With this series wrapping up with #300, the longest consecutively running book of either of the Big 2 comes to a close. While we at Multiversity are sad about this, this isn’t exactly a shock. Compare the sales of a book like this to a New 52 Constantine book, and the decision was made very easy for DC.
Of course, that doesn’t take the sting out of the cancellation at all. The book had Constantine age in real time, and so the Constantine of “Hellblazer” is significantly older and different than he was when the book started. In fact, I would argue that Constantine, more than any other character in the same time span, has changed the most from the start of “Hellblazer” to the end.
Look for a post about the changing (dying?) face of Vertigo early next year.
As part of one of our earliest episodes of the Hour Cosmic, I hoped that DC would get off its duff and give us a romance book. Well, this is yet another example of being careful what to wish for, because we get this one shot, which looks absolutely nothing like the Ralph and Sue Dibny-centric romance comic. The solicit text looks downright comical, both based on the number of creators, and some of the descriptions.
Written by ANDY DIGGLE, ANN NOCENTI, CECIL CASTELLUCCI, PETER MILLIGAN and others
Art by GENE HA, EMANUELLA LUPPICHINNO, BECKY CLOONAN, PHIL JIMENEZ, SANFORD GREEN and others
Cover by KENNETH ROCAFORT
On sale FEBRUARY 6 – 64 pg, FC, $7.99 US – RATED T
– Romance is in the air in this very special Special!
– Wonder Woman consults Eros himself about her feelings for The Man of Steel.
– Barbara Gordon has always been too busy for romance, but could her role as Batgirl bring her back to the first guy she ever kissed?
– Following the events of “Death in the Family,” how can Catwoman ease Batman’s troubled soul?
– Aquaman makes waves as he treats his wife like a queen for a day.
– From the pages of STORMWATCH, Apollo and Midnighter celebrate Valentine’s Day separately but with each other in mind. Who–or what–stands between them?
– Dick Grayson and the daughter of Lucious Fox meet-cute!
– Plus: Perforated Valentine’s Day cards featuring the stars of these stories!
All I can say is that my wife better damn well appreciate the perforated cards I’ll be giving her as a token on my undying love!
Featuring the perfect storm of terrible variants, “Justice League of America” from Geoff Johns and David Finch bursts on to the scene this month. While this is certainly an interesting team, there will be a lot of explanation necessary for how this seemingly random assortment of fan favorites and weird choices would gather together.
Speaking of weird choices, “Justice League of America’s Vibe” also launches this month. The title is clunky and, clearly, a ploy to get people who buy everything that says the words Justice or League on it pick up the book. However, the clunky title may also be in place to continue the book if/when Vibe fails as a leading character. Stargirl, Steve Trevor and Martian Manhunter are all without ongoings, and could potentially take over the book in the future. Plus, this features the most self-aware and dickish solicit of all time:
– One of the most unlikely members of the Justice League of America ever (okay, THE most unlikely) will soon discover he’s one of the most powerful individuals on Earth. But how did Vibe get his abilities? What is the cost to them? And why does the JLA want him on the team so desperately?
– Plus: We’ve seen the Red Room and the Black Room, but what is…the Circus?
From “Birds of Prey” to her own book and a prime spot on the “Justice League of America” roster, Katana has certainly risen from the Outsiders’ fifth most interesting character to one that DC is betting will attract readers. Ann Nocenti moves off of “Green Arrow” to write this book, and while I want to be optimistic about it, this seems like another 8 issue miniseries dressed up as an ongoing.
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Less than 30 days after “Rise of the Third Army” ends, “Wrath of the First Lantern” begins. While I don’t mind books featuring shared characters tying into each other, buying all four books to follow a storyline for going on 5 months is expecting a lot of your readers.
But all four covers look pretty sweet, especially the above “New Guardians” cover.
Joe Keatinge writes a one-issue arc about Arsenal. That is music to my ears; could this mean an Arsenal exit from “Red Hood and the Outlaws?” Is it Christmas already?
EARTH 2 #9
Written by JAMES ROBINSON
Art and cover by NICOLA SCOTT and TREVOR SCOTT
1:25 B&W Variant cover by NICOLA SCOTT and TREVOR SCOTT
On sale FEBRUARY 6 – 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US – RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. The variant cover will feature the standard edition cover in a wraparound format.
– As a new story arc begins, DR. FATE makes his Earth 2 debut!
– Supernatural powers are emerging on Earth 2, and that means new heroes on the scene–not to mention new villains!
– Plus: The debut of the new Wotan!
Magic comes to Earth 2. Can’t wait!
It was never going to be as good as “All-Star Superman,” and for that reason, Grant Morrison’s “Action Comics” was always going to be a disappointment. Somehow both denser and less complicated than it should have been, “Action” was a good, not great, comic for the year and a half that Morrison was at its helm. With Andy Diggle taking over next month, the tone is certain to change; I wonder if Morrison’s work, after the fact, will grow in legend and respect to match some of his other work. Only time will tell.
Rumor has it this is the end of JH Williams drawing “Batwoman” for some time (presumably to work on “Sandman” with Neil Gaiman), so fare thee well, JH. In today’s comics landscape, I can hardly think of an artist that is more of a draw than Williams is. Let’s hope this book can survive his departure.
Thank goodness this is done.
SUPERMAN #17
Written by SCOTT LOBDELL
Art and cover by KENNETH ROCAFORT
1:25 B&W Variant cover by KENNETH ROCAFORT
On sale FEBRUARY 27 – 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US – RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. The variant cover will feature the standard edition cover in a wraparound format.
– The startling conclusion of “H’EL ON EARTH”!
– It’s the final fight with H’El – and to win, one of the team will have to make a fatal sacrifice! – The shocks continue as the all-new Oracle
appears!SUPERBOY #17
Written by TOM DeFALCO
Art and cover by R.B. SILVA and ROB LEAN
On sale FEBRUARY 13 – 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US – RATED T
– The startling conclusion of “H’EL ON EARTH”!
– Superboy faces off against the Herald of the Oracle!SUPERGIRL #17
Written by MIKE JOHNSON
Art and cover by MAHMUD ASRAR
On sale FEBRUARY 20 – 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US – RATED T
– The penutimate chaper of “H’EL ON EARTH”!
– Earth is on the brink of destruction as H’El’s machinations come to fruition!
– How far will Kara go to save Krypton?
This crossover ran 4 months and 12 issues, which is a brutally long period of time.
Hopefully, now “Supergirl” will be interesting again.
Amid speculation of the TV series being cancelled, the “Young Justice” tie in comic is ending with #25. Rampant speculation here, but I think DC might want the name back for a book set in the New 52. Let’s hope the show stays on the air – it is the rare cartoon series with a deeper mythology than the comics the parent company is currently publishing.
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Because “Green Arrow” is set in Seattle – get it?
But seriously folks (rim shot), the new creative team of Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino is as exciting a creative team as this book could hope for. Ollie is a character that has been sort of lost at sea for the past few years, and hopefully giving the book to these two top notch creators will do more for him that JT Krul and Ann Nocenti could do with the Emerald Archer.
Keith Giffen on pencils! Paul Levtiz writing! The LoS-H dream team comes back! If only anyone still read Legion books!
Save for the collected “Crimson Corsair” and an “Epilogue” due in March, this experiment is, thankfully, coming to a close. While far better than expected on a few levels, this was simply a month long event stretched over half a year, and fatigue has set in. Fare the well, Watchmen.
THE JACK KIRBY OMNIBUS VOL. 2 HC
Written by JACK KIRBY, JOE SIMON, MICHAEL FLEISCHER, JOEY CAVALIERI and others
Art by JACK KIRBY, JOE SIMON, MIKE ROYER, WALLACE WOOD and others
Cover by JACK KIRBY
On sale APRIL 17 – 624 pg, FC, $39.99 US
– Collecting more of Jack Kirby’s epic tales from the 1970s and 1980s starring The Sandman, The Justice League, Atlas and many more.
– Collects BLACK MAGIC #1-9, 1ST ISSUE SPECIAL #1, 5 and 6, KUNG FU FIGHTER #3, THE SANDMAN #1-6, DC COMICS PRESENTS #84, SUPER POWERS VOL.1 #1-5 and SUPER POWERS VOL. 2 #1-6, and KOBRA #1.
THE NEW TEEN TITANS OMNIBUS VOL. 3 HC
Written by MARV WOLFMAN and GEORGE PEREZ
Art by GEORGE PEREZ, ROMEO TANGHAL, DAN JURGENS, MIKE DeCARLO, STEVE RUDE, AL GORDON, CARMINE INFANTINO, RICH BUCKLER, BOB SMITH, DICK GIORDANO, RON RANDALL, CHUCK PATTON and JOSE LUIS GARCIA-LOPEZ
Cover by GEORGE PEREZ
On sale APRIL 3 – 792 pg, FC, $75.00 US
– In this third massive collection of the hit 1980s series from the acclaimed team of writer Marv Wolfman and artist George Perez, the Teen battle the villainy of H.I.V.E., face the evil Dr. Light, witness the trial of Deathstroke, and try to rescue the dark hero known as Raven from her own father, Trigon.
– Collects TALES OF THE TEEN TITANS #45- 61 and 66-67, NEW TEEN TITANS #38, NEW TEEN TITANS #1-6 and SECRET ORIGINS ANNUAL #3.
