written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
art and cover by STEVE EPTING
...
As clandestine organizations—both good and evil—continue to fall, the official countdown to one of the biggest stories in DC history begins here! Clark Kent and Lois Lane go undercover to find out who is behind the destruction of the Kobra cult, the DEO and some of the greatest organizations in the DC Universe. As the threat of Leviathan looms over everything, the Man of Steel must trust Amanda Waller with his biggest secret: his identity as Clark Kent! All bets are off and all rules will be broken as Leviathan has come to change the DC Universe forever.
ON SALE 03.27.19
$3.99 US | 32 PAGES
I don't care for Steve Epting's art on Superman at all. That cover--which I am assuming is Epting's, and not variant cover artists Jeff Dekal's, looks unpleasantly unrealistically realistic, and feels more like an Ultimate cover circa 2002 than a Superman cover.
That's just me, of course.
This plot sounds like one that would have been a lot more interesting if the New 52 never happened, and "the greatest organizations in the DC Universe" had a real history, or even a sense of graspable structure, to them, rather than just kind of having been reinvented at random over the course of the last half-dozen years.
written by PETER J. TOMASI
art by CARLO BARBERI and ART THIBERT
cover by JORGE JIMENEZ
In these stories from issues #1-6 of their new maxiseries, Robin and Superboy stand face to face with Rex Luthor, Joker Jr. and other psychos pulled right from your nightmares in an interstellar adventure featuring the Gang. The Gang has already robbed Superboy of his powers, and now they’re ready to reveal their grand plan!
ON SALE 04.10.19
$16.99 US | 144 PAGES
FC | ISBN: 978-1-4012-9058-0
"Action Detective" is a pretty good title for something Super- and Bat-related, and it seems remarkable to me that it hasn't been used before. Tomasi and company's Super Sons was one of the relatively few DC comics I decided to follow in trade and actually followed in trade, buying them for my bookshelf and everything. I haven't read the relaunched title, which seems to exist solely so Tomasi can continue writing these two characters together without stepping on--or being stepped on--Brian Michael Bendis' plans for the Superman Family. Have any of you been following it? How is it, and does it stack up nicely with Tomasi's previous tales of Superboy, Robin and Superboy and Robin...?
BATMAN #66
written by TOM KING
art and cover by JORGE FORNES
...
The “Knightmares” storyline continues! Something—or someone—is forcing Batman to live through some of his darkest fears, amplifying the Dark Knight’s anxieties and reimagining some of his worst traumas. Now that Batman has become aware of the nature of these delusions, he must find a way to break through and find out the source of this disruption. So who does he turn to for answers? Why, the Question, of course! But is Vic Sage just another figment of the Caped Crusaders imagination?
ON SALE 03.06.19
$3.99 US | 32 PAGES
FC | RATED T
It seems like kind of a shame to publish the sixty-sixth issue of a Batman comic in 2019 and not have its contents refer in someway to Batman '66. Unless, of course, some of Batman's "worst traumas" turn out to be things like Bookworm plundering the Wayne Manor library and Egghead Egghead egg-zacting his revenge on the Caped Crusader, in which case forget I said anything.
written by DAN JURGENS
art by EVAN “DOC” SHANER
cover by CHRIS SAMNEE
variant cover by BEN OLIVER
Robin no more?! It’s a turning point for the brothers McGinnis as Terry and Matt face a tough road ahead in the wake of The Joker’s attack. But the real question is: Does Batman really need a Robin, or is it time for Neo-Gotham’s Caped Crusader to fly solo once more?
ON SALE 03.27.19
$3.99 US | 32 PAGES
FC | RATED T
Okay, maybe it's just my bias against Batman Beyond--I thought it was an okay cartoon series, but I'm baffled that it has been the source of so many issues of spin-off comics so long after its cancellation when there are so many other cartoons and TV shows based on DC characters that would seem to end themselves to similar series--but this seems like something of a waste of Shaner and Samnee's talents, considering that they are, like, two of the best comics artists we've got working now. If I were in charge of DC, I think I'd want Shaner drawing Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman or The Justice League--if not all four--not an issue of Batman Beyond.
written by SCOTT SNYDER and JAMES TYNION IV
art by EDUARDO RISSO
cover by JOCK
...
Ripped from Batman’s greatest nightmares, the Grim Knight is his world’s most dangerous vigilante, unafraid to use any weapon and go to any lengths to stop those whom he deems worthy of death. Trained with the finest arsenal Wayne money can buy, learn the secret origin of the second-deadliest Batman, hand selected by the Batman Who Laughs to bring his dark plans to fruition. This one-shot has a big 28-page story!
ONE SHOT | ON SALE 03.13.19
$4.99 US | 32 PAGES
FC | RATED T+
It's a spin-off to a spin-off of an event miniseries...? I think...? I read the first issue of The Batman Who Laughs, and was somewhat unimpressed. I found it difficult to follow, thanks to how many goddam Batmen were in it, and Jock's artwork, which I like, but isn't all that great when it comes to distinguishing characters from one another, and the book had multiple Batmen, Jokers and, I think, versions of Gotham City with attendant supporting characters.
Batman-but-with-guns just sounds like a rich Punisher in a mask, but I do kinda like the name "The Grim Knight"...
Eduardo Risso draws very well.
written by SHIORI TESHIROGI
art and cover by SHIORI TESHIROGI
In the second serving of manga adventures by writer/artist Shiori Teshirogi, Lex Luthor and The Joker have a new ally in their plan to take control of Earth’s mystical ley lines—Aquaman’s half-brother Orm, a.k.a. Ocean Master. Manipulated by The Joker and seduced by the potential power of the lines, Ocean Master hopes to crush the surface world and establish the supremacy of Atlantis. Aquaman’s determined to stop him, but it’s going to take the combined power of the Justice League to keep Orm in check, especially when he summons a tidal wave to engulf Gotham City. Meanwhile, young Rui is learning that his mother—who has been held prisoner by The Joker for the last year—now possesses great powers that may either save the world or destroy it.
ON SALE 04.24.19
$12.99 US | 208 PAGES
B&W | 5.75” x 8.1875”
RATED T+
The first volume of this was awesome. I should have a formal review of it posted somewhere before too long, and I hope to dedicate a blog post to it here on EDILW focusing on Teshirogi's designs of the various characters. Her Batman is particularly amazing, and entirely unlike other creators' Batmen. Anyway, I loved the first volume, and DC can't publish future volumes fast enough to please me.
Given how few women have drawn Batman comics over the years, and or written them, it's probably worth pointing out that manga-ka Shiori Teshirogi is a woman, and she's written and drawn a Batman comic that is also a Justice League comic and that it is incredible. Really, this is a great argument for editors and publisher's looking far afield of the same pool of 30 writers and artists when it comes time to commission creators for new projects. The results of hiring new and exciting artists are--surprise!--new and exciting.
written by PETER J. TOMASI, BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS, TOM KING, PAUL DINI, WARREN ELLIS, GEOFF JOHNS, DENNIS O’NEIL, CHRISTOPHER PRIEST, KEVIN SMITH, SCOTT SNYDER, JAMES TYNION IV and others
art by DOUG MAHNKE, NEAL ADAMS, GREG CAPULLO, TONY S. DANIEL, STEVE EPTING, KELLEY JONES, JIM LEE, ALEX MALEEV, DUSTIN NGUYEN, JOELLE JONES, ALVARO MARTINEZ and others
wraparound cover by JIM LEE and SCOTT WILLIAMS
blank variant cover available
After 80 years, it’s here—the 1,000th issue of DETECTIVE COMICS, the title that literally defines DC! This 96-page issue is stacked with an unbelievable lineup of talent that will take you on a journey through Batman’s past, present and future...plus a sensational epilogue that features the first-ever DC Universe appearance of the deadly Arkham Knight! But who is under the mask? And why do they want Batman dead? The incredible future of Batman adventures begins here!
PRESTIGE FORMAT
ON SALE 03.27.19
$9.99 US | 96 PAGES
FC | RATED T
This issue will ship with 11 covers.
I just scanned the list of artists to make sure that Kelley Jones' name is in there. It is.
Oh, but hey, this is a good example of the rarity of female talent on Batman comics! Look at the list of 11 writers named above, and you'll find zero women listed, although I suppose it's always possible that one of the "and others" turns out to be Devin K. Grayson, one of the better writers of the millennial era of Batman comics, who one would assume would be a better inclusion in a line-up of creators for a combination retrospective/current snapshot of Batman-related talent than, say, Warren Ellis (I believe he wrote one, maybe two Batman comics ever, and wrote Batman when writing a handful of Justice League comics...?) or Kevin Smith, whose handful of Batman comics are notoriously terrible (and his last Batman story is still unfinished, isn't it?).
Of the 11 artists listed, only one is a woman: Joelle Jones, who I think is only the second woman to draw an issue of Batman, and the first to have a run on the title, short as hers was (She moved from Batman to the latest iteration of Catwoman after the climax of the Batman/Catwoman wedding storyline).
written by SAM HUMPHRIES
art and cover by JOE QUINONES
...
Miguel, a teen daredevil, becomes the newest wielder of the Hero Dial—a rotary phone-like device that grants the user superpowers for one hour when they dial H-E-R-O. Will he rise as a new hero in the DC Universe or crumble under the weight of responsibility the dial thrusts upon him? This blistering new six-issue miniseries joins the Wonder Comics lineup with stories by award-winning fan favorite Sam Humphries (HARLEY QUINN) and art by Joe Quinones (Howard the Duck).
ON SALE 03.27.19
$3.99 US | 1 of 6 | 32 PAGES
FC | RATED T
The H-Dial is a pretty great concept, and one that can be played a couple different ways. The original deal from artist Jim Mooney and writer Dave Wood's original strips was whoever dialed H-E-R-O temporarily turned into a brand-new superhero: New name, new costumes, new power, never to be repeated or return again (One weird story, in which Robby Reed turned into Plastic Man, was the exception).
It's easy to see what is incredibly appealing about that to a reader and to an artist or writer...and also what makes it less popular than ever, given that the creators would essentially need to provide a steady stream of new IP to DC without any hope of seeing a return on their investment of creative energy, and potential returns are higher than ever, now that we live in an age where just about any DC superhero can get their own TV show or, at the very least, show up as a guest-star on a CW TV show. If creators are reluctant to create brand-new characters for DC-published comic book series, who would want to create ones at a steady clip of 1-3 an issue, in perpetuity...?
There have been pretty endless riffs on that original concept though, and there are a good two or three I've thought of while devouring the Showcase Present collection that I haven't seen anyone else try, and I don't know how closely to the original they are going to go with this new series. It is interesting that the solicit above only says that the device "grants the users superpowers for one hour," rather than that it changes them into a superhero for one hour.
I hope Miguel does turn into new superheroes, because if he just gets superpowers for an hour, that seems to be wandering over into Hourman's thing (and Hourman doesn't exactly have a lot of things of his own!) and even that of the new Damage. For a long time I liked the idea of Hero Cruz from Superboy and The Ravers getting his own Dial H book, or getting a slot in a Teen Titans or Young Justice line-up. Not only did he have the cool power of the H-Dial, he also hung out with Rex, The Wonder Dog; what more could one want from a comic book series? (I think its title likely doomed it to an early death, but Superboy and The Ravers was actually a pretty great comic, and only seems greater and greater the more bad comics starring teenage super-teams I read).
It's interesting too to note that "dialing" itself is so...weird now, isn't it. Even that title seems terribly dated.
Anyway, I hope this lives up to its promise; as a mini-series, I suppose whether we'll see this Miguel fellow and the H-Dial in the DCU in the forseeable future will depend entirely on how well the series and its collection are received.
The Atom, The Sandman and Doctor Fate probably count themselves lucky that their masks completely obscure their faces, and can't betray where they might be looking, or what their feelings might be. Hawkman is seen and profile, but given his peculiar Golden Age mask, it's quite possible that he has his visible bird eyes pointed in the direction of The Flash, while taking a sneaky peek with his human eyes, obscured by the shadow of his helmet.
And this is now officially the longest I have thought about Doomsday Clock since it was first announced.
written by MARK WAID and TOM PEYER
art by BARRY KITSON and TOM GRINDBERG
cover by BARRY KITSON
Collected in a beautiful Deluxe Edition hardcover edition for the first time, this tale recounts Barry Allen and Hal Jordan’s early adventures together and answers the question of how the Fastest Man Alive and the Emerald Knight were able to put aside their differences to form an unbreakable bond! Also featuring appearances by Kid Flash, Green Arrow and more! Collects issues #1-6, along with a new introduction and a never-before-published full-issue script.
ON SALE 04.03.19 | $34.99 US | 184 PAGES
FC | 7.0625” x 10.875”
ISBN: 978-1-4012-8813-6
I remember this being super-good, although there was a little weirdness to it too, as it was a sort-of-sequel to Waid and Kitson's excellent maxi-series, JLA: Year One, but it just focused on the relationship between those two particular characters, mostly ignoring the other three characters in JLA: Year One. So I suppose it was more of a spin-off than a straight sequel, which wasn't what I was expecting or what I wanted when I first read it. Still, it's an all-around great comic from a bunch of guys who know how to make high-quality super-comics.
written by SAM HUMPHRIES
art by SAMI BASRI
cover by GUILLEM MARCH
...
When Harley Quinn awoke one morning from troubled dreams, she found herself transformed into a horrible vermin! “What th’ heck’s goin’ on?” she thought. But it wasn’t just a dream…it was the next trial of Harley Quinn!
ON SALE 03.06.19
$3.99 US | 32 PAGES
FC | RATED T+
Wow, cover artist Guillem March sure drew the ever living fuck out of Harley Quinn's butt on this cover, didn't he? The solicitation copy seems to indicate that this is going to be something of a parody of Kafka's Metamorphisis, and it's actually quite admirable that March figured out a way in which to draw the necessary cheesecake cover while simultaneously indicating that Harley has transformed/is transforming into a hideous, insect-like creature. Bravo!
INJUSTICE VS. MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE HC
written by TIM SEELEY
art by FREDDIE E. WILLIAMS II
cover by TIM SEELEY
Batman recruits He-Man in the ultimate fight against Superman’s dictatorship on Earth! But as He-Man forms an alliance with the heroes of Injustice, his own home of Eternia faces a threat of its own in the form of Darkseid! Collects the six-issue crossover event!
ON SALE 04.17.19
$24.99 US | 160 PAGES
FC | ISBN: 978-1-4012-8837-2
I am pretty ambivalent of DC's weird Injustice comics, although every once in a while I'd find something kind of unexpectedly great in an issue here or a collection there. And I actively hated DC's Masters of The Universe comics. And there godawful DCU/Masters comic filled me with rage, given how disappointing it was, it being a story I had wanted to seen told since I was, like, seven years old.
That said, I still want to check this out, if only out of curiosity. It's actually kind of amazing--and perhaps a little scary--how strong the hold of certain toy/cartoon franchises from my earliest childhood remains on me...
written by SCOTT SNYDER and JORGE JIMENEZ
art and cover by JORGE JIMENEZ
variant cover by ROB LIEFELD
“The Sixth Dimension” part one! At last, the Justice League has the map to the Sixth Dimension in hand—and with it, they have the key to saving the Multiverse from utter destruction! But things aren’t as simple as they seem, because they still need to get to the doorway—and to do that, they’ll have to go through the only being in all of existence who can get them there: Mr. Mxyzptlk!
ON SALE 03.06.19
$3.99 US | 32 PAGES
FC | RATED T+
I know we've seen inhabitants of the Sixth Dimension in the pages of a Justice League comic before, during Mark Waid's post-Morrison JLA run, so I suppose it will be curious to see if or how this story might honor Waid's earlier one (If you haven't read the story, it appears in 2014's JLA Vol. 5, which appears to collect the entirety of Waid's run). Normally I wouldn't expect it to at all, but Snyder's League run has been seemingly rather inspired by Morrison's JLA and, for what it's worth, the Wad Sixth Dimension arc included a plot in which the Leaguers were mostly split into two different beings a piece, so that their heroic identities and their secret identities existed simultaneously as distinct beings (So that there was a Superman and a Clark Kent, a Batman and a Bruce Wayne, a Plastic Man and an Eel O'Brian, etc). Here again the Leaguers have been split into two versions of themselves, a present version as well as a future version.
Also of note? Jimenez is both co-plotting and drawing this issue, and look who they got to contribute a variant! Given Liefeld's seeming disinterest in drawing whole characters, I wonder if his variant will feature 10-20 heroes on it or not...
written by CHRISTOPHER PRIEST
art by PETE WOODS, PHILIPPE BRIONES, MARCO SANTUCCI and IAN CHURCHILL
cover by PAUL PELLETIER and CAM SMITH
In this new hardcover, the Justice League is confronted by three concurrent threats as a sleep-deprived Batman makes a crucial error that causes an unthinkable—and potentially unforgivable—tragedy. As if that weren’t enough, the combined Justice League and Justice League of America teams clash over leadership while the Green Lanterns face making critical choices that will affect their teams forever! Collects Justice League #34-43.
ON SALE 04.03.19
$34.99 US | 248 PAGES
FC | 7.0625” x 10.875”
ISBN: 978-1-4012-8876-1
These were very good comics, and it's kind of a shame that they exist more-or-less disconnected from what preceded and what followed them, with some of the things Priest and company brought to the table being ignored by what followed the Metal/No Justice/"New Justice" relaunch of the Justice League book and line. Like Cyborg's newer, cooler costume, for example.
I probably would have been quite bummed out that Priest wasn't taking over the book permanently, had Snyder's Metal not shown so much promise, and his run on Justice League lived up to that promise so well...
written by SCOTT SNYDER, JAMES TYNION IV, DAN ABNETT and ROB WILLIAMS
art by FRANCIS MANAPUL, HOWARD PORTER, FRASER IRVING, BRUNO REDONDO, LAN MEDINA, CLAYTON HENRY and others
cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL
In the aftermath of the Justice League’s battle with the Legion of Doom, an armada from the stars has come to plunder the Earth and its seas. With powers beyond comprehension, even Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman and the rest of the League’s combined might can’t stop these invaders. With nowhere left to turn, these heroes will have to turn to an ancient power to help them, one that even Arthur Curry fears unleashing. Collects Justice League/Aquaman: Drowned Earth #1, Justice League #10-12, Aquaman #40-41, Titans #28 and Aquaman/Justice League: Drowned Earth #1.
ON SALE 04.10.19
$29.99 US | 224 PAGES
FC | ISBN: 978-1-4012-9101-3
Ah. So that's how they are going to collect this series. I was genuinely curious about that. This seems to be the complete event, tie-ins included--the Titans issue and the Aquaman issues were just tie-ins, and not official chapters of the story. I wonder if this means the official chapters of the arc will be repeated in the Justice League and/or Aquaman collections, or if both will just skip over these stories, which seems like it might be...confusing if you miss it by reading the collections based on their spine numbering.
written by MARK WAID
art and cover by ALEX ROSS
Winner of five Eisner and Harvey awards, KINGDOM COME is the best-selling graphic novel from acclaimed writer Mark Waid and superstar painter Alex Ross, now back as part of the new DC Black Label line with the four-issue KINGDOM COME epic and more than 150 pages of behind-the-scenes material, including sketches, annotations and the never-before-published original proposal, series treatment, series outline, issue #1 outline and issue #1 script.
In the near future, the DC Universe is spinning out of control. The new generation of heroes have lost their moral compass, becoming as reckless and violent as the villains they fight. The previous regime of heroes—the Justice League—returns under dire circumstances, which sets up a battle of the old guard against these uncompromising protectors in a conflict that will define what heroism truly is.
ON SALE 04.17.19
$19.99 US | 392 PAGES
FC | ISBN: 978-1-4012-9096-2
That cover image there is a great reminder of how good Alex Ross was as a costume designer/re-designer. His Hourman, Doctor Midnite, Red Tornado and Starman are all really great redesigns of characters whose costumes are so often tweaked, but never end up looking all that great (Not pictured, but also a great update of a Golden Age hero? Doctor Fate). I also love Ross' mythological take on The Flash, although it's easy to see what no one ever really integrated that costume into other takes; it's a very remote look for a character that is always presented as affable and approachable.
And man, that image is just a teaser of the, like, 500 great superhero designs in that series. Cathedral remains my favorite; if I were allowed to write something for DC integrating just one character from Kingdom Come into the DCU proper, it would have been Cathedral, and not one of the dopier characters, like stupid Magog.
written by GAIL SIMONE
art by ADRIANA MELO
cover by AARON LOPRESTI
Meet Eel O’Brian: a petty thug, thief and con artist who runs a strip club. Hey, he’s also dead, at least according to the gang that tossed him out like last week’s garbage. Literally. Don’t worry, though—he bounced back from all that, and now he’s trying to make a new life for himself, but the effort is stretching him pretty thin. How can he get revenge on his old boss, keep a street kid out of trouble, make a dancer fall in love with him and stop a mysterious society from taking over the world? Eel has no idea! Find out in this title collecting the six-issue miniseries.
ON SALE 04.10.19
$16.99 US | 144 PAGES
FC | ISBN: 978-1-4012-8937-9
So is this any good...?
I do so love Plastic Man, and thought I would check it out in trade some day, but all the solicits made it sound kind of gross and awful. I mean, the first sentence above made me leery about half-way through with "thug," and then stopped me cold with "runs a strip club." It certainly didn't help that this story seemed to have been in some form of development since, I don't know, Plastic Man was on the Justice League...?
It certainly looks pretty skippable, even for Plastic Man fans. I'd love to be proven wrong, though.
written by DAN JURGENS and others
art by DAN JURGENS, JERRY ORDWAY and others
cover by DAN JURGENS and JERRY ORDWAY
Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the time-warping event, this massive collection features ZERO HOUR: CRISIS IN TIME #4-0, STEEL #8, OUTSIDERS #11, DETECTIVE COMICS #678, BATMAN #511, SUPERMAN: MAN OF STEEL #37, SUPERBOY #8, GREEN LANTERN #55, THE FLASH #94, SUPERMAN #93, THE FLASH #0, BATMAN: SHADOW OF THE BAT #31, HAWKMAN #13, LEGIONNAIRES #18, VALOR #23, ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #516, L.E.G.I.O.N. ’94 #70, GREEN ARROW #90, GUY GARDNER: WARRIOR #24, TEAM TITANS #24, LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #61, ACTION COMICS #703, JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #92, JUSTICE LEAGUE TASK FORCE #16, JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL #68, ROBIN #10, ANIMA #7, CATWOMAN #14, DAMAGE #6, DARKSTARS #24, GREEN LANTERN #0 and stories from SHOWCASE ’94 #8-10 along with a treasure trove of behind- the-scenes material.
ON SALE 09.25.19 | $125.00 US | 976 PAGES
FC | 7.0625” x 10.875”
ISBN: 978-1-4012-9436-6
This looks quite enticing, although once hardcover books reach a certain width, I get kind of scared of them, as the binding doesn't seem to hold up all that well, and there's just so, well, big...
