This is a tough month to be covering DC’s solicits, as every single in-universe issue is wrapping up a “Covergence” tie in, or is the main “Convergence” series. So, instead of retreading ground from last month, I’m just looking at non-“Convergence” titles. So, if you’re curious as to my thoughts on the second month’s “Convergence” titles, sorry!
10. Year Four! (Of Me Not Reading This Title)
This videogame to comic adaptation is probably the first big success of the digital first era, and the fact that it is entering its fourth year is pretty staggering, but that doesn’t change the fact that I’ve never read a single issue of the book. Staff writer Jess Camacho has sung its praises a few times, but I’m so sick of the dark and gritty versions of these characters taking center stage, I don’t really want to contribute to that.
But if you dig this book, be happy it is coming back!
INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US YEAR FOUR #1
Written by BRIAN BUCCELLATO
Art by BRUNO REDONDO, XERMANICO and JUAN ALBARRAN
Cover by HOWARD PORTER
1:25 Variant cover by MATTHEW CLARK
Retailers: This issue will arrive in stores with two covers. Please see the order form for details.
On sale MAY 13 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T • DIGITAL FIRST
Superman’s regime has been opposed by the Green Lantern Corps and by those who wield the power of magic, but the Man of Steel has emerged battered yet still in control. Now he’s about to face his greatest opponents yet: the gods themselves! Hera’s role in awakening Wonder Woman from her coma has drawn the attention of Mount Olympus, and these new players are about to test existing alliances.
9. One of Morrison’s Earliest Bat-works in Hardcover For the First Time
I am legitimately shocked that DC hasn’t started to pump out Grant Morrison Batman omnibi – there is more than enough content, and it seems like something that a lot of people would want. Until then, we will probably get more sporadic releases like this one, focusing on the smaller runs that Morrison did – but what makes this special is that this is the first time Morrison had more than an oversized issue to work with Batman, and this is more disconnected from his other Bat-work work (although certainly themes and little aspects do pop up later on). Plus, Janson’s art is dope enough to justify a nice hardcover on your shelf.
BATMAN: GOTHIC DELUXE EDITION HC
Written by GRANT MORRISON
Art and cover by KLAUS JANSON
On sale JULY 22 • 144 pg, FC, 7.0625” x 10.875”, $24.99 US
In this epic from BATMAN: LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT #6-10, published here for the first time in hardcover, the Dark Knight Detective must defeat an immortal killer while dealing with a terrifying horror from Bruce Wayne’s youth. While plagued by nightmares about his childhood, Batman investigates the murders of crime bosses in Gotham City. But what will he do when he discovers that the macabre killer is actually the headmaster who tormented Bruce Wayne as a boy?
8. DC’s Reprint Game is Getting Stronger
It is hard for fans to forgive companies for lackluster collections; take the old “Batman: Cataclysm” trade, which was missing four stories from the crossover, for reasons unknown. So, DC going back and reprinting this minor, but beloved, Bat-tale is another indication the DC is trying to get its collections right. To that, I say bravo.
Continued belowBATMAN: CATACLYSM TP NEW EDITION
Written by CHUCK DIXON and others
Art by VARIOUS
Cover by BRIAN STELFREEZE
On sale JUNE 10 • 464 pg, FC, $29.99 US
This new edition of BATMAN: CATACLYSM includes material never collected before from BATMAN #553-554, DETECTIVE COMICS #719-721, BATMAN: SHADOW OF THE BAT #73-74, NIGHTWING #19-20, AZRAEL #40, CATWOMAN #56-57, ROBIN #52-53, BATMAN CHRONICLES #12, BLACKGATE: ISLE OF MEN #1, HUNTRESS/SPOILER: BLUNT TRAUMA #1, BATMAN: ARKHAM ASYLUM: TALES OF MADNESS #1.
7. We May See This End by Winter!
To give some context here: when this book was first announced, Mitt Romney and Barack Obama were campaigning to be President of the United States. By the time this series wraps up, it will (more than likely) have taken three years to get six issues out to readers. Sure, JH Williams is doing some amazing work, but the pace is utterly frustrating. This is an example of a book that shouldn’t have been announced until it was nearly done, or released as a original graphic novel, instead of the silly solicitations that never come true anyway. Regardless, word is that they want a collected edition by Christmas, so we’ll see how long it actually takes for #6 to come out.
THE SANDMAN: OVERTURE #5
Written by NEIL GAIMAN
Art by J.H. WILLIAMS III
Cover A by J.H. WILLIAMS III
Cover B by DAVE McKEAN
1:100 special ink variant cover by J.H. WILLIAMS III
1:200 special ink variant cover by DAVE McKEAN
On sale MAY 27 • 32 pg, FC, 5 of 6, $3.99 US • MATURE READERS • Combo Pack Edition: $4.99 US
The fate of the entire universe hangs in the balance when Dream finally gets his mother’s full attention. Magic, joy, war and heartbreak are brought to life on the pages with epic luminosity in the penultimate issue of THE SANDMAN: OVERTURE.
This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.
6. The Best Way to Fuck With Your Coworkers
So, let’s set the scene. You know one of your employees loves The Flash; you have $35 burning a hole in your pocket. Pick up the ring, put it on, and start being a little more shady/mysterious. Watch the hilarity ensue!
Also, how hilarious is this line in the solicit “You’ll feel like you are one of the two fastest men alive” – essentially, “Hey nerds, lower your expectations!”
REVERSE-FLASH RING
You’ll feel like you are one of the two fastest men alive with this intricately detailed replica of the ring worn by Reverse Flash as seen on the hit TV series!
Ring Size – 12.5
$34.95 US • On Sale September 2015 * Allocations May Occur
5. Not Really a Geoff Johns Omnibus, But Whatever
Spoiler alert: here is the “Written by” text from the solicit: Written by Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Peter Tomasi and others. So, this is sort of a stretch to call it the “Gree Lantern by Geoff Johns Omnibus,” but I get what they’re saying: this is from the Johns era, but features many writers. This is, essentially, the “Blackest Night” omnibus, with some extra GL stuff tossed in. I’m not complaining, but this sets an interesting precedent – we know there is a “Brightest Day” omnibus, but will any of those stories appear in Vol. 3 of the Johns omnibus series, as Hal was a major player in that crossover?
GREEN LANTERN BY GEOFF JOHNS OMNIBUS VOL. 2 HC
Written by GEOFF JOHNS, GRANT MORRISON, PETER J. TOMASI and others
Art by MIKE McKONE, IVAN REIS, PHILIP TAN, DOUG MAHNKE, ED BENES and others
Cover by IVAN REIS and OCLAIR ALBERT
On sale JULY 29 • 1,040 pg, FC, $99.99 US
The second massive volume of GREEN LANTERN tales written by best-selling writer Geoff Johns is here, collecting GREEN LANTERN #26-52, BLACKEST NIGHT #0-7, DC UNIVERSE #0, UNTOLD TALES OF BLACKEST NIGHT #1-2 and BLACKEST NIGHT: TALES OF THE CORPS #1-2. In these stories, Hal Jordan and his comrades must face the threat of the Alpha Lanterns, the rage of the Red Lanterns, the rise of the Black Lanterns, and much more!
4. The End of “Hinterkind”
This is a Vertigo book that, for whatever reason, never really caught on. I give DC credit for giving it 18 issues to make something work, but it seems about time this book was put out to pasture. Fare thee well, “Hinterkind” – I’m sorry for constantly calling you “Hinterland.”
Continued belowHINTERKIND #18
Written by IAN EDGINTON
Art by FRANCESCO TRIFOGLI
Cover by MARGUERITE SAUVAGE
On sale MAY 6 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • MATURE READERS • FINAL ISSUE
The west coast is at war and the day of the dragon is at hand. Old enemies are confronted and new alliances forged. It could be the end of everything or a new beginning for both human and Hinterkind. The fate of the green world rests on the shoulders of Prosper Monday, dragon rider.
3. Corporate Synergy! Yeah!
So, Warner Bros is making another Mad Max film, and DC is getting on that sweet, sweet action. So, they got the creator of the series to cowrite this one-shot, and act as a prelude for the films. Sure, there may not be a ton of crossover between fans of the film series and comics readers (there may be, for all I know), but there’s nothing wrong with DC trying to get in on some of that sweet, sweet Road Warrior action.
MAD MAX: FURY ROAD: NUX & IMMORTAN JOE #1
Written by GEORGE MILLER, NICO LATHOURIS and MARK SEXTON
Art by RICCARDO BURCHIELLI and LEANDRO FERNANDEZ
Cover by TOMMY LEE EDWARDS
One-shot • On sale MAY 20 • 40 pg, FC, $4.99 US • MATURE READERS
In a fallen world ravaged by oil and water wars, humanity exists without law or mercy. All those who wander the Wasteland are ruled by a single imperative…survive!
Among them is Max Rockatansky, a Road Warrior haunted by his turbulent past…
“It’s hard to know who is more crazy.
Me or everyone else?!”
In this first issue, witness the rise of Colonel Joe Moore, a war hero turned tyrannical warlord…The Immortan Joe!
And don’t miss the story of Nux, one of the Immortan’s “War Boys,” who knows only the chaos into which he was born.
From the mind of George Miller, the creator of the Mad Max trilogy, comes a brand new epic tale that serves as a prelude to the upcoming film, Mad Max: Fury Road!
2. Sometimes Corporate Synergy Looks Awesome
As much as I’m not that interested in the “Mad Max” one-shot, this ‘Inspired Artists Deluxe Edition’ hardcover looks pretty awesome. DC got 65 artists to do Mad Max inspired double page spreads. Look at some of these names: Pope, Mack, Sienkiewicz, Chiang, Bisley, Hernandez, Shalvey, Isaacs, Johnson – c’mon now. That is some serious starpower, and it should be a pretty incredible visual book.
MAD MAX: FURY ROAD – INSPIRED ARTISTS DELUXE EDITION HC
Art by BILL SIENKIEWICZ, LEE BERMEJO, DAVE JOHNSON, PAUL POPE, DAVID MACK, HOWARD CHAYKIN, NICOLA SCOTT, GABRIELE DELL’OTTO, CLIFF CHIANG, GEORGE PRATT, TOMMY LEE EDWARDS, JOHN PAUL LEON, TEDDY KRISTIANSEN, SIMON BISLEY, GILBERT HERNANDEZ, JAVIER PULIDO, TARA McPHERSON, DECLAN SHALVEY, REBEKAH ISAACS, DAVE McKEAN and many more!
With commentary by GEORGE MILLER and the artists
On sale MAY 6 • 144 pg, FC, 7.0625” x 10.875”, $24.99 US • MATURE READERS
In anticipation of the upcoming blockbuster film Mad Max: Fury Road, 65 of comics’ best artists took to the post-apocalyptic landscape to interpret this gorgeous and desolate world of George Miller’s design. Inspired by images from the film, each of these visionary artists brings their unique style to a double-page spread of part of the world of Mad Max, with commentary from the artists and Miller himself. From breathtaking action sequences to heartbreaking character portraits, Fury Road will be perfectly captured by a one-of-a-kind array of comics legends, side-by-side with some of the most exciting new talent in the industry!
1. Mark my Words: a Monkey Fighting a Robot Will Always be #1 in my Heart
I am getting more and more excited for this mini as the solicits come out. The list of creators hasn’t really changed, but this cover really spoke to me: everything about this Wes Craig image tickles my fancy, and has me stoked for the series.
Continued belowSTRANGE SPORTS STORIES #3
Written by VARIOUS
Art by VARIOUS
Cover by WES CRAIG
On sale MAY 13 • 40 pg, FC, 3 of 4, $4.99 US • MATURE READERS
Continuing the Vertigo take on the classic DC Comics anthology title for a third issue 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!
For the full set of solicits, check out our pals at Comic Book Resources.
