Review: Batgirl and the Birds of Prey Vol. 3: Full Circle (Rebirth) trade paperback (DC Comics)

The Rebirth Batgirl and the Birds of Prey Vol. 3: Full Circle addresses many of my concerns about the previous book -- the stakes are higher, the conflicts more personal, there's some real danger within the pages. At the same time, the book still feels soft to me -- perhaps due to its jokey aesthetic, one knows better than normal here that nothing really bad will happen to the principals, and the book is overwritten to the point where the story drags at times. I'd call this a mild trend up for this series if it wasn't the last volume; in that respect, this is an OK enough conclusion insofar as what this book has been capable of, but I'm hopeful DC's will take another run at Birds of Prey some time with more oomph behind it.

Review: Batgirl Vol. 1: Beyond Burnside (Rebirth) trade paperback (DC Comics)

Given that the "Batgirl of Burnside" era seems about to end, I can appreciate that writer Hope Larson keeps much of the previous run's tone in the Rebirth Batgirl Vol. 1: Beyond Burnside even as she moves Barbara Gordon out of the Gotham neighborhood. The story is entertaining, with a better international flair even than DC books set specifically overseas. Larson's portrayal of Barbara is sound, despite that the writer relies slightly too much on coincidence in the plot; there are a couple story decisions that seem controversial to me, but I'd rather a book that takes chances than one that doesn't. It's great to see so much serial work by Rafael Albuquerque here, even if for just this one volume.

Review: Trinity Vol. 2: Dead Space (Rebirth) hardcover/paperback (DC Comics)

Superman/Batman (or variably, Batman/Superman) was at its best when the title had a laser focus, usually under one writer crafting toward a specific goal. Less effective was when the book became an anthology title. It's not so much that I want titles like this to have strong, immediate ties to the larger DC universe every time, but when the book doesn't even have its own internal continuity -- when the adventures don't build on one another, when there aren't continuing subplots or supporting characters -- that's when I begin to find titles like these dull.

Francis Manapul and friends' Trinity Vol. 2: Dead Space does both follow from events in the first volume and also tie into the Superman Reborn event, but all of that is exceptionally mild. Two or so issues of Manapul drawing the Justice League is no slouch, but this could as soon be a Justice League story (a title which has had its own anthology-type problems). In all its hard to attribute much importance to this book when it doesn't emerge as more than a one-off League or Superman/Batman/Wonder Woman tale.

Review: Suicide Squad Vol. 6: The Secret History of Task Force X trade paperback (DC Comics)

Rob Williams' Suicide Squad has had highs and lows, but when it works, it really works. Suicide Squad Vol. 6: The Secret History of Task Force X is a case in point; though not the strongest in every aspect, after twenty-five issues the stories seem to flow so effortlessly and Williams has developed such a rapport with these characters that picking up the newest volume of Suicide Squad is eminently comforting. Blending DC Comics history with modern Suicide Squad mayhem, Secret History demonstrates how far Suicide Squad has come through sheer dogged workmanship.

Review: Green Lanterns Vol. 3: Polarity (Rebirth) trade paperback (DC Comics)

The Rebirth Green Lanterns Vol. 3: Polarity does improve on a lot of what's plagued this book so far. I still think Sam Humphries jocular Green Lanterns read a tad flimsy, but his characterization is head and shoulders better than before, both for Jessica Cruz and, especially in this volume, Simon Baz. Here, Humphries begins to get into the hangups that plague these characters specifically, going beyond the surface to aspects that differentiate these characters as individuals, and it makes for a much more involving read than this book has offered so far.

[Review contains spoilers]

Largely Polarity is Simon Baz's book, but Humphries kicks off with a one-issue Jessica story. Starting with Jessica's struggle to get out of bed in the morning, Humphries' spotlight here is considerably more detailed than any examination he's offered so far of Jessica's (generically named) "anxiety," including what methods she uses for self-therapy. The splash page by Miguel Mendonca of Jessica's doubts literally swirling all around her seemed a particularly cogent visual representation of what she experiences. I might still have liked to see Humphries take this farther -- where did Jessica learn her coping techniques, why or why not might Jessica seek professional assistance, etc. -- but this is better than before. I'm also glad that Humphries swiftly reversed Jessica's announcement in Green Lanterns Vol. 2: The Phantom Lantern that she was all better, explaining that as a symptom and not a fact.

DC Trade Solicitations for October 2018 - Mister Miracle, Batman: The Hush Saga Omnibus, Wonder Woman by Phil Jimenez, Aquaman: Search for Mera, Absolute Black Mirror, Young Justice Book Three, Justice League/Power Rangers

To think, last month at solicitations time, we were anticipating the Batman #50 Batman/Catwoman nuptials.

Among the books that DC Comics announced in their Spring 2019 releases last week, two that I was most excited about are also both scheduled among their October 2018 trade paperback and hardcover solicitations. Those are both omnibuses, too -- the Batman: The Hush Saga Omnibus and the Wonder Woman by Phil Jimenez Omnibus. The Wonder Woman omnibus has at least 11 of Jimenez's issues that weren't collected (after over a dozen that were); the Hush book has at least a dozen issues of Gotham Knights that weren't collected after 6 that were.

Each represent the best aspect of the current era of DC collections -- that we're seeing a lot of collections lately that include or fill out largely uncollected eras. Exciting stuff from both.

I've also got my eye on two more of the 25th anniversary Knightfall books, Batman: Knightquest: The Search and Batman: Knightsend, getting closer to completing the most definitive collections of Knightfall yet. Tom King's Mister Miracle sees a paperback release, as does Scott Snyder's new Justice League and the final volume of Peter Tomasi's Superman -- that's a powerhouse month, folks. Also, just in time for movie hype, we're got an interesting collection of classic Aquaman, Aquaman: The Search for Mera, which I hope is the start of more from that era.

Let's take a look at the full list ...

• Absolute Batman: The Black Mirror HC

Detective Comics issues #871-881. Good for Scott Snyder on this one; this'll be a good-looking book.

• All-Star Superman TP

Twelve-issue collection rebranded for the Black Label line.

• Aquaman: The Search For Mera Deluxe Edition HC

Collects the start of Steve Skeates run on the 1960s Aquaman series, with Jim Aparo on art. This is said to collect issues #40-48 and Skeates and Aparo go to issues #56, so there could be another volume to follow. Where that book would end is where the Aquaman: Death of a Prince collection begins.

• Aquaman: Throne of Atlantis New Edition TP

A re-branded (and possibly unnumbered) collection of the New 52 Aquaman Vol. 3: Throne of Atlantis: Aquaman #0, 14-16 and Justice League #15-17.

• Aquaman: Underworld Deluxe Edition HC

This is a funny thing since the Rebirth Aquaman Vol. 4: Underworld is just the first part of at least a three-volume story, and it doesn't look like DC is planning to go deluxe on the whole thing (at least not through Spring 2019). Of course this is getting deluxe due to the art of Stjepan Sejic, but I thought the art by Riccardo Federici in Aquaman Vol. 5: The Crown Comes Down stood up well next to Sejic's, and even better would be if a collection included both of those stories. Maybe we'll see comprehensive Rebirth Deluxe hardcovers of Aquaman at some point.

• Batgirl: The Bronze Age Omnibus Vol. 2 HC

Batman Family #12-20 and Detective Comics #481-499, #501-502, #505-506, #508-510, and #512-519. A good suggestion was made on the DC for Spring 2019 post that this also include the Batgirl Special #1, Barbara Gordon's last main appearance of that era before The Killing Joke.

• Batman and Robin: Bad Blood (DC Essential Edition) TP

Issues #1-8 of the New 52 series. In my opinion the run was never better than this (my review of Batman and Robin Vol. 1: Born to Kill, as the collection was formerly known).

• Batman by Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato Deluxe Edition HC

Though initially announced as collection issues #30-40 of the New 52 Detective Comics series, this has been updated to #30-34 and #37-40, which makes sense because issues #35-36 were by Benjamin Percy (though really good issues. Francis Manapul writes up to issue #42 and Brian Buccellato writes through #44, but the collection seems to stop when Manapul is no longer on art (a decision I don't necessarily agree with).These were lushly drawn issues and the stories were interestingly small in scope, with an emphasis on Harvey Bullock and street crime.

• Batman: Knightquest: The Search TP

Among the parts of "Knightfall" with the spottiest collection history, we finally get a definitive collection of "Knightquest: The Search," culled from the Knightfall omnibuses. Collects Justice League Task Force #5-6, Batman: Shadow of the Bat #21-23, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #59-61, and Robin #7. Though not yet in DC Comics' 2019 advance solicitations, we're supposed to be getting a Batman: Troika collection before all is said and done.

• Batman: Knightsend TP

Batman #509-510, Batman: Shadow of the Bat #29-30, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #62-63, Robin #8-9, Detective Comics #676-677, Catwoman #12-13, and Showcase '94 #10.

• Batman: Sins of the Father TP

Collection of the digital comic tying in to the Batman: The Telltale Series video game.

• Batman: The Hush Saga Omnibus HC

This was one of the books I was most excited about from the DC Spring 2019 list. Aside from the original "Hush," Batman #608-619 and Batman: Streets of Gotham #1-4, #14, #16-21 by Paul Dini, that solicitation suggested we'd be getting Gotham Knights #50-74 and Detective Comics #846-852, such a large swath of previously uncollected comics.

This solicitation adds in Batman #685, a single "Faces of Evil" issue that goes with Detective #852. But it also breaks up the Gotham Knights and Detective Comics pieces a bit; now we're looking at Gotham Knights #50-55, #60-71, and #73-74, and Detective #846-850 and #852.

The Gotham Knights issues are by A. J. Lieberman with a variety of artists, a villains-focused and Hush-specific run. The issues skipped are the "War Games" crossover (#56-58), an issue by Robbie Morrison (#59), and a one-off unrelated story by Lieberman (#72). The skipped Detective #851 is by Dennis O'Neil instead of Paul Dini, part of the "Last Days of Gotham" crossover.

Still enthusiastic about this all around.

• The Brave and the Bold: Batman and Wonder Woman HC

The six-issue Liam Sharp miniseries in hardcover.

• Eternity Girl TP

Collects issues #1-6 of the Young Animal miniseries.

• Future Quest Presents Vol. 2 TP

Issues #7-12 by Jeff Parker and Steve Rude.

• Gotham City Garage Vol. 2 TP

Collects issues #7-12.

• Green Arrow Vol. 6: Trial of Two Cities TP

Issues #33-38, the final collection of Benjamin Percy's run on this series.

• Harley Quinn by Karl Kesel and Terry Dodson Deluxe Edition Book 2 HC

Issues #9-19 of the post-Crisis series; Kesel wrote to #25, so it seems a little unfair to stop at #19. This includes a tie-in issue to the Joker's Last Laugh event (drawn by Pete Woods, so again I'm not too clear why DC is cutting this off at #19).

• Harley's Little Black Book TP

Paperback collection of the miniseries.

• The Immortal Men TP

I don't see Immortal Men on the schedule this month; I haven't heard it's been cancelled, but it's not there. This collects issues #1-6 by James Tynion, Jim Lee, and Tyler Kirkham.

• The Invisibles Book Four TP

The final new paperback collection, Invisibles Vol. 2 #14-22 and Invisibles Vol. 3 #12-1.

• Justice League Vol. 1: The Totality TP

Scott Snyder, Jim Cheung, and Jorge Jimenez, collecting issues #1-7 in paperback. Martian Manhunter and Cyborg? Check. Jorge Jimenez, whose animated art has been among the best parts of Super Sons? Check. Excited for this new era of the League.

• Justice League/Power Rangers TP

Paperback, following the hardcover collection of the six-issue miniseries.

• Legends of the Dark Knight: Norm Breyfogle Vol. 2 HC

Said to collect Detective Comics #608-621 and Batman #448-459 (including the first appearance of Anarky, the "Penguin Affair" crossover between the two titles, and some notable Robin Tim Drake stories). However, Batman #450-451 are by Marv Wolfman and Jim Aparo, and #452-454 are "Dark Knight, Dark City" by Peter Milligan and Kieron Dwyer, so it's probably just reprinting the relevant covers or omitting those respectively.

• Mister Miracle TP

Collecting Tom King and Mitch Gerads' twelve-issue series, in paperback.

• Mother Panic: Gotham A.D. TP

Issues #1-6 of the revamped series.

• Motherlands TP

By Si Spurrier and Rachael Stott.

• Nightwing Vol. 8: Lethal Force TP

Collects the mostly-uncollected issues #61-70 by Chuck Dixon, including tie-ins to Joker's Last Laugh and "Bruce Wayne: Murderer/Fugitive." Now the thing to see is if DC will collect Devin Grayson's issues that followed.

• The Sandman Omnibus Vol. 3 HC

Here's another where I think the bigger doses are probably better for reading than ten-plus collections. This is actually into the post-series and tie-in material now: Sandman: Overture, Dream Hunters, Endless Nights, Sandman Midnite Theatre, Death: High Cost of Living and Time of Your Life, and more.

• The Sandman Vol. 2: The Doll's House 30th Anniversary Edition TP

Issues #9-16.

• Suicide Squad: The Rebirth Deluxe Edition Book Three HC

Collects issues #21-32, the Suicide Squad Vol. 5: Kill Your Darlings and Suicide Squad Vol. 6: The Secret History of Task Force X paperbacks.

• Superman Vol. 7: Bizarroverse TP

The end of Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason's Superman run, this is issues #42-45 plus the closing special.

• Superman: Action Comics: The Rebirth Deluxe Edition Book Three HC

Said to collect issues #985-999, which is both the Superman: Action Comics: The Oz Effect hardcover and the Action Comics Vol. 5: Booster Shot paperback. For completeness one imagines Dan Jurgens' Action Comics special should be in here, if not also Jurgens' Action Comics #1,000 story.

• Teen Titans Go! Vol. 5: Falling Stars TP

Issues #25-30.

• Teen Titans: The Silver Age Vol. 2 TP

Teen Titans #12-24 and Brave and the Bold #83.

• A Very DC Rebirth Holiday Sequel TP

The newest solicitation for this title lists the contents as the DC Holiday Special 2017, Green Arrow Annual #1 (Christmas-themed), Batgirl #18 (guest-starring Harley Quinn), and Trinity #16 (New Year's). Can't imagine DC would leave that Green Arrow annual otherwise uncollected but so far I don't see it slotted for anywhere other than this book, so maybe that ups the cachet a little?

• Watchmen (DC Modern Classics Edition) HC

"DC Modern Classics" apparently means hardcover with slipcase, versus the paperback Essential Editions.

• Wonder Woman by Phil Jimenez Omnibus HC

Good for Phil Jimenez, one of my long-time favorites, getting his own Wonder Woman omnibus (and with his Black Label Wonder Woman work with Kelly Sue DeConnick due out). This is issues #164-188 of that era (Paradise Lost and Paradise Found, plus some issues I don't think were ever collected before) with Wonder Woman: Our Worlds at War #1, DC Special: The Return of Donna Troy #1-4, and various Secret Files stories.

• Young Justice Book Three TP

This third collection of the Peter David series comprises the "Sins of Youth" fifth week event: Young Justice #18-19, JLA Jr. #1, Aquaman/Lagoon Man #1, Batboy and Robin #1, Kid Flash/Impulse #1, Starwoman and the JSA #1, Superman Jr./Superboy Sr. #1, Wonder Girls #1, The Secret/Deadboy #1, Superboy #74, and Sins of Youth Secret Files #1.

Chime in the comments and let me know what looks good to you!

Review: Batgirl and the Birds of Prey Vol. 2: Source Code (Rebirth) trade paperback (DC Comics)

Once upon a time the Birds of Prey used to have expansive, globe-hopping adventures. Writers Julie and Shawna Benson have a satisfactorily respectful take on these characters, but overall the Rebirth Batgirl and the Birds of Prey Vol. 2: Source Code feels small. The stories are all Gotham-based and none of the villains here pose much threat besides to the Birds themselves, nor do the stories really have a lot to do with the Birds or their own characters. There's no lack of Bat-books out there; for Birds of Prey to succeed, it first needs to differentiate itself in some way and second needs to offer some surprises or suspense; while not an unpleasant read, unfortunately this volume of Birds has neither.

Review: Batman Vol. 6: Bride or Burglar? trade paperback (DC Comics)

I received, generously, a review copy of Batman Vol. 6: Bride or Burglar that allowed me to read and write the review for this volume ahead of time before I picked up with single issues through Batman #50. Many of you, but perhaps not all, know that issue gave me a different perspective on this book. I considered rewriting this review in line with that new knowledge, but decided there's perhaps going to be few other reviews of Batman Vol. 6: Bride or Burglar that address the book entirely straight without Batman #50 seeping in, and so it's worthwhile to leave this review untouched. To that end, this remains a real trade-waiter's review, reflecting no knowledge of what lies ahead besides what this book itself presents. Please enjoy.

Tom King's Batman Vol. 6: Bride or Burglar? is an enjoyable but strange book, of the kind that continues to make me wonder what we're in for when Batman and Catwoman finally arrive at the altar. King's Batman Vol. 5: Rules of Engagement, I felt, covered all the imperative engagement-type stories -- notifying the Bat-family and the mother of Batman's son, a post-engagement double date with Superman, etc. Bride swings farther -- a one-off mystery that need not even involve the wedding at all, and a three-part story where Batman and Catwoman save the world. Again, these are good -- really quite spectacular, even -- but one does not want to be so cynical as to think these "just because" stories are simply to get us to issue #50; I can't shake the feeling there's more going on.

Detective Comics: 80 Years of Batman, Absolute Black Mirror, Hush Saga Omnibus, New Teen Titans Omnibus Vol. 4, Final Ostrander Suicide Squad, Wonder Woman by Phil Jimenez Omnibus, Justice League Dark: Witching Hour, Black Lightning: 1995, more in DC Comics Spring 2019 solicitations

My rundown of DC Comics' Spring 2019 catalog hardcover and trade paperback solicitations. A few gems here -- I have to say, not really a lot of surprises in this list and not a whole lot that really blew me away, though some good stuff and plenty of books I'm looking forward to.

[Get get news like this first by following Collected Editions on Facebook and Twitter. And don't miss our DC Comics Trade Paperback Timeline -- newly updated!]

Notably there's no new Superman material on this list, which after both the Superman: The Exile and Other Stories omnibus and Superman Blue Vol. 1, I'd really hoped there would be -- like Superman Blue Vol. 2 -- so that's a bummer. No continuation of the classic Robin series, or Superboy, nor a surprise Christopher Priest Steel or John Ostrander Hawkworld trade, nor another Justice League Task Force, something from the Titans: Total Chaos era, another Green Lantern: Kyle Rayner or Aquaman by Peter David or Legionnaires or Wonder Woman and the Justice League, nor Marv Wolfman's Deathstroke, the post-Crisis Green Lantern Corps, or so on (and I know, literally everyone has something else to add to that want list).

That said, we do see the final volume the John Ostrander Suicide Squad collections, which is magnificent news indeed (to some extent that overshadows whatever else I might feel is missing here). The Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion deluxe gets a second volume. I, for one, am glad to see another volume in the Catwoman by Jim Balent series. The Batman: The Hush Saga Omnibus is an astounding collection of not just "Hush" but many of the ways DC tried to re-use the Hush character under different writers after the fact.

There's also the New Teen Titans Omnibus Vol. 4 and New Teen Titans Vol. 10, each extending Marv Wolfman's Titans far into realms where it's never been collected before (another chapter in this long strange saga). If your collection lacks the essential Outsiders by Judd Winick, that's getting a new collection run too, well-deserved (plus the next volume of Mike W. Barr's Batman and the Outsiders). Add to that another Batman: The Caped Crusader (finally with "Batman: Year Three"), Tony Isabella's 1995 Black Lightning series, a Wonder Woman by Phil Jimenez omnibus, and an Absolute edition of Scott Snyder's Batman: Black Mirror.

"Regular series" books I'm interested in include the end of Dan Abnett's Aquaman and the Aquaman/Suicide Squad crossover; also Priest's Batman vs. Deathstroke (where Slade gets second billing even though it's his book) and the first "event" of the "New Justice" era, Wonder Woman & the Justice League Dark: The Witching Hour. We also see a deluxe Detective Comics: 80 Years of Batman hardcover, in line with the Action Comics #1000 celebration.

So let's dig in and take a look. All of this information is subject to change before publication. Not all links may be functional yet.

• Absolute Batman: The Black Mirror

Detective Comics issues #871-881. Good for Scott Snyder on this one; this'll be a good-looking book.

• Absolute Daytripper

Ten issue Vertigo miniseries by Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá from 2010, previously collected in paperback and deluxe hardcover, now in Absolute format.

• Absolute Scarlet

Collects issues #1-10 by Brian Michael Bendis in hardcover, Absolute-size, with slipcase.

• Adventures of the Super Sons Vol. 1

Issues #1-6 of the twelve-issue Adventures of the Super Sons miniseries, which is never how I like miniseries collected. This is paperback; I'll hold out for the guaranteed hardcover.

• Aquaman Vol. 7

Issues #43-48 by Dan Abnett, the finale of his run. These issues are after the Aquaman/Suicide Squad collection.

• Aquaman/Suicide Squad: Sink Atlantis

Collects Aquaman #39-40 and Suicide Squad #45-46 by Dan Abnett and Rob Williams respectively. I've been enjoying Abnett's Aquaman lately and I'm sorry to see it come to an end, so this is a nice treat before the finale.

• Astro City Vol. 17

Concludes the Kurt Busiek series, collecting issues #47-52.

• Authority by Ed Brubaker & Dustin Nguyen

Collects The Authority: Revolution #1-12.

• Batgirl Vol. 5: Vanishing Point

Collects issues #24-28, the first collection of the new run by Mairghread Scott and Paul Pelletier.

• Batgirl: The Bronze Age Omnibus Vol. 2

Batman Family #12-20 and Detective Comics #481-519.

• Batgirl: Year One Deluxe Edition

Deluxe of the Chuck DIxon/Scott Beatty miniseries.

• Batman - Detective Comics: The Rebirth Deluxe Edition Book 4

Collects issues #974-982, the Vol. 6 Fall of the Batmen and Vol. 7 Batmen Eternal collections, the final issues by James Tynion (give or take issue #982).

• Batman & Superman in World's Finest: The Silver Age Omnibus Vol. 2

World’s Finest Comics #117-158.

• Batman and Harley Quinn

Paperback of the miniseries by Ty Templeton and Rick Burchett ahead of the recent animated movie.

• Batman and the Justice League Vol. 2

Second collection of the manga by Shiori Teshigori.

• Batman and the Outsiders Vol. 3

Collects Batman and the Outsiders #24-32, Batman and the Outsiders Annual #2, DC Comics Presents #83, and excerpts from Who’s Who #12-15. This is Mike W. Barr's final collection of this title before it becomes Adventures of the Outsiders.

• Batman Noir: Gotham by Gaslight

Black and white pencils and inks of Brian Augustyn and Mike Mignola's inaugural Elseworlds story.

• Batman Vol. 9

Issues #57-62. David is protecting all the details.

• Batman vs. Deathstroke

In hardcover, because DC's not playing here. Issues #30-36 by Christopher Priest.

• Batman: Arkham: Ra's Al Ghul

Another one so obvious I think I thought they already did it. Collects Batman:#232, Batman #243-244, DC Special Series #15, The Brave & the Bold #159, Detective Comics #750, Batman Annual #26, Nightwing #152, Batman & Robin #23.3, and Who’s Who in the DC Universe: #13. I like that this is single issue material and not the more noted graphic novels.

• Batman: Creature of the Night

The Kurt Busiek four-issue miniseries, in hardcover.

• Batman: Death of the Family Saga (DC Essential Edition)

Three hundred pages in paperback, and the blurb suggests this might have both the Batman issues and the tie-in issues from the other Bat-family series.

• Batman: Detective Comics Vol. 9: Harvey Dent's Last Case

Issues #988-993 in paperback, with some or all by James Robinson.

• Batman: Faces of Death (DC Essential Edition)

This is assuredly a reach when it comes to an "essential" edition, the first New 52 volume of Tony Daniel's run on Detective. See my review from back then; I thought the first half of this book was brilliant (issues #1-4), the second half, a mess (issues #5-7).

• Batman: Shadow of the Bat Vol. 4

Supposed to be issues #32-43 by Alan Grant, but I'm going to guess it's a little more or less since #43 is the middle of a three-part story. Some people won't like that this is parts two, six, and ten of "Prodigal" and part two of "Troika," but there's also stories with Black Canary, the Joker, Solomon Grundy, and Anarky, plus Joe Potato.

• Batman: The Caped Crusader Vol. 2

Continuing the collections of Batman's immediate post-Crisis on Infinite Earths adventures, this is Batman #433-444 and Batman Annual #13. Though Caped Crusader is said to skip "Death in the Family" (we don't know, we'll find out soon enough), this collects "Many Deaths of Batman" by John Byrne and Jim Aparo, "Year Three" (finally!) by Marv Wolfman, and apparently all of "Lonely Place of Dying" by Wolfman and Perez (the New Titans issue isn't mentioned but it must be in here). The annual has a story in it by Christopher Priest nee Jim Owsley.

• Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (DC Modern Classics Edition)

Hardcover with slipcase.

• Batman: The Hush Saga Omnibus

In my opinion, one of the coolest things on this list is the Hush Saga Omnibus, collecting not just "Hush" for the umpteenth time, but also twenty-five issues of Gotham Knights(!), #50-74 by A. J. Lieberman, Detective Comics #846-852 and Batman: Streets of Gotham #1-4, #14, #16-21 by Paul Dini, plus more. Most of that Gotham Knights material has not been collected before.

• Black Lightning: The Complete 1995 Series

Tony Isabella's 1995 Black Lightning series had Marv Wolfman/Jerry Ordway's Gangbuster Jose Delgado. I'm not sure how much else you need to know. I'd be thrilled to see this make it to publication.

• Blackest Night Saga (DC Essential Edition)

Essential Editions being large trade paperbacks -- this is 450 pages collecting Blackest Night #0-8.

• Bombshells: United Vol. 3

Issues #13-19.

• Catwoman by Jim Balent Book Two

You'd probably be madder if we didn't also get another John Ostrander Suicide Squad book on this list. Anyway, Chuck Dixon, Deborah Pomerantz, and Jim Balent's Catwoman #14-24, #0, Catwoman Annual #2, and Showcase ’95 #4, including Zero Hour and "Year One" material.

• Catwoman Vol. 1

Issues #1-6 of the new Joelle Jones series.

• Challengers of the Unknown by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale

The eight-issue miniseries, back in paperback.

• Cover Vol. 1

Issues #1-6 by Brian Michael Bendis and David Mack.

• Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion Deluxe Vol. 2

The second collection of the Crisis tie-ins. Conceivably this could be the final book in this series, though the contents listed seem far from complete. There's some definite "red sky" (lightly tied-in) books listed like Detective Comics #558, and then also the Legends of the DCU special that was published later. I'm excited DC decided to do this and I look forward to other tie-in-type collections, irrespective of what's inside.

• Damage Vol. 2 (New Age of Heroes)

The second collection of the Robert Venditti series, collecting issues #7-12.

• Dark Nights: Metal: Dark Knights Rising

Paperback of the recent hardcover.

• DC Comics: The Art of Bruce Timm

240 pages, arriving in April.

• DC Meets Looney Tunes Vol. 2

Collects Catwoman/Sylvester and Tweety Special #1, Harley Quinn/Gossamer Special #1, The Joker/Daffy Duck Special #1, and Lex Luthor/Porky Pig Special #1.

• DC Super Hero Girls: Spaced Out
• Super Sons: The PolarShield Project

From the DC Zoom imprint.

• DC Universe by Len Wein

Collects a variety of material by the late Len Wein, including the DC Retroactive: Green Lantern: The '80s and also the recent Swamp Thing Winter Special.

• DC Valentine's Day/Love Stories Collection

This appears to be the recent Young Monsters in Love and Harley Quinn’s Valentine’s Day Special, plus a story or stories from among Jack Kirby's contributions to Young Romance #1 and #3. Which mixes some 2015/2018 stories with some late 1940s stories, and superheroes with soap opera drama; surely there's some crossover audience for this but it feels like kind of a flier.

• DC: The New Frontier (DC Black Label Edition)
• Kingdom Come (DC Black Label Edition)
• Frank Miller's Ronin (DC Black Label Edition)

I'm not sure if books like DC: The New Frontier quite meet the criteria I imagined for Black Label (recognizing, of course, that what I imagined might be different from the reality). But moreover, I think shoehorning prior DC books into Black Label cheapens it a little; is it a place for new mature stories using the DC characters or is it the trade dress du jour under which to reprint New Frontier, Kingdom Come, et al before the next big thing comes along? Anyway, cool that this includes Justice League: New Frontier as recent collections have -- in my day, you had to read the miniseries and the special separately!

• Death and Return of Superman Omnibus (New Edition)

A new edition of the omnibus (last released in 2013). This maps, if I'm reading it correctly, to the recent five-volume "Death of Superman" paperback set, excluding the books in Superman: Doomsday but including the various "Funeral for a Friend" specials and the "Bloodlines" annuals from that time.

• Detective Comics Before Batman Omnibus Vol. 1
• Detective Comics Before Batman Omnibus Vol. 2

The veritable detective stories that preceded the Dark Knight Detective (and featuring Slam Bradley and Speed Saunders, among others), this seems well placed before Detective Comics #1,000. The two books collects issues #1-13 and #14-26 respectively.

• Detective Comics: 80 Years of Batman Deluxe Edition

So after Action #1000 we kind of know how this will go. With a cover by Jim Lee, this is out in March 2019, same time as Detective Comics #1000.

• Elseworlds: Justice League Vol. 3

The next Elseworlds: Justice League collection includes Conjurors #1-3 (alt-reality team-up of DC's magic characters by Chuck Dixon and the late Eduardo Barreto, Flashpoint #1-3 (an older Flash miniseries, not the one before the New 52), Superman and Batman: World’s Funnest #1, JLA: Created Equal #1-2 and Green Lantern: 1001 Emerald Knights.

• Elseworlds: Superman Vol. 2

A somewhat more direct Elseworlds: Superman volume, collecting just the four-part Superman/Wonder Woman: Whom Gods Destroy by Chris Claremont and Dusty Abell and the three-part Superman: The Dark Side by John Francis Moore and Kieron Dwyer.

• Final Crisis (DC Essential Edition)

Says issues #1-7 but I've got to think Superman Beyond, at least, is also in there.

• Fire

Graphic novel by Brian Michael Bendis.

• Flash Vol. 9

Wow did some creators -- not even fans, but creators -- spoil recent Flash issues for me, and did it ever make me mad. After "Flash War," this is issues #52-56.

• Flash: The Rebirth Deluxe Edition Book 4

Collects issues #28-38, the Vol. 5 Negative and Vol. 6 Cold Day in Hell collections.

• Flash: The Silver Age Vol. 4

Flash #133-147.

• Flash/Green Lantern: The Brave & the Bold Deluxe Edition

Deluxe-size collection of the Mark Waid/Barry Kitson miniseries.

• Fortune and Glory: A True Hollywood Comic Book Story

Collects Brian Michael Bendis's three-part comics autobiography.

• Green Lantern by Geoff Johns Book One

A new "recut" collection of the Geoff Johns era. Green Lantern Corps: Recharge is in here, so maybe this it a cutdown of the Green Lantern by Geoff Johns Omnibuses or maybe something larger, depending on how the next "book" goes. Collects Green Lantern: Rebirth #1-6, Green Lantern #1-3, Green Lantern Corps: Recharge #1-5, and Green Lantern Secret Files and Origins 2005.

• Green Lantern: Earth One Vol. 1

Paperback of the graphic novel by Gabriel Hardman and Corinna Bechko.

• Harley Quinn Vol. 2

The newly renumbered trade run (while the series keeps its same numbering) by Sam Humphries, which hopefully will as promised tie more closely to the DCU. Issues #50-56.

• Hitman Book One

A "recut" new run of the Hitman collections, seemingly collecting more issues per book this time. This is Hitman #1-8, The Demon Annual #2, Batman Chronicles #4, and Hitman Annual #1.

• Injustice 2 Vol. 4
• Injustice 2 Vol. 5

Issues #21-26 and #27-32 respectively.

• Injustice vs. Masters of the Universe

The team-up you never knew you wanted until it happened. Issues #1-6 by Tim Seeley and Freddie Williams, in hardcover.

• JLA: New World Order (DC Essential Edition)

Supposed to be just JLA #1-5, but at 248 pages, maybe more JLA or Mark Waid's Midsummer's Nightmare.

• Justice League Dark Vol. 1

Issues #1-6 by James Tynion. Your results may vary but I love having Tynion on another team book. Weirdly the "Witching Hour" crossover collection, which takes place after this book, will be released a month before this.

• Justice League Odyssey Vol. 1

First collection, not arriving until May of next year, of the new series by Joshua Williamson and Stjepan Sejic. Collects issues #1-6.

• Justice League of America: The Bronze Age Omnibus Vol. 3

Collects Justice League of America #147-181.

• Justice League of America: The Bronze Age Vol. 1

Justice League of America #77-95

• Justice League Vol. 2

Collects issues #7-14 by Scott Snyder and Jim Cheung. Arrives in May 2019, so nine months to a year after the first collection. The Rebirth double-shipping definitely had me spoiled ...

• Justice League: The Rebirth Deluxe Edition Book 4

Yes, this collects Christopher Priest's whole run on Justice League, issues #34-43. No, that doesn't prove to me that these deluxe editions are continuing after Rebirth (because essentially what this does is clean up the original Rebirth-launched series). Then again, I can't see DC not collecting Scott Snyder's Justice League as deluxe, so we'll see.

• Kamandi Challenge

Paperback edition of the hardcover released earlier this year.

• League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Omnibus

Hardcover omnibus of League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen II and League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: The Black Dossier

• Masters of the Universe Omnibus

As we've been hearing about lately, with hopefully a few other issues thrown in. Said to collect He-Man and the Masters of the Universe #1-19, He-Man: The Eternity War #1-15, DC Universe vs. Masters of the Universe #1-6, DC Comics Presents #47, and He-Man/Thundercats #1-6.

• Mera: Tidebreaker
• Under the Moon: A Catwoman Tale

The New DC Ink books.

• Neil Gaiman's Stardust (New Edition)

Neil Gaiman with Charles Vess.

• New Super-Man & the JLC Vol. 1: Justice League China

Though labeled as volume 1, this collects issues #19-24, which were the final issues of the newly retitled series.

• New Teen Titans Omnibus Vol. 4

A new fourth New Teen Titans Omnibus (who's have thought years ago that we'd ever see this?). This collects through and then after the New Teen Titans Vol. 10 paperback also solicited here (issues #10-31 of the second series, annuals #1-2, and Omega Men #34).

• New Teen Titans Vol. 10

The classic New Teen Titans paperbacks keep rocking and rolling like they should have done from the beginning. Collects issues #10-15 and Annual #1, including the book's tie-in to Crisis on Infinite Earths.

• Outsiders by Judd Winick Book One

One of my favorite titles ever -- mature, character-driven, political, and nuanced. This collects the Titans/Young Justice: Graduation Day miniseries and then Teen Titans/Outsiders Secret Files #1 and Outsiders #1-7, the latter of which was originally in Outsiders Vol. 1: Looking for Trouble.

• Pearl Vol. 1

Issues #1-5 by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Gaydos.

• Plastic Man

Collects the six issue miniseries by Gail Simone and Adriana Melo, coming in April.

• Powers Book Four

Issues #23-30 and #1-11.

• Powers Book Three

Issues #1-22 of the book's second volume by Brian Michael Bendis.

• Promethea: The Deluxe Edition Book One

Deluxe size of the Alan Moore/J. H. Williams series, collecting issues #1-12.

• Sandman Vol. 5: A Game of You 30th Anniversary New Edition
• Sandman Vol. 6: Fables & Reflections 30th Anniversary New Edition
• Sandman Vol. 7: Brief Lives 30th Anniversary New Edition
• Sandman Vol. 8: World's End 30th Anniversary New Edition

Issues #32-37; issues #29-31, #38-40, #50, and Sandman Special #1; issues #41-49; and issues #51-56 respectively.

• Scalped Book Five

The final volume, collecting issues #50-60.

• Scarlet Vol. 1

Issues #1-5 of the new Scarlet series.

• Scooby Apocalypse Vol. 5

Issues #26-31.

• Shazam! (New Edition)

New edition of the Geoff Johns/Gary Frank story, just before the movie's release.

• Shazam!: Power of Hope Deluxe Edition

Deluxe-size version of Paul Dini and Alex Ross's illustrated prose story.

• Silencer Vol. 2 (New Age of Heroes)

Collects issues #7-12 by Dan Abnett.

• Six Days

Vertigo collection set during D-Day, World War II, by Robert Venditti and Kevin Maurer.

• Sleeper Book Two

Coup D’etat: Sleeper and Sleeper Season Two #1-12 by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips.

• Suicide Squad Vol. 8

Collects issues #41-48 by Rob Williams, guest-starring Batman. The Rebirth trades usually skipped over crossovers collected elsewhere, but these solicitations at least say this has the Aquaman/Suicide Squad issues within.

• Suicide Squad Vol. 8: Legerdemain

Maybe the best news on this list is the continuation and conclusion of the John Ostrander Suicide Squad collections. This is issues #59-66, Ostrander's final issues on the series (excepting the later Blackest Night tie-in story, which is fine).

• Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay

The digital series based on the recent animated film.

• Supergirl Vol. 1

Collects issues #21-26 by Marc Andreyko, spinning out of the new Brian Michael Bendis Superman run.

• Supergirl: Last Daughter (DC Essential Edition)

Collects the Supergirl Vol. 1: Last Daughter of Krypton and Supergirl Vol. 2: Girl in the World trades from the New 52 by Michael Green and Mike Johnson. I enjoyed these but I don't recall them being well received and the New 52 costume was much derided; at the same time, the last season of the Supergirl show was loosely based on this, so that's a selling point.

• Superman Vol. 1

In hardcover, the first six issues by Brian Michael Bendis and Ivan Reis.

• Superman: Action Comics Vol. 1

Issues #1,001-#1,006 by Brian Michael Bendis and Patrick Gleason.

• Superman: The Golden Age Vol. 5

Paperback, collecting World’s Finest Comics #6-8, Superman #16-19, and Action Comics #48-57.

• Superman: World Against Superman (DC Essential Edition)

Essential (paperback) edition of Grant Morrison's 18-issue run on the New 52 Action Comics (often with Rags Morales).

• Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen by Jack Kirby

Continuing the individual-series breakdowns of the Jack Kirby's Fourth World omnibuses, this is issues #133-139 and #141-148.

• Superman/Batman Vol. 7

The final Superman/Batman issues, #76-87 and Annual #5, some of which that haven't been collected before. With Judd Winick, Joshua Williamson (writing Supergirl and Damian), Joe Kelly, Cullen Bunn, and Joshua Hale Falkov.

• Swamp Thing: Protector of the Green (DC Essential Edition)

Paperback collection of the Scott Snyder/Yanick Paquette New 52 run, including the Animal Man "Rotworld" crossover issues.

• Takio: The Complete Collection

Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming's young readers title.

• Teen Titans by Geoff Johns Book Three

Collects Teen Titans #20-26, #29-31 and Outsiders #24-25.

• Teen Titans Vol. 1

The new team of Adam Glass and Bernard Chang; I'm dubious but I've been hearing good things. Collects the special and issues #20-24.

• Titans Vol. 5

Collects Dan Abnett's "New Justice"-era Titans stories. Contents are listed as #19-22 and the Annual #2, but those are the contents of the fourth volume due out in September, so we'll see.

• Torso

Graphic novel by Brian Michael Bendis.

• Transmetropolitan Book One

Issues #1-12 of Transmet in paperback.

• The Unexpected Vol. 1 (New Age of Heroes)

Spinning out of Metal, this is issues #1-6 by Scott Snyder and Ryan Sook.

• Watchmen (DC Modern Classics Edition)

"DC Modern Classics Edition," which is hardcover with slipcase.

• The Wild Storm Vol. 3

Issues #13-18.

• Wonder Woman & the Justice League Dark: The Witching Hour

The first crossover of the "New Justice" era, including Wonder Woman #56-57 and Justice League Dark #4. It is good to see the often-removed Wonder Woman title getting involved in a crossover with the book where Diana leads the League.

• Wonder Woman by Brian Azzarello & Cliff Chiang Omnibus

Issues #0-35 and Secret Origins #6 from the New 52 run. Personally I think, as with many things, there were good parts and bad parts of the New 52. Some would claim the New 42 was totally irredeemable, but there's an awful lot of New 52 material being collected in archival format on this list.

• Wonder Woman by Phil Jimenez Omnibus

Good for Phil Jimenez, one of my long-time favorites, getting his own Wonder Woman omnibus (and with his Black Label Wonder Woman work with Kelly Sue DeConnick due out). This is issues #164-188 of that era (Paradise Lost and Paradise Found, plus some issues I don't think were ever collected before) with Wonder Woman: Our Worlds at War #1, DC Special: The Return of Donna Troy #1-4, and various Secret Files stories.

• Wonder Woman Vol. 8: Dark Gods

The next collection by James Robinson, issues #46-50 and the annual #2. Steve Orlando comes on with the next book before G. Willow Wilson joins after that.

• Wonder Woman: Spirit of Truth

Though not listed as deluxe, this is a new hardcover of the Paul Dini/Alex Rose illustrated prose book, like the Shazam book listed earlier.

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