In all of my time doing this column, this might be the most jam-packed DC’s solicits have ever been. I had to leave a bunch of great stuff on the cutting room floor, and still had to cheat a bit to squeeze in some extra comics.
10. The Digital First Line Grows
DC’s Digital First line appears to be targeted at fans who get their superhero fix outside of comics, and the line exists to help lure them over to sequential art. And so, starting February online and March in print, “Batman: Arkham Knight” will act as both a hype man for the game of the same name and as an attempt to bring in some new fans. Having Peter Tomasi write it certainly helps lend some credibility to the book, and the success DC has had in bringing its games to digital comics is well documented.
BATMAN: ARKHAM KNIGHT #1
Written by PETER J. TOMASI
Art by VIKTOR BOGDANOVIC and ART THIBERT
Cover by DAN PANOSIAN
1:10 Game art variant cover
1:25 Variant cover by GARY FRANK
On sale MARCH 11 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T • DIGITAL FIRST
Retailers: This issue will arrive in stores with three covers. Please see the order form for details.The Joker is dead. Arkham City is closed. As a new day begins, Bruce Wayne finds himself in devastating pain, recovering from his injuries and questioning whether his role as Batman is still necessary to the city’s survival. But as the sun rises in Gotham City, dangerous new threats emerge from the shadows…and the Arkham Knight is just beginning. Don’t miss this in-continuity prequel comic set prior to the events of the brand-new video game Batman: Arkham Knight!
9. A Very Odd Reprint Collection
This month features a bunch of great reprints, from Marv Wolfman’s “Deathstroke the Terminator” to a new JSA 75th Anniversary collection, but the collection labeled “Superman Vs. Darkseid” is the one that caught my eye the most. This is a really weird gathering of stories, running the entire post-Crisis gamut, from 1987 to 2013. I suppose that this could be a collection put together in anticipation of the upcoming ‘Darkseid War’ that will run in “Justice League” during the summer, but that seems a little odd, too – wouldn’t they then focus on Justice League vs. Darkseid stories?
Here’s my crackpot theory of the month: this is the first hint that Darkseid is the main villain in Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice.
SUPERMAN VS. DARKSEID TP
Written by JOHN BYRNE, JEPH LOEB, GREG PAK, MARV WOLFMAN and others
Art by JOHN BYRNE, TERRY AUSTIN, MICHAEL TURNER, MIKE McKONE, SCOTT KOLINS and others
Cover by ADAM KUBERT
On sale APRIL 22 • 240 pg, FC, $19.99 US
The Man of Steel battles the dark lord of Apokolips in this new title collecting SUPERMAN #3 (1987), ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #426, ACTION COMICS #586, SUPERMAN VS. DARKSEID: APOKOLIPS NOW!, SUPERMAN/BATMAN #12-13, COUNTDOWN #3-2, DEATH OF THE NEW GODS #8 and JUSTICE LEAGUE #23.1!
8. Movie Poster Variants = The Best
There are a bunch of absolutely great variants DC is rolling out this month, between the “Grayson” Enter the Dragon homage to the Beetlejuice parody gracing the “Justice League Dark” cover. But nothing comes close to the awesomeness that is this Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure inspired “Action Comics” over. From the 4 “replacement” Supermen in the phonebooth to Superman’s mullet, this is both a Bill and Ted homage and a celebration of the Superman of the 90’s. God I love it.
Continued belowACTION COMICS #40
Written by GREG PAK
Art and cover by AARON KUDER
MOVIE POSTER Variant cover by JOE QUINONES
1:25 Variant cover by JAE LEE
On sale MARCH 4 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with three covers. Please see the order form for details.
Bizarro make Superman sane! Happy to see each other! No fighting ever!
7. Endgame Ends, But Takes a Few Books With It
So, while ‘Endgame,’ the current “Batman” arc wraps up, it grabs four other Batbooks to have special one-shot tie-ins with: “Gotham Academy,” “Arkham Manor,” “Detective Comics,” and “Batgirl.” Outside of “Arkham Manor,” each of the books feature the regular title’s writer penning it, which gives me hope that the tie-ins will be good, but I think I speak for all of us when I say that it is a disappointment that there can’t just be a simple “Batman” event – that they all must bleed out into other titles.
While on the ‘Endgame’ topic, the cover for “Batman” #40 also deserves a view because, damn Capullo.
BATGIRL: ENDGAME #1
Written by CAMERON STEWART and BRENDEN FLETCHER
Art by BENGAL
Cover by RAFAEL ALBUQUERQUE
One-shot • On sale MARCH 18 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
There’s a mob of Jokerized madmen in Gotham City, and they’re determined to spread the virus into the world beyond… but they’re gonna have to get past Batgirl first! There are no words that can describe “The Battle For The Burnside Bridge”– you’ve got to see it to believe it!
6. Batman for the Bookstore Crowd
The only Earth One book I’ve read is “Teen Titans Earth One,” and while I enjoyed that, I am not really the target demographic for the Earth One series. But DC has decided that this line is a priority, and are acting on it by keeping folks like Geoff Johns and Gary Frank on the series. From what I have gathered, “Batman Earth One” was better received among comic fans than “Superman Earth One” was, and so I am contemplating checking them out. Let me know in the comments if it is worth my time.
BATMAN EARTH ONE VOL. 2 HC
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art by GARY FRANK and JON SIBAL
Cover by GARY FRANK
On sale MAY 6 • 160 pg, FC, $24.99 US
It’s here – the sequel to the #1 New York Times bestseller and critically acclaimed BATMAN: EARTH ONE by the superstar creative team of writer Geoff Johns and artist Gary Frank! While Gotham City is plunged into terror by an enigmatic anarchist and killer calling himself The Riddler, the Dark Knight must reconcile the increasingly conflicting ideologies of Detective Jim Gordon and Bruce Wayne’s head of security, Alfred Pennyworth. But there are many more mysteries lurking within Gotham City, including the secret agenda of Harvey Dent and the bizarre creature prowling the sewers – Killer Croc!
5. The Multiversity Wraps – But Multiversity Will Live On!
Two issues of “The Multiversity” hit shelves this month: the “poison” Ultra Comics issue, and this, the finale that wraps up our favorite miniseries of the year. Personally, I am more enjoying the issues that are single-world focused rather than the overarching story, but I don’t see this disappointing at all.
Even more interesting will be to see what, if any, impact the series will have on the post-“Convergence” DCU.
Continued belowTHE MULTIVERSITY #2
Written by GRANT MORRISON
Art and cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO
1:10 B&W Variant cover by IVAN REIS
1:25 Variant cover by MICHAEL ALLRED
1:50 Variant cover by JOHN ROMITA, JR. and KLAUS JANSON
1:100 Variant cover by GRANT MORRISON
Advance solicit • On sale APRIL 1 • 56 pg, FC, $5.99 US • RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with five covers. Please see the order form for details.
Every event in the history of the DC Universe has been leading to this! The final chapter of the greatest adventure of all time is here!
Issue #1 artist Ivan Reis reteams with mastermind Grant Morrison to end THE MULTIVERSITY and bring together the greatest and bravest heroes of the DC Multiverse to fight one last battle. But more than just some cabal of super-villains, they face the greatest evil that ever existed. An evil so massive, they actually may not stand a chance!
Who are the mystic Justice League of Earth-13 and what role does their leader Super Demon play in the crisis rising all around them? What shocking secret motivates the dark, nightmare henchmen known as The Gentry? And what is the final fate of Nix Uotan – the Super-God?!
You cannot miss this final, stunning chapter of Grant Morrison’s ultimate super hero epic!
4. The End is Here
As we discussed yesterday, DC axed a shit ton of books with these solicits – not counting the three weeklies wrapping up, DC cut “Infinity Man and the Forever People,” “Batwoman,” “Arkham Manor,” “Green Lantern: New Guardians,” “Red Lanterns,” “Green Lantern Corps,” “Secret Origins,” “Star-Spangled War Stories Featuring G.I. Zombie,” “Klarion,” “Aquaman and the Others,” “Worlds’ Finest,” “Trinity of Sin” and “Swamp Thing.”
These fall into a few categories: the ‘really were always intended to be minis’ (“Klarion,” “G.I. Zombie,” “Arkham Manor”), the ‘no one was reading this garbage’ category (“Aquaman and the Others,” “Trinity of Sin”), the ‘the logical place to end the book based on the story’ (“New Guardians,” “Worlds’ Finest,” “Swamp Thing”), and the ‘in need of retooling’ (“Green Lantern Corps,” “Batwoman”). None of these, outside of maybe “GLC” is really a shock, but many of them will be missed. “New Guardians,” in particular, was unlike anything else DC was doing, but is wrapping up in a logical and satisfactory place.
Fare thee well, cancelled books – somehow, “Red Hood and the Outlaws” and “Justice League 3000” survive.
GREEN LANTERN: NEW GUARDIANS #40
Written by JUSTIN JORDAN
Art and cover by DIOGENES NEVES and MARC DEERING
On sale MARCH 18 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T • FINAL ISSUE
Once and for all, Kyle will come to terms with his destiny as the White Lantern, filler of the Reservoir behind the Source Wall that keeps our universe from destructing. But how can he ever accept the fact that this role will soon kill him? The fate of the White Lantern will be revealed in this extra-sized final issue!
3. SPORTS! SPORTS! SPORTS! SPORTS!
Taking its name from an obscure 70s DC book, this looks incredible. Just look at the talent lined up: Paul Pope, Gilbert Hernandez, Nick Dragotta, Ben McCool! The big name here is CM Punk, although that way end up more of a gimmick than anyone would like, but even if he wasn’t here, the lineup would be impressive.
STRANGE SPORTS STORIES #1
Written by various
Art by various
Cover by PAUL POPE
1:13 Variant cover by MIKE MITCHELL
On sale MARCH 18 • 40 pg, 1 of 4, FC, $4.99 US • MATURE READERS
Retailers: This issue will arrive in stores with two covers. Please see the order form for details.
Comics’ top talents, including some making their Vertigo debut, take on the classic DC Comics anthology title for four issues of strange, scary, sexy and sensational sports stories. Featuring stories and art by Brian Azzarello, CM Punk, Paul Pope, Gilbert Hernandez, Lauren Beukes, Ben McCool, Ivan Brandon, Monica Gallagher, Lee Loughridge, Nick Dragotta, Christopher Mitten, Darick Robertson, Mark Finn, John Lucas, Gabe Soria, Ronald Wimberly, Michael DiMotta, Tim Fish, Rael Lyra and many more!
2.The End…and the Future
This month brings the end of DC’s three weeklies – “Batman Eternal,” “New 52: Futures End,” and “Earth 2: World’s End.” Elements of these stories will live on, but the books will wrap up these specific tales. Consider this: at the end of their run, “Eternal” and “Futures End” will be the highest numbered books DC is publishing. There are more issues featuring Fifty Sue than most of the characters in the New 52. Isn’t that weird?
But outside of the three weeklies and the various cancellations, a lot of the stories in other books appear to be wrapping up. This helps fuel speculation that the lightest of reboots will be happening come June. Well, all the books lead to that conclusion except for one solicit:
Continued belowJUSTICE LEAGUE #40
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art and cover by JASON FABOK
MOVIE POSTER Variant cover by EMANUELA LUPACCHINO
1:25 Variant cover by ALEX GARNER
On sale MARCH 18 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US
Retailers: This issue will ship with four covers. Please see the order form for details.
The prologue to this summer’s upcoming JUSTICE LEAGUE event – “THE DARKSEID WAR”! It’s been building since JUSTICE LEAGUE #1. Now, Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, The Flash, Aquaman, Cyborg and the rest of the DC Universe will come face to face with the two most powerful and dangerous entities in existence when both come for Earth. But why? To what lengths with the League have to go to survive? And what secrets about the League will be revealed?
This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.
This is the only issue of the entire DC slate that talks about something that hasn’t happened yet – so, the question is this: is this a clue that “Convergence” won’t have any impact at all, or is this an outlier? Could it even be a red herring?
THE NEW 52: FUTURES END #48
Written by BRIAN AZZARELLO, JEFF LEMIRE, DAN JURGENS and KEITH GIFFEN
Art by PATRICK ZIRCHER
Cover by RYAN SOOK
1:50 Variant cover by RYAN SOOK
Advance solicit • On sale APRIL 1 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T • FINAL ISSUE
Retailers: This issue will arrive in stores with two covers. Please see the order form for details.
“EYE AM YOUR FUTURE!”
1. A Motherfucking Mother Box
Christmas 2015 – hook a brother up, folks.
DC COMICS MOTHER BOX PROP REPLICA
Now you can own your own sentient, miniaturized, portable supercomputer and feel like you are one of the New Gods with this intricately detailed prop replica. Just don’t expect it to be able to actually open a “boom tube” and transport you to New Genesis.
WITH LIGHTS AND SOUND!
Measures Approximately 8.75″ Tall
$59.95 US • On Sale July 2015 * Allocations May Occur
0. Convergence Begins
Ok, so I am cheating by having a “0,” but since this is a zero issue, and since it is really kicking off next month, I felt this was appropriate. This book, and the ensuing minis, really have piqued my interest and, if the Multiversity staff is a good barometer, it has done the same for a good chunk of comic fans.
My biggest hope is, as it always is, a good story, but secondarily, I really hope that this is the start of DC taking more risks, and maybe course correcting more freely.
CONVERGENCE #0
Written by DAN JURGENS and JEFF KING
Art and cover by ETHAN VAN SCIVER
1:10 B&W Variant cover by ETHAN VAN SCIVER
1:25 Variant cover by DARWYN COOKE
1:50 Variant cover by PATRICK ZIRCHER
1:100 Variant cover by ADAM HUGHES
Advance solicit • On sale APRIL 1 • 40 pg, FC, $4.99 US RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with five covers. Please see the order form for more information.
Where do worlds go when they die?
The Earthquakes felt round the Multiverse, Superman’s lost days after “Doomed,” the World’s End – all these points will converge as the history of the DCU is spun from a new perspective, the perspective of a mad god and his arrogant child. The biggest story in DC history ties into literally every DC story ever told – and it all begins here.
Kingdom Come, Red Son, Wild West Justice League, Captain Carrot and the Zoo Crew – all the worlds you remember can still be found on Telos. Everything matters. Every story matters.
Don’t miss the start of DC’s April/May 2015 event with this special issue!
For the full solicits, check out Comic Book Resources.
