DC Comics July Solicits

The July solicits for DC Comics came out last week and they were certainly interesting. Here is a link to all the books as posted on Newsarama: https://www.gamesradar.com/dc-july-2021-solicitations/

DC has decided to revamp and reinvigorate the Super-titles again and I am both fascinated and a little bit dismayed. You have to hand it to DC, they certainly know how to confuse and confound their fans.

But most of all, it seems like the '5G' reboot which was going to happen, then wasn't going to happen then sort of happened with Future State is actually slowly but surely going to happen, in some sense. 

Jon is Superman. Clark is on Warworld. it is all coming to together ... I guess?

Let's dive into the books, starting with Supergirl.

Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow #2
story by Tom King
art by Bilquis Evely
cover by Bilquis Evely
variant cover by Lee Weeks

After the shocking conclusion of last issue, Supergirl and her new friend Ruthye find themselves stranded with no way to pursue Krem, the murderous kingsagent. Each moment this fugitive roams free, the more beings become dangerously close to dying by his hand. There is no time to lose, so our heroes must now travel across the universe the old-fashioned way…by cosmic bus!
Little do they know, their journey will be a dark one filled with terrors that not even the Maid of Might is prepared to face! Can Kara Zor-El lie low long enough to ensure their safe passage?

A startling ending to the first issue? The name of the villain is Krem? Perhaps he will be the Creme de la Creme? A dark journey filled with terror? I keep trying to be hopeful. But will this end up being just another King deep look at pain and stress? I'm going to remain hopeful.

One thing I do know without a doubt, the art is going to be beautiful. Evely is going to kill it here.

Action Comics #1033
story by Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Becky Cloonan, and Michael W. Conrad
art by Daniel Sampere and Michael Avon Oeming
cover by Daniel Sampere

Atlantis is under attack! Taking in the Warworld refugees also means taking possession of the deadly Warworld tech they brought with them, and holding that much power makes the undersea kingdom a threat to the rest of the world. Can Superman move fast enough to prevent all-out war? Doing so may mean taking the power into his own hands…Meanwhile, some of the escaped Warworld prisoners have found the Fortress of Solitude…and along with it, Lois Lane!
In our second feature, Midnighter has gone deep into the Trojan compound and found a very unexpected guest whose path he crossed in Future State—none other than Mister Miracle!

I have seen enough 'Atlantis vs. the surface world' storylines to make me wonder if this will be any different. And all this Warworld stuff just means Superman is going to be offworld. Will this simply be the prologue to the Future State mini-series where Kal is stuck on Warworld for years?

I like Daniel Sampere's art so I think that side of this should be good.

Superman: Son of Kal-El #1
story by Tom Taylor
art by John Timms
cover by John Timms

Jonathan Kent has experienced a lot in his young life. He’s traveled the galaxies with his Kryptonian grandfather and lived in the future with the Legion of Super-Heroes, who were intent on training him for the day his father, Clark Kent, could no longer be Superman. There is a hole in the Legion’s history that prevents Jon from knowing exactly when that will happen, but all signs point to it being very soon. It’s time for the son to wear the cape of his father and bear the symbol of hope that has told the world who Superman really is. Join writer Tom Taylor (Nightwing, DCeased) and artist John Timms (Infinite Frontier) as they usher in a whole new era for the House of El!
Also, “Tales of Metropolis” continues. Jimmy Olsen gathers his misfit heroes, including Ambush Bug and Gangbuster, to find out who the Projectress really is and why she set her sights on Bibbo!

With Superman off world, we need another Superman. So Jon takes over. This is Future State all over. 

This makes me worry that he is off the Legion, the whole reason to age him up back in the day. 

And I don't know if this needs to be a zero sum game. There could be a Superboy book and have Superman on Earth.

But perhaps I am burying the lead. The creative team is crazy! Tom Taylor has yet to let me down. He knows how to handle young heroes. (His All New Wolverine book was amazing!) And I am a John Timms fan. So even though I don't know if this book needs to exist, I bet it is going to be good.

Superman and the Authority #1
story by Grant Morrison
art by Mikel Janín
cover by Mikel Janín

Sometimes even Superman finds a task almost impossible. Sometimes even the Last Son of Krypton needs to enlist help. Some tasks require methods and heroes that don’t scream “Justice League.” So Clark Kent, the Metropolis Marvel, seeks out Manchester Black, the most dastardly of rogues, to form an all-new Authority tasked with taking care of some business on the sly. Not only will Black know the right candidates for the team, but if Superman can make him behave himself and act in service of the greater good, then he’ll prove literally anyone can be a hero! They’ll have to move quickly, however, as the Ultra-Humanite forms his own team to take out the Man of Steel.
This new limited series helps launch an all-new Superman status quo, setting up story elements that reverberate across both Action Comics and Superman: Son of Kal-El in the months to come. And not only is Superman putting together a superstar team, but it takes superstars to tell the tale: Grant Morrison (The Green Lantern, All-Star Superman) and Mikel Janín (Batman, Future State: Superman: Worlds of War)!

Morrison on Superman. Nuff said.

Well not nuff said. Manchester Black Rampage? Natasha Irons? Is that Rose and Thorn?  What a messed up team for Superman to lead. 

And Mikel Janin art?

Again, I don't know if I needed this book. But I bet I'll be intrigued!

Superman Red And Blue #5
stories by Judd Winick, G. Willow Wilson, Brandon Thomas, Mark Buckingham, and Daniel Warren Johnson
art by Ibrahim Moustafa, Valentine De Landro, Berat Pekmezci, Mark Buckingam, and Daniel Warren Johnson
cover by Amanda Conner

There’s no dog in the Multiverse quite like Superman’s real best friend, Krypto!
Join us this month for an epic retelling of Superman’s canine companion’s origin story, along with four additional tales about the Man of Steel, including one that proves that even in his secret identity Clark Kent is just as super. While Superman is known for his larger-than-life heroism, in this issue we tell the story of a delicate infant rocketed through the unforgiving universe! Also, meet for the first time the man rescued by Superman more often than anyone else in the Multiverse. And follow Pa Kent as he learns what it really means to be the father of a superhero.
You won’t want to miss the penultimate issue of this star-studded anthology celebrating the Man of Steel!

Bluntly, the first two issues of this mini-series haven't impressed me. The creators seem embarrassed to be writing Superman, writing stories of just about every ancillary character you can get into a story with the Big Red S. 

This was supposed to be a celebration.

I suppose the digital first Adventures of Superman was more what I was thinking this would be.

At least this has that Amanda Conner cover!

Batman/Superman #20
story by Gene Luen Yang
pencils by Ivan Reis
inks by Danny Miki
cover by Ivan Reis and Danny Miki

The Man of Steel and the Dark Knight need time to recover from their manic melee through the Archive of Worlds, but the heroes won’t rest for long! Despite the efforts of new friends El Diablo and Alanna, Auteur.io, the cybernetic architect of these alternate realities, seems to have the upper hand! And to make matters worse, the Archive of Worlds unleashes its most horrific story ever put to magic-infused celluloid: the dark and twisted tale of that demon from the depths: Etrigan!

Looks like this story is going to be perfect size for a trade.

I do like this romp through this Auteur's multiverse. And I can't wait to see what Yang does with Etrigan!

Challenge of the Super Sons #4
story by: Peter J. Tomasi
art by: Max Raynor
cover by: Simone Di Meo

A specter from Superman’s and Batman’s sons’ adventure in the past comes searching for them in the present, courtesy of the immortal Vandal Savage! Can the Super Sons defeat the age-old villain before he deals a killing blow to their friend Rora? Plus, Jon and Damian rush to save yet another Justice Leaguer from the death foretold to them upon the dreaded Doom Scroll, but the Super Sons may be too late, as it seems Cyborg has already fallen victim to an attack courtesy of Grid! But remember, if Cyborg finds out the boys saved him, the Doom Scroll’s curse will take the life of an innocent…

I am happy this book is on the shelves. Does that first line mean that the old heroes in the framing sequence are going to jump into a brawl? 

This book is just the fun I need in my comics life!

Checkmate #2
written by: Brian Michael Bendis
art by: Alex Maleev
cover by: Alex Maleev

The heroes network—the secret technology that connects the Batcave, the Hall of Justice, and Superman’s Fortress of Solitude—holds all the secrets of the DC Universe. The growing evil called Leviathan is trying to get it…and Checkmate are the only people standing in the way. All this and Leviathan versus Talia al Ghul in a fight to the finish, not to mention someone has kidnapped Lois Lane! And you never, ever, ever kidnap Lois Lane. Plus: Who is the Daemon Rose? From the Eisner Award-winning team of Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev, this all-new story ties directly into the events of Justice League!

Well, now we know the plot is. I hope Oracle is part of this, especially given how Leviathan targeted Barbara back in Event Leviathan.

And I wasn't sure if Talia Al Ghul was part of this mini-series or not. 

I am pumped for this mini-series. So glad I get to dive into Leviathan again!

Justice League #64
story by Brian Michael Bendis and Ram V
art by Steve Pugh and Sumit Kumar
cover by David Marquez

Introducing…the United! This all-new all-star group of alien warriors represents all voices in the newly formed United Planets. A galactic Justice League, if you will. The first Legion of Super-Heroes? Sort of. The United comes to the new Justice League for help because the biggest threat to the universe is on the loose, and all roads lead to…Superman. All this, and Aquaman has some surprising news. This big, bold, universe-spanning story serves as a perfect hopping-on point for fans curious where their favorite DC heroes go next!

Justice League #65
story by Brian Michael Bendis and Ram V
art by Steve Pugh and Sumit Kumar
cover by David Marquez

The Justice League heads to deep space, on the trail of the most dangerous new criminal in all the galaxy. The biggest threat to the United Planets is on the loose, and no one in the cosmos is safe. Meanwhile, on Earth, Checkmate breaks into the Hall of Justice looking for clues to Black Canary’s secret affiliation. What secret affiliation, you ask? It’s a secret, duh! All this, and Black Adam declares himself leader of the League.

The first Legion of Super-Heroes made up of Champions of the United Planets? That's pretty cool.

A Checkmate crossover?? Black Canary in some secret cabal? Is this a backdoor Birds of Prey pilot?

Very excited for both of these issues.

Overall, this looks like a great month. Even if I dont agree with the 5G direction of things, I think the creators are strong and the descriptions sound intriguing. 

Bring on the summer.