Notably there’s few if any Batman proper collections in the DC Comics October 2022 trade paperback and hardcover solicitations, for those keeping track of that kind of thing. Rather it seems very much a Superman month, with both the Death of Superman and Birthright getting deluxe editions, plus collections of World of Krypton and Son of Kal-El. Honestly, this past month has added eight books to my “to read” pile already and the month isn’t even over — I’m rolling in good stuff to read and probably happier with DC than I’ve been in a while.
I mean, I’m looking down this October list and see at least seven more must-read titles; that’s a great place to be. From the next volumes of Catwoman and Justice League to Flashpoint Beyond, One-Star Squadron, Rogues, Aquamen, and Arkham City, I really can’t complain. No big surprises, but definitely stuff I’m interested to read.
Let’s take a look at the full list …
• Aquamen
In paperback, now collecting what's apparently all six issues of the Aquamen miniseries by Brandon Thomas and Chuck Brown. As I understand it, issue #6 is a Dark Crisis tie-in, so I'll be curious to see if this does indeed arrive before a Dark Crisis trade proper.
• Arkham City – The Order of the World
In paperback in November, collecting the six-issue miniseries by Dan Watters and Dani (whose art I enjoyed on The Low, Low Woods). The solicitation says this includes "never-before-seen extra features," and apparently ties in to Batman: Fear State.
• Catwoman Vol. 1: Dangerous Liaisons
The first collection of the new run by Toni Howard and Nico Leon. Restarting the numbering for the collections despite that it collects issues #39–44.
• Death of Superman 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition
At first glance I thought this was another “Death of Superman” omnibus, but it’s actually a deluxe size collection of just the “Doomsday” story. Which ought be pretty cool when you think about the Superman #75 splash pages. Collects Action Comics #683–684, Adventures of Superman #496–498, Superman #73–75, Superman: The Man of Steel #17–19, Newstime: The Life and Death of Superman and — new to this solicitation, Dan Jurgens and Bill Sienkiewicz's Superman: Day of Doom miniseries from the 10th anniversary of the original story. That's also a fun addition, though it may be some weird reading going from dead Superman on one page to live Superman ten years later on the next.
In paperback in November, astoundingly just a month after the final issue is released. Collects issues #0-6; I'm surprised DC is doing this as paperback instead of hardcover, unless there's deluxe edition to be had later.
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Recent DC Comics Trade Solicitations |
• Justice League Vol. 2: United Order
Given "what comes next" has already consumed most of DC, it sure does seem to be taking a while to collect Brian Michael Bendis' full Justice League run. This is said to be just issues #64–68 (down from #64–71 previously), which means still one more volume to finish it off. In hardcover in November.
In paperback in November, the six-issue miniseries by Mark Russell and Steve Lieber. Maybe DC could see fit to put Matt Fraction and Steve Lieber's new Perry White story in here too, just because.
• The Other History of the DC Universe
In paperback in November, the five-issue miniseries by John Ridley, following the hardcover (my review of Other History of the DC Universe).
• Rogues
Oh, so excited for this. It's been since Blackest Night, I think, since we've had a good crime noir Captain Cold story, and while this isn't by Geoff Johns and Scott Kolins, some of Joshua Williamson's best Flash work involved Leonard Snart. In hardcover in October, collecting the four-issue DC Black Label miniseries with art by Leomacs (Basketful of Heads).
• Sleeper Omnibus (2022 Edition)
Collects Point Blank #1-5, Sleeper: Season One #1-12, Sleeper: Season Two #1-12, Coup d’État: Sleeper #1, and Coup d’État: Afterword #1 by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips with others.
In paperback in November, the four-issue miniseries by Grant Morrison and Mikel Janin, following the hardcover.
• Superman: Birthright: The Deluxe Edition
With Mark Waid making a resurgence at DC, it makes sense DC should re-release Birthright, especially with deluxe-size Leinil Francis Yu art. We’re swimming in Superman origin stories now and this story never quite took DC by storm the way I think they hoped it would, but it remains quite decent as a standalone Superman tale. I might take the opportunity for a re-read.
• Superman: Son of Kal-El Vol. 2
The second collection by Tom Taylor and John Timms, in hardcover, including appearances by Nightwing and Aqualad Jackson Hyde. Collects issues #7-10, Nightwing #89, and the 2021 Annual.
• Wonder Woman: Earth One Complete Collection
All three of Grant Morrison and Yanick Paquette’s Wonder Woman: Earth One graphic novels in one collection together, in paperback in November.
Robert Venditti writes some good sci-fi and I could look at Michael Avon Oeming’s art all day, but I’m suspicious of a new World of Krypton miniseries, which at best will come and go without making a ripple, at worst will be half-heartedly taken as definitive by some writer irrespective of the Superman creative team and just end up causing confusion. Collects the six-issue miniseries in November in paperback.
The final collection of the original Peter David series includes Young Justice #44–55 plus the “World Without Young Justice” tie-in issues Robin #101, Superboy #99, and Impulse #85.
Some good stuff from DC this time around.....I love Batman, but it's nice to see a month where the focus isn't on Batman. I am looking forward to getting the Birthright Deluxe edition. It's a solid (if somewhat straightforward) story with some great art. I am debating about the Death of Superman....what a way for DC to get people to double dip....as this contains that four issue miniseries follow-up and is the only place to get this in collected form. Other than that.....I am really curious about One Star Squadron - I always love series that focus on the B or C list characters.....
ReplyDeleteI feel I need to re-read Birthright some time, see how it holds up all these years later.
DeleteJustice League Vol. 2: United Order was solicited as 192 pages long, so I think it might go up to issue #71 after all.
ReplyDeleteAnd then just three issues of the Bendis run left? I know those were oversized, but was it enough for a trade? What else could they put in there?
DeleteThe 2022 annual. There's also the possibility that they'll include issue #75 in it, but as I said before, it will probably end up in some sort of Road to Dark Crisis collection instead. Personally, I think it should be collected along with the Justice League Incarnate mini, since it picks up right where the last issue left off.
DeleteLots of good stuff here. Aquamen, Catwoman, Flashpoint Beyond, JL, One Star Squadron, Superman: Son of Kal-El, Rogues, YJ.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the WW Earth 1 book.
Rogues has been great. Like Snyder and Capullo's Last Knight, Williamson's taken advantage of the Black Label format to approach them and Snart the way he and other creators never could with the mainstream. His new take on Grodd in particular is inspired.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to have a good Black Label mini-series right now given Swamp Thing: Green Hell is maddeningly MIA (though from what I've heard through the grapevine, it looks like it may have been stealth-cancelled).
Birthright has actually my favorite modern portrayal of Lex at that time. I met Waid at a convention years and years ago and I told him I loved how he'd created a perfect amalgamation of various Lexs up to that point (the John Byrne CEO, Gene Hackman's campy Lex, Silver Age Best Friends with Clark, etc.).
I was wondering about Swamp Thing: Green Hell myself. Considering how prolific and reliable Lemire is when it comes to deadlines, I can only assume some sort of injury or illness is keeping Mahnke from finishing the second issue.
DeleteIs Birthright really that good?
DeleteSo glad to hear that you've been enjoying Rogues; worried now for the fate of the Jeff Lemire mature Swamp Thing book, which sounded like heaven.
Delete@Anonymous, Birthright was Waid writing Superman and trying the first real 21st Century update to the origin at the time. I personally really enjoyed it -- and elements of it did end up influencing the Man of Steel film.
Delete@CE: Yeah, the first issue of Green Hell was great. Mahnke's a master of the Superhero Horror genre and Lemire knows the Green and Swampy well thanks to Rotworld.
I've really been looking forward to the rest and I'm just as dismayed by it being MIA (and the other rumor I'd heard suggests Lemire's had a falling out with DC and that's what led to a purported stealth cancellation).
Update:
DeleteSo, Jeff Lemire's finally confirmed on his Substack (https://jefflemire.substack.com/p/lots-of-news-updates-previews) what happened.
Basically, Doug Mahnke had personal/family stuff crop up and he had to take sabbatical for last year. He's resumed work on the final two issues and it will resume publication in early 2023.
Thanks for letting me know — glad to hear it. Excited to learn Swamp Thing: Green Hell will dovetail with Lemire's great Animal Man run.
Delete