I feel like every month I say ‘this is a crazy month for DC,’ but man, this is a crazy month for DC.
10. See ya, Jaime
The next cancellation shoe drops (well, two – the absence of “Cyborg” this month was confirmed as cancellation by Newsarama yesterday), with “Blue Beetle” breathing its last this month. Both this and “Cyborg” were given longer runs than they would have during the New 52, and were given them, more or less, under one creative team. Both books shook things up at the end with a new team, for reasons I don’t fully understand (probably to do with appropriate lengths for collected editions).
The shame of it is that “Blue Beetle” under Christopher Sebela was readable for the first time in its run. It didn’t suddenly turn into “Deathstroke,” but it became a much more fun book. My guess is that Jaime joins the Teen Titans quite soon.
BLUE BEETLE #18
Written by CHRIS SEBELA
Art and cover by SCOTT KOLINS
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.
It’s chaos at Kord Industries as Jaime helps Ted install a new A.I. system, only to have it come online and seize control of the facility. Trapped inside the building, Blue Beetle is put to the ultimate test, battling a hostile entity that turns every tool in Ted Kord’s inventory into a deadly weapon. With his last school year approaching, Jaime could be taking his final exam.
On sale FEBRUARY 21 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T+ • FINAL ISSUE
9. 1400 pages? Woof
I completely understand the appeal of the omnibus. I love the way they look on my shelf, and I’ve read many great runs in that format. But let’s compare this omnibus to the first one I ever bought: “Starman” Volume 1. “Starman” is 448 pages; this is more than three times the size. How can you conceivably expect someone to read this in a normal manner. You can’t read this on the bus or in bed. This essentially makes it a Library of Congress book, only to be read at a desk with tweezers to turn the pages.
Let’s cap these at 500 pages, charge $50 instead of $150, and everyone is happy.
EX MACHINA: THE COMPLETE SERIES OMNIBUS HC
Written by BRIAN K. VAUGHAN
Art by TONY HARRIS, TOM FEISTER, JIM CLARK, CHRIS SPROUSE, KARL STORY, JOHN PAUL LEON, JIM LEE and others
Cover by TONY HARRIS
The acclaimed, Eisner Award-winning EX MACHINA is collected in an Omnibus edition at last! Meet Mitchell Hundred, who becomes America’s first superhero after a strange accident gives him super powers—but the adventure really begins when Mitchell runs for mayor of New York City… Collects EX MACHINA #1-50 and EX MACHINA SPECIAL #1-4.
On sale JUNE 27 • 1,432 pg, FC, $150.00 US • MATURE READERS • ISBN: 978-1-4012-8068-0
8. Look Sharp
One of the things that DC has been doing for the past ten or so years is giving their high profile talent the chance to write their own work, too (see Daniel, Tony and Finch, David). This book is Liam Sharp’s ‘reward’ for knocking it out of the park on “Wonder Woman” and, hopefully, an enticement for him to stick around DC’s halls a bit longer. I’ve never read anything more than a few pages long written by Sharp, so I have no idea what his writing talent is like, but I’m all for giving him his own mini like this.
Continued belowTHE BRAVE AND THE BOLD: BATMAN AND WONDER WOMAN #1
Written by LIAM SHARP
Art and cover by LIAM SHARP
Don’t miss the start of a new, six-issue miniseries written and illustrated by Liam Sharp (WONDER WOMAN)! When a Celtic god’s murder leads to a war between the fairy folk and a possible breach between worlds, Wonder Woman must find the murderer and keep the peace while Batman investigates strange occurrences in Gotham City. As Diana must turn to the World’s Greatest Detective for help, the two heroes quickly learn their cases may be connected.
On sale FEBRUARY 21 • 32 pg, FC, 1 of 6, $3.99 US • RATED T+
7. Another Lantern Origin
I know why DC does the Earth One books, and why they are mainly origin stories (to ingratiate the bookstore crowd with their biggest characters), but I really wish we got a full on adventure from one of these books. Gabriel Hardman’s art is going to be dope, no doubt, but I wish he wasn’t constrained by telling a slightly-off kilter Hal origin.
GREEN LANTERN: EARTH ONE VOL. 1 HC
Written by GABRIEL HARDMAN and CORINNA BECHKO
Art and cover by GABRIEL HARDMAN
The newest Earth One original graphic novel presents an all-new origin for the Emerald Warrior!
Hal Jordan yearns for the thrill of discovery, but the days when astronaut and adventure were synonymous are long gone. His gig prospecting asteroids for Ferris Galactic is less than fulfilling—but at least he’s not on Earth, where technology and culture have stagnated.
When Jordan finds a powerful ring, he also finds a destiny to live up to. There are worlds beyond his own, unlike anything he ever imagined. But revelation comes with a price: the Green Lantern Corps has fallen, wiped out by ruthless killing machines known as Manhunters. The odds against reviving the Corps are nearly impossible…but doing the impossible is exactly what Hal Jordan was trained to do!
From co-writer and artist Gabriel Hardman (Invisible Republic) comes a soaring original graphic novel that takes a radical new look at the mythology of Green Lantern and provides a great entry point for new readers.
On sale MARCH 14 • 144 pg, FC, $24.99 US • 978-1-4012-7792-5
6. A Killer Team
Last month, I argued that we probably wouldn’t seeing more Vertigo miniseries solicited, pre-relaunch.
I was wrong.
But this series looks great, just based on the team of Williamson and Rossmo. But then you read the solicit, and it features phrases like “remote castle home” and “insane world of psychedelic violence,” and it gets even better. This feels like a really interesting pet project for these two, and I’m really excited to read it.
DEATHBED #1
Written by JOSHUA WILLIAMSON
Art and cover by RILEY ROSSMO
Myth, hack, sex symbol, stark raving lunatic—all of these words have been used to describe Antonio Luna, the world’s greatest living adventurer. Or at least he was until 20 years ago, when he mysteriously vanished from the public eye. Now the ninety-year-old has returned and claims to be on his deathbed. Which is where Valentine Richards, a failed novelist turned reporter, comes in. Val is hired to travel to Luna’s remote castle home and uncover where the old star has been all these years, and just how much of what he says is actually true. But once Val starts to hear Luna’s tale, she finds herself entering into an insane world of psychedelic violence and explosive supernatural adventure.
This brand-new series is a bold collaboration between Joshua Williamson (THE FLASH, FROSTBITE) and Riley Rossmo (THE BATMAN WHO LAUGHED). Before it’s through, they promise to take you to the Moon and back—and everywhere in between—plus some places that are totally off the map.
On sale FEBRUARY 21 • 32 pg, FC, 1 of 6, $3.99 US • MATURE READERS
5. How did it take this long?
It is insane that this is the first Mera solo series. While DC has put her more up front since “Blackest Night,” it seems like, at some point, she should’ve headlined something by now. And while I would have much preferred a creative team with a woman doing more than just the cover, Dan Abnett has written, perhaps, the most compelling Mera we’ve ever had. Hopefully, this series is a hit and she can get an ongoing, or at least a prominent spot outside of “Aquaman.”
Continued belowMERA: QUEEN OF ATLANTIS #1
Written by DAN ABNETT
Art by LAN MEDINA
Cover by NICOLA SCOTT
Variant cover by STANLEY “ARTGERM” LAU
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for details.
From the pages of AQUAMAN comes a brand-new adventure starring Mera, in her own title for the first time ever!
As the brutal Atlantean Civil War rages, Mera must keep the peace between the surface world and Atlantis as its newly anointed queen in exile. But when Aquaman’s brother Orm, a.k.a. Ocean Master, learns of his homeland’s fate, he’ll stop at nothing to return to Atlantis as its king and savior!
On sale FEBRUARY 28 • 32 pg, FC, 1 of 6, $3.99 US • RATED T
4. New Status Quo
This is such a fun development, and one that is a legitimate surprise. As I’ve mentioned a few times in this column, the series was supposed to end with #18, but the fan support/critical praise got it an additional life. By adding the Justice League of China to the title, it allows the series to expand its scope and reach a bit. Gene Yang is doing some exceptional world building here, and I can’t wait to see where the series goes from here.
NEW SUPER-MAN AND THE JUSTICE LEAGUE OF CHINA #20
Written by GENE LUEN YANG
Art by BRENT PEEPLES and RICHARD FRIEND
Cover by PHILIP TAN
Variant cover by BERNARD CHANG
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.
“SEAS OF CHANGE” part one! It’s the dawn of a new era for the Justice League of China! The New Super-Man of China and his teammates have struck out on their own, and even the Ministry’s newly formed Lantern Corps is no match for this renegade force to be reckoned with! But as China’s superhero community reorganizes itself, trouble is brewing in North Korea…and from the depths emerges a new metahuman that will change everything.
On sale FEBRUARY 14 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US •RATED T
3. The Best Kind of Love
A horror/romance comic for Valentine’s Day is something so perfect that I can scarcely believe it. And take a look at that line up – boom. I don’t need to convince you to buy this.
YOUNG MONSTERS IN LOVE #1
Written by PAUL DINI, JAMES ROBINSON, JEFF LEMIRE, STEVE ORLANDO, MARK RUSSELL, KYLE HIGGINS, ALISA KWITNEY, PHIL HESTER and others
Art by GUILLEM MARCH, FRAZER IRVING, KELLEY JONES and others
Cover by KELLEY JONES
It’s hard being a monster…and even harder being a monster in love. Sparks will fly and hearts will be broken when the ghouls and ghosts of the DC Universe assemble to bring you the Valentine’s Day Special that no one saw coming!
PRESTIGE FORMAT • ONE-SHOT • On sale FEBRUARY 7 • 80 pg, FC, $9.99 US
2. Begun the Milk Wars Have
Both of these next items are resolicits, so it is sort of cheating, but I don’t think it is an understatement to say that, just two months into the year, ‘Milk Wars’ may be the most insane and fun crossover of the entire year. It looks amazingly bonkers and weird, and that is exactly what I want my crossover comics to be. Dig it.
Continued belowJLA/DOOM PATROL SPECIAL #1
Written by STEVE ORLANDO and GERARD WAY
Art by ACO
Backup story written by MAGDALENE VISAGGIO
Backup story art by SONNY LIEW
Cover by FRANK QUITELY
“MILK WARS” part one! Welcome to the un-event of the year! Kicking off a line-wide adventure, DC’s Young Animal collides with the DC Universe to bring you a different kind of crossover.
The Doom Patrol has discovered that an interdimensional corporation called RetCo has been stealing stories, reconfiguring them and repackaging them for new markets. Our gang of misfit heroes have felt the touch of this nefarious company, and it has already started to change them. Even scarier, though, is how deeply RetCo has embedded itself into current continuity, using the radioactive milk of psychic cows to quell the more dangerous impulses of the Justice League and turn them into heroes safe for the masses. And to kick this off, RetCo has gone all the way to the top.
Meet Milkman Man, heretofore unknown final son of Krypton, who was sent to our planet to save him from the destruction of his homeworld, only to be adopted by an evil dairy farmer and raised to love all things dairy!
Co-plotted by Steve Orlando and Gerard Way, with art by ACO (MIDNIGHTER), this extra-sized special starts “Milk Wars” with a splash!
Plus, who is Eternity Girl, and how does she connect to this whole scheme? A special four-part back-up feature by Magdalene Visaggio (Kim and Kim) and Sonny Liew (The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye) begins here.
RETRO-SOLICITED • ONE-SHOT • On sale JANUARY 31 • 48 pg, FC, $4.99 US • RATED T+
1. Take Two
Again, this is a resolicit, but the more I think about this series, the more brilliant I find it. A Fantastic Four riff that connects the JSA (Terrific), the Justice League (Plastic Man), the Outsiders (Metamorpho), and the Legion of Super-Heroes (Phantom Girl), while tying into DC’s ‘New Age of Heroes’ platform, spinning out of “Dark Nights: Metal,” tying into a beloved Alan Moore series and returning Jeff Lemire to the DC fold, all in one fell swoop? That’s a serious amount of planning coming together, and I can’t wait to check this out.
THE TERRIFICS #1
Written by JEFF LEMIRE
Art by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO
Cover by IVAN REIS
Retailers: This issue is resolicited. All previous orders are cancelled.
Bound together by fate, united by the spirit of exploration and hope for tomorrow, the Terrifics bound from the Dark Multiverse of Metal! When Mr. Terrific, Metamorpho, Plastic Man and Phantom Girl find themselves literally bound together by a tragic accident, our team of unlikely allies must rely on one another to make their way back home. But a startling revelation on their return trip brings them face to face with a new mystery: where in the universe is Tom Strong?
RESOLICIT • On sale FEBRUARY 28 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • FOLDOUT COVER • RATED T+
For the full solicitations, visit our friends at Newsarama.
