FIRST LOOK: DC Comics Dark Book Solicits for December

Halfway through September and DC’s Dark banner titles rank among the most popular books in the relaunch. From Animal Man to Demon Knights, they’re some of the most ambitious and inventive new ongoings, and account for two of our recent Pick of the Week selections. So we’re thrilled to share these exclusive covers and solicits for the #4 issues due out in December.

Be mindful: Potential spoilers ahead.

Some highlights:

  • Victor Ibanez steps in to provide interior art for Swamp Thing #4.
  • Mike Choi provides guest art for a Demon Knights backup, joining Diogenes Neves & Oclair Albert.
  • Swamp Thing and Animal Man are already linked by a common enemy.
  • G.I. Robot!
  • Justice League Dark’s John Constantine is guest starring in I, Vampire.
  • Ryan Sook is a rockstar.

 

Animal Man #4 cover by Travel Foreman

ANIMAL MAN #4
Written by JEFF LEMIRE
Art and cover by TRAVEL FOREMAN
On sale DECEMBER 7 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
After coming face to face with the mysterious Totems, Buddy learns the truth about Maxine’s destiny – but it may be too late, as The Red is infiltrated by agents of The Other, and Buddy struggles to control his new, unfiltered powers with deadly results! Meanwhile, Ellen and Cliff must face the last Hunters alone!

Swamp Thing #4 cover by Yanick Paquette

 SWAMP THING #4
Written by SCOTT SNYDER
Art by VICTOR IBANEZ
Cover by YANICK PAQUETTE
On sale DECEMBER 7 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
All across the world, those with a primal connection to the forces of life and death can feel that something is very wrong. The war between The Green andThe Other has begun, and the knights of decay walk the Earth unchecked – but without Alec Holland, the Green has no champion strong enough to fight back!

Demon Knights #4 cover by Mike Choi

 DEMON KNIGHTS #4
Written by PAUL CORNELL
Art by MIKE CHOI and DIOGENES NEVES & OCLAIR ALBERT
Cover by MIKE CHOI (Not final cover)
On sale DECEMBER 14 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
It wasn’t a coincidence that the Shining Knight found herself in Little Spring as the Horde massed at the village gates. She’s on a quest, and has been all her long life – whether she’s known it or not! Now, a powerful vision will reveal to her the true stakes of the battle for Little Spring and pull back the curtain on one of the biggest secrets in the DC Universe! Don’t miss “Merlin Watches The Storm,” featuring guest art by the sensational Mike Choi (X-Force)! And yes, “storm” is a hint.
** Not final cover

Frankenstein, Agent of S.H.A.D.E. #4 cover by J.G. Jones

 FRANKENSTEIN, AGENT OF S.H.A.D.E. #4
Written by JEFF LEMIRE
Art by ALBERTO PONTICELLI
Cover by J.G. JONES
On sale DECEMBER 14 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
“Monster Planet” comes to its world-shattering conclusion as Frankenstein and Nina take on the massive Sea Monster, while Lady Frankenstein and the rest of the Creature Commandos go head to head with the colossal Ogre Titan. Plus: Don’t miss the debut of the G.I. Robot Squadron and the new War Wheel!

Resurrection Man #4 cover by Ivan Reis, Joe Prado

 RESURRECTION MAN #4
Written by DAN ABNETT and ANDY LANNING
Art by FERNANDO DAGNINO
Cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO
On sale DECEMBER 14 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
Who is the Transhuman? And why is he risking his life for the Resurrection Man? And even with his help, will our hero be able to fend off the bounty-hunting Body Doubles and the forces of both Heaven and Hell?

I, Vampire #4 cover by Jenny Frison

 I, VAMPIRE #4
Written by JOSHUA HALE FIALKOV
Art by ANDREA SORRENTINO
Cover by JENNY FRISON
On sale DECEMBER 28 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
Straight from the pages of JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK comes John Constantine! Problem is, rather than help Andrew in his war against the Queen of Blood, Constantine figures it would make more sense to just wipe out all of the vampires, including Andrew!

Justice League Dark #4 cover by Ryan Sook

JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #4
Written by PETER MILLIGAN
Art by MIKEL JANIN
Cover by RYAN SOOK
On sale DECEMBER 28 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Madame Xanadu’s plan is working! Zatanna, John Constantine, Shade the Changing Man, Mindwarp and Deadman are all being brought together. But will Xanadu’s manipulations blow up in her face when she learns that Enchantress has grown too powerful to be controlled?

Comments

  1. That’s a disturbing cover by Sook….but still looks great.

    I’ve never heard or seen of Victor Ibanez work but we’ll see how I feel about it when it comes out.

    • He did some work on Zatanna and The Spirit recently. Good stuff, and it shouldn’t be too much of a tonal shift with what Paquette does.

  2. Awesome stuff. Man I love that Swamp Thing cover!

  3. These covers are all outstanding!

  4. These all look great.

    That Animal Man cover … brrrrr.

    Who doesn’t love Ryan Sook? I can’t wait for JLD. Hope it’s good.

  5. Wow. I wanna buy every single one of these books

  6. Exciting to see such great work. Sook’s cover’s fantastic. Love the sky work on the Demon Knights’ cover (but I’m wondering how the title logo is not going to ruin that haunting, facial visage.)

  7. Spoiler indeed. The Shining Knight is supposed to be female?

  8. If Demon Knights is getting a back-up will it be bumped up to 3.99?

    All of these covers are just awesome. The Dark books are really delivering quality stories and art. I’m excited for pretty much all of the ones I’ve read.

    • Solicit says 2.99. Hopefully it sticks.

    • i believe back up just means some pages are drawn by the other artist. so that the residing artist have lesser to draw and can move on to the next issue faster, since theyre practically paying the same amount for the number of pages means there probably isnt an increase in cost. so I doubt price will increase

  9. I absolutely love the Dark line. They’ve all been 4 and 5 star books so far, and I expect JLDark and I, Vampire will continue the trend.

  10. I love these dark titles so far resurrection man has been the only turd. lol

  11. Hey DC! Want to fool me into buying all 52 of the new 52?!? Have Ryan Sook do all the covers. Wow.

  12. That JLD cover just sold me on the book. Just awesome.

  13. It’s good to see the old J.G. Jones back!

  14. it’s going to be an awesome December. my brother is excited fir iVampire

  15. That Frankenstein cover is AMAZING

  16. quick first impressions:

    Animal Man: that cover kinda sucks compared to number 1’s cover.

    Swamp Thing: pretty

    Demon Knights: ouch

    Frankenstein: good to see Jones back in form

    Resurrection Man: blah. boring cover

    I Vampire: cool

    Justice League Dark: cover of the year!

  17. i love all the covers except for the animal man one, just isn’t doing it for me like the first issues cover was. But i’m confident the writing is still great as always

  18. AND now i am adding ressurection man to my pull. i was going to wait for the POTW podcast to hear a review but that cover just sealed the deal.

  19. also i hope “the other” is just a smoke monster

  20. Swamp Thing cover is so dope! Of the bunch JLD wins for me; ban that sick filth!

  21. Every single one of these looks great, but i especially like the Frankenstein. Looks like an old Silver Age book. And the JLD is very pretty as well.

  22. wow, Franenstein looks amaaaazing.

  23. Artists being replaced or filling in already? Not a good sign in my book.

    I can’t see picking up a second issue of ANIMAL MAN after disliking the first issue so much. Not happy that there is going to be a tie-in, even though I have added SWAMP THING to my pull-list already. Personally, I think keeping the storylines of the titles independent initially might have been a better way to go. Build up a readership for each title before pushing a cross-over, even a shared villian. Since companies have their writers ‘write for the trade’ the first one should be able to be read without reference to another title. Just my two-cents.