Heads Up: DC Comics Previews – January 2013

Being a comic fan can be tough. With so many publishers printing more and more books, canceling titles and starting new ones, it can be daunting when you head to the comic book shop on a Wednesday to know exactly what’s coming out.

The current system of presenting and ordering comics three months ahead of their release as set forth by the sole comics distributor, Diamond Comics, doesn’t make it any easier either. We’re not a fan of that system, we think it’s slowly strangling comics to death, but we realize it’s a harsh reality of how the industry works and we definitely don’t want you to miss out on any of the cool comics being published.

And so, as opposed to regurgitating the list of comics solicited in Previews each month, we present to you some of the highlights of things you probably won’t want to miss out on.

SPOILER WARNING! In order to get people to order comics, the publishers have a funny habit of revealing what’s happening in the books. If you don’t want anything at all to be spoiled, then you’ll probably want to skip this post and take your chances with your pre-orders and/or your shopping.

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4th World Problems!

Love me some 4th World. Orion was never a spice I’d expected to see peppered into Azzarello’s Wonder Woman series, but the juxtaposition of an otherworldly pantheon into this Greek tragedy makes complete sense. And it looks like Diana has even more flies in her John Stamos endorsed yogurt come january. Meanwhile, Earth 2 is still reeling from the impact from a war with Apokolips that predates the start of the series. Now, the nefarious Steppenwolf returns to douse the wound in salt.

WONDER WOMAN #16
Written by BRIAN AZZARELLO
Art and cover by CLIFF CHIANG
1:25 B&W Variant cover by CLIFF CHIANG
On sale JANUARY 23 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. The variant cover will feature the standard edition cover in a wraparound format.
• Wonder Woman and her half brother Milan must grapple with the dangerous New God known as Orion!
• What strange alliance has the terrifying First Born made?

EARTH 2 #8
Written by JAMES ROBINSON
Art by YILDIRAY CINAR
Cover by YILDIRAY CINAR and ART THIBERT
1:25 B&W Variant cover by YILDIRAY CINAR and ART THIBERT
On sale JANUARY 9 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. The variant cover will feature the standard edition cover in a wraparound format.
• The alien war criminal Steppenwolf returns! It’s been five years since he lead the forces of Apokolips against Earth — learn what he’s been up to since then!
• Plus: What is the dark secret behind the last Amazon of Earth 2?

The Joker is Kind of a Dick…

Something about the Joker in a Robin costume has a way of crawling under the skin and rolling around in it. It’s like going through a Wendy’s drive-thru with a McDonalds cup in the cup holder. It’s like tinkling in a graveyard. During the ceremony. On the ceremony.

BATMAN #16
Written by SCOTT SNYDER
Backup story written by SCOTT SNYDER and JAMES TYNION IV
Art by GREG CAPULLO and JONATHAN GLAPION
Backup story art by JOCK
Cover by GREG CAPULLO
Variant cover by AARON KUDER
1:100 B&W Variant cover by GREG CAPULLO
On sale JANUARY 16 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US
Retailers: This issue will ship with four covers. Please see the order form for more information.
• “DEATH OF THE FAMILY” continues!
• Batman heads into his showdown with The Joker as the madman’s plan is finally revealed – in Arkham Asylum!
• It all lead’s into next month’s terrifying conclusion!
• And in the backup story, in the midst of The Joker’s assault on Batman and his allies, get a secret glimpse into what started The Crown Prince of Crime on his horrifying journey!
This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.

A Children’s Crusade

At least they’re outside getting some fresh air?

BATMAN, INCORPORATED #7
Written by GRANT MORRISON
Art and cover by CHRIS BURNHAM
Variant cover by TONY S. DANIEL
1:00 B&W Variant cover by CHRIS BURNHAM
On sale JANUARY 30 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $3.99 US
Retailers: This issue will ship with four covers. Please see the order form for more information.
• The fight to reclaim Gotham City begins!
• Batman, Inc., takes the offensive against Talia and Leviathan!
• It’s Damian vs. Heretic — and if Damian loses, the city dies!
This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.

New Artist!

Remember when the Dark Knight was a vanity project for David Finch? Now it’s a Van Sciver joint. Then again, it also continues the series’ seeming mandate as a venue for Batman’s creepier villains with a new Mad Hatter tale.

BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT #16
Written by GREGG HURWITZ
Art and cover by ETHAN VAN SCIVER
1:25 B&W Variant cover by ETHAN VAN SCIVER
On sale JANUARY 30 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. The variant cover will feature the standard edition cover in a wraparound format.
• Welcome new series artist Ethan Van Sciver!
• Do you dare journey into the twisted world of the Mad Hatter?
• Batman has discovered a trail of bodies but no leads as he realizes that this is unlike any Mad Hatter case he’s seen before.

This Particular Solicit is Slightly Ridiculous

Guest starring…everybody? That’s potentially a lot.

BATWOMAN #16
Written by J.H. WILLIAMS III and W. HADEN BLACKMAN
Art and cover by J.H. WILLIAMS III
1:25 B&W Variant cover by J.H. WILLIAMS III
On sale JANUARY 23 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. The variant cover will feature the standard edition cover in a wraparound format.
• This issue guest-stars everybody!
• In this penultimate chapter, everything that’s been happening in BATWOMAN comes to a head!
• Plus, a new hero is introduced, and Wonder Woman fights monsters!

Simonson Alert!

Always a pleasure, Mr. Simonson.

SWORD OF SORCERY #4
Written by CHRISTY MARX
Backup story written by MARC ANDREYKO
Guest art by TRAVIS MOORE
Backup story art by ANDREI BRESSAN
Cover by WALTER SIMONSON
1:25 B&W Variant cover by WALTER SIMONSON
On sale JANUARY 23 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for more information.
• Amaya travels home to Earth from Gemworld only to find new trouble! What will happen to her powers when she becomes Amy Winston again?
• Guest-starring John Constantine!
• And in the new backup story, enter a world of modern magic and terror with Stalker, the man without a soul!

New Writer!

Venditti’s work on X-O Manowar over at Valiant has been whole heaps of fun, and it’s also a terrific audition for DC’s inventive fantasy ongoing. Looks like a great jumping on point too.

DEMON KNIGHTS #16
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI
Art by BERNARD CHANG
On sale JANUARY 16 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
• It’s the DC debut of new writer Robert Venditti (X-O Manowar, The Surrogates)!
• It’s been thirty years since the Demon Knights last rode together — and they’re less than happy to see each other!
• What has happened during this time? Who lives? Who’s dead? Who’s going to stop the massive vampire invasion that threatens all life? The Demon Knights had better find some answers fast!

Outer Space!

I’m not entirely sure how I feel about the incorrigible Larfleeze these days, but I do relish the idea of a cosmic anthology. Who knows how long it has for this world, but with Giffen at the helm it could be the New 52’s spiritual successor to the wild and woolly O.M.A.C. we lost all-too soon.

THRESHOLD #1
Written by KEITH GIFFEN
Art by TOM RANEY
Backup story art by SCOTT KOLINS
Cover by HOWARD PORTER and JOHN DELL
1:100 Variant cover by KENNETH ROCAFORT
On sale JANUARY 16 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for more information.
• Introducing THE HUNTED, spinning directly out of this month’s GREEN LANTERN: NEW GUARDIANS ANNUAL #1!
• Featuring the New 52 gallery of space heroes: The Star Rovers, Star Hawkins, Space Cabbie, Tom Tomorrow, Captain K’Rot, and Star Ranger!
• Also introducing Jediah Caul, a disgraced Green Lantern stripped of his power ring, who is hunted for sport on a televised reality show!•
• LARFLEEZE steals the spotlight in his first ongoing series of backup stories! What happens when Larfleeze, the ultimate hoarder, is robbed…of everything!

Palmiotti and Gray and Power Girl Together Again

It’s not quite the old magic, but it might be the next best thing.

AME-COMI GIRLS #4: FEATURING
POWER GIRL
Written by JUSTN GRAY and JIMMY PALMIOTTI
Art by MIKE BOWDEN
Cover by EMANUELA LUPACCHINO
On sale JANUARY 16 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
• The first time in print for these digital-first stories.
• Part 4 of the first Ame-Comi story line!
• An all-female Manhunter force is out to destroy Power Girl!
• Plus: A long-lost relative arrives in Kansas.

Back to Grayskull

Cringer: Year One? Oh, you best believe. Eager to see what Fialkov has in store for this one.

MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE: THE ORIGIN OF HE-MAN #1
Written by JOSHUA HALE FIALKOV
Art and cover by BEN OLIVER
One-shot • On sale JANUARY 30 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
• Learn how Prince Adam first harnessed the Power of Grayskull!
• Witness the first battle between He-Man and Skeletor!

 

Curtain Call

As a reminder, these next books are bowing out with final issues in January.

BLUE BEETLE #16
Written by TONY BEDARD
Art by MARCIO TAKARA
Cover by FREDDIE E. WILLIAMS II
On sale JANUARY 23 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T • FINAL ISSUE
• This final-issue epic leads into the new DCU series THRESHOLD!
• Blue Beetle is betrayed!
• What is “The Hunted”?
• The secrets of Sky Witness’s origin are revealed!

FRANKENSTEIN, AGENT OF S.H.A.D.E. #16
Written by MATT KINDT
Art and cover by ALBERTO PONTICELLI and WAYNE FAUCHER
On sale JANUARY 16 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T • FINAL ISSUE
• Don’t miss this final issue finale!
• Frankenstein and his team of misfit S.H.A.D.E. agents are sent in to stop a group of superpowered biological terrorists from detonating a
dirty bomb in Central City!

GRIFTER #16
Written by FRANK TIERI
Art by MARAT MYCHAELS and DAVE BEATY
Cover by SCOTT CLARK
On sale JANUARY 16 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T • FINAL ISSUE
• The conspiracy surrounding Cole Cash has unraveled — and you won’t believe who stands at the center of it all!

LEGION LOST #16
Written by TOM DeFALCO
Art by ANDRES GUINALDO and MARK IRWIN
Cover by TYLER KIRKHAM and BATT
On sale JANUARY 16 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T • FINAL ISSUE
• Superboy and The Ravagers guest-star!
• In order to save billions of lives, the Lost Legionnaires must decide if they are willing to sacrifice millions when they detonate a bomb that will destroy the alien machine from Daggor!
• Plus, more on the origin of Harvest!

The Sun Sets on Great Britain

Do you like dead people? Do you like Downton Abbey? Well then, buddy…

THE NEW DEADWARDIANS TP
Written by DAN ABNETT
Art and cover by I.N.J. CULBARD
On sale FEBRUARY 6 • 176 pg, FC, $14.99 US • MATURE READERS
In this collection of the 8-issue miniseries, nearly every member of upper class, post-Victorian England has voluntarily become a vampire in order to escape the lower classes – who are all zombies! Into this simmering cauldron is thrust Chief Inspector George Suttle, a lonely detective who’s got the slowest beat in London: investigating murders in a world where everyone is already dead!

Not-So-Slim Shady

Now in trade paperback, the maxi-series return of one of DC’s most beloved rogues. Twelve issues of shady dealings and Victorian flare.

THE SHADE TP
Written by JAMES ROBINSON
Art by CULLY HAMNER, DARWYN
COOKE, J. BONE, JAVIER PULIDO, JILL THOMPSON, FRAZER IRVING and GENE HA
Cover by TONY HARRIS
On sale FEBRUARY 27 • 280 pg, FC, $19.99 US
• An attack in Opal City kicks off a globe-hopping, centuries-spanning quest that will irrevocably change The Shade’s life and shed light on his true origin!
• Collects the 12-issue miniseries.

Statues, son!

For any aesthetic. Well not any. But for a wide range within a niche.

ALL-NEW METALLIC SUPERMAN BY FRANK MILLER STATUE
Sculpted by TIM BRUCKNER

Superman takes flight in this all-new statue from DC Collectibles! Inspired by Frank Miller’s legendary graphic novel BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS, this government sanctioned Superman has a little different outlook on the American Way. Order now before it’s too late!
Measuring approximately 9.75” high x 8.5” wide x 3.75” deep, his hand-painted, cold-cast porcelain statue is packaged in a 4-color box.
$79.95 US • On Sale February 2013 *Allocations May Occur

VERTIGO COVER GIRLS: DEATH STATUE
Sculpted by Jack Mathews
“You get what anybody gets. You get a lifetime.”
The Cover Girls line of collectibles statues celebrates Vertigo with this beautiful statue of Death, inspired by the Sandman graphic novels. This is the first time that a Vertigo character has ever graced the Cover Girls line, so order now because, as Death herself would tell you, you only live once!
Measuring approximately 11.5” high x 4.75” wide x 5” deep, his hand-painted, cold-cast porcelain statue is packaged in a 4-color box.
$99.95 US • On Sale February 2013 *Allocations May Occur

For the full list of DC Comics’ January solicits, click it here.