To think, if not for that, the big headline might be stories from the Walmart "Giant" collections appearing this month in Swamp Thing: Roots of Terror and Wonder Woman Vol. 9. Good news for fans of the "Rebirth Deluxe" hardcovers, as the Batman Deluxe Edition Book Four (the wedding volume) solicited here sans "Rebirth" suggests those are still happening in the "New Justice" era. I also wonder if something's up with the Essential Editions line, as the New 52 Wonder Woman: Blood and Guts solicited here is a formerly listed Essential Edition now without that moniker.
All this and Doom Patrol: The Bronze Age Omnibus might be the first one of the "Age" omnibuses I pick up. Let's dive in and take a look ...
• Absolute Dark Knight III: The Master Race HC
Collects Dark Knight III: The Master Race #1-9, the insert comics reproduced at normal size, and Dark Knight Returns: The Last Crusade.
• Animal Man by Jeff Lemire Omnibus HC
Say what you will about the New 52, but Jeff Lemire's Animal Man was a superb take on the character, right up there with Grant Morrison's, and totally worthy of this omnibus. With Buddy Baker not really bopping around the DCU right now, I'm glad to see him get this recognition. Lemire's Animal Man is also another great example of how to do horror in the DCU, something I found lacking reading the Rebirth Hellblazer series.
• Batman and Robin by Peter J. Tomasi and Patrick Gleason Omnibus HC New Printing
The contents of this seem exactly the same as the 2017 release of this omnibus (this solicitation doesn't mention the annuals and some short stories, but I'm skeptical anything was removed). Seems like a re-release mainly, understandably, because Peter Tomasi is now writing Detective.
• Batman Beyond Vol. 5: The Final Joke TP
Issues #25-30 (formerly through issue #29) by Dan Jurgens, with Brett Booth, Cully Hamner, and Doc Shaner, among others. With "behind-the-scenes content."
• Batman by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo Omnibus Vol. 1 HC
Also well deserving of omnibus, this is "the first 33 issues" of Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo's Batman run, so the paperback volumes 1 through 5, to the end of "Zero Year." This run went through issue #52, so the second omnibus would be shorter than the first (though I agree with how they split it), though annuals and etc. have to be in there, too.
• Batman Deluxe Edition Book Four HC
Issues #45-57 and the DC Nation #0 story, being the Wedding and Cold Days collections. An indication that these "Rebirth Deluxe" hardcover editions are continuing, that this is just called "Batman Deluxe" without the "Rebirth" moniker.
• The Books of Magic Vol. 1: Moveable Type TP
First collection of the new Kat Howard Vertigo series, with issues #1-6 and the Sandman Universe Special #1 (apparently collected in all the first volume Sandman Universe trades).
• Crisis on Infinite Earths Box Set
Holey moley. This is 14 Crisis-related hardcovers, being the six previously published Crisis on Multiple Earths paperbacks, now in hardcover, plus a Crisis on Infinite Earths hardcover, plus character-specific re-cuts of the recent Crisis on Infinite Earth Companion books. The re-cuts of the companion books are especially notable, because many decried the somewhat random groupings of the original companions, and now here they are more character-specific. It seems inevitable these books will be released individually, too, which might pique early adopters of the original companion books.
That's a lot of Crisis on Infinite Earths on the market, but then again, I think Crisis is going to be big come next November/December ...
I'm going to list the contents in full below because I think they're worth mentioning. Something that strikes me in particular is the inclusion of History of the DC Universe, which was really well-done and set the foundation for the post-Crisis DC Universe, and also served as something of an epilogue to Crisis. It seems long overdue that History should be reprinted alongside Crisis.
• Crisis on Multiple Earths Vol. 1
Justice League of America #21-22, #29-30, #37-38 and #46-47
• Crisis on Multiple Earths Vol. 2
Justice League of America #55-56, #64-65, #73-74 and #82-83
• Crisis on Multiple Earths Vol. 3
Justice League of America #91-92, #100-102, #107-108 and #113
• Crisis on Multiple Earths Vol. 4
Justice League of America #123-124, #135-137 and #147-148
• Crisis on Multiple Earths Vol. 5
Justice League of America #159-160, #171-172 and #183-185
• Crisis on Multiple Earths Vol. 6
Justice League of America #195-197, #207-209 and All-Star Squadron #14-15
• Crisis on Infinite Earths
Crisis on Infinite Earths #1-12
• Crisis on Infinite Earths: All-Star Squadron
All-Star Squadron #50-60
• Crisis on Infinite Earths: Green Lantern
Green Lantern #194-198, Legion of Super-Heroes #16 and #18, and Omega Men #31 and #33
• Crisis on Infinite Earths: Justice League
Fury of Firestorm #41-42, Detective Comics #558, Wonder Woman #327-329, and New Teen Titans #13-14
• Crisis on Infinite Earths: Legends
Losers Special #1, Swamp Thing #44 and #46, Legends of the DC Universe: Crisis on Infinite Earths #1, Blue Devil #17-18, and Amethyst #13
• Crisis on Infinite Earths: Infinity, Inc.
Infinity, Inc. #18-25, Infinity, Inc. Annual #1, and Justice League of America #244-245
• Crisis on Infinite Earths: Superman
DC Comics Presents #78, #86-88 and #94-95, Superman #413-415, and Justice League of America Annual #3
• Crisis on Infinite Earths: Behind the Crisis
History of the DC Universe #1-2, pre-Crisis appearances of the Monitor, behind-the-scenes material, and more
• DC Comics: Bombshells Deluxe Edition Book Two HC
Issues #7-12 in deluxe hardcover.
• Doom Patrol: The Bronze Age Omnibus HC
Collects Showcase #94-96, DC Comics Presents #52, Daring New Adventures of Supergirl #7-9, Doom Patrol #1-18, Doom Patrol and Suicide Squad Special #1, Superman #20, Doom Patrol Annual #1, Secret Origins Annual #1, Superman Family #191-193, which follows from the Silver Age Doom Patrol collections and includes both pre-Crisis and post-Crisis stories.
While I haven't always gone for these "era" collections, the "Modern Age" part of this book has a lot of appeal to me, collecting the Doom Patrol's immediate post-Crisis appearances, including crossovers with John Byrne's Superman and John Ostrander's Suicide Squad, and ending with Invasion! tie-ins just before Grant Morrison's Vertigo run started.
• Flashpoint Box Set
Another box set, leading me to wonder if this is going to be a thing now, though this one's a whole lot more manageable -- just Flashpoint and the Batman, Green Lantern, Flash, Superman, and Wonder Woman tie-in books, all in paperback. Basically what was already released, with a box.
• Green Arrow Vol. 7: Citizen's Arrest TP
Said to collect issues #43-47 and the Annual #2 by Julie and Shawna Benson, but it's hard to believe seeing as how the Rebirth Green Arrow series is ending that this won't also have issues #48-50 by Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing.
• The Green Lantern Vol. 1: Intergalactic Lawman HC
Hardcover collection of issues #1-6 by Grant Morrison and Liam Sharp.
• Hellblazer Vol. 21: The Laughing Magician TP
John Constantine: Hellblazer #239-249 and Hellblazer Special: Lady Constantine #1-4 by Mike Carey and Andy Diggle respectively.
• House of Whispers Vol. 1: The Powers Divided TP
Issues #1-6 and the Sandman Universe Special #1.
• Injustice 2 Vol. 5 TP
Issues #25-30 by Tom Taylor.
• Injustice 2 Vol. 6 HC
Issues #31-36 and the Annual #2. Again, this is Starro and the Red Lanterns vs. the Titans, Blue Beetle, Booster Gold, and Lobo. Hope Tom Taylor does this sort of thing in DCeased.
• Joker TP
Previously listed as the Black Label edition by Brian Azzarello and Lee Bermejo, though "Black Label" is now gone from the solicitation.
• JSA By Geoff Johns Book Three TP
JSA: All Stars #1-8, JSA Annual #1, JSA Secret Files and Origins #2, and JSA #26-31, the latter being a series of one shots in the wake of the return of Hawkman (previously collected in the JSA: Fair Play trade).
• Justice League Vol. 3: Hawkworld TP
Issues #13-17 and the first annual by Scott Snyder and Jorge Jimenez, just after "Drowned Earth."
• New Teen Titans Omnibus Vol. 4 HC
Resolicited, the new fourth New Teen Titans Omnibus, collecting through and then after the recent New Teen Titans Vol. 10 paperback (issues #10-31 of the second series, Annuals #1-2, and Omega Men #34).
• The Sandman Vol. 10: The Wake 30th Anniversary TP
Issues #70-75, the end of the regular series.
• Suicide Squad: Katana: The Revenge of Kobra TP
The Katana half of the recent Suicide Squad: Black Files miniseries, by Mike W. Barr.
• Swamp Thing: Roots of Terror Deluxe Edition HC
Collects stories from Swamp Thing Winter Special 2018 and Swamp Thing Halloween Horror Giant. Tom King and Brian Azzarello are here, plus Len Wein's final Swamp Thing story with art by Kelley Jones. This'll mark the first collection of a story from the Walmart-exclusive books, though more collections are confirmed as coming.
• The Trials of Shazam!: The Complete Series TP
Judd Winick's twelve-issue miniseries, following in some respects his Superman/Shazam: First Thunder mini, plus the Brave New World story in the wake of Infinite Crisis. This is when Freddy Freeman was "Shazam" and Billy Batson took on the Wizard's role, with a painterly style by Howard Porter. This was collected in two six-issue bursts before, now all together for the first time.
• Wonder Woman by John Byrne Vol. 3 HC
This does not, as I'd hoped, include John Byrne's Wonder Woman-connected Genesis event miniseries, though it does include the Wonder Woman tie-in issue, plus significant JSA and Donna Troy material. Issues #125-136, finishing this collection set.
• Wonder Woman Vol. 9: The Enemy of Both Sides TP
Collects issues #51-55, and now newly solicited, also stories from Justice League Giant #1-2 and the Wonder Woman 75th Anniversary Special. That's Steve Orlando's mini-run ahead of G. Willow Wilson, plus Tim Seeley's two stories from the Walmart-exclusive Justice League Giant. Not sure what's coming out of the anniversary book.
• Wonder Woman: Blood and Guts TP
Just the first 12 issues of the Brian Azzarello/Cliff Chiang run, the Blood and Guts trades. It is a good introduction to the Azzrello run, though far from complete and it ends on a cliffhanger. I believe this was previously listed as an Essential Editions; interesting to see it simply "un-branded" now.
• Y: The Last Man Omnibus HC
A heavy one that surely should be on the shelves with a TV-show in the offing. One day I'll finish reading this series.
So how about that Crisis box set, huh? Do you think DC will release the character-specific "companion" volumes individually? Would you prefer the already-solicited slate of Companion books or these character-specific ones? Sound off in the comments!
I'm kind of surprised that DC don't finish up the JLA - JSA team ups with Crisis on Multiple Earths volume 7 and include Justice League of America #219-220, 231-232, 244 and Infinity Inc. #19. That book was never published as a TPB except in Germany. Of course, putting it in the box set without making it available separately would piss off a lot of people.
ReplyDeleteSeconded.
DeleteThirded. :)
DeleteThey should include it in the box set and release it later as a separate tpb.
DeleteThirded. (Yeah, I know, it's not a word.)
ReplyDeleteI hope, since the solicit states that EVERY Crisis leading up to 1985's COIE will be collected, that JLA 219-220 and 231-232 will be included somewhere. I also think that FLASH 123 (the first Earth-1/Earth-2 crossover) and 137 (reintroduction of the JSA) need to be included in this box set.
Those were actually in 2 boom companion series "Crisis on Multiple Earths: The Team-Ups" that for whatever reason aren't in this mega-box.
DeleteExcited for the Doom Patrol omni. I really loved the Bronze Age iteration a lot.
ReplyDeleteThat Crisis set sounds awesome. It is super pricey though. BTW-History of the DC Universe was reprinted along side Crisis in the Crisis of Infinite Earths Deluxe Editions. It was a pleasant surprised when I picked it up. They reprinted it beautifully.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. I wasn't expecting that, when I picked up the Deluxe Edition. Very pleasant addition, in that format. Probably one of the best CoIE collections until this huge box-set.
DeleteWhat is Crisis on Multiple Earths? It must be very related to COIE if it is now collected together?
ReplyDeleteOh and I think I read elsewhere that the Doom Patrol Omni not only includes comics that have never been collected before, but also material that has never even been *published* before.
It's all the JLA/JSA crossovers collected from the original JLoA series. However, we're still waiting for Vol. 7 which contains the last three crossovers.
DeleteGreen Arrow Vol. 7 is skipping issues #39-42 by Colin Kelly, Jackson Lanzing and Mairghread Scott, which leads me to believe there will be a Vol. 8 collecting these issues along with #48-50. I guess they just wanted Vol. 7 to collect the entire run by the Benson sisters and nothing else.
ReplyDeleteAbout Batman by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo vol. 1, I think they'll eventually amend the content listing so that it includes Batman #0 and Annuals #1-2, which were published in the period covered by #1-33. As for Vol. 2, they could make it almost as thick as the first one by collecting Batman #34-51, Dark Knights: Metal #1-6, the upcoming Batman: Last Knight on Earth #1-3, the sneak peek from the FCBD Divergence one-shot and the stories Snyder wrote for Detective Comics #27 and #1,000, the last of which is pencilled by Capullo.
Snyder also wrote #23.something (was it .2?), a Riddler one-shot, a Future's End tie-in and co-wrote the Batman: Rebirth one-shot. I think those should be included, too.
DeleteBoth Batman #23.2: The Riddler and Batman: Futures End were written by Ray Fawkes, but co-plotted by Snyder and tied to his run with Capullo, so I guess they should be included for completionism's sake.
DeleteBatman: Rebirth I'm a bit more iffy on because it's really the beginning of King's run, but I think it would be a good fit for a Batman by Scott Snyder Companion Omnibus collecting his Detective Comics run, All-Star Batman, the current Batman Who Laughs mini and the Grim Knight one-shot.
I'll get the Absolute Dark Knight to go with the first two parts I already have in absolute form. I'll probably get the Snyder omni, but I'm not positive yet. I enjoyed his run, but I'm not sure if it's so re readable I'd want the omni. Other than that, Shazam might be an impulse by at some point, but nothing else speaks to me. DC and I seem to be getting further apart on collections every month
ReplyDeleteWhy isnt Snyders pre new 52 run collected in that omnibus?
ReplyDeleteSeems they might just want to stick with his work with Capullo, but when they release the inevitable Batman by Snyder omnibus series sometime in the future, maybe then you'll get your wish.
DeleteMaybe a Batman by Snyder companion with All Star, 'Tec, and anything else that doesn't fit in other omnis
DeleteMan, you had the same idea as me, but you posted first, so I've got to give you the credit. I'd add the Batman Who Laughs mini (plus the Grim Knight one-shot set right in the middle of it) to this companion omnibus as well, but come to think of it, couldn't it be called "Batman by Scott Snyder and Jock Omnibus", since he pencilled most of this stuff?
DeleteI feel like there is a lot more DC material out there (not by Frank Miller) that deserves an Absolute edition.
ReplyDeleteMultiversity!
DeleteI broadly agree - I feel like DC sort of lost the thread of what should or shouldn't be Absolute. I would expect Heroes in Crisis will get one, as *should* Metal with the prologues and interstitial issues by Snyder (the same way FC was put together, essentially).