Couple blasts from the past in the DC Comics June 2022 hardcover and trade paperback solicitations, the Batman: Earth One Complete Collection and New Teen Titans Vol. 14. The “Earth One” series took wait-for-traders by storm when it was first announced back in 2009 — we’ve been through a few iterations since then, highs and lows, but to still see the material being mined 12 years later is an amazing thing. Collecting the Batman: Earth One trilogy all together makes three good graphic novels even better, and gives us continued hope for these kinds of long-form comics releases from DC (even in-continuity?).
Equally the fourteenth(!) paperback volume of New Teen Titans seems to close a loop from back in 2010, where again we had highs and lows, fits and starts, and now, 11 years later, what seems like it might be the final volume. I was hoping we’d make it to “Titans Hunt,” but really I wasn’t sure where this would stop — maybe with issue #114, ahead of Zero Hour, with essentially the end of the original team, or all the way to #130, through Arsenal’s team with Damage and Supergirl? At a liberal 10 issues per collection, that’d still be eight more books, and I’m skeptical the market would support that. So maybe with the end of “New Teen Titans” proper (before New Titans) is where it’s at.
Other books I’m looking at for this month include the regular-series collections Batman Vol. 6: Abyss and Batman: Secret Files, Black Manta, and Suicide Squad Vol. 2. That Suicide Squad book intersects with (and collects) its “War for Earth-3” issue, while the Batman book skips over its “Shadow War” issue. Neither “War” collections have been announced yet, which reminds me — it has been seven months since we’ve seen a DC Comics catalog! Hopefully soon. Also, you know me, eager for more Tom King goodness with Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, and finally the hardcover of Robert Vendetti’s Superman '78 (now I want the Batman '89/Superman '78 crossover I never got in theaters).
Let’s check out the full list.
• The Animal Man Omnibus (2022 Edition)
Reprints the Animal Man Omnibus, collecting Grant Morrison's issues #1-26 and the story from Secret Origins #39. At what point did we start calling Buddy Baker "the Animal Man"?
• The Batman & Scooby-Doo Mysteries Vol. 2
Issues #7-12 by Sholly Fisch and company. Special mention in the solicitations of the Riddler, for some reason.
Collects Joshua Williamson's interstitial run on Batman between James Tynion and upcoming writer Chip Zdarsky. This is Batman #118-121 and #124; issues #122-123 are part of the "Shadow War" crossover with Robin and Deathstroke, Inc., presumably to be collected on its own.
• Batman: Earth One Complete Collection
Glad to still see some life left in the Earth One books. I've been expecting this for a while, especially since publication of new Earth One books has slowed to nothing. The Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman books respectively were all meant as trilogies, so collected editions of all three volumes together should make for a particular nice, big graphic novel. Only a little sorry not to see this in hardcover. By Geoff Johns and Gary Frank, coming in August.
|
Recent DC Comics Trade Solicitations |
• Batman: No Man's Land Omnibus Vol. 2
No contents listed, but the Batman: No Man's Land Omnibus Vol. 1 collected the first two volumes of the most recent "definitive" paperback collections, so there's a good chance this is volumes three and four, plus any unforeseen extras. So, something like Azrael: Agent of the Bat #58-61, Batman #569-574, Batman Chronicles #18, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #122-126, Batman: No Man's Land #0, Batman: No Man's Land Secret Files and Origins #1, Batman: Shadow of the Bat #89-94, Catwoman #75-77, Detective Comics #736-741, Nightwing #38-39, Robin #68-73, and selections from the Batman: No Man's Land Gallery.
I was hoping we might see some collection of James Tynion's recent Batman: Secret Files specials, or most importantly that DC wouldn't skip collecting these altogether. Said to include Batman Secret Files: The Signal #1, Batman Secret Files: Huntress #1, Batman Secret Files: Clownhunter #1, Batman Secret Files: The Gardener #1, Batman Secret Files: Peacekeeper-01 #1, and Batman Secret Files: Miracle Molly #1.
Collects the six-issue miniseries by Chuck Brown, plus a story from Aquaman 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular, leading in to the new Aquamen series. Seems like an interesting development happening for Manta in this months solicited Aquamen comic.
• Brightest Day Omnibus (2022 Edition)
Not really sure why this is being reissued, unless for the movie-prominent Aquaman and movie-adjacent Osiris. Anyway, issues #0-24 of the twice-monthly series.
• The Green Lantern Season Two Vol. 2: Ultrawar
Paperback finale of the Grant Morrison series, following the hardcover. Collects issues #7-12.
• Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Zero – The Complete Collection
In paperback, collecting issues #1-14, featuring the Justice Society in the Injustice universe.
In hardcover, collecting the new Legends of the Dark Knight #1-8, with stories by Darick Robertson, Stephanie Phillips, Max Dunbar, Brandon Thomas, Giannis Milonogiannis, Becky Cloonan, Matthew Rosenberg, Cian Tormey, Brandon Easton, and Karl Mostert. The solicitation mentions "brand-new antagonists who will change the Batman mythos forever," which is news to me, but if you know different, let me know; I figured this series was walled off from main continuity proper.
That there's a genre now of kids' books in which kids team up with DC villains (see also Metropolis Grove)is charming and funny, and I love all the ways DC is reinterpreting their mythos for different audiences.
Collects New Teen Titans #41-49, New Teen Titans Annual #4, Secret Origins #13 (Nightwing), Tales of the Teen Titans #91 (final issue; this was mostly a reprint but with one new short story), and Secret Origins Annual #3 (original Teen Titans).
The solicitation calls this the "final volume of the second New Teen Titans series," which is factually true (the series became New Titans with issue #50), but whether that means the final volume of these Titans collections or just the final volume of the second New Teen Titans iteration remains to be seen. I'll tell you it doesn't look good — this book finishes out the contents of the New Teen Titans Omnibus Vol. 5 from 2021; there was a New Teen Titans Omnibus Vol. 6 solicited back in 2020, but that only collected ancillary materials. Put another way, I've never seen any indication DC plans to continue these collections into the New Titans era; then again, once upon a time the New Teen Titans Omnibuses didn't seem to plan to collect past the first series, so we ended up with more than we expected (going back nearly a decade!).
In paperback, issues #1-7 of the TV show tie-in comic. Is this show good? Do you enjoy it? Are there overt Batman nods, or would you just think it's a spy series if you didn't know otherwise?
• Suicide Squad Vol. 2: Ambushed!
Previously this was said to collect issues #7-12 and the 2021 annual of the Infinite Frontier-era series. The series itself has now been cancelled, and the current solicitation lists the contents as issues #7-15. Issue #13 is the Suicide Squad tie-in to the "War for Earth-3" crossover with Teen Titans Academy (also recently cancelled) and Flash, and it's interesting that it's here — surely a War for Earth-3 collection is coming, but no news yet.
• Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow
In paperback in July, this is the eight-issue miniseries by Tom King and Bilquis Evely. Given King's rising star, I'm surprised this isn't hardcover — maybe a deluxe is coming later.
In hardcover in July, collecting issues #1-6 by Robert Venditti and Wilfredo Torres. Previously this was listed as #1-12; not exactly sure the conversion from digital to print but I hope that means it's all of it.
• Teen Titans Academy Vol. 1: X Marks the Spot
In paperback in July, following the hardcover and collecting Teen Titans Academy #1-5, a selection from Infinite Frontier #0, and Teen Titans Academy 2021 Yearbook #1, and crossover issue Suicide Squad #3. Academy is cancelled with issue #15; Suicide Squad, also cancelled, collected that series in two volumes (#1-6 and #7-12). Remains to be seen if Academy can do the same or not; #6-12 is not an impossible amount to be collected for a regular monthly series, but a smidgen more than DC usually does.
"Seems like an interesting development happening for Manta in this months solicited Aquamen comic."
ReplyDeleteChuck Brown's mini-series really frustrated me during its run. Between it and Aquaman: The Becoming, Becoming was the stronger of the two Aquaman 80th anniversary mini-series for me.
There are things I did like about Manta (such as introducing a new, yet familiar villain into the DCU -- and whose identity I won't spoil here). But I don't know why it wasn't clicking for me.
Maybe it's just because Jackson's a more interesting character than his father. Or maybe it's because how the mini-series was impacted directly by events elsewhere (it gets hit with repercussions from Nubia and the Amazons) whereas Becoming is relatively stand-alone.
Since it was leading into Aquamen, maybe Manta will be reread stronger a year from now once the full tapestry's revealed and we can look back.
I didn't know Black Manta intersected with Nubia and the Amazons. Curious to see that now!
DeleteBrown uses the events of Nubia's inaugural issue to set up a major supporting character introduction in Manta.
DeleteI hadn't read Nubia at the time, so I was lost as hell. Now, it makes more sense. But, I still wish Manta had been more stand-alone like The Becoming.
Sorry, which character was introduced that is important for Manta?
DeleteThe "Brightest Day Aftermath: Search for Swamp-Thing" 3-issue miniseries has never been collected or republished. If DC were to add that to rhe Brightest Day Omnibus, I would buy it. Otherwise, I don't see the point.
ReplyDeleteI'd read a three-issue Swamp Thing/Hellblazer: Brightest Day standalone collection!
DeleteThanks for pulling this together. I'm looking forward to Supergirl by Tom King (haven't really heard much buzz about it though) and Superman '78, which I enjoyed (read the first issue on the DC app). Other than those....Batman vol 6. Not too much else.
ReplyDeleteGlad to see all of Batman Earth One Published. They really should release all these trilogy sets (Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern - though there are only two of these and I am not sure if there would even be another one) in Deluxe Editions. I would definitely buy those even though I have the standard sized hardcovers. Sad to see that Earth One series fall off and disappear. I really enjoyed those takes and think that there is still potential....Earth One Justice League for instance? Wasn't there going to be an Earth One Aquaman by Franicis Manapul? I think that was cancelled though.....
Early word that a Wonder Woman: Earth One Complete Collection is coming.
DeleteThe King maxi collections are such a mess. Writing for trade paperbacks for Rorschach and Strange Adventures (typically prefer the reading experience over HC these days) but personally glad to see Supergirl going to PB first
ReplyDeleteI am hoping that there are more Titans volumes. They are so close to the Grummet era! That era needs to be collected desperately .
ReplyDeleteI second that....it would be great to see the Grummet era....I loved his artwork on Titans.....and on Adventures of Superman!
DeleteA Titans Hunt collection is my white whale of trades, with that sweet Grummett art.
DeleteYes! That story had amazing Grummett art! That's a great one.
DeleteOne day, when I am old and gray, I will visit this wonderful blog and see a solicitation for that long-overdue "Armageddon" collection DC still refuses to print. Captain Atom 54-57, Armageddon 2001, Armageddon Alien Agenda, and Armageddon Inferno - all in one beautiful, deluxe edition hardcover...
ReplyDeleteThanks Chuck! I hope for that too. No one was more surprised than me to see the recent War of the Gods omnibus, though sadly it didn't contain every crossover issue. I continue to believe DC has an easy seller collecting some of their annuals events — Armageddon 2001, Eclipso: The Darkness Within, maybe Bloodlines. Mostly self-contained stories, lots of the DCU all together. They'd have my money!
DeleteI have heard great things about Robert's Superman 78 run. I hope he writes on the main Superman titles one day.
ReplyDelete