June 2013 Solicits

The June solicits for DC Comics were recently released and boy, it looks like it might be an expensive month for me as new titles are being introduced and some great trades are coming out.  And there is one spectacular surprise this month. Well, an expected surprise if there is such a thing.

Here is a link to CBR's listing of all the solicits: http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=44222

SUPERGIRL #21
Written by MICHAEL ALAN NELSON
Art and cover by MAHMUD ASRAR

It’s Supergirl vs. the mysterious Mekka—but what is the secret of this new menace? And what is Lex Luthor’s envoy Alphina planning against Kara?

The cover for #19 has Supergirl crushing the world. The cover for #20 has her dying. Now the cover for #21 goes back to the 'angry Kara' genre again. Can't we at least get an action shot of something that happens in the book.

This is the second issue of Nelson's tenure on the book. The addition of a new menace and a Luthor derivative as a nemesis sounds like a good direction for this book to be going in. Not much more to comment until I actually read what Nelson is going to do. This cover doesn't convey Supergirl looking for joy.

ACTION COMICS #21
Written by ANDY DIGGLE
Backup story written by SCOTT LOBDELL
Art by TONY S. DANIEL and BATT
Backup story art by PHILIP TAN
Cover by TONY S. DANIEL
1:25 BandW Variant cover by TONY S. DANIEL

Superman is betrayed by his own DNA! And in the backup story, learn The New 52 origin of The Parasite!
 

One thing that I have noticed is that DC is getting pretty sparse with their issue descriptions. I suppose his DNA could have been used to make the monster on the cover? Or maybe it has a weakness to be exploited?

My instincts tell me Diggle will be very good on the book so I remain hopeful.

SUPERMAN #21
Written by SCOTT LOBDELL
Art by AARON KUDER
Cover by TYLER KIRKHAM
1:25 BandW Variant cover by TYLER KIRKHAM

Witness the horror of Hector Hammond as Metropolis burns! What happens when a city is taken over by a nightmare?

This looks like an homage cover to a Green Lantern/Hammond book seen recently. I think telepathy/mental attacks have always been an underutilized strategy against Superman and at least is different from magic and Kryptonite.

I like Aaron Kuder's art. It has a Frank Quitely feel to it which should look good here. But where has Kenneth Rocafort landed?

 SUPERMAN UNCHAINED #1
Written by SCOTT SNYDER
Art and cover by JIM LEE and SCOTT WILLIAMS
Backup story art by DUSTIN NGUYEN
1:300 BandW Variant cover by JIM LEE and SCOTT WILLIAMS

When thirteen satellites fall from the sky in one day, the logical suspect is Lex Luthor—even though he’s still locked up in prison! But a stranger question remains: If Superman didn’t stop the last satellite from falling, who did? There’s a mystery hidden where even Superman can’t see it—Can The Man of Steel drag a decades-old secret into the light? Don’t miss the debut of this red-hot new series from two of comics’ brightest superstars: SCOTT SNYDER and JIM LEE!
This debut issue also includes a bonus two-sided, tipped-in poster measuring 11.6875” x 18.875” that is part of the reading experience and can be easily removed for display!
 

I suppose this is the biggest mega-star creative team on a Superman book since Morrison/Quitely on All-Star Superman. The thing that I like about this solicit is the plot sounds very retro to me. Superman catching falling satellites. Luthor pulling strings from behind bars. And yet, you just know Snyder is going to knock this out of the park.

Superman needs some buzz ... desperately. I don't know what could be bigger.

ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #2
Written by MICHAEL AVON OEMING, BRYAN J.L. GLASS, JOSHUA HALE FIALKOV and J.M. DeMATTEIS
Art by MICHAEL AVON OEMING, JOELLE JONES, GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI and SAL BUSCEMA
Cover by GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI

Comics’ finest talents have assembled to bring you all-new, non-continuity short stories featuring the Man of Steel himself — SUPERMAN! This month’s issue features a super artist lineup featuring the work of Michael Avon Oeming (Powers), Joëlle Jones (FABLES), and Giuseppe Camuncoli (Superior Spider-Man) with Sal Buscema (The Incredible Hulk)!

With the Orson Scott Card debacle behind them, Adventures of Superman can now be recognized for what it is ... wonderful mixture of great talent. To be honest, they had me with Michael Avon Oeming. The rest is gravy!

And the old school costume appears on another cover of this book. Fascinating!

BATMAN/SUPERMAN #1
Written by GREG PAK
Art and cover by JAE LEE
1:100 BandW variant cover by JAE LEE
1:25 BATMAN variant cover by KENNETH ROCAFORT
1:25 SUPERMAN variant cover by GUILLEM MARCH
“We Can Be Heroes” blank variant cover available

A new epic begins with the debut of this new, ongoing series! Don’t miss the first fateful meeting of Batman and Superman in The New 52!

To be honest, I am on the fence about getting this book on a monthly basis. I didn't get Superman/Batman regularly when that came out. I think the team of Pak and Lee is astounding and I would like to read more of the 't shirt' Superman so I will be in for the first arc.

I will try to get a blank variant cover in hopes of one day having Mike Maihack do a Batgirl/Supergirl commission on it.

SUPERBOY #21
Written by JUSTIN JORDAN
Art by R.B. SILVA and ROB LEAN
Cover by KEN LASHLEY

Krypto comes to the rescue as Superboy is on the trail of Dr. Psycho and the new, mysterious H.I.V.E that has infested Metropolis.

I am glad that Krypto has some role in the DCnU. I actually wouldn't mind it if he became Superboy's pet, reminiscent of Kon and Wolfy on Young Justice. I don't know if I like this new Dr. Psycho as a villain (having just read Superboy #18). So I hope he doesn't become the main baddie.

WORLDS’ FINEST #13
Written by PAUL LEVITZ
Art by ROBSON ROCHA and WAYNE FAUCHER
Cover by EMANUELA LUPACCHINO

As DeSaad’s Hellhound hunts Power Girl and Huntress, the duo must struggle with how far underground they’ll have to go before they can turn the tide and take the fight back to the man who’s been impersonating the missing Mr. Terrific.

I was hoping that Dr. Bedlam was impersonating Mr. Terrific. This implies it is Desaad.

This 'going underground' piece of this arc is interesting. It seems that the two have been trying to be low-key in their costumed lives. But how will Karen Starr run Starrware if she is on the run.

This book seems to be heating up after a somewhat slow start.

I don't know Robson Rocha at all. We know Kevin Maguire is leaving the book. Is Perez off as well?

SMALLVILLE SEASON 11 #14
Written by BRYAN Q. MILLER
Art by DANIEL HDR
Cover by PETE WOODS

Reunited with Supergirl, Clark must find a way to keep the peace between EarthGov, the Legion, and all of…New Krypton?! Plus, Booster Gold and Skeets struggle to find their place in a world that doesn’t want—or need—their help. Superman’s 31st-century adventure continues in “Argo” part 2 of 3.

Since the word 'Crisis' was mentioned in the first issue of this book, I have been waiting for Supergirl to appear. In the show she was shoved into the future so Clark could ascend. So what has Kara been doing with the Legion? This was the expected surprise but I have to admit I was giddy when I saw the cover. Bryan Q. Miller treated Supergirl well in his Batgirl book. I don't expect anything different here.

And I love this Supergirl costume, designed by cover artist Cat Staggs. There is some Kingdom Come Supergirl in there. There are the new boots from the current incarnation. It has a sort of military feel to it. It even has a whiff of Gates/Igle Alura. Just fantastic.

AME-COMI GIRLS #4
Written by JUSTIN GRAY and JIMMY PALMIOTTI
Art by EDUARDO FRANCISCO and DEREC DONOVAN
Cover by JONBOY MEYERS

In this epic issue, Power Girl and Green Lantern battle Star Sapphire while The Atom goes inside Supergirl’s brain to remove the last vestige of Brainiac! Plus: Prepare for the origin and coming of…Sinestra!

I have to say that Supergirl has been treated oddly in this book. But as I recently said, it is a fun book, crazy and loud. So I am still in. Plus, this issue will be the rare instance to literally get inside Supergirl's mind. Nice cover by Jonboy Meyers.

SUPERGIRL VOL. 2: GIRL IN THE WORLD TP
Written by MICHAEL GREEN and MIKE JOHNSON
Art by MAHMUD ASRAR, GEORGE PEREZ and others
Cover by MAHMUD ASRAR
On sale JULY 10 • 144 pg, FC, $14.99 US
The last daughter of Krypton has a friend: a young woman name Siobhan. Too bad she carries the curse of the Silver Banshee—and Siobhan’s father, the Black Banshee, isn’t far behind! Don’t miss these stories from SUPERGIRL #0 and 8-12!

Hard to imagine that these issues might be considered 'the good old days' for the DCnU Supergirl. This trade includes some good stories. Supergirl makes a friend in Siobhan and rushes to help her. She fights the Nanite suit sent by Tycho and is recognized as a hero by the bystanders. And the zero issue is filled with some great moments, including Alura on her knees crying as Kara is rocketed away.

Fare thee well Mike Johnson.

SHOWCASE PRESENTS: DC COMICS PRESENTS SUPERMAN TEAM-UPS VOL. 2 TP
Written by MARV WOLFMAN, LEN WEIN, GERRY CONWAY and others
Art by RICH BUCKLER, JIM STARLIN, JOSE LUIS GARCIA-LOPEZ and others
Cover by JIM STARLIN

Superman battles for justice alongside heroes including Supergirl, Black Canary, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Starman and more in these stories from DC COMICS PRESENTS #27-50 and DC COMICS PRESENTS ANNUAL #1!

As a younger reader, I loved the team-up books like The Brave and the Bold and DC Comics Presents. In many ways, those books were what exposed me to the DC Universe. There is no other place I would have learned about Kamandi, Ragman, The Unknown Soldier, The Creeper, etc. I used to love the one-and-done style of these adventures. This Showcase volume of DCCP includes the great three-part story introducing Mongul and the Warworld to the DCU. I covered the second two parts of that story here for those that want a sneak peek. First DCCP #28 with Supergirl: http://comicboxcommentary.blogspot.com/2011/11/review-dc-comics-presents-28.html And then in conjunction with Diabolu Frank we cover the finale with the Spectre (over on the DC Bloodlines blog): http://dcbloodlines.blogspot.com/2011/11/review-dc-comics-presents-29.html

I know Frank covered the opening chapter with the Martian Manhunter in DCCP #27 over on his Martian Manhunter blog somewhere but I can't find that link! Sorry!

Anyways, this will be a fun book and cheap. So I will probably need to grab it.

SUPERMAN: PHANTOM ZONE TP
Written by STEVE GERBER
Art by GENE COLAN and TONY DEZUNIGA
Cover by GENE COLAN and DICK GIORDANO

Explore the history of Krypton and the origins of The Phantom Zone, Krypton’s otherdimensional prison, in this new title that collects PHANTOM ZONE #1-4 and DC COMICS PRESENTS #97.  

And then this goodie showed up. Finally Stever Gerber and Gene Colan's fantastic Phantom Zone mini-series is being collected. This was a wild hallucinogenic trip through the Zone with bizarre images and fevered dream sequences. It also includes the Phantom Zone villains running roughshod over the Earth. And yes, there are some great Supergirl moments. I briefly ... briefly ... cover it here: http://comicboxcommentary.blogspot.com/2011/06/rip-gene-colan.html

And it also includes the even more bizarre DCCP #97, which is a pre-Crisis story told in a post-Crisis world. It includes the wild scene of Mr. Mxyzptlk throwing Argo City onto Metropolis like a K-missile, scattering the Kryptonian dead. Unreal. I reviewed that issue here:
http://comicboxcommentary.blogspot.com/2012/03/argo-city-silver-age-part-2.html 

I guess I have been doing this blog for a while when I can post links like that. Anyways, I am definitely going to get this one!

So lots of stuff to buy in June!