DC Trade Solicitations for September 2018 - Batman Vol. 7: The Wedding, Man of Steel by Bendis, Super Sons Omnibus, Shazam: Monster Society of Evil, Knightquest: The Crusade Vol. 2, Dark Knight Detective Vol. 2
DC Comics' September 2018 hardcover and trade paperback solicitations includes a big one for trade waiters, the Batman Vol. 7: The Wedding collection, which admirably DC is releasing in paperback first (issue #50 is in the hardcover Batman/Catwoman: The Wedding Album, but to release the sequential story in paperback first is an admirable sticking to the format). I admit, though, wanting to avoid spoilers and such, that's a single issue I'll probably be picking up in a couple weeks, much the same as I did Action Comics #1000. I love my trades, but good on DC for publishing such can't-miss stories lately as to get even me picking up the floppies.
So the book I'm second-most excited about on this list is Batman: The Dark Knight Detective Vol. 2. As I detail below, this is a parallel collections series with Batman: The Caped Crusader (the first volume of which we're anticipating in August) collecting the immediate post-Crisis on Infinite Earths issues of Detective Comics and Batman respectively. The contents of this had been muddied for a while but it looks like we know them for sure now, and while there's nothing ground-breaking (which is fine; the whole joy of these collections is just that they collect the sequential comics of the time, big events notwithstanding), we do get the first appearances of a couple of long-lasting Batman rogues.
There's also a pretty cool He-Man and the Masters of the Universe Omnibus, an even-more-complete Super Sons Omnibus, the classic Shazam!: Monster Society of Evil collection that people have been wanting for a while, Brian Michael Bendis' Man of Steel, the first collections of Sideways and The Terrifics if that's your cup of tea, and more of the "Batman: Knightfall" anniversary collections.
Here's my take on the listings ...
• Absolute Daytripper HC
Ten issue Vertigo miniseries by Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá from 2010, previously collected in paperback and deluxe hardcover, now in Absolute format.
• Batgirl Vol. 4: Strange Loop TP
Previously said to collect issues #18-23; now collects #18-24 and "stories from issue #25." Looking at the credits, I'm guessing what's omitted from issue #25 is the lead-in story to Mairghread Scott's upcoming run, which'll probably be included in that first collection proper. Rest easy, Burnside costume.
• Batman Vol. 7: The Wedding TP
Arriving at the end of October, this is issues #45-50, the Booster Gold story and the wedding, plus the story from DC Nation #0. Impressively, they've kept this as first-run paperback.
• Batman: Detective Comics: The Rebirth Deluxe Edition Book Three HC
The previous solicitation said issues #963-974 and Annual #1; this has the book ending at #973, but Detective Comics Vol. 6: Fall of the Batmen ends with #974, so I'm guessing the error is here. Anyway, this is Detective Comics Vol. 5: Lonely Place of Living and Vol. 6.
As I speculated before, James Tynion only has one more collection of Detective to go after this, so I wonder how they'll fill the next Deluxe Rebirth hardcover, whether with the interstitial issues before Bryan Hill's story and/or with the Hill story, or something else entirely.
• Batman: Haunted Knight New Edition TP
Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale's Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight Halloween Special, Batman: Madness, and Batman: Ghosts that preceded Long Halloween and Dark Victory.
• Batman: Knightquest: The Crusade Vol. 2 TP
The second part of the Azrael-focused "Crusade," Detective Comics #671-675, Batman: Shadow of the Bat #24-28, Batman #505-508, and Showcase ’94 #7.
If you haven't heard, DC's releasing a Batman: Troika collection down the road, so as to fully collect everything in the Knightfall Omnibuses.
• Batman: The Dark Knight Detective Vol. 2 TP
I've been following with great interest DC's new parallel collections series, Dark Knight Detective and Caped Crusader, collecting immediate post-Crisis Detective Comics and Batman respectively.
For a while, weirdly, the contents of this collection were listed as Batman #432-444 and Annual #13, which would be the contents of Caped Crusader Vol. 2. Now, however, more correctly, this is Detective Comics #583-591 and Detective Comics Annual #1. The creative team is Alan Grant, John Wagner, and Norm Breyfogle; notably these are the first appearances of Ventriloquist and Scarface, Ratcatcher, and Corrosive Man (and Cornelius Stirk will be along next time), though this is somewhat overshadowed by the important stuff happening in Batman at the time (like the death of Jason Todd).
The annual is part one of the "Fables" crossover with Green Arrow and Question, by Dennis O'Neil and Klaus Janson. I don't know how related all the annuals are, but given that I don't see that they've all been collected elsewhere, it would be nice if they were all collected here.
• Batman: The Dark Prince Charming HC
The Enrico Marini collection.
• Batman: White Knight TP
Despite the acclaim this book is getting, the glut of Elseworlds (and multiversal) Batman stories would make me slow to pick this up -- except, it turns out to be DC's first release under the Black Label imprint, and I do want to mark that, so that shifts it into the "buy" column.
• Black Lightning: Cold Dead Hands TP
I hope very much that Bryan Hill's forthcoming use of Black Lightning in Detective Comics refers to or is complementary to this. I have far more interest in a miniseries starring the DC Universe's present, active Black Lightning than I do a one-off Black Lightning miniseries, that it has Tony Isabella involved notwithstanding.
• Bombshells: United Vol. 2: War Bonds TP
Collects issues #7-12
• Deathbed TP
Collection of the Joshua Williamson/Riley Rossmo series from Vertigo.
• Deathstroke Vol. 5: The Fall of Slade TP
Collects Christopher Priest's Deathstroke issues #26-29 and Annual #1, the end of the "Defiance" storyline. The solicitation for this seems to reflect the final issue of Deathstroke Vol. 4: Defiance, so I'll be curious to see what this is actually about; Priest's Deathstroke is always a good time.
• Demon: Hell Is Earth TP
The recent six issue miniseries by Andrew Constant and Brad Walker. Another where I'm far more likely to be interested if it actually reflects the here and now of Etrigan in the DC Universe than if it's just a one-off of one writer's interpretation of the character.
• Flash by Mark Waid Book Five TP
Collects Mark Waid's Flash #106-118 and Impulse #10-11. This is the "Dead Heat" crossover plus the "Race Against Time," story, and a tie-in to Waid's own Underworld Unleashed.
• Flash: Starting Line DC Essential Edition TP
Paperback "Essential Edition" of the early New 52 run, issues #0-12 and Annual #1 by Brian Buccellato and Francis Manapul.
• Flash: The Silver Age Omnibus Vol. 1 HC New Edition
Showcase #4, 8 and 13-14, Flash Comics #104, and Flash #105-132. First appearances of Barry Allen and also Mirror Master, Pied Piper, Gorilla Grodd, and Weather Wizard, among others.
• Green Arrow: The Rebirth Deluxe Edition Book One HC
A welcome surprise, after this was solicited and then cancelled early on in Rebirth. Collects the Rebirth special and issues #1-12, which is the Green Arrow Vol. 1: The Death and Life of Oliver Queen and Green Arrow Vol. 2: Island of Scars paperbacks.
• Green Lanterns Vol. 7: Superhuman Trafficking TP
Issues #40-43 and Annual #1 by Tim Seeley. Having read all of the Sam Humphries run, I am interested to see what Seeley does here given my enjoyment of his other work.
• He-Man and the Masters of the Universe Omnibus HC
In my opinion, a fantastic use for an omnibus. This collects a bunch of disparate Masters of the Universe series by DC over the years; I might not bother to track them all down individually, not in the least because I don't believe they all necessarily jibe with one another, but all of them in one book together? Sure, definitely. I only wish the new Injustice crossover miniseries was in there too.
Collects DC Comics Presents #47, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe #1-6 (2012), He-Man and the Masters of the Universe #1-19 (2013), He-Man: The Eternity War #1-15, DC Universe vs. Masters of the Universe #1-6, He-Man/Thundercats #1-6, and Origin of He-Man, Origin of Skeletor, and Origin of Hordak
• John Constantine: Hellblazer 30th Anniversary Edition HC
Collects Saga of the Swamp Thing #37 and John Constantine, Hellblazer #11, #27, #41, #63, #120, #146, #229 and #240 by the likes of Alan Moore, Garth Ennis, Brian Azzarello, Paul Jenkins, and Jamie Delano, with a new introduction by Sting and a timeline of John Constantine's life.
• Justice League: The Darkseid War DC Essential Edition TP
Essential Edition in paperback at 376 pages, collecting Justice League #40-50 plus all the one-shots and so on.
• Justice League: The Rebirth Deluxe Edition Book Three HC
Said to collect issues #26-33, which is Justice League Vol. 5: Legacy plus two Dark Nights: Metal tie-in issues. I had suspected DC wouldn't be continuing these deluxe hardcovers after these Rebirth runs, but given the star status of Scott Snyder's new Justice League, maybe they will.
• Man of Steel by Brian Michael Bendis HC
Interesting to note that this is now called Man of Steel by Brian Michael Bendis, which equally I guess eliminates any confusion with the John Byrne book. With art by Ivan Reis, Evan “Doc” Shaner, Ryan Sook, Kevin Maguire, Adam Hughes, and Jason Fabok.
• Powers Book One TP New Edition
Issues #1-11 (not #1-20) of the Brian Michael Bendis series.
• Raven: Daughter of Darkness Vol. 1 TP
Some years ago DC was releasing twelve-issue miniseries as two Vol. 1/Vol. 2 collections instead of one book, and it was annoying to me as a reader -- the epitome of an unfinished story, leaving me to trade-trade wait -- and I was glad that practice ended. I'm already slow to pick up these Marv Wolfman new-Raven miniseries, having heard not much happened in the first and finding this iteration of Raven insufferable, and splitting it like this makes me even less enthused.
• Red Hood and the Outlaws Vol. 4: Good Night Gotham TP
Collects issues #19-25. Go read the solicitation for this one and also for this month's Supergirl collection. Someone out there is having fun writing these.
• Sandman Omnibus Vol. 3 HC
I'm sure I did know that Sandman was being collected in omnibus but for some reason this caught me by surprise. 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.
• Sandman Vol. 1: Preludes and Nocturnes 30th Anniversary Edition TP
New-new editions of the Sandman paperbacks. Issues #1-8.
• Scarlet Book One TP
Issues #1-5 of the Brian Michael Bendis series.
• Shazam!: The Monster Society of Evil Deluxe Edition HC
Collects Captain Marvel Adventures #22-46, considered one of the first and longest multi-part stories of the Golden Age of comics. Including a who's who of Captain Marvel rogues, the stories remained long uncollected because of African American and Asian stereotypes. The new collection will include essays that likely take a critical look at the book's excesses.
• Sideways Vol. 1: Steppin' Out TP
Issues #1-6 by Dan DiDio, Grant Morrison, Justin Jordan, and Kenneth Rocafort. I haven't always favored some of this creative team's prior work, but some of the madcap stuff happening in this title (the Seven Soldiers, for instance) can't be passed up.
• Suicide Squad Unwrapped by Jim Lee HC
The Rebirth Suicide Squad issues #1-8, the Rebirth special, and the Harley Quinn and the Suicide Squad April Fool's Special, with just Jim Lee's pencils. The latter special has another artist and I wonder how they'll handle that.
• Suicide Squad Vol. 7: Drain the Swamp TP
Collects issues #33-40 by Rob Williams and Si Spurrier.
• Super Sons Omnibus HC
The newly expanded Super Sons Omnibus now also includes the recent Super Sons/Dynomutt Special as well as Super Sons #1-16 and Annual #1, Superman #10-11 and #37-38, Teen Titans #15, and a story from DC Rebirth Holiday Special #1
• Supergirl Vol. 4: Plain Sight TP
Yes, really, go read the solicitation for this book. It's a riot. This collects issues #15-20 of the book before it goes on hiatus and then Marc Andreyko comes on.
• Swamp Thing: The Bronze Age Vol. 1 TP
House of Secrets #92 and Swamp Thing #1-13 by Len Wein, Bernie Wrightson, and Nestor Redondo.
• Teen Titans Vol. 3: The Return of Kid Flash TP
Collects issues #13-14, #16-19, and the DC Holiday Special 2017 (with pause for the "Super Sons of Tomorrow" crossover) by Benjamin Percy et al, the final issues before the "No Justice" relaunch.
• Terrifics Vol. 1: Meet the Terrifics TP
Issues #1-6 by Jeff Lemire, Doc Shaner, and Ivan Reis.
• Wonder Woman: Earth One Vol. 2 HC
It's still a thing, I think, that Diana's supposed to be in a different costume in every panel of this book? Curious to see how that goes down.
Clearly those Walmart-exclusive stories are going to be collected on their own, yeah?
So the book I'm second-most excited about on this list is Batman: The Dark Knight Detective Vol. 2. As I detail below, this is a parallel collections series with Batman: The Caped Crusader (the first volume of which we're anticipating in August) collecting the immediate post-Crisis on Infinite Earths issues of Detective Comics and Batman respectively. The contents of this had been muddied for a while but it looks like we know them for sure now, and while there's nothing ground-breaking (which is fine; the whole joy of these collections is just that they collect the sequential comics of the time, big events notwithstanding), we do get the first appearances of a couple of long-lasting Batman rogues.
There's also a pretty cool He-Man and the Masters of the Universe Omnibus, an even-more-complete Super Sons Omnibus, the classic Shazam!: Monster Society of Evil collection that people have been wanting for a while, Brian Michael Bendis' Man of Steel, the first collections of Sideways and The Terrifics if that's your cup of tea, and more of the "Batman: Knightfall" anniversary collections.
Here's my take on the listings ...
• Absolute Daytripper HC
Ten issue Vertigo miniseries by Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá from 2010, previously collected in paperback and deluxe hardcover, now in Absolute format.
• Batgirl Vol. 4: Strange Loop TP
Previously said to collect issues #18-23; now collects #18-24 and "stories from issue #25." Looking at the credits, I'm guessing what's omitted from issue #25 is the lead-in story to Mairghread Scott's upcoming run, which'll probably be included in that first collection proper. Rest easy, Burnside costume.
• Batman Vol. 7: The Wedding TP
Arriving at the end of October, this is issues #45-50, the Booster Gold story and the wedding, plus the story from DC Nation #0. Impressively, they've kept this as first-run paperback.
• Batman: Detective Comics: The Rebirth Deluxe Edition Book Three HC
The previous solicitation said issues #963-974 and Annual #1; this has the book ending at #973, but Detective Comics Vol. 6: Fall of the Batmen ends with #974, so I'm guessing the error is here. Anyway, this is Detective Comics Vol. 5: Lonely Place of Living and Vol. 6.
As I speculated before, James Tynion only has one more collection of Detective to go after this, so I wonder how they'll fill the next Deluxe Rebirth hardcover, whether with the interstitial issues before Bryan Hill's story and/or with the Hill story, or something else entirely.
• Batman: Haunted Knight New Edition TP
Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale's Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight Halloween Special, Batman: Madness, and Batman: Ghosts that preceded Long Halloween and Dark Victory.
• Batman: Knightquest: The Crusade Vol. 2 TP
The second part of the Azrael-focused "Crusade," Detective Comics #671-675, Batman: Shadow of the Bat #24-28, Batman #505-508, and Showcase ’94 #7.
If you haven't heard, DC's releasing a Batman: Troika collection down the road, so as to fully collect everything in the Knightfall Omnibuses.
• Batman: The Dark Knight Detective Vol. 2 TP
I've been following with great interest DC's new parallel collections series, Dark Knight Detective and Caped Crusader, collecting immediate post-Crisis Detective Comics and Batman respectively.
For a while, weirdly, the contents of this collection were listed as Batman #432-444 and Annual #13, which would be the contents of Caped Crusader Vol. 2. Now, however, more correctly, this is Detective Comics #583-591 and Detective Comics Annual #1. The creative team is Alan Grant, John Wagner, and Norm Breyfogle; notably these are the first appearances of Ventriloquist and Scarface, Ratcatcher, and Corrosive Man (and Cornelius Stirk will be along next time), though this is somewhat overshadowed by the important stuff happening in Batman at the time (like the death of Jason Todd).
The annual is part one of the "Fables" crossover with Green Arrow and Question, by Dennis O'Neil and Klaus Janson. I don't know how related all the annuals are, but given that I don't see that they've all been collected elsewhere, it would be nice if they were all collected here.
• Batman: The Dark Prince Charming HC
The Enrico Marini collection.
• Batman: White Knight TP
Despite the acclaim this book is getting, the glut of Elseworlds (and multiversal) Batman stories would make me slow to pick this up -- except, it turns out to be DC's first release under the Black Label imprint, and I do want to mark that, so that shifts it into the "buy" column.
• Black Lightning: Cold Dead Hands TP
I hope very much that Bryan Hill's forthcoming use of Black Lightning in Detective Comics refers to or is complementary to this. I have far more interest in a miniseries starring the DC Universe's present, active Black Lightning than I do a one-off Black Lightning miniseries, that it has Tony Isabella involved notwithstanding.
• Bombshells: United Vol. 2: War Bonds TP
Collects issues #7-12
• Deathbed TP
Collection of the Joshua Williamson/Riley Rossmo series from Vertigo.
• Deathstroke Vol. 5: The Fall of Slade TP
Collects Christopher Priest's Deathstroke issues #26-29 and Annual #1, the end of the "Defiance" storyline. The solicitation for this seems to reflect the final issue of Deathstroke Vol. 4: Defiance, so I'll be curious to see what this is actually about; Priest's Deathstroke is always a good time.
• Demon: Hell Is Earth TP
The recent six issue miniseries by Andrew Constant and Brad Walker. Another where I'm far more likely to be interested if it actually reflects the here and now of Etrigan in the DC Universe than if it's just a one-off of one writer's interpretation of the character.
• Flash by Mark Waid Book Five TP
Collects Mark Waid's Flash #106-118 and Impulse #10-11. This is the "Dead Heat" crossover plus the "Race Against Time," story, and a tie-in to Waid's own Underworld Unleashed.
• Flash: Starting Line DC Essential Edition TP
Paperback "Essential Edition" of the early New 52 run, issues #0-12 and Annual #1 by Brian Buccellato and Francis Manapul.
• Flash: The Silver Age Omnibus Vol. 1 HC New Edition
Showcase #4, 8 and 13-14, Flash Comics #104, and Flash #105-132. First appearances of Barry Allen and also Mirror Master, Pied Piper, Gorilla Grodd, and Weather Wizard, among others.
• Green Arrow: The Rebirth Deluxe Edition Book One HC
A welcome surprise, after this was solicited and then cancelled early on in Rebirth. Collects the Rebirth special and issues #1-12, which is the Green Arrow Vol. 1: The Death and Life of Oliver Queen and Green Arrow Vol. 2: Island of Scars paperbacks.
• Green Lanterns Vol. 7: Superhuman Trafficking TP
Issues #40-43 and Annual #1 by Tim Seeley. Having read all of the Sam Humphries run, I am interested to see what Seeley does here given my enjoyment of his other work.
• He-Man and the Masters of the Universe Omnibus HC
In my opinion, a fantastic use for an omnibus. This collects a bunch of disparate Masters of the Universe series by DC over the years; I might not bother to track them all down individually, not in the least because I don't believe they all necessarily jibe with one another, but all of them in one book together? Sure, definitely. I only wish the new Injustice crossover miniseries was in there too.
Collects DC Comics Presents #47, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe #1-6 (2012), He-Man and the Masters of the Universe #1-19 (2013), He-Man: The Eternity War #1-15, DC Universe vs. Masters of the Universe #1-6, He-Man/Thundercats #1-6, and Origin of He-Man, Origin of Skeletor, and Origin of Hordak
• John Constantine: Hellblazer 30th Anniversary Edition HC
Collects Saga of the Swamp Thing #37 and John Constantine, Hellblazer #11, #27, #41, #63, #120, #146, #229 and #240 by the likes of Alan Moore, Garth Ennis, Brian Azzarello, Paul Jenkins, and Jamie Delano, with a new introduction by Sting and a timeline of John Constantine's life.
• Justice League: The Darkseid War DC Essential Edition TP
Essential Edition in paperback at 376 pages, collecting Justice League #40-50 plus all the one-shots and so on.
• Justice League: The Rebirth Deluxe Edition Book Three HC
Said to collect issues #26-33, which is Justice League Vol. 5: Legacy plus two Dark Nights: Metal tie-in issues. I had suspected DC wouldn't be continuing these deluxe hardcovers after these Rebirth runs, but given the star status of Scott Snyder's new Justice League, maybe they will.
• Man of Steel by Brian Michael Bendis HC
Interesting to note that this is now called Man of Steel by Brian Michael Bendis, which equally I guess eliminates any confusion with the John Byrne book. With art by Ivan Reis, Evan “Doc” Shaner, Ryan Sook, Kevin Maguire, Adam Hughes, and Jason Fabok.
• Powers Book One TP New Edition
Issues #1-11 (not #1-20) of the Brian Michael Bendis series.
• Raven: Daughter of Darkness Vol. 1 TP
Some years ago DC was releasing twelve-issue miniseries as two Vol. 1/Vol. 2 collections instead of one book, and it was annoying to me as a reader -- the epitome of an unfinished story, leaving me to trade-trade wait -- and I was glad that practice ended. I'm already slow to pick up these Marv Wolfman new-Raven miniseries, having heard not much happened in the first and finding this iteration of Raven insufferable, and splitting it like this makes me even less enthused.
• Red Hood and the Outlaws Vol. 4: Good Night Gotham TP
Collects issues #19-25. Go read the solicitation for this one and also for this month's Supergirl collection. Someone out there is having fun writing these.
• Sandman Omnibus Vol. 3 HC
I'm sure I did know that Sandman was being collected in omnibus but for some reason this caught me by surprise. 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.
• Sandman Vol. 1: Preludes and Nocturnes 30th Anniversary Edition TP
New-new editions of the Sandman paperbacks. Issues #1-8.
• Scarlet Book One TP
Issues #1-5 of the Brian Michael Bendis series.
• Shazam!: The Monster Society of Evil Deluxe Edition HC
Collects Captain Marvel Adventures #22-46, considered one of the first and longest multi-part stories of the Golden Age of comics. Including a who's who of Captain Marvel rogues, the stories remained long uncollected because of African American and Asian stereotypes. The new collection will include essays that likely take a critical look at the book's excesses.
• Sideways Vol. 1: Steppin' Out TP
Issues #1-6 by Dan DiDio, Grant Morrison, Justin Jordan, and Kenneth Rocafort. I haven't always favored some of this creative team's prior work, but some of the madcap stuff happening in this title (the Seven Soldiers, for instance) can't be passed up.
• Suicide Squad Unwrapped by Jim Lee HC
The Rebirth Suicide Squad issues #1-8, the Rebirth special, and the Harley Quinn and the Suicide Squad April Fool's Special, with just Jim Lee's pencils. The latter special has another artist and I wonder how they'll handle that.
• Suicide Squad Vol. 7: Drain the Swamp TP
Collects issues #33-40 by Rob Williams and Si Spurrier.
• Super Sons Omnibus HC
The newly expanded Super Sons Omnibus now also includes the recent Super Sons/Dynomutt Special as well as Super Sons #1-16 and Annual #1, Superman #10-11 and #37-38, Teen Titans #15, and a story from DC Rebirth Holiday Special #1
• Supergirl Vol. 4: Plain Sight TP
Yes, really, go read the solicitation for this book. It's a riot. This collects issues #15-20 of the book before it goes on hiatus and then Marc Andreyko comes on.
• Swamp Thing: The Bronze Age Vol. 1 TP
House of Secrets #92 and Swamp Thing #1-13 by Len Wein, Bernie Wrightson, and Nestor Redondo.
• Teen Titans Vol. 3: The Return of Kid Flash TP
Collects issues #13-14, #16-19, and the DC Holiday Special 2017 (with pause for the "Super Sons of Tomorrow" crossover) by Benjamin Percy et al, the final issues before the "No Justice" relaunch.
• Terrifics Vol. 1: Meet the Terrifics TP
Issues #1-6 by Jeff Lemire, Doc Shaner, and Ivan Reis.
• Wonder Woman: Earth One Vol. 2 HC
It's still a thing, I think, that Diana's supposed to be in a different costume in every panel of this book? Curious to see how that goes down.
Clearly those Walmart-exclusive stories are going to be collected on their own, yeah?
Two Thoughts:
ReplyDelete1)On the Batman: The Dark Knight Collection vol. 2. ---- The Question annual #1 and the Green Arrow annual#1 need to be collected with Detective Comics annual #1. The story won't make much sense without them. Even the covers for all three connect. The Question and the Green Arrow annuals have never been reprinted, not in the Question trades or the recent Mike Grell Green Arrow trades. The story involves Lady Shiva and the O-Sensei.
2) With regard to Masters of the Universe... Since the Omnibus is including DC Comics Presents #47 (published July 1982), it needs to include the 16 page preview "Fate is the Killer" from (Nov 1982)and the 3 issue Masters of the Universe mini-series published from Dec 1982 to Feb 1983. All of them were written by Paul Kupperberg. Superman is both the DC Comics Presents issue and the preview. The preview was published as a bonus in at least 13 DC comics Nov 1982 from Action Comics #537 to Wonder Woman #297, including DC Comics Presents #51.
All right, so fingers crossed for those other annuals. Batman appears all of them, so. And I'd like to see the He-Man Omnibus be complete-complete, too.
DeleteWhile Detective Comics Annual 1 is titled 'Fables, Part One', I would have come from the story pretty satisfied even if I'd have read it alone. Parts 2 (Green Arrow Annual 1) and Part 3 (The Question Annual 1) are not so easy to read on their own. All 3 are written by Dennis O'Neil.
DeleteI've been waiting for these Annuals to get collected for a decade now, since around the time I started looking for Dennis O'Neil's Question trades. His run on the Question lasted 36 issues (all collected in trade), two annuals(uncollected), the five issue Question Quarterly (uncollected) and the one shot The Question Returns (uncollected). In addition, the Question also appears in Detective comics Annual 1 and all 3 Green Arrow Annuals, in addition to the above.
I suggested to Dan Didio on his FB wall maybe they could bring about two or three trades, collecting all the Dennis O'neil Question uncollected material. He said no interest would translate into no sales.
Well, it seems there was interest in Spain, though... when in the 2000s Planeta was publishing DC Comics in Spanish, they collected all of Dennis O'Neil's The Question, including all that uncollected material you mention.
DeleteThey published 11 volumes collecting all 36 issues + 2 annuals.
http://proyectodc.com/serie.php?item=1759#
As you can see, the whole crossover of Detective Comics + GA + Question Annuals was collected in vol. 6 (between issues 20 and 21 of the regular series, as vol. 5 ended on #20 and vol. 7 started on #21)
http://proyectodc.com/ficha.php?item=1218
They even included GA Annual #3 as the last story of vol. 11, after #36 (I don't know why)
http://proyectodc.com/ficha.php?item=1034
Besides this 11 vol collection, they published a one shot called THE QUESTION QUARTERLY collecting all the Quarterly issues + Question Returns and a story from Showcase '95 #3.
http://proyectodc.com/ficha.php?item=922
Wow, right...?
David
GA Annual #3 acted as an epilogue to the Question series, wrapping up some of its storylines. So it makes sense it would have been included. I wish DC's trades were that thorough...
DeleteForeign collections are a whole different world than what DC releases on their own. Imagine putting together a timeline out of that!
DeleteIs there actually anything new in the Sandman 30th anniversary edition? Because I already got the recent new TP collection with the hardbox.
ReplyDeleteAll I have heard is the new trades will all have new covers and new introductions.
Delete...and still no Superman Omnibus by John Byrne. (sigh)
ReplyDeleteI am interested in the Shazam collection though.
The solicitation for Flash by Waid v5 no longer has text implying it'll be the last volume. One more volume gets to the Morrison/Millar collection, then 2-3 to the Johns collections. Hope springs eternal
ReplyDeleteThe hope is that they finish the Waid run completely, all the way to "Chain Lightning" and "Dark Flash"?
DeleteYes! I haven't read any of Waid run that's not in v1-4, but at a certain point, there's something cool about having issues 62-225 all collected sequentially on my shelf (even if not all of it is good).
DeleteYeah, I'm with you on going up to the wedding, but I could probably do without Wild Wests. And that'd be a little weird anyway because Wild Wests follows the Johns books — though, I recall there's some uncollected Wild Wests, so maybe it's enough for its own trade.
DeleteBatman: The Dark Prince Charming HC
ReplyDeleteI picked this up in the individual books and really dug it. If the combined HC is a larger format to showcase the art I would be interested.
Batman: White Knight TP
Note that even though this is the first Black label release, it is not the uncensored version. SGM has stated there will be another release after this one which will be though. DC knows it has a hit and is milking it.
John Constantine: Hellblazer 30th Anniversary Edition HC
The description sounds like a Greatest Hits type of collection? Would these issues (presumably self contained) be a good gateway point for a new reader?
Clearly those Walmart-exclusive stories are going to be collected on their own, yeah?
Jimmy Palmiotti says yes, the new material is being collected later for comic stores.
There's no world in which DC doesn't eventually put a Bendis Batman collection out in the world for everyone to purchase (same w/Tom King and Superman). Especially if either of them end up writing those characters in the main books. I'm sure there may be later stories that don't have as much juice, but all of the initial creative teams + characters certainly would get some sort of collection - they'd be leaving a ton of money on the table not to put them out eventually (Wal-Mart may have some sort of delay built in to their contract to maintain some sense of exclusivity, but I'm sure DC didn't let it get too long).
DeleteThat's disappointing that White Knight isn't the actual "Black Label" version; I'm inclined to buy the first Black Label book, but less inclined to wait or double-dip on this, and I'd prefer to have the "final" version. That's annoying.
DeleteTo the extent that there's some upset about these King/Superman and Bendis/Batman stories, it seems to me that these probably *won't* be in continuity. So while sure, I'll read these at some point, I'm actually skeptical these are the hot commodity everyone thinks they are. Scott Snyder's Superman: Unchained didn't have that big an impact some four years later.
Grant Morrison isn't involved in Sideways. It's a publicity stunt.
ReplyDeleteStill cool to see the Seven Soldiers in action, no? I'm just glad that after all this time of their being a walled-off "Morrison-verse," some of this stuff is now coming into the mainstream.
DeleteDo the new Batman: knightquest: the Crusade trades cover different things than the Knightquest trade that came out a few years ago? I tried looking it up but I can't tell. I really am excited that all these new Knight trades are being collected but I don't want to double dip too much if possible.
ReplyDeleteIt is a little hard to tell, but looking at Wikipedia, I think the Knightquest: Crusade issues are the same. Knightquest: Search is what was previously omitted from the collections, restored for the omnibus, so that's probably what you want (plus Troika and etc.).
DeleteAlso, shagmu posted this on a different thread:
DeleteKnightquest Vol. 1 will include Robin #2 (just to resolve the cliffhanger at the end of #1) and Vol. 2 will include a story from Showcase '94 #7. Other than these two issues, they'll have the same contents as the thick Knightquest trade from 2012, minus Robin #7, which will be collected at the end of the Knightquest: The Search TPB.
Thanks for replying! It looks like I will just be picking up the Search trades in the end. I'm okay owning another copy of Robin 7. It is probably one of my favorite comics from that era. The interaction between Bruce and Tim is just pure gold.
DeleteBartlett4potus, let me tell you what I'm going to do, in case it is of any help!
DeleteI own the three 2012 KNIGHTFALL TPB Omnibus (Omnibi?). What I am going to do with this 25th Anniversary TPB editions is this, trying to avoid as many double dips as I can (and if I miss some Showcase stories, I don't care):
· Besides the already mentioned THE SEARCH, I will also buy PRELUDE TO KNIGHTFALL. This TPB collects "Vengeance of Bane #1" + Batman #484-491 and Detective Comics #654-658.
If you also have those 2012 TPB Omnibus, you will double dip here "Vengeance of Bane" and Batman 491. But you have A LOT of uncollected material here: Batman 484-490 and Detective 654-658, 12 whole issues. The 2012 first omnibus starts with Batman 491 and Detective 659.
· THE SEARCH is also on my list. You are only repeating ROBIN #7 but as you mentioned, that comic is great!
· TROIKA will be for sure on my list, as soon as we confirm our theories on its content (besides the Troika arc itself it could include Alfred Returns and Vengeance of Bane II, not collected in the 2012 big TPBs.
Just for continuity sake, don't forget to pick up BATMAN: ZERO HOUR TPB, as it collects Batman 511 and Detective 678, issues not collected in the KNIGHTSEND TPB Omnibus.
To sum up, with these books:
· PRELUDE TO KNIGHTFALL
· KNIGHTFALL TPB OMNIBUS 1-3
· THE SEARCH
· TROIKA
· ZERO HOUR
you can have Batman 484 to 514 and Detective Comics 654 to 681.
From this point onwards, you can keep going with BATMAN BY DOUG MOENCH AND KELLEY JONES Vols. 1 and 2, as they collect the main Batman series from #515-525, 527-532, 535-552 and 555 on a row(in this case you will double dip #515 as it is TROIKA's first part, but the rest of the crossover is not collected here).
The issues these two vols jump are crossovers, collected in their own books (Legacy, Cataclysm)
I wish DC collects soon Dixon & Nolan Detective Comics run so we can have a complete rundown like we do with the main Batman title.
As I write this, I see one can follow almost all of BATMAN issues from Knightfall onwards.
· PRELUDE: #484-491
· KNIGHTFALL TPB OMNIBUS:
- Vol 1: #491-500
- Vol 2: #501-508
- Vol 3: #509-510, 512-514
· ZERO HOUR: #511 and #0
· DOUG MOENCH & KELLEY JONES Vol 1: #515-519
· Issue #520 is uncollected, as far as I could check.
· DOUG MOENCH & KELLEY JONES Vol 1: #521-525
· TALES OF THE BATMAN: JH WILLIAMS: #526
· DOUG MOENCH & KELLEY JONES Vol 1: #527-532
· LEGACY Vol 1: #533
· LEGACY Vol 2: #534
· DOUG MOENCH & KELLEY JONES Vol 1: #535
· DOUG MOENCH & KELLEY JONES Vol 2: #536-552
· CATACLYSM: #553-554
· ROAD TO NO MAN'S LAND Vol 1: #555-559
· ROAD TO NO MAN'S LAND Vol 2: #560-562
· NO MAN'S LAND Vol 1 (2011): #563-566
· NO MAN'S LAND Vol 2: #567-568
· NO MAN'S LAND Vol 3: #569-571
· NO MAN'S LAND Vol 4: #572-574
· # 575-581 Larry Hama's run is uncollected, right?
· ED BRUBAKER Vol 1: #582-586
· OFFICER DOWN: #587
· FALSE FACES: #588-590
· ED BRUBAKER Vol 1: #591-597
· ED BRUBAKER Vol 2: #598-607
· HUSH: #608-619
· BROKEN CITY: #620-625
· AS THE CROW FLIES: #626-630
· WAR GAMES (2015) Vol 1: #631
· WAR GAMES (2015) Vol 2: #632-634
· UNDER THE RED HOOD: #635-641
· #642 is uncollected, right?
· WAR GAMES (2015) Vol 2: #643-644
· UNDER THE RED HOOD: #645-650
· FACE THE FACE: #651-654
And from here onwards Grant Morrison's run is completely collected until New52 arrives.
I didn't mean to post this looong reply, sorry!
David
David
Batman #642 was collected in the very thick Batman: War Games Book Two. Other uncollected issues are #684 (the conclusion to the "Last Days of Gotham" two-parter by Denny O'Neil and Guillem March, which started in Detective Comics #851) and #713 (the final issue before the New 52 relaunch, by Fabian Nicieza, Steve Scott, Daniel Sampere and Andrei Bressan).
DeleteAnd it's a shame that Batman #520 wasn't collected in Batman by Doug Moench and Kelley Jones Vol. 1 just because Eduardo Barreto drew it. I guess that will only be collected if the Caped Crusader TPBs keep going past Troika.
Thank you, shagamu! I didn't notice #642 in that book, good to know.
DeleteAnd yes, I also think it's a shame #520 is not collected... it's just one issue, written by the main writer of the series, and with such superb art from Barreto...
By the way, I really hope the new Knightfall 25th Anniversary trades are printed with "old" paper, I mean the one used for instance in DARK KNIGHT DETECTIVE or SECOND CHANCES, and not on glossy paper (like Dixon's ROBIN TPBs or GL KYLE RAYNER books)
David
David, that list of yours is a thing of beauty. Great work.
DeleteI have heard good things about the he-man/thundercats crossover but what about the rest of the series? Is it just as good because I am tempted to buy it (even if it is an omnibus).
ReplyDeleteI imagine the quality varies. But, y'know, when it comes to something like He-Man/Thundercats, I'm concerned less with quality than the sheer fact that it exists, yeah?
DeleteSo... I am really starting to worry. Still no news about the last TPB for John Ostrander's Suicide Squad? Really, DC?
ReplyDeleteYeah same with the last original Rucka run Wonder Woman trade.
DeleteThat is really frustrating. It would be very frustrating if they stop publishing Suicide Squad, one trade away from completion. I can't imagine that they will do that. On another note, I was hoping that they would continue to reprint Green Arrow post Grell but it doesn't look like they will. It is a shame because the run up to Connor Hawke as GA was a great story.
DeleteMaybe we can hope for that last Suicide Squad volume around the next movie, if nothing else. Rucka and WW84, for that matter.
DeleteWith the movie coming out next year, the Shazam collection “should” be safe to get published but hopefully this gets a lot of pre orders. This is a early solicit (release date is Feb) so it would be easy for DC to shelve it if the early numbers look bad.
ReplyDeleteI believe the He Man Omnibus is also a Feb release.
Thanks again for compiling these and for your thoughts on each! If you're going to be picking up & reading Batman #50 pre-trade, I highly recommend Batman #49 as well if you're a Joker fan -- it's a done-in-one dialogue-heavy issue which may be my favorite exploration of the Joker's fixation/relationship with Batman since Moore's "The Killing Joke" (and slyly references that story in a way that DOESN'T ire me! -- it's a Bat-mas miracle!!!), featuring a very classic-feeling Joker who feels ripped from the pages of that era or ones before it.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
-Mike