The promises of the DC Fall 2025 catalog continue to come to fruition with the DC Comics August 2025 trade paperback and hardcover solicitations.
Some previously announced big books are here, including the first volumes of the Spectre by John Ostrander and Tom Mandrake omnibus (with glow-in-the-dark cover!), the Birds of Prey by Gail Simone omnibus, the Green Lantern by Robert Venditti omnibus, and also the Jonah Hex: All-Star Western omnibus (a perfect example of a series that struggled in regular issues but will be great in a collection). Crisis on Infinite Earths gets a new Absolute edition, which if I’m not mistaken is different from the previous …
We also see the Summer of Superman spotlighting Supergirl, with both the Supergirl: Universe End collection by Mariko Tamaki ahead of Sophie Campbell’s new series, and DC Finest: Supergirl: Body and Soul, collecting the first part of the 1990s Peter David series. Among regular series, there’s the Justice League Unlimited spin-offs Justice League: The Atom Project and Challengers of the Unknown, plus the finale of Shazam!, the DC All In Metamorpho, and Two-Face: Trial Separation.
Plenty good stuff still to come this year, including more Absolute (Universe) editions. Let’s take a look at this month’s full list.
Recent DC Comics Trade Solicitations
- • American Vampire Book Two TP
Collects American Vampire #13–25 and American Vampire: Survival of the Fittest #1–5 by Scott Snyder, Rafael Albuquerque, and Sean Murphy.
- • The Authority Omnibus Vol. 2 HC
A variety of Authority ancillary here, coming in October – The Authority: Revolution #1–12 (issue #3 was left out of a previous solicitation); Stormwatch: Team Achilles #4–6, #20, #22–23; Authority: Kev #1; The Authority: Scorched Earth #1; The Authority #0–9 (previous solicitation had issue #0 and issue #1–14 separately); Authority: Human on the Inside #1; Authority: More Kev #1–4; Authority/Lobo Christmas Crossover #1; Eye of the Storm: Coup D’Etat #1–4; Eye of the Storm: Coup D’Etat Afterword #1; WildStorm Winter Special #1; The Authority/Lobo: Spring Break Massacre #1; The Authority: The Magnificent Kevin #1–5; and A Man Called Kev #1–5.
- • Batman: Arkham Asylum: Living Hell Deluxe Edition (2025 Edition) HC
New collection of the six-issue miniseries by Dan Slott and Ryan Sook, coming in August, ahead of Slott’s new Superman Unlimited series.
- • Batman: Black & White Compendium TP
Impressively, this seems to be all the Batman: Black & White-themed stories, dating back to the original four-issue miniseries in 1996 and including the Gotham Knights backups and the six-issue 2013 and 2021 miniseries, plus the black and white stories from the new Batman: Brave and the Bold series (as of two volumes, these haven’t been collected yet with the regular series). A previously released list of creators was epic, including Joe Kubert, Walter Simonson, Bruce Timm, Dennis O’Neil, Bill Sienkiewicz, Neal Adams, Sean Murphy, Rafael Grampá, Dwayne McDuffie, James Tynion, Bilquis Evely, Tom King, John Byrne, Mariko Tamaki, and Jim Lee. Lists as 1,280 pages and only $60, coming in October.
- • Batman: Ego and Other Tails by Darwyn Cooke Deluxe Edition HC
My understanding is that this contains stories written and/or drawn by Darwyn Cooke including Batman: Ego, Catwoman: Selina’s Big Score, the backups from Batman: Gotham Knights #23 and #33, and stories from Solo #1 and #5, plus covers.
- • Batman: The Long Halloween: DC Compact Comics Edition TP
Compact-size printing of the classic by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale.
- • Birds of Prey by Gail Simone Omnibus Vol. 1 HC
Gail Simone’s instant classic run on Birds of Prey, coming in omnibus format in October. This is said to be issues #56–90, a story from Birds of Prey Secret Files 2003 #1, pages from Batgirl #57 and Batman #633 (the War Games crossover). That’s Birds of Prey: Of Like Minds, Birds of Prey: Sensei and Student, Birds of Prey: Between Dark & Dawn, Birds of Prey: The Battle Within, and half of Birds of Prey: Perfect Pitch (links to my reviews). Simone would further write till issue #108 of that series and then 13 issues of another, about the same amount of issues for a second volume when we include crossovers and sundry.
- • Blue Beetle: Jaime Reyes Book Three TP
This collects issues #26–36 of the first Jaime Reyes Blue Beetle series (post-Infinite Crisis); most of this is by Lilah Sturges, with contributions from Will Pfeifer and Jai Nitz. Also included are the backup stories from Booster Gold #21–29 by Sturges, which amounts to Blue Beetle Vol. 5: Boundaries and Blue Beetle: Black and Blue, at least. A fourth volume, if DC were so inclined, could collect the 16-issue New 52 series by Tony Bedard; then there’s 18 issues of the Rebirth series to bring us up to the present. Gotta go back and see how much of this I ever read …
- • The Brave and the Bold Vol. 3: Demons and Dragons (New Edition) TP
This reprint of the Mark Waid series from the late 2000s collects issues #13–16, pairing Batman and Flash Jay Garrick, Deadman and Green Arrow, Nightwing and Hawkman, and Superman and Catwoman. Also included, Brave and the Bold #181 from 1981, pairing Batman and Hawk and Dove; Flash #107 (1995), Waid’s story pairing Flash Wally West and Captain Marvel; and Waid’s Impulse #17, pairing Impulse and Zatanna. As Waid would no longer write Brave and the Bold after this volume, I wonder if DC will continue with this reprint series, though there were some team-ups with the Milestone characters (then part of the DCU) that I wouldn’t mind back in print.
- • Challengers of the Unknown TP
Billed as a companion to Justice League Unlimited, collecting the five-issue Christopher Cantwell miniseries, plus a story from the Batman/Superman: World’s Finest 2024 Annual, in paperback in September.
- • Crisis on Infinite Earths: Absolute Edition HC
Another with “Absolute Edition” moved to the end to avoid the “Absolute Absolute Batman” problem. Said to collect Crisis on Infinite Earths #1–12, History of the DC Universe #1–2. Without going to dig my copy of Absolute Crisis on Infinite Earths out of storage, I am relatively sure it did not have History of the DCU in it, but did have a companion book of essays and etc. Coming in February 2026.
(Our friends at 13th Dimension have some additional information on the contents and the reprint process!)
- • DC Finest: Static: Playing With Fire TP
Collects the debut Milestone Static series by Dwayne McDuffie, Robert Washington, and John Paul Leon, issues #1–15, as well as Superman: The Man of Steel #36, Superboy #7, and Worlds Collide #1 (some but not all of the “Worlds Collide” crossover).
- • DC Finest: Supergirl: Body and Soul TP
Reprinting most of the first two larger-issue-count collections, this is Peter David’s 1990s Supergirl #1–18 (Matrix/Linda Danvers), Showcase '96 #8, Supergirl Annual #1–2, and Supergirl Plus #1.
- • Green Lantern by Robert Venditti Omnibus Vol. 1 HC
Robert Venditti had the truly unenviable task of following Geoff Johns on Green Lantern and really acquitted himself well, with a run that went everywhere from the environmental consequences of nonrenewable Lantern power to encounters with the New Gods and more.
This is said to collect Green Lantern Corps #21–34, Green Lantern #21–34, Green Lantern Annual #2, Green Lantern Corps Annual #2, Green Lantern: New Guardians #23–24, stories from Secret Origins #3 and #9, Red Lanterns #24 and #28, and Green Lantern #23.1: Relic. But, I’m skeptical that Green Lantern Corps is actually that many issues; GLC #24 and #31 to #33 or #34 would be more my guess.
Anyway, this seems to end before the “Godhead” crossover, so something like Green Lantern Vol. 4: Dark Days and Green Lantern Vol. 5: Test of Wills. Coming in October for $100, minus discounts.
- • House of Mystery: The Bronze Age Omnibus Vol. 1 (New Edition) HC
Collects issues #174–200 of the series, with work by Len Wein, Alex Toth, Gerry Conway, Bernie Wrightson, Marv Wolfman, Jack Kirby, Gil Kane, Jack Oleck, Neal Adams, Wally Wood, Al Williamson, Sergio Aragonés, and more.
- • Jonah Hex: All-Star Western Omnibus HC
Collecting all 34 issues of the Justin Gray/Jimmy Palmiotti New 52 series. I know I read at least All-Star Western: Guns and Gotham but maybe never reviewed it?
- • Justice League by Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV Omnibus Vol. 2 HC
Collects Justice League #19–39, Batman Who Laughs #1–7, Batman Who Laughs: The Grimm Knight #1, DC’s Year of the Villain Special #1, and Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen #1–4, leading in to Dark Nights: Death Metal. My reviews: Justice League Vol. 4: The Sixth Dimension, Justice League Vol. 5: Justice/Doom War, Batman Who Laughs, and Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen.
- • Justice League: The Atom Project TP
In paperback in October, the six-issue miniseries tying in to Justice League Unlimited by John Ridley, Ryan Parrott, and Mike Perkins.
- • Little Batman: Month One TP
Collecting the four-issue miniseries by Merry Little Batman screenwriter Morgan Evans with Jon Mikel.
- • Metamorpho: The Element Man TP
In paperback in September, the six-issue miniseries by Al Ewing and Steve Lieber.
- • Peacemaker Presents: The Vigilante/Eagly Double Feature! TP
Collecting the five-issue DC Black Label miniseries with Tim Seeley, Rex Ogle, Matteo Lolli, and Mitch Gerads, based on the HBO Max series.
- • Red (2025 Edition) TP
New printing of the three-issue miniseries by Warren Ellis and Cully Hamner, from DC Vertigo.
- • Red Hood: Outlaws Volume Five TP
Episodes #47–56, the finale of the WEBTOON series.
- • Shazam! Vol. 4: Welcome to Our Overlords TP
The final collection of the series that started during Dawn of DC. This is issues #17–21 by Josie Campbell with Mike Norton, in paperback in October.
- • The Spectre by John Ostrander and Tom Mandrake Omnibus Vol. 1 HC
If ever an omnibus was overdue, this is it. The first half of John Ostrander’s brilliant, beloved Spectre run, with ghostly art mostly by Tom Mandrake. And it has a glow-in-the-dark cover, just like special issues of the series! Dare we hope for new paperbacks to follow? Collects Spectre #0–31 with an introduction by Ostrander, coming in October, naturally. The series ran to issue #62 plus a “Year One” annual.
- • Supergirl: Universe End TP
I had worried that we wouldn’t see Mariko Tamaki’s recent Supergirl special and backup stories collected, so I’m pleased to see them here, and billed under DC All In, too. This is Action Comics #1070–1081 and Supergirl Special #1, in paperback in September.
- • Swamp Thing by Len Wein and Kelley Jones: Deluxe Edition HC
This is somewhere between Swamp Thing: The Dead Don’t Sleep, which I reviewed in 2021, and Swamp Thing: The Roots of Terror, being essentially modern Swamp Thing written by Len Wein, drawn by Kelley Jones, or both. Collects Swamp Thing #94 and #100, Batman #521–522, Convergence: Swamp Thing #1–2, Swamp Thing (2016) #1–6 (“Dead Don’t Sleep”), and some or all of Swamp Thing Winter Special #1, plus extras.
- • Teen Titans: Together TP
Sixth and seemingly culminating volume in the popular YA graphic novel series by Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo.
- • Two-Face: Trial Separation TP
In paperback in September, collecting the six-issue miniseries by Christian Ward and Fabio Veras.
I think whoever wrote the solicitation copy for the Authority Omnibus Vol. 2 was trying to list all issues in reading order and then accidentally skipped The Authority (2003) #10-14, which are set after the Coup d'État event. Those issues have to be included because they're set before the Revolution series by Brubaker and Nguyen.
ReplyDeleteConsidering how thick this tome is, I suspect the third and last one might include the entire Armageddon/Revelations/Number of the Beast event trilogy in addition to The Authority: Prime #1-5, The Authority: The Lost Year #1-12 and The Authority (2008) #1-29.
Appreciate the clarification. The road from catalog copy to solicitation copy to publication contents is a long and twisting one ...
DeleteI know this is a safe space for this thought, but I've been chasing the high of how cool the Infinite Crisis era was in terms of interconnectedness for 20 years, so, like all knights errant, I'm grabbing Challengers and Atom Project sight unseen. Fingers crossed All In is better than ...every other attempt.
ReplyDeleteBoth Supergirl books, Shazam, and Two-Fave for me. Still debating internally the Venditti GL omnis. I'm definitely getting the Red Lantern one a couple months earlier and don't know how big a GL queue I want to create for myself right away. The completeness of the 2 volumes really does speak to me . . .
I thought Dawn of DC did a good job in terms of interconnectedness. Not seamless, and most of it was "appearance of Amanda Waller scheming something," but between Knight Terrors, Beast World, and House of Brainiac, I thought DC did well making each step about its own thing and also about the whole thing, so to speak. How about you?
DeleteI'm a bit behind - I'm current on GL, Batman, WW, Superman, and a couple other books, but I'm behind on the events. The tie-ins all seemed good, but, and this isn't a complaint, it seemed less like Failsafe existed to lead to Absolute Power than Failsafe got incorporated okay into Absolute Power. That's just a bit different than how everything came together for IC.
DeleteI think my big complaint, in so far as I have one at all, is I'm not sure there is an architect of this event/space, or if there is one, it's not one I think has a great track record. I love Scott Snyder on his own, but didn't think much of how everything between Metal and Death Metal not by him interweaved. Dark Crisis was ...messy. Mark Waid is fine, but I haven't vibed with his writing in 10 years or more (a quick perusal of my shelves says BND Spider-Man, but I may be missing something).
As to Dawn, Amanda Waller appears was a fine thru-line, but it wasn't "I feel like I'd have missed something important if I skipped GL" the way the big core books were back in my preferred era. I really want to feel guilty for not buying books
Sure, plus one on all those points. Dawn of DC was cohesive, but indeed it didn't seem every element was planned from the start. One hopes the lessons of Dawn of DC build into DC All In.
DeleteI am pleasantly surprised to see those Stormwatch: Team Achilles issues. I guess they are needed for Coup d"etat, but i thought DC had memory-holed that series.
ReplyDeleteThe Crisis Absolute edition is remastered, according to Jerry Ordway on X: "Those used the original comic art files, and yeah, they were better quality than what had been in the hardcover. The ones I worked on were all sourced from art, as well as my 11x17” photocopies, and are being recolored using the comics as a guide."
ReplyDeleteMetamorpho is an actually an ongoing series, albeit one that's been cancelled as of #6.
ReplyDeleteThese days I wonder how many of DC's "ongoings" are actual ongoings and how many of them are Marvel-esque "most everything gets about 10 issues" ongoings. I keep meaning to do a longer post about that ...
DeleteI wish George Perez's Wonder Woman trades didn't go out of print. I'm glad they're reprinting them with Vol 2 coming out in July, but sucks having to wait forever to get them all when they've already been printed once.
ReplyDelete