Here’s another one of these where I see the DC Finest: Batgirl and I think, “I already have all those issues,” and the DC Finest: Superman Family and I think, “Well, that’s not really for me,” and it seems to me again there won’t be much of interest in the DC Finest books.
And then I read the DC Comics February 2025 trade paperback and hardcover solicitations listing for DC Finest: Peacemaker: Kill for Peace and I see that not only does it have comics from the 1960s, but it’s also collecting Checkmate and Suicide Squad and Vigilante and Eclipso! Some of these DC Finest are very sequential and some seem to be jumping around with more than a few surprises, and I’m learning not to dismiss these so fast.
There is not that much in terms of regular series in these listings, just the final volume of Tini Howard’s Harley Quinn ahead of that series' DC All-In relaunch. But books I’m looking forward to nonetheless, particularly the deluxe Dark Knights of Steel (probably means I need to finish Tom Taylor' DCeased books), the recent From The DC Vault: Robin Lives book, and the Black Label Plastic Man No More. Honestly I’ve been reading comics at a breakneck pace lately, trying to maybe be ready for Absolute Power by the time it arrives in February, because of I could get current on my in-continuity reading, there’s so much stuff in the non-continuity pile I’d like to look at.
Other volumes of note include the Absolute Batman: Haunted Knight and the Nightwing: Rebirth and Suicide Squad: The New 52 omnibuses. I might finally read Batman/Elmer Fudd, and there’s the Booster Gold: Complete 2007 Series Book Two, mostly by Dan Jurgens and with a Blackest Night tie-in.
Let’s jump in!
Recent DC Comics Trade Solicitations
- • Absolute Batman: Haunted Knight HC
Collects the three Legends of the Dark Knights Halloween specials from 1993–1995 by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale that predated their Long Halloween collaboration: Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight Halloween Special, Batman: Madness - A Legends of the Dark Knight Halloween Special, and Batman: Ghosts - A Legends of the Dark Knight Halloween Special. That’s all the same as the original long-standing Haunted Knight collection, but the Absolute seems to also have Catwoman: When in Rome — a story which, perhaps confusingly for some, takes place much later than these specials (parallel to Long Halloween sequel Dark Victory), and which already had its own individual Absolute edition.
- • Batman: Justice Buster Vol. 4 TP
The fourth and final volume of Eiichi Shimizu and Tomohiro Shimoguchi’s Batman manga, originally published in Japan and now translated to English.
- • Batman/Elmer Fudd: The Deluxe Edition HC
I still haven’t read this, a big hole in my Tom King/Batman repertoire. Maybe the deluxe edition will be the place to do it. Coming April 2025.
- • Booster Gold: The Complete 2007 Series Book Two TP
Issues #15–31 with Dan Jurgens, plus Brave and the Bold #23 by Jurgens with Booster and Magog.
- • Dark Knights of Steel: The Deluxe Edition HC
By Tom Taylor and Yasmine Putri and friends, collecting Dark Knights of Steel #1–12 and Dark Knights of Steel: Tales From the Three Kingdoms #1. I’ve been waiting for this series to be collected in one volume; this is coming in April and it’ll be an immediate buy for me.
- • DC Finest: Batgirl: Nobody Dies Tonight TP
Said to collect issues #8–27 from the 2000 Cassandra Cain series, plus Superboy #85. Issue #27 brings the book to a close at the end of Batman: Murderer/Fugitive, though I’m mystified by starting at issue #8 and not issue #1. The Superboy guest appearance takes place early in the series, roundabouts Batgirl #13.
- • DC Finest: Peacemaker: Kill for Peace TP
Classic stories of Peacemaker wouldn’t necessarily be for me, but seeing now the 1980s-1990s content of this volume, I might have to take a look. This is The Fightin' 5 #40–41, Peacemaker (1967) #1–5, Peacemaker (1988) #1–4, and appearances from Checkmate #16–26, #28, and #32–33; Suicide Squad #27–30; Vigilante #37–38 and #41–43; and Eclipso #11–13.
- • DC Finest: Superman Family: The Giant Turtle Man TP
Stories from July 1960 to October 1961: Superman’s Girl Friend, Lois Lane #19–28; Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen #47–56; Action Comics #266 and #277; and Superman #142–143 and #147.
- • DC Pride Box Set HC
DC Pride: Love and Justice, DC Pride: The New Generation, and DC Pride: Better Together, in a box set in May.
- • DC: The New Frontier: DC Compact Comics Edition TP
Collecting the classic miniseries by Darwyn Cooke; earlier solicitations had the full six issues here plus the Justice League: The New Frontier Special.
- • DC's Misfits of Magic TP
Matthew Dow Smith’s YA graphic novel, reimagining Zatanna, Blue Devil, “Deadkid,” and more.
- • From The DC Vault: Death in the Family: Robin Lives! TP
If I’m reading the solicitation right, this is the new four-issue “what if Jason lived” miniseries from J.M. DeMatteis and Rick Leonardi, plus the single modified Batman #428 issue, and then also the classic Batman #426, #427, and #429. Assuming the original Batman #428 isn’t in there, this is a wild collection you could sit and read from beginning to end as if Jason really had actually lived. (Edit: I'm reminded Batman #429 reflects Robin's death; I wonder if that might be altered too?) Coming in April; this is going to be fun.
- • Gotham City: Year One TP
In paperback, following the hardcover, the six-issue miniseries by Tom King and Phil Hester.
- • Green Lantern: The Silver Age Omnibus Vol. 2 (2025 Edition) HC
Green Lantern #36–75 by Gardner Fox, John Broome, and more, including the Flash, Zatanna, and the first appearance of Guy Gardner.
- • Harley Quinn Vol. 3: Clown About Town TP
In paperback in March, collecting issues #38–43. This is Tini Howard’s final volume before Elliott Kalan and Mindy Lee take over with DC All-In.
- • Justice League by Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV Omnibus Vol. 1 HC
Collects Aquaman #41–42, Aquaman/Justice League: Drowned Earth #1, Justice League #1–18, Justice League Annual #1, Justice League/Aquaman: Drowned Earth #1, Justice League: No Justice #1–4, Titans #28, and a story from DC Nation #0. That’s plenty, and these are good comics; the original solicitation had Snyder’s Batman Who Laughs miniseries in there, but I was skeptical it would stay and I don’t really think it’s needed. This is Justice League: No Justice, Justice League Vol. 1: The Totality, Justice League/Aquaman: Drowned Earth, Justice League Vol. 2: Graveyard of the Gods, and Justice League Vol. 3: Hawkworld.
- • Justice League: The New 52 Book Two TP
Collects essentially the Trinity War pre-event ahead of Forever Evil. That’s the New 52 Justice League #0 and #18–23, Justice League Dark #23–24, New 52 FCBD Special Edition #1, Justice League of America #6–7, Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger #11, Constantine #5, Trinity of Sin: Pandora #1–3, and the Shazam! backups from Justice League #7–11 and #14–16.
- • Legion of Super-Heroes: Five Years Later Omnibus Vol. 1 HC
New printing of the omnibus, collecting Legion of Super-Heroes #1–39, Legion of Super-Heroes Annual #1–3, Adventures of Superman #478, and Timber Wolf #1–5.
- • Nightwing: Rebirth Omnibus HC
A pretty comprehensive collection of the Nightwing series post-Grayson, including Nightwing: Rebirth #1, Nightwing #1–49, Batgirl #14–17, Batman #7–8, Batman: Prelude to the Wedding: Nightwing vs. Hush #1, Detective Comics #941–942, Green Arrow #32, _Red Hood and the Outlaws Annual _#1, Suicide Squad #26, Teen Titans #12, and stories from Batgirl #25, DC Rebirth Holiday Special #1, and the Robin 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular #1. That starts with Tim Seeley and Javier Fernandez’s Nightwing Vol. 1: Better Than Batman and ends just before the “Ric Grayson” era, and includes all parts of the Night of the Monster Men crossover and the Gotham Resistance tie-in to Dark Nights: Metal.
- • Plastic Man No More! HC
Very excited for this Black Label Plastic Man story by Christopher Cantwell. In hardcover in April, this collects the four-issue miniseries.
- • Punk Rock Jesus TP
Collects the six-issue miniseries by Sean Murphy.
- • Suicide Squad: The New 52 Omnibus HC
As with no small amount of the New 52, this was a take on the Suicide Squad that leaned too far into its shock value, kicking off with writer Adam Glass, but had evened out somewhat at least by the time Matt Kindt finished it off. What we’ve got here is Suicide Squad #0–30, Suicide Squad: Amanda Waller #1, Detective Comics #23.2 (Harley Quinn), Justice League of America #7.1 (Deadshot), Resurrection Man #9, and stories from Batman #13 and Secret Origins #4, both also featuring Harley Quinn. This is the Suicide Squad Vol. 1: Kicked in the Teeth, Vol. 2: Basilisk Rising, Vol. 3: Death Is for Suckers, Vol. 4: Discipline and Punish, and Vol. 5: Walled In trades.
- • Wonder Woman: Blood and Guts: DC Compact Comics Edition TP
I expect this is issues #0–12 from the New 52 series by Brian Azzarello, Cliff Chiang, and company.
Just DC Finest Batgirl for me in this batch (I could use a down month, so that's fine). It's a massive double dip, but I'm going to support the character and title so we can finally get 38-53 (or whatever it is) collected (seems like a perfect next volume to me)
ReplyDeleteMy guess about starting this volume (v2, for all practical purposes) at issue 8 is that then they can release a v1 with all her No Man's Land appearances (about 15 issues) and issues 1-7 of her main series. As I said above, my main interest is getting what I assume will be v3-4 in this title so I can have all her stuff on the shelf
Now that you mention it, DC Finest: Batman: No Man’s Land seems a lock; perfectly fits the format and hard to believe DC wouldn’t do it, short of various omnibuses and trades being available. But I have less confidence in DC going backward to collect Batgirl’s previous appearances after starting this volume with issue #8. Do you see precedence for that? Why wouldn’t they start at the start?
DeleteAs far as DC Finest goes, so far I'm clocking Green Lantern, Justice League, Legion, Superboy, and Teen Titans starting in the middle; "Giant Turtle Man" also jumps midstream into the Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen books. The Team-Ups set is starting with the first issues of "DC Comics Presents" but jumping thirty issues into "Brave & Bold." Others (like Wonder Woman) are starting midway into publication order but at the dawn of important eras. (For what it's worth, the Marvel equivalent Epic Collections tend to hop and skip around the sequence, too.)
DeleteFor Batgirl, starting eight issues in just feels too deliberate to be a mistake. Her appearances in NML are pretty significant as an origin; not sure I would include ALL her NML stuff, especially because I'd want to see full NML reprints, but a first trade should cover at least up to her donning the cowl.
There should also be an annual in there, one of those "Planet DC" one-shots from 2000. And it's a little outside the purview of this hypothetical first volume, but I'd hope to see "DC First: Batgirl/The Joker" in the mix somewhere; it's a fun Cass/Babs one-shot that ends with the terrific punchline of Cass knocking out The Joker's teeth. Terry Moore illustrates the Babs pages, while Bill Sienkiewicz does the Cass pages.
The build of the DC Finest Harley Quinn book is also filled with her appearances in NML so no reason no to think so with Batgirl. These DC Finest jump around so there isn't any reason to think they won't jump back eventually and fill in the start of Cassie Cain's series.
DeleteIf I remember right this range of issues has the two confrontations with Lady Shiva to bookend it so it will work as a volume.
I'm still kinda irritated the Snyder/Tynion League omnibus isn't including Dark Nights Metal.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it has it's own omnibus, but it's also literally the prelude and the entire run doesn't make any sense without it.
Then again, the Johns JL omnibuses didn't have Flashpoint despite it being the lead-in. So, what the hell do I know?
And speaking of omnibuses, where the hell is Joshua Williamson's second Flash volume? This is EXACTLY why I still haven't bought the first one; I don't want for DC to cancel it midway like they did with the DC Rebirth Deluxe Hardcovers.
I don't blame you for being cautious on the second Williamson/Flash omnibus. I will say that the last one came out in April of this year, so I'm not sure I'd have expected the second one just yet. If you don't see it in the seasonal catalog in March, then I'd start to worry.
DeleteYeah, I nearly got burned on the Flash Rebirth Deluxe HCs. Not making that mistake again.
DeleteBut you're right about the seasonal schedule (as Johns' GL Omnibuses followed the same release schedule between 2014 and 2016).
If we get to the March / April 2025 solicits and there's no sign, then yeah, I'm gonna start worrying.
But anyway, going back to Metal's absence from the Snyder/Tynion Omnibus, I finally realized what it reminded me of: the Jonathan Hickman's Avengers Omnibus debacle over at Marvel.
DeleteMarvel collected Hickman's entire Avengers run across two Omnibuses...and then DIDN'T include the climactic Secret Wars event. Same thing happened with the paperback Complete Collections.
I have NEVER understood what Marvel was thinking with that exclusion. The event's the Final Act of Hickman's run; the Avengers finale literally ends on a cliffhanger that leads directly into SECRET WARS' opening.
So, kinda the same thing here with DC and Metal. But, not the first time preludes and epilogues have been excluded. The Grant Morrison's JLA Omnibus excluded Mark Waid's Midsummer's Nightmare and DC One Million (not to mention it STILL pisses me off that the Seven Soldiers omnibus didn't reprint JLA Classified #1-3).
> I have NEVER understood what Marvel was thinking with that exclusion.
DeleteThey were probably thinking that they can sell you an entirely separate book. It's the same reason Final Crisis isn't collected in the Grant Morrison Batman volumes.
I can kind of see excluding Midsummer's Nightmare from a Morrison book since it's not technically Morrison. (However, aren't the recent trades including Paradise Lost, which is Mark Millar?) The exclusions of DC One Million and Ultramarine Corps, though, are inexcusable; those are available in separate volumes but short enough to have included the core series.
"They were probably thinking that they can sell you an entirely separate book. It's the same reason Final Crisis isn't collected in the Grant Morrison Batman volumes. "
DeleteOh, yeah, good point. I forgot about that (which, again, is even more ludicrous).
Oh, capitalism, how I love and despise thee!