January is an interesting month for DC, as it is setting the stage for a big February (with the start of three new series: “Justice League of America” by Steve Orlando and Ivan Reis, “Super Sons” by Peter Tomasi and Jorge Jimenez, and “Batwoman” by Marguerite Bennett and Steve Epting), but it is also launching a bunch of new miniseries and is pushing some of its books into previously unseen ‘Rebirth’ territory.
10.Still going…
One of the odd side effects of DC double shipping half their books is that stories tend to move much, much faster. This reminds me of reading comics as a kid, where it was less clear that writers were pacing for a trade paperback and, instead, were writing more varied arc lengths. What is crazy is that “Superwoman” #1 came out on August 10th, the same date that “Deathstroke: Rebirth” #1 came out. In January, “Superwoman” is still not done with its first arc, and “Deathstroke” is in the double digits.
I don’t think it is a bad thing that certain books are slow burners and others seem to fly through story, but it does make a bit of a jarring experience if there are stories, like “Superwoman,” that connect heavily to stories that are burning mini arcs left and right.
That said, “Superwoman” is so great, I don’t care.
SUPERWOMAN #6
Written by PHIL JIMENEZ
Art by PHIL JIMENEZ and TREVOR SCOTT
Cover by IVAN REIS and TREVOR SCOTT
Variant cover by DREW JOHNSON
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for details.
“WHO KILLED SUPERWOMAN?” part six! In this penultimate chapter, Lana Lang prepares to grapple with the insane, god-like Lena Luthor as her army of allies launches their assault on the Bizaress swarm! Will the combined might of Steel, Natasha, Maggie Sawyer and the MSCU, Atomic Skull and Lex Luthor be enough to win the day? Plus, the secret origin of Lena Luthor is revealed!
On sale JANUARY 11 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
9. Crossovers galore
This month, DC is launching two crossovers that are aimed at folks other than the regular, rank and file comic readers. The first, “Justice League/Power Rangers,” I already wrote a bit about, so click here to read my thoughts on that. The other is a continuation of two of their digital properties that echo back to the classic TV shows of the past, and so we get Adam West and Lynda Carter meeting in costume for the first time.
It appears that DC’s “Batman ’66” property has been a lucrative and successful one for the publisher, so it makes sense to try and give some of that rub to “Wonder Woman ’77,” which seems to not have been quite as successful. Part of that is that the Batman series has greater cultural impact and lends itself to comics in such a perfect way, whereas “Wonder Woman ’77” is somehow more dated by being less overtly of its time, if that makes any sense. Anyway, with the talent on board, this should be a ton of fun.
BATMAN ’66 MEETS WONDER WOMAN ’77 #1
Written by JEFF PARKER and MARC ANDREYKO
Art by DAVID HAHN and KARL KESEL
Cover by MICHAEL ALLRED
Variant cover by ALEX ROSS
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for details.
What mysteries are hidden in the book Ra’s al Ghul hired Catwoman to steal? And why does this caper lead Batman down memory lane—to his childhood fight against actual Nazis? Witness the Caped Crusader’s first encounter with one of the greatest heroes the world has ever known: Wonder Woman!
This epic team-up is brought to you by writers Marc Andreyko (WONDER WOMAN ’77) and Jeff Parker (BATMAN ’66), with fantastic artists David Hahn and Karl Kesel (BATMAN ’66 Meets the Man from U.N.C.L.E.). It’s a time- and space-spanning adventure unlike anything you’ve seen before!
On sale JANUARY 18 • 32 pg, FC, 1 of 6, $2.99 US • RATED E • Digital first
Continued below8. One of my favorites, getting the deluxe treatment
This is an easy one: if you’ve never read “Cosmic Odyssey,” you absolutely should. It is one of the best New Gods stories ever (especially outside the pen of Kirby), and its impact on the DC Universe is still felt today, specifically in the form of John Stewart. Plus, Mike Mignola drawing the New Gods should be an instant buy. I’m not exactly sure what qualifies as ‘deluxe’ about this edition, but I’m all in.
COSMIC ODYSSEY: THE DELUXE EDITION HC
Written by JIM STARLIN
Art by MIKE MIGNOLA and CARLOS GARZON
Cover by MIKE MIGNOLA
Collected for the first time in a Deluxe Edition, COSMIC ODYSSEY assembles an eclectic group of heroes to race against time to stop a cosmic entity hell-bent on destroying the galaxy. Do they have what it takes? Or will one hero bring destruction to an entire world? Collects the original four-issue miniseries, featuring Superman, Batman, Orion of the New Gods, Darkseid and many more!
On sale FEBRUARY 15 • 208 pg, FC, 7.0625” x 10.875” $34.99 US
7. Perhaps the best book DC is currently putting out
I was as skeptical of a new “Deathstroke” book as anyone, but Christopher Priest and co. have absolutely proven me wrong. This is a great book, and great for reasons that are different from the reasons that so many other DC books are currently succeeding. This feels like the the definitive take on Slade Wilson, and Priest has not been shy in his desire to keep him a villain and a bastard.
But this issue goes a step into two directions that could be tricky, but I think will worth with Priest at the helm. The first is bringing in a guest character that is a little garish and hasn’t been seen in a long time: the Creeper. I love the Creeper, and think that bringing him face to face with Deathstroke could be really interesting, but has its risks. First of all, the Creeper is a character that greatly needs a refresher for folks that haven’t read him in half a decade, or ever, and having him guest here, under the pen of Priest, could be a great way to kickstart the character into a new direction. But more than that, he just looks so out of place in modern DC, which is to say I hope that they keep him just as visually odd as he appears on the cover, and they don’t make him wearing some high-collared bullshit like they would have if this was the Rob Liefeld-helmed “Deathstroke” #11 from 2012.
DEATHSTROKE #11
Written by CHRISTOPHER PRIEST
Art and cover by DENYS COWAN and BILL SIENKIEWICZ •
Variant cover by SHANE DAVIS
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for details.
“CHICAGO”! Jack Ryder, a.k.a. the Creeper, investigates a series of murders in Chicago…and comes face to face with Deathstroke, the World’s Deadliest Assassin. Christopher Priest is joined by guest artists Denys Cowan and Bill Sienkiewicz for an unflinching look at gun violence in America.
On sale JANUARY 25 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
6. Young Animal meets Old Gotham
In last week’s “Cave Carson Has a Cybernetic Eye” #1, there were a bunch of ties to the DCU – the Metal Men, Wild Dog, Superman even got a mention – but we never really saw any of the characters come face to face with an active part of the DCU that has an ongoing story right now. That changes with “Mother Panic” #3, where Batwoman shows up and, it appears, to be the Batwoman from the main DCU.
This is certainly sooner than I thought we would be getting a crossover (although I very sincerely doubt we will ever get the YA characters showing up in mainline DC books), but I think it could be a ton of fun. Of course, I’m saying all of this before reading a single page of “Mother Panic,” so what do I know?
Continued belowMOTHER PANIC #3
Written by JODY HOUSER
Art and cover by TOMMY LEE EDWARDS
Backup story written by JIM KRUEGER
Backup story art by PHIL HESTER
Variant cover by MINGJUE HELEN CHEN
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for details.
Mother Panic is hot on the trail of the murderous artist Gala! Only one person stands in her way…Batwoman?! Is there a place for Violet among the heroes of Gotham City, or will her quest for vengeance take her down a darker path? This issue also features an original “Gotham Radio” back-up feature by Jim Krueger (JUSTICE) and Phil Hester (Green Arrow)!
On sale JANUARY 25 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • MATURE READERS
5. Two new minis
DC announced two new miniseries aimed at, pretty much, the polar opposite of the “Batman ’66 Meets Wonder Woman ’77” crowd. These two dig in deep to DC mythology, and are unapologetic about it. The first, not pictured above, is “The Rise and Fall of Captain Atom,” written by veteran Atom writers Cary Bates and Greg Weisman and illustrated by Will Conrad. I’m a fan of Conrad’s, and it is nice to get some writers who know the character to script the issues. However, making Captain Atom even more Dr. Manhattan-ish is not my idea of a good time and, due to the nature of DC’s miniseries and the lack of a ‘Rebirth’ header on the book, this won’t be tying into the “Watchmen”/DC crossover that is eventually coming. And while there is nothing wrong with just telling a story with an ignored character, Captain Atom’s best bet, probably, is to get as far away from Doctor Manhattan as possible, and attempt to return to his “Justice League International” days. Let’s hope the ‘rise’ part of the story is normalizing him a bit.
But the really fascinating mini is “The Odyssey of the Amazons” #1, a pre-Wonder Woman story that looks to give a glimpse of what life was like for Amazons before Diana (and, really, Steve Trevor) changed everything. This looks like a swashbuckling adventure through an unexplored portion of the DC universe with some new (to DC) talent at the helm. I’m in.
THE ODYSSEY OF THE AMAZONS #1
Written by KEVIN GREVIOUX
Art and cover by RYAN BENJAMIN
Variant cover by YASMINE PUTRI
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for details.
Don’t miss the start of this new miniseries set in the world of Wonder Woman from writer/actor Kevin Grevioux (New Warriors, Underworld). Years before the birth of Princess Diana, a group of Amazons set out on a globe-spanning quest to find others of their kind, encountering legendary creatures and beings along the way. But their journey soon turns into a rescue mission as two of their own are captured by the legendary Storm Giants of Norse mythology. It’s up to their leader, the stalwart Hessia, to keep them together through the many trials that lie ahead.
On sale JANUARY 18 • 32 pg, FC, 1 of 6, $3.99 US • RATED T
4. Leading up to “Justice League of America”
I wrote about the four “Justice League of America Rebirth” issues before, so I’m not going to repeat myself too much, but this is an exciting month for fans of a larger Justice League. To me, the Justice League has always had an expansive roster, with lots of oddball characters showing up for a short stint on the team. But for lots of folks, the team is the ‘big 7,’ and that has never resonated particularly with me. So, to see all these characters take the lead in a book, and get their own establishing one-shots, is particularly exciting.
Plus, when the book starring the Atom was originally announced, there was no artist attached. The great Andy MacDonald is now drawing the book, which takes it from ‘must read’ to ‘holy shit, you’ve gotta pick this up’ territory.
Continued belowJUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA: THE ATOM REBIRTH #1
Written by STEVE ORLANDO
Art by ANDY MACDONALD
Cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO
Variant cover by TBA
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for details.
SPINNING OUT OF THE PAGES OF JUSTICE LEAGUE VS. SUICIDE SQUAD! Meet Ryan Choi, prodigious theoretical physics student with severe allergies
and crippling social anxiety. But little does young Ryan know, his first day at Ivy University marks the start of an epic journey into the very heart of the
DC Universe!
One shot • On sale JANUARY 4 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
3. Ch-ch-ch-changes
This month, we are getting a bunch of artistic changes or guest spots on books, and almost all of them are for the better: Jock on “All-Star Batman” is a nice relief after the blocky work of John Romita, Jr, and Ben Oliver doing the “Batwoman Begins” story in “Detective Comics” is music to my ears. But, the most important artistic change of the month is Lee Weeks doing a story of “Titans.” I’ve been pretty outspoked on the DC3cast about how Brett Booth is a terrible fit for “Titans,” and how he really holds the book back. Lee Weeks, on the other hand, is an underrated gem, who particularly nails Superman.
The extra upshot of this “Titans” issue is that it features the pre-New 52 Superman and Wally reconnecting, seemingly the only two folks who remember a world now gone. I can’t wait for this issue, but fear my heart breaking when Booth is back on the book come February.
TITANS #7
Written by DAN ABNETT
Art and cover by guest artist LEE WEEKS
Variant cover by NICK BRADSHAW
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for details.
“Home Sweet Home”! A new threat brings Wally West face to face with the Man of Steel, and the two recognize each other as kindred souls from another world. Plus, the Titans set up their new Tower in New York City!
On sale JANUARY 11 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
2. Enter the Multiverse, Rebirth
The arc is named after a Michael Keaton movie that I love. So, I’m in.
Oh, and it involves Supermans from across the Multiverse in an adventure drawn by Ivan Reis. COME ON
SUPERMAN #14
Written by PETER J. TOMASI and PATRICK GLEASON
Art by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO
Covers by PATRICK GLEASON and MICK GRAY
Variant cover by ANDREW ROBINSON
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for details.
“MULTIPLICITY” part one! The New Super-Man of China has been taken! The Red Son Superman of Earth-30 has been beaten! And who knows what’s happened to Sunshine Superman! Someone is collecting Supermen across the Multiverse—this looks like a job for our Kal-El as he is joined by Justice Incarnate in this multi-Earth epic!
On sale JANUARY 4 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
1. I accept the challenge
Again, I’ve written about this book before, but it is so close now that we can almost taste it: a delightfully star-packed miniseries that features one of Jack Kirby’s finest additions to the DC Universe. Do I really have to sell this to you?
THE KAMANDI CHALLENGE #1
Written by DAN ABNETT and DAN DIDIO
Art by DALE EAGLESHAM, KEITH GIFFEN and SCOTT KOBLISH
Cover by BRUCE TIMM
Variant cover by DALE EAGLESHAM
Variant cover by KEITH GIFFEN and SCOTT KOBLISH
Retailers: This issue will ship with three covers. Please see the order form for details.
Prepare to take part in one of the greatest adventures from the infinite future of the DC Universe, and join the industry’s top creative teams in a round-robin, no-holds-barred, storytelling extravaganza titled THE KAMANDI CHALLENGE!
Born from the mind of Jack “King” Kirby, the post apocalyptic Earth of Kamandi has been a fan favorite for decades, and now 14 intrepid teams of writers and artists build on this incredible foundation and take the title character on an epic quest to find his long-lost parents and travel to places seen and unseen in the DC Universe.
Each issue will end with an unimaginable cliffhanger, and it’s up to the next creative team to resolve it before creating their own. It’s a challenge worthy of “The King” himself! In this premiere issue, the Last Boy on Earth is dragged from his safe haven by a group of tigers, only to face the nightmarish threat of the ultimate weapon!
On sale JANUARY 25 • 40 pg, FC, 1 of 12, $4.99 US • RATED T
Check out the full solicitations at CBR.com.
