DC Comics May 2025 Solicits

The full May 2025 DC Comics solicitations have been released and it is obvious that the incoming Superman movie is spurring DC to ramp up their Superman output. Here is a link to all the books out that month: https://www.gamesradar.com/comics/dc-comics/dc-comics-may-2025-solicitations-covers/

On top of what is coming out this month, we have heard of a Matt Fraction/Mike Norton Krypto book and Mark Waid/Skylar Patridge run on Action Comics writing Superboy. Get ready for the summer of Superman and, by extension, the Super Family. 

Let's dive right in!

SUPERGIRL #1
Written by SOPHIE CAMPBELL
Art and cover by SOPHIE CAMPBELL
Variant covers by STANLEY “ARTGERM” LAU, PABLO VILLALOBOS, and JOSHUA MIDDLETON
1:25 variant cover by BILQUIS EVELY
1:50 variant cover by W. SCOTT FORBES
Foil variant cover by STANLEY “ARTGERM” LAU
Blank variant cover

Kara Zor-El has been a key member of the Super-Family in Metropolis, but what happens when she strikes out on her own? Follow Kara as she returns to her roots in Midvale…home of Supergirl! But how could this be?! Our hero has not been back in years, and the protector of that town has been saving the day for weeks. Can Supergirl stop the impostor before they steal her fresh start and life?

Celebrated writer/artist Sophie Campbell (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Wet Moon) makes her mark on the DC Universe with this thrilling debut issue! Plus a new costume designed by bestselling cover artist Stanley "Artgerm" Lau!

I covered my initial thoughts on the new book here . But I will again say that I have optimism around this book. Midvale hasn't been in comics for a long time. That said, the orphanage was mentioned by Mark Waid in World's Finest. So maybe some classic trappings are going to be seen here? And the imposter? Could it be Matrix? Linda Danvers?

All that said, it has been 5 years ( July 6th 2020 ) since we had a Supergirl book 'on the shelves' (remember that the last 2 issues of this volume was released as digital-only). Five years! 

At least Campbell sounds like a fan of the character, more than many who have been on the book.

But wait, there's more!

The Two Faces Of Supergirl On Instagram

It is 2025 and a new Supergirl book has been announced. A new Supergirl movie is being filmed. 

The character is suddenly stepping into the spotlight in a way she hasn't since the announcement of her television show. 

But things are uncertain and interesting. 

What will Sophie Campbell's book be like? A return to classic superhero adventures? Or something else?

What will the Supergirl movie be like? A pure 'True Grit' adaptation of Tom King's Woman Of Tomorrow? A book I had major issues with which may unfortunately define the character for a whole new audience?

Imagine my surprise to head to Instagram and see some of my hopes and fears laid out in front of me. 

First I stumble upon this pic on Dan Mora's story. 

I have loved any time Mora has drawn Supergirl, so seeing this picture (which must be a variant cover for the upcoming series) made me smile. Mora makes everything look great. But this is spectacular. 

She's young and vibrant. She's smiling. She is in a position of confidence and strength. And we are looking up at her, like we should to our heroes.

It is perfect.

But then I stumbled on to more ...

Review: Superman #23

Superman #23 came out this week, continuing the future Time Trapper Doomsday arc. This has been one high-velocity story as a ton of moving parts are weaving in and out of the narrative. In the present day, Doomsday is loose. The Radiant and the Aftermath have arrived on Earth to dispatch Doomsday, even if they have to mess up Earth in the process. Superman is trying to hold back Red K rage. Superwoman is learning her powers. Lex is regaining his memories and perhaps his genius as well. And within this is that Time Trapper Doomsday, trying to convince our heroes to kill him and let him ascend.

Somehow Joshua Williamson is able to keep all the balls in the air, giving every piece of the plot the right amount of real estate. This whole storyline is very compelling for me. When did Doomsday become the Time Trapper? Why does he want to be killed? Why is he intervening at this point in time? And all this happening while Williamson is bulking up the supporting cast and their side stories as well. It is a very solid read with a lot to contemplate.

I will also say that this issue feels like it ends this arc, or perhaps puts it on hold in a major way. There isn't a true resolution here. So it has a middle chapter vibe. In the Bronze Age it would have ended with 'To Be Continued ???'. I'd love to see more of the happenings here. I want more of this Time Trapper. But I think I will need to wait.

Dan Mora is on art and shines here, no surprise. I think Mora devotes his time to the major panels which need supreme attention which include massive battle scenes. Mora is just a godsend to books like this.

On to the book.

Review: Justice League Of America #185

 With the Absolute Universe built on Darkseid energy and the Ram V New Gods book being so good, I have dipped into the back issue box to review Justice League of America #183-185, the 'Crisis on Apokolips' storyline, another annual JLA/JSA crossover with the New Gods in tow. Today I'll review JLA #185, the finale. (Here are links to my part 1 and part 2 reviews.)

To be an honest reviewer, I have some mixed feelings about this issue and the conclusion to the storyline. I'll start with the good. 

Writer Gerry Conway throughout this story has done a great job of showcasing the personalities of all the characters as they have broken up into side missions. We have really great moments from all of them, worthy of a spotlight in this review. This is a great read if you love seeing inspiration from Superman and Wonder Woman, skills and intelligence from Batman and Mister Miracle, and action and philosophy from Dr. Fate and Green Lantern. Add to that the brilliant art by JLA-newcomer George Perez. I know that praising George Perez seems unnecessary but his work here is great, in both big moments and small. You can see this almost like the petri dish of Crisis on Infinite Earths as he handles a big cast, big action, weird landscapes, while making sure smaller scenes get their due. The work is incredible. We also get this pretty slick Jim Starlin cover.

I'll also say this is 1980. Darkseid and the New Gods were still .. well .. new. I learned of Darkseid from this story. 

So what's the downside?

Well, the solution to the problem, the ending of the threat, comes out of nowhere and on the last page. There is no build-up, no suspense, no 'crisis' of winning. It just sort of happens. I am not one for overly decompressed stories but this one would have completely benefited from a fourth issue. Part of it is pacing. We get three pages recapping the prior two issues. They are stunning pages for sure. But perhaps that space could have been better served?

On to the issue! Buckle up!

Review: Batman/Superman World's Finest #36

Batman/Superman World's Finest #36 came out this week and was a fun middle chapter in this undersea adventure. The Floronic Man has used some hallucinogenic spores to enrage the people of Tritonis, leading that city to think the city of Poseidonis is using it to weaken the city for takeover.

The overall plot, as well as Floronic Man's motivations, are pretty thin. I think that is almost an afterthought so that writer Mark Waid can tell the stories he really wants. What if Aquaman's interactions with the surface world weakened his political power in Atlantis? What if Superman was reunited with Lori Lemaris? There are a lot of Silver Age reverberations in this one. The most obvious one is how big a pill Lori's husband Ronal is. He is bit of a domineering jerk, ready to throw down the gauntlet and start a war.

But for an old-school Superman fan like me, I always get joy out of seeing Superman and Lori interact. Lori is a married woman making Superman quite the Casanova here. Where does this fall in continuity? It is obviously pre-proposal to Lois. It seems to be post-Swamp Thing Anatomy Lesson? Hmmm ...

As for the art, Adrian Gutierrez seems to be having a ton of fun here. We see Atlantean armor. We see battle scenes. We see botanical bodies. He even continues to use words as interesting art flourishes. I love this cover by Dan Mora with Swamp Thing's face formed out of the branches/seaweed. 

Overall, a fun issue with a great cliffhanger. The foundation of the story is sort of thin but the plots built on it are great.

On to the book.

New Supergirl Book By Sophie Campbell

The official DC May solicits haven't hit the web yet but Bleeding Cool already has scans of the previews and lo and behold there is news of a new Supergirl book. Here is the solicit and some preview art.

SUPERGIRL #1
Written by SOPHIE CAMPBELL Art and cover by SOPHIE CAMPBELL
Variant covers by STANLEY "ARTGERM" LAU, PABLO VILLALOBOS, and JOSHUA MIDDLETON
1:25 variant cover by BILQUIS EVELY 

1:50 variant cover by W. SCOTT FORBES 

Foil variant cover by STANLEY "ARTGERM" LAU 

Blank variant cover
ON SALE 5/14/25

Kara Zor-El has been a key member of the Super-Family in Metropolis, but what happens when she strikes out on her own? Follow Kara as she returns to her roots in Midvale…home of Supergirl! But how could this be? Our hero has not been back in years, and the protector of that town has been saving the day for weeks. Can Supergirl stop the impostor before they steal her fresh start and life?
Celebrated writer/artist Sophie Campbell (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Wet Moon) makes her mark on the DC Universe with this thrilling debut issue! Plus a new costume designed by bestselling cover artist Stanley "Artgerm" Lau.  NOT FINAL TRADE DRESS COVERS

There is a lot to unpack here. I very much love Campbell's art but I haven't read much of the stories she has written. Her writing style will be new to me. That said the solicit sounds great.

I think the Super-family has swollen to pretty big numbers so I think moving Supergirl out of the city and letting her branch out on her own, be the solo star, is great. I also like Midvale being the setting, a flashback to classic Supergirl.  I have loved her relationship with Superman in the Williamson and Phillip Kennedy Johnson books but it will be nice to see her not be second in command and instead marching her own way. 

I do know that Campbell has been on TMNT recently and I would love to hear from anyone who read that what they thought. 

Moritat Commission Gift From Derek WC

One of the things that I have come to completely appreciate about the comic community on line is how generous it is. 

Within the community I have become friends with Derek W. C. of the Fanholes podcast. Derek is a huge comic art collector and we have that shared interest. He and I often discuss our commission hopes prior to cons. Heck, we even did a long form podcast about it here. 

It was during this talk that he convinced me to post my commission over on Comic Art Fans here. 

So imagine my surprise when I got this Supergirl sketch card in the mail from Derek. The art is by Moritat and shows this wonderfully happy Supergirl. I just love the broad smile and the elegant simplicity to the art. It is completely charming.

If you want to hear about Derek obtaining the card at the Original Art Expo, you can hear about it here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQJ3XAmpxAE

I really am just overwhelmed by the generosity. This is a welcome addition to the collection.