DC Trade Solicitations for November 2018 - Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion Vol. 2, Batman: Prodigal, Flash War, Animal Man 30th Anniversary, Batman Vol. 8: Cold Days, Harley vs. Apokolips, Snyder's New Challengers

Among DC Comics' November 2018 trade paperback and hardcover solicitations, I find myself most excited about a bunch of regular-series books, which is a good thing. Special reprints are great -- including this month's second volume of the Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion -- but when I'm excited for the next volume of so many of the current ongoing series, that's when you know DC is on the right path.

Included in those I'm most eager for this month are Flash Vol. 8: Flash War (which seems to be taking so long to get here!), Batman Vol. 8: Cold Days and Batman: Detective Comics Vol. 8: On the Outside (each in their own way representing a new beginning for their respective titles), Aquaman Vol. 6: Kingslayer and Mera, Queen of Atlantis (and the crossovers with Suicide Squad and Justice League to follow!), and the final volume of the original Rebirth team on Batgirl and the last collection of Trinity.

Of course, in addition to the Crisis book, we can't overlook a new collection of Batman: Prodigal (important mainly because next up is Troika!) and the well-deserved first hardcover volume of Grant Morrison's Animal Man.

Dig in to the rest of the list with me, won't you?

• Absolute Scarlet Vol. 1 HC

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

• Animal Man by Grant Morrison Book One 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition HC

It's been over ten years now since I last read Grant Morrison's Animal Man issues -- time sure flies. This is said to collect Animal Man #1-13 and the Secret Origins #39 story. It's interesting that this breaks in the middle of the second Animal Man trade, "Origin of the Species"; that's an OK split point if I recall correctly (and halfway through Morrison's initial run), but I'm surprised this didn't break by trade. Anyway, clearly a part of DC's canon and long overdue for hardcover.

• Aquaman Vol. 6: Kingslayer TP

Dan Abnett's issues #34-40 and Annual #2. Have I mentioned how thrilled I am that Abnett's Aquaman is going to get to cross-over with Justice League before Abnett's run ends? Well deserved. I was thinking the other day about my favorite Rebirth runs and this was an easy one.

• Batgirl Vol. 4: Strange Loop TP

Resolicited, this is now issues Hope Larson's #18-24 and the relevant stories from issue #25 before Marguerite Bennett takes over. I liked the first volume of this run, wasn't so hot on the second, then liked the third, but I'm probably ready to see a new creative team.

• Batman and Superman in World's Finest: The Silver Age Omnibus Vol. 2 HC

World’s Finest Comics #117-158.

• Batman Beyond Vol. 4: Target: Batman TP

Issues #20-25 of the Dan Jurgens series.

• Batman Vol. 8: Cold Days TP

Issues #51-57 by Tom King (formerly #51-56), taking place after the last volume's big events. I saw King call #53 "the big one" the other day and I almost went and read it, but I'm going to try to wait for the trade for this one and avoid spoilers. Only three months to go ...

• Batman: Detective Comics Vol. 8: On the Outside TP

Issues #982-987 (formerly #982-986) by Bryan Hill, leading we now know into a forthcoming "Outsiders" series.

• Batman: Europa TP

The four-part miniseries by Matteo Casali, Brian Azzarello, Jim Lee, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Diego Latorre, and Gerard Parel. Might at this point have been right for Black Label ...?

• Batman: Prodigal TP

Still more from the Knightfall Omnibuses, we get Batman #512-514, Batman: Shadow of the Bat #32-34, Robin #11-13, and Detective Comics #679-681, the classic "Prodigal" story. Delightfully, this will be followed in February by a "Troika" collection with that story plus Vengeance of Bane #2 and Nightwing: Alfred's Return.

• Batman: The Rebirth Deluxe Edition Book Three HC

Said to collect Batman #33-44 (formerly #33-43) and Annual #2, the Batman Vol. 5: Rules of Engagement and Batman Vol. 6: Bride or Burglar paperbacks. Taken together this is a fun "engagement" volume, especially in ignorance of what comes next, though the solicitations are still referring to the "Mattie" story that was different when it was published.

• Batman/The Shadow: The Murder Geniuses TP

Paperback, following the hardcover, of the six-issue miniseries by Scott Snyder, Steve Orlando, and Riley Rossmo, plus a story from Batman Annual #1. I've been thinking of reading this; does anyone know how DC's Batman/Shadow series compared to Dynamite's Shadow/Batman series? Better, worse, connected?

• Cave Carson Has an Interstellar Eye TP

Collects issues #1-6 by Jon Rivera and Michael Avon Oeming.

• Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion Deluxe Edition Vol. 2 HC

This might seem like the last of a two-volume series, collecting as it does the much-later-published Legends of the DCU: Crisis on Infinite Earths special. But Bob Greenberger is apparently consulting on this and he's said it's three volumes, so we'll see. Irrespective, we need to pre-order the heck out of this if only to encourage DC to release other such crossover tie-in "companion" books after it.

• The Curse of Brimstone Vol. 1: Inferno TP

By Justin Jordan with art by Philip Tan. Collects issues #1-6 of the "New Age of Heroes" series.

• DC Meets Hanna-Barbera Vol. 2 TP

Collects Flash/Speed Buggy, Super Sons/Dynomutt, Black Lightning/Hong Kong Phooey, and Aquaman/Jabberjaw.

• Death and Return of Superman Omnibus HC New Edition

A new edition of the omnibus (last released in 2013). Previously I thought this mapped 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. This month's solicitation no longer mentions the annuals, but I'd be surprised because otherwise it's not clear how this differs from previous printings of this book.

• Doom Patrol Vol. 2: Nada TP

Collects issues #7-12. At least according to this month's solicitations, Doom Patrol is still ongoing.

• The Flash Vol. 8: Flash War TP

Joshua Williamson's Flash War story, about which I'm very excited. Previously this was solicited as issues #44-48, but it's now #46-51 and a story from the Annual #1, which makes more sense.

• Goldfish TP New Edition

By Brian Michael Bendis.

• Green Arrow: War of the Clans (DC Essential Edition) TP

Quite a fine run, this is the New 52 Green Arrow #17-34, #23.1, the "Futures End" issue, and a story from Secret Origins #4. It is exactly the Green Arrow by Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino hardcover, but in paperback.

• Harley Loves Joker by Paul Dini HC

Paul Dini's backup stories from issues #17-25 of the Rebirth Harley Quinn, plus the two-issue series.

• Harley Quinn Vol. 1: Harley vs. Apokolips TP

I'm excited to see that Sam Humphries' run will tie the Harley Quinn title closer to the DC Universe and I hope DC is serious about that -- not just putting Harley in familiar DCU places, but actually dealing with DC continuity (like, last time I checked, Granny Goodness is imprisoned on a newly democratic Apokolips). That'd mitigate at least somewhat this darn renumbering of the collections when the series itself isn't renumbering ...

• The Hellblazer Vol. 4: The Good Old Days TP

Issues #18-24 by Tim Seeley, the final collection of the latest John Constantine series. With John in Legends of Tomorrow, no doubt he'll be headlining again somewhere soon. Interested to see Seeley write Huntress with Constantine.

• Injustice Vol. 3 TP
• Injustice Vol. 4 HC

Paperback and hardcover collections of Injustice 2, with issues #13, #15-17, and the Annual #1, and #18-24 respectively. I love reading the solicitations for these books for how nutty they are -- Nightwing teamed with Black Adam to free an imprisoned Wonder Woman, the Teen Titans stuck in the Phantom Zone. What?!

• Jinx TP New Edition

Graphic novel by Bendis.

• Justice League: The World's Greatest Superheroes by Alex Ross and Paul Dini TP New Edition

A new paperback collection of Paul Dini and Alex Ross's Superman: Peace on Earth, Batman: War on Crime, Shazam!: Power of Hope, Wonder Woman: Spirit of Truth, JLA: Secret Origins, and JLA: Liberty and Justice. We also seem to be getting hardcovers of these, even the Shazam one in these same solicitations.

• The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Jubilee Edition HC

Don't know what "Jubilee Edition" means but this is a hardcover omnibus of League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen II and League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: The Black Dossier, including apparently a 3D section.

• Mera, Queen of Atlantis TP

Collects the six-issue miniseries by Dan Abnett and Lan Medina. Even more excited for this now that I see how it fits following Aquaman Vol. 5: The Crown Comes Down.

• New Challengers TP

Issues #1-6 by Scott Snyder and Andy Kubert et al. We now know this series-turned-miniseries only went six issues.

• Nightwing Vol. 1: The Bleeding Edge TP

Not thrilled that with issue #48, Nightwing restarts its collection numbering. At the same time, Benjamin Percy did a great job on Green Arrow, so I'm enthusiastic about this run (wouldn't have minded if some of the Green Arrow artists came with him!). Collects issues #44-48 and Annual #1.

• Powers Book Two TP New Edition

Issues #21-37 and Annual #1 of the Bendis series.

• The Sandman Vol. 3: Dream Country 30th Anniversary Edition TP

Issues #17-20, with a new introduction by Paul Dini.

• Scalped Book Four TP

Issues #35-49.

• Scarlet Book Two TP

Issues #6-10 by Bendis.

• Shazam!: Power of Hope HC

Deluxe-size hardcover version of Paul Dini and Alex Ross's illustrated prose story, also collected in paperback with some of their other books in these same solicitations.

• Superman: The Rebirth Deluxe Edition Book Three HC

Collects issues #27-36, which is the Superman Vol. 5: Hopes and Fears paperback and part of the Superman Vol. 6: Imperius Lex paperback.

Previously this was supposed to also include issues #39-41, which is a one-off by writers Patrick Gleason and Peter Tomasi and then a two-parter by James Robinson -- so it's fine if they bump that to another book, and with issues #42-45 and the Superman Special, that's a little short for a deluxe hardcover but not too bad. It remains to be seen if the next hardcover also includes issues #38-39, the Super Sons of Tomorrow tie-ins; original plans didn't have those included, but usually the Rebirth deluxe hardcovers have gone completely sequential, crossover tie-in issues or not, so I hope they do the same here.

• Superman/Shazam!: First Thunder Deluxe Edition HC

This was a four-parter from the Infinite Crisis era. I reviewed this as a pleasant all-ages tale miniseries by Judd Winick and Joshua Middleton; I still really wish they'd also included Action Comics #826, Adventures of Superman #639, and Superman #216, a sequel to this by Winick and Ian Churchill.

• Trinity Vol. 4: The Search For Steve Trevor TP

The final volume of Trinity, straight to paperback, collecting issues #17-22. This is James Robinson writing the Big Three teamed up with the Warlord characters -- I really, really, really hope Robinson preserves the Warlord continuity of Convergence.

• Wildstorm: Michael Cray Vol. 2 TP

The second collection by Detective Comics and "Outsiders" writer Bryan Hill, collecting issues #7-12.

• Wonder Woman Vol. 7: Amazons Attacked TP

James Robinson's second volume, collecting issues #38-45. Knowing as we do now that this run and Steve Orlando's to follow are both "temporary" ahead of G. Willow Wilson, I'm eager to relax into this one despite some rumblings I've heard about it. With Superman recently on Apokolips and Harley Quinn to go there, I'm curious about the Darkseid developments here and how they tie into the larger DCU.

• Wonder Woman: The Golden Age Vol. 2 TP

In paperback, Sensation Comics #15-24, Wonder Woman #4-7, and Comics Cavalcade #2-5.

What will you be reading this month?

Review: Batgirl Vol. 2: Son of Penguin (Rebirth) trade paperback (DC Comics)

If Hope Larson's first Rebirth Batgirl volume was a slight deviation from the established "Burnside" aesthetic, Batgirl Vol. 2: Son of Penguin is a distinct return to form. Larson gets points not only for furthering "Burnside" in tone (and artist Chris Wildgoose, for following Babs Tarr and others on visuals) but also for integrating tech into the story in modern, believable ways, just like the previous team. Unfortunately, a lot of what I didn't like about "Burnside" is back here: a lack of suspenseful, concerning threats, and a story weighted so heavily toward character as to plod at times. I also felt Larson really lost the ending, between some big plot leaps and a truly eye-rolling villain. I was more enthused for this run last time around; now I'm more ready for the next team to come on.

Review: New Super-Man Vol. 3: Equilibrium (Rebirth) trade paperback (DC Comics)

I have found at times New Super-Man has a tendency to lag, and often the book gets too banterful for its own good. But if New Super-Man Vol. 3: Equilibrium has something of a rough start (and a wholly unnecessary Suicide Squad appearance), it picks up with some time travel, meta-commentary, and familiar DC Universe guest-stars. It's no secret this book becomes New Super-Man and the Justice League of China with its next volume, and indeed that's the best part of this book, that the annoying characters with which this book started out have actually coalesced into an enjoyable team with their own rhythm and in-jokes. New Super-Man has been better the more its shown heart, and that comes through very well this time around.

Review: Trinity Vol. 3: Dark Destiny (Rebirth) trade paperback (DC Comics)

I'm pretty high on Rob Williams after his recent, good Suicide Squad volume, so I'm inclined to give him a pass on Trinity Vol. 3: Dark Destiny. Given Cullen Bunn kicking this off in Trinity's second volume (and the increasing modular nature of this title), it would seem this story was more brought to Williams than that this is the story he's long been dying to tell. And having mostly just one artist, V Ken Marion, pen Dark Destiny is an impressive and rare feat, offering that if DC would just get rid of those darn interspersed covers and issue credits, this could read like a graphic novel.

But aside from a clever use of trinities within trinities, we've got a five-part story here that most assuredly could have just been two or three, and that's mostly a repetitive series of the characters running around and fighting the same opponents for five issues. That makes for often long and tedious reading. Better is the one-shot Suicide Squad-themed issue at the end; Williams' stories clearly perk up when he's writing more in his wheelhouse, and I think I would have much more enjoyed seeing DC's Big Three face off against the Squad (which, in part, is where all of this is leading back in Williams' own title anyway).

Review: Batgirl and the Birds of Prey Vol. 3: Full Circle (Rebirth) trade paperback (DC Comics)

The Rebirth Batgirl and the Birds of Prey Vol. 3: Full Circle addresses many of my concerns about the previous book -- the stakes are higher, the conflicts more personal, there's some real danger within the pages. At the same time, the book still feels soft to me -- perhaps due to its jokey aesthetic, one knows better than normal here that nothing really bad will happen to the principals, and the book is overwritten to the point where the story drags at times. I'd call this a mild trend up for this series if it wasn't the last volume; in that respect, this is an OK enough conclusion insofar as what this book has been capable of, but I'm hopeful DC's will take another run at Birds of Prey some time with more oomph behind it.

Review: Batgirl Vol. 1: Beyond Burnside (Rebirth) trade paperback (DC Comics)

Given that the "Batgirl of Burnside" era seems about to end, I can appreciate that writer Hope Larson keeps much of the previous run's tone in the Rebirth Batgirl Vol. 1: Beyond Burnside even as she moves Barbara Gordon out of the Gotham neighborhood. The story is entertaining, with a better international flair even than DC books set specifically overseas. Larson's portrayal of Barbara is sound, despite that the writer relies slightly too much on coincidence in the plot; there are a couple story decisions that seem controversial to me, but I'd rather a book that takes chances than one that doesn't. It's great to see so much serial work by Rafael Albuquerque here, even if for just this one volume.

Review: Trinity Vol. 2: Dead Space (Rebirth) hardcover/paperback (DC Comics)

Superman/Batman (or variably, Batman/Superman) was at its best when the title had a laser focus, usually under one writer crafting toward a specific goal. Less effective was when the book became an anthology title. It's not so much that I want titles like this to have strong, immediate ties to the larger DC universe every time, but when the book doesn't even have its own internal continuity -- when the adventures don't build on one another, when there aren't continuing subplots or supporting characters -- that's when I begin to find titles like these dull.

Francis Manapul and friends' Trinity Vol. 2: Dead Space does both follow from events in the first volume and also tie into the Superman Reborn event, but all of that is exceptionally mild. Two or so issues of Manapul drawing the Justice League is no slouch, but this could as soon be a Justice League story (a title which has had its own anthology-type problems). In all its hard to attribute much importance to this book when it doesn't emerge as more than a one-off League or Superman/Batman/Wonder Woman tale.

Review: Suicide Squad Vol. 6: The Secret History of Task Force X trade paperback (DC Comics)

Rob Williams' Suicide Squad has had highs and lows, but when it works, it really works. Suicide Squad Vol. 6: The Secret History of Task Force X is a case in point; though not the strongest in every aspect, after twenty-five issues the stories seem to flow so effortlessly and Williams has developed such a rapport with these characters that picking up the newest volume of Suicide Squad is eminently comforting. Blending DC Comics history with modern Suicide Squad mayhem, Secret History demonstrates how far Suicide Squad has come through sheer dogged workmanship.

Review: Green Lanterns Vol. 3: Polarity (Rebirth) trade paperback (DC Comics)

The Rebirth Green Lanterns Vol. 3: Polarity does improve on a lot of what's plagued this book so far. I still think Sam Humphries jocular Green Lanterns read a tad flimsy, but his characterization is head and shoulders better than before, both for Jessica Cruz and, especially in this volume, Simon Baz. Here, Humphries begins to get into the hangups that plague these characters specifically, going beyond the surface to aspects that differentiate these characters as individuals, and it makes for a much more involving read than this book has offered so far.

[Review contains spoilers]

Largely Polarity is Simon Baz's book, but Humphries kicks off with a one-issue Jessica story. Starting with Jessica's struggle to get out of bed in the morning, Humphries' spotlight here is considerably more detailed than any examination he's offered so far of Jessica's (generically named) "anxiety," including what methods she uses for self-therapy. The splash page by Miguel Mendonca of Jessica's doubts literally swirling all around her seemed a particularly cogent visual representation of what she experiences. I might still have liked to see Humphries take this farther -- where did Jessica learn her coping techniques, why or why not might Jessica seek professional assistance, etc. -- but this is better than before. I'm also glad that Humphries swiftly reversed Jessica's announcement in Green Lanterns Vol. 2: The Phantom Lantern that she was all better, explaining that as a symptom and not a fact.

DC Trade Solicitations for October 2018 - Mister Miracle, Batman: The Hush Saga Omnibus, Wonder Woman by Phil Jimenez, Aquaman: Search for Mera, Absolute Black Mirror, Young Justice Book Three, Justice League/Power Rangers

To think, last month at solicitations time, we were anticipating the Batman #50 Batman/Catwoman nuptials.

Among the books that DC Comics announced in their Spring 2019 releases last week, two that I was most excited about are also both scheduled among their October 2018 trade paperback and hardcover solicitations. Those are both omnibuses, too -- the Batman: The Hush Saga Omnibus and the Wonder Woman by Phil Jimenez Omnibus. The Wonder Woman omnibus has at least 11 of Jimenez's issues that weren't collected (after over a dozen that were); the Hush book has at least a dozen issues of Gotham Knights that weren't collected after 6 that were.

Each represent the best aspect of the current era of DC collections -- that we're seeing a lot of collections lately that include or fill out largely uncollected eras. Exciting stuff from both.

I've also got my eye on two more of the 25th anniversary Knightfall books, Batman: Knightquest: The Search and Batman: Knightsend, getting closer to completing the most definitive collections of Knightfall yet. Tom King's Mister Miracle sees a paperback release, as does Scott Snyder's new Justice League and the final volume of Peter Tomasi's Superman -- that's a powerhouse month, folks. Also, just in time for movie hype, we're got an interesting collection of classic Aquaman, Aquaman: The Search for Mera, which I hope is the start of more from that era.

Let's take a look at the full list ...

• Absolute Batman: The Black Mirror HC

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

• All-Star Superman TP

Twelve-issue collection rebranded for the Black Label line.

• Aquaman: The Search For Mera Deluxe Edition HC

Collects the start of Steve Skeates run on the 1960s Aquaman series, with Jim Aparo on art. This is said to collect issues #40-48 and Skeates and Aparo go to issues #56, so there could be another volume to follow. Where that book would end is where the Aquaman: Death of a Prince collection begins.

• Aquaman: Throne of Atlantis New Edition TP

A re-branded (and possibly unnumbered) collection of the New 52 Aquaman Vol. 3: Throne of Atlantis: Aquaman #0, 14-16 and Justice League #15-17.

• Aquaman: Underworld Deluxe Edition HC

This is a funny thing since the Rebirth Aquaman Vol. 4: Underworld is just the first part of at least a three-volume story, and it doesn't look like DC is planning to go deluxe on the whole thing (at least not through Spring 2019). Of course this is getting deluxe due to the art of Stjepan Sejic, but I thought the art by Riccardo Federici in Aquaman Vol. 5: The Crown Comes Down stood up well next to Sejic's, and even better would be if a collection included both of those stories. Maybe we'll see comprehensive Rebirth Deluxe hardcovers of Aquaman at some point.

• Batgirl: The Bronze Age Omnibus Vol. 2 HC

Batman Family #12-20 and Detective Comics #481-499, #501-502, #505-506, #508-510, and #512-519. A good suggestion was made on the DC for Spring 2019 post that this also include the Batgirl Special #1, Barbara Gordon's last main appearance of that era before The Killing Joke.

• Batman and Robin: Bad Blood (DC Essential Edition) TP

Issues #1-8 of the New 52 series. In my opinion the run was never better than this (my review of Batman and Robin Vol. 1: Born to Kill, as the collection was formerly known).

• Batman by Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato Deluxe Edition HC

Though initially announced as collection issues #30-40 of the New 52 Detective Comics series, this has been updated to #30-34 and #37-40, which makes sense because issues #35-36 were by Benjamin Percy (though really good issues. Francis Manapul writes up to issue #42 and Brian Buccellato writes through #44, but the collection seems to stop when Manapul is no longer on art (a decision I don't necessarily agree with).These were lushly drawn issues and the stories were interestingly small in scope, with an emphasis on Harvey Bullock and street crime.

• Batman: Knightquest: The Search TP

Among the parts of "Knightfall" with the spottiest collection history, we finally get a definitive collection of "Knightquest: The Search," culled from the Knightfall omnibuses. Collects Justice League Task Force #5-6, Batman: Shadow of the Bat #21-23, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #59-61, and Robin #7. Though not yet in DC Comics' 2019 advance solicitations, we're supposed to be getting a Batman: Troika collection before all is said and done.

• Batman: Knightsend TP

Batman #509-510, Batman: Shadow of the Bat #29-30, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #62-63, Robin #8-9, Detective Comics #676-677, Catwoman #12-13, and Showcase '94 #10.

• Batman: Sins of the Father TP

Collection of the digital comic tying in to the Batman: The Telltale Series video game.

• Batman: The Hush Saga Omnibus HC

This was one of the books I was most excited about from the DC Spring 2019 list. Aside from the original "Hush," Batman #608-619 and Batman: Streets of Gotham #1-4, #14, #16-21 by Paul Dini, that solicitation suggested we'd be getting Gotham Knights #50-74 and Detective Comics #846-852, such a large swath of previously uncollected comics.

This solicitation adds in Batman #685, a single "Faces of Evil" issue that goes with Detective #852. But it also breaks up the Gotham Knights and Detective Comics pieces a bit; now we're looking at Gotham Knights #50-55, #60-71, and #73-74, and Detective #846-850 and #852.

The Gotham Knights issues are by A. J. Lieberman with a variety of artists, a villains-focused and Hush-specific run. The issues skipped are the "War Games" crossover (#56-58), an issue by Robbie Morrison (#59), and a one-off unrelated story by Lieberman (#72). The skipped Detective #851 is by Dennis O'Neil instead of Paul Dini, part of the "Last Days of Gotham" crossover.

Still enthusiastic about this all around.

• The Brave and the Bold: Batman and Wonder Woman HC

The six-issue Liam Sharp miniseries in hardcover.

• Eternity Girl TP

Collects issues #1-6 of the Young Animal miniseries.

• Future Quest Presents Vol. 2 TP

Issues #7-12 by Jeff Parker and Steve Rude.

• Gotham City Garage Vol. 2 TP

Collects issues #7-12.

• Green Arrow Vol. 6: Trial of Two Cities TP

Issues #33-38, the final collection of Benjamin Percy's run on this series.

• Harley Quinn by Karl Kesel and Terry Dodson Deluxe Edition Book 2 HC

Issues #9-19 of the post-Crisis series; Kesel wrote to #25, so it seems a little unfair to stop at #19. This includes a tie-in issue to the Joker's Last Laugh event (drawn by Pete Woods, so again I'm not too clear why DC is cutting this off at #19).

• Harley's Little Black Book TP

Paperback collection of the miniseries.

• The Immortal Men TP

I don't see Immortal Men on the schedule this month; I haven't heard it's been cancelled, but it's not there. This collects issues #1-6 by James Tynion, Jim Lee, and Tyler Kirkham.

• The Invisibles Book Four TP

The final new paperback collection, Invisibles Vol. 2 #14-22 and Invisibles Vol. 3 #12-1.

• Justice League Vol. 1: The Totality TP

Scott Snyder, Jim Cheung, and Jorge Jimenez, collecting issues #1-7 in paperback. Martian Manhunter and Cyborg? Check. Jorge Jimenez, whose animated art has been among the best parts of Super Sons? Check. Excited for this new era of the League.

• Justice League/Power Rangers TP

Paperback, following the hardcover collection of the six-issue miniseries.

• Legends of the Dark Knight: Norm Breyfogle Vol. 2 HC

Said to collect Detective Comics #608-621 and Batman #448-459 (including the first appearance of Anarky, the "Penguin Affair" crossover between the two titles, and some notable Robin Tim Drake stories). However, Batman #450-451 are by Marv Wolfman and Jim Aparo, and #452-454 are "Dark Knight, Dark City" by Peter Milligan and Kieron Dwyer, so it's probably just reprinting the relevant covers or omitting those respectively.

• Mister Miracle TP

Collecting Tom King and Mitch Gerads' twelve-issue series, in paperback.

• Mother Panic: Gotham A.D. TP

Issues #1-6 of the revamped series.

• Motherlands TP

By Si Spurrier and Rachael Stott.

• Nightwing Vol. 8: Lethal Force TP

Collects the mostly-uncollected issues #61-70 by Chuck Dixon, including tie-ins to Joker's Last Laugh and "Bruce Wayne: Murderer/Fugitive." Now the thing to see is if DC will collect Devin Grayson's issues that followed.

• The Sandman Omnibus Vol. 3 HC

Here's another where I think the bigger doses are probably better for reading than ten-plus collections. This is actually into the post-series and tie-in material now: Sandman: Overture, Dream Hunters, Endless Nights, Sandman Midnite Theatre, Death: High Cost of Living and Time of Your Life, and more.

• The Sandman Vol. 2: The Doll's House 30th Anniversary Edition TP

Issues #9-16.

• Suicide Squad: The Rebirth Deluxe Edition Book Three HC

Collects issues #21-32, the Suicide Squad Vol. 5: Kill Your Darlings and Suicide Squad Vol. 6: The Secret History of Task Force X paperbacks.

• Superman Vol. 7: Bizarroverse TP

The end of Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason's Superman run, this is issues #42-45 plus the closing special.

• Superman: Action Comics: The Rebirth Deluxe Edition Book Three HC

Said to collect issues #985-999, which is both the Superman: Action Comics: The Oz Effect hardcover and the Action Comics Vol. 5: Booster Shot paperback. For completeness one imagines Dan Jurgens' Action Comics special should be in here, if not also Jurgens' Action Comics #1,000 story.

• Teen Titans Go! Vol. 5: Falling Stars TP

Issues #25-30.

• Teen Titans: The Silver Age Vol. 2 TP

Teen Titans #12-24 and Brave and the Bold #83.

• A Very DC Rebirth Holiday Sequel TP

The newest solicitation for this title lists the contents as the DC Holiday Special 2017, Green Arrow Annual #1 (Christmas-themed), Batgirl #18 (guest-starring Harley Quinn), and Trinity #16 (New Year's). Can't imagine DC would leave that Green Arrow annual otherwise uncollected but so far I don't see it slotted for anywhere other than this book, so maybe that ups the cachet a little?

• Watchmen (DC Modern Classics Edition) HC

"DC Modern Classics" apparently means hardcover with slipcase, versus the paperback Essential Editions.

• Wonder Woman by Phil Jimenez Omnibus HC

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.

• Young Justice Book Three TP

This third collection of the Peter David series comprises the "Sins of Youth" fifth week event: Young Justice #18-19, JLA Jr. #1, Aquaman/Lagoon Man #1, Batboy and Robin #1, Kid Flash/Impulse #1, Starwoman and the JSA #1, Superman Jr./Superboy Sr. #1, Wonder Girls #1, The Secret/Deadboy #1, Superboy #74, and Sins of Youth Secret Files #1.

Chime in the comments and let me know what looks good to you!

Review: Batgirl and the Birds of Prey Vol. 2: Source Code (Rebirth) trade paperback (DC Comics)

Once upon a time the Birds of Prey used to have expansive, globe-hopping adventures. Writers Julie and Shawna Benson have a satisfactorily respectful take on these characters, but overall the Rebirth Batgirl and the Birds of Prey Vol. 2: Source Code feels small. The stories are all Gotham-based and none of the villains here pose much threat besides to the Birds themselves, nor do the stories really have a lot to do with the Birds or their own characters. There's no lack of Bat-books out there; for Birds of Prey to succeed, it first needs to differentiate itself in some way and second needs to offer some surprises or suspense; while not an unpleasant read, unfortunately this volume of Birds has neither.