DC Trade Solicitations for August 2017 - Batman/Flash: The Button Deluxe, Superman Reborn, Batman and Robin by Tomasi, Catwoman by Balent, DC Meets Hanna-Barbera, Legion by Abnett, Night Force by Wolfman
Also this month we see another chance for Marv Wolfman’s Deathstroke, the Terminator Vol. 3: Nuclear Winter, the start of a collection series of Jim Balent’s Catwoman, a newly-expanded Batman and Robin Omnibus by Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason, a couple collections celebrating Jack Kirby’s 100th birthday, and the Superman and Harley Quinn deluxe Rebirth hardcovers.
Keep reading to see what else is coming this summer …
• All Star Batman Vol. 2: Ends of the Earth HC
This feels like a slightly shorter All-Star trade, collecting just issue #6-9, but of course that includes backups and also teams Scott Snyder with Jock again, so who's complaining? The paperback of the first volume will be out at the same time.
• Batman and Robin by Peter J. Tomasi and Patrick Gleason Omnibus HC
When this was first solicited, it appeared to be just a first volume that collected only issues #1-20 of Tomasi and Gleason's New 52 series. Now it’s nicely more comprehensive, with Batman and Robin #20-22 from the pre-Flashpoint series, the New 52 Batman and Robin #0-40, three annuals, Robin Rises: Omega and Alpha, and the Damian Wayne Secret Origins story (by Tomasi but drawn by Ian Bertram). A fantastic read; Tony Laplume, this one's still for you.
• Batman/The Flash: The Button Deluxe Edition HC
As makes sense, DC is quickly soliciting a collection of the Batman/Flash: The Button crossover, and in deluxe format no less, and with a lenticular cover in the US. This is coming out in October, which pleases the continuity wonk in me because the Superman Reborn hardcover will still be out ahead of it. Also out ahead of it will be Batman Vol. 3: I Am Bane and Flash Vol. 3: Rogues Reloaded, so those playing at home will be caught up before this book.
• Catwoman by Jim Balent Book One TP
I'm a fan of underdogs (or cats), these so-representative-of-their-time-it-hurts books; it thrills me to no end to see the Jim Balent-penned Catwoman getting collections (Extreme Justice next, please). Issues #1-14 and the "Zero Month" #0 issue span the entirety of the Knightfall saga plus Zero Hour, which is great if you're reading the new Knightfall books but want more context from Catwoman's perspective. Another collection of fourteen issues would see the already-collected "Catfile" storyline by Chuck Dixon plus an Underworld Unleashed tie-in, ahead of Contagion and Legacy.
• DC Meets Hanna-Barbera TP
Collects Suicide Squad/Banana Splits, Green Lantern/Space Ghost, Adam Strange/Future Quest, and Booster Gold/The Flintstones, plus the Top Cat, Jetsons, Ruff and Reddy, and Snagglepuss backups.
• Deathstroke the Terminator Vol. 3: Nuclear Winter TP
Again, we've seen this Deathstroke, the Terminator collection solicited and cancelled before, but I'm glad DC keeps trying; among the stories collected here is a well-regarded covert mission with Deathstroke and a pre-Arsenal Roy Harper (with significant implications for the DC Universe). This book, collecting issues #14-23 of the Marv Wolfman series, also includes Ravager Rose Wilson's earliest appearance.
• Green Lanterns Vol. 3: Polarity TP
Collects issues #15-21, which is a nice long trade. I'm not totally up to date on what's happening in this title, but it's nice to see Dr. Polaris here, suggesting some of the classic Earth-bound Green Lantern rogues are back in play.
• Harley Quinn Vol. 3: Red Meat TP
Collects issues #14-16 and the lead stories from #17-21, which is another nice long trade even with some half-sized issues. It's interesting that DC is holding back the Paul Dini backups, either to collect them all at once or in an entirely separate volume from the Rebirth series.
• Harley Quinn: The Rebirth Deluxe Edition Book One HC
Hardcover collection of the first two Rebirth paperbacks; some of these, we know, have since been cancelled, but not the Harley volume.
• Jack Kirby’s Fourth World Omnibus HC
There's a mis-fit here and there in the solicitation, but I'm pretty sure this single volume -- listed at 1,536 pages and on sale for only $100 -- collects all four of the previous Jack Kirby's Fourth World omnibuses. Those themselves sold for $50 each (minus discounts, of course), making this a startling good deal if you don't mind how heavy it's going to be.
• Jack Kirby’s Mister Miracle TP
Going along with DC's celebration of Jack Kirby's 100th birthday, I believe this is the first time outside of the Fourth World Omnibuses that Kirby's Mister Miracle issues have been collected all together and all in color (correct me if I'm wrong).
• Night Force by Marv Wolfman: The Complete Series HC
DC has definitely solicited and cancelled this before, roundabouts when there was actually a new Night Force series on the stands. What makes this the right time I'm not sure, but good for Marv Wolfman if this'll finally hit the stands.
• Nightwing Vol. 3: Nightwing Must Die TP
Collects issues #16-21, with appearances by Damian Wayne.
• Suicide Squad Vol. 3: Burning Down the House TP
Issues #11-15, but happily also the War Crimes one-shot by John Ostrander published shortly after the movie (which I recently saw, and liked).
• Superman Reborn HC
I've been catching up on my Superman reading lately; I know this is the biggie and I'm excited to get my hands on it.
• Superman: The Rebirth Deluxe Edition Book One HC
Hardcover collection of the first two Superman Rebirth paperbacks, issues #1-13.
• The Legion by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning Vol. 1 TP
Also as we previously discussed, DC has published but also cancelled collections of Abnett and Lanning's superlative Legion Lost (multiple times, I think), and now we have a collection of their just pre-Legion Lost "Legion of the Damned" story with a couple extras. The next volume of this would have to re-collect Legion Lost, unless DC leapfrogs that for the yet-mostly-uncollected material that followed.
• Titans Vol. 2: Made in Manhattan TP
Issues #7-10, the first Rebirth annual, and "stories" from the DC Rebirth Holiday Special, which is definitely James Asmus's Titans story and maybe the Flash story?
So which are you more excited about, Superman Reborn or Batman/Flash: The Button?
If they have left Mister Miracle out of the Fourth World omnibus I'm going to be pretty pissed
ReplyDeleteThe price cannot be beat but if that Fourth World Omnibus is really 1536 pages, it will incredibly unwieldy. It may be the biggest omnibus ever made by DC. It they can produce it without significant gutter lose, I will be impressed. For reference, the previous biggest book I know of was the massive JSA Omnibus vol 2 at 1408 pages.
ReplyDeleteThe Invisibles Omnibus is 1,536 pages long, too. It's pretty uncomfortable to read, but not impossible to handle as long as you're sitting down.
DeleteDoes anyone know if All-Star Batman v02 contains all 8 parts of the Cursed Wheel or were the first 4 parts included in the first trade? Seems a little odd to split up such a short story?
ReplyDeleteVolume 1 includes "The Cursed Wheel." I think it's just the first four parts - I didn't even know that "The Cursed Wheel" continues for another four parts, as the story seems to wrap up at the end of volume 1.
DeleteThey split it up. Vol. 1 has the first "arc."
DeleteI'm a little bugged that the Adam Strange/Future Quest issue isn't going to be collected in the second FQ trade.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand I assume there will be a hardcover collection of the whole series in the near future so it could be saved as "exclusive bonus material" for that.
It's all going by me so fast -- have we seen a collection of those specials? Not my cup of tea but Adam Strange/Future Quest follows Death of Hawkman, so I'll probably take a peek.
DeleteCan't say I'm excited about the Balent Catwoman collection. The artistic portrayal of Catwoman is so juvenile and adolescent-fantasy here, it's embarassing - the kind of thing that comics should be trying to moving past, to be taken more seriously. Dredging this up only makes such attempts at progress fall back.
ReplyDeleteAt the same time, I understand the desire to collect previously-uncollected material. It *is* a part of comics and Catwoman history, like it or not, and completely ignoring it isn't the right answer either. And fans of the era in general (like myself) would be disappointed to see their era continue to be ignored.
I guess I just wish that other, better representations of that era received their proper due first - representing a win for those fans as well as putting a more mature face forward for both DC and comics as a whole. For instance - what about the Chuck Dixon "Detective Comics" run of that era? Less juvenile artwork, equal (I would say superior) writing, and more importance for continuity? Or how about a followup second volume to "Batman by Doug Moench and Kelley Jones?"
I do agree with you, though like you I'm torn, because that Catwoman series intersects with so much of what else is going in the Bat-verse and DCU at the time, that the chance to recapture that in trade form is too good to pass up. At the very least they went ahead and finished out collecting the Ed Brubaker series before they started on this.
DeleteFunny enough, but since the last time you talked about the omnibus I went ahead and completed my collection of the original volumes, including the two for Robin, Son of Batman (which to my mind also belong in it).
ReplyDeleteGreen Lanterns, in that span, includes the return of Volthoom, the First Lantern, featuring his origin. I think Humphries has been doing excellent work in this series.
Yeah, Robin: Son of Batman belongs in it, at least Gleason's issues. When Damian asks Talia that question at the end of the first arc ... Gleason gets it really right.
DeleteThe value of the Catwomon book really depends on what else you are buying. A couple issues will be in vol 2 of the Knightfall Omnibus, a couple issues will be in the Batman Zero hour collection coming out soon, and I am sure that a couple issues will be in the 3rd Knightfall Omnibus. Outside of being a completist, I am not sure of the vaule of the rest of the issues and if they are worth the cost of the whole book.
ReplyDeleteI'm skipping that Catwoman book because of the opposite: it doesn't double up on enough issues. There should be Batman #503-504 between Catwoman #6 and #7, and then Batman #510 and Shadow of the Bat #30 between #12 and #13.
ReplyDeleteCue the same old boring excuses how there's no need for that because those issues are already in the other collections. Sorry, still doesn't make sense why the storyline should not be complete in a book. But OK, I can get the missing parts in digital. But I can also get all the parts in digital and just sit and read all 19 issues without switching books/devices. In fact I've already done that. And even though I like physical books, I don't feel like paying DC $30 for this hatchet job.
One thing I AM glad about is that this time I see straight away what's up and can bail at the start without having to buy three volumes of Dixon's Robin before being forced to quit that series for the same reasons.
You bring up a good point. Having complete storylines makes for a better collection. Outside of digital, I do not have a good answer.
DeleteIf DC continues to publish large amounts of the same era at roughly the same time, like the bat family knightfall era books, some books are going to get ignored no matter how complete they are.
Now if someone is buying all of the Knightfall Omnibuses, Catwoman, Robin, and Shadow of the Bat books regardless of double dipping, incomplete stories, or the costs for everything - I salute you for your dedication.
They're just so pretty though! And they'll look so good on the shelf! For me, I know it's a lot of double-dipping, but just the fact of it -- collections of Robin! And Shadow of the Bat! And Catwoman! -- make them really hard to pass up.
DeleteDoes the Jack Kirby's Fourth World Omnibus is due on august or in another month? If it's for this next August, then I have to start saving FAST!
ReplyDeleteAmazon lists the Fourth World Omnibus at $150.
ReplyDeleteI too remember thinking that the Fourth World Omnibus left out Mister Miracle - but now it appears to be listed. I'm not sure why I thought that.
But I know i read that, as i only recently debated ordering the Omnibus despite having the 4 original HC's (I decided to order it, it's just too cool to pass up)
I too remember M.M. not bring included and thinking to myself "Well, why even bother" but thankfully they fixed that. I doneish however they would just reprint the 4 volumes from a few years ago, because that omnibus will be a pain to read while lying in bed.
DeleteWhile we're talking Kirby omnibi, any word on the Kamandi Omnibus, originally slated for July 2017? Amazon is selling it for release in January 2035 (which usually means Amazon is about to cancel the listing), while Target has it slated for July... my LCS reports they are unable to preorder the book from their distributor. Has the Great Disaster struck, or will I simply be the last boy on earth by the time the book arrives?
ReplyDelete