DC Trade Solicitations for April 2023 - Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths collections, Black Adam, DC Pride: New Generation, Power of Shazam Book 2 and New Champion, Wonder Woman Historia, Poison Ivy, Steel 30th Anniversary, Gotham Academy
It’s the DC Comics April 2023 trade paperback and hardcover solicitations, and June brings the Dark Crisis on Infinite Earth collections. Unless I’m overlooking something, everything is there. A quick breakdown:
- Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths – Justice League #75 and the Dark Crisis miniseries, including the FCBD issue.
- Dark Crisis: Worlds Without a Justice League - The Worlds Without specials.
- Dark Crisis: Young Justice – The six-issue miniseries.
- Tales From Dark Crisis – Justice League: Road to Dark Crisis and the other standalone specials.
If I’m not mistaken (give or take a regular series issue or two collected in their own trades), that’s everything in four hardcovers, which is not nothing, but Dark Nights: Death Metal was five collections and Blackest Night was seven.
A few others to note — we see the first collection of Christopher Priest’s Black Adam series. Also a DC Pride collection with much emphasis on Robin Tim Drake; the New Champion of Shazam! collection has a “Lazarus Planet” story in it already(!), because clearly the years start coming and they don’t stop coming. (And, not to overlook, the next collection of Jerry Ordway’s Power of Shazam!) A Gotham Academy collection, a Steel anniversary book, and Wonder Woman Historia; it’s a good list all around.
Let’s dive in.
• Absolute Preacher Vol. 1 (2023 Edition)
Collects issues #1–26 by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon, with an introduction by Preacher TV producers Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, the script for issue #11, promotional art, and sections from the “Gone to Texas” letters column. Apparently the first of three planned volumes.
• Absolute Sandman Overture (2023 Edition)
Reprint of the Absolute edition, including a foreword by Neil Gaiman, behind-the-scenes and sketchbook material, “artist’s edition” of JH Williams’s work, and a script for issue #1.
• Absolute V for Vendetta (2023 Edition)
Alan Moore and David Lloyd’s 10-issue story, plus recolored “bridging” pages and extras. Guess I should read this one of these days, eh?
• Batman – One Bad Day: Penguin
In hardcover in July 2023, by Other History of the DC Universe's John Ridley and Giuseppe Camuncoli.
• Batman – One Bad Day: Two-Face
In hardcover in July 2023, by Mariko Tamaki and Javier Fernandez.
• Batman: Beyond the White Knight
In hardcover in June 2023, collecting Batman: Beyond the White Knight #1–8 and Batman: White Knight Presents: Red Hood #1–2.
In hardcover, collecting the eight-issue miniseries by Gary Whitta and Darick Robertson. The solicitation calls this an "Elseworlds-type" story, which is an interesting hedge.
• Batman: Urban Legends Vol. 5
What had seemed to be mostly movie-themed Bat-team-ups now mentions, according to the solicitations, the Outsiders, an Alfred Pennyworth story, and the new Arkham Academy. I liked Brandon Thomas' previous Outsiders story from Batman: Urban Legends Vol. 2 and I'm eager for the next.
In paperback, surprisingly, by Christopher Priest and Rafa Sandoval, coming in May and collecting issues #1-6.
Brendan Reichs and Jerry Gaylord’s young adult story of Smallville.
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Recent DC Comics Trade Solicitations |
• Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths
In hardcover in June 2023, collecting Justice League #75 and Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths #0–7.
• Dark Crisis: Worlds Without a Justice League
In hardcover in June, Dark Crisis: Worlds Without a Justice League – Superman #1, Dark Crisis: Worlds Without a Justice League – Green Lantern #1, Dark Crisis: Worlds Without a Justice League – Wonder Woman #1, Dark Crisis: Worlds Without a Justice League – Green Arrow #1, and Dark Crisis: Worlds Without a Justice League – Batman #1. This hopefully includes all the backup stories therein.
In hardcover, still scheduled for June 13, 2023, the week before the actual Dark Crisis hardcover, collecting the six-issue tie-in by Meghan Fitzmartin and Laura Braga.
• DC Pride: The New Generation
It would seem this is at least the contents of DC Pride 2022, but then also the DC Pride: Tim Drake special, which itself collected the Tim Drake stories from Batman: Urban Legends #4–6 and #10 with a brand-new story. So that's a good amount already, plus the story by the late Kevin Conroy, and an introduction by Nicole Maines. In hardcover in May.
Apparently issues #1–18 of the original Gotham Academy and the annual, but not the 12-issue Gotham Academy: Second Semester or any extras. If they’d reprint everything, I’d probably do a reread. I first reviewed Gotham Academy back in 2015.
The original and still the best attempt to present DC’s history as a cohesive whole, by Marv Wolfman and the late George Pérez. In hardcover in June.
In hardcover in May, collecting the four-issue miniseries by Josie Campbell and Doc Shaner, plus a story from Lazarus Planet: We Once Were Gods #1.
• Nightwing Vol. 1: Leaping Into the Light
By Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo, in paperback following the hardcover, collecting issues #78–83.
• Nightwing Vol. 3: The Battle for Blüdhaven's Heart
The third series collection by Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo, in hardcover in June, collecting issues #92-96 (so probably next one has issue #100).
• Poison Ivy Vol. 1: The Virtuous Cycle
In hardcover (how far Poison Ivy has come!) by G. Willow Wilson and Marcio Takara, collecting the first six-issues of the expanded-to-12 miniseries.
• The Power of Shazam! Book 2: The Worm Turns
In paperback in May, continuing the collection of the Jerry Ordway series, including 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. This went for 47 issues and change, so another volume or two to go.
• Shazam! and the Seven Magic Lands
In time for the new movie, paperback of the story by Geoff Johns and Dale Eaglesham.
Paperback, following the hardcover, collecting all six issues by Vita Ayala and the Milestone Returns: Infinite Edition #0.
• Steel: A Celebration of 30 Years
This seems a highly worthy collection for a great character with a lot of staying power. Now, what’d really be great would be if we could get some new collections of the Steel run by Christopher Priest or even a new Christopher Priest series, but hey, it’s a start. Collects Action Comics #4 (Grant Morrison’s New 52 Steel), Adventures of Superman #500 (if not the whole book then John Henry Irons' pre-“Reign of the Supermen” debut), Convergence: Superman: Man of Steel #1–2, JLA #17, Justice League Unlimited #35, Steel #1 and #34, Suicide Squad #24, and Superman: The Man of Steel #22, #100, and #122, as well as (presumably the Steel story from) the Death of Superman 30th Anniversary Special and "Steel (Vol. 2) #1," which I'll hazard a guess is the Reign of Doomsday special from 2011 (and not actually volume 2 of Steel, but volume 3; volume 1 is the Hank Haywood [Sr.] miniseries from 1978).
• Superman '78/Batman '89 Box Set
Box set of the two movie sequel miniseries, in hardcover.
• Superman: Son of Kal-El Vol. 3: Battle for Gamorra
Hardcover by Tom Taylor, coming in May, and collecting issues #11-15. The series ends with issue #18 (ahead of the miniseries) so who knows if the contents will expand.
In hardcover on June 20 (same day as the Dark Crisis collection itself), collecting Justice League: Road to Dark Crisis #1, Dark Crisis: The Deadly Green #1, Dark Crisis: The Dark Army #1, Dark Crisis: War Zone #1, and Dark Crisis: Big Bang #1.
• Teen Titans Academy Vol. 2: Exit Wounds
Paperback, following the hardcover, due in June and collecting the final issues of the series, #6–15.
• Teen Titans Go! Box Set 1: TV or Not TV
Apparently the first of two box sets planned. This one includes the graphic novels Teen Titans Go! Vol. 1: Party, Party!, Teen Titans Go! Vol. 2: Welcome to the Pizza Dome, and Teen Titans Go! Vol. 3: Mumbo Jumble.
Tom Strong issues #1–36 by Alan Moore, Chris Sprouse, and others. Put Terrifics issues in one of these, cowards.
• Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons
• Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons (Direct Market Edition)
The masterwork by Kelly Sue DeConnick, Phil Jimenez, Gene Ha, and Nicola Scott, in “regular”(?) and direct market editions, in hardcover in June.
Boy, I don't know about Dark Crisis. Is the Road to... issue important to read before the mini proper? I hate when DC can't just put all the right material together.
ReplyDeleteDidn't the first Power of Shazam collection come out in HC? I'll get it either way, but DC hates shelf cohesion.
The last 3 issues of Son of Kal El are in The Return of Kal El.
I'm getting Superman, probably Gotham Academy, and New Champion of Shazam. I might get just the main collection for Dark Crisis, but the rest doesn't thrill me. I'm ordering the Metal Omnibus tonight - that'll be my last event Omni from DC for the foreseeable future
Yes, the first Power of Shazam volume was an oversized hardcover. HATE that DC does this.
DeleteActually it was a standard sized hardcover.....but yeah.....I agree with you...I hate when DC does this.
DeleteOn Dark Crisis, it looks like the only things missing are the four Flash issues (which will be their own trade) and, of all things, a lone "I Am Batman" issue, in which Jace Fox faces Sinestro. (For a book that's been a bit removed from the DCU proper, that's a pretty bonkers face-off!) The only other bit is the FCBD issue, but they'll probably sneak that into the main trade.
ReplyDeleteHere's hoping they reprint the first "Power of Shazam" HC. I sat it out because I didn't believe they'd ever finish the series, but now that Vol. 2 is imminent, Vol. 1 is out of print.
Fascinating that Gotham Academy has had such a long shelf life!