The way that DC has been organizing itself for the past year or so makes this column really challenging – certain months, the entire line seems to be turning over, with new series, new arcs, and surprises galore. And then, there are months like this, which looks very, very similar to last month. So, I’m doing my best to highlight things that I haven’t talked about before, while still providing an overview of the month. Wish me luck!
10. Dropping Bomb(shell)s
The variant theme this month is DC Bombshells, aka the statue/merchandise line that has been quite popular over the past few years. Also debuting this month is the digital first series of the same name, which takes place in an alternate reality. I understand the appeal of the collectibles than I do the series, but I applaud DC for putting an all-female creative team on the book, and I like the idea of the digital line continuing to be a place to draw in fans of comic characters, but possibly not comics themselves.
DC COMICS BOMBSHELLS #1
Written by MARGUERITE BENNETT
Art by MARGUERITE SAUVAGE
Cover by ANT LUCIA
1:25 Variant cover by EMANUELA LUPACCHINO
On sale AUGUST 12 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T • DIGITAL FIRST
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for details.
The ultra-popular statues from DC Collectibles come to life in their own ongoing comic book series! Learn the story behind this alternate reality where the Second World War is fought by superpowered women on the front lines and behind the scenes! It all begins with the stories of Batwoman, Wonder Woman and Supergirl.
9. Multimedia Bundles
This is the type of thinking outside the box that it shouldn’t have taken DC until 2015 to think up – there are a number of books/films in this series – Morrison/Quitely’s “JLA Earth 2,” “Wonder Woman: Gods and Mortals,” “Batman: Black and White,” “Batman: Year One,” “Justice League: Origin,” and “The Death of Superman” are all paired with their DC Animated counterparts, for the (somewhat) reasonable price of $27. The real key will be if DC can get this into big box stores, so that a parent/aunt or uncle/kindly adult can run into this outside of the LCBS and pick it up for a gift. This is a perfect fandom gateway drug – embrace this, DC!
THE DEATH OF SUPERMAN HC BOOK AND DVD/BLU-RAY SET
Written by various • Art by various
Cover by DAN JURGENS and BRETT BREEDING
On sale TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 1 • 168 pg, FC, $26.99 US
When a hulking monster begins a mindless rampage, only Superman can stand against the monstrosity called “Doomsday.” Accompanying this collection is the animated movie SUPERMAN: DOOMSDAY on Blu-Ray and DVD discs! Read the book, watch the movie!
8. DC’s Cover Game is Strong
I’ve been noticing over the past few months that DC has really upped its covers game, bringing in folks like Tony Daniel, Kevin Wada, and the featured Bill Sienkiewicz to do more covers – this is super smart, as they look amazing. Look at that cover and tell me that you’re not at least reasonably curious as to what is on the inside? I dare you, come on. Do it. I can take it. I dare you.
That said, someone please add Batwing to this book ASAP.
GOTHAM BY MIDNIGHT #8
Written by RAY FAWKES
Art by JUAN FERREYRA
Cover by BILL SIENKIEWICZ
On sale AUGUST 26 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
Two of Gotham City’s top news anchors seem to be swaying the minds of the public with sinister supernatural intentions.
7. The ‘Divergence’ Preview Gives Me Hope
Of all of the New 52 mistakes, “Teen Titans” might be the most unforgivable. As I’ve often been known to shout from a bar or my basement, the Titans, to me, are the quintessential DC property, the single entity that defines the heart of the company more than Superman or Batman. And yet, here we are, almost 4 years later, and the characters are still very much in the toilet. Well, the “Divergence Sneak Peek” that appeared in “Convergence: Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes” last week added some positive signs to their medical chart: a sense of familial obligation, dialogue that didn’t feel lifted from “Bloodstrike,” and a purpose beyond just “hey! we are young!” I’m not saying this is going to be Wolfman/Perez mach 2, but it is a start.
Continued belowTEEN TITANS #11
Written by WILL PFEIFER
Art by FELIPE WATANABE
Cover by BENGAL
Bombshells Variant cover by ANT LUCIA
On sale AUGUST 26 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Retailers: This issue will arrive in stores with two covers. Please see the order form for details.
Red Robin draws closer to proving Superboy’s innocence! But with the Titans trapped behind bars, in a prison built to house superpowered criminals, how will the truth ever be revealed?
6. The Super Books Get Amazing Covers
This month, each book that passes through the “Truth” storyline will get a cover that looks a lot like the one above. These covers feature the major characters of each book in these stylized windows, and the effect is stunning. See above for my gushing over DC’s recent cover dress – this is an easy area where they can improve their books and, specifically, increase impulse sales. I’m far more likely to pick up this issue on a whim than I am this issue, even though the latter was written by one of the masters of modern comics.
ACTION COMICS #43
Written by GREG PAK and AARON KUDER
Art and cover by AARON KUDER
Bombshells Variant cover by ANT LUCIA
On sale AUGUST 5 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for more information.
“Truth” continues as Superman defies the Metropolis police and faces a new threat from the shadows!
5. A sub already?
This book is one of the titles that is generating the most buzz ahead of June, and for good reason – Ming Doyle, James Tynion IV, and Riley Rossmo are all excellent creators. But here we are, just in the third issue, and Rossmo isn’t on the issue. Luckily, this is a planned month off, and not something that should be a problem. Plus, Vanesa Del Rey is a great choice to fill in.
CONSTANTINE: THE HELLBLAZER #3
Written by MING DOYLE and JAMES TYNION IV
Art by VANESA DEL REY
Cover by RILEY ROSSMO
1:25 Variant cover by KEVIN WADA
On sale AUGUST 12 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for more information.
Someone is murdering ghosts, a supernatural crime so impossible to solve that John Constantine is forced to return to London and seek help from the one person he hates more than any other; a magician above reproach, a darling of London high society, and a friend to superheroes everywhere. She is Georgiana Snow…the HECKBLAZER!
4. A New Society Forms
It took me a second to realize that this cover featured Lois Lane, the Red Tornado robot Earth 2 version – dressed up like a reporter again, and once I realized that, I perked up a bit. Look, “Earth 2” exceeded all expectations under the pens of James Robinson and Tom Taylor, but once Daniel Wilson took over the weekly “Earth 2 World’s End,” the quality suffered big time. Whether that was a product of the weekly schedule, or the foray into group-writing, or what, but I’m willing to give Wilson a shot at taking these characters someplace interesting.
EARTH 2: SOCIETY #3
Written by DANIEL H. WILSON
Art and cover by JORGE JIMENEZ
1:25 Variant cover by ANDY KUBERT
On sale AUGUST 12 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for details.
The utopic society of Earth-2 begins to show cracks as the new world reacts to the assassination plot that’s left a huge power vacuum on the planet. Which hero can step up to fill the void?
3. An Important, and Fun, Collection
Continued below
“Mad Magazine” doesn’t get the credit it deserves for being a huge part of the history of sequential art, as well as the home of some of the most subversive humor of its era. DC is releasing three collections of early “Mad” work from Jack Davis, Will Elder, and Wally Wood individually, and as this collection of all three. I recently had the opportunity to go back and read a bunch of this era “Mad” for an article that never really came together, and I was left quite impressed by both the humor and the quality of the art on just about every page. This might be the best $45 you’ll spend this year.
MAD’S ORIGINAL IDIOTS: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION OF THE WORK OF JACK DAVIS, WILL ELDER AND WALLY WOOD IN MAD COMICS #1-23
Written by HARVEY KURTZMAN
Art by JACK DAVIS, WALLY WOOD and WILL ELDER
On sale SEPTEMBER 30 • 528 pg, FC, $44.99 US
Can’t decide which MAD ART book you want the most? We humbly suggest you buy them all in this new slipcase that includes all three volumes spotlighting the art of Jack Davis, Wally Wood and Will Elder, pulled from the pages of MAD COMICS #1-23!
2. Fare Thee Well, “Coffin Hill”
I read the first trade of “Coffin Hill” on a whim one afternoon, and found myself instantly hooked. Kitteredge crafted a unique little book that always felt like it should have taken off more than it did. It is a shame that, in the modern Vertigo era, a book like this couldn’t last a little longer. But hey, there are 21 issues of completely underrated comic out there for everyone to check out now. Get on it.
COFFIN HILL #21
Written by CAITLIN KITTREDGE
Art by INAKI MIRANDA
Cover by DAVE JOHNSON
On sale AUGUST 26 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • MATURE READERS • FINAL ISSUE
Coffin Hill is full of stories, and Eve Coffin’s comes to an end as enemies old and new converge on her town and her family one last time. Eve would sacrifice anything to protect them…and she may have to sacrifice everything.
1. Hail to the King
It is time for honesty: when Tom King was announced on “Grayson,” I was supremely disappointed. His history in the CIA made for an interesting byline, but didn’t do anything for me creatively until I saw his work. Once I did, I ate my words.
Then, when the solicits for “The Omega Men” was released, I was similarly nonplussed. Then, the “Divergence Sneak Peek” came out, and I was blown away. Creative layouts, compelling characters, and a hook that grabbed me square in my cheek, and it quickly became one of my most anticipated releases of June. The solicits – and covers – each month just reinforce that this has the chance to be a special book. Can the readers support it? Please do so!
OMEGA MEN #3
Written by TOM KING
Art by BARNABY BAGENDA and JOSE MARZAN, JR.
Cover by TREVOR HUTCHISON
1:25 Variant cover by TOBY CYPRESS
On sale AUGUST 5 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for more information.
Save the princess! First, the treacherous Omega Men murder White Lantern Kyle Rayner in cold blood, then they steal a deadly Citadel warship, and now they’ve absconded with Kalista, the exalted daughter of Euphorix. What cruelty will they perpetrate upon the sweet princess?
Let me know if I missed anything in the comments, and check out the full solicits over at Comic Book Resources.
