August 2010 Solicits

I am woefully behind on some old news. Time to review the upcoming August solicits. As usual, there were a couple of surprises. And, as usual, there are some comics that I am on the fence about buying.

All the solicits are viewable at Newsarama here: http://www.newsarama.com/comics/dc-august-2010-solicitations-100517.html and are now on the DC Comics home site.

Here are the super-family related solicits.

SUPERGIRL #55
Written by STERLING GATES
Art by JAMAL IGLE & JON SIBAL
Cover by AMY REEDER & RICHARD FRIEND

Enter: Bizarro Supergirl! But how did she get to Earth and just what does she want? The real Supergirl better find out fast, or else there won't be much left of Metropolis to save! And to make things worse, an even bigger threat looms on the horizon with an eye for the Girl of Steel! Featuring the stunning debut of new regular cover artist Amy Reeder (MADAME XANADU)!

What a lovely cover by new Supergirl team member Amy Reeder.

We already knew that Supergirl is fighting Bizarro Supergirl in this issue. I am convinced the Bizarro will be an Alura-made attempt at cloning Kara.

But what bigger threat could be looming on the horizon. Let's all take a deep breath. I doubt it's the Anti-Monitor.


JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #48
Written by JAMES ROBINSON
Art by MARK BAGLEY, ROB HUNTER & NORM RAPMUND
Cover by MARK BAGLEY & JESUS MERINO

The BRIGHTEST DAY continues with a shocking connection to the White Light in part five of the JLA/JSA crossover!
It’s the grand finale of this team-up, and it’s chock-full of revelations as the greatest threat to the Earth may not be Alan Scott or the chaotic energy of the Starheart, but one of the other members!
Plus, don’t miss the second feature starring Cyborg, whose goal of restoring Red Tornado’s body becomes a battle to save the android’s sanity as the madness of the Starheart engulfs them.

Oh man, I didn't realize this JLA/JSA crossover was going to be a 4 month/5 part battle with the Starheart.

I think that this particular roster of the JLA is going to be a hard enough sell as it is. I want to read stories about those heroes interacting and growing as a team. And while I am sure we will see that growth in this story, it will be watered down by the constant presence of the JSA. Let's hope we get to see the JLA mature.



SUPERMAN #702
Written by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Art by EDDY BARROWS & J.P. MAYER
Cover by JOHN CASSADAY

"Grounded" continues as Superman enters a small town in Ohio where, like many towns, a number of its residents are from other places. But when The Man of Steel discovers that there are also a number of residents secretly from other worlds, he unravels a mystery that may have grave consequences for Earth.

I keep hoping that I will hear what the overall theme of Grounded is. At the very least the rumor of the 'powerless Superman' seems unfounded given that Supes is floating in outer space.

Maybe 'Grounded' is Superman trying to become grounded with humanity again. Maybe this look at a small town is Superman trying to reconnect with the citizens of Earth after the war with Krypton.

There is no getting away from the talent. JMS, Barrows, Cassaday. Solid. I am expecting great things.



ACTION COMICS #892
Written by PAUL CORNELL
Co-feature written by JEFF LEMIRE
Art by PETE WOODS
Co-feature art by PIER GALLO
Cover by DAVID FINCH & JOE WEEMS

Lex Luthor's all-consuming quest for power leads him straight into conflict with Deathstroke, the Terminator! What happens when the DCU's most ingenious mastermind meets its most lethal killer? We don't know, but it's sure gonna be fun finding out ...
This issue also features a new Superboy story by Jeff Lemire (SWEET TOOTH) and Pier Gallo (ADVENTURE COMICS) - the creative team of the upcoming new SUPERBOY ongoing series!

I just don't know if I am happy with the apparent decision to keep Superman out of Action Comics for more time. Aren't the sales numbers from the last year pretty evident. I don't know if a lot of people want to read Lex Luthor starring in Action Comics. They want Superman.

Again, DC has put together the right talent. Cornell, Woods, Finch are all names. My bet is the story will be entertaining. But I want Superman to be here.



SUPERMAN/BATMAN #75
Written by PAUL LEVITZ, JOE KELLY, DAVID FINCH, J.T. KRUL, STEVEN T. SEAGLE and others
Art by JERRY ORDWAY, DAVID FINCH, ADAM HUGHES, FRANCIS MANAPUL, DUNCAN ROULLEAU and others
Cover by FRANK QUITELY

You're invited to a spectacular anniversary celebration as Paul Levitz unites the World's Finest with the super-team he's best known for - the Legion of Super-Heroes! Lex Luthor has finally unleashed a threat powerful enough to gain the Legion's attention in the far future, but to take Luthor down, they'll have to journey into the past and ask for help from both Batman and Superboy!
Plus, Joe Kelly and various writers and artists chronicle the history of The Man of Steel and The Dark Knight in adventures that span from yesterday into the far beyond! Adam Hughes writes and draws a tale starring Supergirl and Batgirl, J.T. Krul and Francis Manipul deliver a tale of Superboy and Red Robin seeking advice from their mentors, Ace and Krypto get leashed by Duncan Rouleau, David Finch writes and illustrates a story for the first time, and Joe Kelly, Steven T. Seagle, Billy Tucci and many more surprises help commemorate this anniversary extravaganza!

I don't always collect Superman/Batman. But this anniversary issue looks stuffed with creators whose work I love. So even without the Supergirl story, I probably would have bought the issue.

But then I saw that we get another story of the New World's Finest - Supergirl and Batgirl - and that it is drawn by Adam Hughes. How can I not get the issue. And then we see all the renditions of World's Finest get a time to shine - Superboy/Red Robin and even Ace/Krypto. Awesome.



SUPERMAN: THE LAST FAMILY OF KRYPTON #1
Written by CARY BATES
Art by RENATO ARLEM
Cover by FELIPE MASSAFERA

Returning to a character he's long been associated with, legendary writer Cary Bates explores a different side to Superman's legend in an Elseworlds tale that hinges on the fact that while baby Kal-el has rocketed to the distant planet Earth from his doomed homeworld of Krypton, he was not alone. How does a world handle the emergence of the Last Family of Krypton as Jor-El, Lara and Kal-El make Earth their adopted home?

So here is one of the surprises! A pleasant surprise too!

I grew up reading Cary Bates Superman stories. So I am eager to read this one too. And the story sounds interesting ... how would the world respond to the super-parents. And how will that effect Kal. I am sure he won't be raised in the 'Mom's apple pie ... do the right thing' atmosphere the Kents provided.

The cover is a little too Alex Ross-y for me. But I'm intrigued.


SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE HC
Written by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Art by SHANE DAVIS & SANDRA HOPE
Cover by SHANE DAVIS

Forget everything you know about The Man of Steel and brace yourself for a staggering new take on the world's most popular Super Hero.
Best-selling, Hugo Award-winning writer J. Michael Straczynski (BRAVE AND THE BOLD, Thor, Babylon 5) and red-hot rising star artist Shane Davis (GREEN LANTERN, SUPERMAN/BATMAN) team up for this exciting launch of the EARTH ONE graphic novel series. Set in an all-new continuity re-imagining DC's top heroes, EARTH ONE is a new wave of original, stand-alone graphic novels produced by the top writers and artists in the industry. The groundbreaking new line rockets into effect right here with the Super Hero who started it all - Superman!
What would happen if the origin of The Man of Tomorrow were introduced today for the very first time? Return to Smallville and experience the journey of Earth's favorite adopted son as he grows from boy to Superman like you've never seen before!

And here is the struggle.

I don't know if I necessarily want to drop $20 on 'Ultimate Superman'. But I like JMS and love Shane Davis.

I don't know. Anyone else thinking of getting this?


TINY TITANS #31
Written by ART BALTAZAR & FRANCO
Art and cover by ART BALTAZAR

Join all the super-people for a super birthday party at the Fortress of Solitude! This issue is going to be super...unless you count the room full of Brainiacs! Let’s hope the Brainiacs don’t ruin the party.

This issue picks up on the story from this year's Tiny Titans FCBD issue. Aw yeah! The all Super issue.

I can't wait to see Supergirl and Brainy meet here. It probably will be a bit more low key than the recent meeting in the main Supergirl title.


SUPERGIRL: DEATH AND THE FAMILY TP

Written by STERLING GATES, HELEN SLATER & JAKE BLACK
Art by JAMAL IGLE, CLIFF CHIANG and others
Cover by RENATO GUEDES
The Silver Banshee returns in this new title collecting SUPERGIRL #48-50 and SUPERGIRL ANNUAL #1, and this time she’s after an artifact that could break her family’s curse. Meanwhile, Lana Lang’s mysterious condition gets worse. Can Supergirl save her?

Now it seems like 4 issues seems like a sparse collection (even if the anniversary 50th issue and the Annual are double sized). I am hoping that there will be some little extra in this collection. Maybe a foreword? Cover sketches? Helen Slater and Jake Black's script?




COVER GIRLS OF THE DC UNIVERSE: SUPERGIRL STATUE
DESIGNED BY ADAM HUGHES • SCULPTED BY JACK MATHEWS

SMASHING!
With strength and speed, the Girl of Steel blasts up through soil and stone, shattering solid rock, shooting into the stratosphere. As the Kryptonian cousin of Superman, Kara Zor-El has her sights set on the stars, streaking through the heavens in a supersonic blur – a soaring symbol of justice and truth.
Supergirl is the latest hero to join the stunning COVER GIRLS OF THE DC UNIVERSE statue series, with fan-favorite artist Adam Hughes specially commissioned to design Supergirl for this smashingly successful series.

And yet another surprise ... this one more expensive and advance solicited for January.

But ... WOW!

Now that is a Supergirl statue. Powerful, beautiful, dynamic. Wearing the Matrix costume. It is just about as perfect a Supergirl statue as I can imagine. And all mine for a the low low price of $99.

Let's tally things up.
October '10 - Michael Turner Supergirl mini-statue - $79.99
November '10 - Dynamic Supergirl statue - $195.00
January '11 - Cover Girl Supergirl - $99.00

That's bimonthly Supergirl statues for a total of $373.99. I think DC is trying to bankrupt me.

Still, the biggest question is the Superman:Earth One book. Someone help me out!