Detective Comics: 80 Years of Batman, Absolute Black Mirror, Hush Saga Omnibus, New Teen Titans Omnibus Vol. 4, Final Ostrander Suicide Squad, Wonder Woman by Phil Jimenez Omnibus, Justice League Dark: Witching Hour, Black Lightning: 1995, more in DC Comics Spring 2019 solicitations

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My rundown of DC Comics' Spring 2019 catalog hardcover and trade paperback solicitations. A few gems here -- I have to say, not really a lot of surprises in this list and not a whole lot that really blew me away, though some good stuff and plenty of books I'm looking forward to.

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Notably there's no new Superman material on this list, which after both the Superman: The Exile and Other Stories omnibus and Superman Blue Vol. 1, I'd really hoped there would be -- like Superman Blue Vol. 2 -- so that's a bummer. No continuation of the classic Robin series, or Superboy, nor a surprise Christopher Priest Steel or John Ostrander Hawkworld trade, nor another Justice League Task Force, something from the Titans: Total Chaos era, another Green Lantern: Kyle Rayner or Aquaman by Peter David or Legionnaires or Wonder Woman and the Justice League, nor Marv Wolfman's Deathstroke, the post-Crisis Green Lantern Corps, or so on (and I know, literally everyone has something else to add to that want list).

That said, we do see the final volume the John Ostrander Suicide Squad collections, which is magnificent news indeed (to some extent that overshadows whatever else I might feel is missing here). The Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion deluxe gets a second volume. I, for one, am glad to see another volume in the Catwoman by Jim Balent series. The Batman: The Hush Saga Omnibus is an astounding collection of not just "Hush" but many of the ways DC tried to re-use the Hush character under different writers after the fact.

There's also the New Teen Titans Omnibus Vol. 4 and New Teen Titans Vol. 10, each extending Marv Wolfman's Titans far into realms where it's never been collected before (another chapter in this long strange saga). If your collection lacks the essential Outsiders by Judd Winick, that's getting a new collection run too, well-deserved (plus the next volume of Mike W. Barr's Batman and the Outsiders). Add to that another Batman: The Caped Crusader (finally with "Batman: Year Three"), Tony Isabella's 1995 Black Lightning series, a Wonder Woman by Phil Jimenez omnibus, and an Absolute edition of Scott Snyder's Batman: Black Mirror.

"Regular series" books I'm interested in include the end of Dan Abnett's Aquaman and the Aquaman/Suicide Squad crossover; also Priest's Batman vs. Deathstroke (where Slade gets second billing even though it's his book) and the first "event" of the "New Justice" era, Wonder Woman & the Justice League Dark: The Witching Hour. We also see a deluxe Detective Comics: 80 Years of Batman hardcover, in line with the Action Comics #1000 celebration.

So let's dig in and take a look. All of this information is subject to change before publication. Not all links may be functional yet.

Absolute Batman: The Black Mirror

Detective Comics issues #871-881. Good for Scott Snyder on this one; this'll be a good-looking book.

Absolute Daytripper

Ten issue Vertigo miniseries by Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá from 2010, previously collected in paperback and deluxe hardcover, now in Absolute format.

Absolute Scarlet

Collects issues #1-10 by Brian Michael Bendis in hardcover, Absolute-size, with slipcase.

Adventures of the Super Sons Vol. 1

Issues #1-6 of the twelve-issue Adventures of the Super Sons miniseries, which is never how I like miniseries collected. This is paperback; I'll hold out for the guaranteed hardcover.

Aquaman Vol. 7

Issues #43-48 by Dan Abnett, the finale of his run. These issues are after the Aquaman/Suicide Squad collection.

Aquaman/Suicide Squad: Sink Atlantis

Collects Aquaman #39-40 and Suicide Squad #45-46 by Dan Abnett and Rob Williams respectively. I've been enjoying Abnett's Aquaman lately and I'm sorry to see it come to an end, so this is a nice treat before the finale.

Astro City Vol. 17

Concludes the Kurt Busiek series, collecting issues #47-52.

Authority by Ed Brubaker & Dustin Nguyen

Collects The Authority: Revolution #1-12.

Batgirl Vol. 5: Vanishing Point

Collects issues #24-28, the first collection of the new run by Mairghread Scott and Paul Pelletier.

Batgirl: The Bronze Age Omnibus Vol. 2

Batman Family #12-20 and Detective Comics #481-519.

Batgirl: Year One Deluxe Edition

Deluxe of the Chuck DIxon/Scott Beatty miniseries.

Batman - Detective Comics: The Rebirth Deluxe Edition Book 4

Collects issues #974-982, the Vol. 6 Fall of the Batmen and Vol. 7 Batmen Eternal collections, the final issues by James Tynion (give or take issue #982).

Batman & Superman in World's Finest: The Silver Age Omnibus Vol. 2

World’s Finest Comics #117-158.

Batman and Harley Quinn

Paperback of the miniseries by Ty Templeton and Rick Burchett ahead of the recent animated movie.

Batman and the Justice League Vol. 2

Second collection of the manga by Shiori Teshigori.

Batman and the Outsiders Vol. 3

Collects Batman and the Outsiders #24-32, Batman and the Outsiders Annual #2, DC Comics Presents #83, and excerpts from Who’s Who #12-15. This is Mike W. Barr's final collection of this title before it becomes Adventures of the Outsiders.

Batman Noir: Gotham by Gaslight

Black and white pencils and inks of Brian Augustyn and Mike Mignola's inaugural Elseworlds story.

Batman Vol. 9

Issues #57-62. David is protecting all the details.

Batman vs. Deathstroke

In hardcover, because DC's not playing here. Issues #30-36 by Christopher Priest.

Batman: Arkham: Ra's Al Ghul

Another one so obvious I think I thought they already did it. Collects Batman:#232, Batman #243-244, DC Special Series #15, The Brave & the Bold #159, Detective Comics #750, Batman Annual #26, Nightwing #152, Batman & Robin #23.3, and Who’s Who in the DC Universe: #13. I like that this is single issue material and not the more noted graphic novels.

Batman: Creature of the Night

The Kurt Busiek four-issue miniseries, in hardcover.

Batman: Death of the Family Saga (DC Essential Edition)

Three hundred pages in paperback, and the blurb suggests this might have both the Batman issues and the tie-in issues from the other Bat-family series.

Batman: Detective Comics Vol. 9: Harvey Dent's Last Case

Issues #988-993 in paperback, with some or all by James Robinson.

Batman: Faces of Death (DC Essential Edition)

This is assuredly a reach when it comes to an "essential" edition, the first New 52 volume of Tony Daniel's run on Detective. See my review from back then; I thought the first half of this book was brilliant (issues #1-4), the second half, a mess (issues #5-7).

Batman: Shadow of the Bat Vol. 4

Supposed to be issues #32-43 by Alan Grant, but I'm going to guess it's a little more or less since #43 is the middle of a three-part story. Some people won't like that this is parts two, six, and ten of "Prodigal" and part two of "Troika," but there's also stories with Black Canary, the Joker, Solomon Grundy, and Anarky, plus Joe Potato.

Batman: The Caped Crusader Vol. 2

Continuing the collections of Batman's immediate post-Crisis on Infinite Earths adventures, this is Batman #433-444 and Batman Annual #13. Though Caped Crusader is said to skip "Death in the Family" (we don't know, we'll find out soon enough), this collects "Many Deaths of Batman" by John Byrne and Jim Aparo, "Year Three" (finally!) by Marv Wolfman, and apparently all of "Lonely Place of Dying" by Wolfman and Perez (the New Titans issue isn't mentioned but it must be in here). The annual has a story in it by Christopher Priest nee Jim Owsley.

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (DC Modern Classics Edition)

Hardcover with slipcase.

Batman: The Hush Saga Omnibus

In my opinion, one of the coolest things on this list is the Hush Saga Omnibus, collecting not just "Hush" for the umpteenth time, but also twenty-five issues of Gotham Knights(!), #50-74 by A. J. Lieberman, Detective Comics #846-852 and Batman: Streets of Gotham #1-4, #14, #16-21 by Paul Dini, plus more. Most of that Gotham Knights material has not been collected before.

Black Lightning: The Complete 1995 Series

Tony Isabella's 1995 Black Lightning series had Marv Wolfman/Jerry Ordway's Gangbuster Jose Delgado. I'm not sure how much else you need to know. I'd be thrilled to see this make it to publication.

Blackest Night Saga (DC Essential Edition)

Essential Editions being large trade paperbacks -- this is 450 pages collecting Blackest Night #0-8.

Bombshells: United Vol. 3

Issues #13-19.

Catwoman by Jim Balent Book Two

You'd probably be madder if we didn't also get another John Ostrander Suicide Squad book on this list. Anyway, Chuck Dixon, Deborah Pomerantz, and Jim Balent's Catwoman #14-24, #0, Catwoman Annual #2, and Showcase ’95 #4, including Zero Hour and "Year One" material.

Catwoman Vol. 1

Issues #1-6 of the new Joelle Jones series.

Challengers of the Unknown by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale

The eight-issue miniseries, back in paperback.

Cover Vol. 1

Issues #1-6 by Brian Michael Bendis and David Mack.

Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion Deluxe Vol. 2

The second collection of the Crisis tie-ins. Conceivably this could be the final book in this series, though the contents listed seem far from complete. There's some definite "red sky" (lightly tied-in) books listed like Detective Comics #558, and then also the Legends of the DCU special that was published later. I'm excited DC decided to do this and I look forward to other tie-in-type collections, irrespective of what's inside.

Damage Vol. 2 (New Age of Heroes)

The second collection of the Robert Venditti series, collecting issues #7-12.

Dark Nights: Metal: Dark Knights Rising

Paperback of the recent hardcover.

DC Comics: The Art of Bruce Timm

240 pages, arriving in April.

DC Meets Looney Tunes Vol. 2

Collects Catwoman/Sylvester and Tweety Special #1, Harley Quinn/Gossamer Special #1, The Joker/Daffy Duck Special #1, and Lex Luthor/Porky Pig Special #1.

DC Super Hero Girls: Spaced Out
Super Sons: The PolarShield Project

From the DC Zoom imprint.

DC Universe by Len Wein

Collects a variety of material by the late Len Wein, including the DC Retroactive: Green Lantern: The '80s and also the recent Swamp Thing Winter Special.

DC Valentine's Day/Love Stories Collection

This appears to be the recent Young Monsters in Love and Harley Quinn’s Valentine’s Day Special, plus a story or stories from among Jack Kirby's contributions to Young Romance #1 and #3. Which mixes some 2015/2018 stories with some late 1940s stories, and superheroes with soap opera drama; surely there's some crossover audience for this but it feels like kind of a flier.

DC: The New Frontier (DC Black Label Edition)
Kingdom Come (DC Black Label Edition)
Frank Miller's Ronin (DC Black Label Edition)

I'm not sure if books like DC: The New Frontier quite meet the criteria I imagined for Black Label (recognizing, of course, that what I imagined might be different from the reality). But moreover, I think shoehorning prior DC books into Black Label cheapens it a little; is it a place for new mature stories using the DC characters or is it the trade dress du jour under which to reprint New Frontier, Kingdom Come, et al before the next big thing comes along? Anyway, cool that this includes Justice League: New Frontier as recent collections have -- in my day, you had to read the miniseries and the special separately!

Death and Return of Superman Omnibus (New Edition)

A new edition of the omnibus (last released in 2013). This maps, if I'm reading it correctly, to the recent five-volume "Death of Superman" paperback set, excluding the books in Superman: Doomsday but including the various "Funeral for a Friend" specials and the "Bloodlines" annuals from that time.

Detective Comics Before Batman Omnibus Vol. 1
Detective Comics Before Batman Omnibus Vol. 2

The veritable detective stories that preceded the Dark Knight Detective (and featuring Slam Bradley and Speed Saunders, among others), this seems well placed before Detective Comics #1,000. The two books collects issues #1-13 and #14-26 respectively.

Detective Comics: 80 Years of Batman Deluxe Edition

So after Action #1000 we kind of know how this will go. With a cover by Jim Lee, this is out in March 2019, same time as Detective Comics #1000.

Elseworlds: Justice League Vol. 3

The next Elseworlds: Justice League collection includes Conjurors #1-3 (alt-reality team-up of DC's magic characters by Chuck Dixon and the late Eduardo Barreto, Flashpoint #1-3 (an older Flash miniseries, not the one before the New 52), Superman and Batman: World’s Funnest #1, JLA: Created Equal #1-2 and Green Lantern: 1001 Emerald Knights.

Elseworlds: Superman Vol. 2

A somewhat more direct Elseworlds: Superman volume, collecting just the four-part Superman/Wonder Woman: Whom Gods Destroy by Chris Claremont and Dusty Abell and the three-part Superman: The Dark Side by John Francis Moore and Kieron Dwyer.

Final Crisis (DC Essential Edition)

Says issues #1-7 but I've got to think Superman Beyond, at least, is also in there.

Fire

Graphic novel by Brian Michael Bendis.

Flash Vol. 9

Wow did some creators -- not even fans, but creators -- spoil recent Flash issues for me, and did it ever make me mad. After "Flash War," this is issues #52-56.

Flash: The Rebirth Deluxe Edition Book 4

Collects issues #28-38, the Vol. 5 Negative and Vol. 6 Cold Day in Hell collections.

Flash: The Silver Age Vol. 4

Flash #133-147.

Flash/Green Lantern: The Brave & the Bold Deluxe Edition

Deluxe-size collection of the Mark Waid/Barry Kitson miniseries.

Fortune and Glory: A True Hollywood Comic Book Story

Collects Brian Michael Bendis's three-part comics autobiography.

Green Lantern by Geoff Johns Book One

A new "recut" collection of the Geoff Johns era. Green Lantern Corps: Recharge is in here, so maybe this it a cutdown of the Green Lantern by Geoff Johns Omnibuses or maybe something larger, depending on how the next "book" goes. Collects Green Lantern: Rebirth #1-6, Green Lantern #1-3, Green Lantern Corps: Recharge #1-5, and Green Lantern Secret Files and Origins 2005.

Green Lantern: Earth One Vol. 1

Paperback of the graphic novel by Gabriel Hardman and Corinna Bechko.

Harley Quinn Vol. 2

The newly renumbered trade run (while the series keeps its same numbering) by Sam Humphries, which hopefully will as promised tie more closely to the DCU. Issues #50-56.

Hitman Book One

A "recut" new run of the Hitman collections, seemingly collecting more issues per book this time. This is Hitman #1-8, The Demon Annual #2, Batman Chronicles #4, and Hitman Annual #1.

Injustice 2 Vol. 4
Injustice 2 Vol. 5

Issues #21-26 and #27-32 respectively.

Injustice vs. Masters of the Universe

The team-up you never knew you wanted until it happened. Issues #1-6 by Tim Seeley and Freddie Williams, in hardcover.

JLA: New World Order (DC Essential Edition)

Supposed to be just JLA #1-5, but at 248 pages, maybe more JLA or Mark Waid's Midsummer's Nightmare.

Justice League Dark Vol. 1

Issues #1-6 by James Tynion. Your results may vary but I love having Tynion on another team book. Weirdly the "Witching Hour" crossover collection, which takes place after this book, will be released a month before this.

Justice League Odyssey Vol. 1

First collection, not arriving until May of next year, of the new series by Joshua Williamson and Stjepan Sejic. Collects issues #1-6.

Justice League of America: The Bronze Age Omnibus Vol. 3

Collects Justice League of America #147-181.

Justice League of America: The Bronze Age Vol. 1

Justice League of America #77-95

Justice League Vol. 2

Collects issues #7-14 by Scott Snyder and Jim Cheung. Arrives in May 2019, so nine months to a year after the first collection. The Rebirth double-shipping definitely had me spoiled ...

Justice League: The Rebirth Deluxe Edition Book 4

Yes, this collects Christopher Priest's whole run on Justice League, issues #34-43. No, that doesn't prove to me that these deluxe editions are continuing after Rebirth (because essentially what this does is clean up the original Rebirth-launched series). Then again, I can't see DC not collecting Scott Snyder's Justice League as deluxe, so we'll see.

Kamandi Challenge

Paperback edition of the hardcover released earlier this year.

League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Omnibus

Hardcover omnibus of League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen II and League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: The Black Dossier

Masters of the Universe Omnibus

As we've been hearing about lately, with hopefully a few other issues thrown in. Said to collect He-Man and the Masters of the Universe #1-19, He-Man: The Eternity War #1-15, DC Universe vs. Masters of the Universe #1-6, DC Comics Presents #47, and He-Man/Thundercats #1-6.

Mera: Tidebreaker
Under the Moon: A Catwoman Tale

The New DC Ink books.

Neil Gaiman's Stardust (New Edition)

Neil Gaiman with Charles Vess.

New Super-Man & the JLC Vol. 1: Justice League China

Though labeled as volume 1, this collects issues #19-24, which were the final issues of the newly retitled series.

New Teen Titans Omnibus Vol. 4

A new fourth New Teen Titans Omnibus (who's have thought years ago that we'd ever see this?). This collects through and then after the New Teen Titans Vol. 10 paperback also solicited here (issues #10-31 of the second series, annuals #1-2, and Omega Men #34).

New Teen Titans Vol. 10

The classic New Teen Titans paperbacks keep rocking and rolling like they should have done from the beginning. Collects issues #10-15 and Annual #1, including the book's tie-in to Crisis on Infinite Earths.

Outsiders by Judd Winick Book One

One of my favorite titles ever -- mature, character-driven, political, and nuanced. This collects the Titans/Young Justice: Graduation Day miniseries and then Teen Titans/Outsiders Secret Files #1 and Outsiders #1-7, the latter of which was originally in Outsiders Vol. 1: Looking for Trouble.

Pearl Vol. 1

Issues #1-5 by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Gaydos.

Plastic Man

Collects the six issue miniseries by Gail Simone and Adriana Melo, coming in April.

Powers Book Four

Issues #23-30 and #1-11.

Powers Book Three

Issues #1-22 of the book's second volume by Brian Michael Bendis.

Promethea: The Deluxe Edition Book One

Deluxe size of the Alan Moore/J. H. Williams series, collecting issues #1-12.

Sandman Vol. 5: A Game of You 30th Anniversary New Edition
Sandman Vol. 6: Fables & Reflections 30th Anniversary New Edition
Sandman Vol. 7: Brief Lives 30th Anniversary New Edition
Sandman Vol. 8: World's End 30th Anniversary New Edition

Issues #32-37; issues #29-31, #38-40, #50, and Sandman Special #1; issues #41-49; and issues #51-56 respectively.

Scalped Book Five

The final volume, collecting issues #50-60.

Scarlet Vol. 1

Issues #1-5 of the new Scarlet series.

Scooby Apocalypse Vol. 5

Issues #26-31.

Shazam! (New Edition)

New edition of the Geoff Johns/Gary Frank story, just before the movie's release.

Shazam!: Power of Hope Deluxe Edition

Deluxe-size version of Paul Dini and Alex Ross's illustrated prose story.

Silencer Vol. 2 (New Age of Heroes)

Collects issues #7-12 by Dan Abnett.

Six Days

Vertigo collection set during D-Day, World War II, by Robert Venditti and Kevin Maurer.

Sleeper Book Two

Coup D’etat: Sleeper and Sleeper Season Two #1-12 by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips.

Suicide Squad Vol. 8

Collects issues #41-48 by Rob Williams, guest-starring Batman. The Rebirth trades usually skipped over crossovers collected elsewhere, but these solicitations at least say this has the Aquaman/Suicide Squad issues within.

Suicide Squad Vol. 8: Legerdemain

Maybe the best news on this list is the continuation and conclusion of the John Ostrander Suicide Squad collections. This is issues #59-66, Ostrander's final issues on the series (excepting the later Blackest Night tie-in story, which is fine).

Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay

The digital series based on the recent animated film.

Supergirl Vol. 1

Collects issues #21-26 by Marc Andreyko, spinning out of the new Brian Michael Bendis Superman run.

Supergirl: Last Daughter (DC Essential Edition)

Collects the Supergirl Vol. 1: Last Daughter of Krypton and Supergirl Vol. 2: Girl in the World trades from the New 52 by Michael Green and Mike Johnson. I enjoyed these but I don't recall them being well received and the New 52 costume was much derided; at the same time, the last season of the Supergirl show was loosely based on this, so that's a selling point.

Superman Vol. 1

In hardcover, the first six issues by Brian Michael Bendis and Ivan Reis.

Superman: Action Comics Vol. 1

Issues #1,001-#1,006 by Brian Michael Bendis and Patrick Gleason.

Superman: The Golden Age Vol. 5

Paperback, collecting World’s Finest Comics #6-8, Superman #16-19, and Action Comics #48-57.

Superman: World Against Superman (DC Essential Edition)

Essential (paperback) edition of Grant Morrison's 18-issue run on the New 52 Action Comics (often with Rags Morales).

Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen by Jack Kirby

Continuing the individual-series breakdowns of the Jack Kirby's Fourth World omnibuses, this is issues #133-139 and #141-148.

Superman/Batman Vol. 7

The final Superman/Batman issues, #76-87 and Annual #5, some of which that haven't been collected before. With Judd Winick, Joshua Williamson (writing Supergirl and Damian), Joe Kelly, Cullen Bunn, and Joshua Hale Falkov.

Swamp Thing: Protector of the Green (DC Essential Edition)

Paperback collection of the Scott Snyder/Yanick Paquette New 52 run, including the Animal Man "Rotworld" crossover issues.

Takio: The Complete Collection

Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming's young readers title.

Teen Titans by Geoff Johns Book Three

Collects Teen Titans #20-26, #29-31 and Outsiders #24-25.

Teen Titans Vol. 1

The new team of Adam Glass and Bernard Chang; I'm dubious but I've been hearing good things. Collects the special and issues #20-24.

Titans Vol. 5

Collects Dan Abnett's "New Justice"-era Titans stories. Contents are listed as #19-22 and the Annual #2, but those are the contents of the fourth volume due out in September, so we'll see.

Torso

Graphic novel by Brian Michael Bendis.

Transmetropolitan Book One

Issues #1-12 of Transmet in paperback.

The Unexpected Vol. 1 (New Age of Heroes)

Spinning out of Metal, this is issues #1-6 by Scott Snyder and Ryan Sook.

Watchmen (DC Modern Classics Edition)

"DC Modern Classics Edition," which is hardcover with slipcase.

The Wild Storm Vol. 3

Issues #13-18.

Wonder Woman & the Justice League Dark: The Witching Hour

The first crossover of the "New Justice" era, including Wonder Woman #56-57 and Justice League Dark #4. It is good to see the often-removed Wonder Woman title getting involved in a crossover with the book where Diana leads the League.

Wonder Woman by Brian Azzarello & Cliff Chiang Omnibus

Issues #0-35 and Secret Origins #6 from the New 52 run. Personally I think, as with many things, there were good parts and bad parts of the New 52. Some would claim the New 42 was totally irredeemable, but there's an awful lot of New 52 material being collected in archival format on this list.

Wonder Woman by Phil Jimenez Omnibus

Good for Phil Jimenez, one of my long-time favorites, getting his own Wonder Woman omnibus (and with his Black Label Wonder Woman work with Kelly Sue DeConnick due out). This is issues #164-188 of that era (Paradise Lost and Paradise Found, plus some issues I don't think were ever collected before) with Wonder Woman: Our Worlds at War #1, DC Special: The Return of Donna Troy #1-4, and various Secret Files stories.

Wonder Woman Vol. 8: Dark Gods

The next collection by James Robinson, issues #46-50 and the annual #2. Steve Orlando comes on with the next book before G. Willow Wilson joins after that.

Wonder Woman: Spirit of Truth

Though not listed as deluxe, this is a new hardcover of the Paul Dini/Alex Rose illustrated prose book, like the Shazam book listed earlier.

Love your comments! Leave a note below and let me know what you think.

Comments ( 75 )

  1. Glad to see a new edition of death of superman omnibus. I'll be grabbing the WW ones as well. Not sure about these essential editions. Some are no Brainers. Others are head scratchers

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    1. Which are which?

      For me, as someone who found a lot to like among the much-derided New 52, the fact that the New 52 now seems to be DC's go-to for essential, continuity-light, or iconic takes on their characters is something of a delight.

      Delete
    2. I just figured they would start at the top with more classics. But maybe that's the point of the slipcase hardcovers. But you are right. It's very New 52 focused. I think they should have been called modern classics

      Delete
  2. I don’t think this is complete. No Flash by Mark Waid? Please, this can’t be complete. I need all of that.

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    1. Issue #105 was the last issue collected? Seems an odd place to stop. A movie on the horizon gives me hope.

      Delete
    2. Yes, #105 was the last collected. I hope they continue and fill the gap to the Morrison/Millar run (which starts with issues #130) and then continue with #142 till the end of his run.

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    3. And then do you want when he came back to Flash or leave those out of this set?

      Delete
    4. I also hope they reprint 106-129 to link up to the Morrison/Millar run. It would be cool if they then finished the rest of Waid's run up to the 5x Johns collections and the remaining issues up to 247

      I really hope they will go back and finally collect the first 61 issues/annual of Messner-Leobs and Baron's runs as well!

      Delete
    5. That's what I want. The Waid books are cool and all but some of it has been collected; that early-early stuff is virtually untouched.

      Delete
    6. There was a year-long wait between Johns Flash vols 3 and 4 so I'm not too concerned. Plus we got a reprint of Flash/GL so it's not entirely devoid of Waid's Flash.

      Delete
    7. So far, all Flash by Mark Waid volumes have come out within 6 months of each other, and since Book Five (collecting issues #106-118 and Impulse #10-11) is coming out in October, I was surprised not to see the next one in the Spring 2019 catalog. I'm still confident it will eventually come out, and I remain curious as to whether they'll change the title to "The Flash by Mark Waid and Brian Augustyn".

      Delete
    8. The exact title is escaping me right now but I just saw one of these "by creator" volumes where, like the second volume or something, they slipped a sub-credit just under the title for the artist. Maybe they'd do something like that for Augustyn.

      Delete
  3. Wow! I’m going to pick up the Hush omnibus. Side note I wish DC would collect Azzarello’s WW in deluxe edition format and give Dini’s Detective run some love.

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    1. Dini's Detective shows up in the Hush Omnibus? But yeah there were some good done-in-ones there worthy of a heftier trade. I wouldn't be surprised if the New 52 Wonder Woman gets deluxe sometime.

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    2. For any Hush fans out there, I believe there was a Hush story or two in the Batman Beyond comics as well, which I don't see listed in this Omnibus. I remember enjoying them.

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    3. Recall who wrote them?

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    4. Adam Beechen?
      https://smile.amazon.com/Batman-Beyond-Hush-Adam-Beechen/dp/1401229883

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    5. Yeah "Hush Beyond" was the first 6 issues of Batman Beyond from 2010, it was a great return for Terry and finally saw the return of Dick Grayson to the DCAU-verse after being absent (barring a few references) from the whole show!

      Delete
  4. I see a lot of this in DC's recent solicitations but where does the rest come from, do you have a crystal ball I don't know about?

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    1. Edelweiss puts out catalogs 3 times a year with a decent chunk of the upcoming books

      https://www.edelweiss.plus/#catalogID=4280555&page=1

      Delete
    2. A little background: Regular book publishing has a much longer solicitation schedule than monthly direct market comics. Most publishers announce new titles in two or three "seasons" each year, about six months in advance. My own employer (in academic publishing) typically announces the Fall/Winter season schedule (releases Aug–Jan) the preceding March and a Spring/Summer schedule (releases Feb–July) the preceding September.

      Since collected editions sell primarily through normal book channels, DC has to follow the norms of regular book publishing. It is a little strange that the announcement is so under the radar, though, being pushed out to Edelweiss but not announced with a press release.

      Delete
    3. Cheers for the info, you'd think a little more lead time would give them a better chance to get their pre-orders up although I suppose it would be more painful to reschedule with so many delays to the floppies if they were announcing so far in advance

      Delete
  5. The info on TEC Deluxe Book 4 can't be right, can it? It reads #974-982 but it should be #975-987!?

    I'm also sad that so much old stuff isn't continued (at least in spring of next year):
    - Batman: New Gotham (I still had hopes they would conclude Ruckas run like they did with Brubaker)
    - Green Lantern: Kyle Rayner (although Vol. 3 is coming out in January)
    - Superman: Blue (too soon, perhaps!?)
    - The Flash by Mark Waid (still waiting for Chain Lightning and The Dark Flash Saga)
    - Some "Adventures" Title, like Superman Adventures, Vol. 5 or Gotham Adventures, Vol. 1 or Adventures in the DC Universe, Vol. 1



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    1. I guess that is a little short for the deluxe Rebirth Detective Comics; as listed it would only be Batmen Eternal.

      I figured two volumes would be it for the New Gotham books. Next gets into Murderer/Fugitive (and surely we don't want just the Rucka parts, right?) and then I think Rucka was done.

      Delete
    2. Yeah, but the "Batman by Ed Brubaker" had the murderer/fugitive parts written by him. I hoped they would go the same route with the New Gotham trades.

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    3. Oh, you're tickling my fancy with the very notion of an "Adventures in the DC Universe" trade. That was one of my first pull-list titles back in the day - not a bad issue in the bunch. I recall some fairly iconic Shazam stories, and the book will always have a special place in my heart for introducing me to The Question and Mister Miracle. I know the Dini/Timm story with Batman and Poison Ivy on a cruise ship has been repeated, but much of this underrated gem hasn't been seen in years. I'd happily double-dip for a trade, and I expect DC could market it very well indeed as a primer for young readers.

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    4. Adventures in the DCU was a great proto-DCAU Justice League series that should be reprinted. I really hope now Batman & Robin Adventures is completed in TPB that they will move onto Gotham Adventures, Batman Beyond and the short-lived Batman Adventures vol 2 by Dan Slott

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  6. Thanks for the comments! Those of you who commented before this post was on our social media channels, how did you know the post was here?

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  7. Can only hope that Robin, Nightwing, Kyle Rayner, Titans and the likes will come later on.

    Big omission here is Power of Shazam. I was sure they’d start to collect that with the movie coming up. A shame.

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    Replies
    1. Probably worth a polite inquiry on Dan DiDio's Facebook page. Sometimes that yields useful information.

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    2. Paul-
      I totally agree! It is a crime that Power of Shazam has never been collected. It is such a underrated series. I think it was overlooked because of the gritty and dark era it came out in. I hope if this movie is successful they will finally release the whole thing. To be honest, I was amazed they didn't release it when John's JSA was hot since Capt Marvel and Black Adam were a major part of his run.

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    3. Given that Geoff Johns' new Shazam series seems to follow from his previous, I wonder if they're trying not to confuse things with multiple Shazam-version trades out there. Though that's been no big deal with Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, etc. so I wouldn't think that's the impediment.

      Delete
    4. Definitely agree about Robin, Nightwing & Kyle Rayner. If only they would also restart the Cassandra Cain Batgirl, Birds of Prey and Azrael lines again as well!

      Delete
  8. I know you have extra info that's not on Amazon (right?), but are we sure that the YOUNG ROMANCE #1 referenced in the Valentine's trade isn't the New 52 YOUNG ROMANCE special? I don't think that's ever been collected (tell me if I'm wrong), and this seems like a logical spot.

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    1. Oh, I guess the Amazon blurb does mention Kirby specifically.

      Delete
    2. Sure, though the answer could be "both," too. Bits and pieces of the New 52 Young Romance special have been collected. Now as for Young Heroes in Love ...

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  9. Wait... Where are the next Jack of Fables and Hellblazer collections?
    Maybe in the summer? (w/ more Legion)

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  10. Interested to see if the first few Titans Spotlight issues that Wolfman actually wrote get collected in any of these subsequent omnibuses. Those first few are pretty solid and "important."

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Which are those and where would they fit?

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  11. Really looking forward to that '95 Black Lightning collection. "Blowed Away," with Jefferson Pierce hallucinating as he slowly dies from gunshot wounds is, IMO, the best thing Isabella's ever written.

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  12. I really hope the Girl Frenzy: Donna Troy one shot gets published in the Wonder Woman by Phil Jimenez omnibus. It is probably one of my favorite Donna stories. The art is absolutely breathtaking!

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    Replies
    1. Why not hang our hopes on a Girlfrenzy trade? There were some real gems in there - a solid Batgirl story with her in pursuit of Zsasz (which should be a no-brainer for any best-of-Batgirl trade), Amanda Conner on a Lois Lane story (with killer polar bears), plus the debut of The Secret from Young Justice. Plus a Mist one-shot that /was/ collected in a Starman omnibus

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    2. Girlfrenzy trade FTW. Another that someone should go post on Dan DiDio's Facebook page.

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    3. FWIW, it was collected in last year’s ragtag Wonder Girl: Adventures of a Teen Titan collection. However, I also hope it will end up in the Jimenez omnibus, along with all of his Donna Troy backup stories.

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    4. I didn't realize that it had been reprinted in the Wonder Girl trade. Maybe I will have to check that book out. Are the other stories any good?

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  13. Since the Black Label imprint is potentially the best idea that the DC publishing division has had since, well, DC: The New Frontier, I have no problem with them retroactively including New Frontier, Kingdom Come, and Ronin (as well as probably Watchmen, The Dark Knight Returns, maybe The Killing Joke, and (even though I don't particularly like it) All-Star Superman) under the label. If Black Label is (as I suspect) DC's answer to "what self-contained stories should I give to my non-comics-reading friends?" then I think all the stuff that DC has ever published that meets that criteria (and, frankly, it's not that much, all things considered) all in one place.

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    1. EDIT: They should also include Batman: Year One.

      Delete
    2. Yeah ... but like, they've also got Modern Classics going right now and Essential Editions ... my two cents, I'd rather see Black Label be its own imprint than another way to release old books in hardcover with new branding. That makes it feel a little cheaper to me, like these books will only be "Black Label" till the next catchy name comes along. (The loyalty I have to an imprint with no books yet!)

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    3. A new edition of Batman: Year One originally set for release in September has been cancelled (per the fall catalog on Edelweiss), which makes me think a Black Label edition may be in the works. (A Ronin new edition scheduled for this summer was also cancelled to make way for the Black Label edition resolicitation.)

      Delete
    4. I agree with you, Collected Editions, that DC has too many "brands" right now that aren't well differentiated. I don't even think I understand the primary identity of Black Label, particularly as it pertains to reprinting other material. Is it edgy and adult superheroes (in which case, New Frontier doesn't really fit) or is it stand-alone, out-of-continuity, auteurist (but not necessarily "adult" or edgy) takes on the main DCU characters (in which case Ronin doesn't fit)?

      Obviously it's too late now, but I think DC made a big mistake back in the 90s by grouping together under Vertigo both mature readers DCU books (like Swamp Thing, Animal Man, and Sandman) with mature readers non-DCU, creator-owned books (like Preacher) and then letting the DCU half of Vertigo wither and die in the early 2000s. Vertigo should be the mature readers DCU line today just like it was twenty years ago. Behind the scenes, the Vertigo editorial office handles Black Label, (formerly) Young Animal, and Mister Miracle, so why aren't they marketed together?

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    5. I remember DC originally marketing Black Label as bringing together "the biggest names in comics" and not focusing so much on "marturity" or continuity. I think the announcement that Johns and Fabok's "Three Jokers", ostensibly in-canon, would be Black Label proves, to me at least, that the imprint is more about the names involved than content, and surely books by Darwin Cooke or Mark Waid fit that billing.

      Delete
    6. I have no problem with DC having multiple brands. Disney has multiple brands in their film division (Disney main, Pixar, Lucasfilm, Marvel, and (I assume it's still around) Touchstone for grown-up films) and they do just fine. I don't particularly care what they call them, but I think DC could do something similar and align their brands this way:

      -- DC Universe (For the main, 75-year-long in-continuity ongoing soap opera. This would be the bulk of their output. Their bread and butter. Probably the brand I personally would be least interested in. All the Geoff Johns crap would automatically go here.)

      -- Kids (Kid-friendly comics. Maybe heavily weighted toward material based on animated television properties (including Hanna-Barbera). If he were interested, have Alan Burnett from WB animation and the DCAU run this brand.)

      -- Prestige (This could be the Modern Classics or Black Label. The creme de la creme. Self-contained, non-continuity books. I would include Ronin, Dark Knight Returns, Watchmen, Batman Year One, Kingdom Come, The New Frontier, All-Star Superman, and maybe Sandman Overture. I would keep this one as the most strictly curated. DC's version of the Criterion Collection. These are the books you give to your non-comics-reading friends. Mark Chiarello could run this.)

      -- Vertigo (Non-super-hero, genre fiction (e.g., crime, fantasy, science fiction). I know these aren't all DC properties, but it could be the DC equivalent of Sandman, Hellboy, Criminal, Powers, Sin City, Black Science, Saga. DC's equivalent of HBO. Ideally Karen Berger would still be running this.)

      -- Classic (Reprint line, essentially what the golden age and silver age omnibuses are today.)

      -- Experimental (This could be a hybrid of what I think Young Animal and Black Label are supposed to be. Creators taking chances. Mark Chiarello could run this one, too.)

      Those are just my thoughts. If they do strict brand management with clear, elegant, well-designed trade dress, I think they could appeal to a much wider, more diverse audience.

      Delete
  14. Glad to see a follow up Bronze Age Batgirl omnibus, although I think they should really include "Batgirl Special 1" as it was Batgirl's last full appearance before "The Killing Joke" (barring COIE apperances)

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  15. Did they discontinue the trade paperbacks for Astro City? I notied my pre-order for volume 15 is now scheduled for release in "2035" :/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Looks like it. The Summer 2018 catalog at Edelweiss lists Astro City Vol. 15 TP as cancelled.

      https://www.edelweiss.plus/#catalogID=4249335&page=2

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  16. No Batman by Morrison Omnibus Vol. 2. Damn!

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    Replies
    1. I'm with you. I just finished Vol 1 and am ready to move on to the next one (whenever it appears).

      Delete
  17. I assumed the Balent Catwoman was going to be a one & done considering how the Dixon Robin recollections died. Pleasantly surprised if it makes it to release.

    Disappointed that the new Johns Teen Titans books don’t have the fill in issues, would be nice for completeness.

    Disappointed that Bendis Superman is HC first, but it is what it is.

    Super miffed at the continued absence of the last Rucka WW book.

    I’m surprised that those Detective Comics Omnibi don’t have the golden age branding, would fit in well there.

    Blackest Night going for 30 bucks and the addition of ‘Saga’ to the title makes me think there’s some GL or GLC issues in there, which there really should be considering how it reads without them.

    I wonder what those New Age of Heroes and Post Metal / New Justice books will have for new spines and designs.

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    1. Even without the Rebirth ribbon on the front cover, most post-Metal books have still had the Rebirth ribbon on the title page, black and white cover pages, etc. -- so not going too far away from the Rebirth trade dress even as they don't say Rebirth on the cover. We'll have to see once we get down to the "New Justice" Justice League proper whether the trade dress changes further. A sample cover I saw of one of the New Age of Heroes trades has a lined, almost-solid colored bar at the top of the front cover, and something that looks like DC's current single-issue logo and franchise identification along the top-left side. Don't know if that'll hold or not.

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  18. Finally! The final volume of the original SS run will be released next year. And nice to see Scott's run on Swamp Thing collected.

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  19. I'll be getting the Wonder Woman by Phil Jimenez omnibus and the two Justice League Dark trades. Also the Plastic Man trade.

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  20. Finally a reprint of Waid's Brave and Bold mini!

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  21. Thank god for your website. I always find out this information late and end up chasing books. I am interested in this Geoff Johns GL redux. I have all of the individual hardcovers, but would love a Rebirth Deluxe HC similar editions. Cannot compliment that style of hardcover enough. Also with all this republishing, it allows me to read things I never got to read. Started late in the graphic novel game. Trying to catch up but stay in budget$$$$$$$

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    Replies
    1. Welcome -- glad you're enjoying the site!

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  22. Paul CollinsJuly 29, 2018

    I'm also wondering when we will see the Wonder Woman by Greg Rucka run finished. Expecting a Vol 3 to cover #s 218-226 to come at some point, its been a long time since Vol 2.

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    Replies
    1. My mantra these days is where there's an upcoming movie, there's hope.

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  23. AnonymousJuly 30, 2018

    Great post and discussion, as always!

    Regarding THE CAPED CRUSADER vol 2, I think it will be updated if the new info on Vol 1 turns out to be ok.

    According to the new book description on Amazon, it WILL include "Death in the Family". But if it does, the TPB will end at #430 and not #432, so Vol 2 will not begin at #433 but #431.

    New description of CAPED CRUSADER VOL 1:
    --
    This new collection of 1980s Batman tales includes the legendary story "A Death in the Family," in which the Joker ends up killing the secon Robin, Jason Todd. It all begins with the story "Ten Nights of the Beast," which introduced the deadly post-Soviet villain known as the KGBeast. Following that, a series of stories concerning organized crime in the streets of Gotham City leads into "A Death in the Family," in which Robin follows a trail to find his birth mother, who is in cahoots with the Joker.

    Collects BATMAN #417-430 and BATMAN ANNUAL #12.
    --

    When the book finally comes out, we will be able to confirm this. If it is ok, it's great news! I prefer them to collect all series in a row.

    Vol 2 then will start at 431 and then it has to collect the Titans crossover issues for "A lonely place", so it will probably won't collect until #444 either.

    David

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    Replies
    1. Awesome news though I'm getting whiplash with this one. Moving issues #431-432 works since they were two by Jim Owsley (Christopher Priest) before John Byrne's story. How'd you happen to catch the updated listing?

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    2. AnonymousJuly 30, 2018

      Here! when they updated with final cover, they included new content description.

      https://www.amazon.com/Batman-Caped-Crusader-Vol-1/dp/1401281362/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1532945641&sr=8-3&keywords=the+caped+crusader

      David

      Delete
  24. Still have my fingers crossed for the rumored Absolute Editions of Moore's Swamp Thing run. Also, hoping sales have been strong enough for more PAD Aquaman, Marz GL and Waid/Peyer Legions collections.

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  25. They've added a few more to the catalog. There's another Nightwing Rebirth Deluxe.

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  26. It's been announced that the first volume of the Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion has had its contents changed. The first volume now includes:

    DC COMICS PRESENTS #78
    ALL-STAR SQUADRON #50-60
    THE FURY OF THE FIRESTORM #41-42
    GREEN LANTERN #194-198

    There has to be a third volume as there are still tie-ins missing....Blue Devil, Amethyst & Omega Men for example.

    My guess is that Volume 3 would include:

    AMETHYST #13
    BLUE DEVIL #17-18
    DC COMICS PRESENTS #87-88
    JLA ANNUAL #3
    LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #18
    OMEGA MEN #31
    SUPERMAN #414-415
    SWAMP THING #46
    WONDER WOMAN #327-329.

    They seem to be doing 18-19 issues per volume and, as you said, including some unbannered "Red Sky" issues for consistency...So it's possible that they'll also include:

    DC COMICS PRESENTS #95
    LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #16
    OMEGA MEN #33
    SUPERMAN #413
    SWAMP THING #44

    Or perhaps the Pre-Crisis Monitor cameos...

    ReplyDelete
  27. Why are The Flash Rebirth Deluxe Edition Books 3 and 4 both solicited as covering #28-38? I'm sure there's a discrepancy somewhere.

    ReplyDelete

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