October is a strange month for DC – the ‘Metal’ event is in full swing, a bunch of stories are hitting emotional peaks (‘A Lonely Place for Living,’ ‘The Oz Effect’), some new creators are coming on board, and yet, this feels like a bit of a slight month, perhaps due to all the insanity that has surrounded DC, both in last month’s solicitations and also due to all the San Diego Comic Con announcements. The month is lousy with off-kilter, not quite ‘Rebirth’ stories, however, so let’s dig in!
10. Not the time to be in the Howard Chaykin business
I’m not going to go into details here, but if you Google Howard Chaykin’s name right now, you’re gonna see some bad stuff, and stuff that he should absolutely have known better than to produce. So, of course, put him on a book that is ostensibly a kid’s property that will devolve into an innuendo-fest. I know that DC’s Hanna-Barbera line has garnered a lot of praise in the comics world, but this just feels gross.
THE RUFF & REDDY SHOW #1
Written by HOWARD CHAYKIN
Art by MAC REY
Cover by HOWARD CHAYKIN
Variant cover by MAC REY
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for details.
In the Golden Age of television, Ruff and Reddy were on top of the entertainment world…until the world turned, and they were forgotten. Now, Ruff is a washed-up television actor. Reddy is a clerk in an upscale grocery store. Can a hungry young agent convince the two one-time partners to make a comeback—and convince the world that it wants to see the famously infamous dog-and-cat comedy team back in the spotlight? Don’t miss it if you can!
On sale OCTOBER 25 • 32 pg, FC, 1 of 6, $3.99 US • RATED T+
9. Gotham Meets Riverdale
This makes sense in as much as any crossover between two companies ever really makes sense, and with the recent success of both sets of characters outside of comics, it seems like a nice excuse for both companies to print some money. Dini and Andreyko seem like the exact right folks to be tackling this except, you know, they’re both men, but both have experience with the type of story that this should – whether or not it is that type of story remains to be seen. Plus, I’m excited to check out the Laura Braga interiors – I’ve enjoyed what I’ve seen her do in the past on “Captain Marvel” and “DC Comics Bombshells.” (More on this book can be found here)
HARLEY & IVY MEET BETTY & VERONICA #1
Written by PAUL DINI and MARC ANDREYKO
Art by LAURA BRAGA
Cover by AMANDA CONNER
Variant cover by ADAM HUGHES
Blank variant cover
Retailers: This issue will ship with three covers. Please see the order form for details.
Free college tuition for all Riverdale residents?! That’s the plan—after the town drains the wetlands that lie between it and Gotham City and then builds a new campus. The only snag? A certain botany-obsessed super-villain. When Poison Ivy enlists her bestie, Harley, to kidnap both Veronica Lodge, daughter of Riverdale’s most important citizen, and her friend Betty, she’s counting on some assistance—and the mayhem that ensues will probably work as well!
DC Comics and Archie are proud to present the adventure of a lifetime for all these best pals. Their hijinks are brought to you by the real-life team-up of Paul Dini (HARLEY QUINN) and Marc Andreyko (WONDER WOMAN ’77), with art by Laura Braga (DC BOMBSHELLS)!
On sale OCTOBER 4 • 32 pg, FC, 1 of 6, $3.99 US • RATED T
8. Statues become comics, yet again
Much like the aforementioned “DC Comics Bombshells,” this is a book that is based off a series of statues that DC has been releasing. However, unlike the Bombshells, I have never heard of this line. That is probably more on me than anything else, but it seems like a bit of a fringe property to be centering a new book around. But hey, the digital first comics are supposed to get people from different, non-comics sectors of fandom, who may already know these characters, to try a book. This might achieve just that – Brian Ching is a great artist, so his interiors should make the book at least look great, and Lanzing/Kelly have an interesting, if spotty, record of writing under their belts. (More of this book can be found here)
Continued belowGOTHAM CITY GARAGE #1
Written by JACKSON LANZING and COLLIN KELLY
Art by BRIAN CHING
Cover by RAFAEL ALBUQUERQUE
Variant cover by DAN PANOSIAN
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for details.
A new series inspired by the DC Collectibles statue line! It’s been decades since Governor Lex Luthor turned Gotham City into a modern utopia, saving his people from the devastation that made the rest of the continent a wasteland. But his city isn’t paradise for everyone. If the Lexes network misfires, and a citizen wakes up and steps out of line, the Bat and his minions are brutal in restoring the status quo. So when young Kara Gordon, whose ridealong tech has never functioned optimally, rushes headlong into the Freescape, she’s shocked to find Gotham City Garage—where new friends might become family, if she lives long enough.
On sale OCTOBER 11 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T+ • DIGITAL FIRST
7. Yaaaaaaaaawn
Although the idea of a comic with ‘the Joker as Don Draper’ is so absurd that I want to know more, I am so unbelievably sick of the Joker being the center of every Bat story. Not even Sean Gordon Murphy can get me interested in a story where the Joker saves Gotham from Batman. I’m sorry – can we just get back to a time when Batman was a hero and not the embodiment of everything dark in the universe? (More on this book can be found here)
BATMAN: WHITE KNIGHT #1
Written by SEAN MURPHY
Art and cover by SEAN MURPHY
Variant cover by SEAN MURPHY
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for details.
In a world where Batman has gone too far, The Joker must save Gotham City.
He’s been called a maniac, a killer and the “Clown Prince of Crime” but “white knight”? Never. Until now…
Set in a world where the Joker is cured of his insanity and homicidal tendencies, The Joker, now known as “Jack,” sets about trying to right his wrongs. First he plans to reconcile with Harley Quinn, and then he’ll try to save the city from the one person who he thinks is truly Gotham City’s greatest villain: Batman!
Superstar writer and artist Sean Murphy (PUNK ROCK JESUS, THE WAKE) presents a seven-issue miniseries of a twisted Gotham City with a massive cast of heroes and villains that, at its heart, is a tragic story of a hero and a villain: Batman and The Joker. But which is the hero—and which the villain?
On sale OCTOBER 4 • 32 pg, FC, 1 of 7, $3.99 US • RATED T+
6. A spooktacular anthology
These types of experiments – let horror writers tackle superhero stories for Halloween! – almost never work out, but damn it, I get excited every time. The book has a pretty nice representation of modern horror writers, and some top notch artists, but there’s one big problem with the book: “Story by Keith Giffen.” Ick.
Continued belowDC HOUSE OF HORROR #1
Story by KEITH GIFFEN
Written by EDWARD LEE, BRIAN KEENE, NICK CUTTER, MARY SANGIOVANNI, WRATH JAMES WHITE, RONALD MALFI, WESTON OCHSE and BRYAN SMITH
Art by RAGS MORALES, BILQUIS EVELY, HOWARD PORTER, SCOTT KOLINS, DALE EAGLESHAM and others
Cover by MICHAEL WM. KALUTA
An all-new, all-creepy one-shot set in the DC Universe—just in time for Halloween! Martha Kent fights for her life against a creature from a spacecraft that lands in front of her farmhouse. A young woman is possessed by the spirit of a murderous Amazon warrior. The last surviving member of the Justice League faces down a horror beyond imagining. All these and more are what happens when the most exciting new voices in contemporary horror fiction are paired with the talents of some of the greatest artists in the DC firmament! And if that isn’t enough to scare you, there’s Keith Giffen, too.
ONE-SHOT • On sale OCTOBER 25 • 80 pg, FC, $9.99 US • RATED T+
5. Who will Deadman be narrating to this time?
“Batman Odyssey” is one of the most batshit (pardon the pun) crazy stories DC has ever published; it was the brainchild of Neal Adams, who is at the ‘do whatever you want for DC, you crazy old kook’ stage in his career. Adams deserves to enjoy his golden years however he damn well pleases, and writing and drawing a bonkers Deadman comic is about as out there as you can get for a retirement plan. This will make no sense, look both beautiful and bizarre, and engage me the entire time. Bring it on.
DEADMAN #1
Written by NEAL ADAMS
Art and cover by NEAL ADAMS
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for details.
“Journey into Death” part one! When we last left Deadman, the true story had barely begun! Deadman’s death was unsolved, and his fate was intertwined with that of his parents and siblings. Even the Dark Night Detective couldn’t solve the mysteries of Boston Brand’s fantastic secrets! Now, Batman is back, confronting Deadman about who was really behind his death. Was Boston Brand’s assassination a test for the League of Assassins? Why does Batman think Ra’s al Ghul was involved? And why does Deadman need the help of Zatanna, Phantom Stranger, Dr. Fate and the Spectre to defend Nanda Parbat?
ADVANCE SOLICITED • On sale NOVEMBER 1 • 32 pg, FC, 1 of 6
GLOW-IN-THE-DARK COVER: $4.99 US • NON-GLOW-IN-THE-DARK COVER: $3.99 • RATED T+
4. The first spinoff
When DC said it was bringing back WildStorm, it was said that, eventually, they would get to 4 monthly books. “The Wild Storm” will be eight issues in by the time this first spinoff drops, and it will feature Michael Cray, one of the featured characters of Warren Ellis’s cornerstone book. The creative team is a bit of a mystery to me, I must admit, but I can’t imagine Warren Ellis taking this responsibility lightly, and I’m sure that he has vetted this team thoroughly, and they will be on bigger name books a year from now, because of all the exposure. That’s the sort of eye for talent that Ellis has – just watch.
WILDSTORM: MICHAEL CRAY #1
Written by BRYAN HILL
Art by N. STEVEN HARRIS and DEXTER VINES
Cover by DENYS COWAN and BILL SIENKIEWICZ
Variant cover by GENE HA
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for details.
Warren Ellis’ critically acclaimed relaunch of THE WILD STORM gets its first solo spinoff series! Michael Cray, professional assassin, has been betrayed by International Operations and has an alien life-form in his head that’s either killing him, transforming him, or both. The only thing that can bring sense to his life is for him to do what he does best: kill the wrong people for the right reasons. But Michael needs support and resources to hit back against I.O., and he gets them in exchange for working with Trelane, taking out her targets, his way. First up? A sociopathic Silicon Valley billionaire by the name of Oliver Queen!
On sale OCTOBER 11 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T+
3. Ray Fawkes returns to DC
I loved some of Ray Fawkes’s previous DC work, specifically “Gotham by Midnight,” and him doing Ragman could be inspired, especially with Inaki Miranda on interiors. Ragman has been a big part of Arrow over the last year, so it makes sense to bring him back and, perhaps, this is the first part of my dream Shadowpact book. Fawkes would be the perfect person to write that, actually. Make it happen, DC!
Continued belowRAGMAN #1
Written by RAY FAWKES
Art by INAKI MIRANDA
Cover by GUILLEM MARCH
After a failed mission to raid a tomb in the Israeli Desert, war veteran Rory Harper is plagued by the death of his partners. As Rory battles his guilt back in Gotham City, he discovers that what was in that tomb has followed him home, and it’s about to change his life. But as Rory begins his journey, an evil is invading Gotham City, and it wants what he’s discovered. A hero is born in this visionary reimagining of the Ragman mythos by writer Ray Fawkes and artist Inaki Miranda!
On sale OCTOBER 11 • 32 pg, FC, 1 of 6, $2.99 US • RATED T
2. An European Batman
The European comics market is a talent source that DC is never very quick to grab from, for whatever reason, so I’m very, very glad to see them grabbing Enrico Marini for this two-book series. Books like this will be huge in bookstores, among serious collectors, and may win over some new fans to both Marini and the character; it’s a win/win. I wish it was literally any character but Batman, but what are you gonna do?
BATMAN: THE DARK PRINCE CHARMING BOOK ONE HC
Written by ENRICO MARINI
Art and cover by ENRICO MARINI
Acclaimed European comics master Enrico Marini (Eagles of Rome, Le Scorpion) makes his American comics debut with an original, two-part graphic novel starring the Dark Knight! What secret connection do both Batman and The Joker share with a strange and mysterious young girl? After she’s kidnapped by The Joker, Batman must plunge deep into the underworld of Gotham City and race against time to find out where she’s being held. The stakes are high, and for Batman, it’s personal!
Watch for BATMAN: THE DARK PRINCE CHARMING BOOK TWO coming in spring 2018!
ADVANCE SOLICITED • On sale NOVEMBER 1 • 64 pg, FC, 7.0625” x 10.1875” • 1 of 2, $12.99 US • RATED T+
1. The sweet release of death, assisted by Chris Sebela
The best news of this month is that Christopher Sebela and Thony Silas are taking over “Blue Beetle.” Sebela tweeted that he was on the book for five issues, until ‘the end.‘ This likely means that issue #18 will be the cancellation point for the first run of ‘Rebirth’ titles, so that could (and should) mean the end of books like this, “Cyborg,” “Batman Beyond,” and more. Hopefully, it doesn’t mean the end of some of the great books that have been floating around also, but churn is part of this, right?
It is interesting that both “Batman Beyond” and “Green Lanterns” are changing creative teams this month, as both could be books that might go away as well. “Beyond” is letting artist Bernard Chang write some issues, which is a typical DC kiss of death for a book like this, and “Green Lanterns” seems like a concept that might need to adapt a bit to survive.
Regardless, Keith Giffen off of “Blue Beetle” is a reason to celebrate, regardless of the circumstances. Huzzah!
BLUE BEETLE #14
Written by CHRISTOPHER SEBELA
Art and cover by THONY SILAS
Variant cover by TYLER KIRKHAM
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.
NEW CREATIVE TEAM! Following recent events in El Paso, Jaime and his friends decide to take a spontaneous road trip through the desert. But the scarab still exerts its influence, and inevitably, it will to lead Jaime into danger, this time in the form of a U.F.O. Will Jaime be forced to reveal his identity as Blue Beetle to his new girlfriend?
On sale OCTOBER 25 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
See the full solicitations at Newsarama.
