Thursday, September 25, 2014

December 2014 Solicits

The holidays happen in December. It is a time of good will and season's greetings. And oddly enough, after being a dour DC fan, I actually felt a little hope after seeing the DC Comics complete December solicits. Here is a link to the entire solicits list as showcased on Newsarama:http://www.newsarama.com/22127-dc-comics-full-december-2014-solicitations.html

Now maybe it is the Darwyn Cooke variants, or the continued fascinating solicits for Multiversity, or some growing optimism about the Perkins/Johnson Supergirl run ... but I was (gasp) happy about the look of this month. I know that other people (specifically Huntress or Wonder Woman fans) may not be feeling the same.

On to the solicits:


SUPERGIRL #37
Written by MIKE JOHNSON and KATE PERKINS
Art and cover by EMANUELA LUPACCHINO
Variant cover by DARWYN COOKE

It’s Supergirl’s first day as a student in the Crucible Academy! What is the mystery of the Academy? Who are her fellow students? And what happens if she decides to get herself expelled before she graduates?

It's the second issue of the Perkins/Johnson run on the book. Sounds like we will be learning more about the new setting and supporting cast here. That's right ... I just wrote 'supporting cast' in regards to the New 52 Supergirl book!

But the big win this month are the covers of the book. First off the main cover, a Yildiray Cinar cover. A smiling Supergirl breaking the chains that bind her! She seems almost peaceful. It is beautiful and it harkens back to Superman #223 'Kryptonite Nevermore' and a sketch Cinar did when  he was doing the interiors of the book. Check that stuff out here. Hopefully the 'feel' of this cover conveys the tenor of Kara in the interior.



And then there is this awesomeness.


JUSTICE LEAGUE UNITED #7
Written by JEFF LEMIRE
Art by NEIL EDWARDS and JAY LEISTEN
Cover by ANDREW ROBINSON
Variant cover by DARWYN COOKE

The Infinitus Saga continues as the JLU battles the Legion of Super-Heroes over the fate of the innocent alien who may grow up to destroy the 31st century!

The reintroduction of the Legion into the DCU by Jeff Lemire. Win.
Neil Edwards (of the ARGUS miniseries) on art! Win. (Better fit than Timothy Green). (Edwards confirms he is on the book moving forward.)
Mon-El and Phantom Girl back! Win.
Infinite Man as the villain (I called it). Win
Book that stars Supergirl! Win win win.

Okay, having the Legion try to kill Ultra isn't a win. But we'll see how it plays out.


ACTION COMICS #37
Written by GREG PAK
Art and cover by AARON KUDER
Variant cover by DARWYN COOKE

The spread of evil supernatural forces in Smallville continues to get worse – and Superman has no way to stop it. Will this damnation contamination spread to the rest of the world?

I am thrilled that the creative team of Pak and Kuder are back on the book without the constraints of a mega-muddled-crossover.

I also like the 'supernatural' part of this story. Contrasts with the tech-heavy Superman story. And I think it complements the strengths of the creators here.


SUPERMAN #37
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art and cover by JOHN ROMITA, JR. and KLAUS JANSON
Variant cover by DARWYN COOKE

Can there be peace and good will toward people without a price? Geoff Johns and John Romita Jr. serve up some holiday shocks as they answer this question and more in this the penultimate chapter of “MEN OF TOMORROW”! And be warned – some significant changes are in store for the Man of Steel to ring in the New Year!

That is one battered Superman.

I have been up and down with this Ulysses arc as it has unfolded so far. But the promise of 'significant changes' has piqued my interest. Maybe back at the Daily Planet? Maybe embracing the Kent side of him instead of feeling 'alone'. Maybe some Lois?


BATMAN/SUPERMAN #17
Written by GREG PAK
Art by ARDIAN SYAF and SANDRA HOPE
Cover by ARDIAN SYAF and DANNY MIKI
Variant cover by DARWYN COOKE

Who is Superman’s Joker? It seems it’s the Unseen Terror, who makes the battle personal for Superman! How? By attacking all things related to the Man of Steel! Together, Batman and Superman start to track down suspects – and the first one is Lobo!

Okay, it sounds like a good story for this pair. A mystery for Batman to unravel. Tough villains for Superman to fight. Best of both worlds.

But I just can't get excited about Lobo.


SUPERMAN/WONDER WOMAN #14
Written by PETER J. TOMASI
Art and cover by DOUG MAHNKE
Variant cover by DARWYN COOKE

It’s no surprise that after recent events, Superman and Wonder Woman are cautious about the appearance of the new hero who calls himself Wonderstar. But this mysterious hero seems to be asking for nothing more than their guidance in dealing with his strange, erratic powers – and for their help in protecting his loved ones and his secret identity! The only problem is that his past is a blank slate. He doesn’t know who he is, where he comes from – or why is feels a strange connection to the Man of Steel and the Amazon Warrior!

Ugh ... is it a Cable sort of progeny from a possible future.

I keep saying I am going to drop this book. I have faith in both Tomasi and Mahnke. I hope they justify it.



SMALLVILLE SEASON 11 – CONTINUITY #1
Written by BRYAN Q. MILLER
Art by IG GUARA and J.P. MAYER
Cover by CAT STAGGS

In this new miniseries, the Monitors have come to Earth and begun their work – but instead of using Red Bleed to exterminate the world, a new Blue Bleed is erasing the world’s capitals!

I love this book. Is Continuity the same as Crisis? Or is there more to come.

But different destructive waves? And the Legion teaming up with Booster and Zatanna?

Love this book.



SUPERGIRL VOL. 5: RED DAUGHTER OF KRYPTON TP
Written by MICHAEL ALAN NELSON and others
Art by DIOGENES NEVES, CHAD HARDIN, PAULO SIQUEIRA and others
Cover by KENNETH ROCAFORT

Supergirl will burn down the universe before she lets another person tell her who she should be – and her journey as a Red Lantern begins here. The new chapter of Supergirl’s life begins in issues #26-33, plus GREEN LANTERN #28 and RED LANTERNS #28-29.

A trade collection of Red Lanterns and I am looking forward to buying it?

I can believe Red Daughter was so good. As I have said ad nauseum, it is a shame it took something as drastic as this had to happen to redeem Kara. But if it had to happen, I am glad it happened this way. Because this arc was great.

I hope there are extras in this trade.

All that said ... Michael Alan Nelson had nothing to do with the included issues. Bedard and Soule should feel slighted.
 

7 comments:

Starsaber said...

Yeah, I would say that Continuity is at least the beginning of the Crisis. Not sure if it's going to be the whole thing or not though.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, "Continuity" is just the beginning of the Crisis. Unfortunately, we're not gonna get a arc called "Crisis" because that was already an episode named like that back in season 3 (Smallville comic follows the kind of titles that the show had).

And about this "different destructive waves", without spoil anything, I can say you're going to have a hint about it in "#Chaos #3" that comes out next month.

John (somewhere in England) said...

If the new Supergirl television series is a success will DC respond to the commercial opportunity and publish more Supergirl books? Another volume of the Archives would be welcome, or at least another volume of Showcase Presents.

bartiemus said...

I love the covers for Supegirl 37 Kara simpling yes please. Here first arc that's not a cross over in a year to. Here's hoping the new team stays on free from editorial interface.

Jay said...

Totally hoping Wonderstar is their kid from the future. The haunted Smallville storyline seems like it could be pretty fun too. Really looking forward to the new Supergirl direction too. Something about the school with a secret agenda trope I always liked. Its an obvious angle and setting with teen heroes but always a good one.

Anj said...

Thanks for posts.

I do hope that the new Supergirl team has time to let their ideas breathe and progress. And yes, please no crazy crossovers for a bit.

My hope is that the TV show will expand the Supergirl merchandise. Does DC even make Archives anymore? But more Showcase stuff would be fine. Or a collected Daring New?

Anonymous said...

Correcting myself about an earlier comment, "Smallville" is really ending with "Continuity".

They announced it at NYCC, but I already had seen it coming with every cover featuring every kind of characters.