DC August 2023 Solicitations

The DC August 2023 solicits came out last week. As August was month 2 of the Knight Terrors event, I wasn't expecting much but those books. But it turns out there is a decent amount of super-material coming out this summer. 

Now I will admit that I don't think I am really interested in the Knight Terrors mega-event and might avoid most of it. But if you want to see all the solicits, including those books, head here:
https://www.gamesradar.com/dc-comics-august-2023-solicitations-covers/

But the best news about the month is we finally get a Supergirl spotlight, her first since Woman of Tomorrow ended.

ACTION COMICS PRESENTS: DOOMSDAY SPECIAL #1
• Written by DAN WATTERS
• Art by EDDY BARROWS
• Cover by BJÖRN BARENDS
• Variant covers by LUCIO PARRILLO and PUPPETEER LEE
• 1:25 variant cover by CLAYTON CRAIN
• 1:50 variant cover by JON BOGDANOVE

• It is a creature beyond reason—and the only force in the universe strong enough to kill Superman. It’s Doomsday, the living embodiment of death, destruction, and evolution! In the wake of Dark Crisis and Lazarus Planet, King Doomsday now sits on a throne of skulls across a river of blood, holding court over the demons that swarm in the depths of Hell…and he may have just found a way back to the land of the living. It’s now up to Supergirl and Martian Manhunter to drive the beast back and see that he never again returns to our earthly plane—even if they must die to do it! Plus: the return of Bloodwynd, the debut of the Doomhounds, and a clue to the next big Superman event!

I wrote about this issue here but there is a little more to unpack here.

One, I am very very sad that the Jon Bogdanove, Meatloaf-inspired cover is a 1:50 variant, basically meaning I won't be getting it.

Second, Doomhounds sounds like a fun concept in theory. Hope they pull it off.

Lastly, I hope that somehow this doesn't lead to Supergirl being stuck in Hell, Queen of Hell, wielding a Hell-Axe or any other nonsense.

I have high hopes for this book. I have yet to be disappointed by Dan Watters.

Now the rest of the books!

BATMAN/SUPERMAN: WORLD’S FINEST #18

• Written by MARK WAID
• Art by TRAVIS MOORE
• Cover by DAN MORA
• Variant cover by DARICK ROBERTSON and DIEGO RODRIGUEZ
• 1:25 variant cover by ARIEL COLÓN
• 1:50 variant cover by MEGAN HETRICK

• Think you know how Superman and Batman met and became friends? Think again! Read the untold tale of how their worlds first collided—and the stunning, secret loss that nearly destroyed their partnership before it even began!

Totally eager to read this. As old time DC readers like me know, there are many, many 'first time they met' stories with Batman and Superman. I like the vacation cruise liner one the best.

And I have had nothing but love for this book from the beginning. I can't wait to read Mark Waid's 'first meeting' story. And I'd bet a lot of money he will reference all the others. So bring it on!

I also hope this means we'll get to see Dan Mora's take on their Golden Age looks.

SUPERMAN 2023 ANNUAL
• Written by JOSHUA WILLIAMSON
• Art by MAHMUD ASRAR, MAX RAYNOR, JACK HERBERT, and CAITLIN YARSKY
• Cover by MAHMUD ASRAR
• Variant covers by JOCK and CHRIS SAMNEE
• 1:25 variant cover by EDWIN GALMON
• 1:50 variant cover by JORGE JIMENEZ

• Lois Lane is now editor-in-chief of the Daily Planet, but at heart she’ll always be an investigative reporter. And lately Metropolis has had a whole new set of secrets she must uncover. Even if it means investigating her own husband…Superman!
• Featuring Livewire, Parasite, and Mercy, this special issue is your next big puzzle piece leading to a massive Superman crossover in 2024!
• Don’t miss out!

I'm glad that DC isn't completely letting dust settle on the Dawn of DC books they've started because of Knight Terrors. Joshua WIlliamson as hit the ground running with Superman so why not give us an annual to keep things moving along. 

I don't know what the 'massive Superman crossover' of 2024 is but my guess is the secrets being investigated by Lois are clues. So count me in. Add to that a Chris Samnee cover and Mahmud Asrar and a parade of great artists on interiors and I am there. 

STEELWORKS #3
• Written by MICHAEL DORN
• Art by SAMI BASRI
• Cover by DANIEL SAMPERE
• Variant cover by MIKE DEODATO JR.
• 1:25 variant cover by JERRY GAYLORD

• AT THE MERCY OF THE SILVER MIST!
• Natasha Irons may have solved the mystery of the strange intruder at Steelworks Tower…but will she live to tell the tale? The Silver Mist’s plan to sabotage Steel’s technology takes a twisted new turn, and murder is in the air! Meanwhile, John Henry’s bold vision for Metropolis has driven a wedge between him and the Super-Family, all on the eve of Metropolis’s biggest celebration: Centennial Day.

If Superman can have The Red Cloud as a villain, I suppose Steel can the Silver Mist. What's next? The Velvet Fog?

I wonder if Michael Dorn is picking up on the "Metropolis, City of the Future" Steel story being done in the back of Action Comics these days. It sounds like a 'bold vision' is part of this.

ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN: JON KENT #6
• Written by TOM TAYLOR
• Art and cover by CLAYTON HENRY
• Variant covers by ARIEL COLÓN and LAURA BRAGA
• 1:25 variant cover by ZU ORZU
• 1:50 foil variant cover by CLAYTON HENRY

• It’s Batman versus Superman. Super Son versus Super Son.
• Injustice Superman is ruling with a fist of steel. Can Jon Kent free an entire world? And what could he lose if he tries?

It's the last issue of this mini-series. It looks like we are really getting the end of the Injustice story in this mini-series. Not exactly the best Jon story to tell. But he has always been a guest star in his own book.

It sounds terrible but I feel like Jon's stories have been so rough recently that I wouldn't mind it if he 'stayed on the Injustice world to help it' for a while so he could be brought back with a soft reboot. 

SUPERBOY: THE MAN OF TOMORROW #5
• Written by KENNY PORTER
• Art and cover by JAHNOY LINDSAY
• Variant cover by ADRIÁN GUTIÉRREZ
• 1:25 variant cover by SCOTT KOLINS

• Conner’s been left for dead on a planet far out in the cosmos. With his teleportation band broken, he has no way of getting in touch with Kelex or telling the Green Lantern Corps what Travv’s master plan is. He’ll need to find a way off this world if he’s going to stop Travv, but even if he does, can he really make a difference in this cold, harsh universe?

I like Conner having to figure out how to get off a distant planet on his own. I like Conner having to stop a 'master plan'. 

We know this story takes place before the events of Action Comics #1050 so of course, he makes it. But this does seem like a 'growing up' story. In some ways, I'd love for him to become a mentor of sorts for the Warworld twins.

And know, the Knight Terror books...

KNIGHT TERRORS: SUPERMAN #2
• Written by JOSHUA WILLIAMSON
• Art by TOM REILLY
• Cover by GLEB MELNIKOV
• Variant covers by JON BOGDANOVE and JOHN GIANG
• 1:25 variant cover by MIKEL JANÍN
• 1:50 variant cover by PETE WOODS

• In the terrifying Nightmare Realm, Superman and Supergirl search for answers and the rest of their family, but Superman is pulled into a haunted part of Metropolis’s past, where he learns more about Marilyn Moonlight! In the waking world, an unlikely DC superhero family works to save the world from the Sleepless Knights.

It's great that Supergirl is a big part of this 2 parter. This is an interesting place to give us more Marilyn Moonlight. I assume most readers of Superman will head here. 

I didn't really read the other solicits. Do we know who the 'unlikely DC superhero family' is?

KNIGHT TERRORS: ACTION COMICS #2
• Written by LEAH WILLIAMS and PHILLIP KENNEDY JOHNSON
• Art by VASCO GEORGIEV and MICO SUAYAN
• Cover by RAFA SANDOVAL
• Variant covers by MIRKO COLAK and TYLER KIRKHAM
• 1:25 variant cover by VASCO GEORGIEV
• 1:50 variant cover by CRYSTAL KUNG

• Reality bites! With her perfect nightmare world slowly showing its cracks, Power Girl searches for answers, hoping to find a villain to punch and a way out. Little does she know a threat from her past is here to control her future. Plus, in the Nightmare Realm, a hideously transformed Cyborg Superman is consuming the Super-Family one by one! Who will be the “final El”? And can the powerless Super-Twins find a way to fight back before Cyborg Superman claims them all?!

I will again say that I have no interest in the new take on Power Girl but it looks like I'll have to read more. 

But I love the PKJ solicit for the other part of the issue! Reads like a horror movie! Not a 'final girl' but a 'final El'? Amazing. 

And I like that Cyborg Superman is still around in August. He is a villain worthy of an entire arc.

Anything strike your interest?