Another month, another Soliciting Multiversity look at what DC has planned three months hence. Unlike last month, only one book (“Batman”) is concerned at all with ‘Zero Year,’ but ‘Forever Evil’ still dominates DC’s offerings this month (11 titles are tie-ins or the miniseries proper). However, you’ll find none that here! Here are ten biggest non-‘Forever Evil’ solicits. But, check out the clever cover to “Justice League” #26. I see what they did there!
10. “Batman: Black and White” #4 Keeps the Creative Excellence Coming
BATMAN BLACK AND WHITE #4
Written by NATHAN EDMONDSON, DUSTIN NGUYEN, MICHAEL ALLRED, LEE ALLRED, DAVID MACHO and SEAN “CHEEKS” GALLOWAY
Art by KENNETH ROCAFORT, DUSTIN NGUYEN, MICHAEL ALLRED, RUBEN PELLEJERO and SEAN “CHEEKS” GALLOWAY
Cover by AMANDA CONNERThe latest issue of the new BATMAN BLACK AND WHITE miniseries serves up new tales of the Dark Knight from the creative talents of Nathan Edmondson and Kenneth Rocafort, Dustin Nguyen, Michael Allred and Lee Allred, David Macho and Ruben Pellejero and Sean “Cheeks” Galloway!
If you want a reason to go to the comic shop in December, look no further than this lineup. The Allred brothers? Dustin Nguyen? An Edmondson/Rocafort joint? C’mon! Why DC isn’t doing this as a monthly book instead of a mini is beyond me. A monthly anthology of Batman stories by rotating and surprising talent would be so dope.
9. “Injustice: Gods Among Us” Ends
INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US #12
Written by TOM TAYLOR
Art by MIKE S. MILLER and TOM DERENICK
Cover by MICO SUAYANFINAL ISSUE—FOR NOW! Will a hero’s sacrifice have been in vain? Batman races against time to synthesize the pill that Luthor created to produce an army of super soldiers. He knows Superman is coming for him, but he has no choice but to try. Don’t miss the shocking turn of events that leads to the next phase of INJUSTICE!
Confession time: I’ve never read a single issue of this series. However, it is a monster seller, and people seem to really love it. DC is clearly treating its digital work in “seasons,” and therefore this probably isn’t the end of the book, just the end of the season. Calm down fanboys and girls – it’ll be back, I’m sure.
8. “Green Arrow” Looks Gorgeous
GREEN ARROW #26
Written by JEFF LEMIRE
Art and cover by ANDREA SORRENTINO“THE OUTSIDERS WAR” begins here! Oliver Queen finally knows the location of the Outsiders’ base, but first he must return to the place where Green Arrow was born: The Island! Secrets are revealed, new villains introduced, and a mind-blowing final page kicks off this new storyline with a bang!
Rarely does a book get on this list purely based on the general aesthetic it presents, but here we are. Since launching as a mess, and continuing that way for the first year and a half, having Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino come aboard the “Green Arrow” ship and right the wrongs has been a real pleasure. Especially because they have created a book that looks and feels so different from anything else DC is publishing right now.
Just look at the above image. That is about as un-New 52 as you can get. But here’s the thing: it’s working. The book is selling reasonably well (it has jumped 30 spots on the monthly sales chart from August 2012 to August 2013), it is critically acclaimed, and it is showing creators that, with some work, you can make a 2013 DC book your own.
7. “Smallville” Changes Course
Continued belowSMALLVILLE: ALIEN #1
Written by BRYAN Q. MILLER
Art by EDGAR SALAZAR and DYM
Cover by CAT STAGGSA new SMALLVILLE miniseries begins! Superman has barely adjusted to his new status quo when he finds himself racing against time (and Lex Luthor!) to uncover the secret behind a Russian meteor strike. Something has fallen from space—and it looks an awful lot like a Monitor! Don’t miss “Alien” part 1 of 4!
Bryan Q. Miller and co. are taking “Smallville” to a series of miniseries, not unlike how the first 19 years of “Hellboy” operated. This is being done with hopes of providing more entry points to the digital first book. I don’t see the harm in this plan, unless each #1 is all exposition and backstory. But Miller is a smart guy and a great writer, I’m sure he can figure out how to make this new format work.
6. Let’s Try This Again…”Justice League 3000″
JUSTICE LEAGUE 3000 #1
Written by KEITH GIFFEN and J.M. DeMATTEIS
Art and cover by HOWARD PORTERThe new series starring the heroes of today—tomorrow is resolicited, now with legendary artist Howard Porter (JLA) on board! But what are these heroes doing in the year 3000? And who (or what) brought them there? Get ready for a dose of wonder from the writing team of Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis!
Despite Kevin Maguire being pulled off this book, I am still cautiously optimistic for it. Howard Porter is a very capable artist, and Giffen/DeMatteis get a shot at doing the 31st century right, for the first time in a long time.
5. Dollar Comics
VERTIGO ESSENTIALS: AMERICAN VAMPIRE #1
Written by SCOTT SNYDER and STEPHEN KING
Art and cover by RAFAEL ALBUQUERQUEWitness the birth of a new species of vampire in this reprint of the debut issue of this hit series! When notorious outlaw Skinner Sweet is attacked by a member of the undead, the first American vampire is born: powered by the sun, stronger, fiercer, and meaner than anything that came before.
DC is releasing 2 “DC Essentials” and 2 “Vertigo Essentials” books, each 64 pages, each costing one American dollar. In addition to “American Vampire,” “100 Bullets,” “Action Comics” Vol. 2 (New 52) and “Watchmen” are all getting this oversized, underpriced treatment this month. Personally, I think this is a great idea, and I wish it was being done with more books. Despite being billed as “#1,” I presume that each book actually contains two issues in them, due to the page count.
4. Another New All Ages Title!
TEEN TITANS GO! #1
Written by SHOLLY FISCH and MERRILL HAGAN
Art by BEN BATES and JORGE CORONA
Cover by DAN HIPPBased on the hit new TV show, feast your eyes on this all-new, all-ages comic book series! Join Robin, Starfire, Beast Boy, Cyborg and Raven as they display their unique brand of hijinks, mayhem and justice! But giant pizza monsters aren’t the only dastardly and delicious villains on the menu…so dig in, Titans!
For the second month in a row, DC does something for its young fans by announcing a new all-ages comic based on Teen Titans Go!, the Cartoon Network show. While I wish that DC did all ages comics not based on cartoons, this is still a positive development. They still need to knock down the $2.99 cost so kids can afford the books easier, but that’s a rant for a different day.
3. “The Wake” (Half) Collected
THE WAKE PART ONE #1
Written by SCOTT SNYDER
Art and cover by SEAN MURPHYThe first five issues of the acclaimed new Vertigo series THE WAKE are all collected in this new special!
$10 (well, $9.99 if you want to get technical) will get you the first 5 issues of “The Wake,” a month before #6 comes out. This is DC taking a page from Image’s book, and it is a smart move. Cheap trades sell very well, and this is a nice way to attempt to get “The Wake” into even more hands. The price is fair, too – this is $15 worth of content for $10. I hope DC takes this approach more often. That said, if you’re already reading this, I see no reason to pick up the trade. And if you’re not, I’d recommend waiting on a hardcover. But that’s just me.
Continued below2. Ch-Ch-Changes – Some Permanent, Some Temporary
BATWOMAN #26
Written by MARC ANDREYKO
Art by JEREMY HAUN
Cover by J.H. WILLIAMS IIIKate Kane’s life has always been one of intrigue and adventure, but since she took on the mantle of Batwoman, things have been in overdrive with no sign of slowing down! Join us as Batwoman starts her next chapter and faces a threat that might just have her rethinking her career as a hero!
Unless you’ve been living under Dwayne Johnson, you must have got wind of some of the more recent DC creative changes. J.H. Williams and his writing partner, W. Haden Blackman, have walked off of “Batwoman” and they, along with previously solicited artist Trevor McCarthy, have been replaced by Marc Andreyko and Jeremy Haun. This is not to slam either of the new guys, both of whom I think are incredible talents, but this is a damn shame.
We also get a one-shot team on “The Flash,” a Marv Wolfman-penned “Superboy” arc, and a Tony Bedard written “Supergirl” arc. I feel like I’m forgetting one more shift…
1. “Aquaman” from Jeff Parker!
AQUAMAN #26
Written by JEFF PARKER
Art and cover by PAUL PELLETIER and SEAN PARSONS“Sea of Storms” begins with the debut of new AQUAMAN writer Jeff Parker! The Earth’s crust is grinding to life, releasing deadly volcanoes and bizarre creatures…so humanity’s first instinct is to blame Atlantis! And as the plates pull apart, the pressures of ruling a kingdom under siege are weighing on Aquaman and Mera as well!
Oh yeah, Jeff Parker is taking over “Aquaman!” If they let Parker do his thing, this is an inspired and fantastic fit. Parker’s scripts will, most likely, avoid some of the extreme decompression and humorlessness that have characterized the Geoff Johns era of “Aquaman,” as well as drop at least 40% of the brooding from the title. I doubt many people will miss it.
In all seriousness, Parker is a monster talent, and he looks to pair well with Paul Pelletier. This is easily the best news coming out of DC for December, and let’s hope DC learned something from all this recent bad press, and Parker’s leaving the book isn’t the worst news of February.
Full solicits can be found over at Comic Book Resources.
