May Solicits

By now, hopefully everyone is aware that DC is doing a soft reboot of their universe in June, reimagining characters, being less beholden on continuity, and stripping 'The New 52" label from their books.

To get us there, the company is doing a two month pause with the 'Convergence' event, with characters from all prior universes interacting. Last week, DC released the solicits for May, the second month of convergence. Here is a link to the complete solicits:http://www.newsarama.com/23527-every-single-dc-comics-may-2015-convergence-solicit-cover.html

Included in that is the above image, an exclusive for Entertainment Weekly, which shows a parade of Superman death scenes. It is an interesting image, with a Superman in the right lower corner looking at all these. And it is 'historically accurate' as we see scenes from older issues where a Superman dies. We see:
Superman #75 - the famous death of Superman at the hands of Doomsday
Infinite Crisis #7 - the death of Kal-L, the Superman of Earth 2
Superman #149 - an imaginary story where Luthor kills Superman with Kryptonite while his friends are forced to watch
All Star Superman #12 - dead again from a Luthor plot, but in the sun with machinery, saving the star
Kingdom #1 - Magog on his dark throne with many Supermen dead at his feet

Interesting!

On to the Super-titles in May

CONVERGENCE: ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #2
Written by MARV WOLFMAN / Art by ROBERTO VIACAVA and ANDY OWENS
Cover by MIKEL JANIN/ Variant cover designed by CHIP KIDD
STARRING HEROES FROM CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS! Superman and Supergirl’s journey through the Phantom Zone takes a tragic turn as one of the most devastating moments in DC’s history is revealed! Supergirl could save herself – but only if she sacrifices Metropolis to the marauding intelligent apes from Kamandi’s world!

I don't know if I want Marv Wolfman to write Supergirl again. But in this mini-series, it looks like once more he will put her on the path to dying at the hands of the Anti-Monitor. Of course that Kara won't sacrifice Metropolis to save herself.

Beautiful cover by Janin.

CONVERGENCE: SUPERGIRL: MATRIX #2
Written by KEITH GIFFEN
Art by TIMOTHY GREEN II and JOSEPH SILVER
Cover by HOWARD PORTER/Variant cover designed by CHIP KIDD
STARRING HEROES FROM ZERO HOUR! Supergirl and Ambush Bug fight against…uh…we don’t really understand what Keith Giffen is doing here, but we trust it’ll work out great!

Should I be happy that Matrix Supergirl is getting her own mini-series? Or should I be worried that it looks like an insane book built on humor? I  grew to love this version of the character as she went on her own hero's journey, eventually merging with Linda Danvers. I think this is just going to be a silly book overrun by Ambush Bug.

Again, nice cover here by Howard Porter, a riff on Action Comics #252.

CONVERGENCE: JUSTICE LEAGUE #2
Written by FRANK TIERI
Art by VICENTE CIFUENTES
Cover by MARK BUCKINGHAM/Variant cover designed by CHIP KIDD
STARRING HEROES FROM THE PRE-FLASHPOINT DCU! Witness the brutality of the battles between worlds as Flashpoint Aquaman proves to the Justice League how far he’s willing to go to protect his kingdom.

This is the Kara/Jade/Jessie/Donna League that was fun to read when James Robinson was at the helm. Looks like this issue is going to be wall-to-wall brawl. Kara and Donna were the muscle of this League so hopefully they'll shine a bit.

CONVERGENCE: SUPERMAN #2
Written by DAN JURGENS
Art by DAN JURGENS and NORM RAPMUND
Cover by LEE WEEKS/Variant cover designed by CHIP KIDD
Flashpoint Kal-El has kidnapped Lois while she’s in labor! Will Superman reach them in time—or will Flashpoint Batman have to deliver the Man of Steel’s only child?

I am thrilled I get to see some Clark/Lois somewhere even if it is in this multiverse event. Putting the scrawny Flashpoint Superman into the mix is an odd choice. But I trust Jurgens to pull it off.

CONVERGENCE: SUPERMAN – THE MAN OF STEEL #2
Written by LOUISE SIMONSON
Art by JUNE BRIGMAN and ROY RICHARDSON
Cover by WALTER SIMONSON/Variant cover designed by CHIP KIDD
STARRING HEROES FROM ZERO HOUR! Will Steel be forced to murder the Gen13 kids in cold blood? Well, what other way is there for him to save Metropolis?

Louise Simonson is writing Steel. Sold!

Add in June Brigman art and a Walt Simonson Gen 13 cover and it is doubly sold.

CONVERGENCE: ACTION COMICS #2
Written by JUSTIN GRAY
Art by CLAUDE ST-AUBIN and SEAN PARSONS
Cover by AMANDA CONNER
Variant cover designed by CHIP KIDD
STARRING HEROES FROM CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS! Will Superman and Power Girl meet their demise at the hands of Red Son Wonder Woman?

How great will it be to see an old school Earth 2 with Kal and Karen together? I miss that world of Infinity Inc and the JSA tremendously. 

But even without the inside material, the cover by Amanda Conner might have been enough to entice me to buy! 

CONVERGENCE: SUPERBOY #2
Written by FABIAN NICIEZA
Art by KARL MOLINE and JOSE MARZAN, JR.
Cover by BABS TARR/Variant cover designed by CHIP KIDD
STARRING HEROES FROM ZERO HOUR! Superboy and Kingdom Come Superman face off over Metropolis – but can these two find a way to work together and save both their worlds?

A Conner I like to read! It has been a while. The New 52 version was something of a disorganized mess. So seeing the original makes me smile!

Putting the fun-loving, surfing Metropolis Kid together with the dour, world weary Kingdom Come Superman is genius. It's like a Kryptonian Odd Couple.

And love that Babs Tarr cover!

CONVERGENCE: SUPERBOY AND THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #2
Written by STUART MOORE 
Art by PETER GROSS and MARK FARMER
Cover by PIA GUERRA /Variant cover designed by CHIP KIDD
STARRING HEROES FROM CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS! Brainiac 5 and Superboy are from one of the most advanced worlds under the Convergence dome, but nothing can prepare them for the all-out war they now find themselves in against the Atomic Knights!

And lastly, some Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes. This is the title that sparked my life long love for comics so it will be nice to read them one more time. I couldn't care less for the Aromic Knights. But throwing two possible futures together could be a fun read.

It will be fun to re-visit these older versions of characters I have loved all my life. I just hope these comics do them justice. And there are others that intrigued me besides these. So what are you thinking of buying?