September 2010 Solicits

DC Comics September solicits have been released and are on Newsarama for your perusal. Here is the link: http://www.newsarama.com/comics/dc-september-2010-solicitations-100614.html As always, there are a couple of surprises on the list. For example, as someone who collected the prior 2 mini-series, I am pretty pumped to read a new Freedom Fighters title by Palmiotti/Gray.

Here are the super-family releases.

SUPERGIRL #56
Written by STERLING GATES
Art by JAMAL IGLE & JON SIBAL
Cover by AMY REEDER & RICHARD FRIEND
Just as Supergirl was getting used to being on Earth again, it's back to the stars as Bizarro Supergirl drags the Girl of Steel to Bizarro World! But when the pair discovers a monstrous threat to the square planet's existence, will they be able to save the day? And now that the threat has seen Supergirl, how soon until Earth is its next target?

First off, an absolutely beautiful cover by Amy Reeder. Much like last month's cover playing off of the opposite nature of Bizarro Supergirl/Supergirl by using mirrors, this month's composition of the yin/yang is also spectacular. I especially like how the capes extend and frame the cover.

The fact that Supergirl is taken to the Bizarro World makes my theory that Bizarro Supergirl originates from New Krypton as a Kara clone less likely.

And what of this monstrous threat to the Bizarro world. Please don't tell me it is the Anti-Monitor! I don't know if I can take it if it is. Since he seems to be a part of Brightest Day, I wonder if he is even available. Of course, it could set up a Crisis on Infinite Earths #7 homage cover for the DC 75th anniversary cover. But I hope another cover is chosen. That one has been homage'd to death.

I do like that it sounds like Supergirl and Bizarro Supergirl team up to battle whatever it is. But it also sounds like it has some vendetta against Supergirl since it 'sees her' and is going to head for Earth.

EDITED BY ANJ: Blog friend Talos has a great idea here. The threat could to be Lord Xenon from PAD's Many Happy Returns who tried to kill all the versions of Supergirl that existed in the multiverse. That makes sense.


SUPERMAN #703
Written by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Art by EDDY BARROWS & J.P. MAYER
Cover by JOHN CASSADAY
1:10 Variant cover by LEE BERMEJO
J. Michael Straczynski's landmark "Grounded" story continues! As word spreads throughout the country that Superman has embarked on a mysterious, unprecedented journey, some go out to meet The Man of Steel - others plan to stop him at all costs...

When this was first announced, I wondered of 'Grounded' meant Superman had lost his ability to fly. Now I think it is probably more a Forrest Gump sort of 'walk across America' storyline as a way for Superman to re-connect with humanity after the War of the Supermen.

The question is where will the conflict come from? Are there super-villains? Or is this just going to be more of a dialogue about what it means to be a super-man? I have to admit, I am intrigued.


ACTION COMICS #893
Written by PAUL CORNELL
Co-feature written by NICK SPENCER
Art by PETE WOODS
Co-feature art by R.B. SILVA
Cover by DAVID FINCH & RICHARD FRIEND
Lex Luthor is a pro at breaking man's laws, but when he leads a raid on one of Gorilla Grodd's bases and breaks The Law of the Jungle - "Don't Mess with Grodd" - can he make it out alive? Or will he become Grodd's latest meal?

Plus, this issue kicks off an exciting new co-feature starring Jimmy Olsen by up-and-comers Nick Spencer (Existence 3.0, Morning Glories) and R.B. Silva (SECRET SIX)! Get ready for an entirely different look at Metropolis - courtesy of Superman's pal!

I don't know if it is good news that I am more excited for the co-feature than I am the main storyline. I know that is a sour response to a solicit when I haven't even read the first part of the arc, but frankly I want Superman back in Action. So a solo Lex Luthor arc after New Krypton just feels off. Has there been any mention how long this arc is going to be? Also, is that a giant spoon that Grodd has? Really ... a giant spoon?

Anyways, I look forward to seeing what the Jimmy Olsen back-up has to offer. I haven't seen anything by the creative team before so I don't know what to expect.


SUPERMAN: THE LAST FAMILY OF KRYPTON #2
Written by CARY BATES
Art by RENATO ARLEM
Cover by FELIPE MASSAFERA
The second chapter in the saga of the sole survivors of Krypton finds the entire El family adapting to their new home on Earth with varying degrees of success. Young Kal-El's become a reporter at the great Metropolitan newspaper The Daily Planet, while Jor-El clearly favors the company of the boy-genius Lex Luthor. Meanwhile, Lara's charity work covers many bases including a fateful meeting with the wealthy family that runs the Wayne Foundation. It seems the two new El family members, Bru-El and Valora, are the only ones struggling to fit in, even though they're the first Els born on Earth...

Hmm, chances that Kal-El remains a pretty good guy in this book? 100%. Chances Bru-El and Valora become quasi-bad guys who want to rule Earth or consider themselves above humanity? 100%. Chances Kal ends up suiting up into a version of the Superman suit at the end? 100%. At least those are my guesses. Again, as an old-timer who loved Bates' stuff on Superman growing up, I am looking forward to this.

One thing that surprises me is that this Elseworlds story (Jor-El and Lara surviving) hasn't been told before, especially given the explosion of Elseworlds in the late 1990's.


ADVENTURE COMICS #518
Written by PAUL LEVITZ
Co-feature written by JEFF LEMIRE
Art by KEVIN SHARPE & MARIO ALQUIZA
Co-feature art by MAHMUD ASRAR & JOHN DELL
Cover by SCOTT CLARK & DAVID BEATY
It's not easy being Superboy. He knows he's destined for greatness as Superman, but how does a teenager deal with that knowledge? Not as well as you'd think...
Also: The Atom co-feature continues with Ray Palmer trying to learn who stole his shrinking technology!

So it does look as though Adventure is going to be an 'early adventures of Superboy and the Legion' title. For me, I think it is great. Superboy is a relatively recent retcon back to the original continuity. This gives Levitz some freedom to retell or reimagine early Legion stories with this Superboy as a participator.

I love the cover. A statue of Doomsday looms over Superboy physically. But look at Superboy's body language. It screams how much the knowledge of this death weighs on him.



JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #49
Written by JAMES ROBINSON
Art by POW RODRIX
Cover by MARK BAGLEY & ROB HUNTER
1:10 Variant cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL
The BRIGHTEST DAY shines a spotlight on Jade as she adjusts to the repercussions of the JLA/JSA crossover. She and Donna Troy head to the San Francisco Bay area to make themselves a new home but are confronted with old and new threats – including the New Teen Titans!

No mention of Supergirl in the solicit but she is on the team.

As a big fan of Donna Troy, I am happy to hear she is going to be spotlighted in the issue. And the idea of Donna and Jade trying to lead a 'normal' life in San Francisco sounds like an interesting concept. It could probably be a humor comic.


BATGIRL #14
Written by BRYAN Q. MILLER
Art by LEE GARBETT & TREVOR SCOTT
Cover by STANLEY “ARTGERM” LAU
It’s terror in the third dimension starring Batgirl, Supergirl and Dracula...and Dracula, and Dracula! When Supergirl decides to get away from it all and visit Stephanie Brown on the campus of Gotham City University, a quiet, relaxing weekend turns into a monster movie mash-up! After a science experiment goes horribly wrong, 24 black-and-white Draculas are brought to life, and Batgirl and Supergirl are forced to become vampire hunters in order to stop an army of the celluloid undead!

Here is the happy surprise of the month! Another story of the new World's Finest!

First off, I have been admiring the Batgirl covers since Stanley Lau took over. Man, is his Supergirl wonderful!

And the story sounds perfectly wacky. Supergirl and Batgirl versus Dracula! My guess is it will be played seriously, but it sounds so Silver Age.

Anyways, I am thrilled to see this solicit. I hope that the friendship of Steph and Kara continues to grow and be showcased. I really really hope so. Although their friendship is new, I think I prefer the feel of it more than the Kara/Cassie one.

And I hope the story is a 2 parter. A World's Finest vs. Dracula story during the Halloween season would be fantastic!



DC UNIVERSE LEGACIES #5
Written by LEN WEIN
Art by GEORGE PEREZ & SCOTT KOBLISH and WALTER SIMONSON with SCOTT KOLINS
Cover by GEORGE PEREZ & SCOTT KOBLISH
1:25 Variant cover by WALTER SIMONSON
Red Skies hang over the entire DC Universe as each and every hero on Earth gathers for what will be the first in a series of universe-spanning Crises!
Meanwhile, Walter Simonson helps us shift the focus from Earth to the heroes of outer space - and beyond!

So I am collecting this title and very much enjoyed the first issue. This issue looks to be a retrospective of Crisis on Infinite Earths. I have always wondered how Supergirl's death plays out in the minds of the heroes. If Supergirl didn't exist, who destroyed the Anti-Monitor's machines? Did that battle even happen? Did someone else die in her place?

I wonder if that piece of the Crisis will even be mentioned?

Anyways ... Wein, Perez, and Simonson on one issue? Fantastic!


DOOM PATROL #14
Written by KEITH GIFFEN
Art and cover by MATTHEW CLARK with RON RANDALL
Cover by MATTHEW CLARK
The Chief has been experimenting on a captured Kryptonian in his spare time, and he just figured out the method by which Kryptonian cells process yellow sun radiation. The next step: using that method on himself!

Last on the list, this issue of the Doom Patrol stood out as maybe a last vestige of War of the Supermen. The Chief, cut from the same cloth as Vril Dox, is experimenting on a Kryptonian! Isn't that evil? Isn't that similar to the evil gorilla carving up Mon-El?

The truth is the Chief is a glorious bastard ... a super-powered Chief almost feels like a threat.

I have really enjoyed this Doom Patrol and talked about it on DCU Bloodlines, a team blog I am going to try to contribute to when I can.

Looks like September is a good month!