DC Trade Solicitations for May 2019 - Batman: Damned, Detective Comics #1000 Deluxe, Hawkman, Nightwing: Knight Terrors, Red Hood: Outlaw Vol. 1, Sandman Universe: Dreaming and Lucifer, Injustice Omnibus, Old Lady Harley

It feels like a smaller month looking at DC Comics' May 2019 trade paperback and hardcover solicitations. Sure there's a couple of regular series releases -- Nightwing, Red Hood, Terrifics, Titans, and my most anticipated book of the month, Robert Venditti's new Hawkman -- but not a whole lot else. DC keeps churning out these paperback Essential Editions and rebranded Black Label editions, which is good if you're a new reader trying to catch up but doesn't exactly get my own blood pumping.

At some point we had heard that Geoff Johns' Killing Zone imprint was supposed to launch in May 2019, but there's no hint of that here. I wonder if that's forthcoming or indicative of some change in plans.

Let's take a look at this month's offerings ...

• Absolute Swamp Thing by Alan Moore Vol. 1 HC

Previously solicited and cancelled, this is now resolicited for October of 2019 (which is why sometimes I take cancellations with a grain of salt). Alan Moore's Swamp Thing #20-34 and Annual #2 in Absolute format. Brand new coloring, too — I think that's new coloring exclusive to this edition.

• Batman: Year One New Edition TP

Black Label paperback.

• Batman: Damned HC

The hardcover of the first original Black Label book is offered alongside its own final issue, though the final issue comes out in May and this comes out in September. To answer your question, the solicitation contains this note, which surely you can read between the lines: "The DC Black Label collected edition is available in comic shops September 4 with an unabridged narrative and revised periodical art."

• Batman: The Black Glove Saga (DC Essential Edition) TP

This Essential Edition of Grant Morrison's run was first solicited as "Batman and Son," now changed to "The Black Glove Saga." This had been said to be Batman #665-658 and #663-666, the contents of the Batman and Son collection, now expanded to include Batman: The Black Glove, ending just before Batman RIP (which surely deserves an Essential Edition of its own). Also included are stories from 52 #30 and #47, which tie in to these issues, and the summary of the "Resurrection of Ra's al Ghul" crossover drawn by Chris Burnham for the Batman by Grant Morrison Omnibus Vol. 1.

• Batman/The Flash: The Button TP

The deluxe hardcover of Batman/Flash: The Button came out in October 2017, and twenty months (till June 2019) seems like a long time to wait for the paperback. I wonder if this is timed for Doomsday Clock progressing a little farther, the recent second Batman/Flash crossover, or that, given Doomsday Clock's delays, this story never made quite the splash it was expected to (see also Oz Effect).

• DC Comics: The Art of Jim Lee Vol. 1 HC

Previously solicited as "Graphic Ink: The DC Comics Art of Jim Lee," this new name certainly seems to brand it better. Said to collect work from Wildstorm on down to today.

• DC Poster Portfolio: Frank Cho TP

Twenty covers, with Harley Quinn and Wonder Woman among others. Granted Cho engenders a lot of controversy, but some of his cross-hatch Harley Quinn covers have been particularly impressive.

• Detective Comics #1000 Deluxe Edition HC

Three months after the issue itself, it's the deluxe edition of Detective Comics #1000. Bonus material here is a new story by Robert Venditti and Steven Segovia; this doesn't seem to me the most poignant creative team choice for a bonus story, but at least the deluxe has something to differentiate it.

• The Dreaming Vol. 1: Pathways and Emanations TP

I am tempted, mainly due to this book spinning off from Dark Nights: Metal, but I'd want to be prepared and I don't really have the time to do a full Sandman read. I read Dreaming back in the day, but then it was mostly side tales; I haven't really had a sense enough is happening in this book to make the investment worth it. Collects the first six issues plus the Sandman Universe Special.

• Hawkman Vol. 1: Awakening TP

Due out now apparently in June, when previously it seemed to be August. I have really high hopes that Robert Venditti can be the one to make a Hawkman relaunch stick this time.

• Imaginary Fiends TP

Vertigo series by Tim Seeley and Stephen Molnar. Though I'm not headed there very quickly, I have enjoyed most of what I've read by Seeley.

• Injustice: Gods Among Us Omnibus Vol. 1 HC

Just in time for Tom Taylor's DCeased, a 1,000+ page collection of the first three years of the Injustice digital-first series.

• JLA: Tower of Babel (DC Essential Edition) TP

Paperback by Mark Waid and Howard Porter collecting JLA #43-46 and stories from JLA Secret Files #3. Pretty much all of JLA is rife for Essential Edition; "Rock of Ages," at least.

• Lucifer Vol. 1: The Infernal Comedy TP

Collection of the first six issues of the new Sandman Universe series, also including the Sandman Universe special.

• Luthor 10th Anniversary Edition TP

Tenth anniversary edition of the five-issue miniseries by Brian Azzarello and Lee Bermejo. With new story pages, apparently; I'm curious what that entails.

• The Man of Steel by Brian Michael Bendis TP

Paperback of the six-issue miniseries and DC Nation #0 story, less than a year after the hardcover came out (so doing better than Batman/Flash: The Button).

• Nightwing: Knight Terrors TP

Well, online stores have this as Nightwing Vol. 1: Knight Terrors, while this solicitation is just Nightwing: Knight Terrors, no number. It seemed Nightwing was being renumbered with the arrival of new writer Benjamin Percy, but we know the title's gone through some changes since then, settling finally on Zack Kaplan Dan Jurgens (after two issues by Zack Kaplan). I'm hoping for Vol. 8, myself. This is said to collect issues #50-56 (up from #55 as previously announced) by Scott Lobdell and company, ending just before Kaplan's arrival.

• Old Lady Harley TP

Paperback collection of the five-issue miniseries and Harley Quinn #42 by Frank Tieri.

• Powers Book Five New Edition TP

Issues #19-30 and the Annual #1 by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming.

• Red Hood: Outlaw Vol. 1: Underlife TP

Scott Lobdell's Red Hood and the Outlaws is a book I've enjoyed in its various iterations, but I haven't had a chance to read the Rebirth series yet though I've heard good things about it. In skimming the solicitations, I had guessed this "Outlaw" turn was just a storyline and Jason Todd would reunite with his team eventually; I'm surprised to see this getting new trade numbering even though the series numbering continues -- that makes this seem like more than just a phase. Anyway, I'll check this out eventually. The solicitation notes it includes Annual #2, issues #26-31, and "a treasure trove of behind-the-scenes artwork."

• The Sandman Vol. 9: The Kindly Ones 30th Anniversary Edition TP

The solicitation notes this as the "longest-ever Sandman story." Should be issues #57-69 and a story from Vertigo Jam #1.

• Superman: Action Comics: The Oz Effect TP

Collects issues #985-992, also more than a year after the original hardcover.

• The Terrifics Vol. 2: Tom Strong and the Terrifics TP

Still said to collect Terrifics #7-12, even though Jeff Lemire's last issue is #14.

• Titans Vol. 6: Into The Bleed TP

The second and final collection with Dan Abnett's new team, minus Nightwing but gaining another (alt-continuity) Titan. Issues #29-36; surely I expect Titans to be relaunched before long.

• The United States vs. Murder, Inc. Vol. 1 TP

Six-issue miniseries by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming.

• Wonder Woman: The Golden Age Omnibus Vol. 4 HC

1940s stories from Sensation Comics #70-89, Wonder Woman #26-34, and Comics Cavalcade #23-29.

In other DC news, apparently the Walmart 100-pagers are coming to comics shops and the original stories will be collected in trade. Are these 100-pagers of any use to you or have you already read most of the stories before?