April 2011 Solicits

The April solicits for DC comics were put out last week and include some interesting items. Here is a link for them as they were presented over on Newsarama:
http://www.newsarama.com/comics/dc-april-2011-solicitations-110120.html

As always, it is worth taking a look at all the books that are coming out that month. It sounds like the Green Lantern books will be worth reading. But here are the usual suspects.

SUPERGIRL #63
Written by JAMES PEATY
Art by BERNARD CHANG
Cover by AMY REEDER and RICHARD FRIEND


Things are looking grim for Supergirl and friends as a treacherous new foe proves to be more powerful than they could have imagined! And if they’re going to win, Kara will have to come to terms with what it truly means to wear the “S” shield.

Nice cover by Amy Reeder showing some shock and fear in Supergirl's face. This issue is the first which doesn't include Nick Spencer in the credits so we'll get to see what James Peaty has in store.

There is no clear ending to this story although I think the original solicit had it as a five parter. Will Peaty and Chang still be here when this arc is over?

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #56
Written by JAMES ROBINSON
Art and cover by BRETT BOOTH and NORM RAPMUND
1:10 Variant cover by DAVID MACK


“The Rise of Eclipso” continues as the JLA and the villainous lord of darkness have a showdown on the dark side of the moon!

No Supergirl seen on the cover so hard to know if she is still in 'dark mode'. At least the hero's seen here aren't sporting the Eclipso half-blue face.

First the Starheart, then Omega Man and the Crime Syndicate, and now Eclipso. It has been a trying year for this new JLA. I think I am going to like Brett Booth's work on the title.

SUPERMAN/BATMAN ANNUAL #5
Written by JAMES ROBINSON
Art and cover by MIGUEL SEPULVEDA


Picking up where March’s JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #55 left off, “Reign of Doomsday” amps up the danger as Supergirl and Batman are trapped aboard the Justice League satellite with Cyborg Superman and Doomsday — and both villians want to tear them limb from limb! A “who’s who” of the DCU shows up to aid in the battle, but there’s something different about Doomsday — something even the Justice League of America might not be prepared for! The story continues in this month’s SUPERBOY #6!

I talked about the cover before. I see that they fixed the prior coloring error and have Supergirl's dress back to blue. At least it isn't black! Does this mean that the 'dark side' has gone away in JLA already? Let's hope so.

As I said before, I initially thought that Doomsday was going after the Cyborg Superman. Could it be they are working together? This 'Reign of Doomsday' seems to have come out of left field. I hope it gels as a story.

I don't know much about Miguel Sepulveda's art but this cover sure looks good.

ACTION COMICS #900
Written by PAUL CORNELL, RICHARD DONNER, DAVID GOYER, DAMON LINDELOF and more
Art by PETE WOODS, JESUS MERINO and more
Cover by DAVID FINCH
1:5 Variant cover A by ADAM HUGHES
1:5 Variant cover B by ALEX ROSS

Superman returns to ACTION COMICS just in time for the title’s historic 900th issue, which clocks in at 100 pages! Everything Paul Cornell and Pete Woods have been building to over the last year culminates here in the ultimate Superman vs. Lex Luthor battle! But that’s not all - this story will lay the grounds for an insanely epic story coming out this summer in the pages of ACTION!

Plus, an incredible roster of guest talent help us celebrate this landmark issue, including the screenwriter of The Dark Knight, David Goyer; famed Superman: The Movie director Richard Donner; the co-creator of Lost, Damon Lindelof; and the creative team behind the hit DC UNIVERSE On line game.

Hooray! We will finally have Superman back in Action in April. And fighting Luthor no less! It feels like things are going to be normal again. Add to that the hint of Cornell's first Superman story this summer and I am happy.

And we get to see these other creators take a crack at Superman as well. I wonder if it will be like Superman/Batman #75 where each creative team had a 2 page spread to tell a story.

Lastly, I can't wait to see an Adam Hughes Superman. I think I might get this Ross one.

SUPERMAN #710
Written by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI and CHRIS ROBERSON
Art by EDDY BARROWS and J.P. MAYER
Cover by JOHN CASSADAY
1:10 Variant cover by KENNETH ROCAFORT


In the latest chapter of “Grounded,” the recently returned Bruce Wayne stops by Salt Lake City to pay a little visit to Superma — excuse us, Clark Kent! Learn how a legendary friendship was born as Bruce and Clark revisit the previously untold tale of one of their earliest meetings in which the teenaged duo faced the menace of the immortal Vandal Savage!

Well, I haven't been kind to 'Grounded' recently.

And know we get a flashback story about how Bruce and Clark teamed up as teens. Another 'the first time Batman and Superman teamed up' story? I don't know if I would mind it that much except ... it seems like another pause in the 'Grounded' arc. Frankly, I just want this story over ... or to significantly improve in quality.

Nice cover by Cassaday. And I have admired Kenneth Rocafort's Top Cow stuff. So his take on Superman should be interesting.

SUPERBOY #6
Written by JEFF LEMIRE
Art by MARCO RUDY
Cover by EDDY BARROWS and J.P. MAYER


The epic “Reign of Doomsday” crossover hits SUPERBOY! How will the Kid of Steel defeat the monster that managed to kill the Man of Steel? And what is Doomsday’s ultimate goal in attacking all these members of the Super-family? The mysteries deepen as Act I of this story rockets towards its conclusion!

Maybe Superboy can bury Doomsday in wheat germ. That worked with the Parasite! Just kidding ... I have enjoyed what Lemire is doing here and wonder if this will read more like a speed bump, taking away from the momentum that he has built in the main story of the happenings in Smallville.

I also notice that Marco Rudy is doing the art here. He did the Satan Girl pages in Supergirl Annual #2 and the Darkseid pages in the recent Action Annual. His stuff seems rough and trippy. I don't know if it fits this issue's story. We'll see.

And now a couple of surprises!

TINY TITANS #39
Written by ART BALTAZAR and FRANCO
Art and cover by ART BALTAZAR


What happens when you mix red clothes and white clothes in the wash? You end up with pink undies, right? The same thing happens when someone washes the Tiny Titans costumes with Superman’s red cape! Superman, Alfred, a gaggle of Tiny Titans and Lois Lane are going to have something new and oh-so-pretty in common this month!

So I wasn't happy with the pink S-shield on the cover of Supergirl #60 but here it seems to work fine.

I love hen Supergirl is in Tiny Titan and my guess is the supergirls at home are going to love this issue and it's premise.

 

WOMEN OF THE DC UNIVERSE SERIES 3: SUPERGIRL BUST
Designed by Amanda Conner • Sculpted by Jim Maddox


The Girl from Krypton!
With strength, speed of light and x-ray vision, Supergirl breaks free from the shadow of her cousin to join the battle for justice!


Designed by illustrator Amanda Conner, Supergirl is the latest character to join the popular WOMEN OF THE DC UNIVERSE bust series.

And this was a nice little surprise. Another Supergirl bust in the Women of the DC Universe series, this one designed by Amanda Conner. It looks like a great bust, with a nice action feel to it. I like that it is actually he current costume, right down  to the gold sleeve ends. It is scheduled for sale on September 7, 2011 and is semi-reasonably priced at $60.
This one is going to look great in my collection!