July is the start of a great many things at DC – the Bendis era of “Action Comics,” four rejiggered team books, the endgame for a few major series’ creative teams, and more. This is a month we could’ve used 15 slots, but alas, here we are. Let’s dig in!
10. RIP “Future Quest” (Again)
I really can’t believe that “Future Quest Presents” got to 12 issues. That’s not a knock on the quality of the work at all, just a commentary on how the comics industry tends to reject things that aren’t in line with the rest of the status quo. An anthology book of largely forgotten Hanna-Barbera properties isn’t exactly a formula for mainstream comics success in 2018. But the book persevered longer than anyone thought, it’s going out with a couple of the most fun Hanna-Barbera characters in the spotlight, and with two creators who have done really nice work on this line in Jeff Parker and Mauricet on the final issue.
FUTURE QUEST PRESENTS #12
written by JEFF PARKER
art and cover by MAURICET
variant cover by CARLOS D’ANDA
We saved the biggest for last: a long-abandoned gene-splicing project created by Dr. Zin has been reactivated, and even the F.E.A.R. agents who brought it back to life can no longer stop it! Who can? How about Buzz Conroy and Frankenstein Jr.!
ON SALE 07.18.18
$3.99 US | 32 PAGES
FC | RATED T
FINAL ISSUE
9. Steve Orlando filling in
“Wonder Woman” under James Robinson has never really hit its stride, for a few reasons. The biggest one, for me, is that it has felt like Robinson finishing up other people’s stories, instead of telling his own. With #51, we have a Steve Orlando fill in issue, presumably before the next big creator starts in August or September. Orlando has commented that this will follow up on threads laid out by Shea Fontana in her run from 2017. While I enjoyed that run in the moment, I really wish Wonder Woman could be breaking some new ground, instead of just following up on stray threads for the last year plus.
WONDER WOMAN #51
written by STEVE ORLANDO
art by LAURA BRAGA
cover by STANLEY “ARTGERM” LAU
variant cover by JENNY FRISON
Then, is Man’s World ready for Wonder Woman to bring Amazonian justice to today’s society? Guest writer Steve Orlando (Justice League of America) delves into that theme in “Transformation Island,” which sees Diana visiting the small-time crook known as Mayfly in jail over the course of several years. But how do these visits impact Diana and Mayfly?
ON SALE 07.25.18
$2.99 US | 32 PAGES
Each FC | RATED T
8. Kate + Renee, bay bay!
The romantic pairing on Kate Kane and Renee Montoya is one of the most important couplings of DC’s first decade of the 21st century. It is also a relationship that has been on the backburner for some time now. I’m not sure if Marguerite Bennett is necessarily bringing them back together as a couple, but seeing their names in the same solicitation text is a very, very nice thing.
BATWOMAN #17
written by MARGUERITE BENNETT
art by FERNANDO BLANCO
cover by DAN PANOSIAN
variant cover by MICHAEL CHO
Kate Kane’s latest assignment is leaving her cold-it’s a cold case that forces her to team up with GCPD Detective Renee Montoya, and which, as usual, has Gotham City running out of time. Is this the start of a beautiful crime-fighting partnership? No spoilers, but expect sparks and punches to fly!
ON SALE 07.18.18
$3.99 US | 32 PAGES
FC | RATED T+
7. Beach Blanket What Now?
I’m all for fun one shots, and this villain-centric piece set at the beach is, perhaps, just weird enough to work. Mr. Freeze’s summer plans, specifically, sounds like a weird Silver Age backup story, and I’m here for that, big time.
Continued belowDC BEACH BLANKET BAD GUYS SPECIAL #1
written by Paul Dini, Lee Bermejo, Gabriel Hardman, Corinna Bechko, Tim Seeley, Shea Fontana and more!
art by Carlos D’Anda, Gabriel Hardman, David Williams, Otto Schmidt and more
cover by AMANDA CONNER
It’s summertime in the DCU and the bad guys are taking over! Beat the heat with 10 all-new stories by top comics talent starring DC’s most spectacular super-villains! In this issue, find out what Mr. Freeze does on the hottest day of the Gotham City summer! Learn what made Grodd such a bad gorilla! Then, while in a small beach town, Deathstroke gets hired for murder by the last person he’d expect! And The Joker and Bizarro team up for a truly weird summer bromance!
ON SALE 07.25.18
ONE-SHOT | PRESTIGE FORMAT
$9.99 US | 80 PAGES | FC
RATED T+
6. Joelle Jones Forever
We are super excited about Joelle Jones’s “Catwoman” ongoing, which launches the same day as, and spins out of, “Batman” #50, the Bat/Cat wedding extravaganza. There’s nothing new to be said about Jones’s artwork, which is stunning, but she’s also an accomplished writer; for folks who want a taste of her writing, check out her “Lady Killer” series at Dark Horse. The solicit promises an all-new villain, which is interesting, as I don’t know if I can think of a single villain that is Catwoman’s foe exclusively, and not Batman’s too. Can’t wait for this.
CATWOMAN #1
written by JOELLE JONES
art and cover by JOELLE JONES
variant cover by STANLEY “ARTGERM” LAU
blank variant cover available
The wedding night’s barely over, but Catwoman’s back on the streets, this time to expose a copycat who’s pulling heists around Gotham City. As Selina cracks the whip on her former criminal cohorts, she’s attracting unwanted attention from one of Gotham’s most dangerous groups. The mob? Nope. Try the GCPD. And as if the Bat-Bride didn’t have enough problems, don’t miss the debut of an all-new villain determined to make trouble for all nine of Selina’s lives. Don’t miss the start of an all-new monthly series written and illustrated by Eisner Award-nominee Joëlle Jones!
ON SALE 07.04.18
$3.99 US | 32 PAGES
FC | RATED T+
5. When your prayers are answered by an even worse scenario
Look, I’ve given Dan Jurgens a lot of shit over the past few years. I’ve also complained about the Lantern books, and how they needed a shake up. But I don’t know how those two signals got mixed at DC, but they are giving us Dan Jurgens on “Green Lanterns.”
Now, this seems to be a short-term band-aid on what is rumored to be Grant Morrison’s ascent to the “Green Lantern” overseer (PLEASE PLEASE DC LET THIS HAPPEN), and Jurgens has plenty of experience doing space-based comics, so this may be a perfectly cromulent fill in arc.
But.
It also may be all the worst of both creator and property coming together, which would lead to one of the most out of touch takes on two young, minority characters DC is trying to build up. Please, please be careful Dan.
GREEN LANTERNS #50
written by DAN JURGENS
art and cover by MIKE PERKINS
variant cover by CHRIS STEVENS
“Something is amiss.” That’s what the Guardians believe. But even they cannot see the darkness growing inside the Central Power Battery…an infection. One that will have enormous repercussions within the entire Green Lantern Corps. Making matters worse, in light of recent events, Jessica Cruz questions her place within the Green Lantern Corps, contemplating leaving it behind. And her partner Simon Baz is stung so much by her confession, he may let her go…
ON SALE 07.04.18
$3.99 US | 40 PAGES
FC | RATED T
4. Damian’s New Squad
Damian Wayne makes a fun leader of the Teen Titans, and I like the idea of the ‘trinity’ of the teen characters right now being Damian, young Wally, and Emi, aka Red Arrow. These bring Teen Titans back to their earliest roots as a team of true sidekicks, and Robin, Kid Flash, and Speedy were often at the core of that. I also like bringing in new characters, and even though D’jinn and Roundhouse are names of minor characters in DC’s past, it appears these are new, or at least new incarnations. Lobo’s daughter…well, that could go either way, now couldn’t it? I’ve never loved an Adam Glass comic, but I’ve loved many Bernard Chang comics, and I want the “Teen Titans” to continue the string of good comics they’ve had under Ben Percy, so I’m willing to give this a go.
Continued belowTEEN TITANS #20
written by ADAM GLASS
art and cover by BERNARD CHANG
variant cover by BABS TARR
Batman has no idea what he’s doing. Superman? Not a clue. Wonder Woman? Whatever. Damian Wayne is Robin, and he’s done with the bleeding-heart approach favored by the heroes of the senior circuit. New plan of action: recruit a new Teen Titans. Kid Flash, Red Arrow and newbies Roundhouse, D’jinn and…wait, Lobo has a daughter? That’ll end well. And then build something in secret deep beneath the new Teen Titans HQ. Secret from his teammates, secret from even Batman. It’s a secret that will change the way you look at Robin forever!
ON SALE 07.04.18
$3.99 US | 32 PAGES
FC | RATED T
3. This is my shit, right here
“Titans” is also getting a makeover, with a few big changes. First of all, the team finally grabs some of the characters who were still somehow ‘Teens’ even if they debuted alongside Cyborg, who is decidedly not a teen anymore. Led by Robin and Donna Troy, with classic “New Teen Titans” characters Raven and Beast Boy, Geoff Johns-era mainstay Miss Martian, and Natasha Irons, aka Steel, in tow, this is a wonderful collection of heroes who often times miss the spotlight. Will I miss Wally West and Roy Harper? Hell yes I will, but I’m sure they will pop up elsewhere.
But the biggest change? Brandon Peterson on art, replacing Brett Booth. And there was great rejoicing.
Two small notes: who is that mystery guy, surrounded by violet light on the cover? And also, I love how Steel is doing the pose that Superwoman did on both the first and last issues of her series. A nice tip of the hat by a character from said series.
TITANS #23
written by DAN ABNETT
art by BRANDON PETERSON
Cover by RYAN SOOK
variant cover by STJEPAN SEJIC
Can anything stop the Metagene pandemic unleashed through the events of JUSTICE LEAGUE: NO JUSTICE? The all-new Titans are on the case. Roll call: Nightwing, Donna Troy, Raven, Steel, Beast Boy and Miss Martian! But can even their combined might stand against new super-powered weapons of mass destruction birthed by the Metagenes? And (SPOILERS) how will the events of TEEN TITANS #20 come back to haunt the Titans? New enemies are out for blood in part one of “The Spark.”
ON SALE 07.18.18
$3.99 US | 32 PAGES
FC | RATED T
2. Lights Out
The Justice League books are looking so exciting this summer, and this book is a huge reason why. Wonder Woman, Zatanna, Swamp Thing, Man-Bat, and Detective Chimp are the first names mentioned here, but Scott Snyder teased a number of other characters popping up in the future, including Constantine and Doctor Fate. Justice League Dark is a very New 52 concept, but this is recasting the team as an arm of the overall Justice League, which is a super fun, Justice League Unlimited take on the book. James Tynion IV and Alvaro Martinez have such natural chemistry together as a creative team, that this seems poised to be a really fun, if bonkers, story.
JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #1
written by JAMES TYNION IV
art and cover by ALVARO MARTINEZ BUENO and RAUL FERNANDEZ
variant cover by GREG CAPULLO and JONATHAN GLAPION
From the pages of JUSTICE LEAGUE: NO JUSTICE! Earth’s magic once belonged to them. Now they want the magic back. But who exactly are they? It’s up to the new Justice League Dark to find out and stop this nightmarish new threat at all costs! After the events of NO JUSTICE, team leader Wonder Woman guides the misfit magic mix of Zatanna, Swamp Thing, Man-Bat and Detective Chimp against enemies too fantastic even for the Justice League. Plus, what awful things are coming through the Tree of Wonder? Dark days ahead…
ON SALE 07.25.18
$3.99 US | 32 PAGES
FC | RATED T+
1. “Tell me, O Muse, of the man of many devices, who wandered full many ways after he had sacked the sacred citadel of Troy.”
The above line begins The Odyssey, Homer’s classic tale of adventuring through unknown waters. “Justice League Odyssey” is not aping Homer’s title for nothing, as this book sounds massive. Just gigantic. A Brainiac Skull Ship” transporting Azrael, Cyborg, Jessica Cruz, and Starfire throughout the universe…with Darkseid as a teammate? This is one of the many reasons why I love comics, because batshit ideas like this should never work, but often do in the hands of capable creators. Josh Williamson and Stjepan Sejic have been two of the more impressive ‘Rebirth’ creators, and I can’t wait to see what they do with this title. If this doesn’t get your juices flowing, I don’t know what could.
JUSTICE LEAGUE ODYSSEY #1
written by JOSHUA WILLIAMSON
art and cover by STJEPAN SEJIC
variant cover by TERRY DODSON and RACHEL DODSON
Spinning out of JUSTICE LEAGUE: NO JUSTICE! When a cosmic menace threatens worlds beyond our own in the Ghost Sector, it falls to a new Justice League team to answer the call to battle! Cyborg, Starfire, Green Lantern Jessica Cruz and an out-of-his-element Azrael head to deep space inside a commandeered Brainiac Skull Ship. But as these wildcard teammates try to stop Despero from slave-trading Coluan refugees, they discover something that nothing in the universe could have prepared them for: Darkseid…who says he’s there to help?!
ON SALE 07.11.18
$3.99 US | 32 PAGES
FC | RATED T+
Read the full solicitations over at Newsarama.
