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.
Author’s Note: DC Comics has a notorious reputation for incorrect solicitation information, so take everything below with a grain of salt.
From The He’s STILL Walking Department
DC claims that in Superman #714, our favorite ambulatory superhero reaches his final destination (Seattle) and that his cross country sojourn ends. BUT WHO ARE WE TO BELIEVE THEM?
SUPERMAN #714
Written by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI and CHRIS ROBERSON
Art by ALLAN GOLDMAN and EBER FERREIRA
Cover by JOHN CASSADAY
Superman hits Seattle for his last stop on his “Grounded” walk across the country, and it is in that city where everything will come to a head! The mysterious woman who has been following Superman all year makes a desperate final move, one that may cost the Man of Steel that which he holds most dear!
From The Everything Changes Today Department
19 books this month to close out Flashpoint, which promises to change everything and if rumblings are to be believed, this time they might not be kidding.
Flashpoint: Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown #3, Flashpoint: Secret Seven #3, Flashpoint: World of Flashpoint #3, & Flashpoint: Wonder Woman and the Furies #3
Flashpoint: Emperor Aquaman #3, Flashpoint: Lois Lane and the Resistance #3, Flashpoint: The Outsider #3, & Flashpoint: Project Superman #3
Flashpoint: Deadman and The Flying Graysons #3, Flashpoint: Hal Jordan #3, Flashpoint: Kid Flash Lost #3, & Flashpoint: Legion of Doom #3
Flashpoint: Abin Sur – The Ggeen Lantern #3, Flashpoint: Batman – Knight of Vengeance #3, Flashpoint: Citizen Cold #3, & Flashpoint: Deathstroke and the Curse of the Ravager #3
Flashpoint #4, Booster Gold #44
Not pictured: Flashpoint #5, the final issue, which ships alone on August 31st.
From The Nostalgia Is Good For Business Department
One more trip around the track, not only for some of these creators, but for long time DC fans, as well. At least, that’s what DC is banking on.
DC Retroactive: Superman – The ’80s #1 written by Marv Wolfman, art by Serigo Cariello, and cover by Dan Jurgens
DC Retroactive: Batman – The ’80s #1 written by Mike W. Barr, art and cover by Jerry Bingham
DC Retroactive: Wonder Woman – The ’80s #1 written by Roy Thomas, art and cover by Rich Buckler
DC Retroactive: Justice League of America – The ’80s #1 written by Gerry Conway, art and cover by Ron Randall
DC Retroactive: Green Lantern – The ’80s #1 written by Len Wein, art and cover by Joe Staton
DC Retroactive: The Flash – The ’80s #1 written by William Messner-Loebs, art and cover by Greg LaRocque (Who I associate more with the ’90s but WHATEVER I don’t run DC Comics!)
DC Retroactive: Superman – The ’90s #1 written by Louise Simonson, art and cover by Jon Bogdanove
DC Retroactive: Batman – The ’90s #1 written by Alan Grant, art and cover by Norm Breyfogle (The most EXCITING release of 2011!)
DC Retroactive: Wonder Woman – The ’90s #1 written by William Messner-Loebs, art and cover by Paris Cullins
DC Retroactive: Justice League of America – The ’90s #1 written by Keith Giffen & J.M. DeMatteis, art and cover by Kevin Maguire
DC Retroactive: Green Lantern – The ’90s #1 written by Ron Marz, art and cover by Daryl Banks
DC Retroactive: The Flash – The ’90s #1 written by Brian Augustyn, art and cover by Mike Bowden
From The Department of Redundancy Department
Uh oh…
BATMAN #713
Written by FABIAN NICIEZA
Art by STEVE SCOTT and RYAN WINN
Cover by TONY S. DANIEL and RYAN WINN
Over the years, Dick Grayson has worn several guises: First, he was Robin the Boy Wonder, then Nightwing, and finally Batman. But now that Bruce Wayne has donned the cape and cowl once again, Dick finds himself at an identity crossroads.
From The She’ll Go From One Alternate Timeline To Another Department
Apparently, once she gets her alternate time line problem straightened out, she’s going to turn into a tyrant.
WONDER WOMAN #614
Written by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI and PHIL HESTER
Art by DON KRAMER and WAYNE FAUCHER
Cover by JOSHUA MIDDLETON
Variant cover by ALEX GARNER
The all-new Wonder Woman reaches the end of her epic “Odyssey” and comes face-to-face with the malevolent force behind it all! But the only way to defeat her nemesis may be to become her – giving her own powers over to an all-consuming hatred for life on Earth! Is Diana strong enough to control a force that seeks vengeance on all mankind, or will the warrior within her condemn her to a life of eternal bloodshed?
From The Trades To Keep Your Eye Out For Department
All of these collections are available for pre-order in August for September and October release.
In addition to the first collection of the gorgeous The New York Five mini-series from Brian Wood and Ryan Kelly, and Saga of the Swamp Thing Book 6 which wraps up Alan Moore’s run, DC is releasing a bunch of new editions of previously collected material.
Batman: A Death in the Family not only collects Batman #426-429, in which The Joker murders Jason Todd, but also Batman #440-442 and The New Titans #60-61, which introduces Tim Drake.They’ve basically combined the Death in the Family and the A Lonely Place of Dying trades into one volume. September 21
JLA, Vol. 1 collects JLA #1-9 and JLA Secret Files #1 which is actually more comprehensive than the hardcover deluxe edition release (grumble) in that it contains the Mark Millar issues. September
The new edition of the excellent OGN A God Somewhere only differs from the previous version in price – at $17.99 it’s cheaper. September 7
And finally, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Omnibus hardcover collects the first two League mini-series, which are not only the tow best of the bunch but are probably the last great comic projects that Alan Moore wrote.
From The Where Did He Get Those Wonderful Toys Department
While I’ve only actually purchased one in my life, I love checking out statues. These two sculpts caught my eye and if they catch yours you can pre-order them in August ahead of their January 2012 release.
BATMAN BLACK & WHITE STATUE: BATMAN BY SERGIO ARAGONES ($90)
DESIGNED BY SERGIO ARAGONES
SCULPTED BY JIM SHOOP
HEROES OF THE DC UNIVERSE SERIES 2: SWAMP THING BUST ($75)
DESIGNED BY GARY FRANK
SCULPTED BY JEAN ST. JEAN
Characters to Watch Out For:
Superman. Dick Grayson. Wonder Woman.
Major Titles of the Month:
Flashpoint #4. Flashpoint #5. DC Retroactive: Batman – The 90s.
Want more? Check out the complete list of DC Comics August 2011 solicitations here.
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I kind of want some of these flashpoint titles to just keep going after flashpoint. Some of them look awesome!
The fact that they didn’t (couldn’t?) get John Byrne on the 80s Superman book saddens me. But Mike W. Barr bringing the Reaper back for the 80s Batman book makes me happy. Getting Alan Davis to do the art on that book would have probably been too much to ask for.
But Norm Breyfogle returns to Batman! Yes! Why has this taken so long to happen!?
I’m confused, are the DC Retroactive books new stories or reprints?
@wangman31888 They’re a bit of both. They’ll each have a brand new story and a back-up reprint from the time period when that writer or illustrator originally worked.
@JeffR I had heard for a time he was blacklisted for some odd reason. Which is why he’s been working at Archie for years and not anywhere else.
That Wonder Woman cover is a really good example of the potential of the new costume. I really like how its drawn here.
i like those Department names. =)
man thats a lot of flashpoint…. from the “even 2.99 isn’t gonna help department”
Conor has never been more right about anything than the Grant/Breyfogle Batman being the most excting release of 2011.
If it wasn’t for their run on ‘Tec and Shadow of the Bat I wouldn’t still be reading comics all these years later.
I agree – when I started reading comics, Grant and Breyfogle were just awesome on Detective Comics. I’m excited to see them return to Batman!
I’ll probably never be able to stop waiting on the other shoe to drop when it comes to Dick Grayson will I? I always feel like he’s one DC event away from dying.
Thank you for this. I hope you continue to do this for DC, Marvel and independants.
“A Lonely Place of Dying” was a goos story, as I recall from back then. Nice to see it bound together with Starlin’s “Death in the Family.”
I’m calling it now, Batman in the ’90’s will be Conor’s POW if that falls on his week (heck I can see him trading with Josh or Ron just so that that week is his!). I’m definitely excited about it, as I loved those Detective issues and wished they collected them, as I’m missing a bunch. Hopefully this will do well and DC will start publishing some of their stuff.
I’m surprised no one here has mentioned that Snyder’s run on Detective ends this month.
@JaqueNargg It’s a bit up in the air how accurate that is. After that interview where Snyder implied that it was the end, he Tweeted that he had misspoke. Really, no one really knows what’s going on at DC post-Flashpoint–no one is talking–so nothing is certain.
That Grant/Breyfogle run on Detective is definitely my favorite Batman run as well, and it’s not just due to nostalgia, I was a toddler when they started their run so I didnt actually read an issue of theirs until I got back into comics several years ago(about the time Batman Begins came out) and I knew right away that it was something special and it was the first time that I collected an entire back issue collection. Grants bizarre and twisted villains(what is it with these Scotts doing such weird stuff on Batman?) and Breyfogles dynamic art really created one of the most definitive runs, I hope this will only be the beginning of more work from them at DC.
I cannot wait for the Grant/Breyfogle Batman one-shot! I’ve been collecting a lot of old school Detective Comics issues and those two together are amazing. That and the JLA 90’s with Maguire, Demattis, and Griffin will be great.
Can John Cassaday also quit now? He’s clearly phoning it in at this point.
What extra issues is the JLA paperback collecting? My hardcover Volume 1 has #1-9 and Secret Files, and my Volume 2 has #10-17 and a Prometheus one shot and some Wildcats stuff. What am I missing?
Oh, and the “Death in the Family” and “Lonely Place of Dying” were already grouped together in a hardcover under DC’s epic failure of a line: The DC Comics Classics Library. Really, really good idea. Very, very poor execution. (With that line of hardcovers, not the Batman stories.)
I want ALL the Flashpoint stuff!! ALL!!
@Lucas, It’s too bad those DC Comics Classics Library failed, those were great books, but soooooo expensive.
Looking forward to that final Alan Moore Swamp Thing Book.
And remember when John Cassaday was awesome? I barely do…
The Spirit has some really amazing artists going on in it’s (last?) issue. Bolland, Lopez, and Craig Russell? Also some great writers with Chaykin, Pfeiffer, and Levitz! What the H!?
Also a fantastic, golden age cover by Yuko Shimizu for Unwritten:
http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/preview2.php?image=solicits/dccomics/201108/vertigo/UNW_Cv28.jpg
Conor reads the solicitations? Lo, how the mighty have fallen.
@Cornelius As we say in the intro, it’s the price of the job, unfortunately.
Is the JLA vol 1 solicit the hardcover or it is going to be in trade form?
I can’t wait for Grant/Brefogle Batman. It’s my favourite run on Batman ever. It really needs to be re-released in trade form asap.
I miss John Byrne. WHen I picture 90% of comic book characters in my head, it’s John Byrne’s rendition of them that I think of. His art style is what I grew up on and it’s how comics “look” in my brain.
I mourn for thee.
Love the Deadman cover! Also, want to know what happens in that water situated strangling… Definately getting the Swamp Thing bust.
sp
also, A God Somewhere (nowhere)
I’m surprised no one’s mentioned the fact that we finally get a glimpse of Flashpoint Martian Manhunter on that Outsider cover. Guess that blows the Canterbury Cricket theory out of the water.
Excited to see Nicieza shove Daniel off Batman proper. But that cover makes no sense and the idea of Dick having an identity crisis seems a bit tardy.
Also, they gotta just pull the plug on the Black and White statues. They’ve run out of interesting ideas.
@WheelHands This might be their most inventive Black and White statue yet.
Homer simpson Batman isn’t inventive- it’s derivative
@ericmci You must not be familiar with Sergio Aragones who has been drawing like that since well before The Simpsons.
Burn!
I have the Paul Pope b&w Batman.
@conor I’m still really confused. What are we getting in the JLA paperback that wasn’t in the hardcover?
@LucasEwalt You’ll have to ask DC – that’s what their solicitation says.
@smeeee trade
@LucasEwalt the Mark Millar issues are posed to be extra, if they were in the Hardcover maybe an issue that was not is or as conor said, “You’ll have to ask DC – that’s what their solicitation says”.
Just checked on those JLA books on DC’s website, and both formats have the exact same page count. All I can figure is that maybe they’re collecting extra issues in future collections? I dunno. It’s dumb either way. And I’m not downgrading on formats for any reason. It’s the same reason I’ll never own Justice League International volume 5.
@conor: Sigh. You win. I’ll just rephrase and say that I don’t like that one.
Conor- And you must not be familiar with the fact that Sergio has drawn Many issues of the Simpson’s comics.
@ericmci I am familiar. Still not sure how it’s derivative. It’s very unique to the statue line to date.
I am saying it is derivative of another character
Was that really clear that is what I meant?
The man draws Homer Simpson for years – That looks like Homer Simpson in Bat Costume.
If anything it’s parody not inventive. Ok so it’s an Inventive parody.
But don’t front and say that isn’t Homer.
@ericmci It’s not Homer Simpson. That’s my entire point. Sergio Aragones has been drawing like that for decades before The Simpsons ever exsited. He draw Simpsons comics BECAUSE his style–which, again, predated The Simpsons by at least 20 years–was similar to the Simpsons style.
@ericmci That’s not what Homer Simpson looks like. It looks more like Aragones’ Groo character. Which predated Homer by at least five years. It’s also the way he drew Batman in 1996 for a books called Sergio Aragones Destroys DC.
So – you don’t think it’s possible that drawing homer influencd his style for this –
Sergio skecth of Batman in 88
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2kjisMm3M9Y/Sd4W9Wf4daI/AAAAAAAAIZE/6hETJ1UuIME/s400/Sergio+Aragones.jpg
Ok fair enough
But look at the eyes in the statue – definite difference- Homer esque?
and just for fun compare it to this-
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cGGGClQwiN0/Tam3yud82iI/AAAAAAAAO-w/W2fhtNb-KGw/s1600/homer-batman-statue-2.jpg
That’s all I have to say- I am saying it’s influenced.
End rant.
@ericmci It’s not influenced at all. That’s how he’s been drawing GROO since 1982.
@ericmci The eyes look like early 80s Groo eyes to me. If anything he’s going back to an earlier style. Homer Simpson doesn’t have a monopoly on bulbous cartoon eyes.
Paul- the upper lip is also enlarged more indiciative of homer where as groo
has a more empahsized chin.
In th very least
If the man was picked to draw Homer Because of his style- even if this isn’t heavliy influenced
by Homer- it’s not unfair to say that one might be able to see homer simpson in this picece!
Or just agree to disagree– but if you look at some of the sites commenting on this I am not the only one who sees it- such as
http://www.66batman.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1305681950/3
Okay, well your premise has changed. I’ll grant you that Aragones’ and Groening’s styles share similar elements, but Aragones isn’t aping anybody. In the end it still looks more like Groo than it does Homer.
I suppose it has altered due to the conversation.
Good debate does that
But I do maintain that I think the influence is there and I don’t find that so inventive for this piece.
And I never said he was aping anyone – I just thought his own style was pulling in from another well known character.
But if you’ll excuse I have to listen to the POW podcast I have a feeling I might have something to say about it.
[Insert emoticon]
Aragones is strangely doing a lot of Simpsons comics now that you mention it….
#nothelping