On one hand this seems not the most ground-breaking month (I mean, once you've got Superman Blue Vol. 1, everything else is just kind of blah, no?), but on the other hand maybe I'm just getting spoiled by all the great collections we've seen lately. I mean, we've got more uncollected issues of Marv Wolfman and George Perez's New Teen Titans in New Teen Titans Vol. 9, Benjamin Percy's final Green Arrow volume, Batman: The Caped Crusader Vol. 1, and the Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion (now no longer Vol. 1 again, supposedly), not to mention another Aquaman by Peter David book. So not, like, Titans: The Wildebeest Saga, but no slouch either this month.
Read on for more details ...
• Aquaman by Peter David Book Two TP
The second collection of Peter David's Aquaman is nicely following quick on the heels of the first -- February and then August. Issues #9-20 include an Underworld Unleashed tie-in and guest appearances by Dolphin, Tempest, Green Lantern Kyle Rayner, and that era's Wonder Woman-led Justice League. Also included is the "Year One" Aquaman Annual #1. A handy DC collection would be all the Justice League-related titles of these "Year One" annuals, which if I recall correctly had the throughway of Superman meeting the other heroes for the first time.
• Batman and the Signal TP
To balance out the three-issue miniseries by Scott Snyder and Tony Patrick, this has the All-Star Batman backups and a story from New Talent Showcase 2017. I do like DC getting all the Signal material together in one package; I've already got those backups via the All-Star trades but I'm not sure there's much else DC could have padded this book with. A three-issue mini is always going to be tough to collect but I appreciate that the creative team didn't bite off more issues than they needed.
• Batman Beyond Vol. 3: The Long Payback TP
Issues #13-19 of the Dan Jurgens/Bernard Chang series.
• Batman by Doug Moench and Kelley Jones Vol. 2 TP
Picks up from the first volume and continues to collect their run with Batman issues #536-552 and #555. Among other things that's Final Night and Genesis tie-in issues, plus the Spectre and Ragman.
• Batman: Arkham: Penguin TP
It's rather astounding this one didn't come out earlier; I think I hadn't been looking for it because I thought it had (blame Super Friends but I always think of Penguin as Batman's second arch-nemesis right after the Joker). Collects Detective Comics #58 (first appearance), #610-611 ("Snow and Ice" by Alan Grant and Norm Breyfogle) and #824 ("Night of the Penguin" by Paul Dini and Don Kramer); Batman #155, #374, and 548-549 ("Penguin Returns" by Doug Moench and Kelley Jones); Batman: Penguin Triumphant #1; and Joker’s Asylum: Penguin #1.
• Batman: The Caped Crusader Vol. 1 TP
Well, we got Batman: The Dark Knight Detective the other day and it included an image of Caped Crusader; here comes Caped Crusader for August, and DC's mentioning Dark Knight Detective in the solicitations. It's not often we see "partner" trades like that, and this is interesting and I'm eager to see these continue for a while -- through "Knightfall," I guess.
This latest solicitation has the book at Batman #417-425, #430-431, and Annual #12. That's "Ten Nights of the Beast," but specifically skips over "Death in the Family." That's controversial to say the least, if it's correct; I would admire the gumption of the person in the DC office who said, "Y'know, we've collected 'Death in the Family' a bunch of times, let's not include it here," but as long as they're collecting these stories in sequential order, might as well go for all of them, no?
• Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II HC
By James Tynion and Freddie Williams, the latter of whom will also be drawing the Injustice/Masters of the Universe crossover series.
• Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion Deluxe Edition HC
Last month when we saw DC Comics's Fall 2018 catalog solicitations, this was back on the schedule -- having been solicited and cancelled before -- but as the first of multiple volumes. This solicitation doesn't mention "Vol. 1" and suggests this is "all the tales that tied in to Crisis on Infinite Earths." Well, I can tell you that what's listed for the volume, at least, isn't everything, but rather only collects tie-ins going up to about Crisis #9, and specifically omits issues that followed that were branded as Crisis tie-ins. Either there's many more contents than what's listed or this is indeed volume one of two.
Here's what the solicitation says is in it so far: Justice League of America #244, Justice League of America Annual #3, Green Lantern #194, Wonder Woman #327-328, Losers Special #1, Infinity Inc. #18-20, DC Comics Presents #87-88, Omega Men #31, Blue Devil #17-18, New Teen Titans #13-14, All-Star Squadron #50-51, Fury of Firestorm #41-42.
• DC Comics Bombshells: The Deluxe Edition Book One HC
Deluxe-size collection of issues #1-12
• Deadman TP
Issues #1-6 of the new Neal Adams miniseries.
• Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles TP
Matt Santori has written a great couple of articles about Mark Russell's Snagglepuss series, making me more and more interested to check it out every time. Arrives in stores in late August, the six-issue mini plus the backup from Suicide Squad/Banana Splits.
• Flash: Rogues: Captain Cold TP
This is a neat idea a la the Batman: Arkham books, and could lead to a fine Gorilla Grodd or Reverse Flash book. Contents are Showcase #8 (first appearance by John Broome); Flash #150 (Gardner Fox) and #297 (Cary Bates); Flash #28 (William Messner-Loebs) and #182 (Geoff Johns); Flashpoint: Citizen Cold #1 (Scott Kolins); Flash #6 (Brian Buccellato and Francis Manapul) and Flash #17 (Joshua Williamson).
• Flash: The Rebirth Deluxe Edition Book Three HC
Collects the Rebirth Flash Vol. 5 Negative and Vol. 6 Cold Day in Hell, making up issues #28-38.
• Green Arrow Vol. 6: Trial of Two Cities TP
Collects issues #33-38, the last issues by inaugural Rebirth writer Benjamin Percy. A warning, do not read the solicitation for this trade, which spoils a pretty big twist in the series.
• Harley & Ivy Meet Betty & Veronica HC
Due out in late August, just a couple months after the start of the Batman '66/Archie comic.
• Harley Quinn Vol. 6: Angry Bird TP
The first Harley collection by Frank Tieri, issues #35-42.
• Infinite Crisis Unwrapped HC
I'm not much for these un-inked collections, but original pencils by Phil Jimenez and George Perez is tempting indeed.
• Injustice 2 Vol. 2 TP
• Injustice 2 Vol. 3 HC
With Tom Taylor continuing as writer. Collects issues #7-12 and #14, and #13, #15-17, and Annual #1, respectively.
Also, Tim Seeley of Grayson and Nightwing mastery is going to be writing the ultra-twenty-first century Injustice meeting the ultra-1980s He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. Say what? Harley Quinn and Orko in one adventure together? Stand back, Action Comics #1000. The future really is a wonderful place.
• JSA by Geoff Johns Book Two TP
JSA #16-25 (the JSA Vol. 3: Return of Hawkman trade) and Secret Origin of Super-Villains, JSA: Our Worlds at War, JLA/JSA: Secret Files, and JLA/JSA: Virtue and Vice.
• New Gods by Jack Kirby TP
Another of DC's new Jack Kirby collections; includes New Gods #1-11, "Even Gods Must Die," and Hunger Dogs.
• New Teen Titans Vol. 9 TP
This is New Teen Titans (second series) #1-9, of which issues only issues #1-6 have been collected before. DC's making great progress here finally getting Marv Wolfman and company's Titans collected.
• Superman Vol. 6: Imperius Lex TP
Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason's second-to-last Superman trade, collecting issues #33-36 and #39-41 (missing ones are Super Sons of Tomorrow. With James Robinson.
• Superman: Action Comics Vol. 5: Booster Shot TP
The last collection of Dan Jurgens' Rebirth run on Action Comics, this is issues #993-999 plus Jurgens' forthcoming Action Comics special.
• Wonder Woman, Diana Prince: The 50th Anniversary Omnibus HC
The 1970s adventures of the white-suited "new look" Wonder Woman, previously collected in four paperbacks. This is Wonder Woman #178-204 (some just covers because the books were reprints), Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #93, Brave and the Bold #87 and #105, and World's Finest Comics #204.
So what is in the Crisis Companion anyway, and will it be volume one of two? Should Tom Seeley and Freddie Williams write Injustice/Masters of the Universe/Thundercats next? Lemme hear from you in the comments.
Anybody else worried about that TP next to the second Moench and Jones’ Batman collection?
ReplyDeleteThe first one was HC. And I prefer TP rather than HC, honestly, but I hope they don’t change format from one volume to the next.
Because vol 1 has not been released in paperback, right?
Can we all hope that is a typo mistake in the solicitations and it will be HC?
David
That "TP" was probably just someone messing up. The official DC catalog says Batman by Doug Moench and Kelley Jones Vol. 2 is a hardcover, just like Vol. 1, and the US$ 50.00 price point wouldn't make sense otherwise.
DeleteThank you!
DeleteI really prefer TPBs, but in this case the change would be really odd...
For instance, I'm getting the WW by Perez TPs as well as Rucka's, and I don't know why John Byrne WW stories are in HC...
Anyway, thanks!
David
I really like those Diana Prince WW stories, so that omni is a good surprise for me as well as a must buy.
ReplyDeleteGreat to see that material collected again. I have the DIANA PRINCE WONDER WOMAN collection (4 volumes). I think this omnibus is the same content exactly, right?
DeleteOr are they including anything new in the omnibus? The 4 volumes set I'm talking about is this one:
https://www.mycomicshop.com/search?TID=13662011
David
As far as I could tell it's the same content.
DeleteToo bad about the Caped Crusader collection skipping Death in the Family. The first Dark Knight Detective volume skipped Year Two, and the Second Chances tpb jumped over Year One--not to mention that Batman #401 remains uncollected.
ReplyDeleteI wish DC had just committed to do a comprehensive series of fat tpbs, going from the beginning of Max Allan Collins' run all the way to Knightfall. Call it Legends of the Dark Knight, or The Batman Chronicles if the LODTK title is deemed overused.
I was tempted to get the new Dark Knight Detective and Caped Crusader collections, but I'm not so sure now.
Agree here, though I'm torn about doubling up on so many things. But I do think I'd prefer comprehensive Marvel Epic style trades, just because I find the context for these stories really interesting and sometimes eye opening.
DeleteI'm OK with skipping Year Two because it was a flashback of sorts, out of step with the main action. But Death in the Family is directly affected by what came before and affects what came after; taking that out disrupts the story being read in a way that holding out Year Two does not.
DeleteFormer DC editor Robert Greenberger commented about the CRISIS COMPANION books (yes, plural) on Facebook:
ReplyDelete"Rest assured, it is three mammoth volumes. I have consulted on the lineups and while I do not 100% agree with the final order, I understand why it was decided. There will be interstitial essays linking stories, with at least one by Roy and several by me as well as a timeline putting the crossovers in order from Monitor appearances to which tie-ins link to which issue of the Crisis itself (including the 1999 one-shot)."
"Roy" is, of course, Roy Thomas. He's had some less than complimentary things to say about how CRISIS was handled in the past, so his commentary should make for interesting reading.
-- Matt
Wow!
DeleteI'd have to double check, but I thought The Dark Knight Detective Volume 1 did contain Batman: Year 2 (Detective Comics #575-578). That's what the Amazon description has (along with Batman: Full Circle). I'm not at home or I'd check my copy.
ReplyDeleteI've got it right here; skips Year Two and does not include Full Circle (contents went back and forth for a while). I'm OK with that because Year Two is a flashback, whereas Death in the Family is present action and affects what comes after; for that reason I think it's part of the reading experience and should be in the book.
DeleteThat's a good point, regarding Death in the Family repercussions... but I'm torn on this topic.
DeleteStories that have been reprinted so many times, I understand they can be left aside, specially if that allows for uncollected material to be collected.
I can't wait to see DARK KNIGHT DETECTIVE and CAPED CRUSADER collections and I hope they sell well enough so they keep going and collect all that uncollected material from that era!
Also, it's weird that DARK KNIGHT DETECTIVE VOL 2 lists its content with BATMAN instead of DETECTIVE COMICS stories, right?
David
Very weird. I expect that's a typo and it's the contents of Caped Crusader Vol. 2 instead.
DeleteWhile I am excited that dc is finally collecting the best penguin stories In one trade, I do have one njtpick. Batman 374 is part of a two part story, and part 2 is not collected in the trade. Why would they neglect to include the second half of a criss over is beyond me. It is just like how they neglected to include the final chapter of Killer Croc's debut in the killer croc trade a few years ago. Really annoying
ReplyDeleteI totally agree here. I don't understand why they make those decisions but always include the Joker's Asylum stories, which are not so great, instead of other relevant historical appeareances. Or at least complete stories... it would be like including part 1 of Moench and Jones story but not part 2. Doesn't make sense.
DeleteDavid
Personally, I like some of the joker asylum issues, especially the one about penguin. However, I understand that they are not for everyone. DC could have easily substituted the asylum issue for batman annual 11, love Bird, the three part penguin affair or the first time penguin teams up with joker. Anyone of those stories would have been a better choice for a collection of Oswald's best stories.
Deletei'm loving the Dark Knight Detective and Caped Crusader collections. Volume 2 of Dark Knight Detective will be Grant / Wagner / Breyfogle issues, these were only recently collected in the Breyfogle H/C collection and with a Breyfogle H/C volume 2 on the schedule this could mean a lot of double dipping which is something i'm loath to do.
ReplyDeleteDid the Breyfogle trades skip around though or omit issues? I like that DC seems to just be picking a starting point in Batman/Detective and just collecting chronologically. I wish there were more of these storyline-agnostic trades, just pick a series and *go.*
DeleteIt skipped issues, specifically the Invasion crossover drawn by Irv Novick and 598 - 600. There was a lot of crossovers post 600 in 'Tec so these books will collide at some point anyway!
Delete