Jim Lee changed the course of comics history with the founding of WildStorm Productions, which would revolutionize the business and launch the careers of so many top creators. Now, the WS crew is back to celebrate 25 years of WildStorm with new short stories of the imprint’s greatest heroes by their classic creative teams, including WildC.A.T.s by Brandon Choi and Jim Lee; the Authority by Warren Ellis and Bryan Hitch; Gen13 by J. Scott Campbell; WildCats by Christos Gage and Dustin Nguyen; Backlash by Brett Booth, and more!
This new hardcover also includes a massive pinup gallery featuring new art by WS alumni including John Cassaday, Tim Sale, Adam Hughes, Carlos D’Anda, Adam Warren, Tony Harris, Lee Bermejo, Ryan Benjamin, Neil Googe, Fiona Staples, Cully Hamner and more, plus behind-the-scenes material that will blow your mind, and epic reprints of some of WildStorm’s greatest stories! This new hardcover is a must-have for old fans and new readers alike!
On sale AUGUST 23 • 240 pg, FC, $29.99 US
5. Roooooooad Trip!
I’ve mentioned this on the DC3cast before, but the nice part of double shipping, if such a thing exists, is that there can be these little detours from the ‘main’ story in some of these books, and it doesn’t really impact the book, but it does allow for some fun adventures that help fill out the characters a bit. The Kents going on a road trip falls squarely into that category, and I love it.
SUPERMAN #26
Written by PETER J. TOMASI and PATRICK GLEASON
Art by SCOTT GODLEWSKI
Cover LEE WEEKS
Variant cover by JORGE JIMENEZ
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for details.
“ROAD TRIP” part one! It’s been an emotional and physical rollercoaster for Superman, Lois, and Jon: the Eradicator, Dinosaur Island, Frankenstein and the Bride, Multiversity, Reborn and Black Dawn—a barrage of terror and horror! What does the family need right now? Yep, you got it…a vacation!
On sale JULY 5 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
4. A welcome return
I never read the original “American Way,” because I’m a bad comics fan, but everyone I know who has absolutely adores the book. Seeing DC go back to the original creative team for a sequel feels less like cashing in (because the original book was successful, but not a smash), and feels more like legitimately wanting a new story set in this world.
Continued belowAMERICAN WAY: THOSE ABOVE AND THOSE BELOW #1
Written by JOHN RIDLEY
Art and cover by GEORGES JEANTY
It’s been a decade since the Civil Defense Corps was exposed as a fraud created by the U.S. Government for propaganda purposes. While most of the heroes who survived the catastrophe have retired or disappeared, the New American still carries on, trying to keep communities safe amid the social turmoil of the 1970s. But with the nation split in two over civil rights and the changing political landscape, this isn’t easy. Some of the American’s former colleagues are on opposite sides of the law: Amber Waves joined a group of domestic terrorists, while Missy, a.k.a. Ole Miss, has thrown her hat into the political ring. As the ground shifts beneath his feet and new threats arise, which side will the American choose?
This sequel to the hit miniseries by the original team of writer John Ridley (Oscar-winning screenwriter of 12 Years a Slave and creator of TV’s American Crime) and artist Georges Jeanty (Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season Eight, Serenity: No Power in the ‘Verse) moves the story forward in history, factoring in how real-life events might be affected by the presence of superheroes, and how those events change the heroes in turn.
On sale JULY 5 • 32 pg, FC, 1 of 6, $3.99 US • MATURE READERS
3. Digital-first talent (finally) moving over to ‘Rebirth
Shea Fontana and Mirka Andolfo have been doing amazing work for DC over on some digital first titles (“DC Super Hero Girls” and “DC Comics Bombshells,” respectively), so it is great to see DC give them a chance on the main “Wonder Woman” book for a bit. Fontana is writing five issues, and I’m not sure how many Andolfo is drawing, but I’m very excited about this for a few reasons. The first is giving two women the chance to tell Diana’s stories is a long overdue development in ‘Rebirth,’ but another is that they are creators who have done work on female-driven books before. While I’m in the target demo for neither of their digital first books, I thoroughly enjoy each. “Bombshells” might be one of the five or six best DC books over the past 2-3 years, and my five year old adores the “Super Hero Girls” books.
This is what DC should be doing more often – taking risk by elevating some of their newer talent instead of sticking a ‘name’ on everything.
WONDER WOMAN #26
Written by SHEA FONTANA
Art by MIRKA ANDOLFO
Cover by JESUS MERINO
Variant cover by JENNY FRISON
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for details.
“HEART OF THE AMAZON” part one! Writer Shea Fontana (DC SUPER HERO GIRLS) steps in for a new story! Wonder Woman finally takes a moment to catch her breath and attend a friend’s wedding…but unfortunately, horror’s followed her even there!
On sale JULY 12 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • FC • RATED T
2. God DAMN that team looks dope
There were rumors that Christopher Priest was leaving “Deathstroke,” and my heart hurt. Those turned out to be false, and it turns out that he is leading his own team that dresses like “Uncanny X-Force,” and my heart swelled with joy. This looks amazing, and will help ease the sting of the book dropping from twice monthly down to monthly. Diogenes Neves is a great fit for the book, and the team itself is a diverse, fun, weird one that I can’t wait to dig into.
DEATHSTROKE #21
Written by CHRISTOPHER PRIEST
Art by DIOGENES NEVES
Cover by RYAN SOOK
Variant cover by SHANE DAVIS
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.
“DEFIANCE” part one! A new day has dawned for Deathstroke. Having emerged from the Speed Force a changed man, Slade Wilson takes aim at living a better life—a life in service of justice. But when the world refuses to accept the new Deathstroke, Slade recruits a group of young heroes to join him including including former Teen Titans, Kid Flash and Power Girl, his children, Rose and Jericho, and the bombastic Terra! But has Slade truly shed his villainous past? And what other shadowy forces are working against him? Find out as Deathstroke’s bold new direction begins here!
On sale JULY 5 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T+
1. We live in the best of all possible worlds
What a weird and wonderful situation that leads to this book: we get a 1960s TV-inspired Legion of Super-Heroes, we get Egghead in a comic, and we get the Allreds working on it. This is, perhaps, the boldest ’66 title thus far (unsurprisingly, it is also the shortest, at just a one-shot), but it really opens up the possibilities of what the property can morph into. The series is done, the crossovers with Wonder Woman ’77, the Green Hornet, and the Man from U.N.C.L.E. are over, so why not dig more into DC’s bag of tricks?
I’m really hoping that we can get a series of one-shots with more characters given the ’66 treatmen. I’d love to see Batman and Robin team up with the Denny O’Neil era Green Lantern and Green Arrow, or a Superman ’52 (Adventures of Superman TV series) crossover. Go nuts DC, you’ve got my permission.
Continued belowBATMAN ’66/LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #1
Written by LEE ALLRED
Art and cover by MICHAEL ALLRED
In pursuit of the time-traveling criminal known as Universo, the super-powered kids from the 30th century travel back to the 1960s to enlist the aid of the “greatest teen superhero ever”—Robin, the Boy Wonder! But Batman’s hard-boiled nemesis Egghead has stolen one of their unattended time bubbles and taken off to the Legion’s own time period. Looks like Batman has to head to the far-flung future with one group of heroes while Robin stays in the swinging sixties with another. Holy time-travel paradox!
One-shot • On sale JULY 19 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED E
You can check out the full solicitations at Newsarama.
