DC Solicitations: January 2025

Between vacations and a glut of comics to review, some other posts kept getting pushed back. So time to look into the future and the new year at the January 2025 DC solicits. The entire slate can be seen here:
https://www.gamesradar.com/comics/dc-comics/dc-comics-january-2025-solicitations-covers/

Overall, I have to say I am feeling a bit of optimism about DC these days. There seems to be some sort of re-invigoration of the whole universe, perhaps emboldened by the Absolute Universe books. I feel like the main Superman books have been on an upswing recently. 

And I just have a sense that a Legion book is around the corner given all the cameos and guest stints for characters from that IP. 

This month will bring a new creative team to Action Comics. I'm sad to see Mark Waid go. But I am glad he is remaining on World's Finest and the new JLU.

On to the books. 

Superman #22
Written by JOSHUA WILLIAMSON
Art and cover by DAN MORA
Variant covers by MICO SUAYAN, JONBOY MEYERS, and DAVID TALASKI
1:25 variant cover by DAVID LAPHAM
Sweater Weather variant by MARGUERITE SAUVAGE

A secret alien strike team has arrived on Earth with their sights set on the greatest weapon in the universe…Doomsday. And the only person who can save the ultimate destroyer is Superman! While alien forces rain down on Metropolis, Superwoman trains with her new powers alongside an unlikely instructor...and you will not believe who it is!

I figured the Doomsday story was going to be a true arc, at least 6 issues so not surprised to see it still churning along. As for an alien strike team ... what do you think? Doomsday Revenge Squad made up of aliens from worlds he has devastated? Will Williamson dig into continuity and bring back some people from planet Calaton?

But the real question in the solicit is 'who is training Lois'? I hope it is Supergirl. It would make sense. Although it would be easy to believe that. Perhaps Lana as Superwoman? More Lois/Lana friction? Barda? Really hope it's Kara.

Review: Action Comics #1073 Supergirl Story

Action Comics #1073 came out last week, another of the weekly releases for the title during this Mark Waid main run. 

I was excited when I first heard that Supergirl was going to be the backup for this weekly run. But when the writer was announced as Mariko Tamaki, I had some trepidation. Other runs of hers, and in particular her inscrutable and boring Supergirl Special, made me worry this wasn't going to be a strong arc for Kara.

We are now four chapters into this Supergirl story and, I suppose not surprisingly, it is inscrutable and boring. Supergirl has been sent into space on a secret mission. But the details have been left unknown to the reader as well. I suppose Tamaki thinks a big reveal at the end will be a jolt for the reader. Unfortunately all the coy dancing around the actual plot has made this feel like a slog.

This chapter we get to finally see the prisoner Kara has been sent to fetch. There is a lot of vague dialogue from the villain that is more maddening than mysterious. It seems to imply there is some connection between Kara and the prisoner but there isn't a whiff of specifics.

Supergirl as a character doesn't get a lot of room to shine on her own in the DCU these days. Features like this are a sort of showcase for her, perhaps to drum up support for a new solo run. But a story like this (and like that Special) do the opposite. Kara doesn't shine her. She doesn't do much at all. She seems almost like a side plot device in her own story. And as readers we aren't invested because we don't know what the heck is happening. It's a shame.

As always, I like the art by Skylar Patridge. While there isn't much action in this chapter, there is some fun contrivances that allow Patridge to stretch a bit. The art is definitely the high point of the story.

On to the details, the few there are.

Review: Superman #19

I am finally catching up on my reviews after my vacation which means I have reached Superman #19. This is the first 'All In' Superman, bringing us the introduction of Lois 'Superwoman' Lane and the return of not one but two (but really one) classic DC villain to thwart the Man of Steel. It also unites two of DC's creative powerhouses - writer Joshua Williamson and artist Dan Mora.

I'll start by saying this 'All In' initiative feels a bit like Rebirth/Anti-Rebirth. The Absolute Line, with the new dark Earth and the darker takes on our heroes, feels like a step away from Classic DC. But the new teams, the new books, heck even these new pin-up covers of our heroes looking heroic, all seems to be a step towards a more traditional feel to our heroes. Add in a few wrinkles (like a powered Lois) and you have a great jumping on point.

I will start out by saying I think Williamson crushes it on this issue. You want to bring in new readers? Maybe people coming here because of the new initiative or Mora's art, you give them big action and intriguing hooks. He does both. Incredibly, he somehow brings new life to three stories we have seen before - Doomsday, 'good' Lex, and Superwoman. Heck, I am pretty tired of the first two. But somehow, they work here. In particular, the Doomsday one has such a fantastic cliffhanger ending here that I want to read more. Trust me, I never want to read more Doomsday! So kudos to Williamson.

There is also one little 'blink and you'll miss it' exchange at LexCorp that really interests me. More below.

As for the art, Mora has crushed it on every issue I have seen him on and this is no different. Mora is great on character design. His versions of Superwoman, the Atomic Skull, the Time Trapper all glitter. But it is smaller moments, the expressive work, a throwback Daily Planet front page, a world weary Lex, that really grabbed me. 

And yes, I bought the cardstock metallic cover featuring Lois. But come on DC! Wrong credits on the back cover? Waid didn't write this!

On to the book!

Review: Action Comics #1072 Superman Story

Action Comics #1072 came out last week, continuing the 'Phantoms' arc by writer Mark Waid. 

Waid has been really firing on all cylinders with this arc so far and this chapter is no different. He had me at 'Superman battling Aethyr in the Phantom Zone'. But throw in Professor Xa-Du, Mon-El, and a crackling fun subplot with Kenan and Conner, and this book just sizzles.

This is a new Phantom Zone with pockets of solidity, crazy monsters, and new tortures present. He is giving us a Mon-El with a bit of an edge. So Waid is giving us something new. But, per usual, he is also leaning into DC history. Aethyr alone is a deep pull. But when I saw a quick retelling of Mon-El's origin and it is close to classic, I was thrilled. It is that perfect tightrope walk of old and new.  

And the story, of a benevolent Aethyr turned by the vileness of the prisoners, is also interesting.

Clayton Henry is on art for the bulk of the story. His smooth style somehow works given the chaotic environment of the Zone. There is a very organic sort of fullness to everyone. But I am really taken by Michael Shelfer's work on the Kenan/Conner subplot. There is a dynamism therw.

On to the book.

Review: Batman/Superman World's Finest #32

I continue to chip away at a backlog of reviews after a brief vacation. So today I am reviewing Batman Superman World's Finest #32, a book released 2 weeks ago!

Writer Mark Waid has used this book as a sort of team-up title with Superman, Batman, and a young Dick Grayson Robin interacting with some classic characters from the DCU. This is the second issue in an Eclipso storyline with our heroes teaming up with the JSA. The Satellite Era JLA have been trapped. Our heroes have been possessed and are now pawns of Eclipso. And so the JSA needs to step in and try to save the day and the World's Finest duo.

I have loved this title since its inception but this storyline seems a little bit looser than I am used to. Eclipso is pretty cool. Seeing the JSA, including many of my faves, is also fantastic. But I don't know if I understand how Eclipso is doing what he is doing. I have had to stop overthinking the insanity and just sort of roll with it. Waid usually feels 'tighter' than this. This is still a very good book and a good story. But the bar is high.

Adrian Gutierrez is on art, stepping into Dan Mora's huge shoes. I like the style as it has a little frenzied feel to it which works with the story. I admit I sometimes have a hard time following the action on certain scenes. But overall, I like what I am seeing and glad he has been named the ongoing artist here.

On to the book.

Review: Action Comics #1072 Supergirl Back-Up

Action Comics #1072 came out this week, the third weekly issue and therefore the third part in the Supergirl back-up feature by writer Mariko Tamaki and artist Skylar Patridge. 

I have exactly liked this story so far. As a reader, I still have little idea of what Supergirl's mission is, why she needed to be alone to do it, and what (if anything) Superman knew before he sent her off. She has hypnotized friends. She has asked questions that don't lead to information. And she has been mostly ineffective in accomplishing much of anything.

Alas, this chapter is more of the same. We get, maybe, a small crumb of information about the 'prisoner', at least a concept about them. But not much more. A question I had from last issue is answered here, explaining something I thought was a plot contrivance. But another plot point is added that makes this story feel even more dodgy. For the most part, Kara is basically ineffective. She asks a lot of questions and is otherwise failing on every aspect of her reason for being there. 

Honestly, I really feel we are treading water. And there is nothing I have seen so far that makes me understand why this had to be solo mission. That is the crux of this story and three parts in, I have no clue.

Maybe by the time we get to the end, Tamaki will have made this ride understandable.

As for the art, I remain a fan of Patridge's work. I feel like her work is a wonderful stew of other artists I love. This issue I felt there was a sort of Joelle Jones feel to things. We get more action sequences here and I liked how those flowed.

But still, this is mostly a slow boil. And I was hoping for more.

Review: Action Comics #1071 Superman Story

Still catching up on reviews after vacation which means I am finishing my review of last week's books now. So on to the main story in last week's Action Comics #1071, written by Mark Waid with art by Clayton Henry and Michael Shelfer.

Unlike the Supergirl back-up in this issue, writer Mark Waid pushes the story forward in a very entertaining way. There are mysteries here. This is a 'new' Phantom Zone, part physical, filled with odd monsters. That is a mystery. There is a heck of a cliffhanger, with a known enemy turning out to be a long lost friend. So there is a lot still to be known like any good tale early in the telling. But it isn't stagnant. We even get a fun little subplot with Kenan and Conner.

Waid, being the sort of fan he is, also is able to weave in a bunch of DC history. We get a quick primer on the Zone itself. We get some classic villains. It works very well. 

Clayton Henry remains solid on art. This is a story with lots of varying landscapes, monsters, villains, and action. It unfolds wonderfully. The action in particular works well, especially in the context of the barren landscape and crazy spider monsters. Michael Shelfer, someone new to me, is on art for the subplot pages and brings a zany energy which is perfect.

On to the story.