Shortly after DC Comics announced their New 52 relaunch initiative, we published "Trade Waiting at the End of the Universe", a speculative list of what the last trade paperback collections would be of the DC Universe series before they restarted with new #1 issues.
Six months later, not only do we know how the New 52 will be collected, we also know how DC plans to collect (or not collect) all the final issues of their previous series, with more "complete" series than I expected. Bookmark this list and please share it with the following URL -- http://bit.ly/v2o6KT -- and I'll update this if DC's collection plans change. Here's the list:
Action Comics (Superman: Reign of Doomsday)
Complete
Reign of Doomsday collects all the final Action Comics issues. The Return of Doomsday trade collects all the issues leading up to Reign of Doomsday, including Steel #1.
Adventure Comics (Legion of Super-Heroes: When Evil Calls)
Complete
When Evil Calls collects the final issues of Adventure Comics and Legion of Super-Heroes before the relaunch.
Batgirl (Batgirl: The Lesson)
Complete
Batgirl: The Lesson collects all the final issues of that series, #15-24. All Batgirl issues are collected.
Batman (Batman: Eye of the Beholder)
Incomplete
Batman: Eye of the Beholder collects through issue #712 of Batman (skipping issues that will be collected in the Batman: Gotham Shall Be Judged crossover trade), and ends without collecting Batman #713, a closing tribute issue (not well-regarded) by Fabian Nicieza.
Batman and Robin (Batman and Robin: Dark Knight, White Knight)
Incomplete
Batman and Robin: Dark Knight, White Knight collects the stories by Peter Tomasi and Judd Winick that follow Grant Morrison's run, but not the book's final fill-in issue by David Hine, #26.
Batman Beyond (Batman Beyond: Industrial Revolution)
Complete
Batman Beyond: Industrial Revolution collects all eight issues of the Batman Beyond series, though not the Superman Beyond special (maybe there's hope it'll be collected with the new Batman Beyond/Justice League Beyond series. We give this one a tentative "complete."
Batman Inc. (Batman Inc. Vol. 1 Deluxe)
Complete
DC will collect all eight issues of the initial Batman Inc. series plus the Leviathan Strikes special (containing the originally-solicited issues #9 and #10) in 2012.
Batman: The Dark Knight (Batman: The Dark Knight: Golden Dawn Deluxe
Complete
DC is collecting the entire original Batman: The Dark Knight series along with other samples of David Finch's artwork.
Batman: Streets of Gotham (Batman: Streets of Gotham: House of Hush
Complete
Collects the final issues of Streets of Gotham short of one fill-in issue, #15. We'll call this one "complete."
Birds of Prey (Birds of Prey: The Death of Oracle)
Complete
Birds of Prey: The Death of Oracle collects all the final issues of Birds of Prey, both Gail Simone's last issues and the fill-in issues by Marc Andreyko.
Booster Gold (Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Superman)
Incomplete
Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Superman collects Booster Gold #44-47, a Flashpoint tie-in by Dan Jurgens. These are the last issues of the series, though not collected between the Booster Gold: Past Imperfect collection and the finale are Booster Gold #39-43. That's enough to make this "incomplete."
Detective Comics (Batman: The Black Mirror)
Complete
The sleeper hit collection Batman: The Black Mirror collects all the final Detective Comics issues, picking up with the issues just after Batman: Imposters through to the end.
Doom Patrol (Doom Patrol: Fire Away)
Incomplete
DC cancelled Doom Patrol: Fire Away, leaving the end of Keith Giffen's Doom Patrol series uncollected.
Flash (Flash: The Road to Flashpoint)
Complete
As mentioned before, Flash: Road to Flashpoint collects Flash #8-12, ending just before the reboot.
Freedom Fighters
Incomplete
As mentioned before, this title was never collected. Writers Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti now write the miniseries The Ray, a character of the same name but unrelated to the Freedom Fighters character; remains to be seen if that will be collected.
Gotham City Sirens (Gotham City Sirens: Division)
Complete
Gotham City Sirens: Division is currently scheduled to collect all the final issues of this title, through #26.
Green Arrow (Green Arrow: Salvation)
Complete
This collection, which ties directly into the end of Brightest Day, collects the final issues of Green Arrow, completing writer J. T. Krul's run. (Side note: no collections so far that include Brightest Day: Aftermath, I notice.)
Green Lantern (Green Lantern: War of the Green Lanterns)
Complete
War of the Green Lanterns collects the final issues of the Green Lantern series.
Green Lantern Corps, Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors (War of the Green Lanterns Aftermath)
Complete
The War Aftermath collection includes both the final issues of Green Lantern Corps and Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors.
JSA All-Stars (JSA All-Stars: The Puzzle Men)
Incomplete
DC cancelled JSA All-Stars: Puzzle Men, leaving the end of this series uncollected.
Jonah Hex (Jonah Hex: Bury Me in Hell)
Complete
Thanks to commenter Michael; the full Jonah Hex series has been completed. Becomes All-Star Western in the DC New 52.
Justice League of America (Justice League of America: The Rise of Eclipso)
Complete
Rise of Eclipso collects the final issues of James Robinson's Justice League run, plus a previously uncollected issue of Justice Society written by Robinson.
Justice Society of America (Justice Society of America: Monument Point)
Complete
Monument Point collects the final issues of this Justice Society series. With this (plus one issue collected in Justice League: Rise of Eclipso) all issues of this series have been collected.
Legion of Super-Heroes (Legion of Super-Heroes: When Evil Calls)
Complete
As mentioned above, When Evil Calls collects the final issues of Adventure Comics and Legion of Super-Heroes before the relaunch.
Outsiders (Outsiders: The Great Divide)
Complete
Outsiders: The Great Divide collects all the final issues of the series, through issue #40.
Power Girl (Power Girl: Old Friends)
Complete
Power Girl: Old Friends is solicited to collect all the final issues of the series.
REBELS (REBELS: Starstruck)
Incomplete
DC cancelled REBELS: Starstruck, leaving the end of this series uncollcted.
Red Robin (Red Robin:Seven Days of Death)
Complete
This collection includes the final issues of Red Robin; every issue of this series has been collected.
Secret Six (Secret Six: The Darkest House)
Complete
Darkest House collects the final issues of this series; all are collected.
Superboy (Superboy: Smallville Attacks)
Complete
DC modified the original contents of Superboy: Smallville Attacks to include all eleven issues of this series.
Supergirl (Supergirl: Good Looking Corpse)
Incomplete
DC cancelled the Supergirl: Good Looking Corpse trade that would have collected the Supergirl series's final issues. Supergirl: Bizarrogirl ends at issue #59; at least they got all of Sterling Gates's stories.
Superman (Superman: Grounded Vol. 2)
Complete
The second volume of Grounded collects the final issues of Superman, aside from one fill-in issue. We'll call this "complete."
Superman/Batman (Superman/Batman: Sorcerer Kings)
Incomplete
Sorcerer Kings collects Cullen Bunn's story of the same name, Joe Kelly's single Final Crisis-related issue, and Chris Roberson's DC One Million story "World's Finest" from issues #79-80. It stops short, however, of Joshua Hale's story "The Secret" that ended Superman/Batman, issues #85-87.
Teen Titans (Teen Titans: Prime of Life)
Complete
This trade collects Teen Titans up to issue #100, completing the series.
THUNDER Agents (THUNDER Agents Vol. 1)
Complete
DC has solicited a collection of Nick Spencer's THUNDER Agents that collects the entire ten issues of the pre-relaunch series.
Titans (Titans: Broken Promises)
Complete Incomplete
Broken Promises collects to the end of Eric Wallace's Titans run, plus the Titans annual. Broken Promises has been subsequently cancelled by DC, leaving the end of Eric Wallace's Titans run uncollected. The final trade of Titans is now Family Reunion.
Weird Worlds (Weird Worlds)
Incomplete
DC cancelled the collection of this series, despite that they're publishing a sequel miniseries.
Wonder Woman (Wonder Woman: Odyssey Vol. 2)
Complete
The second volume of Odyssey collects the final issues of this series.
Xombi (Xombi)
Complete
The Xombi collection is scheduled to include all six issues of the pre-relaunch series.
Zatanna (Zatanna: Shades of the Past)
Complete
Zatanna: Shades of the Past collects through issue #16, completing this series.
Hey CE
ReplyDeleteI have the last Zatanna trade and it does collect the last four issues (7-16).
Nice list, there are quite a bit of trades actually finishing off their series.
ReplyDeleteI'm only concerned with Power Girl and Red Robin. I have the first three of both series' and have enjoyed them a lot. Real fun.
Gotham City Sirens was a good book too but I was upset to see the last trade a paperback rather than like the previous three's hardcover. This led me to sell my HCs.
Thank You for the helpful, informative article. Your site is always my #1 pick for DC-related TPBs news *hats off to you sir*.
ReplyDeleteOf all the TPBs not collected, I have to say I’m most saddened by the R.E.B.E.L.S and Doom Patrol trades being cancelled. Not only were these unique and quirky series that I loved to death, the fact that both were the last of trade before being a complete series, makes the completionist in me more than a bit angry.
It’s like a Marathon runner collapsing with 1 mile to go before the finish line…at least finish the race. But I can understand DC’s business decision when it comes down to these titles (low sales, etc). My bookshelves will still miss these two great series, too bad.
Zatanna updated; thanks JT.
ReplyDeleteI was surprised how many are "complete," too; I thought it would be a lot less, and it certainly looked so back when we first did this list in June. With all the recent cancellations, I think it feels like the old DCU is less complete in collections than it actually is.
Thanks a lot for the recap.
ReplyDeleteI could not find any news on Jonah Hex.
The last trade came aout in May and collects up to issue #60.
That leaves 10 issues uncollected.
I agree with Anonymous that Doom Patrol & REBELS not finishing out in trade is bad form and unsettling, especially considering that the final Outsiders by DiDio did make it out. Did that Outsiders trash really outsell Doom Patrol and REBELS by enough to justify its existence in trade format?
ReplyDeleteHaving run some sales numbers, Outsiders outperformed REBELS and Doom Patrol over each series' final issues. Outsiders loses that battle to JSA All-Stars over that series final issues, however, so who knows.
ReplyDeleteInterestingly, REBELS sales were amazingly consistent throughout its life, and you could make the case that its final trade would have sold as well as any of its other trades.
I need those booster gold issues collected soon
ReplyDeleteI guess there's no chance for the final JMS issues of Brave&Bold to get collected now anymore. :(
ReplyDeleteOh and CE, if you call Superman complete, then you have to call Batman and Batman & Robin complete, too! :)
ReplyDeleteAgreed. Both were good fill in issues, and judging from reviews, probably the only reason to get me to buy those trades/hcs
ReplyDeleteI get it, Spooky -- because the second Superman: Grounded is missing one issue, and Batman and B&R are missing an issue, it's all equal footing. I *guess* so, but Grounded's substituted fill-in issue seems less "necessary" in my opinion than especially the final issue of Batman (final issue of the decades-old Batman series); similarly Hines's B&R seemed to be to be a closing issue, whereas the missing Grounded issue is just a recycled story meant to be published a while ago. So that's why I listed them the way I did; your results, of course, can vary.
ReplyDeleteAnyone know if/where they will collect search for swamp thing which was a 3 issue series spinning out of brightest day??
ReplyDeleteI asked that same thing the other day on Twitter, and the consensus was pretty much that the story was panned enough that it didn't warrant a trade. I'm still hopeful though; one of these times I'd actually say, maybe a DC Comics Presents ... ?
ReplyDeleteWas the Search for Swamp Thing important in regards to the current Swamp Thing series? I read the new Swamp Thing #1 and it made some references to previous events, but I didn't feel particularly lost with what was going on.
ReplyDelete@Matthieu Cuenin (and anyone else who may know)
ReplyDeleteThe last Jonah Hex trade is Bury Me in Hell (61-67). I have yet to see it in person so I can't confirm this, but this is what I could find online. This begs the question of what will happen with the remaining 3 issues. Anyone know?
I'm still bummed out about the incomplete Doom Patrol and REBELS collections considering I bought all the previous TPBs and now it seems like I won't get a complete Booster Gold series either.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I'm pleased that Legion, JSA and Secret Six survived. Those, along with Flash and GL are the ones remaining on my list after having bought the THUNDER Agents book.
I'm not so sure Batman and Robin should be 'Incomplete.' DC has been surprising us with complete collections. Reserve judgement until the HC is.
ReplyDeleteAnd JONAH HEX collections all the way to #70.
How do you count Backup stories?
ReplyDeleteDC just released another "100 page special" (btw, I love that DC is doing this... all those great stories for cheap) that had all of Captain Atom's backups from Action Comics. Do you think you'd ever do reviews for these 100 page specials? I'd love to do that for you if you wont...
REBELS: Starstruck is still announced for December 27th in Amazon http://www.amazon.com/R-B-L-S-Vol-Starstruck/dp/1401232868/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1324500972&sr=8-1 and DC page http://www.dccomics.com/dccomics/comics/?cm=20676
ReplyDeleteJust an artifact, unfortunately. The last REBELS trade is cancelled but good.
ReplyDelete@Liang, I previously reviewed DC Comics Presents: Brightest Day #1-3. I have other DC Comics Presents reviews in the queue.
ReplyDeleteAs I mentioned in the comments on the previous thread - the last Jonah Hex trade collects #61 - 70, completing the series. It came out a few weeks ago. Not sure why this doesn't feature in the article - Does Hex not "count" as a DCU series???
ReplyDeleteJust your host's rather-inexcusable ignorance of all things Jonah Hex. Now added to the list.
ReplyDeleteThanks for clearing that up guys.
ReplyDeletePicked up Jonah Hex yesterday actually. It does in fact have the remaining issues.
ReplyDeleteHey guys, I thought if go ahead and try to order Rebels: Starstruck from amazon. They first said that they were trying to locate it and today they sent me an email saying they expect to ship it on January 10th. Hmmmm.
ReplyDeleteMaybe R.E.B.E.L.S: Starstruck will get a Titan edition like Manhunter: Face Off:
ReplyDeletehttp://forbiddenplanet.com/78590-rebels-volume-5-starstruck-titan-edition/
Is the Manhunter Face off still available on amazon.co.uk?
ReplyDeleteAny other books you know of that have a Titan edition but not a DC edition?
Honestly, I'm starting to doubt there was ever a Titan Books edition of Manhunter: Face Off, since it isn't available anywhere. I think it was a commenter on this blog that said it was still coming out even after the DC edition was cancelled, but maybe it also got cancelled just before the scheduled release date.
ReplyDeleteI dunno. The co.uk site says that it came out on Feb 25 2011. It should be still available if that is so. Besides I have seen a few instances of Titan having their unique print. Most of the time, it's just a Titan ISBN sticker pasted on the DC trade, just where the DC ISBN is supposed to be. That serves to reason, that if the DC isn't it's very unlikely that the Titan will be.
ReplyDeleteI see shagmu's link for REBELS: Starstruck from Forbidden Planet, but Amazon doesn't seem to have that same book available.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone actually own a Titan edition of some of our greatest cancelled hits -- Doom Patrol, JSA All-Stars, REBELS, or Manhunter? Anyone have links to where you can definitively buy these books online?
Thank you for compiling this list!! Saving it in my Evernote for future tradebuying and single-issue gap-filling.
ReplyDeleteHappy new year, C.E.!
-Mike
Updated this list to reflect the cancellation of Titans: Broken Promises, per our friends at ComicList.
ReplyDeleteI take it back. I look at the last BATMAN AND ROBIN collection, and #26 is NOT collected.
ReplyDeleteBecause including one issue would have killed them.