DC Trade Solicitations for October 2023 - Final Batman: Dark Knight Detective; Dark Nights: Death Metal, Green Lantern: Kyle Rayner, Young Justice, the Question Omnibuses; Nightwing Vol. 4: The Leap; Multiversity: Harley Screws Up the DCU
You get an omnibus and you get an omnibus and you get an omnibus! OK, that might be a little much, but in DC Comics October 2023 trade paperback and hardcover solicitations, there’s omnibuses aplenty.
After all the Dark Crisis and Lazarus Planet collections, plus getting close already to the end of the year(!), I’m not so surprised to see a slow month. But what the October listings lack for in regular series, they make up for in omnibuses — new printings of the Batman Eternal Omnibus and the Zero Hour Omnibus, plus the Dark Nights: Death Metal Omnibus, a Young Justice Omnibus, Green Lantern: Kyle Rayner Compendium (all right, so technically not an omnibus), and the Question Omnibus Vol. 2. If you’re in the market for a heavy book, this is your month!
Otherwise, for my pull list, not a whole lot. Among regular series, just Poison Ivy Vol. 2 and Nightwing Vol. 4 (including Nightwing #100!). There’s Multiversity: Harley Screws Up the DCU, and not to be overlooked, the final Batman: The Dark Knight Detective volume collecting most of the post-Crisis Batman comics before “Knightfall.”
Let’s take a look at the full list!
• Absolute Luthor/Joker (2024 Edition) HC
The Joker graphic novel and Lex Luthor: Man of Steel #1–5 (links to my reviews of each), in two separate volumes, by Brian Azzarello and Lee Bermejo, with behind-the-scenes material.
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Recent DC Comics Trade Solicitations |
• ArkhaManiacs (2023 Edition) TP
New printing of the young readers graphic novel by Art Baltazar and Franco.
• Batman Eternal Omnibus (2023 Edition) HC
New printing of this omnibus (the Batman and Robin Eternal Omnibus is also getting a new printing). I did say in my review of the first volume of Batman Eternal that “if something isn’t good, it’s a consolation at least that there’s a lot of it,” which remains true, but equally “isn’t good” also isn’t terrible (of Batman Eternal Vol. 3, I said, “this has been a superlative weekly series for DC Comics”). It’ll surely keep you busy for a while!
• Batman Vol. 5: Fear State TP
Paperback collection of James Tynion’s issues #112–117, coming in December.
• Batman: Gotham After Midnight: The Deluxe Edition HC
Deluxe edition of the 12-issue miniseries by Steve Niles and Kelley Jones.
In November, new printing of the collection, including Batman: Harley and Ivy #1–3, Batman Adventures Annual #1, Batman Adventures Holiday Special #1, Batman and Robin Adventures #8, and Batgirl Adventures #1, plus stories from Batman: Gotham Knights #14 and Batman: Black & White #3, and starring, well, y’know.
Paperback of the six-issue miniseries by Tom King and David Marquez, following the hardcover, and arriving about a year later, in December.
• Batman: The Dark Knight Detective Vol. 8 TP
Collects Detective Comics #644–653 and Detective Comics Annual #5 (“Eclipso: The Darkness Within”), along with a corrected reprinting of Detective Comics Annual #4 (misprinted in Dark Knight Detective Vol. 7) 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.
Collects the 12-issue miniseries and sundry by Tom King, Clay Mann, and friends, in paperback in December, following the hardcover by a year. In my review of Batman/Catwoman, I called it “a diligent study of that greatest of conundrums, the feline villain that Batman, despite being an apex crimefighter and deliverer of all things justice, loves” and “impressively ambitious.”
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. 2 HC
Collects Dark Knights of Steel #7–12 and Dark Knights of Steel: Tales From the Three Kingdoms by Tom Taylor and company.
• Dark Nights: Death Metal Omnibus HC
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.
• Green Lantern: Kyle Rayner Rising Compendium TP
This is “just” (not nothing, but also nothing new) the contents of the two Green Lantern: Kyle Rayner trades from a couple years back, collecting Kyle’s earliest appearances, including crossovers and the “Siege of the Zi Charam” Titans event. That’s Green Lantern #0, #48–65; R.E.B.E.L.S. '94 #1; New Titans #116–117, #124–125; Guy Gardner: Warrior #27–28; Darkstars #34, and Damage #16, largely by Ron Marx, but with Marv Wolfman, Beau Smith, and Michael Jan Friedman.
• Green Lantern: The Silver Age Omnibus Vol. 1 (2023 Edition) HC
New printing, collecting Showcase #22–24 and Green Lantern #1–35 from the 1960s.
Paperback in October, following the hardcover, of issues #1–6 and Milestone Returns: Infinite Edition #0 by Brandon Thomas, Denys Cowan, and Bill Sienkiewicz.
• Infinite Crisis (2023 Edition) HC
A new printing of just the seven-issue event by Geoff Johns. I reviewed Infinite Crisis some 17 years ago now.
• Justice League Vol. 2: United Order TP
Issues #64–71 of Brian Michael Bendis' Justice League in paperback in December, following the hardcover. I had high hopes for Justice League Vol. 2: United Order as a tie-in to Checkmate, but neither were quite what I hoped.
• Multiversity: Harley Screws Up the DCU HC
By former Harley scribe Frank Tieri and Logan Faerber, in hardcover in December, collecting the six-issue miniseries. I liked Tieri’s Old Lady Harley and sundry.
• Nightwing Vol. 4: The Leap HC
By Tom Taylor, Bruno Redondo, and Eduardo Pansica, in hardcover in December, this is Nightwing #98–100 and the Nightwing 2022 Annual, with ties to Dark Crisis.
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.
• Poison Ivy Vol. 2: Unethical Consumption HC
Second volume of the now-ongoing series by G. Willow Wilson, in hardcover in November. This is issues #7–12.
• Strange Adventures: The Deluxe Edition HC
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. Also includes the Strange Adventures Director’s Cut #1, a new introduction by King, and behind-the-scenes extras.
• Superman: Son of Kal-el Vol. 2: The Rising TP
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 HC
Collects Action Comics #241–265 and Superman #122–137 from the 1950s, with a new introduction by Karl Kesel.
• Teen Titans Go! to the Library! TP
Graphic novel! By Franco and Art Baltazar! I really hope Bookworm is the villain!
• The Invisibles Book 2 (2023 Edition) TP
New edition of the second comprehensive volume by Grant Morrison. This is said to just collect Invisibles #13–25, but a previous edition also had a story from Vertigo: Winter’s Edge #1.
• The Question Omnibus by Dennis O’Neil and Denys Cowan Vol. 2 HC
Finishing up the omnibus collections of Question Vic Sage stories by Dennis O’Neil, Denys Cowan, and company. Collects The Question #28–36, The Question Annual #2, Green Arrow Annual #2–3, and some/all of The Question Quarterly #1–5, The Brave and the Bold #1–6, The Question Returns #1, and stories from Showcase '95 #3 and Azrael Plus #1. This is great — now bring on smaller trade-sized editions and Question by Greg Rucka Omnibus!
Paperback of the Wonder Woman crossover event, following the hardcover, coming in November. I reviewed Trial of the Amazons this past February; I enjoyed this whole Wonder Woman sequence quite a bit.
The third collection of the Webtoon series by Jasmine Walls and Manou Azumi, optimized for print. No spoilers (you can read the solicitation if you want), but this has a surprising amount of other popular DC characters in it, too.
• Young Justice Omnibus Vol. 1 HC
This is a fun one, and well-deserved, and I’m happy to see it after the larger-size paperback editions are all done. Indeed this collects the first three of the Peter David collections, so maybe DC can collect the rest in one more volume for two total. This one is Young Justice #1–19; Young Justice #1,000,000; JLA: World Without Grown-Ups #1–2; Young Justice: The Secret #1; Young Justice Secret Files #1; Secret Origins 80-Page Giant #1; Young Justice in No Man’s Land #1; Supergirl #36–37; Superboy #74; Young Justice: Sins of Youth #1–2; Sins of Youth Secret Files #1; Sins of Youth: JLA Jr. #1; Sins of Youth: Aquaboy/Lagoon Man #1; Sins of Youth: Batboy and Robin #1; Sins of Youth: Kid Flash/Impulse #1; Sins of Youth: Starwoman and the JSA #1; Sins of Youth: Superman Jr./Superboy Sr. #1; Sins of Youth: Wonder Girls #1; and Sins of Youth: The Secret/Deadboy #1.
• Zatanna & the Ripper Volume Two TP
Second collection of the Webtoon series, collecting episodes 12–23 and formatted for print.
• Zero Hour: Crisis in Time Omnibus (2023 Edition) HC
At over 1,000 pages, this includes Zero Hour: Crisis in Time #4–0, Steel #8, Outsiders #11, Detective Comics #678, Batman #511, Superman: Man of Steel #37, Superboy #8, Green Lantern #55, The Flash #94, Superman #93, The Flash #0, Batman: Shadow of the Bat #31, Hawkman #13, Legionnaires #18, Valor #23, Adventures of Superman #516, L.E.G.I.O.N. ’94 #70, Green Arrow #90, Guy Gardner: Warrior #24, Team Titans #24, Legion of Super-Heroes #61, Action Comics #703, Justice League of America #92, Justice League Task Force #16, Justice League International #68, Robin #10, Anima #7, Catwoman #14, Damage #6, Darkstars #24, Green Lantern #0, and stories from Showcase '94 #8–10, give or take some aftermath material.
Question vol 2 and new Nightwing for sure.
ReplyDeleteI'm very keen to read the Dark Knights of Steel, but with DC being so high on Taylor (with good reason imo), seems a complete collection is inevitable sooner rather than later.
Dunno if its just me, but does it feel like DC have lost interest in collecting/putting out Black Label stuff?
Well, I wasn’t thinking that until you said something! There’s Last Days of Lex Luthor from Black Label. Others?
DeleteMuch of the Black Label stuff is coming out in standard-sized issues, so that might affect our perception of the line. There's the current Peacemaker mini, but I'm one of the only guys in America who intensely dislikes that take on the character.
DeleteLast Days is prestige-plus trim, as is Waller vs Wildstorm. We also have Rafael Grampá's "Gargoyle of Gotham" inbound. But Riddler Year One (by Paul Dano) and Danger Street are being published in standard trim. So I think the line is still healthy - plus, we're waiting on a collection of the Lemire/Mahnke Swamp Thing book.
Interesting (and great!) to see some extended DCAU love in that Harley & Ivy reprint... might even be worth upgrading my trade!
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm sure I'm not alone in hoping that this Kyle Rayner compendium gets more of his run in circulation.
I was interested in Zero Hour until I saw the price. $175 is obscene. I can get a signed Brandon Sanderson leatherbound for less than that.
ReplyDeleteNobody should be paying cover price for a trade these days. Your LCS could have a discount, or most online retailers give up to 50% off.
DeleteEven still, $175 ($25 more than the first edition) is a lot to swallow even on discount. I'm going to be murderously upset if there's new content I want
DeleteI couldn't say for sure, but it didn't look from the solicitation like there was any new content (though the price increase is curious).
DeleteIsn't the page count longer? Or an I misremembering?
DeleteEven though it was far from my favorite event, I'll probably get the Death Metal Omnibus for completion's sake. I haven't picked up Dark Crisis yet, and might just wait on that in Omni format, too. It doesn't seem too critical . . .
ReplyDeleteDanger Street and Dark Knights of Steel both sit in that space where I just want the complete story in one volume and I'm very unimpressed with the choices DC is giving me. On the other hand, I'm pretty weak, so I'll probably pick both up. I believe I am what the industry calls "a mark" or "a sure thing."
Kyle Rayner Compendium for sure - I balked at the TPBs because of DC's penchant for not following through on their TPB lines, but I think we'll probably get a Kyle vol 2, which should get us through some classic team ups with Wally and Connor, plus Final Night. A vol 3 would hit Emerald Knights! I'd be quite content if they get all of Marz's GL work in this format in the nearish future. I think I'm only two Epic Collections away from having his run on Silver Surfer, and that'd be a nice little summer project one year, reading both runs.
I'd as soon DC continued the Kyle Rayner paperbacks, but if more "compendiums" are what it takes to get there, so be it. (And despite my lumping this in with the omnibuses, I do see that it's paperback, so not as heavy a "lift," so to speak.)
Delete"Batman: The Dark Knight Detective Vol. 8 TP
ReplyDeleteCollects Detective Comics #644–653"
Has the solicitation been corrected? I remember it saying to include 644–652.
From that list on The Question omnibus, it looks like they're leaving out Question #37. That was the Blackest Night crossover issue. O'Neil co-wrote it with Greg Rucka and Cowan drew it, so it definitely merits inclusion.
ReplyDeleteI'm still hoping/anticipating that, at some point, we will eventually see a "DCeased Omnibus" and/or "Batman: White Knight Omnibus" in one of these solicitations....
ReplyDelete