DC Comics have unveiled a new 12-week event called ‘Shadows of the Bat,’ by writer Mariko Tamaki and a host of artists, which starts in January; and four new titles all set to launch in December, namely “Batgirls” by writers Becky Cloonan and Michael Conrad, artist Jorge Corona and colorist Sarah Stern; “World of Krypton” by writer Robert Venditti, artist Michael Avon Oeming, and colorist Nicholas Filardi; a new DC Black Label title called “Swamp Thing Green Hell,” by writer Jeff Lemire, artist Doug Mahnke, and colorist David Baron; and “One-Star Squadron” by writer Mark Russell, artist Steve Lieber, and colorist Dave Stewart.
‘Shadows of the Bat’ will start with a prelude issue #0 story in “Detective Comics 2021 Annual” #1 by Mariko Tamaki and Matthew Rosenberg, and artists David Lapham and Trish Mulvihill, and continue weekly in “Detective Comics” in January, with penciller Ivan Reis and inker Danny Miki scheduled to illustrate the first four issues. Artists Max Raynor, and Amancay Nahuelpan and Jordie Bellaire are also set to be involved in the event. ‘Shadows of the Bat’ will detail the story the newly constructed Arkham Tower being quickly being overrun by the inmates, and Batman and more being forced to intervene and uncover the mystery behind Dr. Wear’s plans. Each issue of the event will feature an exploration into the history of Arkham by writer Matthew Rosenberg and artist Fernando Blanco. ‘Shadows of the Bat’ will begin fully in “Detective Comics” #1047 on January 4, following the release of “Detective Comics 2021 Annual” #1 on November 30.
“Batgirls” will be an all-ages ongoing series that sees Batgirls Cassandra Cain and Stephanie Brown moving to the other side of Gotham City, where their mentor, Oracle, can watch over them more carefully whilst the hacker Seer is still at large. The second issue will see Steph start to investigate events she witnessed through a window of the building across from her, suspicious that they could be linked to the recent murders, whilst Cass “freaks out” about Oracle’s plans to get the Batgirls’s ears pierced so they can wear her new comms. The series will begin with “Batgirls” #1 on December 14, and continue with #2 on January 11.
The six-part “World of Krypton” will follow Jor-El, the head of Krypton’s Science Council, as he sets out to prevent the mass extinction that has been seemingly portended by a huge event in the natural world of the planet. The press release teases that the series will shed “new light on the famous characters of Krypton’s past… including Jor-El, General Dru-Zod, and even a young Kara Zor-El,” while also stating “there will be puppy Krypto.” “World of Krypton” #1 is scheduled for release on December 7.
The three-part “Swamp Thing Green Hell” will debut on December 28, and present readers with a dystopian future where “the last remnants of humanity cling to a mountaintop island lost in endless floodwater.” With the situation seeming futile, the Parliaments of the Green, the Red, and the Rot decide to take action to restart the cycle of the planet by summoning “one of the most horrific monsters to ever stalk the surface of this forsaken planet.” Only a “soldier who understands the enemy,” “someone like Alec Holland,” though he has been “dead for decades,” is capable of stopping the summoned avatar.
The final book to be announced, the six-part “One-Star Squadron,” will see heroes like Red Tornado, Power Girl, Gangbuster, and Minute Man, setting up Heroz4U, a hiring service where the public can request the heroes to take all kinds of jobs, from “a children’s birthday party [to] an alien invasion.” The series promises “Superman-Level Service at Bizarro Prices,” and will debut its first issue on December 7.
DC also shared concept art for the upcoming opening arc of writer Joshua Williamson and artist Jorge Molina’s “Batman” run. When Williamson and Molina take over the reins with issue #118, the pair will take the titular vigilante outside the realms of Gotham City to solve a new mystery involving a new villain called Abyss, though further details regarding Abyss’s abilities and identity are still being kept under wraps.
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A host of variant covers and preview pages, as well as the full press release are as follows.
WHAT’S COMING FROM DC THIS DECEMBER
This Friday, DC CONNECT—DC’s monthly catalog featuring solicitation information for DC’s comics, original graphic novels, collected editions, and more—is here with everything fans can expect this December…and a hint at what’s coming up in 2022!
Featured on the cover is BATMAN #118, picking up from FEAR STATE with an amazing new four-issue arc from writer Joshua Williamson (INFINITE FRONTIER, THE FLASH) and artist Jorge Molina (X-MEN), which sees the Caped Crusader leave Gotham City on the trail of a new mystery involving Batman, Inc., and a new foe: ABYSS.
Expect thrills and chills as Batman dives into the shadows once more.
BATMAN #118
Written by Joshua Williamson
Art and cover by Jorge Molina
Variant cover by Francesco Mattina
1:25 variant by Viktor Bogdanovic
1:50 variant by Jock
$4.99 US | 40 pages
Variant $5.99 US (All covers card stock)
ON SALE 12/7/21BATMAN #119
Written by Joshua Williamson
Art and cover by Jorge Molina
Backup script and art by Karl Kerschl
Variant cover by Francesco Mattina
1:25 variant by Dan Hipp
1:50 variant by Jock
$4.99 US | 40 pages
Variant $5.99 US (All covers card stock)Also exploding out of FEAR STATE next January comes a new 12-week event: SHADOWS OF THE BAT, from Eisner, Harvey and Ignatz Award-winning writer Mariko Tamaki (CRUSH & LOBO, BATMAN: DETECTIVE COMICS) and artists Ivan Reis (ACTION COMICS) and Danny Miki (BATMAN), Max Raynor (CHALLENGE OF THE SUPER SONS), Amancay Nahuelpan (CRUSH & LOBO) and Jordie Bellaire (BATMAN).
Out of the ashes of Arkham Asylum, Arkham Tower rises in Gotham City… but the tower soon falls to the inmates and Batman’s allies are drawn back into the madness at the heart of Gotham, and the plans of the mysterious Dr. Wear.
The 12-issue event will also feature back-up stories written by Matthew Rosenberg (TASK FORCE Z) with art by Fernando Blanco (CATWOMAN), which explores Arkham’s dark history. .
The story kicks off with a prelude Issue #0 in November’s DETECTIVE COMICS 2021 ANNUAL, co-written by Mariko Tamaki and Matthew Rosenberg (TASK FORCE Z), with art by David Lapham (STRAY BULLETS) and Trish Mulvihill (BIRDS OF PREY). Get ready for SHADOWS OF THE BAT, as Mayor Nakano signs off on the new Arkham Tower, and Batman and Nightwing grapple with their opposing ideas on the place of Arkham in Gotham City, and with a new villain, THE MAEGER MAN.
DETECTIVE COMICS #1047
Written by Mariko Tamaki
Art by Ivan Reis and Danny Miki
Backup written by Matthew Rosenberg
Backup art by Fernando Blanco
Cover by Irvin Rodriguez
Variant by Lee Bermejo
1:25 variant by Jorge Fornés
1:50 variant by Simone Di Meo
$4.99 US | 40 pages | Variant $5.99 US (Card stock)
ON SALE 1/4/22DETECTIVE COMICS #1048
Written by Mariko Tamaki
Art by Ivan Reis and Danny Miki
Backup written by Matthew Rosenberg
Backup art by Fernando Blanco
Cover by Irvin Rodriguez
Variant by Lee Bermejo
1:25 variant by Jorge Fornés
$4.99 US | 40 pages | Variant $5.99 US (Card stock)
ON SALE 1/11/22DC is launching BATGIRLS, a new ongoing series this December from the dynamic writing duo Becky Cloonan and Michael Conrad (WONDER WOMAN), and artist Jorge Corona (WE ARE ROBIN).
Batgirls Cassandra Cain and Stephanie Brown, who are only able to navigate the dark, gritty, and oftentimes scary Gotham City by leaning on each other’s friendship.
Mentored by Oracle, the Batgirls move to the other side of town where Barbara Gordon can keep a better eye on them while the hacker Seer is still invading their lives. Steph may be too rash sometimes, and Cass doesn’t speak much—but what they lack in similarities they make up for with their mutual respect and love for each other…and what makes them stronger together as Batgirls! This rebellious group of Super Heroes team up to kick ass, and try to make it as normal teenagers in this pizza slumber party of a series, packed with energy, attitude, and friendship.
On sale December 14, with gorgeous art and eye-popping colors, BATGIRLS sings with the energy of The Linda Lindas rocking out to “Claudia Kishi,” in this all ages title for every fan who’s ever wanted to break curfew go joy-riding in a villain’s muscle car with their bestie. Which… isn’t that all of us?
BATGIRLS #1
Written by Becky Cloonan and Michael W. Conrad
Art and cover by Jorge Corona
Batgirls (masked) variant cover by InHyuk Lee
Batgirls (unmasked) variant cover by InHyuk Lee
(These two variant covers connect into one image!)
1:25 variant cover by Rian Gonzales
1:50 variant cover by Dan Hipp
Teams variant cover by Amano Yoshitaka
$3.99 US | 32 pages | Variant $4.99 US (Card stock)
ON SALE 12/14/21And don’t miss BATGIRLS #2 on sale January 11! With their new secret muscle car and their new secret patrol route, Cassandra Cain and Stephanie Brown find moving to their new neighborhood— thanks to Oracle instructing them to “lay low”—that much easier to bear because they have each other. Steph begins witnessing some strange actions through the window of the building across the street and can’t help but investigate if the recent murders are connected to them! Meanwhile, Oracle realizes the most effective way for the girls to wear her newly upgraded comms is by piercing their ears, and Cass freaks out!
Written by BECKY CLOONAN and MICHAEL W. CONRAD
Art and cover by JORGE CORONA
Variant cover by HICHAM HABCHI
1:25 variant cover by RIAN GONZALES
$3.99 US | 32 pages Variant $4.99 US (Card stock)
ON SALE 1/11/22Meanwhile, on Krypton, writer Robert Venditti (GREEN LANTERN, THE SURROGATES) and artist Michael Avon Oeming (POWERS) are going back in time in this modern telling of one of the most storied periods in comics in WORLD OF KRYPTON. When a catastrophic event befalls Krypton’s natural world, it points toward a mass extinction in the making. Jor-El, head of Krypton’s revered Science Council, embarks on a mission to save a world that may already have passed the point of no return.
This six issue miniseries shines new light on the famous characters of Krypton’s past—including Jor-El, General Dru-Zod, and even a young Kara Zor-El—World of Krypton combines action, cosmic wonder, and political intrigue in a story as much about our world as the one on the page.
And if that’s not enough to draw you in: there will be puppy Krypto.
WORLD OF KRYPTON #1 is on sale December 7.
WORLD OF KRYPTON #1
Written by Robert Venditti
Art by Michael Avon Oeming
Cover by Mico Suayan
Variant by A. D’Amico
1:25 variant cover by Francesco Francavilla
$3.99 US | 32 pages | 1 of 6
Variant $4.99 US (Card stock)
ON SALE 12/7/21Also launching this December from Jeff Lemire, the creator of SWEET TOOTH, comes a new, twisted take on Swamp Thing with the three part miniseries SWAMP THING GREEN HELL from DC Black Label.
One of the greatest artists in modern DC history, Doug Mahnke (JLA, FINAL CRISIS), joins Lemire on this gory, gruesome monster mash where the fate of humanity rests in the hands of someone who isn’t human at all.
The Earth is all but done. The last remnants of humanity cling to a mountaintop island lost in endless floodwater. The Parliaments of the Green, the Red, and the Rot all agree: it’s time to wipe the slate clean and start the cycle of life over again. And to do so, they’ve united their powers to summon an avatar—one of the most horrific monsters to ever stalk the surface of this forsaken planet. Against a creature like that, there can be no fighting back…unless you have a soldier who understands the enemy. Someone who has used its tactics before. Someone like Alec Holland. Shame he’s been dead for decades…
On sale December 28, SWAMP THING GREEN HELL is a dark, dystopian tale for the ages.
Written by Jeff Lemire
Art and cover by Doug Mahnke
Variant by Christian Ward
1:25 variant by Francesco Francavilla
$6.99 US | 48 pages | 1 of 3
PRESTIGE PLUS | 8 ½” × 10 7/8″
ON SALE 12/28/21And for fans looking to laugh, or just looking for a bargain, it’s ONE-STAR SQUADRON.
From Harvey, Ringo and Eisner nominee Mark Russell (WONDER TWINS, EXIT STAGE LEFT: THE SNAGGLEPUSS CHRONICLES) and Eisner and Ringo winner Steve Lieber (SUPERMAN’S PAL JIMMY OLSEN), comes a one-of-a-kind six-issue limited series that promises Superman-Level Service at Bizarro Prices!
ONE-STAR SQUADRON is DC’s Super Hero team, where heroism meets capitalism. This ragtag group of heroes led by Red Tornado is here to provide service with a smile. All you have to do is send a request via their on-demand hero app and they’ll answer any call. Whether it’s a children’s birthday party or an alien invasion, no job is too small or too big in this story about the Super Heroes without a billion dollar fortune or Fortress of Solitude to fall back on… heroes like Red Tornado, Power Girl, Gangbuster, and Minute Man. Follow these working stiffs as they work for a living while trying to parse one of the great mysteries of the world–just who’s signing those checks and why?
Issue #1 is on sale December 7 in a story packed with heart, heroism and humor, and that hits close to home for everyone who’s ever worked an embarrassing, mind-numbing or menial gig. So, all of us, that one is definitely all of us.
ONE-STAR SQUADRON #1
Written by Mark Russell
Art and cover by Steve Lieber
Variant by Steve Pugh
$3.99 US | 32 pages | 1 of 6
Variant $4.99 US (Card stock)
ON SALE 12/7/21These are just a few of the amazing titles DC has coming this December–be sure to check out DC CONNECT #17 to get the full list of titles and sneak previews. DC CONNECT is available to download digitally on DC UNIVERSE INFINITE and www.dccomics.com/dcconnect, and head into your local comic shop to pick up the print version on September 21st.
For the latest news on the World’s Greatest Super Heroes, check out the main page at www.dccomics.com or @DCComics and @thedcnation on social media, and don’t miss DC FanDome October 16th, where we’ll be sharing breaking news, sneak previews and more directly with the world’s greatest fans!
