Heads Up: DC Comics Previews – October 2012

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. 


 Annuals!

Annuals can be exciting. We already saw a handful come out earlier this year from DC’s new 52. Here are four more!

ACTION COMICS ANNUAL #1
Written by SHOLLY FISCH
Backup story written by MAX LANDIS
Art and cover by CULLY HAMNER
Backup story art by RYAN SOOK
On sale OCTOBER 31 • 48 pg, FC, $4.99 US • RATED T
• The secrets of the “missing five years” between when Clark Kent came to Metropolis and the present day continue to be revealed!
• In the wake of Brainiac’s attack on Metropolis, Superman faces his first Earth-born villain: the Kryptonite Man!
• Plus: A special backup story by the screenwriter of Chronicle, Max Landis!

 

BATGIRL ANNUAL #1
Written by GAIL SIMONE
Art by ADMIRA WIJAYA
Cover by ED BENES
On sale OCTOBER 31 • 48 pg, FC, $4.99 US • RATED T
• Batgirl is on the hunt for Catwoman – but who is after Batgirl?

 

JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK ANNUAL #1
Written by JEFF LEMIRE
Art by MIKEL JANIN
Cover by RYAN SOOK
On sale OCTOBER 31 • 48 pg, FC, $4.99 US • RATED T
• Continued from JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK
#13, it’s the big finale to Jeff Lemire’s first epic story!
• Guest-starring Frankenstein and, from the new series SWORD OF SORCERY, Amethyst!

 

SWAMP THING ANNUAL #1
Written by SCOTT SNYDER
Art by BECKY CLOONAN and MARCO RUDY
Cover by YANICK PAQUETTE
On sale OCTOBER 31 • 48 pg, FC, $4.99 US • RATED T+
• Years ago, Alec Holland met Anton Arcane…and the seeds of that encounter created the nightmare that is Rotworld!
• This extra-sized tale of monsters and madness examines one of the greatest rivalries in the DC Universe!

Anthology Series Galore!

Part of the fun of this series is seeing old characters premier in the new DC universe. Blue Devil and Black Lightning both get re-designed and make their entrances. Also the one and only Joe Kubert recieves his own book, which I hope he has forever and ever.

 

DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS #13
Written by MARC ANDREYKO
Art by ROBSON ROCHA
Cover by RYAN SOOK
On sale OCTOBER 17 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
• The New 52 debut of not one, but TWO heroes – Black Lightning and Blue Devil!
• Fan-favorite writer Marc Andreyko kicks off our strangest team up yet with a stunning mystery!
• Can these two VERY different heroes keep it together without killing each other long enough to unlock a new corner of the DC Universe?

 

 

JOE KUBERT PRESENTS #1
Written and illustrated by JOE KUBERT,
BRIAN BUNIAK and SAM GLANZMAN
Cover by JOE KUBERT
On sale OCTOBER 31 • 48 pg, FC, 1 of 6, no interior ads, $4.99 US • RATED T
• Don’t miss the start of this far-ranging collection of stories from comics legend Joe Kubert and other great talents! This debut issue includes:
• Joe Kubert writes and illustrates two stories: A new Hawkman epic, and a tale of hard times called “Spit.”
• A tale of Angel and The Ape from writer/artist Brian Buniak.
• Plus: Writer/artist Sam Glanzman returns to comics with a new tale of the U.S.S. Stevens!

 

 

NATIONAL COMICS: MADAME X #1
Written by ROB WILLIAMS
Art by TREVOR HAIRSINE
Cover by FIONA STAPLES
On sale OCTOBER 17 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
• The once-famous tarot card reader Madame X now works at a law firm as the resident “psychic” – but can her “powers” help her solve a complicated new case?
• From the acclaimed team of Rob Williams (Iron Man, Cla$$War) and Trevor Hairsine (Captain America, Cla$$War)!

Missed the digital version? Grab it in print.

Just feast your hungry eyes on the talent. Damon Lindleloff, Jeff Lemire, Nicola Scott, Jimmy Palmiotti, Justin Gray, Amanda Conner and more. How can you say no?

LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT #1
Written by DAMON LINDELOF, JONATHAN LARSEN and TOM TAYLOR
Art by JEFF LEMIRE, J.G. JONES, NICOLA SCOTT and WAYNE FAUCHER
Cover by ETHAN VAN SCIVER
1:25 Variant cover by STEPHEN PLATT
On sale OCTOBER 3 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for details.
• The first time in print for this digital-first series!
• Original, non-continuity short stories featuring Batman as written and illustrated by some of comics’ finest talents!
• Stories in this debut issue include “The Butler Did It,” “All of the Above” and “The Crime Never Committed.”

AME-COMI GIRLS #1: FEATURING WONDER WOMAN
Written by JUSTIN GRAY and JIMMY PALMIOTTI
Art by AMANDA CONNER, TONY AKINS and WALDEN WONG
Cover by AMANDA CONNER
1:25 Variant cover by DUSTIN NGUYEN
On sale OCTOBER 10 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for details.
• The first time in print for this digital-first series!
• First of new series inspired by the popular figures from DC Collectibles!
• Wonder Woman must stop an attack on Themyscira!
• Features the spectacular artwork of AMANDA CONNER (BEFORE WATCHMEN: SILK SPECTRE)!

Spooky

It’s October. Happy Haunting!

MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE: THE ORIGIN OF SKELETOR #1
Written by JOSHUA HALE FIALKOV
Art and cover by FRAZER IRVING
One-shot • On sale OCTOBER 31 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
• Take a look at the twisted origins of Eternia’s most loathsome and terrible villain.
• What horrific events from Skeletor’s secret past defined the evil despot he became?

LOT 13 #1
Written by STEVE NILES
Art and cover by GLENN FABRY
On sale OCTOBER 31 • 32 pg, 1 of 5, FC, $2.99 US • MATURE READERS
• A terrifying new horror series from the ghoulish minds of Steve Niles (30 Days of Night) and Glenn Fabry (PREACHER)!
• A family making a cross-country move makes a horrifying discovery in an old apartment complex. Can they survive the night?

GHOSTS #1
Written by GEOFF JOHNS, JOE KUBERT, GILBERT HERNANDEZ, PAUL POPE, CECIL CASTELLUCCI, MARY H.K. CHOI, AL EWING and NEIL KLEID
Art by RUFUS DAYGLO, GILBERT HERNANDEZ, PHIL JIMENEZ, JOE KUBERT, JEFF LEMIRE, JOHN McCREA and AMY REEDER
Cover by DAVE JOHNSON
1:10 Variant edition cover by PHIL JIMENEZ
One-Shot • On sale OCTOBER 31 • 80 pg, FC, $7.99 US • MATURE READERS
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the Previews Order Form for details.
Check out this all-new anthology from some of the biggest talents in the industry! Stories spotlight a space heist on a ghost ship, a spirit who wants to play synthesizer in a techno band, a ghost-for-hire haunting agency and others dark, twisted tales.
With stories and art by some of comics’ greatest talents, this special features a cover by Dave Johnson, and a variant cover by Brendan
McCarthy!

Motivation

Put this on your desk.
“You will work on that novel or I will send a fleet of Para-demons upon you!”

DARKSEID DELUXE ACTION FIGURE
BOOM! Straight from the pages of DC Comics–The New 52 comes a brand new take on one of the Justice League’s most powerful villains–Darkseid! This Apokaliptic conqueror will crush all who oppose him–so start building your defenses today!
* Action Figure * $89.95 US • On Sale November 28, 2012 * Allocations May Occur

To see the full list of DC Comics in October click here.

Comments

  1. Wonderful looking Darkseid figure…but 90 bucks?? Ehhhhh…a bit steep.

    • I know right, I just thought that, being deluxe I assume its a bit bigger but it outta be huge for 90 bucks, thats ridiculous for a figure that accompanies the New52 hero figures. I got the Darkseid from the Superman/Batman line and he looks really good and is deluxe size, I’ll stick with him with that price.

  2. I’m a sucker for ghosts

  3. Avatar photo Mickey">Mickey (@GeeksOfChrist) says:

    Kubert doing Hawkman.

    Knowing that’s out there makes whatever I’m doing now seem inconsequential.

  4. Yeesh. I sure do love that Fiona Staples cover.

  5. Most interested in Joe Kubert and the Skeletor book of course

  6. Here’s all I needed: Joe Kubert, Becky Cloonan and Frazier Irving. And two awesome covers from Fiona Staples and Dave Johnson.

  7. That Legends of the Dark Knight stuff is pretty good.

    Becky Cloonan on Swamp Thing sounds right fine to me.

  8. Avatar photo filippod (@filippodee) says:
  9. Definetly be picking up both of those digital series of batman and wonder woman, although is the wonder woman an ongoing or also a one shot?

    • Avatar photo filippod (@filippodee) says:

      The series is “Ame-Comi”, not “Wonder Woman”.

      This is #1 “featuring” Wonder Woman

      The digital publishing plan is:
      – Ame-Comi: Wonder Woman #1-3
      – Ame-Comi: Batgirl #1-3
      – Ame-Comi: Duela Dent #1-3
      – Ame-Comi: Power Girl #1-3
      – Ame-Comi: Supergirl #1-3
      – Ame-Comi: Ongoing

      Each digital installment is 20 “tablet” pages, corresponding to 10 “paper” pages.
      I imagine that this is collecting digital #1-3, so as far as Wonder Woman goes I think it is a one-shot.

  10. Has anyone else seen the cliche cover of an African American Green Lantern with a gun?

    Come on DC!

  11. Johnson outdoes himself again with that Ghosts cover. Beautiful stuff.

  12. I wonder if Legends of the Dark Knight will be collected in HC’s. I’ll collect the single issues until we have a definite answer. I probably look forward to it more than the regular Batman title.

    The first two issues of Ame-Comi Wonder Woman were so good, but with the third, not only was the art less than satisfactory, the writing seemed to take a dive, too. The banter was just bad and it’s only gotten worse in Ame-Comi Batgirl.

  13. Lots of great stuff coming from DC this October.

    Not so much for Marvel. (Although the return of Hypno Hustler might equal to all of these DC titles)

    But we got a Joe Kubert mini, another Vertigo anthology one-shot, Legends of the Dark Knight, and a lot more. Wallet is going to be hurting.

  14. All sorts of good names on Ghosts and Steve Niles with Lot 13, I love the supernatural stuff anyway. Annuals look good, Joe Kuberts anthology series sounds great, DCU presents with Black Lighting and Blue Devil made my day and look forward to them, when I saw the pick I was thinking please be Black Lightning and not Static Shock and I hope they’re Earth-2 characters as they both have a history with the JSA here n there and could use a few more cool characters over there. Love the creative team on the Skeletor book! Madame X interests me cause its also supernatural and Fiona Staples and AME-COMi Wonder Woman and Legends of the Dark Knight are the only digital comix I’m reading right now as I start a small digital collection, so I gotta say I’m pretty stoked about DC’s October solicits!

  15. Is it just me or does the cover of DC Universe Presents look like it was drawn by Travel Foreman not the credited Ryan Sook?