Review: Old Lady Harley trade paperback (DC Comics)

Frank Tieri has already demonstrated himself to be a capable pinch-hitter for writing Harley Quinn’s adventures, penning among other things the exceptional Harley Quinn and Her Gang of Harleys miniseries with Jimmy Palmiotti. His Old Lady Harley, too, is another winner in the genre of ancillary Harley Quinn miniseries. My chief concern was that with no foreknowledge of Marvel’s Old Man Logan nor the Mad Max movies, most of the jokes might be lost on me, but happily that wasn’t the case. Rather, Old Lady Harley is fairly centered in the pseudo-future of Palmiotti and Amanda Conner’s Rebirth Harley Quinn run and that’s about as much reference as you need.

Once again, Tieri achieves both the zaniness and sudden, unexpected emotion of a good Harley Quinn story. I put off reading this one because I thought it would be pretty far outside the Harley Quinn “mainstream,” but with a host of familiar characters, indeed Old Lady Harley felt like coming home.

Review: Mind MGMT Vol. 4: The Magician hardcover (Dark Horse Comics)

Things start to blow up in Mind MGMT Vol. 4: The Magician. What starts out looking like a standard "recruitment adventure" for Meru and her team, akin to the (also explosive) events of the previous volume, "The Home Maker," goes sideways quickly, becoming the first pitched battle between the forces trying to prevent Mind MGMT from restarting and the Eraser and her agents trying to build it back again. The "good guys" find themselves significantly outmatched and — reading this as I was in the Mind MGMT Comprehensive Report Book 2 (the second of three omnibus editions) — the result is an Empire Strikes Back-type ending to the penultimate chapter of the "trilogy"; there's nowhere for Meru and company to go but up.

Review: Superman: Up in the Sky hardcover/paperback (DC Comics)

Well, my goodness. Talk about opposite ends of the spectrum. Superman writer Brian Michael Bendis' recent Batman: Universe was about the cheeriest Batman story we’ve seen in a while this side of the cartoon Batman: Brave and the Bold, an imaginative Bat-romp through the DC Universe. In contrast, Batman writer Tom King’s Superman: Up in the Sky is one of the darkest, saddest Superman stories maybe ever, taking every majestic thing about Superman — his strength, his ability to inspire — and revealing the tragic implications just underneath.

Which is not to say that King besmirches the Man of Steel’s good name. In the end this is just as much a story about Superman’s heroism — and his responsibility — as any you’ll read. But my goodness is it a tough ride to get there. The idea that Superman’s mere presence causes death just as much as life. Superman beat near to a bloody pulp in his quest. The many gory, graphic deaths that Lois Lane might have faced. Superman forced to weigh the value of one life next to another. This is perhaps not a book for Superman purists, much in the way King’s Batman run may also not be a book for Batman purists, but as always I admire King’s audaciousness and the experimental nature of his stories.

Review: Batman: Universe hardcover/paperback (DC Comics)

Brian Michael Bendis will certainly write on one of the Batman titles at some point (maybe, like the Superman titles, both!). In his tenure at DC so far, however, I’ve been impressed with what seems like Bendis thwarting expectations, or at least taking his time — where everyone thought he’d go straight to Batman, he instead went to Superman; where everyone thought he was destined for a mature, gritty title, he started with Young Justice and Wonder Comics. And while I’m sure Bendis' Batman will one day be gritty as can be among his first forays into Batman is Batman: Universe with Nick Derington, a charming, lighthearted take on Batman that’s as fun as they come.

DC Trade Solicitations for November 2020 - Batman: City of Bane Complete, The Green Lantern Season Two by Morrison, Shazam and the Seven Magic Lands by Johns, DC Through the '80s and Twilight of the Gods

So it's the DC Comics November 2020 hardcover and trade paperback solicitations. Usually at the top of these posts I give a little introduction, a brief glance at comics news and some highlights of the solicitations before we dig in. This month, with everything going on at DC, I started writing and the intro turned out to be the size of a post all on its own. Not wanting to put too much space between you, dear reader, and the solicitations, the list is immediately below, and below that is a couple more paragraphs thinking about a variety of things that've happened lately. As upside-down as the world already is, please enjoy a solicitations post that's effectively upside down as well.

Here's that list:

• 100 Bullets Omnibus Vol. 1 HC

Collects 100 Bullets #1-58 and Vertigo: Winter’s Edge #3 of the 100-issue series.

• Amazing World of Superman (Tabloid Edition) HC

This was published in 1973 in conjunction with Metropolis, Illinois, being designated the “hometown” of Superman. There’s a variety of reprints included, being stories from the ‘50s and ‘60s, plus a new telling of Superman’s origin by Nelson Bridwell, Carmine Infantino, and Curt Swan. In its “original, tabloid-size format.”

• Authority Book One TP

Collects issues #1-12, Planetary/Authority: Ruling the World, and the new story from Wildstorm: A Celebration of 25 Years — so, the contents of a recent Absolute edition, now in paperback.

• Batman: City of Bane: Complete Collection TP

In paperback, collecting Batman #75-85, being Batman Vol. 12: City of Bane Part 1 and Batman Vol. 12: City of Bane Part 2, together in one volume. I do recognize there's some upset that those volumes won't be reprinted separately in paperback, but putting them together is a good idea. The first part of "City of Bane" is the weaker of the two (in an altogether good story), and they'll definitely read better as one volume.

• DC Through the ’80s: The End of Eras HC

Astoundingly, still a third set of contents for what's now renamed (again) as DC Through the '80s: The End of Eras and no longer seems to contain selections from DC's gritty late 1980s like The Dark Knight Returns and Watchmen, but instead early pre-Crisis on Infinite Earths material. Doesn't really make a difference to me; I'm just stymied who this is for and what the audience might be for it. The headline here, what makes this rather worth picking up all on its own (and, one might wonder, maybe the whole collection is meant as a venue just to pad out this very thing), is the complete text of Alan Moore's "Twilight of the Gods" proposal — who knew such a thing existed and that DC's been sitting on it this long? And if they own it, how long until they decide to put art to it?

Collects Action Comics #583, Detective Comics #500, Flash #296-298, Jonah Hex #54-55, Superman #423, House of Mystery #286, #290, #294-295, #300, #308, and #321, Warlord #42, Wonder Woman #311-312, Brave and the Bold #200, Weird War Tales #93, Time Warp #2 and #3, G.I. Combat #288, Blackhawk #258, DC Comics Presents Annual #1, Super Friends #36, and Sgt. Rock #345, #347, #368, and #387.

• Flash by Geoff Johns Omnibus Vol. 2 HC

Collects Flash #192-225, the end of Geoff Johns' Flash run, plus Wonder Woman #214, and what's called "The Flash: The Secret of Barry Allen #1," which isn't a thing (rather that was the title of a storyline), so maybe it's cover art or maybe it's nothing at all.

• Green Lantern Season Two Vol. 1 HC

Best news of a difficult month is that this collection will include Green Lantern: Blackstars #1-3 as well as The Green Lantern Season Two #1-6, and not omitting that mini as it previously seemed. It was hard to believe some Grant Morrison material would just be left on the table.

• Justice League: Vengeance Is Thine TP

The entirety of Robert Venditti's stint on Justice League, previously listed as #40-45 and now #40-47. I'd like to see things more stable on the Justice League title, and a single volume by an author who leaves immediately thereafter (albeit a good writer) doesn't particularly get my blood pumping. That said, can't argue with the Eradicator and the Spectre in the same comic.

• Shazam and the Seven Magic Lands TP

The solicitations list this as Shazam #1-11 and #13-14, formerly #1-12. The series ends with #15, and issues #12 and #15 are by Jeff Loveness. While I understand, theoretically, how DC might want this to be a Geoff Johns-specific trade, seems rather a waste to me to pull out two index issues rather than, even, just shunting them to the back of the book.

• Super Friends: Saturday Morning Comics Vol. 2 HC

Super Friends #27-47 from the 1970s, the final issues of the series, plus "material from" Super Friends Special #1 and the Super Friends: Truth, Justice, and Peace collection. By E. Nelson Bridwell and Ramona Fradon, among others, with appearances by Gorilla Grodd, Sinestro, Plastic Man, and the Wonder Twins.

• Teen Titans Vol. 4: Djinn Wars TP

This newest collection by Adam Glass and Robbie Thompson is still listed as issues #39-44 and the Annual #2, but given that the title now ends with issue #47, hopefully the final three issues will be there as well. A darn shame — I liked Glass’s run on this title a whole lot.

• Terrifics Vol. 4: The Tomorrow War TP

The final collection of Terrifics by Gene Luen Yang. This collects issues #19-30, of which #28-30 were previously only released digitally. This series has been troubled but it looks like some cool guest stars — namely, most of the DCU — in the last one.

• Tiny Titans: Beast Boy & Raven TP

Collects select Beast Boy and Raven stories from Art Baltazar and Franco's Tiny Titans series, being issues #1-4, #6, #8, #12-14, #17, #20, #26-27, and #44.

• Transmetropolitan Book Four TP

Issues #37-48 and the one-shot Transmetropolitan: Filth of the City by Warren Ellis. The series went to issue #60.

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Well, quite the concerning week for fans of DC Comics. That plenty of nice, long-time, professional employees were let go is the important tip of the iceberg, which continues all the way down ultimately to the very question of whether DC will still be publishing comics in the near future. Signs so far point to yes, if the official word can be believed, but things like the laying off of senior staff from the DC Collected Editions department is obviously of concern to the readership here.

In general I don't tend to look disfavorably at series cancellations or even widespread series cancellations; almost never have I thought DC was publishing too few comics at one time, and ostensibly cutting the chaff from the line makes more room for the good stuff. Also comics are cyclical like that, and inevitably the New 52 Justice League, Justice League Dark, and Justice League of America were going to get cancelled for the Rebirth Justice League and Justice League of America, which were then cancelled for the "New Justice" Justice League, Justice League Dark, and Justice League Odyssey, the latter of which has now been announced as cancelled as well and I'd be surprised if there wasn't more shakeup in the wake of Dark Nights: Death Metal. So in that regard, these things happen.

That said, Batman and the Outsiders isn't much of a surprise, nor Justice League Odyssey, nor even Hawkman — I liked the first volume, but I found the question of who this Hawkman is or what his role is in the DC Universe utterly befuddling (letting alone, even more so, the history of Hawkgirl Kendra Saunders over in Justice League). Batgirl will assuredly be back, and that's a title that's been having some troubles; Teen Titans is one that's maybe not much of a surprise, though I was really liking that book for the first time in a while so that stings. Ditto Tom Taylor's Suicide Squad, which I haven't read yet but has been getting great reviews (Titans and Suicide Squad, too, will assuredly be back).

John Constantine, Hellblazer is a shame, both because (without yet having read it) I think it was a legitimate attempt to recreate some of the old Hellblazer mojo, and because that's about the end of the Sandman Universe imprint short of G. Willow Wilson's Dreaming miniseries. I had felt excited to jump back into the original Sandman volumes (and may still yet) given that the "Sandman universe" seemed to be back and at least somewhat re-aligned with the DC Universe; now that Sandman Universe seems to have been a failed experiment, I'm less enthused to pick up those books and less enthused for my overall project, which I feel badly about.

Young Justice's cancellation is an absolute shocker — if a Young Justice reboot (!) written by Brian Michael Bendis (!!) can't survive on the stands, what possible chance does anything else have? That does it too, of course, for Bendis' Wonder Comics imprint — between Wonder Comics, Sandman Universe, and Young Animal, management wouldn't be faulted for thinking these pop-up imprints just don't work, which is unfortunate, because good, compelling material has come out fo them. I hold out hope this was planned or at least leads to Bendis doing something bigger and better with the characters, because the worse alternative is that this sours Bendis' relationship with DC Comics and the Bendis era of DC ends before it barely got off the ground.

Into all of this, we have the DC Comics November 2020 hardcover and trade paperback solicitations. That these are noticeably thin is supposedly no reflection on DC's recent events, as these solicitations were put together well before the upset at DC. At the same time, there's been a general understanding that DC was cutting back on their collections releases even ahead of all of this, something we thought we've been seeing for a while and now seems nigh undeniable. Last year at this time DC solicited 31 collections; this month it's 14.

There are some notable books this month, to be sure. Any other time, the fact that DC plans to publish Alan Moore's outline for "Twilight of the Gods" (!) in DC Through the ’80s would be all anyone could talk about, and the fact that it's not shows just how upside-down everything is. Happily, the first volume of Grant Morrison's The Green Lantern Season Two includes the Blackstars miniseries, when previously it seemed like it would not — for completists, that's a big deal. And among others, I'll be picking up, finally, Geoff Johns' Rebirth Shazam collection (though the fact that this is both the first and last volume of said series is another indication of trouble), as well as presumably the final volume of Teen Titans and the final volume of Terrifics.

If not already, head on up to the top and let's take a look at the full list.

Review: Crisis on Infinite Earths: Paragons Rising: The Deluxe Edition hardcover (DC Comics)

I’ve never missed an episode of DC’s CW television shows, so I say with as much affection as possible that the spin-off Crisis on Infinite Earths: Paragons Rising comic is as brilliant and as misbegotten as an episode of one of the series often is. 

In essence, these two stories from the Crisis on Infinite Earths Giants (exclusive to Walmart, though darned if I ever saw them) allowed Arrowverse producer Marc Guggenheim to sneak in a couple more Easter eggs that TV production couldn’t or wouldn’t allow for, which is great, and also let original Crisis comic writer Mark Wolfman and inker Jerry Ordway take an additional role, which is also great. It is wrapped, however, in plots that betray how quickly they were put together, and also the kind of melodrama that struggles as is on the screen, let alone on the page. Still, in addition to the other high points, the bonus material does well to remind the reader how much history backs all of this and how wonderfully unlikely any of this actually is.

Review: Batman Vol. 13: City of Bane Part 2 hardcover/paperback (DC Comics)

Batman Vol. 13: City of Bane Part 2 is a strong conclusion to Tom King’s experimental Batman magnum opus. It has been a story about, as much as anything else, the never-changing landscape of superhero comics, the amount of effort it takes to make a dent in that four-colored wall (on purpose or accidentally), and even — one can extrapolate — the human struggle to take control and make a difference in one’s own life.

We see in this finale many Batmans — Batman the planner, who epitomized Grant Morrison’s Batman run, and Batman the capable but imperfect, whom in Scott Snyder’s run we often saw didn’t know as much as he thought, and also Batman the child becoming Batman the adult. This last part is important — whether wittingly or not, King identifies an incongruity in the Batman mythos and excises it, though whether that resection will last remains to be seen. History is against King — the legacy of unchanging Batman is much longer than these 80-plus issues — but perhaps the four-colored wall has been damaged at least slightly.

Review: Teen Titans Vol. 3: Seek and Destroy trade paperback (DC Comics)

Adam Glass' Teen Titans is as good as this title has been in a decade and I defy anyone to say otherwise. It’s a shame that Teen Titans Vol. 3: Seek and Destroy marks the almost-end of Glass' run, but he sure goes out on a high note. If Robbie Thompson can keep up the kind of excitement that this book offers, I’ll be supporting this book as long as it goes.

As I’ve mentioned before, the high concept of Glass' Titans is “if the Teen Titans broke bad.” Not that there aren’t a couple of love triangles here, but the real drama comes from more serious (superheroic) issues — questions of these teen heroes killing their enemies, and if not that, then imprisoning them without due process or wiping their minds. This is Robin Damian Wayne’s Teen Titans, and for once that doesn’t just mean harping on his teammates to be more serious, but the kind of mayhem one always expected were Damian left to his own devices — heroism, but coupled with the misguided ethics of a severely damaged kid.

Dark Nights: Death Metal collections, Green Arrow Connor Hawke, Batman: Joker War, DCeased: Dead Planet, Gotham Knights Vol. 2, Crisis on Multiple Earths returns, Suicide Squad by Taylor, more in DC Comics Spring 2021 solicitations

It's hard to believe the last time I sat down to write an intro to a DC catalog post, sheltering in place and social distancing were just starting, and now here we are with the next DC catalog post and in many ways there's still the same amount of uncertainty. Sometimes I'm able to convince myself that things aren't that strange, that this is only a blip in the grand scheme of a lifetime. Realizing that life has been on hold for the entire time of the release of one DC catalog to the next DC catalog, well, by my own markers suddenly this seems like it's been going on a very long time.

Remember that the Red Cross has a critical need for blood donations, most all of the time but especially now.

It's some small comfort that the bigger comics companies, at least, seem largely unaffected after all the initial uncertainty, and that we can indeed be talking about the DC Comics Spring 2021 hardcover and trade paperback solicitations. Probably among the highest profile books on this list are the Dark Nights: Death Metal collections, numbering four so far, and due out in April and May. I'm concerned some of the lessons learned with the first Metal collections have not played out here, but we shall see.

The biggest flat-out surprise for me was a Green Arrow Connor Hawke collection, something I had no expectation of ever seeing ever, but I'm pleased Connor's getting some recognition. That's only the tip of the iceberg for those stories, so hopefully there's more behind it. And, y'know, any number of other cool stuff: more of Devin Grayson's Gotham Knights, Batman: The Joker War and related books, more DCeased, more of William Messner-Loebs' Wonder Woman, another attempt at the Silver Age JLA/JSA Crisis on Multiple Earths books, deep cuts from Legion of Super-Heroes and New Gods, and even more after that. All in all a strong couple of months.

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Let's take a look at the full list. Hopefully next time we do this, things will be better than they are now. Stay safe.

• Absolute Flash: Rebirth

I’d have sworn this was already published, but I can’t see that it was. Reprints Flash: Rebirth #1-6 in Absolute format.

• Absolute Planetary

If I'm not mistaken, DC has released an Absolute Planetary before, but it only contained the preview from Gen 13 #33 and Planetary #1-12, whereas this has the preview, Planetary #1-27, Planetary/Batman: Night On Earth #1, Planetary/The Authority: Ruling the World #1, Planetary/JLA: Terra Occulta #1, and a pinup from WildStorm: A Celebration of 25 Years. That tracks closer to the Planetary Omnibus from 2014, though I don't believe that had the Wildstorm anniversary story.

• Adam Strange: Between Two Worlds Deluxe Edition

This was a famously “mature” and/or problematic take on Adam Strange by Richard Bruning, with art by Andy Kubert, kind of the original post-Crisis origin of Adam Strange (before it was revised a couple of times). Still I’ve wanted to read this and I’m excited about a Deluxe collection. This also includes Mark Waid’s Adam Strange stories from JLA #21-22 and the Andy Diggle/Pasqual Ferry 2004 miniseries that lead into the start of Infinite Crisis. All around this should be a book worth getting.

• Amazing World of Superman (Tabloid Edition)

This was published in 1973 in conjunction with Metropolis, Illinois, being designated the “hometown” of Superman. There’s a variety of reprints included, being stories from the ‘50s and ‘60s, plus a new telling of Superman’s origin by Nelson Bridwell, Carmine Infantino, and Curt Swan. In its “original, tabloid-size format.”

• Aquaman Vol. 4

Issues #59-64 by Kelly Sue DeConnick. There’s a solicitation out there that dares to say “Underwater fishticuffs!”

• Authority Book Two

By Mark Millar and Frank Quitely, Dustin Nguyen, Art Adams, and others, with the "uncensored, original" pages to Authority #13-29 (as seen, I believe, in the Wildstorm 25th anniverary book), Authority Annual 2000, and stories from the Wildstorm Summer Special.

• Batgirl Vol. 8

By Cecil Castellucci, with ties to Tom King's "City of Bane."

• Batgirl: The New 52 Omnibus

Though it's almost hard to remember at this point, Gail Simone's New 52 Batgirl run really is significant, putting Barbara Gordon back in the cowl for the first time in forever, whereas nowadays Barbara as Batgirl (again) feels pretty natural. Equally, longtime Birds of Prey writer Simone also accomplished the transition from Oracle back to Batgirl. All of this makes for a run worth collecting in omnibus; it also bears mentioning that Simone channels the horror genre pretty heavily in this one — arguably too tonally dark for a Batgirl book, but effective nonetheless.

• Batman & the Outsiders Vol. 3

Issues #13-17 by Bryan Hill, the final collection of the newly cancelled series. The fact that this team is still fighting Ra’s al Ghul almost 20 issues in says about all that needs to be said.

• Batman Adventures: Riddle Me This!

Collects the animated tie-in Batman: Gotham Adventures #11, #28, #56-57, and Batman Adventures #11, featuring guess who.

• Batman Arkham: Talia al Ghul

Among other things, it’s nice that this collection acknowledges Talia’s graduation to a Batman villain separate from her father Ra’s. Collects Batman #232, Batman #656, Detective Comics #411, Batman: Son of the Demon #1, Batman: Death and the Maidens #9, President Luthor Secret Files #1, Batman Villains Secret Files 2005 #1, Red Hood: The Lost Days #1, Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #23, Batman and Robin #12, Batman Incorporated #2, Batman Incorporated #13, and Batman #34-35. I love that President Luthor is in there; I really enjoyed Joe Kelly writing Talia as a foe for Superman in his Action Comics run, and I’m glad that gets an acknowledgment.

• Batman Beyond Vol. 8

Issues #43-48 by Dan Jurgens, with the revelation of Batwoman Beyond's identity.

• Batman in Brave & the Bold: The Bronze Age Omnibus Vol. 3

Brave and the Bold #157-200 from the 1980s, with Batman teaming up with Wonder Woman, Green Arrow, Black Lightning, Superboy, and Swamp Thing, among others.

• Batman in the Fifties

Collects Batman #59, #62, #63, #81, #92, #105, #113, #114, #121, #122, and #128; Detective Comics #156, #168, #185, #187, #215, #216, #233, #235, #236, #241, #244, #252, #267, and #269; and World’s Finest Comics #81 and #89. No small amount of Black Casebook material here.

• Batman Who Laughs

Paperback, following the hardcover, and collecting the six-issue miniseries plus the Grim Knight special.

• Batman's Grave: The Complete Collection

Hardcover of the 12-issue series by Warren Ellis and Bryan Hitch.

• Batman/Superman Vol. 2: World's Deadliest

Collects the "Kandor Compromise" and "Atomic" stories, so this looks to be issues #7-11 or #12ish.

• Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III

Paperback of the six-issue miniseries by James Tynion and Freddie Williams, following the hardcover.

• Batman: A Death in the Family The Deluxe Edition

Collects “Death in the Family,” Batman #426-429, and also “A Lonely Place of Dying,” Batman #440-442 and New Titans #60-61, being both the death of Jason Todd and the early appearances of Tim Drake. Also a page from Batman Annual #25, originally drawn for “Death in the Family” had Jason lived. Some/all of this appeared in the DC Comics Classics Library edition of “Death in the Family” in 2009.

• Batman: Creature of the Night

Issues #1-4 by Kurt Busiek and John Paul Leon, in paperback following the hardcover.

• Batman: Detective Comics Vol. 5: Ugly Heart

Following the events of "City of Bane," this is Detective Comics #1020-1026, Detective Comics Annual #3, and Batman: Pennyworth R.I.P., by Peter Tomasi, Brad Walker, and crew. Solicitations have this in paperback first, but I'm skeptical. Presumably this contains the "Joker War" tie-in issues, #1022-1026.

• Batman: Gotham Knights: Contested

So, so glad to see more of Devin Grayson's Gotham Knights collected. Said to collect issues #14-24 and #29, which almost finishes out Grayson’s run short of some “Batman: Murderer/Fugitive” tie-in issues, except I think issue #32 needs to be in there too.

• Batman: Kings of Fear

Paperback of the six-issue miniseries by Scott Peterson and Kelley Jones, previously in hardcover. Seems like this was previously solicited and then delayed.

• Batman: The Dark Knight Detective Vol. 5

Collects Detective Comics Annual #3, and Detective Comics #612-614 and #616-21 (issue #615, part of a crossover, is over in Batman: The Caped Crusader Vol. 3, which demonstrates these books are a little out of step with one another). Stories are largely by the super-team of Alan Grant and Norm Breyfogle, and include appearances by Anarky and a big development in Robin Tim Drake's early life. We're still about forty issues away from "Knightfall."

• Batman: The Joker War

In hardcover, James Tynion’s issues #95-100.

• Batman: The Joker War Companion Vol. 1

In hardcover, collecting Nightwing #70-73, Batgirl #47-48, and Detective Comics #1022-1024.

• Batman: The Joker War Companion Vol. 2

Said to collect Red Hood: Outlaw #48, Nightwing #75, Harley Quinn #75, Catwoman #25-26, and Batman: The Joker War Zone #1.

• Batman: Universe

Paperback of the Brian Michael Bendis/Nick Derington story, following the hardcover.

• Batwoman Omnibus

Collects Detective Comics #854-864, Batwoman #0 (New 52), Batwoman #0-24, and Batwoman Annual #1, being Greg Rucka, JH Williams, and W. Haden Blackman's work on the character, stopping before Marc Andreyko's less-well-regarded run (short of the annual where Andreyko finished up Williams' unfinished run).

One does wonder what effect a new title character on TV will have on the DC Universe’s own Kate Kane.

• Birds of Prey: Fighters by Trade

Collects Gail Simone's Birds of Prey #81-91, so spanning the Battle Within and Perfect Pitch trades. This includes issue #91 by Jim Alexander, Brad Walker, and Jimmy Palmiotti that I don't believe has been collected before.

• Black Canary: Bird of Prey

Collection of Black Canary’s Golden Age adventures, including Adventure Comics #399, Adventure Comics #418-419, Brave and the Bold #61-62, Flash Comics #86-104, DC Special #3, and Comic Cavalcade #25.

• Books of Magic Vol. 3 (The Sandman Universe)

Issues #14-18 and, I believe, the Sandman Universe Presents Hellblazer special. This series was newly announced as cancelled with issue #23, but whether issues will be added here or if it’ll get one more trade remains to be seen.

• Catwoman Vol. 4

The next volume of the Joelle Jones series, issues #20-24. This will mean it ends right before the issues collected in Joker War Companion Vol. 2.

• Catwoman: Soulstealer (The Graphic Novel)

Comics edition of the young adult nove by Sarah J. Maas, adapted by Louise Simonson and drawn by Samantha Dodge. I never did catch before that this was Catwoman vs. Batwing Luke Fox.

• Crisis on Multiple Earths Book 1: Crossing Over

What appears to be a new start to the old often-incomplete, often-hard-to-find Crisis on Multiple Earths series of collections; I think this’ll make some people happy if indeed it gets down to the later volumes, which never ultimately collected all of the JLA/JSA “pre-Crisis” team-ups. This new volume actually collects the contents of the first two original books, so maybe that will shorten release time, too.

• Dark Nights: Death Metal: Deluxe Edition

Collects the six-issue miniseries in hardcover, due out in April 2021. I get a bad feeling about DC collecting just the mini on its own without any of the tie-ins; that’s how the Metal collections went wrong the first time out.

• Dark Nights: Death Metal: The Darkest Knight

Paperback collecting tie-ins to Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s sequel event, Dark Nights: Death Metal. I’d say last time the collection schema for Metal wasn’t fantastic and unfortunately this doesn’t look a whole lot different. Collects Dark Nights: Death Metal Legends of the Dark Knights #1, Dark Nights: Death Metal Speed Metal #1, Dark Nights: Death Metal Trinity Crisis #1, Dark Nights: Death Metal Multiverse's End #1, and Dark Nights Death Metal Guidebook #1.

• Dark Nights: Death Metal: The Multiverse Who Laughs

Collects a variety of Dark Nights: Death Metal tie-ins, including some that I don't think have been formally announced yet: Dark Nights: Death Metal: Infinite Hour Exxxtreme! #1, Dark Nights: Death Metal: Robin King #1, Dark Nights: Death Metal: Rise of the New God #1, Dark Nights: Death Metal: The Multiverse Who Laughs #1, and Dark Nights: Death Metal: The Secret Origin #1.

• Dark Nights: Death Metal: War of the Multiverses

Solicitation says this just collects Dark Nights: Death Metal: The Last 52: War of the Multiverse #1 and Dark Nights: Death Metal: The Last Stories of the DCU #1, which seems a little slim, so I wonder if the Justice League tie-ins or something else will be in here.

• DC Poster Portfolio: Greg Capullo

Appropriate, in these Death Metal times — the selected covers of Greg Capullo.

• DC Through the '80s: The Experiments

This has been pitched a couple times and never quite made print, but now here again is this hardcover collection of DC comics from the early 1980s. I did worry this collection would be too grimdark, not reflecting for instance the comedy of the international Justice League that was side-by-side with some of the mature material. There is some Ambush Bug in here, and what seems to be either the Super Juniors or Sugar and Spike, though I'm still not quite sure that's sufficient. Said to collect Secret Origins #48, Swamp Thing #40, Sandman #8, Doom Patrol #25, Warlord #48 and #55, Legion of Super-Heroes #298, Nathaniel Dusk #1, Infinity, Inc. #14, New Teen Titans #16, Best of DC: Blue Ribbon Digest #58, Watchmen #1, Camelot 3000 #1, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #2, Angel Love #1, and History of the DC Universe #1-2.

• DC's Greatest Science Fiction Stories Ever Told

Quite the interesting cross-section in this one, everything from WE3 by Grant Morrison to The Wake by Scott Snyder and Camelot 3000 by Mike Barr. Here's the full list: Action Comics #186, Transmetropolitan #1, WE3 #1, Strange Adventures #7, #9, #18, #31, #119, and #126; Camelot 3000 #1, Mystery in Space #1, #6, #19, #30, #35, #63, #69, #101, #103, #113-115, and #117; Time Warp #5, Real Fact Comics #1, #3, #6, #11, and #15; My Greatest Adventure #7, #12, and #15, The Wake #6, Trillium #1, and Strange Sports Stories #1.

• DCeased

Paperback collection of the six-issue miniseries and DCeased: A Good Day to Die, following the hardcover.

• DCeased: Dead Planet

Hardcover collection of the sequel miniseries.

• Dear Super-Villains

Young reader sequel to Dear Justice League by Michael Northrop and Gustavo Duarte.

• Earth One Box Set

Collects Batman: Earth One Vol. 1, Wonder Woman: Earth One Vol. 1, and Superman: Earth One Vol. 1.

• Event Leviathan

Paperback collection of the Event Leviathan miniseries, following the hardcover.

• Ex Machina Compendium Two

Issues #26-50 and the Ex Machina Special #3-4 from Brian K. Vaughan and Tony Harris.

• Fables Compendium Two

Collects Fables #42-81 and Peter & Max: A Fables Novel.

• Final Night

Brings Final Night back to print with the previously collected four-issue miniseries, the free preview story, the Parallax: Emerald Night #1, and new for this edition, the epilogue from Green Lantern #81 (which I remember mainly from a rare Jack Knight appearance).

• Flash Facts

Big Bang Theory's (and Blossom) Mayim Bialik writes the Flash expounding on science facts for young readers, with help from Supergirl, Cyborg, Green Lantern Jessica Cruz, and more.

• Flash Vol. 14: The Flash Age

Collects Flash #88, Flash #750-755, and Flash Annual #3. Long-time writer Joshua Williamson's run ends with issue #762, presumably the next trade. In paperback.

• Flash/Impulse: Runs in the Family

Another one that's been solicited before but keeps getting cancelled; let's try it again now that Impulse is part of a title. Collects Mark Waid's Impulse #1-12 and Flash #108-111, the "Dead Heat" crossover.

• Flashpoint: The 10th Anniversary Omnibus

Ten years since Flashpoint. It hardly seems that much, and if you want me up on my soapbox, I think in part that’s because we’ve been through two continuities since then and DC’s history remains very, very muddled — that is, it’s been 10 years, but mostly that reminds me we haven’t come all that far in 10 years.

That said, this is assuredly the completest complete collection of Flashpoint you’re going to find; I’m curious whether the editors will try to slot in the various miniseries in their relative right places between the Flashpoint miniseries or just shunt all the ancillary material to the end.

Anyway, this is (deep breath) Booster Gold #44-47, Flash #9-12, Flashpoint #1-5, Flashpoint: Reverse-Flash #1, Flashpoint: Abin Sur the Green Lantern #1-3, Flashpoint: Emperor Aquaman #1-3, Flashpoint: Batman Knight of Vengeance #1-3, Flashpoint: Citizen Cold #1-3, Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint #1-3, Flashpoint: Deadman and the Flying Graysons #1-3, Flashpoint: Deathstroke & the Curse of the Ravager #1-3, Flashpoint: Lois Lane and the Resistance #1-3, Flashpoint: The Outsider #1-3, Flashpoint: Secret Seven #1-3, Flashpoint: The Canterbury Cricket #1, Flashpoint: Wonder Woman and the Furies #1-3, Flashpoint: Kid Flash Lost #1-3, Flashpoint: Project Superman #1-3, Flashpoint: Frankenstein & the Creatures of the Unknown #1-3, Flashpoint: Green Arrow Industries #1, Flashpoint: Grodd of War #1, Flashpoint: Hal Jordan #1-3, Flashpoint: The Legion of Doom #1-3, and material from Absolute Flashpoint.

• Fourth World: A Celebration of 50 Years

Here’s a fun, unexpected one; nice that Jack Kirby’s Fourth World is getting the same kind of recognition as with soem of these other volumes. There’s a nice run of the gamut in terms of non-Kirby New Gods stories, including parts of Cosmic Odyssey and Final Crisis; I’d be interested to see what the essays are like in this one.

• Gen13: Starting Over: The Deluxe Edition

Someone else might know better, but this seems to be the earliest issues of the first Gen13 miniseries and series by Jim Lee, Brandon Choi, and J. Scott Campbell. Collects Gen13: Lost in Paradise #1, Gen13 #1-5, Gen13 European Vacation #1, Gen13 Backlist #1, Gen13 #0-5, Wildstorm Universe Sourcebook #1, and Gen13: Encore No. 1.

• Green Arrow/Black Canary: Till Death Do They Part

In paperback, collecting the beginning of Judd Winick and Cliff Chiang's Green Arrow/Black Canary series, which I liked a lot. This is the Green Arrow/Black Canary Wedding Special and Green Arrow/ Black Canary #1-14. Connor Hawke is featured prominently here, as well as in his own collection on this list.

• Green Arrow: 80 Years of the Emerald Archer

Collects More Fun Comics #73, Adventure Comics #246 and #259, Green Lantern #85 and #86, Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunters #1, Green Arrow #100-101 (1994), JLA #8-9 (1996), Green Arrow #1, #17, and #75 (2001), Green Arrow and Black Canary #4 (2007), Secret Origins #4 (2014), Arrow: Season 2.5 #1, and Green Arrow: Rebirth #1. I think it’s a really nice thing that they got a TV Arrow tie-in story in there.

• Green Arrow: Connor Hawke Where Angels Fear to Tread

Well, this is a fantastic surprise, a collection fans have been wanting for a while now (only 30 years later!). If you’re familiar with the saga of Oliver Queen and his son Connor Hawke, you know what happens here — Green Arrow issues #0 and #91-101 — and that this is only the very, very start of Connor’s adventures; he’d go on to appear all over the DC Universe in the next years. Hopefully another collection will follow this one. Seems to me there’s a Showcase story that intersects with this and ought to be included too.

• Green Lantern: Circle of Fire

Being now both Judd Winick’s first arc on Green Lantern, issues #129-136 starring Kyle Rayner, previously collected as New Journey, Old Path, and also the contemporaneous (but not necessarily related) “Circle of Fire” miniseries lead by Brian K. Vaughan, being Green Lantern #129-136, Green Lantern/Firestorm #1, Green Lantern/Adam Strange #1, Green Lantern/Atom #1, Green Lantern/Green Lantern #1, Green Lantern/Power Girl #1, and Green Lantern: Circle of Fire #1-2. There was to be a set of Kyle Rayner collections that I don’t think progressed; remains to be seen if this is a one-off or if DC is jumping ahead to the Winick run.

• Harley Quinn & the Birds of Prey: The Hunt for Harley

Collects the four-issue miniseries in hardcover. Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti picking up where they left off can’t come fast enough for me.

• Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy

Paperback, following the hardcover, by Jody Houser and Adriana Melo.

• Harley Quinn Black + White + Red

Collects the 14-chapter digital series in paperback. The solicitation lists Harley Quinn #1-7 and Harley Quinn: Futures' End #1, which is the contents of the New 52 Harley Quinn Vol. 1: Hot in the City collection.

• Harley Quinn Vol. 5: Hollywood or Die

The solicitation mentions both "Year of the Villain" and also a trip to Los Angeles; my sense is this one is about the latter and not the former. Said to collect Harley Quinn #67-72, but since Sam Humphries’ run ends at issue #75, I wonder if maybe this will get expanded.

• Hawkman Vol. 4

Issues #20-29, an awfully big trade, by Robert Venditti and Fernando Pasarin.

• Indestructibles: The First Fracture

Young readers graphic novel by Ridley Pearson, focusing on an all-new super-team but set in some of the same locations as his Super Sons books.

• JLA: The Tower of Babel The Deluxe Edition

Collects a number of Mark Waid's JLA stories, including issues #18-21, #32-33, and "Tower of Babel," issues #43-46. Also, randomly, Len Kaminski and Jason Orfalas' "JLApe" JLA Annual #3.

• John Constantine, Hellblazer Vol. 2

Second collection by Si Spurrier, even as the Sandman Universe titles are dropping precipitously. Collects issues #7-12.

• John Constantine, Hellblazer Vol. 24: Sectioned

Hellblazer #267-275 and the five-issue City of Demons miniseries, by Peter Milligan.

• John Constantine, Hellblazer: Rise and Fall

In hardcover, collecting the three-issue Black Label miniseries by Tom Taylor. I tell you what, one side-effect of following Taylor on Twitter these days to find out about the next Injustice project is seeing a lot of praise for his Suicide Squad, which I'm eager to read. Taylor's star is on the rise and I'm optimistic for his Hellblazer as well.

• Justice League Odyssey Vol. 4

Collects issues #19-25 by Dan Abnett, being the final issues of the series.

• Justice League Unlimited: Hocus Pocus

Continuing the new recent collections of the animated Justice League Unlimited comic, this time with a magic theme. It’s Justice League Unlimited #11, Justice League Unlimited #14, Justice League Unlimited #25, Justice League Unlimited #33, Justice League Unlimited #37, and Justice League Unlimited #40.

• Justice League: Galaxy of Terrors

Collects the "Rule of War" story, Justice League #48-50, by Si Spurrier and Aaron Lopresti, and then the two-part "Garden of Mercy" by Jeff Loveness in #51-52, ahead of the Death Metal tie-in story by Joshua Williamson.

• Legends of the DC Universe: Carmine Infantino Vol. 1

Includes stories from Secret Origins, Detective Comics, Flash, and All-Star Comics among others.

• Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 2

Hardcover collection of issues #7-12 by Brian Michael Bendis.

• Legion of Super-Heroes: Before the Darkness Vol. 1

In hardcover, 1980s Legion of Super-Heroes stories from just before “Great Darkness Saga,” being issues #260-271 and Secrets of the Legion of Super-Heroes #1-3. This is an era of Legion I find pretty accessible and iconic, so I’m excited about this one. You all can tell me better but it seems there’s at least some never-before-collected material in here.

• Lucifer Vol. 4

Issues #20-24 by Dan Watters and Sebastian Fiumara. Apparently none of these were published as single issues, only digital, so this "graphic novel" will be the first time they see print, and marking the end of the Sandman Universe series.

• Metal Men

The solicitation says issues #1-6, but we know this is a 12-issue miniseries by Dan DiDio and Shane Davis. I would hope DC collects this all together and not in multiple volumes.

Aside, but I think a collection of modern Metal Men appearances would be cool — mainly I’m thinking of the never-collected Dan Jurgens series, but maybe the Len Wein or Duncan Roleau minis can get in there with it.

• Metropolis Grove

Young adult graphic novel by Drew Brockington, set in the Metropolis suburbs. Sounds like it has kind of a Goonies vibe, except the kids end up finding Bizarro.

• New Gods Book One: Bloodlines

Collection of the 1980s New Gods stories by Mark Evanier in the wake of Cosmic Odyssey; collects issues #1-14. There were 28 issues of this series total.

• New Teen Titans Omnibus Vol. 6

I don't think I even realized, but the New Teen Titans Omnibus Vol. 5 (due out in January) collected to the end of the New Teen Titans title, issue #49, before the title was renamed New Titans. This sixth omnibus collects various "ancillary" material: The New Teen Titans: Games graphic novel, World’s Finest Comics #300, Teen Titans Spotlight #1-21 (including Millennium tie-ins), and The New Teen Titans (Drug Awareness) #1-3. Big question now is, will DC start a New Titans collection series?

• Nightwing: Supercop

Beginning a collection of Devin Grayson's Nightwing run with issues #71-83; Grayson's run goes to #117 with a couple of gaps. I know this run was controversial and I'm pleased that DC is willing to collect it, though I do feel a little "wait and see" as to whether they'll really collect the whole thing.

• Nightwing: The Return of Dick Grayson

I haven’t heard, but I’ll be curious if this book delivers on its title. By Dan Jurgens and, supposedly, Graham Nolan, though I hadn’t heard he was collaborating with Jurgens on the title.

• Nubia: Real One

Wonder Woman-related young adult graphic novel by L. L. McKinney (A Blade So Black) and Robyn Smith.

• Power of Shazam! Book 2: The Worm Turns

So excited to see these collections of Jerry Ordway’s Power of Shazam! continuing. This collects The Power of Shazam! #13-23, Superman: The Man of Tomorrow #4, Showcase '96 #7, The Power of Shazam! Annual #1, Superboy Plus #1, and Supergirl Plus #1. Indeed we’ve got Mr. Mind here, plus a couple appearances by Superman, Plastic Man, Batman, Gangbuster, and a Final Night tie-in. This series went 48 issues, so about two more collections, maybe three?

• Red Hood: Outlaw Vol. 4

Paperback collection by Scott Lobdell.

• Revolver

Paperback reprinting of the 2010 graphic novel by Matt Kindt, in which a man seems to travel between two realities each time he goes to sleep.

• Richard Dragon, Kung Fu Fighter: Coming of the Dragon!

One must obviously be sorry Dennis O’Neil didn’t live to see this come out. Collects O’Neil’s Richard Dragon, Kung-Fu Fighter #1-18, The Brave and the Bold #132, and DC Comics Presents #39.

• Robin: Unmasked

The solicitation suggests this is just five issues by Fables' Bill Willingham, Robin #121-125, though for the price and page count, it seems a lot more than that. Willingham wrote about 25 issues of Robin, including Spoiler/Batgirl Stephanie Brown's tenure as Robin, so I wouldn't be surprised if this collects all of that — spanning Identity Crisis to Infinite Crisis and including some of Willingham's Shadowpact characters.

• Sandman: The Deluxe Edition Book Two

I'm increasingly interested in these new deluxe-size Sandman collections with tertiary material placed in context. This is issues #17-31, so the Dream Country (vol. 3) and Seasons of Mists (vol. 4) collections, plus issues later collected in Fables and Reflections (vol. 6). Additionally, there's “Fear of Falling” from Vertigo Preview #1 and Sandman Special #1 (both collected in Fables and Reflections), and stories from Vertigo: Winter’s Edge #1-3: “Flowers of Romance,” “A Winter’s Tale,” and “How They Met Themselves," which I think only so far appeared in the Absolute Sandman and Absolute Death volumes.

• Sgt. Rock: Between Hell & a Hard Place Deluxe Edition

Deluxe-size reprint of the murder mystery/war graphic novel by Brian Azzarello and Joe Kubert.

• Shazam!: The World's Mightiest Mortal Vol. 3

Collecting 1970s adventures of Captain Marvel in hardcover; this is World’s Finest Comics #253-270 and #272-282, and Adventure Comics #491 and #492.

• Sheriff of Babylon

Seems to be issues #1-12 of the first Sheriff of Babylon miniseries by Tom King and Mitch Gerads, with the extras from the recent Deluxe edition.

• Starman Compendium One

New collection of James Robinson's Starman, collecting about half the series: Starman #0-42, Starman 80-Page Giant #1, Starman Annual #1-2, Starman Secret Files #1, Showcase ’95 #12, Showcase ’96 #4, Showcase ’96 #5, Power of Shazam! #35-36, and The Shade #1-4.

• Suicide Squad: Bad Blood

The first collection of Tom Taylor and Bruno Rendondo's new Suicide Squad, which appears to be getting rave reviews. In hardcover, collecting issues #1-6.

• Superman & Batman: Generations Omnibus

Collects the two four-issue miniseries and the third 12-issue miniseries by John Byrne.

• Superman Adventures: Lex Luthor, Man of Metropolis

Collects issues #27, #54-55, and #65-66 of the animated tie-in series.

• Superman by Grant Morrison Omnibus

Being the start of the New 52 Action Comics, issues #0-18 and the Annual #1 by Grant Morrison, Rags Morales, and Andy Kubert.

• Superman by Peter J. Tomasi & Patrick Gleason Omnibus

This is a surprise (I think), the whole of Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason's well-received Superman run, which introduced Super Son Jon Kent. Collects Superman: Rebirth #1, Superman #1-39 and #42-45, Teen Titans #15, Action Comics #975-976, likely just Tomasi's story from Action Comics #1000, Super Sons #11-12, and Superman Annual #1.

• Superman Vol. 3: The Truth Revealed

Paperback, following the hardcover, of Brian Michael Bendis' Superman #16-19, and the Heroes and Villains specials.

• Superman Vol. 4

In hardcover, said to be issues #20-24 by Brian Michael Bendis.

• Superman vs. Shazam

Collects a variety of Superman and Captain Marvel team-ups (or face-offs): Superman #216, The Power of Shazam! #46, Kingdom Come #4, Kingdom Come #1, DC Comics Presents #33, DC Comics Presents #34, DC Comics Presents #49, All-New Collectors' Edition #58, and DC Comics Presents Annual #3.

• Superman's Greatest Team-Ups

From the 1980s, collects DC Comics Presents #5, #9-12, #14, #19, #28, #30, #35, #38, #39, #45, #50, #58, #63, #67, #71, and #97 by Martin Pasko, Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez, Steve Englehart, Dan Mishkin, Steve Gerber, Gary Cohn, and more. In these stories, Superman teams up with Wonder Woman, Bizarro, Aquaman, Sgt. Rock, Hawkman, Mister Miracle, Batgirl, Man-Bat, Black Canary, Plastic Man, Amethyst, Firestorm, the Flash, Elongated Man, Robin, and apparently even Santa Claus, vs. Mongul and the Atomic Skull, among others.

• Superman: Action Comics Vol. 4: Metropolis Burning

Issues #1017-1022 by Brian Michael Bendis and John Romita, which include tie-ins to “Year of the Villain” and appearances by Young Justice.

• Superman: The Golden Age Omnibus Vol. 7

Action Comics #125-143, Superman #55-65, and World’s Finest Comics #37-47.

• Superman: The Last Son The Deluxe Edition

Geoff Johns, Richard Donner, Adam Kubert, and Gary Frank’s stories from Johns’ run on Action Comics, previously the Superman: Last Son and Superman: Brainiac collections. This is Action Comics #844-846, #851, #866-870, and the Action Comics Annual #11.

• Superman: Up in the Sky

Paperback of the Walmart exclusive stories, following the hardcover.

• Swamp Thing: The Bronze Age Vol. 3

Ahead of Alan Moore's run, this is The Saga of the Swamp Thing #6-19 and Saga of the Swamp Thing Annual #1 by Martin Pasko and Tom Yeates.

• Swamp Thing: The New 52 Omnibus

An omnibus collecting both Scott Snyder's and Charles Soule's New 52 runs on Swamp Thing, both of which were quite good. Collects Swamp Thing #0-40, the Swamp Thing Annual #1-3, Swamp Thing: Futures End #1, Swamp Thing Featuring Arcane #23.1, Animal Man #12 and #17, and Aquaman #31.*

• Tales from the DC Dark Multiverse

Paperback, following the hardcover, and collecting Tales from the Dark Multiverse: Batman: Knightfall , Tales from the Dark Multiverse: Death of Superman, Tales from the Dark Multiverse: Blackest Night, Tales from the Dark Multiverse: Infinite Crisis , Tales from the Dark Multiverse: Teen Titans The Judas Contract, Superman #75, Batman #497, Infinite Crisis #1, Blackest Night #1, and Tales of the Teen Titans Annual #3.

• Teen Titans: Beast Boy Loves Raven

New middle-grade graphic novel by Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo.

• Teen Titans: Raven

In a reversal of what we’re used to seeing, this is a hardcover of the young adult graphic novel by Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo, following the paperback (instead of the other way around).

• Tiny Titans: Pet Club!

Collects Art Baltazar and Franco’s Tiny Titans #3, #5-6, #8-9, #11, #13-15, #17, #19-21, #23, and #28.

• Whistle: A New Gotham City Hero

So much in this young adult graphic novel by E. Lockhart and Manuel Preitano — 17-year-old community advocate Willow Zimmerman, running into Killer Croc outsider her local synagogue, the sudden ability to read her dog’s mind, “Pammie” Isley as a science teacher, and on. Sounds interesting!

• Who's Who Omnibus Vol. 1

This is assuredly something that should exist, what seems like it’s going to be a collection of all of DC’s Who’s Who series, though this particular volume is the original post-Crisis Who’s Who, updates, and material from the annuals, ending before the loose-leaf Who’s Who that we’ll probably see in the second volume.

Like ... this is cool, and it definitely should be preserved in collections. I can’t necessarily imagine reading this whole thing now, given how far the characters are from what’s portrayed here (and once upon a time, I did read this kind of thing forward and backward and forward again). Mostly it makes me feel disenchanted, as with the Flashpoint Omnibus, that we’re so far from cohesion these days that a new Who’s Who hardly seems possible.

Collects Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #1-26 (1985), Who's Who Update 1987 #1-5, Who's Who Update 1988 #1-4, and the Who’s Who pages from Action Comics Annual #2, Batman Annual #13, Blackhawk Annual #1, Detective Comics Annual #2, Dr. Fate Annual #1, Green Arrow Annual #2, Justice League Annual #3, Secret Origins Annual #3, Swamp Thing Annual #5, Flash Annual #3, The New Titans Annual #5, The Question Annual #2, and Wonder Woman Annual #2.

• Wonder Woman Book 2: Ares Rising

Pleased to see the new collections of William Messner-Loebs’ Wonder Woman run continuing. This is issues #77-89, with some Lee Moder art in there; issues #88-89 are actually by Christopher Priest. The 2016 Wonder Woman by Mike Deodato book collects issues #90-100, after which John Byrne replaces Messner-Loebs on the title — so it remains to be seen if this is the last collection in this series or if DC will see fit to reprint the “Content” storyline again.

• Wonder Woman Vol. 4: The Four Horsewomen

Issues #82-83, #750-758, and Wonder Woman Annual #3, being the return of Steve Orlando to the title after the departure of G. Willow Wilson. I’d have guessed the entire issue #750 wouldn’t be in here, since it’s getting its own deluxe edition, and instead just Orlando’s relevant bit, but the solicitation talks about contributions from Colleen Doran, Mariko Tamaki, Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo, and Gail Simone and Greg Rucka, so maybe it’s got it all.

• Wonder Woman: The Golden Age Omnibus Vol. 5

In hardcover, Action Comics #142, Wonder Woman #35-47, and Sensation Comics #90-104.

• Young Justice Book 2: Growing Up

In paperback, issues #14-25 of the animated tie-in comic by Greg Weisman.

• Young Romance: Have a Fling The Deluxe Edition

Deluxe-size collection of stories from the 1950s through the 1970s: Millennium Editions: Young Romance #1; Falling in Love #99; Heart Throbs #56, #75, and #83; Secret Hearts #30, #41, and #67; and Young Romance #125, #127, #134, #137, #144, #150, #154, #157, #159, #167, #170, #190-191, #196-197, and #208.

• Zatanna: The Jewel of Gravesend

Young adult graphic novel by Alys Arden and Jacquelin de Leon, setting Zatanna in New York.