DC Trade Solicitations for June 2018 - Superman Blue Vol. 1, Wonder Woman by Byrne Vol. 2, Red Hood New 52 Omnibus, Wildstorm: Michael Cray Vol. 1, Final Rebirth Birds of Prey and Blue Beetle
Some of what's here, like the Red Hood and the Outlaws: The New 52 Omnibus, we just saw in the Fall 2018 catalog. Other notable books include the end of the Rebirth Batgirl and the Birds of Prey and also a second Wonder Woman by John Byrne collection. The book that sticks out for me this month, however, is what was once called Superman Red/Superman Blue, now called Superman Blue Vol. 1, a smaller chunk of the late 1990s saga that essentially marked the exit of what remained of the "Death of Superman" team. This is a long story, which I clock at about four volumes, and I'll be curious to see how this collection series unfolds.
Let's take a look at the list.
• Absolute Flashpoint HC
Flashpoint, I'm reminded when the book rears its head now and then, marked the erosion not just of the post-Crisis on Infinite Earths DC Universe, but also of Flashpoint itself -- of whatever it was that Geoff Johns was doing with Barry Allen at the time and whatever plans he had that were co-opted and changed by the coming of the New 52. It's hard in some cases to view the dark, brutal Flashpoint un-ironically, but it was on its own merits an interesting story, with a big role for Cyborg, at least, plus a curious take on Captain Marvel that unfortunately hasn't fully manifested yet. All of that is to say that I can see why DC wants an Absolute of this book on the stands, up to and including the ties to the upcoming Flash movie, though it seems an odd package when so much work was just done to separate the story universe from what this began.
• Batgirl and the Birds of Prey Vol. 3: Full Circle TP
Collects issues #14-22, the end of the first Rebirth Birds of Prey series.
• Batman Vol. 6: Bride or Burglar? TP
Collects Tom King's Batman #38-44, including the much-discussed Wonder Woman issue and an appearance by Poison Ivy, in the run-up to issue #50.
• Batman: Death of the Maidens New Edition TP
This would seem to be a paperback based on the recent Deluxe edition.
• Batman and Robin Adventures Vol. 3 TP
Collects Batman and Robin Adventures #19-25 and Annual #2.
• Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Deluxe Edition HC
Already collected in both hardcover and paperback, this is a deluxe-sized edition of the first miniseries.
• Batman: Thrillkiller New Edition TP
Collects both the 1960s-set Elseworlds Thrillkiller miniseries by Howard Chaykin and Dan Brereton, as Detective Bruce Wayne tries to catch Batgirl and Robin.
• Blue Beetle Vol. 3: Road to Nowhere TP
Collects #13-18, the final issues of Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis's Rebirth Blue Beetle.
• DC Universe by Mike Mignola TP
Paperback of the hardcover, including Superman: The World of Krypton, Action Comics Annual #1, Superman #18 and 23, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #54, Batman: Gotham Knights #36, Swamp Thing Annual #5, Phantom Stranger #1-4, and more.
• Doom Patrol: The Silver Age Vol. 1 TP
Collects My Greatest Adventure #80-85 and Doom Patrol #86-95.
• Flash by Geoff Johns Book Five TP
Issues #214-225, from the Flash Vol. 7: The Secret of Barry Allen and Flash Vol. 8: Rogue War collections.
• Harley Quinn: The Rebirth Deluxe Edition Book Two HC
Collects issues #14-27 and the Harley Quinn 25th Anniversary Special, which are the contents of the paperbacks Harley Quinn Vol. 3: Red Meat and Harley Quinn Vol. 4: Surprise, Surprise.
• Jetsons TP
Issues #1-6 of the Jimmy Palmiotti series.
• Justice League of America Vol. 4: Surgical Strike TP
Collects issues #18-21 and Annual #1. I'm especially interested to see a villain from Steve Orlando's Midnighter series return.
• Justice League of America: The Silver Age Vol. 4 TP
Collects Justice League of America #31-41.
• Ragman TP
Issues #1-6 of the Ragman reboot by Raw Fawkes and Inaki Miranda. I'd say it seems a bit of a shame to have a new Ragman when the original one's perfectly functional, but I guess that was a continuity ago so this would indeed be Ragman's "first appearance." Fawkes did well for a while writing DC's dark magic side, so he seems a fine choice for this.
• Orion by Walter Simonson Book One TP
In 2015 DC released an omnibus of this material, which was both the (JLA-tied) 25-issue Orion series by Walter Simonson and also various stories from Showcase '94, various 80-page giants, and the like. This cut-down paperback has Orion #1-11 and some of the outside material, and presumably Book Two will have #12-25.
• Red Hood and the Outlaws: The New 52 Omnibus Vol. 1 HC
Given the New 52's spotted reputation, a New 52 omnibus is an unexpected thing, and no title probably invited more controversy in the New 52 than Red Hood and the Outlaws. Still I enjoyed this title more often than not, and the Rebirth iteration is getting rave reviews, so I'm glad to see DC standing up for it with this. And furthermore, where DC could have just gone with the Scott Lobdell material, this is Red Hood complete (even with "Death of the Family" tie in issues), so especially if you're coming at this new, it's a nice package. And this is only Vol. 1, so I'm guessing DC will include the Red Hood/Arsenal series with the rest of the issues in the next book.
• Suicide Squad Vol. 6: The Secret History of Task Force X TP
Collects issues #27-32 by Rob Williams, just after the Dark Nights: Metal crossover.
• Supergirl by Peter David Book Four TP
Collects issues #32-43 of the Peter David series. The solicitation doesn't mention it, but within this is a Young Justice crossover, and we'll have to see if those issues are included (the recent Young Justice Vol. 2 collection included the Supergirl issues. There's also a tie-in to the Day of Judgment event.
• Superman for All Seasons New Edition TP
Paperback following the recent Deluxe edition.
• Superman Blue Vol. 1 TP
What had been billed as a Superman Red/Superman Blue collection (without listing enough issues for such) now becomes Superman Blue Vol. 1, which makes more sense. This book collects about 13 issues, and I estimate the whole saga at over 50 issues, so we're looking at something like four paperbacks to bring this to completion. I am hopeful, but will be very interested to see if that happens; these were not good Superman stories, melodramatic and often focused on secondary characters, and while I love them for the nostalgia, I wonder if the market will support four volumes.
Collects Superman #122-125, Adventures of Superman #545-547, Action Comics #732-734, Superman: The Man of Steel #67-69, and Superman Annual #9.
• Titans: The Lazarus Contract TP
Paperback of the Rebirth crossover.
• Trinity Vol. 3: Dark Destiny TP
Trinity apparently switches from hardcover-first to straight to paperback with this collection of issues #12-16 and Annual #1. This volume is by Rob Williams; the next should collect the end of the series.
• Wildstorm: Michael Cray Vol. 1 TP
Collects issues #1-6 of new Detective Comics writer Bryan Hill's series.
• Wonder Woman: The Golden Age Omnibus Vol. 3 HC
Collects Sensation Comics #49-67, Wonder Woman #16-25, and Comics Cavalcade #14-22.
• Wonder Woman by John Byrne Book Two HC
Continuing John Byrne's Wonder Woman run, which saw the introduction of Wonder Girl Cassie Sandsmark, involved the Justice Society, and lead-in to Byrne's Genesis line-wide event. This book ends just before Genesis, as a matter of fact, and I do hope DC includes Genesis in the next volume. Byrne's run goes to issue #136, so the next volume could be the last. Also here is Byrne's "Legends of a Dead Earth" Annual #5 and "Pulp Heroes" Annual #6.
• Wonder Woman: The Rebirth Deluxe Edition Book Two HC
Collects issues #15-25, the Wonder Woman Vol. 3: The Truth and Wonder Woman Vol. 4: Godwatch trades, though presumably presenting the issues in publication order. There's a story from the Rebirth Wonder Woman Annual #1, same as in the fourth trade, but also apparently a story from the DC Rebirth Holiday Special 2017, which was not in the other trades. Maybe that's the Wonder Woman/John Constantine story by Mariko Tamaki and Matias Bergara; it's unusual for these deluxe editions to have newly collected material but good for those readers, I guess.
Have you been buying the Rebirth Deluxe editions? Do you want to see those continue into the "No Justice" era or end with the current runs?
I’ve been buying a few Rebirth Deluxe editions. They take a long time coming out, but I really like them when they do. I think the art looks better on the oversized pages, and reading 12 issues in one sitting is great. I only wish that they would come out faster.
ReplyDeleteI thought the deluxes were a clever idea, and -- if I'm not mistaken -- what the marvelous competition did or used to do. We'll have to see if they're ending or not.
DeleteOne thing to note was that the Orion Omnibus printed the all of the backup stories at the end, after issue 25, which hurt the reading order as many of them either continued straight from the events in the issue they were in, or had vital plot points which the next issue would refer to. It will be interesting to see if this edition fixes that.
ReplyDeleteGreat point -- hope so!
DeleteStill no vol 3 of Ruckas original Wonder Woman run.
ReplyDeleteI'll be getting Superman Blue Vol. 1. I've always been interested in that era of Superman comics. I own only a few issues where he has his electric powers outside of the Millennium Giants arc, which I hope gets collected. I know most people hated it but I liked it in a so bad it's good kind of way.
ReplyDelete-Kon30
"...the end of the first Rebirth Birds of Prey series."
ReplyDeleteIs another one coming, or are you just future-proofing your statement?
No, I don't know for sure, I just think it's a property DC is unlikely to never revisit again. Definitely they need a new paradigm for it though.
Delete