Wednesday, March 23, 2022

DC Comics June Solicits

The DC solicits for June 2022 came out last week. Here is a link to look at all the offerings.
 https://www.gamesradar.com/dc-comics-june-2022-solicitations-covers/

If there is one thing I can say about DC these days is that they are diversifying their output in hopes of getting more eyes on their books. Yes, there is the standard glut of Batman books. But there is more. There are young adult graphic novels. There are company wide crossovers and mini-themes like looking back at Flashpoint and Milestone. This is Pride month with an anthology out. Plus we start the Dark Crisis mini-series.

I don't know if I can tell you anymore what is in continuity and what is out of continuity. I don't know if there can be a timeline where the JLA is both dead and yet continuing to headline their own series. But here we are. 

Here are the super-books that caught my eye. 

BATMAN/SUPERMAN: WORLD'S FINEST #4
Written by MARK WAID
Art and cover by DAN MORA
Variant cover by DERRICK CHEW

As Robin and Supergirl race to retrieve the secrets of the Devil Nezha from ancient China, Batman and Superman get more than they bargained for in the present! To save humanity from the fires of the demon, the World's Finest must go toe-to-toe with the protector of Sector 2814...Hal Jordan.


Hey! We get some more Supergirl in Mark Waid and Dan Mora's World's Finest book. 

I would love to see her as a sort of standing supporting cast in this book. Or maybe even headline a 2-parter!

I loved the first issue of this book and Waid rolling in other characters makes me think this is going to be a big win!!

ACTION COMICS #1044
Written by PHILLIP KENNEDY JOHNSON
Art by RICCARDO FEDERICI
Backup story art by DAVID LAPHAM
Cover by LUCIO PARRILLO
Variant cover by IAN CHURCHILL

The Warworld Revolution is here! With the Genesis Stone feeding Kal-El a portion of his long-dormant powers, the quest to overthrow Mongul's tyrannical rule is well under way...but can Superman convince the war-torn combatants of this hellish nightmare planet that kindness can best cruelty? All this, plus Midnighter stabs some fools who had it coming! Then, in "A World Without Clark Kent," Lois, Jon, and John Henry Irons (a.k.a. Steel) convene to unlock the secrets of the mysterious Genesis tech...and Thao-La awakens...

I have talked about how much I have loved Johnson's run on this book. I was wondering how he could have Superman continue to survive in the Red Sun Warworld so the genesis stone is a nice plot point. I look forward to the revolution. Hoping Thao-La doesn't take on the name Supergirl.

And finally a back-up story that sounds right up my alley!

SUPERMAN: SON OF KAL-EL #12
Written by TOM TAYLOR
Art by CIAN TORMEY
Cover by TRAVIS MOORE
Variant cover by ROGER CRUZ and NORM RAPMUND

Lex Luthor and President Bendix have joined forces to unleash the Gamorra Corps on Superman...and put a stop to the first son of the Last Son of Krypton once and for all. But a new hero has joined the fight...and he's going to use that tin-can suit like a chew toy if Luthor isn't careful. Welcome back, Krypto. Who's a good boy?


Well, my thought that Luthor was going to turn his back on Bendix appears to have been off given this solicit.

I do wonder about Krypto being 'back'. Has he been untouchable during the Tom King Supergirl debacle? Always glad to see Super-dog!


JUSTICE LEAGUE VS. THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #4
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Art and cover by SCOTT GODLEWSKI
Variant cover by TRAVIS MOORE

Now it's the Legion of Super-Heroes' turn to get stuck in a time they don't belong in: the 21st century. Time for the greatest heroes of the future to see the reality of their heroes of the past. All this is happening because the Great Darkness is coming, and even as the truth behind it is about to be revealed, it may be too late to stop all from becoming nothing. It's the heroes of two eras in ways you've never seen them before!


The time travel wonkiness that is happening in this series makes me think that eventually we are going to see the Time Trapper revealed as the big bad. Maybe that won't be true. Seems a bit too pat. That said, this is a new Legion with a new timeline. This would be the Trapper's first appearance!

I do hope that somehow the Great Darkness and the Gold Lantern stories cross paths in a significant way.


DARK KNIGHTS OF STEEL #7
Written by TOM TAYLOR
Art by NATHAN GOODEN
Cover by DAN MORA
Variant cover by EJIKURE

With three kingdoms on the brink of war, Batman is in hiding, recovering from an attack and a shocking betrayal. But Batman finds he's not the only unfortunate soul to be taken in by his surprise rescuers—strange, magical youngsters have been given sanctuary alongside the bastard prince, Bruce Wayne. Will these teen outcasts change everything Batman believes in? Or will they perish at the hands of a demon?


Strange, magical youngsters helping Batman? Could these be some sort of medieval Outsiders? Given that writer Tom Taylor has slipped in many DC characters into this mini-series, that would make sense.

Shame Yasmine Putri is off art on this issue. I don't know Nathan Gooden. 


SUPERGIRL: WOMAN OF TOMORROW
Written by TOM KING
Art and cover by BILQUIS EVELY

Kara Zor-El can no longer find any meaning or purpose in her life. But all that changes when an alien girl seeks her out to help her take revenge on the bad guys who destroyed her world. Now a Kryptonian, a dog, and an angry, heartbroken child head into space on a journey that will shake them to their very core. It's Supergirl like you've never seen her before in a character-defining sci-fi/fantasy masterpiece! Collects the entire miniseries Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow #1-8.


Well, the Supergirl Woman of Tomorrow trade is slated for a July release. 

I am very torn about this. I have a trade shelf of all the Supergirl trades. I feel from a collection viewpoint, I should definitely have this. But I did not enjoy the story at all. Perhaps the Bilquis Evely art alone makes it worth it. Something to easily take off the shelf and flip through.

Did I miss anything?

7 comments:

Steve said...

Wait a year and see if the Supergirl trade is in the trade version of a dollar bin. Why get it immediately and thus vote with your dollar that you want more stories like it?

Anonymous said...

Yeah buy second hand deny DC the validation they crave for a sh*tty version of our fave....
JF

Professor Feetlebaum said...

You might have missed the "Superman '78" hardcover collection, due out July 19.

As for the Supergirl trade, I have to agree with the above comments. Wait awhile. Put that $17.99 toward a near mint copy of Action 252 or something.

Anonymous said...

I doubt the trade will have a big print run and the series was actually pretty well praised so there could end up being a supply and demand issue. I would just pick it up at retail. One person not buying a trade for their collection isn't going to tell DC anything. Even if it did they would take the message as "I guess folks just don't like Supergirl".

Steve said...

DC editorial doesn't like Supergirl so it'll be a party. Anyways, if everyone figures what they do doesn't matter and is just a drop in the bucket nothing ever will change.

Martin Gray said...

No, don’t buy that trade. You would be reinforcing horrible behaviour. Don’t even buy it secondhand, why have something on your shelf that will depress you every time you glance at it. You already own this story. Spend that money on a copy of Adventures in the Eighth Grade for a kid’s school, maybe, spread the joy!

Maybe the mysterious kids in the Dark Knights of Steel book are Legionnaires from 1000 years in the future - the 21st century or wherever?

Anj said...

Thanks for the great comments.

I think, after some self-evaluation and reading these comics, that I won't get the trade. After all, I recall King saying 'there will be a trade to show how great Supergirl is' and it isn't that story. I have a shelf full of good Supergirl trades already.

The kids being Legionnaires is a brill idea Mart!