Earlier this year, both in this column and in the DC3, we discussed the “Five Years Later” special September issues. Since then, DC has released the creative teams (which can be found at the link at the bottom of this piece), and while there are some interesting choices, I didn’t want to just rehash two old columns here.
So, instead, this is a look at the non-Five Years Later issues DC is putting out in September.
10. “Scooby Doo Team Up” Survives
Last month, I speculated that the series, which wasn’t solicited, was perhaps retroactively cancelled, but it turns out the book just needed a month off. Now that it is back, let’s bask in the old-school drawing of the Invisible Plane.
SCOOBY-DOO TEAM-UP #6
Written by SHOLLY FISCH
Art and cover by DARIO BRIZUELA
SEPTEMBER 3 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED E
When the Hall of Justice is haunted, who can the Super Friends call to save the day? Their pals Scooby, Shaggy, Fred, Velma and Daphne, of course! But when the Mystery Machine pulls into town, will the gang be able to help, or will Shaggy’s phobias give these ghosts an advantage?!
9. “Scribblenauts Unmasked” Does Not
DC’s Digital First line has taken some risks, going outside of the regular realm of superhero comics to try some approaches that would never fly in the print-first world. I, in total honesty, have never picked up this book, nor do I have any real experience with the Scribbelanuts franchise, but I applaud DC for attempting to bring fans from one realm into the comics realm.
SCRIBBLENAUTS UNMASKED: A CRISIS OF IMAGINATION #9
Written by JOSH ELDER
Art and cover by ADAM ARCHER
SEPTEMBER 17 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
RATED E • DIGITAL FIRST • FINAL ISSUE
The end is here! With the Ultimate League of Ultimate Justice on the brink of defeat, can Maxwell scribble his way out of this one and save the universe? Or will the Anti-Monitor finish the story by erasing him once and for all? Find out in our final issue!
8. Nor Does “Adventures of Superman”
While I did not spend too much time lamented the end of the Scribblenauts book, I will lament “Adventures of Superman.” A continuity-free space for creators to tell their Superman story, regardless of what else is going on in the DCU, allowed a lot of pretty great stories to be told. It gave some new creators a voice, old creators another shot at the Big S, and let Superman, somewhere, look and sound like Superman.
Fare thee well, “Adventures of Superman.”
ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #17
Written by JERRY ORDWAY, KELLY SUE DeCONNICK and STEVE NILES
Art by STEVE RUDE, VALENTINE DeLANDRO and MATTHEW DOW SMITH
Cover by STEVE RUDE
SEPTEMBER 24 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T • DIGITAL FIRST • FINAL ISSUE
Superstar creators unite for the final issue of the series! First, a Superman/O.M.A.C. team-up as only Jerry Ordway and Steve Rude can deliver! Then, when Lois Lane gets Superman a mystery gift for Valentine’s Day, Superman speculates with his friends about what it could be – and what he should get her in return! Finally, Superman is confronted by a ghost from Krypton! Don’t miss out!
7. “JSA” Omnibus Vol. 2 Follows Suit
For years, I’ve been wanting the “JSA” book collected in a nice hardcover omnibus – to think I’d get two volumes in one calendar year is incredibly satisfying. This era of the book featured the best art of the series – just look at the list below: Rags Morales, Peter Snejbjerg, Jerry Ordway, Leonard Kirk, c’mon now. That is a pretty insane level of talent.
Add to that the rich, history filled stories of Geoff Johns and a pre-Man of Steel David Goyer. Johns had such a great run on this book, he’s still talking it.
Continued belowJSA OMNIBUS VOL. 2 HC
Written by GEOFF JOHNS and DAVID GOYER
Art by RAGS MORALES, PETER SNEJBJERG, STEPHEN SADOWSKI, LEONARD KIRK, CARLOS PACHECO, DON KRAMER, JERRY ORDWAY and others
Cover by CARLOS PACHECO
NOVEMBER 26 • 1,488 pg, FC, 7.25” x 10.875”, $150.00 US
This second collection of Geoff Johns’s legendary run on JSA, featuring issues #26-81, JSA ANNUAL #1 and JSA SECRET FILES #1, takes the world’s first super-team from the deadly gambling den of Roulette, where villains bet on super-hero battles, to a confrontation with the Ultra-Humanite, who’s in control of Johnny Thunder’s Thunderbolt, to a battle against Vandal Savage in ancient Egypt, and more! Plus: Black Adam brings old world justice to Kahndaq! The Spectre runs rampant without a human host! And Mordru makes a move against magic-based heroes in the wake of DAY OF VENGEANCE!
6. “Superman Unchained” Finally Wraps Up
Let’s put how late “Superman Unchained” #9 is into context: the series started on exactly the same date that “Batman #21,” the start of ‘Zero Year,’ was published. “The Wake,” Snyder’s creator-owned 10 issue miniseries, started two weeks earlier. “The Wake” will wrap up in July, with taking a few months off. “Batman,” come August will publish its 14th issue in the same time span as “Unchained” has produced its 9. In addition to that, Jim Lee had 8 months from the announcement of the series to the release of the first issue, to get ahead.
And yet, here we are: the end of a series that started off strong, but has petered out into nothing. A series that, reportedly, Snyder didn’t know was a miniseries until Lee announced it was. A series that, looking back, never really had a shot.
SUPERMAN UNCHAINED #9
Written by SCOTT SNYDER
Art and wraparound cover by JIM LEE and SCOTT WILLIAMS
1:25 Variant wraparound cover by DAVID FINCH
1:50 Variant wraparound cover by BRYAN HITCH
1:100 B&W Variant wraparound cover by JIM LEE
Blank variant cover
RESOLICIT • On sale SEPTEMBER 10 • 40 pg, FC, $4.99 US
RATED T • Combo pack edition: $5.99 US • FINAL ISSUE
Retailers: This issue will ship with six covers. Please see the order form for more information. This issue is resolicited. All previous orders are cancelled.
This is it – the extraordinary, extra-sized finale of Scott Snyder and Jim Lee’s Superman saga, surrounded by an epic wraparound cover! It’s a battle in the sun as Superman and Wraith accept their destinies…and Lex Luthor pulls the trigger on his ultimate weapon!
This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.
5. “The Multiversity” Goes Pulp
I could sit here and gush about this solicit, and how it is everything we hoped an issue of “The Multiversity” would be. Instead, I’ll let you read it, and gush to yourself. Even if you don’t really want to, you’re reading a site called Multiversity. You sort of have to.
Continued belowTHE MULTIVERSITY: THE SOCIETY OF SUPER-HEROES: CONQUERORS OF THE COUNTER-WORLD #1
Written by GRANT MORRISON
Art and cover by CHRIS SPROUSE and KARL STORY
1:10 B&W Variant cover by CHRIS SPROUSE
1:25 Variant cover by FRAZER IRVING
1:50 Variant cover by GUILLEM MARCH
1:100 Variant cover by GRANT MORRISON
SEPTEMBER 17 • 48 pg, FC, $4.99 US • RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with five covers. Please see the order form for more information.
The biggest adventure in DC Comics history continues!
Grant Morrison joins modern legend Chris Sprouse (TOM STRONG, BATMAN: RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE, ACTION COMICS) for a trip to Earth-20 starring a Society of Super Heroes unlike anything you’ve seen before! It’s pulp Super Hero action with a post-modern twist — you can’t afford to miss it!
Who is the demon-like Green Lantern protecting Earth-20? What secret does Doc Fate hold that could save the world? Who are the hand-to-hand and air-to-air combat queens known as the Blackhawks? And what happens when these heroes come face to face with their diabolical Earth-40 counterparts – led by Vandal Savage – for an epic war between parallel worlds? Find out all that and more in this exciting stand-alone issue which also acts as chapter two of the overall MULTIVERSITY storyline. Join us, if you dare, for THE MULTIVERSITY!
4. “Fables” Wins
I am not up to date with “Fables,” but all I know is that this is the best solicit ever, replete with a “Kung Fu Fighting” reference.
FABLES #144
Written by BILL WILLINGHAM
Art by MARK BUCKINGHAM and STEVE LEIALOHA
Cover by NIMIT MALAVIA
SEPTEMBER 17 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • MATURE READERSThis is our solicitation,
Going out to every nation,
For a new issue of FABLES taking wing.We thought we would this time,
Do the entire blurb in rhyme,
Just to see if anyone actually reads this thing.In this issue, Bigby resurrected,
Quite more monstrous than expected,
Is challenged by a golden-armored knight.They throw down in the city,
And won’t it be a pity,
If lives are lost during the bloody fight.As our special gift to you,
We make this promise true,
That the actual issue won’t be all a-rhyming.‘Twill be done in the best prose we know,
About Bigby and his Fabled foe,
And their vicious battle fought with expert timing.
3. “Teen Titans” Celebrates Half a Century
I truly believe that “Teen Titans,” more than the Trinity characters, are truly what distinguish DC, and when the Titans are strong, their entire line is strong. This is further backed up by the fact that the Titans franchise has shit the bed in the New 52 and…well, you know.
This book, no cheap purchase, is a celebration of what makes the book so important and so fun. This collection should serve as a great reminder to DC of what can be of their franchise, and what it, sadly, isn’t.
TEEN TITANS: A CELEBRATON OF 50 YEARS HC
Written by BOB HANEY, MARV WOLFMAN, GEOFF JOHNS and others
Art by NICK CARDY, GEORGE PEREZ, MIKE McKONE and others
Cover by GEORGE PEREZ
NOVEMBER 5 • 400 pg, FC, $75.00 US
TEEN TITANS: A CELEBRATION OF 50 YEARS collects a wide range of stories featuring comics’ greatest teen superteam, including Nightwing, Cyborg, Superboy, Beast Boy, Starfire, Raven and more! This anthology collects stories from some of the industry’s legendary talents, including Marv Wolfman, George Pérez and Geoff Johns.
2. “The Names” Debuts
To get me interested in a new book, the first question I always ask is about the creative team – they aren’t the only answer I need to get interested, but it helps a lot. So, seeing Peter Milligan on a creator-owned work for Vertigo is a pretty instant declaration of interest for me.
Continued belowTHE NAMES #1
Written by PETER MILLIGAN
Art by LEANDRO FERNANDEZ
Cover by CELIA CALLE
1:13 Variant cover by LEANDRO FERNANDEZ
SEPTEMBER 3 • 32 pg, FC, 1 of 8, $2.99 US • MATURE READERS
Retailers: This issue will arrive in stores with two covers. Please see the order form for details.
New York City. Forty-year-old Kevin Walker is a successful trader. He’s incredibly rich. He has a young, sexy wife and a son he adores. He has everything. Until…
The mysterious man known as the Surgeon walks into Kevin’s office. He takes a seat and tells Kevin to write a suicide note. Trembling but obedient, Kevin does what the Surgeon says. Then, at a word from this well-dressed figure, Kevin jumps out his window and falls fifty stories to his death.
Thus begins THE NAMES, an 8-issue miniseries by writer Peter Milligan (HELLBLAZER, SKREEMER) and artist Leandro Fernandez (Wolverine, Punisher: Max). THE NAMES is a dark, contemporary thriller set in the world of Big Money: hedge funds, leveraged buyouts, market raids, flash crashes. High-end finance that can ruin entire economies, run by a cabal of the world’s richest (and sickest) people.
Now, it’s up to Katya Walker – the beautiful and deadly wife of the late Kevin – to take on this hidden power structure and find out who killed her husband, and why. No matter what it takes. No matter who she has to kill.
It’s The Wolf of Wall Street meets Kill Bill. And heaven help the 1%.
1. “Teen Titans: Earth One” Gets Solicited
The “Earth One” series isn’t meant for me. I’m not a guy who shops primarily in book stores, I’m not a guy who needs an “easy” introduction to an iconic series. That said, I’m a guy who needs a Lemire/Dodson “Teen Titans” joint.
In theory, this should be an example of what continuity free superhero storytelling can be – the real question is if the DC powers that be really let Lemire and the Dodsons do the book that they want to do. If so, despite the less than stellar track record of the “Earth One” series critically, this is the definition of a must buy.
TEEN TITANS EARTH ONE VOL. 1 HC
Written by JEFF LEMIRE
Art and cover by TERRY DODSON, RACHEL DODSON and CAM SMITH
NOVEMBER 19 • 144 pg, FC, $22.99 US
In this new, original graphic novel, the young heroes of the Teen Titans never felt like normal kids…but they had no idea how right they were. Their seemingly idyllic Oregon upbringing hides a secret – one that will bring killers, shamans, and extraterrestrials down on their heads, and force them into an alliance that could shake the planet to its foundations! The superstar team of writer Jeff Lemire (ANIMAL MAN, GREEN ARROW) and artist Terry Dodson (WONDER WOMAN, HARLEY QUINN) reinvent DC’s youngest heroes, with an all-new mythos in an all-new world!
To see what else DC is putting out in September, check out the full solicitations at Comic Book Resources.
