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.
Typically, we like to browse through the month's solicits looking for the major touchstones and the hidden gems. Given the media maelstrom surrounding DC's Fall relaunch, you're probably already aware of September's books. We even have that nice, clean table offering the full spectrum of 52 #1 issues.
That said, DC released some additional information this week, and we thought we'd take the opportunity to highlight some of the more exciting teases and lingering mysteries presented in this deluge of preview material.
The Superman Incident
DC saved the Superman family announcements for the end of the new title rollout, and though the most exciting project is certainly Grant Morrison and Rags Morales' Action Comics #1, there's also something brewing for George Perez's Superman #1. Superman, now cited as the world's first hero (JSA is taking a bit of a break), is tasked with saving the world. A typical Wednesday for Superman. But this time, the mysterious cataclysm is seemingly his fault. In the new reality, Superman and the Kryptonians must contend with some trust issues. For her part, Supergirl is seemingly at odds with the people of Earth, even if her cousin is their stalwart champion. Meanwhile, Martian Manhunter and the Wildstorm vets of Stormwatch dealing with the fallout of this enigmatic Superman incident.
What did Superman do and how devastating are the consequences? Is the incident truly his fault or is that simply public perception? How does Stormwatch become involved and how does this global police force relate to the Justice League, if at all?
Barbara Gordon As Batgirl
If any fans were peeved about Dick Grayson's demotion from the Batman mantle, that little controversy was quickly swept under the rug when we learned that Barbara Gordon is set to take flight as Batgirl once more. This choice drummed up some real ire for a number of reasons. For one, it means the end of the Unsinkable Stephanie Brown and the further sidelining of Cassandra Cain. Series writer Gail Simone has hinted that if DC doesn't have plans for the pair already, she may well use them at some point in this new ongoing. Still, it's a heartbreaker for fans of the current Batgirl title and writer Bryan Q. Miller who has stated publicly that he was not asked to be a part of the relaunch.
Many readers have also come to know Babs better in her role as the wheelchair-bound Oracle. Following her paralyzing injury in The Killing Joke, the character was unable to carry on as Batgirl. But that didn't mean she stopped being a hero. Oracle remains an important role model and not simply a token representation of tragedy.
It's likely that the character will need to be de-aged, especially considering there's already a Batwoman zipping around town. How does this affect her relationships with the Birds of Prey or on-again off-again love interest Dick Grayson? We also don't know whether Babs' injury has been retconned to smithereens, or if she's somehow cured. A whole lot of question marks on this one, and a lot of sensitive subjects to be broached.
Wildstorm and Milestone Take Center Stage
Familiar faces from the Wildstorm universe as well as Milestone are featured in their own titles, many of them in fairly prominent positions. Will Static Shock take on new popularity as a Spider-Man for the DCU? Will the aforementioned Stormwatch, featuring a mix of Authority and JLA vets function as the new Checkmate? Characters like Grifter and Voodoo from the Wildcats world even have their own ongoing titles. As exciting as it is to see their return to popular attention, the real question is how they'll mesh with the rest of the DCU. Will they remain part of their own little corners of the larger world, or will we be seeing people like Apollo and Superman teaming up against whatever new iteration of Darkseid is sure to emerge?
The New Guardians
Redactions are always fun. As much as the Green Lantern books seem unaffected by the relaunch, Kyle Rayner' s spotlight series Green Lantern: The New Guardians seems steeped in mystery. How much streamlining and reconfiguration can we expect with regard to the multi-color Lanterns corps?
Four Robins
While Tim Drake gave us a bit of a scare for a day or two, DC revealed that each of the four male Robins are headlining their own books. Well, headlining might be the wrong word. But they get their time in the sun. Dick Grayson is back to his Nightwing persona, with an opening adventure related to his origins in the circus. Jason Todd, freshly sprung from jail by the Thundercats (?) in current continuity, is back to what appears to be his Countdown persona as something of an antihero. He'll be leading up a team of misfits including Arsenal and Starfire in what looks like of the odder books in the lineup, Red Hood and the Outlaws. We do know he has at least some connection to the Batman world, given that symbol on his chest.
Tim Drake is still Red Robin, but he might be getting the biggest reboot treatment with a new costume and what might be a new background as the founding member of the Teen Titans. As for Damian Wayne, he's back where he wants to be, patrolling Gotham with his pops Bruce Wayne in Batman & Robin.
Fresh Starts For Heavy Hitters
Is time ripe for Wonder Woman and Aquaman to take their rightful place in the JLA pantheon? They're back on the team with the classics as well as young upstart Cyborg, but they've also got their own ongoings. Can Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis work their tried and true magic of the mainstream laughing stock we all secretly know is pretty badass? Can wildcard choice Brian Azzarello and fan favorite Cliff Chiang balance out the mythos of Diana and the Amazons? A surf and turf war sits at center stage in Aquaman's opening arc and the Greek pantheon fire up the deus ex machina in Wonder Woman.
DC Experiences Vertigo
For many, the most exciting new titles were announced last Tuesday, when DC revealed their line of horror and magic books, many of them featuring characters from the Vertigo line. The centerpiece is Justice League Dark, a team title by Peter Milligan featuring the likes of Deadman, John Constantine, Zatanna, Enchantress, Madame Xanadu, and Shade the Changing Man. But we're also pretty excited about Scott Snyder's Swamp Thing and Jeff Lemire's Animal Man. And if their Twitter chatter is to be believed, those two might be seeing some crossover in the future.
The New Recruits
We're also privy to some new recruits. Who's the tattooed operative on the cover of Birds of Prey #1? Is that "Starling" from the solicit? How about the new girls on the cover of Teen Titans? Artists have referred to them as "Bugg" and "Charcoal Girl" but those could be code names and not final handles. Here's another big mystery. That raven-haired girl from the cover of Justice League International? She up and disappeared!
Fuzzy Typewriter Podcast: The DC Relaunch – Starting Back at One
One last note. If you're interested in the in-depth opinions of two comics fans–Paul Montgomery and David Accampo–you'll want to check out their lengthy discussion on the Fuzzy Typewriter podcast. This one should keep you company for a week's worth of your commute or one epic plane ride. We're talking about nearly three hours discussing the ramifications of the relaunch as well as each and every one of those 52 #1 titles. Designed with new readers and DC stalwarts alike, it's about as comprehensive an analysis of the reboot as you're going to find.
For more on the DC relaunch and the full range of books due out in September, check out the full solicits on DC's Source Blog.
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I didn’t know Lemire was doing Animal Man. I’m not sure how I missed that. I better add it to the list.
I heartily recommend the Fuzzy Typewriter podcast. Those two guys are a lot of fun.
The Fuzzy Typewriter on this subject is very helpful and I highly recommend it if you have the ~3 hours to spend.
Still surprised there is no Blue Bettle in JLI. That image loos lopsided without Donna Troy(?) in it.
Is that Apollo and Midnighter with Martian Manhunter!!!??? If so, awesome.
What if the end of Flashpoint is that there is no reset button and the world stays the same as what we see in Flashpoint #1? Have they said that Bruce Wayne is going to be Batman? Maybe Thomas Wayne stays? Or maybe they keep most of what we see in Flashpoint now, but change a couple of things like bringing back Bruce Wayne?
@whitespyder
Yup
@IroncladMerc
I have a feeling the reboot will be explained by someone undoing as much of Zoom’s changes as possible, but unable to get everything perfect. And yes, they have said Bruce is Batman.
Yeah, the JLI image just looks wrong now. I hope DC puts out a different cover. I wonder how DC got their wires crossed liked that.
Based solely on the fact that we haven’t seen Superman in the Flashpoint world, I’m thinking that some kind of meld of realities is on tap. Who knows, but I’m excited to see what happens.
@Paul re:Batgirl — Scott Snyder mentioned in an interview on Newsarama last week that all the changes in the Bat-titles flow organically from current storylines, so while Barbara may be portrayed as a bit younger, nothing is getting retconned.
Noticed this in the solicit for Teen Titans:
“Tim Drake, Batman’s former sidekick, is back in action when an international organization seeks to capture, kill or co-opt super-powered teenagers.”
A lot of people have been wondering if Tim’s history as Robin was going to be erased. This is far from a concrete clue. But if it’s an acurate description, it would seem Tim was still Robin once upon a time.
@KenOchalek Right, but Gail Simone also stated that in order for Babs to be Batgirl again, some of her experience and stature within the DCU might be incongruous. And since we don’t have complete answers, I think the question is still fair.
Again, who really knows how much to read from these solicits. But here’s what the Batgirl one says:
“Barbara Gordon is back as Batgirl – and she’s going to have to face the city’s most horrifying new villains as well as the dark secrets from her past.”
Not exactly sure what to take from that. Could that be a Killing Joke reference? If so, it would mean some sort of cure. Which as a fan, I would much rather than a simple reboot of the character. Part of what made Barbara so great as Oracle was the journey her character had gone through.
Very much looking forward to listening to the podcast, Paul! 3 hours? Whoa.
Glad you guys waited to see all the titles before having the “relaunch” discussion. A lot of other podcasts did immediate reactions and ended up talking mostly about a total reboot and paradigm shift intended for a new audience. Which now only a couple weeks later is obviously not what’s taking place.
Should be a good listen for my next couple commutes. 😉
They’ve missed a great opportunity to increase their all-ages/kids comics… or do they have a seperate range for that does anyone know?
I think golden age Wonder Woman (ie heavily whimsical with talking animals, but minus the bondage stuss) and Whizz-era Shazam (complete with family, and talking tigers) are prime characters for some good quality all-ages fun. I know Darwyne Cook is interested in making comics for kids again, he could write/draw these titles…!?
Here’s a tidbit from DC’s September solicits that haven’t seen anywhere else, “the highly anticipated Warner Home Video made-for-DVD animated original movie BATMAN YEAR ONE, which will be released on September 27, 2011.”
@ctrosejr Good find! We have a release date!
@Paul You’re right, I think I was actually responding to the “The Killing Joke never happened, OH NOEZZ!!” kind of comments I’ve seen, which you don’t put forth in the article at all. Sorry about that.
Now, most of my experience with Barbara comes from the recent Bat-titles and the Rucka era ten years ago, but not Simone’s Birds of Prey, so maybe I’m missing something massive, but to me, the way they get her out of the chair is the biggest hurdle. I’m personally rooting for some kind of assistive technology, so we get her using the chair as Babs, but turning on some device (maybe in her costume?) as Batgirl.
As for the aging as it relates to her stature in the DCU, I’ve always thought of her as maybe 22-24. But it seems reasonable for her to be treated by others as wise beyond her years, since she’s an IT guru with tremendous investigation skills and a photographic memory. And maybe this is incorrect, but wasn’t Oracle just a voice on a com-link to most heroes? My meandering point being that de-aging shouldn’t effect her stature since most of that was the result of her skill and ability.
Regardless, I can’t remember the last time I was this cognitively invested in comics and I have iFanboy to thank for that! Well done, folks!
Most of the solicts were pretty bland, not that there’s anything wrong with that. Seeing JLA/JLI has interesting descriptions for the team but other then that you could sorta get the feel for the book just on the covers. But it does bring a bit more excitement for the 12 books I’m reading come September.
Also, my two favorite solicitations were as followed:
Batgirl-“Yes this is actually happening!”
Batmanwoman-“Finally!”
I wonder how many of the 52 will make it past issue 10?
What if… now hear me out… all 52 #1s are set in their own 52 universes?
None of the soliciation materials jive with one another. How can we have a world that’s post Batman Incorporate — see Batwing — in a world where Superman is the first super hero? How can Superboy be all messed up in his own title, and relatively fine in Teen Titans? You could sidestep the Batgirl/Orcale issue by setting it in a different world.
-J.
@JamesSeals Some of these are taking place desynchronized from the other titles and acting as prequels to the new stauts quo.
Alas poor Xombi. I knew him well.
R.I.P.
T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents
Power Girl
JSA
Zatanna
@JamesSeals: I would swear that DiDio at one point said that the reason there are 52 of them is that there are 52 worlds in the DCU. Not sure if that still holds true or if it was dropped along the way.
Oh yeah, it was Rich Johnston over at Bleeding Cool:
“So, I was told recently that the original decision for DC to relaunch all their titles with 52 new issue ones was originally planned to follow the Final Crisis series, with emphasis on the 52 worlds therein. But, at the time, though pushed for by Dan DiDio and others, it was nixed by then-publisher Paul Levitz.”http://www.bleedingcool.com/2011/06/03/the-secret-origins-of-the-dc-relaunch/
Ohhh! Fuzzy Typewriter will get me about 1/4th the way through my work day tomorrow. I can’t wait!
I feel bad for the Stephanie Batgirl fans. It’s also a shame that Brian Q. Miller wasn’t asked back but Scott Lobdell gets to write 3 books. I guess it pays to be one of Jim Lee’s cronies.
@TheNextChampion “Batmanwoman” wuld be a great character. The world needs a hermophrodite hero.
How many make it past issue 6?
Looks like Jonah Hex is going to appear in a second title in September! Of course, it’s only Batman: The Brave and the Bold, but I’ve really been digging that series.
So it looks like Arkillo, Bleez, Glomulus, and Indigo’s right hand man have taken over for Sinestro, Atrocitus, Larfleeze, and Indigo 1. Not sure how I feel about that. I could understand freeing up Sinestro to be used elsewhere, and Atrocitus will have plenty of spotlight in RL, but Larfleeze will be sorely missed.