For me the Zero Hour Omnibus is the headline, but other notable books include a deluxe edition of Christopher Priest's Justice League and also we get a third volume of Mike W. Barr's Batman and the Outsiders. In terms of "regular series" trades, there's the Justice League: Drowned Earth collection, the first "New Justice" Teen Titans, and Brian Michael Bendis' Action Comics and the tie-in Supergirl volume by Marc Andreyko. So what seems to me a good month with both solid books and surprises.
For the first time in 2019, let's take a look ...
• Adventures of the Super Sons Vol. 1: Action Detective TP
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. DC is collecting Marv Wolfman's second Raven miniseries the same way, though that one I don't expect to come out in hardcover. (Though, DC might do well to collect both the first and second miniseries, maybe with some other Raven material, in a deluxe book. But I digress.)
• All-Star Superman (DC Modern Classic) HC
Hardcover with slipcase.
• Batgirl of Burnside Omnibus HC
Collects issues #35-52 of the Brenden Fletcher/Cameron Stewart run with art by Babs Tarr and others, plus the Batgirl: Endgame special and the Annual #3 (guest-starring then Dick "Grayson" Grayson and others).
• Batman and the Outsiders Vol. 3 HC
Collects Batman and the Outsiders #24-32, Batman and the Outsiders Annual #2, and DC Comics Presents #83. Previously also listed was 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.
Aside, having Looker on the Black Lightning TV show last year was inspired. Grace Choi is around too, of course, and now seemingly with powers, plus Dr. Jace. I am all for Rex Mason being one of the Green Light kids and that show going full-on Outsiders within a couple of years.
• Batman Eternal Omnibus HC
This was a giant Batman weekly. In the final tally I liked it a lot, but it was huge, and especially reading it three trades (the amount of material, consider that fills seven or eight trades regularly) made it feel unending. Omnibus buyers will get their money's worth.
Contextually, the book follows Forever Evil and ends just before Batman: Endgame; with contributions by Scott Snyder, the series seems an oft-forgotten piece of Snyder's run (except now getting this new collection). The series closed also just before the New 52 became DC You, and there's lots of proto-DC You material here if you were a fan of that era -- lead-ins to a more grounded Catwoman, Gotham by Midnight, etc., as well as shades of co-writer James Tynion's later Rebirth Detective Comics.
One wonders if maybe a Batman and Robin Eternal omnibus might be next, maybe with "Robin War" issues included.
• Batman Noir: Gotham by Gaslight HC
Black and white pencils and inks of Brian Augustyn and Mike Mignola's inaugural Elseworlds story, recently adapted as an animated movie.
• Batman: Death of the Family Saga (DC Essential Edition) TP
Originally listed at 300 pages, this is up to almost 400 pages now. Contents are the Batman issues #13-17, Batgirl #14-16, Nightwing #15-16, Batman and Robin #15-16, plus "pages from" Batgirl #13, Nightwing #14, Red Hood and the Outlaws #14-15, and Teen Titans #16, making this sound like a "re-cut" kind of edition (Titans and Red Hood particularly had a lot of series-specific scenes not related to the crossover). Ordinarily I'd prefer to have whole issues in a trade but this is a cute "definitive" way to re-collect the story.
• Batman: Detective Comics Vol. 9: Deface the Face TP
Issues #988-993 in paperback, by James Robinson. I don't remember Robinson's post-Infinite Crisis "One Year Later" Batman: Face the Face that clearly (I reviewed it some eleven years ago), so I might have to give it a re-read to see to what extent Robinson calls out to his earlier story in this one.
• Batman: Detective Comics: The Rebirth Deluxe Edition Book Four HC
The solicitation for this collection still says issues #974-982, which is the Vol. 6 Fall of the Batmen and Vol. 7 Batmen Eternal collections, the final issues by James Tynion, plus one guest issue by Mike Moreci (#982) before Bryan Hill's story. Issue #982 isn't in Detective Vol. 7, so I'm surprised to see it here (and a little skeptical that it will be).
• Catwoman Vol. 1: Copycats TP
Issues #1-6 of the new Joelle Jones series.
• Damage Vol. 2: Scorched Earth TP
The second collection of the Robert Venditti series, collecting issues #7-12.
• DC Poster Portfolio: Jim Lee TP
Some of these new Poster Portfolio books seem clearly right for collecting an artist's contribution to DC's recent bevy of variant covers (still waiting for the book of Joshua Middleton's Aquaman covers). For this, however, I wonder how far back DC will go, including Lee's Batman: Hush work or earlier, or just recent stuff.
• Elseworlds: Superman Vol. 2 TP
The contents of this one have changed considerably since it was advance solicited. Whereas this was originally said to include Superman/Wonder Woman: Whom Gods Destroy by Chris Claremont and Dusty Abell and Superman: The Dark Side by John Francis Moore and Kieron Dwyer, this is now Son of Superman (with Howard Chaykin and J.H. Williams), Superboy's Legion (Mark Farmer and Alan Davis), Supergirl: Wings (J.M. DeMatteis), and Superman: True Brit (John Cleese and Kim "Howard" Johnson).
• Final Crisis (DC Essential Edition) TP
In paperback, Final Crisis #1-7, DC Universe #0, Superman Beyond #1-2, and Batman #682-683.
• The Flash/Green Lantern: The Brave and the Bold Deluxe Edition HC
Deluxe-size collection of the Mark Waid/Barry Kitson miniseries, with a new introduction and "never-before-published full-issue script."
• Fortune and Glory: A True Hollywood Comic Book Story TP
Collects Brian Michael Bendis's three-part comics autobiography. Introduction by Paul Dini.
• Injustice 2 Vol. 4 TP
Issues #18-24.
• Injustice 2 Vol. 5 HC
Issues #25-30. Tom Taylor's series ends with issue #36 so it would seem the next volume is the last.
• Injustice Vs. Masters of the Universe HC
The team-up you never knew you wanted until it happened. Issues #1-6 by Tim Seeley and Freddie Williams, in hardcover.
• Justice League by Christopher Priest Deluxe Edition HC
Collects the entirety of Christopher Priest's run on Justice League, issues #34-43.
• Justice League/Aquaman: Drowned Earth HC
Said to collects Justice League/Aquaman: Drowned Earth #1, Justice League #10-12, Aquaman #40-41, Titans #28, and Aquaman/Justice League: Drowned Earth #1, though the Aquaman issues should actually be #41-42 (issues #39-40 are part of a Suicide Squad crossover and issues #41-42 are "Drowned Earth" tie-ins).
Those four Aquaman issues mentioned above aren't enough to make their own trade (unless someone gets creative), so probably here is the only place we'll see Aquaman #40-41. Remains to be seen if the Titans issue will also be in one of that series' trades or just here.
• The Kamandi Challenge TP
Paperback edition of the hardcover released earlier this year.
• Kingdom Come TP
Black Label edition, with the "never-before-published original proposal."
• Plastic Man TP
Collects the six issue miniseries by Gail Simone and Adriana Melo.
• Powers Book Four TP
Previously said to be issues #23-30 and #1-11, the new solicitation says Powers (series 2) #1-18, by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming.
• The Sandman Vol. 7: Brief Lives 30th Anniversary TP New Edition
Issues #41-49 with a new cover by Dave McKean.
• Scarlet Vol. 1 TP
Issues #1-5 of the new Scarlet series by Bendis and Alex Maleev.
• Supergirl Vol. 1: The Killers of Krypton TP
Collects issues #21-26 by Marc Andreyko, spinning out of the new Brian Michael Bendis Superman run.
• Superman: Action Comics Vol. 1: Invisible Mafia HC
Issues #1,001-#1,006 by Brian Michael Bendis with Patrick Gleason and others. In hardcover.
• Superman: World Against Superman (DC Essential Edition) TP
"Essential" (paperback) edition. Previously this was solicited as issues #1-18, the entirety of Grant Morrison's 18-issue run on the New 52 Action Comics. This solicitation says issues #1-10, which doesn't seem right because it ends on a cliffhanger, unless DC plans a follow-up volume.
• Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen by Jack Kirby TP
Continuing the individual-series breakdowns of the Jack Kirby's Fourth World omnibuses, this is issues #133-139 and #141-148.
• Teen Titans Vol. 1: Full Throttle TP
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.
• Wonder Woman Vol. 8: Dark Gods TP
The next collection by James Robinson, issues ##46-50 and Annual #2 (the solicitation says Annual #3, but there hasn't been one). Steve Orlando comes on with the next book before G. Willow Wilson joins after that.
• Zero Hour 25th Anniversary Omnibus HC
At almost 1,000 pages, this is said to include Zero Hour: Crisis in Time #4-0, Steel #8, Outsiders #11, Detective Comics #678, Batman #511, Superman: Man of Steel #37, Superboy #8, Green Lantern #55, The Flash #94, Superman #93, The Flash #0, Batman: Shadow of the Bat #31, Hawkman #13, Legionnaires #18, Valor #23, Adventures of Superman #516, L.E.G.I.O.N. ’94 #70, Green Arrow #90, Guy Gardner: Warrior #24, Team Titans #24, Legion of Super-Heroes #61, Action Comics #703, Justice League of America #92, Justice League Task Force #16, Justice League International #68, Robin #10, Anima #7, Catwoman #14, Damage #6, Darkstars #24, Green Lantern #0, and stories from Showcase '94 #8-10.
That is indeed the event itself and every Zero Hour tie-in from that period. Surely this is the first time an issue of Anima has been collected, and surely there’s some others in there for which it’s only the second or third time they’ve been collected -- Damage, Team Titans, Valor, etc.
I agree with the inclusions of Flash #0 and Green Lantern #0; Wally West disappears in Zero Hour and the zero issue offers a little resolution (not a lot but enough), whereas Green Lantern #0 takes place in the aftermath of the last issue. There’s maybe a couple others that could have been included -- Damage #0 or Green Arrow #0, though the latter doesn’t really mention Zero Hour’s events. The two that are included are probably enough.
I’m glad to see that what’s offered here doesn’t exclude what’s in the already-released Zero Hour tie-in paperbacks (including the upcoming Justice League: Zero Hour, which I’m very excited about). At this point, if you excluded the already-collected tie-in issues, you’d have about 14 issues, which is not much bigger than some of the existing Zero Hour tie-in collections; maybe DC can finish their paperbacks with just one more “Zero Hour Companion” book.
So ... Zero Hour Omnibus: too heavy or just what you always wanted?
Zero Hour! Zero Hour! I'm oh so very excited. How do we make Armageddon: 2001 happen next? (I know people have other ideas for the next one of these, but that's mine)
ReplyDeleteJust to keep my ramblings in one place:
DeleteI would guess that we'll get Batman & Robin Eternal and maybe 'Tec by Tynion omnibii to follow up the Batman Eternal one if it sells well (is there a Batman omni that didn't sell well?). They're all of a piece.
I don't think I'll grab the Batgirl of Burnside omni (have all the floppies), but it's nice to see Barbara getting a premium format collection.
I'm with you on the Super Sons collection - breaking up limited series collections always baffles me.
>> How do we make Armageddon: 2001 happen next?
DeleteEasy to say but hard to do, but you know I think pre-orders are the answer; if DC gets good pre-sales for the Zero Hour Omnibus, then they'll think about what they could do next. Armageddon 2001 seems an obvious choice, or Legends; if both of those did well, then Eclipso, and maaaaybe Bloodlines. I guess Underworld Unleashed makes some sense, or Joker's Last Laugh. Armageddon and Eclipso would be my choices. Wouldn't be surprised if the Elseworlds Annuals or Legends of a Dead Earth Annuals started appearing in the Elseworlds collections at some point.
Thinking about it, rather astounds me there's never been a Batman: No Man's Land Omnibus. I'd think now would be the time for that, if ever.
I would be happy with any of those (Armageddon, Eclipso, Legends). It seems like those Elseworlds collections (Superman, Batman, etc.) sell reasonably well (or they'd stop doing them), so a Legends of a Dead Earth or Elseworlds set of collections would be pretty fun (either in omnibus or multiple thick tpb collections).
DeleteI would love to talk to someone at DC about their Batman omnibus plans/decisions. All three parts of Knightfall came out in about a year, but Morrison's omnis are coming out yearly. A three part Cataclysm/NML collection of omnis seems pretty sensical. Will they do a Snyder omni (or two) after Morrison is done? Contagion/Legacy? Murderer/Fugitive?
I would also like to have a long discussion about Ric Grayson w/someone from DC, but that'd have a different tone . . .
I hope we see a No Mans Land Omni or two soon. The most recent collections were released before they developed the current strategy which is seemingly to release the Omnis first and then break them down into new trades. This was done with Knightfall, WW by Perez, New Teen Titans, Flash by Johns etc. Actually, they could go from Contagion right through NML and New Gotham to Hush, wouldn’t that be nice?
DeleteThe Zero Hour Omnibus is an obvious winner but it just makes me even more dumbstruck and angry at how they have botched the Crisis on Infinite Earths deluxe editions.
Yeah, there's something weird about fairly well constructed omnis for ZH, IC, and FC but nothing similar for COIE (presumably Metal will get one, as well, although it was a comparatively smaller story).
DeleteIt'd be too much to hope for a New Gotham omnibus, but I'd get it, probably.
I do wonder if we'll see a Flash by Johns v4 omni after the sixth and presumably seventh tpbs come out to cover his Barry Allen run (still weird Rogue's Revenge couldn't find a place in v6)
I think maybe the newness of crossovers for COIE plays a part in this strategy. Most are so very loosely connected to the story that it would really break up the flow of the main narrative (rereading it recently, I wasn't too sad that I couldn't follow on with Blue Devil's story, for instance). Plus, the main book was 12 issues with a couple double-sized issues in there - considerably longer than the other series.
DeleteI find it strange, though, that they just released a Zero Hour HC and now it's coming out in omnibus.
'Easy to say but hard to do, but you know I think pre-orders are the answer; if DC gets good pre-sales for the Zero Hour Omnibus, then they'll think about what they could do next. Armageddon 2001 seems an obvious choice, or Legends; if both of those did well, then Eclipso, and maaaaybe Bloodlines. I guess Underworld Unleashed makes some sense, or Joker's Last Laugh. Armageddon and Eclipso would be my choices. Wouldn't be surprised if the Elseworlds Annuals or Legends of a Dead Earth Annuals started appearing in the Elseworlds collections at some point.'
ReplyDeleteNo Genesis omnibus?
Hah! I think that's a longshot, but then again, I'm advocating for a Bloodlines Omnibus. I didn't say Day of Judgment either, but to each their own (I'd totally support a War of the Gods Omnibus, though). I still think four issues of Genesis ought have been in the last Wonder Woman by John Byrne collection — still could be, though the solicitations don't have it.
DeleteSo the Drowned Earth HC includes Justice League issues #10-12 (plus specials and tie-ins)!? Then hopefully Justice League, Vol. 2 will include a bit more than issues #8-12. I don't like the double dipping.
ReplyDeleteJustice League Vol. 2 is listed as 200 pages long, so I think it might include both Drowned Earth bookends in addition to issues #8-12. That would be a departure from how DC's been collecting crossovers since Rebirth, but it would be understandable in this case because all of the core chapters were written by Snyder and Tynion, while the Aquaman and Titans tie-ins by Abnett are actually superfluous. If my guess is right, then I'd only recommend the Drowned Earth HC to Aquaman/Titans completists.
DeleteAm I comparing these wrong or does the new Zero Hour omnibus include the regular-series issues from the Batman/Superman/Justice League Zero Hour trades but NOT the zero issues? That would seem super inconvenient.
ReplyDeleteRight, that's correct. Seems the omnibus is just the (Zero Hour-connected) tie-ins and not the (mostly independent) Zero Month issues, except where specifically relevant. Whereas the character-focused collections have a broader range. That doesn't seem wrong to me necessarily, though I see how you might have to double-dip if you want those zero issues.
DeleteIndeed not a big fan of double dipping. Gonna hope for a zero month omnibus or companion trade.
DeleteAre the DC Essentials collecting all of the Snyder's New 52 Batman Run? Wich are the ones to get?
ReplyDeleteNo signs of Superman Blue vol.2? I'm beginning to worry.
ReplyDelete