DC Trade Solicitations for March 2013 - Legion Worlds, Batman: Archie Goodwin, Superman: Secret Identity and Batman: Year 100
Some of this overlaps those summer 2013 releases, but there's a couple items here I wanted to make note of.
* Legion Worlds TP
How do you spot a true Legion of Super-Heroes fan? When you see this Legion Worlds collection on their shelf. There's just no reason for DC to release this highly specialized series of Legion one-shots that followed Legion Lost and lead into a new Dan Abnett/Andy Lanning Legion series, some two continuities ago -- and yet, I missed these books after Legion Lost and I've been hoping DC would collect them. If you like it when DC releases esoteric stuff like this, consider supporting this book with a pre-order.
* Batman: Year One Hundred
* Superman: Secret Identity
Though these are very different book, I've considered some connection between Paul Pope's Batman: Year One Hundred and Kurt Busiek and Stuart Immonen's Superman: Secret Identity -- both self-contained "Elseworld" stories, if you will, by big-name creators, and both well-received though copies have sometimes been hard to come by. Neither of these new printings are hardcover, unfortunately, but it's nice that they're back out and about.
* Tales of Batman: Archie Goodwin HC
I'm personally more interested in what seems to be a line of writer-focused collections, possibly with a better narrative focus than the artist editions, though guest writer Greg Elias gave us a good look at the Batman: Gene Colan book the other day. Either way, this books gives us Goodwin's Manhunter saga from Detective #437-443 (and presumably the Batman stories, too); Legends of the Dark Knight #132-136, Goodwin's last story, co-written by James Robinson, and featuring Steve Englehart's Silver St. Cloud; and an Arkham Asylum story from Showcase '95 -- always fun to see that title pop up.
* Superman Beyond: Man of Tomorrow TP
I didn't mention it before and here seems as good a place as any -- I love the idea of Superman becoming a firefighter in Superman Beyond (it's not this trade, maybe the next). It entirely make sense that after however many years, Superman would take a new secret identity he wouldn't necessarily still be a reporter. Reading how excited writer J. T. Krul was about this, it even made me re-think the whole "Clark Kent quitting the Daily Planet" thing in Scott Lobdell's Superman. It's a whole new universe -- why constrict ourselves to stories where Clark Kent's occupation is exactly the same as it was before?
* Aquaman Vol. 2: The Others HC
* Batman, Incorporated Vol. 1: Demon Star HC
Again, DC and other sites differ as to whether this volume will contain issues #0-6 of Batman, Inc. or issues #0-12. Many readers are disappointed this isn't deluxe size so as to match the other Grant Morrison Batman trades; for what it's worth, it ought match your other New 52 books at least.
* Birds of Prey Vol. 2: Your Kiss Might Kill TP
Terribly sorry to hear Duane Swierczynski is leaving this title; I really liked the first volume.
* Blue Beetle Vol. 2: Blue Diamond TP
Final collection of this series; includes the Zero Month issue.
* Dial H Vol. 1: into You TP
* Frankenstein, Agent of S.h.a.d.e. Vol. 2: Secrets of The Dead TP
Ditto the final collection of this series, and includes not only the Zero Month issue, but also Men of War #8, leading me to wonder why I bought Men of War in the first place.
* Superman: Action Comics Vol. 2 — Bulletproof HC
* Swamp Thing Vol. 2: Family Tree TP
* Worlds’ Finest Vol. 1: Lost Daughters of Earth 2 TP
Big DC week ... Swierczynski leaving, Gail Simone off Batgirl, Scott Snyder off Swamp Thing ... Don't miss our larger run down of DC collections for the summer, including Before Watchmen, Absolute Superman/Batman, Absolute Blackest Night changes and more.
Tomorrow, Doug Glassman's got a new Marvel review, and Thursday, I, Vampire. See you!
Night Cries is still on Tales of Batman: Archie Goodwin HC, right?
ReplyDeleteWhile Night Cries is still on the Archie Goodwin, I think the focus is on the Batman stories in Detective Comics...Deathmask, Death Flies the Haunted Sky and others were all classic Batman stories....but in one or two issues, there was no Batman story by Goodwin...Englehart wrote one of them...the inclusion of all of 437-443 makes me think all the Manhunter stories would be included.
ReplyDeleteIt's great to see "Legion Lost" and "Legion Worlds" collected after all these years, but when are they going to publish the first DnA's trade? That DC Comics Presents issue with just the four chapters of "Legion of the Damned" wasn´t enough at all.
ReplyDeleteI think a book collecting Legion of Super-Heroes #122-125 + Legionnaires #78-81 is needed.
As far as I know; I just wasn't as familiar with the story. Thanks for checking!
ReplyDeleteI'm with you, Jeronimo. There was a time a couple years ago, maybe around Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds, I really would've snapped up some DnA Legion trades. Now, maybe not so quick, but they'd still be fun to have around. My hope is that Legion Lost and Legion Worlds are stepping stones to that.
To what extent is Legion material available on the DC digital store, anyone?
Thank the lord Superman: Secret Identity is getting re-released. Other then being in some inner circles of Superman fans...this is one of the most underrated and best Superman stories ever. I personally feel it is far better then the overrated All-Star Superman, or at least the same importance.
ReplyDeleteAside from that, Action Comics Vol.2, Swamp Thing, and Batman Inc. I'm excited for. The deluxe thing with Batman Inc., to me, is a minor pet peeve. I don't really care.
And the final book of Frankenstein is already pre-order. *sigh* Such a shame it's ending for Katana and Vibe, which will be DOA after 6 or 8 issues anyway.
Marvel March 2013! (IDW, Dark Horse and the other trades will get their own post.)
ReplyDelete•Marvel NOW Omnibus—Well, if you want to jump in with both feet, here’s your chance. These are all of the #1s, but the “and more” suggests that it might include the rebranded issues of a bunch of very good titles, like Daredevil, Hawkeye, Captain Marvel and some of the X-Books.
•Uncanny Avengers Vol. 1: The Red Shadow HC—I’m planning to review all of the main Avengers title trades, and I’ll admit that this is my least anticipated, mostly because it’s very AVX-related and I’m not a fan of Rick Remender. On the other hand, Rogue as an Avenger is such a cool concept, and it’s John Cassaday on the artwork. I’ll wait for the TPB.
•Iron Man Vol. 1: Believe HC—Kieron Gillen writing Iron Man, with new suits? Awesome. Greg Land drawing Iron Man? Not so awesome. I think the writing may outweigh the art, though. I’ll wait for the TPB.
•Avengers Vol. 1: Avengers World HC—This, on the other hand, is perhaps the book I’m anticipating the most. Hickman’s FF and F4 were just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to awesome storytelling.
•Red She-Hulk: Hell Hath No Fury TPB—Despite being a bit of a silly character, I’ve heard good things about this, plus the creative team has solid Hulk credentials.
•Fantastic Four Vol. 1: New Departure, New Arrivals TPB—This collects the first three issues of F4 and the first two of FF, which are an interconnected story. Fraction seems to have a unique approach to these books, and he’s putting in a lot of effort to introduce new readers to a lot of backstory.
•Iron Man 2020 TPB—I’m not entirely sure why, but I have this weird feeling that Arno Stark is coming back as a big character. Even if he isn’t, this is some classic work, and well worth a look for Iron Man fans.
•Wolverine by Claremont and Miller HC—Gee, I wonder why this is getting a new printing… Still, it’s a great story, and this time it comes with the issues of Wolverine’s aborted wedding which were included in “From The Ashes”.
•Wolverine: Sabertooth! HC—Okay, I thought they were starting to move away from Romulus as a major player in Wolverine’s life. I get that this is part of the movie tie-in publishing glut, but I’m not entirely sure this will appeal to new fans who want to read more about Logan after seeing the film.
•Wolverine: The Adamantium Collection HC—This seems like Marvel’s version of IDW’s new Limited versions. For $200, you at least get a lot of varied stories.
•Avengers Vs. X-Men TPB and Avengers Vs. X-Men: VS TPB: I’m listing these together because they’re basically the halves of the larger Omnibus-style version. Plus, the VS trade has A-Babies vs. X-Babies, the greatest book of 2012. Yes, I’m completely serious.
•Doom 2099: The Complete Collection by Warren Ellis TPB: Will this lead the way to more 2099 collections? Either way, this collection is long overdue.
Firstly, a link for Marvel March 2013: http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=42630
ReplyDeleteIDW March 2013: http://www.idwpublishing.com/news/article/2440/
*Rocketeer: Cargo of Doom--Mark Waid and Chris Samnee are working wonders on Daredevil. IDW's Rocketeer books are generally excellent.
*Doctor Who: The Forgotten--This is also in the omnibus from last month. It's up to you whether you want more story in a smaller size, or a full hardcover of this one highly acclaimed story.
*Mars Attacks Vol. 1: Attack from Space--I love a good crazy violent romp. Mars Attacks is going to be the theme of the next big IDW event, so this is a good way to catch up.
Dark Horse March 2013: http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=42637
*Lone Wolf and Cub Omnibus Vol. 1--I know this is a comics blog, but if you want some of the best manga ever for twenty bucks, look no further.
Image, Dynamite and other companies will be in the next post.
Lionheart, you think Vibe will be DOA in eight issues? I don't know. If it's tied in well to Justice League of America (and possibly some other DCU titles) then I think Andrew Kreisberg can keep it going -- I recall liking at least some of his work on Green Arrow/Black Canary. And the DCU wants for a solo teen book right now.
ReplyDeleteKatana on the other hand, you might be right. At the same time, when the new animated Batman show comes on, Katana will be in the spotlight, so there's that.