As I previewed just a couple months ago, the biggest news in the DC Comics June 2025 trade paperback and hardcover solicitations is the arrival of the first DC Absolute Universe collections — Absolute Batman, Absolute Wonder Woman, Absolute Superman. Not to mention we’ve also got Mark Waid’s Justice League Unlimited Vol. 1 and Ram V’s much-heralded New Gods, making this possibly the most important month for DC in 2025.
There’s a variety of interesting stuff alongside. After all this time we get a standalone collection of Batman: Year Three, if only after we finally saw it collected a few years back in another book. DC Finest has volumes for classic Blue Beetle and Justice League Detroit; those of you wanting DC Finest off the beaten path seem to be getting your wish. I also think the Detective Comics by Mariko Tamaki Omnibus HC is going to read nicely, with its whiplash blend of politics and sci-fi.
Among regular series, I’ve got my eye on Green Lantern Vol. 4 and Harley Quinn Vol. 1, DC All In debuts both, plus another fairly wide-ranging Batman: Brave and the Bold collection, plus Batman/Superman: World’s Finest Vol. 7: Total Eclipso.
Also you can apparently bury your own (Absolute) copy of “Death of Superman.” Wait, what? Let’s take a look at the full list.
Recent DC Comics Trade Solicitations
- • Absolute Batman Vol. 1: The Zoo HC
Arriving at the beginning of August in hardcover and paperback, the debut entry to the DC Absolute Universe, by Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta, and company.
- • Absolute Superman Vol. 1: Last Dust of Krypton HC
Arriving in hardcover and paperback in mid-August, collecting Absolute Superman #1–6 by Jason Aaron, Rafa Sandoval, and Carmine Di Giandomenico.
- • Absolute Wonder Woman Vol. 1: The Last Amazon HC
In hardcover and paperback the second week of August, collecting issues #1–7 by Kelly Thompson and Hayden Sherman.
- • Batgirl: Stephanie Brown Vol. 2 (2025 Edition) TP
New printing of the final collection of Bryan Q. Miller’s Batgirl, issues #13–24, Bruce Wayne: The Road Home: Batgirl, and a story from Batman Incorporated: Leviathan Strikes. These are issues found in Batgirl: The Flood and Batgirl: The Lesson. Aw heck, I loved this series so much, here’s a link to my review of the first volume, Batgirl Rising.
- • Batman by Tom King Book Two TP
Collects Batman #21–43, Batman Annual #1–2, and Flash #21–22, being Batman/Flash: The Button, Batman Vol. 4: War of Jokes and Riddles, Batman Vol. 5: The Rules of Engagement, and almost all of Batman Vol. 6: Bride or Burglar? Here too we’ve got a distinctly DC All In-themed white-background cover.
- • Batman by Tom King Omnibus Vol. 1 HC
Speaking of covers, the solicited cover for this looks like an artist’s pencil sketch; interesting and informative, but I wonder if DC will keep it for the official cover. Collects Batman: Rebirth #1, Batman #1–24, Nightwing #5–6, Detective Comics #941–942, Flash #21–22, Batman Annual #1, and Batman/Elmer Fudd Special #1.
- • Batman: Detective Comics by Mariko Tamaki Omnibus HC
If not a flawless Batman run, Mariko Tamaki’s was quite admirable, and I’d venture to say way up there for a Detective run, if not a Batman run. Among this is the whole “Shadows of the Bat” Bat-family story that ran weekly, a credible disaster story set within the new Arkham Tower, and also Tamaki’s “Fear State” tie-in, which didn’t have much to do with “Fear State” but was an excellent horror tale involving Batman, Gotham’s mayor, and something lurking in the sewers. Plus Tamaki did a lot with Huntress Helena Bertinelli, and dig that cool new cover by Dan Mora. This is one I’d be interested in re-reading, really.
Collects Detective Comics #1027 and #1034–1061, Detective Comics 2021 Annual #1, Batman: Secret Files: Huntress #1, Future State: Dark Detective #1–4, Batman – One Bad Day: Two Face and stories from Batman Secret Files #3 and Batman: Black and White #5. See my reviews of Detective Vol. 1: The Neighborhood, Detective Vol. 2: Fear State, Detective Vol. 3: Arkham Rising, Batman: Shadows of the Bat: The Tower, Detective Vol. 4: Riddle Me This, and Batman – One Bad Day: Two-Face.
- • Batman: Knightfall Omnibus Vol. 3: Knightsend (2025 Edition) HC
New printing of the third omnibus, collecting Batman #509–510 and #512–515, Batman: Shadow of the Bat #29–30 and #32–35, Detective Comics #676–677 and #679–682, Robin #8–9 and #11–14, Catwoman #12–13, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #62–63, Showcase '94 #10, Nightwing: Alfred’s Return #1, and Batman: Vengeance of Bane #2.
- • Batman: The Brave and the Bold: Legends of Justice TP
An earlier solicitation said this collects issues #7–13, with Karl Kerschl on a Gotham Academy story, Aquaman by Gabriel Hardman, Artemis by Delilah S. Dawson, Bat Lash by Christos Gage and Danny Kim, Sgt. Rock and the Creature Commandos by Michael W. Conrad and PJ Holden, and Signal Duke Thomas by Matt Harding and Mike Henderson.
- • Batman: Year Three: The Deluxe Edition HC
For a long time uncollected, this was both a post-Crisis origin of Robin Dick Grayson by Marv Wolfman (co-creator with George Perez of the Nightwing persona), and also lead-in to “Lonely Place of Dying,” where Tim Drake became the third Robin. We finally saw the issues reprinted in Batman: The Caped Crusader Vol. 2, and now here’s the four-parter in its own volume. This is Batman #436–439 from 1989.
- • Batman/Superman: World's Finest Vol. 7: Total Eclipso HC
In hardcover and paperback in August, collecting issues #31–34 and, happily, the Green Lantern/Green Arrow: World’s Finest Special.
- • Creature Commandos Present: Frankenstein, Agent of S.H.A.D.E. Book Two TP
Collects Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E. #0 and #8–16, Flashpoint: Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown #1–3, and a story from Young Monsters in Love #1. Jeff Lemire writes issues #8–9 and then Matt Kindt finishes the main series. I reviewed Frankenstein, Agent of SHADE Vol. 2: Secrets of the Dead in 2013.
- • DC Finest: Blue Beetle: Blue Beetle Challenges the Red Knight TP
Collects the first Charlton Comics appearances of Blue Beetle Ted Kord, student of former Blue Beetle Dan Garrett — said to be Captain Atom (1965) #83–86, Blue Beetle (1964) #1–5, Blue Beetle (1965) #1–5 and #50–54 (not sure if these are correct and trying to figure out what they are), and Charlton Bullseye #1. This seems kind of an obscure cut, though good on DC for doing that; this is an example of DC Finest getting “weird,” as some of you have asked for; I wonder what prompted this particular volume and what it signifies for the future.
- • DC Finest: Justice League of America: The Return TP
Collecting the affectionately known “Justice League Detroit” era from the 1980s. This is said to be Justice League of America #241–261, Justice League of America Annual #3, and Infinity, Inc. #19. The Justice League of America: The Detroit Era Omnibus also has Justice League of America #233–240 and the Annual #2 — so the DC Finest volume appears to start later than the omnibus, rather than the DC Finest volume collecting the start of the omnibus with a second volume to come later. Curious. I’m less surprised this volume doesn’t have the modern look-backs JLA Classified #22–25, JSA Classified #14–16, and DC Retroactive: JLA - The '80s #1.
- • DC Horror Presents: Creature Commandos TP
The new six-issue miniseries by David Dastmalchian and Jesus Hervas, in paperback in July.
- • DC: The New Frontier: DC Compact Comics Edition TP
Compact Comics-size edition of the Darwyn Cooke classic; I reviewed Absolute DC: New Frontier in 2007. Coming in August.
- • Death of Superman: Absolute Edition HC
Note again the re-placement of “Absolute” — not “Absolute Death of Superman,” but “Death of Superman: The Absolute Edition.” Collects Superman: Man of Steel #18–19, Justice League America #69, Superman #74–75, Adventures of Superman #497, Action Comics #684, and pages from Superman: Man of Steel #17, Superman #73, Adventures of Superman #496, and Action Comics #683. Can’t make this stuff up: the standard edition has a resealable black ploybag, replicas of some of the extras from the original Superman #75, and a remastered Newstime: The Life and Death of Superman #1, plus other “new in-world artifacts.” The Direct Market edition comes in a box shaped like a tombstone, limited to 1993 copies, and with a signed copy of Dan Jurgens' original Doomsday design.
- • Green Lantern Vol. 4: Civil Corps TP
Wonderfully complete, the DC All In tie-in by Jeremy Adams and Phillip Kennedy Johnson, collecting issues #16–18, Green Lantern: Civil Corps Special, and Green Lantern: Fractured Spectrum Special. In paperback in August.
- • Harley Quinn Vol. 1: Destructive Comics TP
Issues #44–49, in paperback in July, part of “All In,” by Elliott Kalan and Mindy Lee.
- • Justice League International Book Two: Around the World (New Edition) TP
The solicitation says Justice League International #18–27, Justice League Europe #1–6, and Justice League International Annual #1, though previous editions contained Justice League International #18–25, Justice League America #26–30, Justice League Europe #1–6, and Justice League International Annual #3.
- • Justice League Unlimited Vol. 1 HC
Previous solicitations have this as the first six issues of the Mark Waid/Dan Mora series, arriving in hardcover and paperback in early August, same day as Absolute Batman Vol. 1: The Zoo. Big month!
- • The New Gods Vol. 1: The Falling Sky HC
In hardcover and paperback in August by Ram V and Evan Cagle. Said to collect issues #1–6, “the first half of the 12-issue saga”; I hadn’t realized this was a miniseries.
- • Nubia: Too Real TP
By L.L McKinney, Robyn Smith, and Manou Azumi, sequel to their previous young adult graphic novel.
- • Red Hood: Outlaws Volume Four TP
Collecting episodes #34–46 of the WEBTOON series, formatted for print. If I understand correctly, this is the penultimate volume.
- • Superman: Action Comics by Dan Jurgens Omnibus Vol. 1 HC
Based on the title alone, I wondered how well this would read, being half the stories semi-connected with the parallel Peter Tomasi run on Superman. But seeing now the contents – Action Comics #957–976, Superman: Lois and Clark #1–8, Superman #18–19, Justice League #52, Convergence: Superman #1–2, Superman: Rebirth #1, and pages DC Universe: Rebirth #1 – there’s a framing of this as following the pre-Flashpoint Superman into the Rebirth continuity (ending just after Superman Reborn) that might be quite interesting to read. Coming in August.
- • Superman: City of Tomorrow Compendium TP
Jeph Loeb and company are some of my favorite Superman comics; I was intrigued to see what “compendium” would mean in this context; it seems that in addition to Superman #151–159, Adventures of Superman #573–581, Action Comics #760–768, Superman: The Man of Steel #95–103, and Superman Y2K #1, we’ve got Superman: Metropolis Secret Files #1 and a story from Secret Origins of Super-Villains 80-Page Giant #1. This is “Superman Y2K” here, natch, and “Critical Condition,” ending before “Emperor Joker” gets started.
- • Swamp Thing by Rick Veitch Book Two: Synchronicity TP
Coming in October. As with the first volume, the solicitation talks about “the interweaving narrative between Swamp Thing and Hellblazer restored,” collecting Swamp Thing #74–79, Swamp Thing Annual #4, Hellblazer #6–12, and material from Who’s Who Update 1988 #3–4.
- • Teen Titans: Robin Connecting Cover Edition TP
The popular young adult series by Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo, as part of the release with connecting covers.
- • The Terrifics: The Complete Collection TP
Among the longest lasting of the Dark Nights: Metal spin-off series, Terrifics was sometimes (yes) terrific, sometimes not so much. This is all 30 issues and the annual, written first by Jeff Lemire and then by Gene Luen Yang. Being Terrifics Vol. 1: Meet the Terrifics, Vol. 2: Tom Strong and the Terrifics, Vol. 3: The God Game, and Vol. 4: The Tomorrow War.
- • Wonder Woman by Phil Jimenez Omnibus (2025 Edition) HC
Includes Wonder Woman #164–188 (material from the Paradise Lost and Paradise Found collections), Wonder Woman: Our Worlds at War #1, GirlFrenzy: Wonder Woman: Donna Troy, and DC Special: The Return of Donna Troy #1–4 by fan-favorite Phil Jimenez and company.
What an expensive set of solicitations for me (and I'm not considering any of the omnis!). Basically all the All In stuff: JLU, New Gods, and all three Absolute books, then Brave and the Bold, GL, and the Superman compendium.
ReplyDeleteAs a side note, I believe the Tom King Omni contents were updated to go into the 30s instead of stopping at 24.
Maybe through "War of Jokes and Riddles," then.
DeleteAfter the terrible placement (and recoloring) of the Hellblazer issues in volume 1 of Swamp Thing by Rick Veitch, I will wait to see how the volume looks before I consider picking it up. (All of the Hellblazer issues were in a group at the front of the book with a very garish recoloring compared to the Hellblazer collections.)
ReplyDeleteInasmuch as they're touting "interweaving narrative," I'm surprised to hear the Hellblazer issues were all shunted to the front of the book. Curiouser and curiouser.
DeleteI think the Blue Beetle solicit ought to read Blue Beetle (1964) #1–5; Blue Beetle (1965) #50–54 (renumbered from Unusual Tales (1955) #49); and Blue Beetle (1967) #1–5, the last of which is Steve Ditko on a solo series for Ted Kord. Ted debuts in the Captain Atom issues, but the '64 and '65 series are both Dan Garrett -- so too is the solicitation cover. I wonder if the impetus for this is leftover material that had been prepared for the scrapped "Road to Watchmen" volume.
ReplyDeleteThat Teen Titans: Robin volume ought to be Starfire, I reckon. The connecting cover for Robin was out some time ago, so it'd be odd to resolicit just that one. Starfire hasn't gotten one yet -- I know, because I've been waiting for it!
Really looking forward to seeing all the Jurgens Action Comics in one place. It was always weird to me that the Convergence mini wasn't collected with "Lois and Clark."
Appreciate the update on the Blue Beetle material, and "Road to Watchmen" is a good theory. Lot of good stuff coming from DC Finest; I was looking at the contents of the DC Finest: Batman: Red Skies book (just-pre-Crisis Batman titles by Doug Moench) and it's verrry tempting.
DeleteThe inclusion of the Hellblazer issues in the Swamp Thing trades is a little unusual to me. I know the book spun out of Swamp Thing, but except for issues #9 & 10, I don't remember any direct crossovers that would necessitate reading both at the same time...
ReplyDeleteIt looks like Young Monsters In Love had both a Frankenstein story and a Creature Commandos one. Seems like it would be a missed opportunity not to include them both in that collection.
ReplyDeleteThe King Omni has updated content going up to #32 the end of The War of Jokes and Riddles
ReplyDelete