As opposed to last month’s DC Comics trade paperback and hardcover solicitations, the September 2022 solicitations offer about half as many books. I’d be more worried if DC hadn’t had a couple good solicitations months lately; I think concerns that something was going to drastically change with the new editorial management after Infinite Frontier have all but dissipated at this point. So yes, half as many books in September as in August, but I think it’s OK.
(Now, the fact that there’s only one collection solicited for this coming week, I don’t know what to tell you, except printing delays are still a thing that’s plaguing us.)
Among books I’m looking forward to is Batgirls Vol. 1. If you read Batman: No Man’s Land in 1999, the Cassandra Cain Batgirl series from 2000 to 2006, the Stephanie Brown Batgirl series from 2009–2011, and then saw it all wiped away for Barbara Gordon to retake the cowl in the New 52 Batgirl series and have Stephanie and Cassandra ever-so-slowly reintroduced over the last 10 years, then you know how long we’ve waited for a book that finally says “yes” to “Can’t we just have all three as Batgirl?” Twenty years in the making and I’m here for it.
I’ve recently been reading Teen Titans Academy and its ancillary titles, so I’m also eager for the final volume, Teen Titans Academy Vol. 2: Exit Wounds. Clearly there’s some big doings going on in Batman: Shadow War, and though it’s not clear to me how much of Tales of the Amazons will be reprinted elsewhere, some of it sure seems important in the wake of Trial of the Amazons.
And, of course, nothing has been impressing me more about DC’s new regime than their daring, sometimes madcap, sometimes filthy Black Label series. Catwoman: Lonely City, Refrigerator Full of Heads, just pour it right in my head. I’ll take Wonder Woman: Evolution, too, even though it’s not, I don’t think, DC Black Label.
Let’s take a look at the full list.
Paperback collection of the 10-issue miniseries by Scott Snyder and Rafael Albuquerque, following the hardcover.
• Aquaman/Green Arrow – Deep Target
Collects the seven-issue miniseries. I wasn’t much moved by this unlikely pairing on the occasion of both characters' anniversaries, but the fact that Brandon Thomas is involved — Aquamen writer, and whose Future State: Aquaman I really enjoyed — makes me slightly more curious.
In paperback, collecting Batgirls #1-6 and the short stories from Batman #115-117 by Becky Cloonan and Michael Conrad. Wow, this series has been a long time coming.
In hardcover in November, collecting Batman #122–123, Robin #13–14, Deathstroke Inc. #8–9, Shadow War: Alpha #1, Shadow War: Omega #1, and Shadow War Zone #1 by Joshua Williamson and friends.
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Recent DC Comics Trade Solicitations |
• The Books of Magic Omnibus Vol. 3 (The Sandman Universe Classics)
Collects The Trenchcoat Brigrade #1–4, The Names of Magic #1–5, Hunter: The Age of Magic #1–25, and The Books of Magick: Life During Wartime #1–15, with Dylan Horrocks and Si Spurrier (mentioned in previous solicitations, but not now, was Vertigo Secret Files: Hellblazer #1). When Sandman Universe was still up and running, if DC had released cut-down versions of these omnibuses, I'd have bought them right away.
The four-issue DC Black Label miniseries written, drawn, colored, and lettered by Cliff Chiang, in hardcover. Apparently there is also an addition direct market edition with a variant cover.
• DC Horror Presents: Soul Plumber
Connecting the six-issue miniseries in October in hardcover. Can't tell if this is really actually horror or more of a satire, and so I'm on the fence about picking it up.
• DC Poster Portfolio: George Pérez
Celebrating the late writer and artist with covers from New Teen Titans, Wonder Woman, and Crisis on Infinite Earths, plus more, I’m sure (the given cover shows a cover from Infinite Crisis).
• Grayson The Superspy Omnibus (2022 Edition)
Collects Grayson #1–20, Grayson: Futures End #1, Secret Origins #8, Grayson Annual #1–3, Robin War #1–2 and Nightwing: Rebirth #1 by Tom King, Tim Seeley, and Mikel Janin. I really feel it wouldn't be a difficult thing for DC to put together an anthology of new Grayson short stories.
In paperback in October, following the hardcover, by James Tynion and Guillem March.
The Hill House Comics follow-up to Basketful of Heads (which I reviewed), in hardcover in October by Rio Youers and Tom Fowler. I loved the original and while this isn't the same creative team, I'm very excited about the sequel.
YA graphic novel set between the previous and upcoming Shazam! movies, written and drawn by Yehudi Mercado.
Not unlike Batman vs. Robin: Road to War, this is a hardcover collection of various stories leading up to "Trial of the Amazons." Among the issues said to be collected here are Wonder Woman #781-784, Wonder Woman 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular #1 (both also found in the Wonder Woman Vol. 2: Through a Glass Darkly collection), Nubia: Coronation Special #1 (also in Nubia: Queen of the Amazons), and then Artemis: Wanted #1 and Olympus: Rebirth #1.
• Teen Titans Academy Vol. 2: Exit Wounds
In hardcover, this is said to be issues #7-15, but given the end of the previous trade, this should be starting with issue #6 (the plot of which is described in the solicitation). Issue #15 marks the end of the series.
Collects the eight-issue miniseries by Stephanie Nicole Phillips in hardcover in October.
I'm guessing this small amount of collections is due to the fact that a lot of books got pushed back to September, October and November.
ReplyDeleteNow I think I finally understand what this Tales of the Amazons collection is supposed to be about. It will collect the backup stories from Wonder Woman #781-784, which are part of the build-up to Trial of the Amazons and apparently won't be included in the second volume of the Cloonan/Conrad run, and it's also where the non-Cloonan/Conrad stories from the 80th anniversary special will end up in.
However, the other three specials it will collect are actually set after the crossover, and I wonder if the Nubia Coronation Special won't also be collected along with the Nubia: Queen of the Amazons mini, which is only four issues long.
I too wondered about the "some of these are pre-Trial, some of these are post-Trial" question. It always astounds me — nary any other industry that thrives on customers pre-ordering would leave the contents of said books for pre-order so up in the air. Anyway, we'll see how it finally shakes out; I do like the idea of the Wonder Woman 80th Anniversary Special stories getting reprinted. I was wondering the other day whether the Aquaman 80th Anniversary Special stories would be reprinted or not reprinted.
DeleteSmall month.....but I am really looking forward to anything Black Label....which I have been enjoying more than the DC main line lately.
ReplyDeleteSoul Plumber is a totally uninspiring satire of christian faith. I'm actually not sure why it's under an otherwise non-existant 'DC Horror' label. It's a book you don't need to read as it's making the same toothless satirical observations you've been seeing out of hollywood for the past 30 years. It covers no new ground, nor does it introduce any new ideas. Skip it.
ReplyDeleteAppreciate the heads-up!
DeleteI wish DC would release an omni of Cassandra Cain's run as Batgirl already.
ReplyDelete