September 2012 Solicits

September marks the year anniverary of the DCnU and DC has decided to celebrate the month by having all the titles have 'zero issues', jumping on points for the books with origin stories. It also is a month where the 'third wave' of titles are being introduced. So it's goodbye JLI, Voodoo, Resurrection Man, and Captain Atom. Hello Phantom Stranger, Team 7, Talon, and Sword and Sorcery (starring Amethyst and Beowulf). I am only interested in Sword and Sorcery as I have been hoping for an Amethyst revival for a while.

Here is a link to entire DC solicits:
 http://www.newsarama.com/comics/dc-comics-september-2012-solicitations.html

And here are the Super-titles with my thoughts:

SUPERGIRL #0

Written by MICHAEL GREEN and MIKE JOHNSON

Art and cover by MAHMUD ASRAR

• On the eve of Krypton’s destruction, who sent Supergirl from Krypton to Earth – and why? The answer is not what you think!

• Plus: Learn the answer to a mystery that’s been driving Supergirl mad for months: Who shot her father, Zor-El?! 

The mysteries surrounding Supergirl's origins have been one of the more interesting things about the book as each minor revelation of how she made it to Earth has only made me ask more questions. That said, I think keeping the main points of her origin a mystery for too much longer would be frustrating. So I am thrilled that some of the big questions will be answered here. As the time comes closer, I am going to be asking people for their guesses about the specifics

And what a great cover by Asrar, nice perspective, nice expression, and heroic.

ACTION COMICS #0

Written by GRANT MORRISON

Backup story written by SHOLLY FISCH

Art and cover by BEN OLIVER

Backup story art by CAFU

Variant cover by RAGS MORALES

1:100 B and W Variant cover by BEN OLIVER

• Don’t miss “The Boy Who Stole Superman’s Cape”

• Grant Morrison weaves the history of Clark Kent’s early days in Metropolis!

I haven't heard of Ben Oliver before but if this cover is any indication he has some serious skills.

I am glad that there is a mention of Clark Kent here. And I think that this flashback issue will help build more of the foundation of who this Superman is and how he became this crusader for the oppressed.

SUPERMAN #0
Written by SCOTT LOBDELL
Art and cover by KENNETH ROCAFORT
1:25 B and W Variant cover by KENNETH ROCAFORT

• Welcome the new creative team of Scott Lobdell and Kenneth Rocafort as they take us back to the days when Jor-El learned the truth about Krypton’s imminent destruction!
• Plus: More on the introduction of the Eradicators!

The new creative team of Scott Lobdell and Kenneth Rocafort take over here. I have always been a fan of Rocafort and thought he did a great job on the latter issues of Paul Cornell's Action.

I hope Lobdell is able to capture the heroism of Superman and not make him dark or broody. Interesting that his first issue is a Jor-El story and not a Superman story. And the Eradicators are back?

SUPERBOY #0

Written by TOM DeFALCO

Art and cover by R.B. SILVA and ROB LEAN

• Mysteries are revealed as we learn Harvest’s reasons for creating Kryptonian clones!

• This bloody chapter of Superboy’s history ties directly into issue #1 of the series – and the future of the entire DC Universe!

With Lobdell moving to Superman, it looks like Tom DeFalco is stepping in to write Superboy. I am glad that RB Silva and Rob Lean are staying on as the art team.

While it will be good to read the earliest parts of Superboy's history, how he was made and put in the tube, I am actually ready to move beyond N.O.W.H.E.R.E. and into newer adventures on this title. And this origin will impact the whole DC Universe?

WORLDS’ FINEST #0
Written by PAUL LEVITZ
Art and cover by KEVIN MAGUIRE
1:25 B and W Variant cover by KEVIN MAGUIRE

• It’s the origin of Supergirl and Robin on Earth 2!
• How did their first mission on that world affect their situation as Power Girl and Huntress today?

Outside of Supergirl and Action, this is the book I am most excited to read. This is an Earth 2 story so that means it is Supergirl and Robin in action ... not Power Girl and the Huntress. So I can't wait to see how the personalities we have seen in Worlds' Finest, post-Apokalips are different in this earlier time. And their first adventure! Together again ... for the first time! Awesome.

Plus ... as bonus ... the entire book is drawn by Kevin Maguire.

EARTH 2 #0

Written by JAMES ROBINSON

Art by TOMAS GIORELLO

Cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO

1:25 B and W Variant cover by IVAN REIS

• It’s the tragic origin of Earth 2’s greatest villain!

• Don’t miss Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman in action on Earth 2!

So I haven't been reading Earth 2 because those heroes will always be WW2 heroes in my mind. I know I may be missing something spectacular. So this issue, a look back at the E2 trinity might be a way to lure me back.

I am interested in seeing how Robinson handles these characters in this world.

SMALLVILLE SEASON 11 #5

Written by BRYAN Q. MILLER

Art and cover by CHRISCROSS and MARC DEERING

• SUPERMAN comes face-to-face with high-tech weapons on the streets of Metropolis.

• The hunt for his parents’ killer puts a vigilante known only as “the BATMAN” on a collision course with The Man of Steel

Batman in the Smallville universe is enough of a hook for me to be intrigued. But then it was revealed that Nightwing in the background is Steph Brown! Miller wrote Batgirl, a book I loved, so it is great that she will be back!

I am enjoying this book way more than I expected.

SUPERMAN FAMILY ADVENTURES #5

Written by ART BALTAZAR and FRANCO

Art and cover by ART BALTAZAR

• Who is the mysterious PURPLE SUPERMAN?

• Is he trouble? Is he a hero? Does LOIS have a crush on him?

• Why does Superman feel sick when he gets near him?

• And who’s that new intern at the Daily Planet?

So a SFA Parasite! Fantastic.

But who is the new intern at the Daily Planet? I hope it isn't the Parasite's secret identity. I want to see me some Linda Lee!

SUPERGIRL VOL. 1: LAST DAUGHTER OF KRYPTON TP

Written by MICHAEL GREEN and MIKE JOHNSON

Art by MAHMUD ASRAR, DAN GREEN and BILL REINHOLD

Cover by MAHMUD ASRAR

• Crash-landing on a strange new planet, Supergirl must come to grips with Krypton’s destruction and learn about her own past. But an ingenious foe wants the same information – and will do anything to get it.

• Collecting issues #1-7 of the DC COMICS – THE NEW 52 series!

Lastly, the trade collection of the DCnU Supergirl title will be released in September.

I am really hoping that we get some extra material ... a foreword, an interview, some process pieces, a script ... something to make this more than a collection.

Looks like a very interesting month.