Well — checks internet — apparently the new Flash movie is scheduled for June 23, 2023, and DC seems to be gearing up in the DC Comics February 2023 trade paperback and hardcover solicitations, at least a little bit, with trades of the new Flash: Fastest Man Alive tie-in miniseries arriving, along with new collections of the 1989 Batman movie adaptation and Flashpoint (and thus, verily, between these three, the whole plot of the movie). Based on Black Adam and this, seems DC’s on a “couple of trades and a box set of the same” kick for their new movies, which seems fine with me for as long as it works.
Plenty good “regular series” trades this month, including Naomi: Season Two, Joshua Williamson’s Robin Vol. 3, Deathstroke Inc. Vol. 2, and Tom Taylor’s latest (and last?) DCeased volume. Sandman Mystery Theatre might finally be getting the full collection we’ve all been waiting for, and I’m jazzed Sandman Universe is continuing such that I have a reason to read those original post-Dark Nights: Death Metal volumes after all.
Oh, and Batman/Spawn fans get a treat or a trick, depending on how you look at it, but it might be enough to get me to read these myself …
Let’s take a look at the full list.
In hardcover in March, the first collection by Chip Zdarsky and Jorge Jimenez. Collects issues #125-130.
• Batman Vol. 5: Fear State TP
The paperback collection of the final Batman event by James Tynion, collecting issues #112–117.
• The Batman Who Laughs: The Deluxe Edition HC
Deluxe-size hardcover collection of the miniseries and specials by Scott Snyder, Jock, and Eduardo Risso.
• Batman: The 1989 Movie Adaptation TP
Timed for the new Flash movie, this is the immensely well-regarded adaptation of the Tim Burton movie, written by Dennis O’Neil and drawn by Jerry Ordway.
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Recent DC Comics Trade Solicitations |
• Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham (New Edition) TP
New paperback printing of the Lovecraft-ian 2000 Elseworlds miniseries written by Mike Mignola, who also drew covers, and Richard Pace, with art by Troy Nixey.
• Batman/Spawn: The Deluxe Edition HC
Apparently this collects the brand-new 2022 Batman/Spawn one-shot by Todd McFarlane and Greg Capullo, plus the 1994 Batman/Spawn: War Devil #1 by Doug Moench, Chuck Dixon, Alan Grant, and Klaus Janson and the original Spawn/Batman #1 by Frank Miller and McFarlane, with behind-the-scenes art. Which is a great collection, unless just a few weeks ago you bought Batman/Spawn: The Classic Collection, a hardcover that collects just the two original comics. Then this might sting a little bit. Coming in April.
Second (and final?) hardcover collection by James Tynion, Matthew Rosenberg, and Otto Schmidt; collects issues #7–12.
• DCeased: War of the Undead Gods HC
No issues listed, but it seems like this is the entire eight-issue miniseries, completing Tom Taylor’s fantastic trilogy. In hardcover and on sale in September.
• Deathstroke Inc. Vol. 2: Year One HC
In paperback in February, the second series collection, written by Ed Brisson. Collects issues #10-15.
• The Flash: The Fastest Man Alive Box Set TP
Collects together the three Flash-movie related books also solicited here — The Flash: The Fastest Man Alive, Flashpoint, and Batman: The 1989 Movie Adaptation.
• The Flash: The Fastest Man Alive TP
Collects the three-issue miniseries in paperback that bridges the Justice League movie and Flash. Wouldn’t you call this comics' first foray into the Snyderverse?
• Flashpoint (2023 Edition) TP
A reprint, same as earlier ones, timed for the new Flash movie.
• Harley Quinn Vol. 3: Verdict HC
Issues #13–17 by Stephanie Phillips and Riley Rossmo, in hardcover in March. Previously this was said to include some/all of the Harley Quinn 30th Anniversary Special, but that's not in the latest solicitations.
In hardcover in March, the second collection, issues #6-10, by John Ridley, Christian Duce, and Ken Lashley.
Paperback of Infinite Frontier #0–6 and Infinite Frontier: Secret Files by Joshua Williamson, following the hardcover.
• JSA by Geoff Johns Book Five TP
The fifth large-page-count collection of Geoff Johns' JSA, collecting Hawkman #23–25 and JSA #46–58, being the Princes of Darkness and the Black Adam-focused Black Reign collections.
• Legends of the DC Universe: Carmine Infantino HC
In hardcover in March and said to include selections from Adventures of Rex the Wonder Dog #4, All-American Comics #95, All-Star Comics #40, Brave and the Bold #49, Comic Cavalcade #28, Danger Trail #1–4, DC Comics Presents #73, Detective Comics #327, Flash Comics #86 and #90, Flash #112 and #123, House of Mystery #296, Mystery in Space #3, Secret Hearts #8, Secret Origins #17, Sensation Comics #87, Showcase #4, Strange Adventures #205, and Western Comics #73.
• Multiversity: Teen Justice TP
It's very fun to see DC using Grant Morrison's "Multiversity" moniker for other stories and letting the concept see light with other creators. Here's Danny Lore and Ivan Cohen's Flash and Teen Justice stories from Multiversity: Teen Justice #1-6, DC Pride 2022, and DC's Very Merry Multiverse #1. There's one other Flash Kid Quick story in DC Pride 2021 that they ought include here too. In paperback in March.
In hardcover, the six-issue Season Two miniseries by Brian Michael Bendis, David Walker, and Jamal Campbell. I’ve been streaming the CW series of late to see how it translates.
Not particularly sure what prompted this hereabouts, but due in March is a collection of the first 12 issues of the Power Girl series by Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner, along with the four-issue arc from JSA Classified with Geoff Johns.
• Robin Vol. 3: Secrets and Shadows TP
The final volume of the Joshua Williamson series, in paperback in March. Collects issues #13–17.
• Sandman Mystery Theatre Compendium One TP
In paperback in March, collecting Sandman Mystery Theatre #1–36 and the Sandman Mystery Theatre Annual #1, with an introduction by Patton Oswalt. Collects the previous trades The Tarantula, The Face and the Brute, The Vamp, The Scorpion, Dr. Death and the Night Butcher, and The Hourman and the Python. Given 70 total issues, including some previously uncollected, DC should be able to wrap this up in one more volume.
• The Sandman Universe: Nightmare Country Vol. 1 HC
Not only am I looking forward to Sandman-related horror by James Tynion, but how wonderful to learn too that it heralds a sequel and other new Sandman Universe titles. Guess those are back higher on my reading list now — and at last a DC imprint with some staying power! In hardcover in April.
• The Sandman Universe: Nightmare Country Vol. 1 TP
Paperback version of the same, coming in April; collects issues #1–6.
• Task Force Z Vol. 2: What's Eating You? HC
Second hardcover by Matthew Rosenberg and Eddy Barrows, collecting the final issues, #7–12.
Never thought Remy would write the introduction for a dc trade collection.
ReplyDeleteBatman/Spawn, Robin, and Naomi for sure. I'll wait for your review on Multiversity: Teen Justice.
ReplyDeleteSemi related, is there a collection for the lead up to Dark Crisis? I can't find one. Dark Crisis's collection says 1-7. No JLA 75 or FCBD anywhere I can see.
Haven't seen a solicitation for a collection with those issues yet, but I can't imagine there won't be one.
DeleteDC needs to release deluxe editions of Final Crisis and Flashpoint. I'm surprised that they haven't yet.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, that it surprising! I'm partial to Final Crisis but if something was going to get a deluxe, given cinematic timing, it'd probably be Flashpoint.
DeleteNothing for me this month, but the JSA collection does make me hopeful that DC will start back up with the Geoff Johns green lantern collection that suddenly stopped after being on a pretty regular six month schedule.
ReplyDeleteI am tempted to start collecting DCeased, but now its completed you'd have to imagine that some sort of complete collection/omni is on the horizon, especially with how high DC seem to be on Tom Taylor.
"...but the JSA collection does make me hopeful that DC will start back up with the Geoff Johns green lantern collection that suddenly stopped after being on a pretty regular six month schedule."
DeleteOr the Flash by Johns collections, too. They still had one more TPB to go (collection the 2010 relaunch and Flashpoint) before the pandemic f'ed up everything.
DCeased Omnibus would be all kinds of zombie awesome, but I don't think I could wait that long to finish the saga.
DeleteI am definitely getting the Sandman Mystery Theater Compendium. These compendiums are a great alternative to omnibuses.
ReplyDeleteWhy are they doing Sandman Mystery compendiums instead of just finishing the trades that I just god damn bought.
ReplyDeleteYeah, unfortunately that's why I sometimes wait until DC finishes collecting a series before I dig in — though, that lack of support makes it less likely they'll finish collecting the series. It's a hard thing, but really no collections series is guaranteed until it's actually printed. You've just got to pick which ones you're willing to take a risk for and which ones you aren't.
DeleteI haven't been following Flash, so I have to ask- why is the Batman movie adaption in a Flash collection?
ReplyDeleteAs for the other books, I'm definitely picking up the SMT Compendium. I'll be happy to swap out my trades if it means finally getting the whole series collected.
Michael Keaton is making an appearance as Batman in the Flash movie, so I suppose the 1989 movie adaptation is supposed to be an introduction to that version of the character.
DeleteOh, I see. Thank you!
Delete"Doom That Came to Gotham" animated movie has just been announced. I guess that's why they're reprinting it!
ReplyDelete