DC Comics April 2023 Solicits

The April solicits and the FCBD DC Comic were released recently. There are some interesting books on the racks and I am a sucker for Free Comic Book Day. 

Here is a link to all the solicits:

https://www.gamesradar.com/dc-comics-april-2023-solicitations-covers/

I won't bury the lede ... and I'll talk about it more below. But we have a Legion of Super-Heroes sighting, at least on a cover. And it looks classic. So I am truly intrigued. I love the Legion. 

Add to that, Superman and Action continue to sound fantastic. And the Conner mini-series promised a while ago is finally coming out.

But first that FCBD book.

DAWN OF DC 2023 FCBD SPECIAL EDITION
$7.50 NET for bundles of 25 (30 cents NET per copy) | 32 pages
Foil Variant ($9.99 US)
ON SALE 5/6/23

Dawn of DC is a yearlong publishing initiative with epic storylines and superstar creative teams that forge the future, one hero at a time. Dawn of DC will shine the spotlight on a number of fan-favorite superheroes and super-villains that haven't been front and center for some time. It's an easy entry point for both lifelong readers and those picking up a comic for the first time to dive into the new stories. Don't miss this special edition featuring an all-new original story plus sneak peeks at upcoming titles.

I *think* this is for FCBD. All these Dan Mora pics were sold as covers for Dark Crisis #7 so seeing them repurposed in one pic seems a bit of a cop-out. Not that I am complaining. I love Mora. 

Will this be like a sampler? 2 pages of this and that? Or one story?

I'll be at my LCS that morning to find out!

On to the rest of the books.

ACTION COMICS #1054
Written by PHILLIP KENNEDY JOHNSON, DAN JURGENS, and DORADO QUICK
Art by RAFA SANDOVAL, DAN JURGENS, and YASMIN FLORES MONTANEZ
Cover by STEVE BEACH
Variant cover by RAFA SANDOVAL
Super-workout connecting variant (part 1 of 4) by DAVID TALASKI

As Superman and Natasha Irons race to save Steel from the newly transformed Metallo, the Super-Twins are lost—and alone—against the nightmarish threat of the Necrohive! How will Lois and the House of El find them? Plus, learn the shocking identity of the mysterious "ghost in the machine" behind Metallo's transformation as he and Superman face each other in an epic rematch for the ages!

Plus: A new era for John Henry Irons begins in "Steel Forged" part 1! And Dan Jurgens explores the not-too-distant-past world of "Lois and Clark 2" in a bold new interlude!

The Necrohive? The 'Super-Twins' fighting them? Hoping Supergirl is one of the rescuers. I would love to see her form a special relationship with Otho and Osul. 

A 'Ghost in the Machine'? Has to be the Cyborg Superman!

SUPERMAN #3
Written by JOSHUA WILLIAMSON
Art and cover by JAMAL CAMPBELL
Variant covers by DAVID NAKAYAMA, FRANCESCO MATTINA, HELENE LENOBLE, and TRAVIS MERCER and DANNY MIKI

SUPERMAN'S LOVED ONES ARE TRANSFORMED INTO RAVENOUS PARASITES!

If Superman wants to find Parasite-Zero before its influence spreads to the whole world, he must take Lex up on his offer to work together! Even if it means using another of Superman's enemies as bait!

Josh Williamson said that the main enemy of his Superman book is Lex. But he also said he wanted to bring back and re-invigorate some old ones. The Parasite? As someone who can take over others?

And what enemy could it be? I'm guessing Atomic Skull, a nice juicy energy source for the Parasite.

BATMAN/SUPERMAN: WORLD'S FINEST #14
Written by MARK WAID
Art and cover by DAN MORA
Variant cover by SERG ACUNA
1:25 variant cover by HAYDEN SHERMAN
1:50 variant cover by NIKOLA ČIŽMEŠIJA

BRUCE WAYNE…A MURDERER?

Bruce Wayne's billionaire rival Simon Stagg is dead. And Bruce Wayne is suspect number one! With their friend's freedom and reputation on the line, Superman, Robin, and Metamorpho, the Element Man, join forces to exonerate the Dark Knight's alter ego the best way they can: by finding Stagg's real killer before they strike again!

The Outsiders??

The Legion of Super-Heroes??? The Legionnaires 3 in their Baxter era costumes?

All hail Mark Waid and Dan Mora!

ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN: JON KENT #2
Written by TOM TAYLOR
Art and cover by CLAYTON HENRY
Variant cover by ZU ORZU
Variant cover by TIAGO DA SILVA

Kal-Els across the Multiverse are being murdered…and the culprit is the man who stole Jon Kent's childhood!

Jon is joined by Earth-2's Superman, Val-Zod, and a surprise third hero to try to stop Ultraman's killing spree. But when Jon comes face-to-face with the man who tortured him and kept him imprisoned, he discovers an even greater threat!

This sounds like a more classic super-hero adventure than the Son of Kal-El book. I like Jon finally facing Ultraman. 

Guesses on the surprise third hero? Captain Carrot? That Doctor Manhatten Superman? Vartox?

SUPERBOY: THE MAN OF TOMORROW #1
Written by KENNY PORTER
Art and cover by JAHNOY LINDSAY
Variant cover by JOE QUINONES


Conner Kent takes center stage! After the events of Dark Crisis, Conner feels out of place with the rest of the hero community. He doesn't fit in with the rest of the Superman Family, and the rest of the world doesn't really need him with so many Supers in Metropolis. He doesn't want to rely on Tim, Cassie, and Bart, so Conner looks to the stars as a place he might be able to call his own and carve out his own path. But what lurks in the great unknown? Are bravado and swagger enough to help Superboy find his new calling? This is the 2022 Round Robin winner—picked by you, the fans!

I am sort of excited to read this book. Conner is back. I like how he is part of the Super-family so I hope this mini-series doesn't take him away from Earth and the family long term.

I liked the preview. 

I like Conner. I liked his solo book waaayyy back in the day. So I am hoping this puts him back in the DCU for a while.

SUPERMAN: LOST #2
Written by CHRISTOPHER PRIEST
Art and cover by CARLO PAGULAYAN and JASON PAZ
Variant cover by LEE WEEKS

As Superman struggles to re-enter his life on Earth, we begin the story of his epic 20-year journey home with an encounter with spacefaring scavengers who transport the Man of Steel to an unnamed earthlike planet whose properties redefine the limits of his powers, while the world's ecological and political turmoil beckons for his help.

The cover looks just like the famous 'it looked like he was crying' panel from Alan Moore's Whatever happened to the Man of Tomorrow story. 

I like Christopher Priest so I feel confident this will be a good story. But will it be sad? Social? Both?

For series like this, I wish I could be there for the pitch process?

Anyways, no Supergirl solo book. Not even a name drop. But these all sound like good books.

What did I miss?