Tuesday, January 30, 2018

April 2018 Solicits

The DC solicits for April came out and there was one big surprise that has me smiling. Otherwise, we are pretty much in a stable mode for the super-books. Here is the link:
https://www.newsarama.com/38272-dc-comics-april-2018-solicitations.html

And I am pretty happy with the solicit information which means April will be a nice month!

On to the books.


SUPERGIRL #20 
Written by STEVE ORLANDO and JODY HOUSER
Art and cover by ROBSON ROCHA
Variant cover by STANLEY “ARTGERM” LAU
Supergirl must fight both Mokkari and the out-of-dimension Viking Judge to save Director Bones from the fury of the Viking’s magical ax! Meanwhile, with Director Bones out of the picture, Cameron Chase and Lar-On must break into the D.E.O. to save Veritas before the clock counts down to zero and the psycho-redactor erases her memories forever! 

Sounds like an action packed issue. I like that Supergirl is out to save Director Bones. After all, he has been her nemesis since he joined the book. I don't know about the Viking Judge, so we'll see about that. And I am glad that Lar-On is still around!

Also, that Robson cover is all sorts of beautiful. Love the action, love the cast in the background.


SCOOBY-DOO TEAM-UP #37
Written by SHOLLY FISCH
Art and cover by DARIO BRIZUELA
Supergirl may be as invulnerable as her cousin, but even bulletproof skin can’t help her when she’s haunted by the ghosts of Krypton! Is it a hoax? A message from the Phantom Zone? It’s up to Scooby and the gang to find out…assuming that Scooby and Streaky the Super-Cat can set aside their cat-and-dog rivalry!

Here is the big surprise! I have loved Scooby-Doo Team-Up. I love Sholly Fisch. And you know I love Streaky! So this already makes me smile. But I wonder of the 'ghosts from Krypton' might be a take on Zor-El and Alura in the Survival Zone! Now that would be awesome!


ACTION COMICS #1000 
Cover by JIM LEE and SCOTT WILLIAMS
Stories and art by an all-star lineup of top talent Retailers: This issue will ship with ten covers. Please see the order form for details. Celebrate 1000 issues of Action Comics with an all-star lineup of top talent as they pay tribute to the comic that started it all! From today’s explosive action to a previously unpublished tale illustrated by the legendary Curt Swan to the Man of Tomorrow’s future—this very special, oversized issue presents the best of the best in Superman stories!
FEATURING ALL-NEW ART AND STORIES BY:
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
JOHN CASSADAY
OLIVIER COIPEL
PAUL DINI
JOSE LUIS GARCIA-LOPEZ
PATRICK GLEASON
BUTCH GUICE
GEOFF JOHNS
DAN JURGENS
TOM KING
JIM LEE
CLAY MANN
BRAD MELTZER
JERRY ORDWAY
TIM SALE
LOUISE SIMONSON
SCOTT SNYDER
CURT SWAN
PETER J. TOMASI
MARV WOLFMAN ...AND MORE!

DECADES-SPANNING OPEN-TO-ORDER VARIANT COVERS BY:
• STEVE RUDE (1930s)
• MICHAEL CHO (1940s)
• DAVE GIBBONS (1950s)
• MICHAEL ALLRED (1960s)
• JIM STERANKO (1970s)
• JOSHUA MIDDLETON (1980s)
• DAN JURGENS (1990s)
• LEE BERMEJO (2000s) ..PLUS A BLANK VARIANT COVER!

Now that is one long solicit. Those are a lot of creators. And a lot of covers!
I suppose the big news is Brian Michael Bendis now working for DC. I guess the historic news is a 'new' Curt Swan story. And let's not bury the lede ... it's Action #1000!

I'll be there despite the $7.99 price tag.



SUPERMAN #44
Written by PATRICK GLEASON and PETER J. TOMASI
• Art and cover by PATRICK GLEASON
• Variant cover by JONBOY MEYERS
Gathered together from the cosmic recesses of the universe are the most powerful forces of bad ever assembled! Now the Super Foes face the Legion of Fun—and the only heroes who dare to stand against this intergalactic threat of the Bizarroverse are Superman and son! 

SUPERMAN #45 
Written by PATRICK GLEASON and PETER J. TOMASI
• Art and cover by PATRICK GLEASON
• Variant cover by JONBOY MEYERS
“BOYZARRO RE-DEATH” finale! The challenge of the Bizarroverse continues as the Super Foes battle the Legion of Fun! As Superman and Son return to Hamilton for a quick recharge, they learn what the little town truly meant to them—and what they meant to the locals of the town.

How fantastic is that cover. A Bizarro Luthor with flowing locks? Brainiac with a dunce cap? Riddler with an exclamation mark? So much fun. And the classic 'two sides flying into a fight' is great too.

I'm totally ready for this arc. It looks like it will be an absolute hoot!


SUPER SONS #15 
Written by PETER J. TOMASI
Art by CARLO BARBERI and ART THIBERT
Cover by JORGE JIMENEZ
Variant cover by DUSTIN NGUYEN
“End of innocence” part one! Robin and Superboy have been to hell and back again, but this time their friendship must stand the ultimate test: the Amazo Project! Kid Amazo returns as the pieces of this deadly plan fall into place and reveal a secret that might tear apart Damian and Jon’s growing friendship.

I'm happy to see Carlo Barberi on art for the issue. We have seen the sons growing closer each issue. So this constant theme of them being 'torn apart' might grow old. We'll have to see how it is all handled.



NEW SUPER-MAN AND THE JUSTICE LEAGUE OF CHINA #22 
Written by GENE LUEN YANG
• Art by BRENT PEEPLES and MATT SANTORELLI
• Cover by PHILIP TAN
• Variant cover by BERNARD CHANG
“SEAS OF CHANGE” part three! The saga of the Aqua-Man of North Korea crashes to a close! As the Justice League of China heads off an international incident on their shores, our heroes discover that sometimes villainy is only a matter of perspective—and reasoning with North Korea’s most menacing metahuman and his marine militia may be the only hope both countries have of survival!

I am very intrigued to see how this all plays out. This is the first arc with the JLC title. How long will this book have to stabilize or improve sales. Will it have one arc? Will we have the 'Final Issue' mark on the final part of this story?




SUPERGIRL: BEING SUPER TP 
Written by MARIKO TAMAKI
• Art and cover by JOELLE JONES
Kara Danvers isn’t any different than any other teenager in her hometown. Problems with school. Problems with boys. Problems with friends. But while growing pains shake up Kara’s world, a series of earth-shaking events hits her hometown, leaving her with with the choice of blending in with the crowd or being different. Being an outcast. Being super. This reimagining of Supergirl will appeal to fans of all ages and readers new and old, as the Girl of Steel flies face-first into the struggles that every teenager faces. Collects SUPERGIRL: BEING SUPER #1-4.

I am glad this is being collected. I was worried that no trade really meant the book didn't sell any where near what DC wanted. The book never really clicked with me. I don't think I'll purchase the trade. But people should ... even if it is just for the lush Joelle Jones art.

So not a bad month.

Who's ready for the Scooby Doo book!


10 comments:

Martin Gray said...

The Viking Judge is a character in Orlando's The Unexpected. 'Viking Judge, a continuation of Viking Prince, is a being who is connected to her ax and lives through her descendants' according to CBR!


That mad Super Sons cover had me thinking of the classic Action Comics #388, the happy lunacy of it all ... https://www.comics.org/issue/23437/cover/4/

Anonymous said...

"Who's ready for the Scooby Doo book!"

Me! MeMeMe!

Supergirl #20 looks right and the cover is gorgeous. By the way, Orlando's run is nearly as long as Gates; and even if we've gotten different artists and guest writers, the main writer has remained unchanged; which is more than I can say regarding the first 20 issues of volume 5 and 6. I'd like believing it's a good sign.

Talking about covers, have you seen this?

https://twitter.com/Artgerm/status/958175398398799872

Kara In-Ze has never looked more gorgeous.

I definitely need that Scooby-Doo team-up. Ah, good old Silver Age fun (albeit why so many people seem to hate Srappy Doo, I'll never understand. I mean, I barely noticed him or thought of him. He was a bit annoying, I suppose, but he was... only there)

Finally. Action Comics #1000. I hope we see stories exploring the whole cast and universe: Pa, Ma, Lois, Jimmy, Perry, Kara... Krypton, Smallville, Metropolis, the Phantom Zone, Kandor...

That Bizarro World storyline looks good, but I'd like seeing Bizarrogirl making an appearance. Keeping the Bizarro Wonder Twins in and Bizarro Supergirl out hardly seems fair. Sigh.

Happy to see Being Super collected.

Professor Feetlebaum said...

That's a great cover for Supergirl 20. It's good to see Houser and Robson back. I thought that the new co-writer and artist for issue 19 meant that they were leaving, but apparently not.

As for Action Comics 1000.....it's all too much!!!! That's an impressive (and long) list of talent, but I'm hoping that the "and more!" means that Cary Bates and Elliot Maggin and Denny O'Neil will be contributing something. I doubt I'll buy all those variant covers (all I've got to do is sell my car and take out a loan!) but I'm especially interested in the ones for the 30s to the 70s.

Streaky! STREAKY!!!! STREAKY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
First the Super Sons Annual and now Scooby Doo Team Up 37! Interesting that Supergirl is wearing the Matrix costume, as that version never had a pet super-cat. And what goes on with that blue cape on Streaky? Well, I guess if Kara can wear the Matrix costume, Streaky can wear a blue cape. This comic should be a lot of fun.

Anj said...

Thanks for comments.
Didn’t know that about the Viking Judge.
AC 1000 looks great.
And Streaky had that look, including cape, on the Krypton cartoon. So I understand the book using that version.

Anonymous said...

Yeah love me some Scooby Doo for defying time & continuity itself to summon The Bronze Age Supergirl! The "Ghosts of Zor El & Allura" would be too much to ask for, if I'm a judge I'd call it for shapeshifter from the Phantom Zone...thats got a "Mysteries Inc" curve to it.


Altruist Supergirl shows no sign of stopping either, more love from me.


JF

Professor Feetlebaum said...

I knew about those cartoons, but never watched them. I'll have to check them out. Thanks for the information.

Uncle Screensaver said...

I absolutely adore Scooby-Doo Team-Up, especially since we got a hot pants Supergirl in one issue. It's such a great all-ages title that gives veteran DC readers a real treat. I was ready to beg for a Supergirl team-up, but it seems my prayers were answered as my jaw dropped when I saw that cover! I'm guessing they went with a more known classic look for Kara and Streaky. Either way, it's a dream come true for a Sg and Scooby fan.

Even if it's just for this one issue, it's so nice to see Superman in his trunks again! A Curt Swan story is also incredibly welcome.

I'm disappointed Bizarro Joker isn't like his pre-Crisis self, the only sane Bizarro who cries all the time (as he's the only sane one) with "flesh" coloured skin, but more so, no Bizarrogirl on the cover. However, it's fun to see all the many Bizarros we get again, especially "Captain Hot!"

In any case, April 2018 is a good month for being a Super fan, and more so a Supergirl fan, especially when we are able to have multiple versions of Kara, in her own title, "Scooby-Doo Team-Up", the "Being Super" trade, "Injustice 2", "Gotham City Garage," and her TV show - when it will be returning after the upcoming scheduling hiatus.

Anonymous said...

April is going to be a great month for Super fans, so many great comics to pick up. Action Comics #1000, Superman and Super Sons will be must buys for me, but I'm wondering whether there'll be some shake ups with the creative teams like Bendis being rumoured to write Superman after AC #1000.

Louis

Anonymous said...

I'm just hoping that someone superfamily friendly will take over Action Comics soon. I'm reading old silver age Action Comics issues recently released on Comixology and I am amazed how much better it was back then.

Gene said...

"Who's ready for the Scooby Doo book!"

I recently saw the Batman Brave and the Bold/Scooby Doo team up DVD and it was a hoot. I would love a sequel where Batman, Scooby, and Supergirl team up. Heck, use this comic to base the plot on...

Gene