The Dawn of DC may be upon us, but the DC Comics Fall 2023 trade paperback and hardcover solicitations are still somewhere in between. The problem with canceling and relaunching a good portion of your titles is that it leaves us with a late 2023/early 2024 catalog that, while not short on output, is notably devoid of regular titles.
Superman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, and then Batman and the (at least seven other) related Bat-titles … and that’s it for ongoing regular series! I’m not worried — I know Green Lantern, Titans, and a bunch of others are on their way, and the above discounts both continuity and non-continuity miniseries, etc. But definitely this is a list at the tail end of one DC event and ahead of the start of the next.
For those who’ve been feeling like DC’s output of classic material has dried up of late, there’s two Batman: The Golden Age omnibuses, a Wonder Woman: The Golden Age and Wonder Woman: The Silver Age omnibus, and a Superman: The Silver Age Omnibus. I realize that’s not everyone’s definition of “classic,” though all I have to offer in that regard is the second Question by Dennis O’Neil and Denys Cowan omnibus (exciting, and better than nothing, but not better than more). And as we’ve discussed here before, those concerned that DC’s Batman family titles skipped paperback release right around “Joker War” will be pleased, as DC goes ahead now and fills in those gaps.
What else? Lazarus Planet books; a whole slew of new Tom King books (like Gotham City: Year One) and then paperbacks of existing Tom King books and still half volumes of 12-issue stories; a Detective Chimp collection, which we all need in our lives; and some Black Label I’m eager for, including Aquaman: Andromeda, Swamp Thing: Green Hell, and Waller vs. Wildstorm. It’s a meat and potatoes list, as DC’s collections releases have become these days, though again perhaps even more so because of where it lands in the immediate aftermath of Dark Crisis. I expect we’ll see more familiar faces for Spring 2024.
Let’s take a look at the whole list.
• Absolute Batman: The Court of Owls (2023 Edition)
New printing of the Absolute-size collection. Previously this has been Batman #1–11 of the New 52 run, by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo, with extras.
• Absolute Preacher Vol. 1 (2023 Edition)
New printing of the first of three Absolute volumes of Preacher. Should collects issues #1–26 by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon, and one listing said extras include 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.
• Absolute Preacher Vol. 2 (2023 Edition)
New printing of the Absolute, which has previously collected issues #27–40 and the specials Saint of Killers, Cassidy: Blood and Whiskey, One Man’s War, The Good Old Boys, and The Story of You-Know-Who. Apparently includes an introduction by TV Preacher’s Graham McTavish.
• Absolute Sandman Overture (2023 Edition)
Reprint of the Absolute edition. Previously included 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 Superman for All Seasons
A story well-deserved of an Absolute edition, all the more meaningful with the untimely death of Tim Sale. This includes not only the four issue miniseries, but also Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale’s work from Superman #226, Superman/Batman #26, Solo #1, and Superman/Batman Secret Files 2003 #1. One listing also mentioned forewords by Loeb and Richard Starkings.
• Absolute Transmetropolitan Vol. 2 (2023 Edition)
New printing of the Absolute collects issues #19–39, the Filth of the City special, and a story from Vertigo: Winter's Edge #3.
• Absolute V for Vendetta (2023 Edition)
New printing of Alan Moore and David Lloyd’s 10-issue story. Previous Absolute included recolored “bridging” pages and extras. Guess I should read this one of these days, eh?
• Absolute Watchmen (New Edition)
New printing of the Watchmen Absolute.
[See the latest DC trade solicitations.]
• Adventures of Superman: Jon Kent
Glad to see DC continuing the adventures of Jon Kent with Tom Taylor. Wish it were not just a miniseries, but DC has had luck with serial miniseries in the past, so hopefully it’s just the first of many. I don’t want to spoil here what I already know of this story, but I’m excited, I’m wondering how much catch-up reading I ought do, and I have questions about how this came about that I’ll ask at a later date … November, as a matter of fact.
Ram V writing a DC Black Label horror story starring Aquaman and Black Manta feels like about all I could want write now. Glad to see Black Label branching out beyond just Superman, Batman (and Harley Quinn and the Joker), and Wonder Woman. In hardcover in November — the amount this has been delayed makes me all the more excited.
• Batgirl Vol. 8: The Joker War
Paperback, following (finally, for many people) the 2021 hardcover. Collects issues #45–50, not all of which met my approval when I reviewed Batgirl Vol. 8: The Joker War in 2021.
• Batgirl: Year One (2023 Edition)
Scott Beatty should be happy. New printing of Beatty and Chuck Dixon’s nine-issue miniseries, sequel to Robin: Year One, with art by Marcos Martin and Alvaro Lopez, in paperback. I wonder if DC had intended this to be coming out alongside the Batgirl movie, and whether that’ll have any effect on its release. Scheduled for September.
Issues #13–19 by Becky Cloonan and Michael Conrad, in October.
• Batman - One Bad Day: Ra's al Ghul
In hardcover August 15 by Tom Taylor, Ivan Reis, and Danny Miki. Like, these flimsy one-shots-to-hardcovers, banking on the dubious reputation of Killing Joke, seemed like a mercenary cash grab at the outset, but some of the creative teams on these are really impressive. I’m exceptionally curious to see Tom Taylor’s idea of the quintessential Ra’s al Ghul story, among others.
• Batman & Robin Eternal Omnibus
Originally published in two volumes in 2016 (see my reviews of Batman and Robin Eternal Vol. 1 and Batman and Robin Eternal Vol. 2), this is an omnibus collection of all 26 issues.
• Batman & the Joker: The Deadly Duo Deluxe Edition
Collects the seven-issue miniseries written and drawn by Marc Silvestri.
• The Batman Adventures Omnibus
Omnibus of the original animated series tie-in Batman Adventures comics, before the Adventures of Batman and Robin relaunch. This is Batman Adventures #1–36, Batman Adventures Annual #1-2, Batman Adventures Holiday Special #1, and Batman Adventures: Mad Love, plus animated-style stories from Batman: Black & White. Don’t miss Zach King’s ongoing series on the Batman Adventures comics!
• Batman Incorporated Vol. 1: No More Teachers
Collects issues #1–7 of the new series by Ed Brisson and John Timms. Happily, some uncollected Ghost-Maker stories are about to get their own collection, so I don't think there's anything missing here, though tell me if I'm wrong.
• Batman Knightfall Omnibus Vol. 1 (new Edition)
New printing; previously collected Batman #484–500, Batman: Shadow of the Bat #16–18, Batman: Vengeance of Bane #1, Detective Comics #654–666, and Showcase ’93 #7–8, being the “Knightfall” proper part of the story.
• Batman Vol. 2: The Bat-Man of Gotham
In hardcover in August, the second volume of Chip Zdarsky’s Batman. Some (but not all) sources say this will be issues #131-#135 (the latter being an oversized issue).
• Batman Vol. 3: Ghost Stories
There had been some well-placed concern that DC might not be collecting James Tynion’s hardcover Batman books as paperback, perhaps due to rapidly shifting teams on the title. Well, it’s been two years, but whether it was all just delays or reader demand, the first of the missing ones, Batman Vol. 3: Ghost Stories, is now listed for August. That’s the Rebirth era Batman #101–105 plus material from Detective Comics #1027 and the Annual #5. I reviewed Batman Vol. 3: Ghost Stories in 2021.
• Batman Vol. 4: The Cowardly Lot
The lead-in to Batman: Fear State, now (finally) collected in paperback. I reviewed Batman Vol. 4: The Cowardly Lot just about a year ago. It's Batman issues #106-111 and material from Infinite Frontier #0 (not Infinite Frontier #1 as listed).
Paperback collection of James Tynion’s issues #112–117, coming in December.
Paperback, following the hardcover, by Joshua Williamson, collecting issues #118–121 and #124 (issues #122–123 are in the Batman: Shadow War collection). Coming in January 2024.
• Batman: Detective Comics by Peter J Tomasi Omnibus
Silly me, but when I saw the title, I really thought this would be a collection of Peter Tomasi's DC You "Superheavy" tie-in stories featuring Jim Gordon as Batman, Blood of Heroes and Gordon at War, though as it turns out I was mis-remembering just how long Tomasi's run that time wasn't, as the case may be. No, this is Detective Comics #994-999, #1001-1016, and #1018-1033, Detective Comics Annual #2-3, Batman: Pennyworth R.I.P., and Tomasi's work from Detective Comics (New 52) #27 (give or take Tomasi's story from Detective Comics #1000).
What we have here, as these things do, ranges from the sublime to the mundane — or the mundane, the sublime, and the mundane again. The first arc, Mythology, disappointed me at least personally in not being what I thought it would, but the second, "Medieval" (retitled for trade as Arkham Knight) was a stark improvement. But it all starts to fall apart in Greetings From Gotham, a collection of self-contained stories that didn't necessarily impress, the somewhat tepid Cold Vengeance, and then Joker War and Road to Ruin, two volumes that see Tomasi going back to the Batman & Robin well (for better, for some readers, but for worse in my humble opinion).
So, this sure is a lot of Batman — almost 40 issues' worth — certainly notable for its place in time (spanning from Tom King's run to James Tynion's), and I have certainly been a fan of Tomasi's over the years. This is not peak Batman, but one could also do worse.
• Batman: Detective Comics Vol. 1: Gotham Nocturne: Overture
The first volume of Ram V’s Detective Comics run, in hardcover in August, likely collecting issues #1062-1065.
• Batman: Detective Comics Vol. 3: Arkham Rising
Paperback, following the hardcover, by Mariko Tamaki, collecting issues Detective Comics #1044–1046 and Detective Comics 2021 Annual #1.
• Batman: Detective Comics Vol. 5: The Joker War
Peter Tomasi’s Detective Comics: Joker War tie-in, which I reviewed in 2021, now arriving in paperback along with other books from that era. Just had a thought that maybe all of this was held to release alongside the second Joker movie, unrelated as it is …
• Batman: Gotham After Midnight: The Deluxe Edition
Deluxe edition of the 12-issue miniseries by Steve Niles and Kelley Jones.
• Batman: Gotham by Gaslight (New Edition)
New printing of the proto-Elseworlds tale by Brian Augustyn and Mike Mignola. Collects both Gotham by Gaslight and the sequel, Master of the Future (at one point I thought a collection had Countdown to Final Crisis material in it, but maybe that was some other Elseworlds).
• Batman: Justice Buster Vol. 1
Manga tale by Eiichi Shimizu.
Paperback of the six-issue miniseries by Tom King and David Marquez, following the hardcover, and arriving about a year later, in December.
Collects what’s seemingly an all-ages, non-continuity Bat-family story by J. Torres, Erich Owen, and Marcelo Di Chiara. Sometimes titles like these are in conjunction with action figures or the like, but I can’t see that there’s an angle (beside having been launched alongside Batman Day).
All eight Batman — One Bad Day hardcovers, plus a “special edition” of Batman: The Killing Joke. I am amazed, really amazed, there’s no push to rename Killing Joke to “Batman — One Bad Day: Joker” for the purposes of this series. Interestingly, I don’t see online the box set solicited back for March that contained just Batman — One Bad Day: Riddler and the Killing Joke volume, which did indeed seem a little silly — but then again this box set isn’t necessarily showing online either, so who knows?
Another of the One Bad Day one-shots in hardcover, in July 2023, by Joshua Williamson and Howard Porter (responsible together for some of Williamson's best issues on Flash, not to mention Deathstroke Inc.).
• Batman: One Bad Day: Clayface
In hardcover in early August by Collin Kelly, Jackson Lanzing, and Xermanico.
Paperback of the three-issue DC Black Label miniseries by Jock. I reviewed Batman: One Dark Knight this past October.
Paperback of the six-issue miniseries.
• Batman: Shadows of the Bat: House of Gotham
Paperback, following the hardcover, collecting the “Batman: Shadows of the Bat: House of Gotham” story from Detective Comics #1047–1058, written by Matthew Rosenberg.
• Batman: Shadows of the Bat: The Tower
Paperback, following the hardcover, collecting the “Batman: Shadows of the Bat: The Tower” story from Detective Comics #1047–1058, by Mariko Tamaki.
• Batman: The Audio Adventures
Collects the prequel special and then the seven issues that follow season one of the Batman: The Audio Adventures podcast.
• Batman: The Dark Knight Detective Vol. 8
Seems like this will collect Detective Comics #644–653 (listing says issue #652, but I can't imagine) and Detective Comics Annual #5 (“Eclipso: The Darkness Within”), which takes us right up to the Prelude to Knightfall collection. That’s the ballgame, most every post-Crisis Batman issue collected; congratulations to all involved. [Update: Apparently there’s a page printed twice and a page missing from Batman: The Dark Knight Detective Vol. 7. DC says they don’t plan to reprint it, but that Detective Comics Annual #4 (what’s affected, apparently), will also appear again in Vol. 8.]
• Batman: The Golden Age Omnibus Vol. 1 (2023 Edition)
New printing of the collection, which previously included Detective Comics #27–56, Batman #1–7, New York World’s Fair Comics #2, World’s Best Comics #1, and World’s Finest Comics #2–3.
• Batman: The Golden Age Omnibus Vol. 10
Said to collect Batman #86–100 and Detective Comics #211–232.
Paperback of the three-issue DC Black Label story by Geoff Johns and Jason Fabok.
• Batman: Under the Red Hood: The Deluxe Edition
Deluxe edition of Batman #635–641 and #645–650 and the Batman Annual #25, by Judd Winick with art by Doug Mahnke and others.
• Batman: Urban Legends Vol. 6
Collects issues #18–23, the final issue of the series, coming in January.
• Batman: Wayne Family Adventures Volume One
First of two collections of the Webtoon stories, coming in August.
• Batman: Wayne Family Adventures Volume Two
Second of two collections of the Webtoon stories, coming in October.
Collects the 12-issue miniseries and sundry by Tom King, Clay Mann, and friends, in paperback in December, following the hardcover by a year.
• Batman/Superman: World's Finest Vol. 2: Strange Visitor
Issues #6–10 in hardcover by Mark Waid and Dan Mora, coming in September.
• Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Omnibus
Said to collect Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II, and Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III by James Tynion, plus “hundreds of pages” of extras and apparently an introduction by Kevin Eastman.
Issues #7–12, the final issues, by Christopher Priest, in paperback in December.
• Blue Beetle: Dia De Graduacion
Spanish edition of the Blue Beetle miniseries by Josh Trujillo and Adrian Gutierrez.
Timed for a movie that is so far still coming out, this is Josh Trujillo and Adrian Gutierrez' six-issue miniseries, in paperback in August, and to be released in both English and Spanish editions.
Third collection by Tina Howard and Sami Basri, due out in November.
Issues #1–6 of the miniseries by Tom King and Jorge Fortes, in paperback in November. Wow, but I’m not a fan of DC releasing these 12-issue Tom King miniseries in halfsies.
• Dark Knights of Steel Vol. 1
Apparently the first six issues in paperback, following the collection of the first six issues in hardcover. I’ll take my 12-issue deluxe, please.
• Dark Knights of Steel Vol. 2
Collects Dark Knights of Steel #7–12 and Dark Knights of Steel: Tales From the Three Kingdoms by Tom Taylor and company.
• DC Horror Presents: Sgt. Rock vs. the Army of the Dead
The six issue miniseries by Bruce Campbell and Eduardo Risso, in hardcover in October.
• DC Horror Presents: Soul Plumber
Paperback of the six-issue miniseries, coming in October.
Hardcover, coming in January, collecting at least the DC Power Black History Month special, if not also (hopefully) additional material.
Paperback, following the hardcover, by James Tynion and Otto Schmidt, collecting issues #1–6, coming in January.
• DC vs. Vampires: All-Out War Part 2
Collects DC vs. Vampires: All Out War #4-6 and DC vs. Vampires: Killers, in hardcover in September.
• DC/RWBY
By Marguerite Bennett, sequel to the RWBY/Justice League miniseries. This is out in September; I believe the Justice League x RWBY animated movie arrives in April.
Whole bunch of zombie goodness in this one, bringing together paperbacks of Tom Taylor’s DCeased, DCeased: Unkillables, DCeased: Dead Planet, DCeased: Hope at World’s End, and DCeased: War of the Undead God.
Seems to be a deluxe edition of just the initial miniseries (I reviewed DCeased in January 2020).
• DCeased: War of the Undead Gods
Seems like this is the entire eight-issue miniseries, the final story of Tom Taylor’s DCeased universe. In hardcover and on sale in September.
Collects The Dead Boy Detectives #1–12, Sandman Presents: Dead Boy Detectives #1–4, The Sandman #25, The Children’s Crusade #1–2, Ghosts#1, The Witching Hour #1, Time Warp #1, Doom Patrol Annual #2, and Swamp Thing Annual #7.
The whole of the Death Metal saga, collecting (deep breath) Dark Nights: Death Metal #1–7, Dark Nights: Death Metal Guidebook #1, Dark Nights: Death Metal Infinite Hour Exxxtreme! #1, Dark Nights: Death Metal Legends of the Dark Knights #1, Dark Nights: Death Metal Multiverse’s End #1, Dark Nights: Death Metal Rise of the New God #1, Dark Nights: Death Metal Robin King #1, Dark Nights: Death Metal The Last 52: War of the Multiverses #1, Dark Nights: Death Metal The Multiverse Who Laughs #1, Dark Nights: Death Metal The Secret Origin #1, Dark Nights: Death Metal Trinity Crisis #1, and Justice League #53–57.
Well here’s a collection that seems too long in coming. Possibly called The Detective Chimp Casebook, this collects Amazing World of DC Comics #1, DC Comics Presents #35, DC Special #1, Tarzan #231 and #234–235, Adventures of Rex the Wonder Dog #4 and #6–46, and Who’s Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #6. I wouldn’t have balked at something a little more modern in there. Dig the tag line, “Bruce isn’t the only sleuth who knows how to swing across Gotham!”
• Fables: The Deluxe Edition Book Sixteen
Collects issues #151–162 of the relaunched series.
• The Fellspyre Chronicles Book I
Paperback by Phillip Kennedy Johnson, following the hardcover, and collecting The Last God #1–12, The Last God: Tales From the Book of Ages #1, and The Last God: Songs of Lost Children #1.
• The Flash Vol. 19: One-Minute War
Collects Jeremy Adams' Flash #790–796 and The Flash: One-Minute War Special #1, in paperback in January.
John Ridley and Stefano Raffaele’s six-issue Renee Montoya and company miniseries, coming in September in hardcover.
• Ghost-Maker/Clownhunter by James Tynion
I was just bemoaning that we never did get a collection particularly of James Tynion’s Ghost-Maker backup stories from his Batman run, and now it looks like here they are — this is said to collect, among other things, Batman #107–111 and Batman 2022 Annual, where the Ghost-Maker backups ran. On the Clownhunter side, we have Batman Secret Files: Clownhunter and Batman Annual #5, and the Clownhunter story from Batman: The Joker War Zone. Omitted is the Clownhunter backup stories from Batman #112–114, which would seem appropriate for this book except that they were written by Brandon Thomas and not Tynion. Hopefully DC sees fit to put those somewhere.
In September in hardcover, the six-issue miniseries by Tom King and Phil Hester.
• Green Lantern Corp Omnibus by Peter J. Tomasi and Patrick Gleason
I don’t even think this is such a controversial thing to say any more — Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason’s Green Lantern Corps was often as good, if not better, than the Geoff Johns' contemporaneous Green Lantern. Often nail-biting, often bloody, this is a run that assuredly deserves an omnibus. Collects Green Lantern Corps: Recharge #1–5, Green Lantern Corps #1–3 and #7–38, Green Lantern #21–25, Green Lantern: Sinestro Corps Special #1, and stories from Showcase ’95 #7–8 (Tomasi on Mongul; how about that for a blast from the past!), Blackest Night: Tales of the Corps #1–3, and Untold Tales of Blackest Night #1. Includes one of my favorite stories perhaps ever, Tomasi and Gleason's Green Lantern Corps: Emerald Eclipse.
Paperback in October, following the hardcover, of issues #1–6 and Milestone Returns: Infinite Edition #0 by Brandon Thomas, Denys Cowan, and Bill Sienkiewicz.
• Harley Quinn Vol. 2: Keepsake
The second volume by Stephanie Nicole Phillips and Riley Rossmo, in paperback following the hardcover. Issues #7-12 and the 2021 annual, tying in to “Fear State”.
• Harley Quinn Vol. 4: Task Force XX
In hardcover in September by Stephanie Phillips and Georges Duarte, collecting issues #18–21, the Harley Quinn 2022 Annual, and the Harley story from Shadow War Zone.
• Harley Quinn: The Animated Series: Legion of Bats!
By Tee Franklin and Shae Beagle, following Franklin’s Harley Quinn: The Animated Series: The Eat. Bang! Kill Tour miniseries and set after season 3 of the show. Collects issues #1–6 and the Real Sidekicks of New Gotham special.
• Harley Quinn: The Animated Series: The Eat. Bang! Kill Tour
The six-issue miniseries in paperback, following the hardcover.
Paperback of Tom King and Greg Smallwood’s first six issues of the 12-issue miniseries, coming in October. Seriously, DC? Paperback of half the miniseries before I get a deluxe of the whole thing? Come on!
• I Am Batman Vol. 3: The Right Question
In hardcover in September, the final volume of I Am Batman by John Ridley and Christian Duce, collecting issues #11–18.
In hardcover in November, the five-issue miniseries by Reginald Hudlin and Leon Chills. Can’t overlook there’s been some “Worlds Collide” talk around this one …
• Infinite Crisis (2023 Edition)
Not totally sure, but this seems like a new printing of just the seven-issue miniseries and whatever regular extras (but not an omnibus collection).
• The Invisibles Book 2 (New Edition)
New edition of the second comprehensive volume by Grant Morrison, previously collecting Invisibles #13–25 and a story from Vertigo: Winter’s Edge #1.
• iZombie: The Complete Series Omnibus (2023 Edition)
In hardcover in October, collecting iZombie #1–28, House of Mystery Halloween Annual #1, and House of Mystery Halloween Annual #2, by Chris Roberson and Mike Allred.
• JLA/JSA: Virtue and Vice (new Edition)
New printing of the Thanksgiving-themed JLA/JSA team-up graphic novel by Geoff Johns, David Goyer, and the late Carlos Pacheco.
• Joker: One Operation Joker Vol. 1
Manga by Satoshi Miyagawa and Keisuke Gotou. Coincidentally, after all the misplaced “pregnant Joker” uproar, this is a story of the Joker raising a baby Batman.
• Joker: One Operation Joker Vol. 2
Second manga volume by Satoshi Miyagawa and Keisuke Gotou.
• The Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing Vol. 1
In hardcover in September, by Matthew Rosenberg, collecting the first six issues.
Appears to be Brian Michael Bendis' Justice League Vol. 2: United Order in paperback in December, following the hardcover, and collecting issues #64–71.
• Kamandi by Jack Kirby Vol. 2
In paperback in November, issues #21–40 of Jack Kirby’s Kamandi: The Last Boy on Earth.
La, la, la *fingers in ears* … trying to be totally surprised what this is about. I know it’s by Mark Waid, I know one or two other details I wish I didn’t know, but otherwise trying to go in blind. In hardcover in August, collecting Lazarus Planet: Alpha, Lazarus Planet: Assault on Krypton, Lazarus Planet: We Once Were Gods, Lazarus Planet: Legends Reborn, Lazarus Planet: Next Evolution, Lazarus Planet: Dark Fate, and Lazarus Planet: Omega. The Lazarus Planet: Revenge of the Gods four-issue miniseries will be collected on its own.
• Lazarus Planet: Revenge of the Gods
In hardcover in October (the main Lazarus Planet collection comes out in August) by G. Willow Wilson, Cian Tormey, and Emanuela Lupacchino, this is the four-issue tie-in miniseries.
• Monkey Prince Vol. 2: The Monkey King and I
Being the final collection of the limited series by Gene Lien Yang and Bernard Chang, this is said to be issues #7–12 (whither issue #0?), with material from Lazarus Planet: Alpha and Lazarus Planet: Omega.
• Multiversity: Harley Screws Up the DCU
Golly I hope this is a legit Multiversity title. By former Harley scribe Frank Tieri and Logan Faerber, in hardcover in December, collecting the six-issue miniseries.
• The Nice House on the Lake Deluxe Edition
Deluxe hardcover collection, coming in October, of the 12-issue horror miniseries by James Tynion and Alvaro Martino Bueno. I absolutely adored Nice House on the Lake Vol. 1 and highly recommend the whole thing.
• Nightwing Vol. 2: Get Grayson
Paperback in December, following the hardcover, of Tom Taylor’s Nightwing #87–91 and Superman: Son of Kal-El #9.
By Tom Taylor, Bruno Redondo, and Eduardo Pansica, in hardcover in December, this is Nightwing #98–100 and the Nightwing 2022 Annual.
In paperback, following the hardcover, and collecting issues #84–88 and the Nightwing 2021 annual.
Another “Joker War” tie-in finally in paperback, in August, collecting Nightwing Annual #3 and Nightwing #70–77. I reviewed Nightwing: The Joker War in 2021.
In paperback in November, following the hardcover, the six-issue miniseries and selections from Infinite Frontier #0 by Vita Ayala, Stephanie Williams, and Alitha Martinez. I reviewed Nubia & the Amazons this past February.
Paperback in January, following the hardcover, and collecting the Nubia: Coronation Special and Nubia: Queen of the Amazons #1–4. I reviewed Nubia: Queen of the Amazons just this past March.
• The Phantom Stranger Omnibus
This was previously announced in DC Comics Fall 2020 solicitations in March 2020, so not entirely surprising it never made it to print. Next scheduled for November 2022, now it's pushed to August 2023. Sorry, but I'll believe it when I see it. Contents said to be The Phantom Stranger #1-6 (1952), The Phantom Stranger #1-41 (1969), stories from Saga of the Swamp Thing #1-13, Who’s Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #18, Brave and the Bold #89, #98, and #145, Showcase #80, Justice League of America #103, House of Secrets #150, DC Super-Stars #18, Secret Origins #10, and DC Comics Presents #25 and #72.
Second volume of the now-ongoing series by G. Willow Wilson, in hardcover in November. This is issues #7–12.
Collects Power Girl backups and sundry by Leah Williams and company. Said to collect (likely a story from) Lazarus Planet: Assault on Krypton, the backups in Action Comics #1051–1053, and the Power Girl Special.
Collects the six-issue miniseries by Tini Howard, Blake Howard, Gleb Melnikov, and Max Raynor.
• The Question Omnibus by Dennis O'Neil and Denys Cowan Vol. 2
Collects Azrael Plus #1, Green Arrow Annual #2–3, Question Quarterly #1–5, Showcase '95 #3, The Brave and the Bold #1–6, The Question #28–36, The Question Annual #2, The Question Returns #1, and the entry from Who’s Who #12. Notably, despite the omnibus title, that Brave and Bold miniseries is by Mike Grell and Mike Baron. I’m not complaining! This finishes out the collections of O'Neil's Question material.
Paul Dano and Stevan Subic’s six-issue Batman movie tie-in, in hardcover in November.
Paperback, following the hardcover, of the three-issue miniseries by Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen. A great creative team, though when I reviewed Robin and Batman, I wasn’t blown away.
Cleverly, for the final of these paperback collections tied to the start of the TV series, this contains Sandman: The Dream Hunters (the P. Craig Russell edition), Sandman: Overture, and then Sandman Universe #1, the first time a Sandman collection has bridged from Neil Gaiman’s original work to the new(est) expanded universe. Puts a shine not only on all the completed original Sandman Universe miniseries, but also James Tynion and company’s current work.
• The Sandman Universe: Dead Boy Detectives
Issues #1–6, in paperback in November, collecting the new miniseries by Pornsak Pichetshote.
• The Sandman: Morpheus Helm Masterpiece Edition
Sometimes you just have to let the solicitation speak for itself. At $500, this is “six exclusive leather-bound, foil-embossed hardcovers and a custom sculpted book stand resembling Morpheus’s helm.” The volumes, including Sandman #1–75, both editions of Sandman: The Dream Hunters, Sandman: Endless Nights, and Sandman: Overture, apparently “fit perfectly in the intricately carved book stand that features a highly detailed bone snout and riveted exterior.” Here, go look at pictures. Also, dig an “original piece of epistolary fiction* from the world of The Sandman — written by Neil Gaiman”! (*That’s a fictional letter, kids.)
Just past movie time, this is a new hardcover printing of the illustrated prose story by Paul Dini and Alex Ross.
• Spy vs. Spy Omnibus (new Edition)
Omnibus of MAD Magazine’s “Spy vs. Spy” material. Is this everything, I wonder? Could it come with a copy of the video game?
In paperback in October, the six-issue miniseries by Geoff Johns and Todd Nauck, along with the Stargirl Spring Break Special.
The next six issues of Vita Ayala’s Static series (“Season Two”), in hardcover in November.
• Strange Adventures: The Deluxe Edition
Deluxe-size edition of the 12-issue miniseries by Tom King and Mitch Gerads. What a fascinating story; I reviewed Strange Adventures in early 2022.
• Suicide Squad: Kill Arkham Asylum
In hardcover in November, a five-issue prequel to the Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League video game, by John Layman.
• Super Sons Omnibus Expanded Edition (New Edition)
New edition of the omnibus, said to collect Superman #10–11, Superman #37–38, Teen Titans #15, Super Sons #1–16, a story from the DC Rebirth Holiday Special #1, Super Sons Annual #1, Super Sons/Dynomutt Special, and Adventures of the Super Sons #1–12. Does this not also have Challenge of the Super Sons in it?
• Superman '78/Batman '89 Box Set
Box set of the two movie sequel miniseries, in hardcover. The box looks like VHS tapes!
New paperback of the four-issue miniseries by Jeph Loeb and the late Tim Sale. I'd spring for the Absolute.
In hardcover in November, collecting the first five issues of the new series by Joshua Williamson and Jamal Campbell.
Manga by Satoshi Miyagawa, as Clark Kent and Superman eat their way through the cuisine of Japan.
Apparently there’s still more to eat.
Kind of reminds of the Superman: The One Who Fell era, not all that long ago, with a Super-title crossover ahead of a relaunch. Anyway, Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Mark Waid (!), and Tom Taylor, in September, collecting Superman: Son of Kal-El #16–18, Action Comics #1047–1049, and the Superman: Kal-El Returns special.
• Superman: Red Son (New Edition)
New edition of the three-issue miniseries by Mark Millar, Dave Johnson, and Kilian Plunkett, with “extensive sketch section.”
• Superman: Son of Kal-El Vol. 2: The Rising
The second collection by Tom Taylor and John Timms, in paperback following the hardcover, including appearances by Nightwing and Aqualad Jackson Hyde. Collects issues #7–10, Nightwing #89, and the 2021 Annual.
• Superman: The Silver Age Omnibus Vol. 1
Collects Action Comics #241–265 and Superman #122–137.
Good for Phillip Kennedy Johnson! In paperback in November, this is Action Comics #1030–1046, Action Comics 2021 Annual, Action Comics 2022 Annual, Batman/Superman: Authority Special #1 (is this collected anywhere else?), Future State: Superman: House of El #1, Future State: Superman: Worlds of War #1–2, and Superman: Warworld Apocalypse #1.
Finally, the collection of Jeff Lemire and Doug Mahnke’s three-issue, Black Label Swamp Thing: Green Hell, coming in August. Really looking forward to this one.
In paperback, following the hardcover, this is backups from Wonder Woman #781–784, a story from the Wonder Woman 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular #1, Artemis: Wanted #1, Olympus: Rebirth #1, and Nubia: Coronation Special #1. I reviewed Tales of the Amazons as part of my recent “Trial of the Amazons” reviews.
I mean, wow. I was sorry to see Dan DiDio go, I think we might not have a DC Comics today if it wasn’t for his New 52, but the things Marie Javins and company have been willing to do since he left. Blue & Gold, Batgirls, now a new Tim Drake series?! Who ever would have thought. Said to collect the first six issues by Megham Fitzmartin and Riley Rossmo, in paperback in September.
Sequel six-issue miniseries by Canaan Scott, set more or less in the (non-continuity) DCU but mimicking the HBO Max Titans TV show. In paperback in October; I enjoyed the first Titans United collection.
Paperback of the Wonder Woman crossover event, following the hardcover, coming in November. I reviewed Trial of the Amazons this past February.
The first collection of the Webtoon series by Jasmine Walls and Manou Azumi.
The third collection of the Webtoon series by Jasmine Walls and Manou Azumi.
The second collection of the Webtoon series by Jasmine Walls and Manou Azumi.
Coming in November, the four-issue, 1980s-themed spy thriller by Spencer Ackerman and Evan Narcisse. Inasmuch as this seems a Wildstorm celebration, I’m most intrigued by how this hearkens back to the political intrigue of the John Ostrander Suicide Squad days, a la “The Janus Directive.”
• WildC.A.T.s Vol. 1: Better Living Through Violence
Description: Matthew Rosenberg continues the saga he began way back at the beginning of Batman: Urban Legends with this, another WildC.A.T.s revival. Said to include the uncollected Zealot story from Batman: Urban Legends #6, issues #1–6, and material from the Wildstorm 30th Anniversary Special.
The six-issue miniseries by Joelle Jones, now in paperback in August. Among the various Trial of the Amazons titles, I had many concerns about Wonder Girl: Homecoming.
In paperback in August, following the hardcover and collecting the six-issue anthology series.
• Wonder Woman Blood and Guts: The Deluxe Edition
Deluxe edition of the first two New 52 volumes by Brian Azzarello and Cliff Chiang, issues #1–12. I reviewed Wonder Woman Vol. 1: Blood in 2012 and Wonder Woman Vol. 2: Guts in 2013.
• Wonder Woman by Brian Azzarello & Cliff Chiang Omnibus (New Edition)
New edition of the bold, controversial New 52 run, being issues #0–35, #23.1, and material from Secret Origins (2014) #6.
• Wonder Woman Vol. 4: Revenge of the Gods
In paperback, issues #795–800, the end of Becky Cloonan and Michael Conrad’s run. This ties in to, and the title matches, the Lazarus Planet: Revenge of the Gods miniseries; this is out in August and Lazarus: Revenge is out in October.
The eight-issue miniseries by Stephanie Phillips and Mike Hawthorne, in paperback in October, following the hardcover. I reviewed Wonder Woman: Evolution in November 2022 and was disappointed overall.
• Wonder Woman: The Golden Age Omnibus Vol. 5
Collects Action Comics #142, Wonder Woman #35-47, and Sensation Comics #90-104.
• Wonder Woman: The Silver Age Omnibus Vol. 2
Due in October, collecting Wonder Woman #124–149 from the 1960s.
• Zatanna & the Ripper Volume One
Webtoon series by Sarah Dealy and Syro, with an appearance by John Constantine.
• Zatanna & the Ripper Volume Two
Second collection of the Webtoon series.
I sincerely hope the Super Sons reprint doesn't have Challenge; I already paid an army and a leg for the Expanded Edition (which had gone out of print at the time of purchase) and I DON'T have the money to double dip.
ReplyDeleteAlso, advance warning for Punchline: The Gotham Game. That's months away, but when you get to it? I would STRONGLY recommend waiting to read it until you can hit it AND Howard's 2nd and 3rd collections of her Catwoman pun.
Punchline and Catwoman are HEAVILY intertwined with one another. It's basically Buffy Season 4 and Angel Season 1; they're for all intents crossing over and you need to be reading both books to get the full story/sense of what's going on.
Same goes for Geoff Johns and Todd Nauck's Stargirl. There's connective tissue between it and the JSA relaunch -- and it looks like Stargirl's conclusion will bring characters and threads over into the pages of JSA. So, I'd wait to read both collections in one sitting.
Regarding Monkey Prince #0, I have a feeling that WILL end up included in Vol. 2 by the time the HC hits.
DeleteWithout spoiling things, let's just say Yang stuff foreshadowed there pays off BIG TIME come Lazarus Planet and the climax of the run.
All really good tips and I appreciate you both watching out for my reading experience. Thanks!
DeleteSure thing! And sorry for my grammatical errors, heh.
DeleteAnd yeah, I had no intention of hitting Punchline's mini-series while catching up on Howard's Catwoman (since we know now it and Chip Zdarsky's Batman will be crossing over later this year).
I'd had my fill of Alex Kaye after the backups in Tynion's Joker. But again, I found out the hard way that it's all but necessary to read Punchline in tandem with the final lead-up to Catwoman's 50th issue and Dawn of DC-era. Otherwise, without both books playing off each other, things get confusing -- and I speak for all of us when I say we don't want our favorite comics reviewer confused. ;)
While I am happy for PKJ, it sucks for those of us that just bought the first three volumes of his Action Comics run. I much rather have had it plus his future state issues in one volume.
ReplyDeleteThis thick trade seems to be an attempt to make up for the stupidity of not including the Batman/Superman: Authority Special and Action Comics Annual 2021 in any of the Action Comics volumes collecting PKJ's run. It's just odd that it includes the Future State stuff but it skips Superman #29-32 and Action Comics #1,029, which are the first in-continuity Superman stories he wrote.
DeleteJust took a look at what the Action Comics collections aren't collecting — I'm not so concerned about the "One Who Fell" stories, since they are collected somewhere, but I'm not at all pleased by the omission of Batman/Superman: Authority Special and two different annuals. November's a long time to wait, but now I feel like I won't be getting the real "Warworld Saga" if I read the separate collections.
DeleteI'm really hoping this clears the deck for 2024 to really get back into 80s/90s archival work.
ReplyDeleteI didn't even like Death Metal much, but I'll pick up the omnibus because I have a sickness. Now we just need a Convergence OHC. Again, I'm sick.
I share the criticism of splitting Dark Knights of Steel, etc. It made sense, kind of, when Doomsday Clock was so delayed, but this is silly and will delay my purchases for sure.
Looking forward to trying the Fellspyre Chronicles out. I'm a little miffed about the Warworld Saga repackage, but there's enough new stuff in there that I'll get it.
Convergence Omnibus is a great idea, Bob. They should do that!
DeleteI agree DC took the wrong message from splitting up Doomsday Clock. We got all of Omega Men, Mister Miracle, Rorschach, and Strange Adventures in single volumes — why not Dark Knights of Steel, DC vs. Vampires, Danger Street, and Human Target?
If I could hazard a guess -- Dark Knights of Steel and DC vs. Vampires have, I believe, been selling pretty well -- and evergreen Elseworlds usually have a long shelf life in trades. DC's capitalizing on that market.
DeleteHuman Target had a pretty decent publishing gap in the middle, so I think the first collection was rushed out to precede the back half. Can't say on Danger Street, however.
One of the reasons that I love coming here is that I say my collecting habits are a sickness because I want Convergence in OHC and our host replies, "Great idea, they should make that book!" I feel seen here!
DeleteI don't think Convergence (including all the 2 issue stories) could come close to fitting in one omni, so I kind of wish they'd do like COIE and give us an OHC of the main event and then box set OHC w/multiple volumes. For all us sickos.
Zachary is correct that there was a publication gap on Human Target, so I kind of get that one, too. The others are just annoying - I buy most stuff in trade specifically to get the full story. If I picked up Dark Knights of Steel v1 right now, I sure wouldn't read it until I got v2. I am probably not indicative of the market as a whole, however, so I'll just stick to whining here and let the big corporation do what's best for them ;)
Seconding Bob's approval of our gracious host being... well, gracious! I sit and daydream about what collections I'd be putting out, and then I worry about where I'd put them in my shrinking shelf space. But nothing sick about being a completionist! I'm still out there beating the drum for a "Joker: Last Laugh" omnibus or a Takion trade.
DeleteBob, I clock Convergence at 89 issues. The biggest omnibus in my collection is, I think, The Invisibles, at 59 and change. You could knock it out in five deluxe HCs (each "era" was originally printed in two trades).
It does seem like Takion ought have been collected, in line with some of the nuFourth World collections you've been reviewing. As for Joker's Last Laugh, is a collection around the next Joker movie too much to hope? I've come around to wondering if that's why DC held the Joker War paperbacks for a while.
DeleteI wouldn’t get too excited about that new Tim Drake: Robin series; it apparently sold horribly and has already been canceled as of issue 9. (Wonder if the TPB will be revised to just collect the entire series.)
ReplyDeleteDC's June 2023 solicitations include Tim Drake: Robin #10, and judging by the solicitation copy, it doesn't appear to be the final issue. Batgirls, however, is apparently ending with issue #19.
DeletePer Meghan Fitzmartin directly, it does look like Tim Drake: Robin is ending with issue #10.
DeleteThanks, somehow I missed that news, even though it's been two weeks since. I wonder what DC's got planned for Tim now.
DeleteRight, sorry, issue 10 instead of 9, my mistake.
DeleteStill feels like they should probably wait and add the extra four issues into the TPB, instead of orphaning them or trying to make a volume 2 of just four issues.
Yeah, I'm not sure what else they could reprint either.
DeleteIt would make more sense to just hold off and knock out the entire run in one-go.
I am happy the Danny question run is being collected but the omnibus is too expensive for me. Hopefully both omnibus editions sell well enough that dc will release trade paper back versions.
ReplyDeleteI am definitely going to pick up Shazam Power of Hope. We need more Optimistic superhero tales.
Nice to see more Superman stories getting new collections
I hope the Joe Kelly action comics run gets a new collection released one day.
I'd be happy to see the Joe Kelly run collected, but also the Joe Casey "Superman never throws a punch" run from the same era.
DeleteThe "Batman: Under the Red Hood: Deluxe Edition" has a listed page count that goes far beyond the original "Under the Red Hood" story as collected previously ("Batman #635–641 and #645–650 and the Batman Annual #25", per your description), in both the single-volume TPB and the two-volume hardcovers.
ReplyDeleteHowever, the page count does match perfectly with the hypothetical inclusion of the "Red Hood: The Lost Days" prequel miniseries, which would be a perfect addition for the volume (and a great justification for double-dipping for those of us who already own the story). Here's hoping that's what the final product will include.
It should also be noted that the Batman: Golden Age Omnibus Volume 10 will represent, for the first time ever, the complete publication and collected availability of Batman's Golden Age stories (as defined by DC), and will close the gap between the Golden Age omnibuses and the Silver Age Omnibus Volume 1 that was released last year.
I wonder if it'll also include the Jason story Winnick contributed to the Robin 80th Ann. anthology back in 2020.
DeleteI have never read Red Hood: Lost Days. That would be an interesting addition.
DeleteGreat news! I never did read that; might make it worth picking up that deluxe.
Delete