Just when we thought solicitations for a handful of DC Comics trade solicitations was a big deal, the DC Source blog proceeded to drop a slew of Spring 2013 collection details on our doorsteps.Now I know Night of the Owls this and "zero issues" that, but hold on, because there's a couple collections we've just got to get to first ...
Collected Favorites
Legion Worlds TPThat DC released a hardcover of Legion Lost, the excellent Legion miniseries by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, was pretty cool, but I'd read that mini. What is even cooler -- if it makes it to publication -- is this collection of specials that came out after Legion Lost, showing what was happening to the rest of the Legion during the Lost period.
Collects: LEGION WORLDS #1-6
All of this is a little academic since this refers to the "reboot" post-Zero Hour/pre-Infinite Crisis Legion, distinctly no longer in existence, but these are well-regarded stories and it's nice to have them collected.
Though -- I believe Legion Worlds ends on an uncertain note, like Legion Lost, and the real "Legion reunion" doesn't happen until the Abnett/Lanning The Legion series that followed. I wouldn't mind seeing DC stick a couple issues from that into this volume; or otherwise, maybe a Legion collection will follow.
Remember -- pre-ordering is your friend! If you want to actually hold this collection in your hands like I do, this book must be pre-ordered. The Legion Lost paperback was cancelled due to low pre-orders; I am sure this book is in danger of the same fate.
The New Teen Titans Omnibus Vol. 3 HCGood news here, though I can tell you straight off that the contents of this book as listed are not correct. The good news is that this book picks up right from where the New Teen Titans Omnibus Vol. 2 left off, and continues through to the previously-released Terror of Trigon collection, so we gain a bit here and don't lose anything that hadn't been published before.
Collects: TALES OF THE TEEN TITANS #45-61 and 66-67, THE NEW TEEN TITANS #38, THE NEW TEEN TITANS #1-6 and SECRET ORIGINS ANNUAL #3
However, I'd betcha the contents are actually Tales of the New Teen Titans #45-58 and New Teen Titans (second series) #1-6 or #1-9, since Titans (first series) #59-68 is actually the same content at Titans second series #1-9. Unless there's some pin-ups or something to be included, chances are these contents will change.
Day of Judgment TPDay of Judgment is by most accounts a rough crossover -- not unreadable, just slow and rather dense. It also, however, represents a significant moment when then-new DC Comics writer Geoff Johns first penned the (albeit deceased) Green Lantern Hal Jordan. Thus for a while we collectors have felt this would probably not be a great collection, but a series worthy of being collected -- and here it is. Between this and Legion Worlds, there's not much still left on my "wish DC would collect" list. (OK, there's still a lot on that list.)
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artists: Matt Smith, Steve Mitchell, Chris Jones, John McCrea and others
Collects: DAY OF JUDGMENT #1-5 and a story from DAY OF JUDGMENT SECRET FILES #1
$14.99 US, 160 pg
Not insignificantly, Day of Judgment also features a heavy presence by Golden Age (and now Earth 2 resident) Green Lantern Alan Scott ...
Impulse Vol. 1: Runs in the Family TPThis'll brighten anyone's day. Maybe because of the character's renewed presence in Young Justice, it looks like DC intends to release a couple volumes of the wonderful Impulse series, which was as close as you could get at the time to a DC Comics sitcom. This book skips Impulse #7, which wasn't written by Mark Waid, and Impulse #11, part of the Flash "Dead Heat" crossover collected elsewhere; it does, however, include the Underworld Unleashed tie-in issue. One more volume that goes to about issue #26 would collect all the Mark Waid issues; the stories in the first volume are good, but the second volume will be even better. (Pre-orders. Your friend. Get it?)
Collects: IMPULSE #1-6, 8-9 and 12-13
The Shade TPCall me a cynic, but I don't necessarily believe this series had all the sales problems that were claimed, and I'm disappointed to see this in trade paperback, not in hardcover to sit next to my Starman omnibuses. I'll still get it, mind you, but disappointed.
Collects: THE SHADE #1-12
Night of the Owls, Collected
Batman: The Night of the Owls HCA number of eagle-eyed Collected Editions readers have pointed out that the writer and credits for these books don't necessarily match the contents, and that there's certain series -- Nightwing and Catwoman, for two -- strangely not represented. If you don't know by now, these solicitations are early, incomplete, and subject to change; I wouldn't stress too much about one or two items that don't add up here and there.
Collects: BATMAN ANNUAL #1, DETECTIVE COMICS #9, BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT #9, BATWING #9, BATMAN AND ROBIN #9, RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #9, BIRDS OF PREY #9, BATGIRL #9 and ALL-STAR WESTERN #9
$29.99 US, 360 pg
Batman Vol. 2: The City of Owls HC
Collects: BATMAN #8-12
$24.99 US, 192 pg
All-Star Western Vol. 2: The War of Lords and Owls TP
Collects: All-Star Western #7-13
Batman: Detective Comics Vol. 2: Scare Tactics HC
Collects: Detective Comics #8-12
Batgirl Vol. 2: Knightfall Descends HC
Collects: Batgirl #7-12
Batwing Vol. 2: In the Shadow of the Ancients TP
Collects: BATWING #7-12
Birds of Prey Vol. 2: Your Kiss Might Kill TP
Collects: BIRDS OF PREY #8-13
Catwoman Vol. 2: Dollhouse TP
Collects: CATWOMAN #7-12
What this does show us, however, is that the "Night of the Owls" crossover is going to be collected as such -- one Batman-specific collection, and one collection of all (or most) of the tie-in issues.
It seems like most of the tie-in issues will also be collected in their own individual series collections, too. Which leaves a problem. If the Batman annual is also collected in the individual Batman volume, probably many of us can pass up the Night of the Owls hardcover altogether in favor of the individual books and City of Owls. If not, that means a trade-waiter could potentially pay for the Night of the Owls hardcover just for the annual, which would be a sorry state indeed.
(The Batgirl solicit suggests that the paperback of volume one will contain issues #1-13 and #0, and the second hardcover will have issue #7-12. There's a misprint somewhere there, I'm sure; probably the second volume has #7-12, the contents of the first paperback are the same as the first hardcover, and the zero issue will be in the third collection as with most of the other books.)
Other Crossovers in the New 52
The Culling: Rise of the Ravagers TPDespite a handful of guest-appearances, the first round of DC New 52 collections were all self-contained; the first issues of the individual series and that was it. The DC New 52 volume twos take a different tack.
Collects: LEGION LOST #8-9, SUPERBOY #8-9, TEEN TITANS #8-9 and TEEN TITANS ANNUAL #1
Blue Beetle Vol. 2: Blue Diamond TP
Collects: BLUE BEETLE #7-12 and GREEN LANTERN: NEW GUARDIANS #9
Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E. Vol. 2: Son of Satan's Ring TP
Collects: Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E. #8-11 and MEN OF WAR #8
I, Vampire Vol. 2: Rise of the Vampires TP
Collects: I, VAMPIRE #7-12 and JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #7-8
Justice League International Vol. 2: Breakdown TP
Collects: Justice League International #7-12, THE FURY OF FIRESTORM: THE NUCLEAR MEN #9 and Justice League International [Annual] #1
Suicide Squad Vol. 2: Basilisk Rising TP
Collects: Suicide Squad #8-12 and RESURRECTION MAN #9
Red Lanterns Vol. 2: The Death of the Red Lanterns TP
Collects: RED LANTERNS #8-13 and STORMWATCH #9
Stormwatch Vol. 2: Enemies of Earth TP
Collects: STORMWATCH #7-12 and RED LANTERNS #10
Animal Man Vol. 2: Animal Vs. Man TP
Collects: ANIMAL MAN #7-11 and ANIMAL MAN ANNUAL #1
Swamp Thing Vol. 2: Family Tree TP
Collects: SWAMP THING #8-12 and ANIMAL MAN #12
The Culling collection is probably the best way to go about collecting the "Young Justice" crossover; this follows from the end of all three of those series' first collections, and allows each one to pick up with issue #10 in volume two.
Blue Beetle's got New Guardians, Justice League International's got Firestorm, Frankenstein's got Men of War, I, Vampire has Justice League Dark, and Suicide Squad has Resurrection Man. Hopefully this doesn't discount a final Resurrection Man collection; Stormwatch and Red Lanterns reciprocate their crossover issues, so maybe that will be the DC New 52's new collections norm. On the other hand, the Animal Man collection stops before it's Swamp Thing crossover issue, and that issue is found in Swamp Thing, so it could also be either-or.
Elsewhere in the DC New 52
Batwoman Vol. 2: To Drown the World HCAgain, looks like most series will include their zero issues with their third collections, not their second. Some exceptions are Voodoo, which ends with this volume, and World's Finest, whose zero issue comes in the middle of its first story arc. I'm surprised the first Earth 2 volume doesn't also contain its zero issue, unless that story is stand-alone enough to move to the next collection.
Collects: BATWOMAN #6-11
Dial H Vol. 1: Into You TP
Collects: DIAL H #1-7
Earth 2 Vol. 1: The Gathering TP
Collects: EARTH 2 #1-6
G.I. Combat Vol. 1: The War That Time Forgot TP
Collects: G.I. COMBAT #1-6
Green Arrow Vol. 2: Triple Treat TP
Collects: GREEN ARROW #7-12
Green Lantern Vol. 2: Revenge of the Black Hand HC
Collects: GREEN LANTERN #7-12 and GREEN LANTERN ANNUAL #1
Justice League Vol. 2: The Villain's Journey HC
Collects: Justice League #7-12
$24.99 US, 176 pg
Voodoo Vol. 2: The Killer In Me TP
Collects: VOODOO #7-12 and 0
Wonder Woman Vol. 2: Guts HC
Collects: Wonder Woman #7-12
Worlds’ Finest Vol. 1: The Lost Daughters of Earth 2 TP
Collects: WORLDS’ FINEST #0-5
Green Arrow: Triple Treat just sounds icky. That they're calling Wonder Woman "Guts," after first volume Blood, however, is hilarious.
The Man of Steel Connection
Superman vs. Zod TPI actually liked Superman Returns, I'll admit it, and I'm excited for a new Superman movie of Dark Knight proportions. If it nets us a couple months of Superman collections like this one, all the better.
Collects: ADVENTURE COMICS #283, ACTION COMICS #473 and 548-549, DC COMICS PRESENTS #97 and ACTION COMICS ANNUAL #10
Superman: Last Son of Krypton TPThis is an interesting kind of Superman by Geoff Johns Omnibus, if you want to look at it that way. The book collects Superman: Last Son, Superman: Brainiac, and the beginning of Superman: New Krypton. It's a great couple of stories, especially Brainiac, though I'm struggling to figure DC's intentions with this one. Brainiac and the New Krypton special are related (originally collected together, even), but Last Son is not related -- at least, not until much later in the "New Krypton" storyline. Last Son has Zod in it, hence the tie to Man of Steel, but Brainiac/New Krypton doesn't (yet). Stick a "volume one" on this one and it makes much more sense; otherwise I'm puzzled.
Collects: ACTION COMICS #844-846, 851 and 866-870, ACTION COMICS ANNUAL #11 and SUPERMAN: NEW KRYPTON SPECIAL #1
Superman: The Man of Steel Vol. 7 TPHere's a good one -- the next Byrne-era collection of Superman titles. We saw the last of these back in 2008(!), and I'd all but figured DC had decided to stop with these (and I'm half-disappointed, because I'd love for them to switch these over to omnibus format). As it is, this will be a strange collection, almost two-thirds filled with Millennium crossover issues that are only going to appeal to the most ardent of fans. The first post-Crisis Brainiac appears here, but his visage is a far cry from what most fans know of the character.
Collects: SUPERMAN #13-15, ACTION COMICS #596-597 and ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #436-438
(Enter my stock wonder here whether DC will ever reprint Superman #21-22 and etc., "The Supergirl Saga," not too far from the issues above, in which Superman kills an alternate-universe's General Zod and the Phantom Zone criminals. This book, along with a good essay by John Byrne or the series editor Mike Carlin, would be fascinating.)
Superman Vs. Shazam! TPThis leads one to wonder if there's a new Shazam series on the way, though the age of the material collected here doesn't interest me in the book.
Collects: ALL-NEW COLLECTORS’ EDITION C-58, DC COMICS PRESENTS #33-34 and 49 and DC COMICS PRESENTS ANNUAL #3
Superman: The Death and Return of Superman Omnibus HCThe existing Death of Superman omnibus has been a sore spot for fans for a while, since it includes an ugly "sticker" (advertising the Superman: Doomsday animated movie) that's actually printed on the book. This volume contains almost the exact same items as the previous edition, except it also has the Legacy of Superman special (which, I know off the top of my head, contains a variety of stories including one about Sinbad, the hero of Middle Eastern descent that was to appear in a Superman: Grounded issue by Chris Roberson until DC pulled it. Now you know).
Collects: SUPERMAN: THE MAN OF STEEL #17-26, SUPERMAN #73-82, ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #496-505, ACTION COMICS #683-691, JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #69, SUPERMAN: THE LEGACY OF SUPERMAN #1 and GREEN LANTERN #46
Superman: For Tomorrow TPThe Justice League Special collected here is a bit of a misdirect. The special itself is a collection given away with action figures or such, which included Brad Meltzer's initial Justice League issue plus a number of origin tales, including the Brian Azzarello/Jim Lee Superman origin that originally appeared in the Absolute Superman For Tomorrow. So really what this includes is the full contents of the Absolute.
Collects: SUPERMAN #204-215 and the JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA SPECIAL #1
Last But Not Least ...
DC Universe Secret Origins TPThis collection of a bunch of recent 80-Page Giant specials, which themselves collected various origin stories mostly from DC's Silver Age, will no doubt appeal to someone, though I'm about as stymied why DC would muddy the waters with this while most fans are trying to figure out the New 52, as I am about that Superman by Geoff Johns omnibus ....
Collects: SECRET ORIGINS #1, MORE SECRET ORIGINS #1, EVEN MORE SECRET ORIGINS #1 and WEIRD SECRET ORIGINS #1
Whew! That's a lot of trades!
A scheduling note: Next week, we'll have the Collected Editions review of Stormwatch: The Dark Side that was unfortunately delayed this week. Then, we'll have a guest reviewer triple-play -- three Marvel reviews, one each from three of our distinguished guest reviewers.
And then ... fireworks won't be the only thing exploding July 4th week, when we present the Collected Editions review of Catwoman: The Game and Batman: Earth One. That'll kick off our second month of DC New 52 reviews -- mark your calendars!
You've seen all that DC has to offer for their Spring 2013 collections -- what's on your buying list?
The original Death and Return of Superman Omnibus was missing large portions of the middle Funeral for a Friend series (So not really much of an omnibus). I would like some confirmation that the complete story is included here before I order.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know the original Death of Superman Omnibus wasn't complete; that must have been a disappointment. Do you recall what was generally missing from Funeral for a Friend.
ReplyDeleteThat this volume contains The Legacy of Superman lends credence that it will be "really complete," but I don't blame you for being cautious. You could go by page count, but that's not always reliable.
Yes, the new version of the Death and Return of Superman Omnibus will include everything the previous one skipped. Just check the longer page count and the content listing. Now I can finally buy it.
ReplyDeleteThe Legiond Worlds, Day of Judgment and Impulse TPBs are very nice surprises, but I'm very disappointed that Shade will go straight to TPB. The single issues didn't sell very well, but they recently stabilized at a decent level, and a lot of people who bought all 6 Starman Omnibus volumes were waiting for the HC.
Another thing that caught my eye is that the JLA vol. 3 TPB will collect issues #18-31, including 5 great fill-in issues by Waid and Millar that the HC version skipped. On the other hand, it will skip issue #1,000,000, which was included in the 3rd HC, but I'm fine with that, since it doesn't make sense to to collect it without the DC One Million mini. Hopefully, issues #32-33 (by Waid and Devin Grayson) will be in the 4th TPB.
Superman by Lopez and Batman by Goodwin
ReplyDeleteI thought the Archie Goodwin book was a nice tribute, but the contents of those books didn't really grab me. What interests you about them?
ReplyDeleteSeems to be that the only lacking issue for Death and Return of Superman Omnubus would be Justice League America #70, which was part for Funeral For a Friend trade.
ReplyDeleteCan't remember how relevant that particular issue was.
Since 98% of the story is there (plus extra stories), I'm half in! Just want to know about the quality of binding and paper.
Thanks for the clarification of the Superman: Last Son of Krypton, CE!! I almost skipped that because I thought it was a reprint for Superman: Last Son.
I might get that, but I'm dissapointed they didn't went for a Hardcover.
Some wonderfully terrific surprises here! I'm quite stunned and delighted by the new Archive Editions.
ReplyDeleteMETAL MEN ARCHIVES VOL. 2!
WONDER WOMAN AMAZON PRINCESS VOL 1!
JACK KIRBY OMNIBUS VOL 2.
TALES OF THE BATMAN: ARCHIE GOODWIN.
NEW TEEN TITANS OMNIBUS VOL 3!
MARTIAL LAW DELUXE EDITION!
LEGION WORLDS TP
ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN: JOSE LUIS GARCIA-LOPEZ HC
Great new selections for Showcase Presents series! I'll get the Strange Adventures and the JLA. But I'm disappointed that there are no horror titles in the Showcase line up.
And some of the New 52 books look interesting:
Batwoman Vol. 2: To Drown the World
Green Lantern Vol. 2: Revenge of the Black Hand
Wonder Woman Vol. 2: Guts HC
Batgirl Vol. 2: Knightfall Descends HC
Justice League Vol. 2: The Villain's Journey HC
Earth 2 Vol. 1: The Gathering TP
Red Lanterns Vol. 2: The Death of the Red Lanterns
The Shade TP
Dial H Vol. 1: Into You TP
G.I. Combat Vol. 1: The War That Time Forgot TP
Worlds’ Finest Vol. 1: The Lost Daughters of Earth 2 TP
Might pick up more of the New 52 titles if I enjoy the volume ones.
My tastes for the New 52 has been about 50/50; definitely going to drop some titles.
"Green Arrow: Triple Treat" is actually supposed to be "Triple Threat". According to this article (http://www.comicsblend.com/green-arrows-triple-threat/), he faces off against three villainesses.
ReplyDeleteThis is by Ann Nocenti, so I may check it out to see if it lives up to the craziness of her "Daredevil" run.
Also, I'm expecting the third and fourth trades of Wonder Woman to be "Sweat" and "Tears".
Is it for sure that the Legion Lost tpb is canceled? I know it was supposed to come out in June but at one point on Amazon it was showing Oct. I was waiting for the tpb but if it is canceled I will have to bite the bullet and get the hardcover.
ReplyDeleteYeah, unfortunately, the Legion Lost TPB is definitely cancelled (via our friends at ComicList). Though, for as long as we've waited for that one, you don't want the hardcover? :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat I'm disappointed is that the current Batman: Knightsquest Vol.2 that came out last month was still missing some issues in "The Search" arc, and the way things look, Knightsend won't have the "trokia" arc. I really would of liked to hear DC announce a Batman: Knightfall companion TPB with all of the left over issues left out of Vol.2 and 3. Maybe in the future...
ReplyDeleteAnd I don't know if it's true or it wasn't announced, but Amazon has Superman: Secret Identity listed for April. Now I already own this trade, but let this be true. SI is one of the best Superman books ever and people should get a chance to read it.
And I'm with you the "Man of Steel" Omnibus CE. I own all of the trades already, but it'd be perfect for the movie coming out next year. Me and a bunch of people on Amazon forums and Superman forums are dying for a Byrnes Man of Steel Omnibus. Let it happen please.
What about Absolute Top Ten in April?! Wow, I have been waiting for this for a while now. :)
ReplyDeleteAlthough I would have preferred 'Beyond The Farthest Precinct' to be included in there rather than the 'Smax' miniseries.
@doug.glassman: I'm expecting the third volume of Wonder Woman to be called Glory, as in "blood, guts & glory", but what do I know :P
ReplyDeleteI picked up the OOP Final Night TP a few weeks ago at a bookstore, so it'll be nice to add Day of Judgement to my collection as well.
ReplyDeleteI was pleasantly surprised to see they're collecting Hard Time issues #7-12. I picked up the first trade, which lead to me picking up issues #1-7 of the second series, but I never got my hands on the last half of the first series. This is very good news.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to Impulse, the Death and Return of Superman Omnibus, Vertigo's Deluxe Edition of Neil Gaiman's Books of Magic, and Dial H (I am surprised that one's getting the TPB treatment and not a hardcover, though).
Also on the Vertigo side, looks like we're getting a post-Grant Morrison Animal Man trade, technically volume four, almost ten years since the last trade was released. Excited for that one!
ReplyDeleteI'm awaiting some of those new New 52 collections, though I'm even more expecting those older stories finally collected :P
ReplyDeleteI'm at least wishing to see more of those old Impulse collected! (what's next, the ol' 90s Superboy? waitaminute!! I would LOVE that!!)
EDIT: What?! We're finally getting an Animal Man Vol.4????? And I just bought all the remaining issues in a set on ebay!! Darn' it!!!
Haha Eyz your comment reminds me of how DC announced the Geoff Johns Flash Omnibus books a DAY after I bought the last out-of-print TPB on eBay (for an inflated cost, of course) to complete my collection. I had to "overpay" for a couple of them.
ReplyDeleteI know it's not the same as a TPB, but Comixology has been adding the 90's Superboy series if you're itching to read some issues that you might have missed back in the day. They've also been adding the 80's Wally West Flash stories (and at just $0.99 each!), which is great because I didn't start collecting those until around issue 30 or so and I don't think they've ever been collected.
The collection of Hard Time seems like good news, but I think the first volume is already out of print. I can't find myself buying this one unless it is reprinted. Two other DC/Vertigo series which were collected for a few issues and then collected no further, and I'd love to see them were Deadman (Bruce Jones) and Hero (Will Pfeifer). One was recently reprinted completely, The Deadenders, which previously just had a 4 issue collection.
ReplyDeleteImpulse seems to be the winner here. I can't do anything other than expect a full Mark Waid Flash collection soon.
As for Archie Goodwin, I haven't read his 70s work except two stories, one was 'Deathmask', with art by Jim Aparo, and 'Death flies the haunted skies', with art by Alex Toth. Both his Batman Black and White stories were great. His most exemplary works, I believe were 'Night Cries', also one of the rare, non 'must have' Batman stories I like (the other one is Batman: Absolution by J.M. DeMatteis and Brian Ashmore. People say both feature a different Batman than the one we have come to know, but what's the harm in that?) and Manhunter, collected as 'Manhunter: The Special Edition', with Walter Simonson. 'Siege', from Legends of the Dark Knight was plotted when he died, so the script is by James Robinson. Interestingly, I believe this is also collected in 'Legends of the Dark Knight: Marshall Rogers'. Even more interesting, this is the first writer oriented collection of Batman we have seen (after artist oriented volumes on Tim Sale, Gene colan, Don Newton, Marshall Rogers, Alan Davis, Jim Aparo)