Review: Harley Quinn and the Birds of Prey: The Hunt for Harley hardcover/paperback (DC Comics)

We’re rapidly approaching a place where maybe we can’t call DC Black Label so “new” any more, though we’re still exploring the extent to which, thankfully, DC is willing to push the limits with these books. After (at least as far as I’ve read) a couple Batman and Wonder Woman stories that were maybe a little darker, a little bloodier than your normal DC fare, in saunters Harley Quinn and the Birds of Prey: The Hunt for Harley to push the limits wonderfully near to the breaking.

If ever there was a concern you can’t go home again, creative team Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti put that to lie. The tone feels spot on, even from moments of characteristic mundanity to the humor and surprising drama that the team manages to evoke in the space of just four issues. This is just about everything one could want from Conner and Palmiotti’s return to Harley, and they get a bunch of their greatest hits in (short really only of not being able get a Vartox cameo).

Review: Justice League Odyssey Vol. 4: Last Stand trade paperback (DC Comics)

Thinking about summing up Justice League Odyssey, I came around to the idea that this was a book better than it ever really got credit for, especially after writer Dan Abnett came on. Its out of the way setting was both a boon and a detriment; the remoteness seems essential for the story Abnett was telling (not unlike his original Legion Lost), but the lack of tie to the larger DC Universe is probably what cost it in the end.

Reading Justice League Odyssey Vol. 4: Last Stand, I’m hard-pressed to find much of a sour note — good sci-fi, good characterization. The difficulty is simply that the stakes don’t feel so high (even as all of reality is threatened); after four volumes one knows by now this is the third wheel of the “New Justice” Justice League set, in service to the rest of the DCU and never setting the pace of it.

Review: Batman: Detective Comics #1027: The Deluxe Edition hardcover (DC Comics)

I had held off a bit from reading the Batman: Detective Comics #1027 Deluxe Edition until the swiftly released hardcover actually coincided with the Detective Comics trades. It now does — Detective #1027 falls between Detective Comics Vol. 5: The Joker War and October’s Detective Comics Vol. 6: Road to Ruin. No gigantic spoilers within this issue that would prompt waiting, though indeed there is a “Joker War” story by upcoming Detective writer Mariko Tamaki that does generally fall between Detective #1026 and #1028 (also included in the Batman: Detective Comics: Joker War collection proper).

Overall I liked Detective #1027, and better I’d say than the similar Detective Comics #1000 and Action Comics #1000 books that preceded it. The Batman: 80 Years of the Bat-Family collection of specials was also a relative uptick in quality. That suggests to me that as this “special season” has gone on and the same writers (lamentably, without much diversity) have written their ultimate and now ultimate-ultimate take on the Batman characters, some of the pressure has faded and the stories are coming more naturally. As with Detective #1000, I was pleased to see an emphasis here more on the “knight” than on the “dark,” but also that the stories were more functional and less lofty, but by no means less effective.

Batman '89/Superman '78, Milestone Compendium, Justice League: Endless Winter, No Man's Land Omnibus, Power of Shazam Book 2, King's Rorschach and Strange Adventures, Superman & Lois 25th Wedding Anniversary, more in Fall 2021 solicitations

I must say, the DC Comics Fall 2021 hardcover and trade paperback catalog solicitations begin to feel like a return to form to me. I was rather concerned when the Summer 2021 solicitations only contained 62 books, but now we’re up to 114 — so, a rising trend — and I’m pleased to see the mix of old and new titles here.

We’re hardly back in the era of truly surprising releases, nothing like Aquaman: Sub-Diego or new volumes of Infinity, Inc. or like a series of Blue Devil collections or something. But I’ve got to give it to DC for what seems like the end of the Batman: The Caped Crusader volumes and the near-end of the Batman: The Dark Knight Detective volumes — give or take one or two, that’s every issue of Batman and Detective between Batman’s post-Crisis debut and “Knightfall” collected, and that’s a massive accomplishment (especially in about four years).

Along those reprint lines, Green Lantern: The Power of Ion suggests the Judd Winick reprints of his Kyle Rayner run are continuing (though unseating, it seems, the Ron Marz trades). Milestone Compendium looks to be a massive collection of most if not all of the Milestone series in one place. The Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunters Saga Omnibus Vol. 2 has issues even not included in the recent Grell paperbacks, which, phooey, but maybe we’ll get one more paperback out of it. The Power of Shazam! collections of the Jerry Ordway series continue, and also I know some of you were hoping for the start of Batman: No Man’s Land omnibuses.

Other notables on my list include Batman '89 in October and Superman '78 in November, two wonderfully weird presents showcasing the power of comics. I’m awaiting Endless Winter for no good reason, just my love of crossovers, and I’m pleased to see the Inferior Five collection I didn’t think we’d get. Tom King’s Rorschach and Strange Adventures on the same day is a real treat, too.

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So, let’s take a look at the full list …

• Absolute Jack Kirby's Fourth World Vol. 2

The first Absolute volume contained the contents of the Fourth World Omnibus Vols. 1 and 2, so presumably this would be the third and fourth and end the collection series.

• Absolute Swamp Thing By Alan Moore Vol. 3

Collects the end of Alan Moore's Swamp Thing run, Saga of the Swamp Thing #51-64 and DC Comics Presents #85.

• Adam Strange: Between Two Worlds Deluxe Edition

This was a famously “mature” and/or problematic take on Adam Strange by Richard Bruning, with art by Andy Kubert, kind of the original post-Crisis origin of Adam Strange (before it was revised a couple of times). Still I’ve wanted to read this and I’m excited about a Deluxe collection. This also includes Mark Waid’s Adam Strange stories from JLA #21-22 and the Andy Diggle/Pasqual Ferry 2004 miniseries that lead into the start of Infinite Crisis. All around this should be a book worth getting.

[See the latest DC trade solicitations.]

• All-Star Superman: The Deluxe Edition

Perhaps kind of astounding this didn’t already exist, it’s a deluxe-size edition of the 12-issue miniseries by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely.

• American Vampire 1976

Scott Snyder and Rafael Albuquerque’s newest American Vampire miniseries, in hardcover.

• Amethyst: Princess of Gemworld

YA graphic novel by Sharon and Dale Hale and Asiah Fulmore.

• Aquaman: 80 Years of the King of the Seven Seas: The Deluxe Edition

Another of DC's anniversary hardcovers. The solicited contents for this are way off base, describing a range of 50 to 100 comics, though some of the quirky one-offs named are interesting — JLA: Our Worlds at War #1 and Outsiders: Five of a Kind - Metamorpho/Aquaman #1, for two. Coming in September.

• Basketful of Heads

Paperback collection of the seven-issue miniseries by Joe Hill and Leomacs, following the hardcover.

• Batgirl of Burnside Omnibus

This was solicited back in 2019 and I thought we got it, but it appears not. Collects the latter part of Batgirl's New 52 adventures, the "Burnside era" — Batgirl #35-52, Batgirl Annual #3, Secret Origins #10 and DC Sneak Peek: Batgirl #1.

• Batman '89

Well, Batman '66 was not my speed, but this sure is. I'm very excited to head back into the Tim Burton-verse and eager to see what Sam Hamm and Joe Quinones have cooked up. I'm perfectly open to spin-offs and crossovers, too. This is the first 12 chapters of the digital series.

• The Batman & Scooby-Doo Mysteries Vol. 1

Issues #1-12 of the new Sholly Fisch series.

• Batman and Robin ... and Howard

YA graphic novel by Jedi Academy’s Jeffrey Brown.

• Batman Arkham: Catwoman

Said to collect Batman #1 and #355 (original series, first appearance and a well-regarded issue from the 1980s), Catwoman #54 (solicitation says the 1933 series, which doesn’t exist; there’s a #54 issue from Devin Grayson and Jim Balent in 1998 that has been reprinted before), Catwoman #25 (New 52 “Zero Year” issue), Catwoman #1–4 (four-issue late-1980s mini by Mindy Newell, following Batman: Year One and often collected as Catwoman: Her Sister’s Keeper), Catwoman Secret Files #1 (from the Ed Brubaker run; if I had to guess, it’s either “The Many Lives of Selina Kyle” or “Why Holly Isn’t Dead”), Superman’s Girlfriend Lois Lane #70–71 (hypnotized Lois becomes Catwoman’s partner and Superman is transformed into a cat[?!], from the 1960s), and the Catwoman entry from Who’s Who Update '87#2.

• Batman: Black & White

Hardcover collection of the new series, collecting issues #1-6. With James Tynion, J.H. Williams, Paul Dini, Andy Kubert, G. Willow Wilson, Tom King, Mitch Gerads, Gabriel Hardman, and Corinna Bechko, and more.

• Batman By Scott Snyder & Greg Capullo Omnibus Vol. 2

In hardcover, collecting Batman #34-52 (being the Joker "Endgame" event through "Superheavy" and the end of Snyder and Capullo's regular run), a story from Detective Comics #27, Batman Annual #3-4, Batman: Futures End #1, DC Sneak Peek: Batman #1, a story from Detective Comics #1000, and Batman: Last Knight on Earth #1-3. That inclusion of Last Knight is pretty key for bringing a lot of the other "flash forwards" in the series to fruition. I'd venture all that's missing for the full reading experience is Dark Knights: Metal given how that book tied together some of the other otherwise-random pieces of this series.

• Batman in the Fifties

Collects Batman #59, #62, #63, #81, #92, #105, #113, #114, #121, #122, and #128; Detective Comics #156, #168, #185, #187, #215, #216, #233, #235, #236, #241, #244, #252, #267, and #269; and World’s Finest Comics #81 and #89. No small amount of Black Casebook material here.

• Batman Vol. 4: The Cowardly Lot Part One

Spinning off apparently from Infinite Frontier, this is James Tynion and Jorge Jimenez's Batman #106-111, plus apparently some/all of Infinite Frontier #1 (and not Infinite Frontier #0, unless this is a misprint).

• Batman vs. Ra's Al Ghul

Hardcover collection of the new Neal Adams six-issue miniseries.

• Batman: Arkham Asylum: The Deluxe Edition

Another deluxe-size collection of the story by Grant Morrison and Dave McKean; notably we also saw a recent 25th anniversary deluxe edition.

• Batman: Curse of the White Knight

Paperback collection of the eight-issue miniseries by Sean Murphy.

• Batman: Detective Comics Vol. 6: Road to Ruin

Peter Tomasi's final Detective Comics collection (and the final collection before Future State and Mariko Tamaki's run); this is issues #1028-1033, seeing Damian Wayne return to the title. In paperback in October.

• Batman: Last Knight on Earth

Paperback, following the hardcover, of the three-issue DC Black Label series by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo.

• Batman: Li'l Gotham: Calendar Daze

Collects the recent Li'l Gotham #1-6 by Dustin Nguyen and Derek Fridolfs.

• Batman: No Man's Land Omnibus Vol. 1

Collects the equivalent of the first two (of four) No Man's Land "complete" editions, being *Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #116-121, Azrael: Agent of the Bat #51-57, Batman #563-568, Batman: Shadow of the Bat #83-88, Detective Comics #730-735, Catwoman #72-74, Robin #67, Batman Chronicles #16-17, Nightwing #35-37, Batman: No Man's Land #1, Batman: No Man's Land Gallery #1, and Young Justice in No Man's Land #1.

• Batman: Noel

New hardcover printing of the graphic novel by Lee Bermejo.

• Batman: The Brave And The Bold - The Bronze Age Omnibus Vol. 3

Brave and the Bold #157-200 from the 1980s, with Batman teaming up with Wonder Woman, Green Arrow, Black Lightning, Superboy, Swamp Thing and more.

• Batman: The Caped Crusader Vol. 6

Collects Batman #475-483 and Detective Comics #642, including the Ventriloquist and Maxie Zeus, and creative teams including Alan Grant and Norm Breyfogle, and Doug Moench and Jim Aparo. Notably, this book ends right where the Batman: Prelude to Knightfall collection begins; the solicitation doesn't call this the last volume, but I wouldn't be surprised if it is. If so, I'm so glad this collection series of Batman's post-Crisis adventures made it to its finish point, and what a wonderful set of books. I can only hope DC does the same thing with post-Crisis Superman at least up to "Death of Superman."

• Batman: The Court of Owls Deluxe Edition

Deluxe-size collection, but collecting — according to the solicitations — just issues #1-6 of Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s Batman.

• Batman: The Dark Knight Detective Vol. 6

Collects Detective Comics #622-633 from 1990-1991. Nothing particularly noteworthy I could discern about these issues, though they include stories by John Ostrander and by Marv Wolfman and Peter Milligan with art by Jim Aparo. Issue #627 is a multi-story "anniversary" issue of Batman's 600th appearance in Detective.

In comparison, this volume lines up with about Batman #455-466, or the contents of Batman: The Caped Crusader Vol. 4. See elsewhere in this list, where Batman: The Caped Crusader Vol. 6 appears to be ending that half of this series just before Prelude to Knightfall. That Caped Crusader book also includes Detective #642. If indeed "Knightfall" is where these books are ending and they collect about 10 issues per, then Dark Knight Detective probably has two more to go after this to end just before Detective #654.

• Batman: The Long Halloween Deluxe Edition

Deluxe edition of the 13-issue miniseries by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale.

• Batman: Their Dark Designs

Paperback of James Tynion's first arc on Batman, issues #86-94. I tell you what, I liked this one a lot, and Batman Vol. 2: The Joker War was a surprising disappointment afterward. I'm hoping the third volume is a return to form.

• Batman: Urban Legends Vol. 1

Anthology of stories featuring Red Hood and Grifter by Chip Zdarsky and Matthew Rosenberg respectively. No word on whether the Harley Quinn or Outsiders stories are in here too. Said to be Batman: Urban Legends #1-6.

• Batman/Fortnite: Zero Point

In hardcover, collecting the miniseries by Christos Gage and Reilly Brown.

• Batman/Superman Vol. 1

Restarted numbering for Batman/Superman, though the individual issues keep on from the previous book (#16-21). I have high hopes for this from Gene Luen Yang; depicting the Golden Age Superman seems to have been where he's had the most success with DC, and indeed I've enjoyed Yang's superhero work far better when detached from the confines of the mainstream DCU. Having a powerhouse artist like Ivan Reis along for the ride shouldn't hurt either; here's hoping.

• Batman/Superman Vol. 2: World's Deadliest

Issues #7-15 and the first annual by Joshua Williamson, in paperback following the hardcover.

• Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Omnibus

Said to collect Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II, Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III, and material from the deluxe edition.

• Batwoman Omnibus

Collects Detective Comics #854-864, Batwoman #0 (New 52), Batwoman #0-24, and Batwoman Annual #1, being Greg Rucka, JH Williams, and W. Haden Blackman's work on the character, stopping before Marc Andreyko's less-well-regarded run (short of the annual where Andreyko finished up Williams' unfinished run).

One does wonder what effect (the very endearing) Ryan Wilder on TV will have on the DC Universe’s own Kate Kane.

• Birds of Prey: Fighters by Trade

Collects Gail Simone's Birds of Prey #81-91, so spanning the Battle Within and Perfect Pitch trades. This includes issue #91 by Jim Alexander, Brad Walker, and Jimmy Palmiotti that I don't believe has been collected before.

• The Books of Magic Omnibus Vol. 2 (The Sandman Universe Classics)

Second omnibus by Peter Gross, including Books of Magic #33-75, Books of Magic Annuals #1-3, Books of Faerie #1-3, Vertigo: Winter’s Edge #1-3, Hellblazer: Books of Magic #1-2, Books of Faerie: Molly’s Story #1-4, and Vertigo Secret Files: Hellblazer #1. I wouldn't mind seeing these as a set of more affordably priced paperbacks.

• Catwoman Vol. 5: Valley of the Shadow of Death

Post-Future State, collecting Ram V and Fernando Blanco’s issues #29-33 in paperback.

• Crime Syndicate

The six-issue miniseries by Andy Schmidt and Kieran McKeown, spinning out of Dark Nights: Death Metal and Infinite Frontier.

• Crisis on Multiple Earths Book 2: Crisis Crossed

Pre-Crisis multiversal team-ups, including the Justice League, the Justice Society, Earth-X and the Freedom Fighters, Captain Marvel and the Marvel family, the Legion of Super-Heroes, Jonah Hex and more, being Justice League of America #91-92, #100-102, #107-108, #113-124, #135-137, #147-148, and #159-160. These are more-issue reprints of the former Crisis on Multiple Earths collections; this volume collects the third and fourth volumes of those and into the fifth.

• Daphne Byrne

Paperback of the six-issue Hill House miniseries by Larua Marks and Kelley Jones, following the hardcover.

• DC Comics: Girls Unite! Box Set

Includes four recent animated-series comics trades: Batman Adventures: Cat Got Your Tongue?, Supergirl Adventures: Girl of Steel, Batman Adventures: Batgirl: A League of Her Own, and Justice League Unlimited: Girl Power.

• DC Poster Portfolio: Jim Lee Vol. 2

Coming in November.

• DC Poster Portfolio: Metal

Covers just from the miniseries, which is really wild and unprecedented when you think about it.

• DC Super Hero Girls: Ghosting

YA graphic novel that introduces Katana to the series.

• DC Through the ‘80s: The Heroes

The final volume of the Paul Levitz series, and collecting titles like John Byrne's Man of Steel #1 and Marv Wolfman and George Perez's New Teen Titans #1 (being, let's note, a big pre-Crisis/post-Crisis split). Judging by the solicitation cover, looks like an issue of Crisis on Infinite Earths itself might be in there.

• DC Universe by Dwayne McDuffie

Stories by the late Dwayne McDuffie, including Action Comics #847; The Demon #26-29; Impulse #60; a story from JLA Showcase 80-Page Giant #1; the black-and-white backup from Batman: Gotham Knights #27; Sins of Youth: Kid Flash/Impulse #1, and Firestorm: The Nuclear Man #33-35.

• Deathstroke by Christopher Priest Omnibus

What I would call one of the best comics series of the past decade, a really wild and uncompromising take on Deathstroke and every friend is a foe and every foe is a friend (and both are family!) depending on the day. If you didn’t read this the first time around, no excuses for skipping it now. Collects Deathstroke: Rebirth #1, Titans #11, Teen Titans #28-29,Deathstroke #1-50, Titans: The Lazarus Contract Special #1, DC Holiday Special 2017 #1, Deathstroke Annual #1 (being among other things the “Lazarus Contract” and “Terminus Agenda” crossovers with two different iterations of Titans.

• The Dollhouse Family

Issues #1-6 by Mike Carey and Peter Gross in paperback, following the hardcover.

• The Dreaming: Waking Hours

In paperback, the 12-issue miniseries by G. Willow Wilson and Nick Robles.

• Fables Compendium Four

Collects Fables #114-149. One more volume to collect the trade-sized Fables #150 and some extras?

• Far Sector

The collection of Far Sector feels like it's been a long time coming and I'm eager to read it, especially since it's been getting such good reviews and that Green Lantern Jo Mullein will be appearing in the main title after Future State. By N.K. Jemisin and Jamal Campbell, in paperback in October.

• The Flash by Geoff Johns Omnibus Vol. 3

Arrives now at collecting Geoff Johns' post-Wally West work with Barry Allen. Said to collect Final Crisis: Rogue’s Revenge #1-3, Flash: Rebirth #1-6, Flash #1-12, Blackest Night: The Flash #1-3, Flash Secret Files and Origins 2010 #1, and Flashpoint #1-5.

• The Flash Vol. 15: Finish Line

Being the final collection of Flash by writer Joshua Williamson, this should be about issues #756-762, ahead of a short run by Kevin Shinick, “Endless Winter,” and Future State.

• Fourth World by Jack Kirby Omnibus (New Printing)

New printing of the omnibus containing the entirety of Jack Kirby’s “Fourth World” saga, being also the contents of the four original omnibus volumes. I’d darn well hope this won’t be cancelled just because of the unfortunate news about the New Gods movie.

• Gen 13: Starting Over: The Deluxe Edition

Someone else might know better, but this seems to be the earliest issues of the first Gen 13 miniseries and series by Jim Lee, Brandon Choi, and J. Scott Campbell. Collects Gen 13: Lost in Paradise #1, Gen 13 #1-5, Gen 13 European Vacation #1, Gen 13 Backlist #1, Gen 13 #0-5, Wildstorm Universe Sourcebook #1, and Gen 13: Encore No. 1.

• Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunters Saga Omnibus Vol. 2

The latter half of Mike Grell's Green Arrow run, including Green Arrow #51-80, Green Arrow Annual #4-6, Who's Who #14, Brave and the Bold #1-6, Shado: Song of the Dragon #1-4, and Green Arrow: The Wonder Year #1-4. Yes, the recent Grell paperbacks did not include the Shado or Brave and the Bold miniseries and yes, I am annoyed.

• The Green Lantern Season Two Vol. 1

Paperback, following the hardcover, of issues #1-6.

• Green Lantern Vol 1: Invictus

In paperback and starring John Stewart, Teen Lantern Keli Quintela, and Far Sector's Jo Mullein. This collects Future State: Green Lantern #1-2 and Green Lantern #1-4; the solicitation mentions the presence of Jessica Cruz, but I think that's a reference to Future State and not the series itself.

• Green Lantern: The Power of Ion

Even as DC paused the Green Lantern: Kyle Rayner collections of Ron Marz's work after two volumes (at Green Lantern #65), it seems they've picked up again with the Judd Winick run. Following the recent Green Lantern: Circle of Fire collection (issues #129-136 and Brian Vaughan's "Circle of Fire" miniseries), this is issues #137-150 (including a "Joker's Last Laugh" tie-in issue) and Green Lantern: Our Worlds at War. Winick would remain on the book until issue #164.

• Harley Quinn Vol. 1: No Good Deed

The first post-Future State volume by Stephanie Nicole Phillips and Riley Rossmo.

• Hill House Box Set

Box set including Basketful of Heads, Low, Low Woods, Dollhouse Family, Daphne Byrne, Plunge, and Sea Dogs, in paperback. Now if DC could find a way to release all of these in one volume sans box, I might pick it up.

• House of El Book Two: The Enemy Delusion

YA graphic novel by Claudia Gray and Eric Zawadzski. Hey, did you see CW Seed has both seasons of Krypton for streaming?

• Inferior Five

There is a whole lot about an Inferior Five miniseries set in the midst of DC’s 1980s Invasion! crossover and with contributions by Keith Giffen and Jeff Lemire that I’m very interested in. But consider me part of the problem, because low sales (for the niche pitch and also people like me waiting for the trade) caused this to be cut down from 12 to six issues. Obviously, perhaps bizarrely, DC thinks there’s a market for the trade; if it comes out, I’ll get it, though I’m myself wary of a plotted miniseries that got cut in half.

• The Joker Vol. 1

In hardcover, collecting issues #1-6 by James Tynion and Guillem March. The promo art has Bane(!) in the background; I wonder if that's an index cover from "City of Bane" or if Tynion will be picking that character back up after the events of Tom King's run. Anyway, I'm most excited here to see James Gordon get the spotlight and also for the return of Bluebird Harper Row.

• Joker/Harley: Criminal Sanity

I’ve heard good things about this DC Black Label series. Collecting in hardcover Joker/Harley: Criminal Sanity #1–8 and the Joker/Harley: Criminal Sanity Secret Files by Kami Garcia and Mico Suayan.

• Justice League Dark: The New 52 Omnibus

Since this is called “The New 52 Omnibus” and the issues collected are from the New 52, I guess that’s what this is, though the solicitation copy is describing the Rebirth series.

What I'd say is pretty notable here is that this collects not just Peter Milligan's slow start to the series and Jeff Lemire's fantastic shot in the arm, but also all of the "Trinity of Sin" crossover with the other Justice League books of the time and also the "Forever Evil: Blight" crossover between a bunch of DC's magic books.

You should read my review of Blight, by the way, which makes the Herculean effort of trying to encapsulate this giant 18-issue crossover (about which I wrote, "As befits the menagerie of magical characters who populate the story, Blight is in part a wonder to behold and in part total chaos"). The oddly structured "Blight" is actually two stories, one 10 issues and one eight, the latter of which having nothing to do with the "Blight" of the first even though it shares the title. The quality waxes and wanes, but is for the most part good, and the old adage holds that even if it's not great, there's certainly a lot of it here. Oh my god you will have your fill of Constantine, Zatanna, Swamp Thing, Deadman, and the rest by the time you finish this.

Anyway, this is I, Vampire #7-8, Justice League Dark #0-40, Justice League #22-23, Justice League Dark Annual #1-2, Justice League of America #6-7, Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger #14-17, Constantine #9-12, Trinity of Sin: Pandora #6-9, and Justice League Dark: Futures End #1.

• Justice League: Death Metal

Justice League #53–57 by Joshua Williamson and Xermanico, tying of course into Death Metal and being the final issues before “Endless Winter,” Future State, and the Brian Michael Bendis run of the title. Coming in September.

• Justice League: Endless Winter

Not that I really thought DC wasn't going to collect Endless Winter, but I'm glad to see it on the schedule. Good, bad, or indifferent, gotta love a real inter-title-based crossover, and especially by just one team. Collects Aquaman #66, Flash #767, Justice League #58, Justice League Dark #29, Justice League: Endless Winter #1-2, Teen Titans: Endless Winter Special #1, Black Adam: Endless Winter Special #1, and Superman: Endless Winter Special #1.

I just wish this was being released before the Future State collection, like the original publications, and not afterward (coming in November), though I imagine as close as DC can get this to the Black Adam movie, the better.

• Legends of the Dark Knight: Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez

Collects Batman #272, #311, #313-314, #318, #321, #336-337, #353 (1940s series), Batman ’66: The Lost Episode #1 (2006), Batman Confidential #26-28 (2006), Batman Family #3 (1975-1978), Batman: Gotham Knights #10 (2000), DC Comics Presents #31 and #41 (1978-1986), DC Special Series #21 (1977), Detective Comics #454, #458-459, #483, and #487 (1937), The Best of the Brave and the Bold #1-6 (1988), The Brave and the Bold #164 and #171 (1955), The Joker #4 (1975), The Untold Legend of the Batman #1-3 (1980), and World’s Finest Comics #244, #255, and #258 (1941 series).

• Legion of Super-Heroes: Before the Darkness Vol. 2

Collects Legion of Super-Heroes #272-283 and Best of DC: Blue Ribbon Digest #24, coming in January.

• The Low, Low Woods

Paperback collecting issues #1-6 of the Hill House miniseries by Carmen Maria Machado, following the hardcover.

• Man-Bat

Can't get too excited about a five-issue Man-Bat miniseries that either ignores the character's portrayal in Justice League Dark or is out-and-out out of continuity.

• Milestone Compendium

I have thought from time to time about trying to pick up all the existing Milestone trades — here DC just made it easy for me. This is, at the least, Blood Syndicate #1-12, Hardware #1-12, Icon #1-10, Static #1-8, and Xombi #0-11. The solicitation doesn't make clear whether we might also see Shadow Cabinet, Kobalt, the Heroes miniseries or other crossovers and spin-offs. The Milestone character appearances from the late 2000s Brave and the Bold series would be icing on the cake.

• New Teen Titans Vol. 13

Collects New Teen Titans (Volume 2) #24-31 and the New Teen Titans (Volume 2) Annual #2. Also mentioned are Tales of the Teen Titans #84-88, which would just be covers since they're reprints of New Teen Titans #24-27 (one wonders if the covers of issues #89-92 will be in there, too). These are by Marv Wolfman and Eduardo Barreto, with the Hybrid, the Brotherhood of Evil, Brother Blood, and Robin Jason Todd. We're in the midst of 2019's New Teen Titans Omnibus Vol. 4 now; the fifth omnibus (2021) collects up to New Teen Titans #49.

Update: The above is the contents of New Teen Titans Vol. 12, so looks like the solicitation has bad info. Contents are probably around half the distance between New Teen Titans #32 and #49.

• The Next Batman: Second Son

In hardcover, collecting the digital series by John Ridley and Tony Akins, spinning out of (into?) Future State.

• Nightwing Vol. 1: Stepping Into the Light

The first Nightwing volume post-Future State, renumbered again, by Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo. Collects issues #78-83 in paperback, coming in December.

• Other History of the DC Universe

Also a long time coming, John Ridley's five-issue miniseries, in hardcover in November.

• Plunge

Six issue miniseries by Joe Hill and Stuart Immonen, in paperback following the hardcover.

• The Power of Shazam! Book 2: The Worm Turns

So excited to see these collections of Jerry Ordway’s Power of Shazam! continuing. This collects The Power of Shazam! #13-23, Superman: The Man of Tomorrow #4, Showcase '96 #7, The Power of Shazam! Annual #1, Superboy Plus #1, and Supergirl Plus #1. Indeed we’ve got Mr. Mind here, plus a couple appearances by Superman, Plastic Man, Batman, Gangbuster, and a Final Night tie-in. This series went 48 issues, so about two more collections, maybe three?

• Rorschach

In hardcover, collecting issues #1-12 by Tom King and Jorge Fornes. This is said to be released in December on the same day as King’s Strange Adventures hardcover — a good day for King fans.

• Saga of the Swamp Thing Box Set

Box set of six Alan Moore Swamp Thing collections. Not sure if these are hardcover or paperback but I’m pretty sure they won’t use the infamous sticky glossy covers.

• The Sandman: The Deluxe Edition Book Four

I would like these all to come out before the Netflix series debuts. Thank you and good night.

Arriving in November, this is issues #51-69 and Vertigo Jam #1, being the "World's End" and "Kindly Ones" collections. (Next and last, I would certainly hope, should be "The Wake," issues #70-75, plus Sandman: Overture, Endless Nights, and the two versions of Dream Hunters.)

• Sensational Wonder Woman

Collects the digital first series with contributions from Stephanie Phillips, Alyssa Wong, Meghan Hetrick, Bruno Rodondo, and Eleonora Carlini.

• Strange Adventures

In hardcover by Tom King, Mitch Gerads, and Doc Shaner, collecting Strange Adventures #1-12. Said to be released in December on the same day as King’s Rorschach collection.

• Suicide Squad Vol. 1: Give Peace a Chance

Robbie Thompson has done well on Teen Titans in partnership with Adam Glass; hopefully Suicide Squad gets a bump here just the same as Titans did. Certainly a Talon among the team, and Superboy Conner Kent, piques my interest. Interesting also that this book includes both Suicide Squad #1-6 and also Future State: Suicide Squad #1-2.

• Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes (Tabloid Edition)

A reprint of what was originally published as All-New Collectors' Edition #C-55, a new Legion story by Paul Levitz and Mike Grell printed in tabloid 10" x 14" size, featuring the wedding of Saturn Girl and Lightning Lad.

• Superman '78

I can't decide if I'm more excited about this or Batman '89. Thinking about it is quite the nostalgia trip; there are times in my life where I'd have equally been more excited for one of these over the other. (Fortunately, I don't have to choose!) For the fact that Christopher Reeve is no longer with us, this one might win out in my heart, though it also seems the tougher to write for Robert Venditti, needing as it does (as I understand it) to slot between Superman and Superman II.

• Superman & Lois Lane: The 25th Wedding Anniversary Deluxe Edition

I don't think what I'm about to say is particularly controversial, but apologies in advance if I offend anyone: the entire 1990s Superman: The Wedding Album storyline was not very good.

We all know the story that the Triangle Titles Super-team wanted to marry Clark and Lois much earlier but were asked to hold off to mesh with the Lois & Clark TV show, which — to the benefit of all of us — ended up netting us "Death of Superman." But when the TV wedding did come, apparently it was without much notice for the comics teams. They had to scramble under inopportune circumstances — not only had Clark and Lois inartfully broken up at this time, but Superman currently had no powers (in the most high-profile storyline he'd probably see outside "Death") on account of the fallout from the Final Night crossover.

While artist Stuart Immonen gets a romantic reunion sequence in, this was not a strong tiem for the Triangle Titles artists overall — neither the Wedding Album nor the issues that followed are good-looking books overall. The larger story sees Clark and Lois going off on their honeymoon and running afoul of an international terrorist. Again, we're talking about a pretty high-profile Superman story here that by and large doesn't involve the superhero Superman nor any of his best-recognized enemies.

Strange as it sounds, I rather always hoped DC might re-do this story one day; it's a pretty big dropped football and squanders a lot of the good work that the earlier Triangle Titles teams did going in to the Lois/Clark engagement.

Happy 25th anniversary! Said to collect Superman #118, Adventures of Superman #541, Action Comics #728, Superman: The Man of Steel #63, and Superman: The Wedding Album #1.

• Superman & the Authority

Cat’s out of the bag apparently, and this seems pretty momentous given the writing power of Grant Morrison and the drawing power of Mikel Janin. I’m none too worried about “Superman changed forever” given this appears to be just a two-issue miniseries. And is that Kitty “Rampage” Faulkner as an OMAC? Sign me up.

• Superman: Red & Blue

Hardcover collecting issues #1-6, with stories by John Ridley, Brandon Easton and Steve Lieber, Wes Craig, and Marguerite Bennett and Jill Thompson. Someone really ought do a “Superman Red/Superman Blue” story for this series.

• Superman Vol. 1: The Man Who Fell

Collects Action Comics #1029 and Superman #29-32 in paperback in November, the start of the new run by Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Scott Godlewski. Jon Kent is front and center there, which wouldn't be my choice — I'd as soon keep him in the future with the Legion of Super-Heroes and let Lois and Clark keep doing what they were doing — but my sense is consensus goes the other way.

• Superman: Action Comics Volume 5: House of Kent

Brian Michael Bendis' final Action Comics collection, with John Romita, coming in September in paperback. Collects Action #1022-1028. Bendis' next Superman collection is out in May, said to collect issues #20-24; there, Bendis' run ends with issue #28, and I'm curious to see if Superman Vol. 4: Mythological will also include those final issues or if there'll be one more collection still to go.

• Superman: The Man of Steel Vol. 4

Said to collect Superman #16-22, Adventures of Superman #439-444, Action Comics #598-600, and the Superman Annual #2. Probably also the crossover issue Doom Patrol #10, which was included in the original Man of Steel paperbacks. Notably Superman #22 is where John Byrne's run ended, as well as the original Man of Steel paperbacks — whether these books continue on from here or not would really be telling.

• Superman/Batman Omnibus Vol. 2

Collects Superman/Batman issues #44-87 and Annuals #3-5. This is roughly the original collection volumes 7-12 (Search for Kryptonite, Finest Worlds, Night & Day, Big Noise, Worship, and Sorcerer Kings) and/or the new paperbacks from the middle of Vol. 4 through Vol. 7. With Mike Johnson and Michael Green, Joe Casey, Len Wein, Scott Kolins, Paul Levitz, Judd Winick, Joshua Williamson, Cullen Bunn, James Robinson, and Joshua Hale Fialkov, and tying in to Blackest Night and Final Crisis, among others.

• The Swamp Thing Volume 1: Becoming

The first collection of Ram V’s new Swamp Thing series, said to collect issues #1-4 and Future State: Swamp Thing #1-2.

• Tales of the DC Universe: Mark Waid Vol. 1

Collects Superman #114, Adventures of Superman #536, Action Comics #723, and Superman: The Man of Steel #58 ("Identity Crisis," Brainiac takes over Superman's body); Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight Annual #4 (Elseworlds, blending Batman with Citizen Kane); Action Comics #572, #576, #641, and #737; Detective Comics Annual #2, Adventures of Superboy #7, Green Lantern Corps Quarterly #2, Metamorpho #1-4, and a story from DC Universe Holiday Bash #1. And that's just volume one!

• Teen Titans Academy Vol. 1: X Marks His Spot

In hardcover, coming in January, the first collection by Tim Sheridan and Rafa Sandoval.

• Teen Titans: Beast Boy Loves Raven

New middle-grade graphic novel by Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo.

• Teen Titans: Raven, Beast Boy, and Beast Boy Loves Raven Box Set

Box set of hardcovers, apparently, of the three YA graphic novels by Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo.

• Tom Strong Compendium

In paperback — no word on contents so far. Presumably this is Alan Moore’s issues #1-22, but no word if #23-36 or the spin-offs are in there.

• Top 10 Compendium

In paperback, said to include Top Ten #1-12, America's Best Comics Special #1, Smax #1-5, Top Ten: 49’ers #1, Top Ten: Beyond the Farthest Precinct #1-5, Top Ten: Season 2 #1-4, and Top Ten: Season 2 #1.

• Truth & Justice

Paperback collecting the digital-first series with stories including Vixen and John Constantine, by Geoffrey Thorne and others.

• Unearthed: A Jessica Cruz Story

Cool to see relatively new character Jessica Cruz getting the spotlight in this immigration-focused YA graphic novel by Lilliam Rivera and Steph C. I appreciate that DC’s mining new classic characters for these as well as old favorites.

• Whistle: A New Gotham City Hero

So much in this young adult graphic novel by E. Lockhart and Manuel Preitano — 17-year-old community advocate Willow Zimmerman, running into Killer Croc outsider her local synagogue, the sudden ability to read her dog’s mind, “Pammie” Isley as a science teacher, and on. Sounds interesting!

• Wonder Woman by George Perez Vol. 6

The final of the smaller paperback cut-down collections of the Wonder Woman by George Perez omnibuses, collecting Wonder Woman #58–62 and War of the Gods #1–4. This maps exactly to the Wonder Woman: War of the Gods omnibus, but in comparison to the Wonder Woman by George Perez Omnibus Vol. 3 it leaves out the Wonder Woman issues #168–169 and #600 short story by Perez, unless they ultimately make it in.

• Wonder Woman Vol. 1: Afterworlds

In paperback, the first post-Future State volume (with new numbering) by Becky Cloonan, Michael Conrad, and Travis Moore. Collecting issues #770-779.

• Wonder Woman: Agent of Peace

Collects the 10-issue digital series by Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti, pitting Wonder Woman, Etta Candy, and Steve Trevor against Cheetah, Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Penguin, and more.

• Wonder Woman: Blood and Guts: The Deluxe Edition

The first 12 issues of the New 52 series by Brian Azzarello and Cliff Chiang. We have also already seen this reprinted as an Absolute.

• Wonder Woman: The Silver Age Omnibus Vol. 1

From the 1950s and '60s, Wonder Woman #98-123, including apparently the introduction of "Wonder Tot" and appearances by Hippolyta. The solicitation says this is the first time these have been reprinted in color.

• Wonder Woman: Who Is Wonder Woman? The Deluxe Edition

This was a kind-of notable post-Infinite Crisis Wonder Woman story which, as its main claim to fame, brought some of the super spy Diana Prince trappings back to Wonder Woman, but all of that was short-lived. To be sure, DC's draw for reprinting this now is that writer Allan Heinberg also wrote the screenplay for the first recent Wonder Woman movie.

• Wonderful Women of the World

As I understand it, a young adult graphic novel featuring illustrated biographies of prominent women, edited by Laurie Halse Anderson.

Review: Batman: Detective Comics Vol. 5: The Joker War hardcover/paperback (DC Comics)

In his penultimate collection of Detective Comics, Peter Tomasi certainly doesn’t hold back. At the center of Batman: Detective Comics Vol. 5: The Joker War is a story that involves at least five of Batman’s villains and involves storylines almost a decade old. If the tie to the “Joker War” crossover feels like a little bit of a contrivance, interrupting what if anything Tomasi originally had planned for this story, then the madcap energy is still epic and worthy of the “event” Detective has been dragged in to. I’m pleased to see artist Brad Walker back on this title, and his large, in-your-face art is a perfect complement to the book’s Joker chaos.

[Review contains spoilers]

Detective Vol. 5 kicks off with the Batman: Pennyworth RIP special, written by Batman’s James Tynion and Tomasi. I recognize DC not wanting to break up the flow of the prominent Batman collections, but this is a story that, had it been stuck at the beginning or end of Batman Vol. 1: Their Dark Designs, if not Batman Vol. 2: The Joker War, would’ve made Joker War make a lot more sense. Indeed, things seemed more or less copacetic at the beginning of Dark Designs, with Bruce Wayne planning a(nother) aspirational rebuild of Gotham with only the barest hint of trouble around the edges; that Barbara Gordon seems so angry with him in Batgirl Vol. 8: The Joker War was puzzling, as was Batman’s big apology to his family in Batman: Joker War proper.

Review: Red Hood: Outlaw Vol. 4: Unspoken Truths trade paperback (DC Comics)

Such a strange comic Red Hood: Outlaw (nee Red Hood and the Outlaws, and temporarily Red Hood/Arsenal) has been. It suffers — oh, does it suffer — from sometimes-problematic writing, from art that leans toward prurience even when the story leans toward grace. And yet, it is just so hard to dismiss this book out of hand, when Red Hood: Outlaw Vol. 4: Unspoken Truths takes a scene with the ill-conceived, misused Joker’s Daughter and “Pup Pup,” the book’s bizarre sentient stuffed Superman toy, and manages to make it so, so poignant.

Over 10 years, Scott Lobdell has written Red Hood Jason Todd almost nonstop, and given Jason a backstory and depth of character that most writers overlook. Again, this book is devoutly not without problems, but I fear based on upcoming solicitations that Jason is bound to become a video game-esque superhero, all toughness and guns and antagonizing Batman at every turn. Not that Red Hood: Outlaw didn’t also have that, but we always knew Lobdell posited Jason as someone loyal to his friends, and also who skirted the criminal element not because of inherent “badness” but because he had a more nuanced view of why people do what they do (hence friendships, for instance, with Joker’s Daughter or the “villain” Bizarro). I’m concerned Jason will get less interesting without Lobdell as DC moves him toward a more one-dimensional, easily digestible portrayal.

Review: Wonder Woman: Earth One Vol. 3 hardcover/paperback (DC Comics)

If the first two volumes of Grant Morrison and Yanick Paquette’s Wonder Woman: Earth One were their Star Wars and Empire Strikes Back, then Wonder Woman: Earth One Vol. 3 is distinctly their Return of the Jedi — dramatic, with some suspense, but also with enough levity and cuddliness built in that the sense everything will be all right pervades from the start. Though the third volume does not lack for action pieces, it is more philosophical (and at its mid-point, mythological) than the books that came before it.

In all of this, the authors beg the question, what if you knew — knew — that a higher force always had your best interests at heart (because who among us is more trustworthy than Wonder Woman)? If you did, would you slough off the weight of all that decision-making and submit peacefully to the loving authority of another? (We do this already, in ways — when we go into surgery, when we choose representation in government, when we pray to things unseen.)

Review: Universal Monsters: Cavalcade of Horror trade paperback (Dark Horse Comics)

[Guest reviewer Zach King blogs about movies as The Cinema King. Don't miss his month-long Monster March review of the Universal Classic Monsters movies at the site.]

When I was a very young boy, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm hit theaters. It was 1993, and I was already a religious watcher of Batman: The Animated Series. To my undying shame, I never saw it in the theaters. I mooned over the advertisements in my comic books, and I searched the racks at Walmart (ultimately in vain) for a Phantasm figure. I wouldn't see the movie for another 10 years — it ended up being the first DVD I rented from a little start-up called Netflix — but I never really lost sleep over missing the film.

You see, I had the comic book adaptation. (Still do.) I knew the ins and outs of the plot, the dialogue, the flashbacks, the twist ending. I'd seen The Animated Series so many times that I could hear the voices in my head. For my money, that Timm-inflected art by Mike Parobeck and Rick Burchett remains the definitive Bat-art. It was an early exposure to the world of Batman, and to comics more generally, but I had no idea about the rich tradition of comic book adaptations. This was all in the days before home video exploded, when your best bet to rewatch a movie might be the comic book.

Review: Batgirl Vol. 8: The Joker War hardcover/paperback (DC Comics)

I’ve stated before that I don’t think Cecil Castellucci’s run is Batgirl at its finest, and Batgirl Vol. 8: The Joker War is no exception. This volume is better than the last in at least that we don’t see Barbara Gordon shunted off to a fantasy dimension, but still, quite aside from the story, there’s enough inconsistent details and poor characterization that the whole thing just feels sloppily done.

It’s a bit astounding that there’s no new Batgirl book announced on the horizon with this one ending, something that hasn’t been the case for roughly 10 years; at the same time, I do tend to think Barbara’s in better hands with Tom Taylor over in the post-Future State Nightwing than she’s been in her own title for a while.

DC Trade Solicitations for June 2021 – Future State: Dark Detective, Taylor's Suicide Squad: Bad Blood, Wonder Woman 80 Years, Green Lantern Season 2 Vol. 2, Sandman Deluxe Book 3

It did look for a moment like this was going to be a particularly short list, but fear not; there's a full complement of collections in the DC Comics June 2021 hardcover and trade paperback solicitations. I don't know what's going on behind the scenes or why these solicitations were "late" (don't seem so late to me as compared to what it used to be like years ago, but people in the know seemed nervous), but obviously on the fan-side things don't quite feel settled since the recent upheaval. But, books are solicited, so that's something.

I'm still pretty excited for Tom Taylor's Suicide Squad: Bad Blood, even though the recent Teen Titans Vol. 4: Robin No More spoiled a big piece of it for me. We've got the final three Future State collections we were waiting for — Future State: Batman: Dark Detective, Future State: Suicide Squad, and Future State: Wonder Woman — so that'll finish out in July (but still no Endless Winter collection!). Grant Morrison's Green Lantern Season Two comes to a close, too, and the Wonder Woman title reaches the Future State break. Another Sandman deluxe combo edition, too.

How 'bout we take a look at the full (full-full) list?

• Batman: The Dark Prince Charming TP

Paperback, following the hardcover, collecting Batman: The Dark Prince Charming #1-2 by European comics creator Enrico Marini.

Recent DC Comics Trade Solicitations

May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 More upcoming collections ...

• Batwoman: Elegy TP

Seems like a new printing/reprinting of the already-existing CW-branded edition of the Batwoman: Elegy collection. This particular version of the collection, released in 2019, had Ruby Rose's Batwoman on the cover; though this is a Kate Kane vs. Alice collection (Detective Comics #854-860, this Batwoman's debut in Detective Comics proper by Greg Rucka and JH Williams), it'd be pretty cool if they were reprinting to put Javicia Leslie's Ryan Wilder Batwoman on the cover.

• DC Super Hero Girls: Ghosting TP

By Amanda Deibert and Yancey Labat, focused on Diana “Wonder Woman” Prince.

• DCeased: Unkillables TP

Paperback collection of the three-issue miniseries, following the hardcover. I loved this book even more than the original DCeased.

• Future State: Batman: Dark Detective TP

In paperback in July, this book has Future State: Dark Detective #1–4 (including Grifters and Red Hood) Future State: Catwoman #1–2, Future State: Harley Quinn #1–2, Future State: Robin Eternal #1–2, and Future State: Batman/Superman #1–2.

• Future State: Suicide Squad TP

This should be Future State: Suicide Squad #1–2 (including Black Adam), Future State: Teen Titans #1–2, Future State: Shazam! #1–2, and Future State: Swamp Thing #1–2.

• Future State: Wonder Woman TP

This should be Future State: Wonder Woman #1–2, Future State: Superman/Wonder Woman #1–2, and Future State: Immortal Wonder Woman #1–2 (including Nubia).

• The Green Lantern Season Two Vol. 2 HC

In hardcover, coming in July, the finale of Grant Morrison and Liam Sharp’s The Green Lantern, collecting issues #7–12.

• Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass TP

The YA graphic novel by Detective Comics' Mariko Tamaki and Steve Pugh.

• Injustice: Year Zero: The Complete Collection HC

Collects Injustice: Year Zero #1–14, the prequel digital-first series by Tom Taylor, featuring the Justice Society.

• Justice League Unlimited: Girl Power TP

Collects Adventures in the DC Universe #3–6 and #9, Justice League Adventures #4, and Justice League Unlimited #20–22 and #35–42, with stories featuring Supergirl, Mary Marvel, and Wonder Woman.

• The Last God HC

The DC Black Label fantasy series by Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Riccardo Federici, which moves into the “considering” pile now that Johnson is writing the Super-titles. Collects The Last God #1–12, The Last God: Tales From the Book of Ages #1, and The Last God: Songs of Lost Children #1.

• The New 52: 10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition HC

At some point this was solicited as a strange collection of rather random New 52 issue #1s (Voodoo, for instance). This solicitation mentions Geoff Johns and Jim Lee's Justice League, Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo's Batman, Brian Azzarello and Cliff Chiang's Wonder Woman, Grant Morrison and Rags Morales' Action Comics, and Jeff Lemire and Travel Foreman's Animal Man. At 400 pages, obviously that's not all of it, but at least they're plugging the good stuff now.

• OMAC: One Man Army Corps by Jack Kirby TP

Collects Kirby’s OMAC: One Man Army Corps #1–8 in paperback; this was previously collected in hardcover.

• Preacher: The 25th Anniversary Omnibus Vol. 2 HC

In hardcover, collecting Preacher #34–66, Preacher Special: The Story of You-Know-Who, Preacher Special: The Good Old Boys, Preacher Special: One Man’s War, Preacher: Tall in the Saddle, an introduction by Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner, and other extras.

• The Sandman: The Deluxe Edition Book Three HC

Collecting Sandman #32-50, which is the "A Game of You," "Fables and Reflections," and "Brief Lives" collections, but originally the issues were out of order between these. It's too bad there's no significant extras this time, but having the issues recomposed in order is interesting in and of itself.

• The Suicide Squad Case Files 1 HC

Stories featuring first or major appearances by Bloodsport, Mongal, Polka-Dot Man, King Shark, Weasel, and the Thinker — can these all possibly be in the James Gunn movie? It’s Superman #4 and #170, Detective Comics #300, Superboy #9, Fury of Firestorm #38, Suicide Squad Vol. 4 #25, Vigilante #36, and Suicide Squad: Amanda Waller #1.

• The Suicide Squad Case Files 2 TP

Stories focusing on Harley Quinn, Captain Boomerang, Rick Flag, Ratcatcher, Savant, Javelin, and Blackguard. Collects Suicide Squad #44, Secret Origins #14, Detective Comics #585, Birds of Prey #58, Batman: Harley Quinn #1, Green Lantern #174, and Booster Gold #1.

• Suicide Squad: Bad Blood HC

All 11 issues of the "critically lauded maxiseries" by Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo (and friends), coming in hardcover in April.

• Suicide Squad: Their Greatest Shots TP

All of these Suicide Squad books are, of course, timed for the new James Gunn movie. Good that DC already has all of John Ostrander’s Suicide Squad series collected, though indeed that seems to leave us with just anthologies left when DC needs new Suicide Squad books. This collects Suicide Squad #10 (1987) (emphasis on Waller vs. Batman), Suicide Squad #15 (2012) (”Death of the Family” tie-in), Suicide Squad #22 (2013) (including Deadshot, Harley Quinn, and King Shark), Suicide Squad: Rebirth #1 (2016), Suicide Squad #16 (2017) (vs. Lex Luthor), Suicide Squad #20 (2017) (Harley leads the Squad), Suicide Squad #47 (2018) (Captain Boomerang spotlight), and Suicide Squad Special: War Crimes #1 (2016) (John Ostrander special timed to the first Suicide Squad movie).

• Supergirl Adventures: Girl of Steel TP

Supergirl’s animated adventures, including Superman Adventures #21, Superman Adventures #39, Superman Adventures #52, and Justice League Unlimited #7.

• Superman: Man of Tomorrow Vol. 1: Hero of Metropolis TP

Collecting the digital-first Robert Venditti series, issues #1-6 and #11-15.

• Sweet Tooth Compendium

Paperback, collecting Jeff Lemire’s Sweet Tooth #1–40. Interestingly, the description says that the compendium is “a new story-only collection that places the reader directly into the action and doesn’t let up until the very last page!” Is that to say it doesn’t have covers between the issues (which I entirely support, because then the book reads more like a graphic novel!)? Otherwise I’m not sure how to interpret that.

• Wonder Woman: 80 Years of the Amazon Warrior: The Deluxe Edition HC

Hardcover tribute volume with reprints and essays, following the similar Action Comics and Detective Comics volumes. Said to include All-Star Comics #8 (first appearance); Sensation Comics #1 (second appearance); Comic Cavalcade #11 (Cheetah); Wonder Woman (vol. 1) #5, #78, #98, #124, #162, #203, and #206; Wonder Woman (vol. 2) #6, #57, #73, and #170; Wonder Woman (vol. 3) #1, #13, #600; Wonder Woman (New 52) #13; Wonder Woman #750; and DC Comics Presents #41.

• Wonder Woman: Lords & Liars TP

By Mariko Tamaki and Mikel Janin, collecting Wonder Woman #759-769. This takes us right up to the Future State break.

• You Brought Me the Ocean TP

Alex Sanchez (Rainbow Boys) and Julie Maroh's (Blue Is the Warmest Color) YA tale of Aqualad Jake Hyde.