Monday, January 30, 2017

April 2016 Solicits


The April DC solicits came out recently and there are some great surprises in store for super-readers that month. I have to say, since Rebirth I actually look forward to the solicits knowing there is going to be something to pique my interest.

Here is a link to all the solicits for the month:
http://www.newsarama.com/32844-dc-comics-april-2017-solicitations.html

And now on to the super-books!

SUPERGIRL #8
Written by STEVE ORLANDO • Art by MATIAS BERGARA • Cover by EMANUELA LUPACCHINO and RAY McCARTHY • Variant cover by BENGAL
A “Superman Reborn Aftermath” tie-in! Superman and Supergirl meet again for the first time to face the evil of the Emerald Empress! Plus, what does it mean for the Girl of Tomorrow when tomorrow promises a Dark Knight? Shocking revelations, all-powerful sorceresses from the future, the Batgirl of Burnside and dinner in the Wild West—they’re all here in this amazing issue!
Sounds like a crazy issue with a lot of elements. I can understand the Superman, Batgirl, and Emerald Empress references but 'the Wild West'? Where the heck did that come from.

Look, I have been waiting for Superman and Supergirl to interact so this makes me happy. I think Batgirl and Supergirl should be friends in the DCU so that makes me happy. I have been waiting for the Legion to return so that makes me happy.

Suffice it to say I am down for this issue! This was the best thing I saw in the solicits.



SUPERGIRL: BEING SUPER #3
Written by MARIKO TAMAKI • Art and cover by JOELLE JONES
Kara Danvers’ hidden memories of her life on another planet are bubbling to the surface—but is she alone here on earth? Following the devastating events of the Midvale Earthquake, Kara and Dolly struggle to piece their lives back together—but what’s up with Coach? Their mentor is acting strangely, and her odd behavior goes from curious to downright creepy when Kara follows her back to a Lexcorp bunker deep underground. What she’s hiding will change Kara’s life forever—all will be revealed and a hero will need to be super in this penultimate chapter!

 From the beginning, friends have been telling me that there was more to the track Coach and the Midvale fitbits than met the eye and that certainly seems to be true here.

As for the Lexcorp bunker? No doubt we will either get a withered Superman like in Flashpoint:Project Superman or a dead baby Kal in a display case like in Elseworld's Finest. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

But how great is it to see a Joelle Jones cover with Kara sporting the S-shield!  


ACTION COMICS #977
Written by DAN JURGENS • Art by IAN CHURCHILL • Cover by ANDY KUBERT • Variant cover by GARY FRANK
“Superman Reborn Aftermath” part one! Following the epic struggle against [REDACTED], Superman examines his entire history—the birth of Jon, the marriage of Lois and Clark, their lives at the Daily Planet—to discover who tried to destroy his life. Who is waiting in the shadows? Who is Mr. Oz? All questions the Man of Steel cannot answer alone. It is time for him to unite the entire Superman-Family!

ACTION COMICS #978
Written by DAN JURGENS • Art by IAN CHURCHILL • Cover by ANDY KUBERT • Variant cover by GARY FRANK
“Superman Reborn Aftermath” part two! Superman’s life has been changed, some good is back, but the bad is back as well—with a vengeance! As Superman’s allies gather to address the looming threat of Mr. Oz, another Squad seeks revenge against the Man of Steel—and you won’t believe who made the team!


I said a while back that[REDACTED] is Vyndktyvx so I can't back down now.

But I am glad that these issues will (seemingly) wrap up the Mr. Oz mystery as well as redefine a new era for the man of steel as a 'united' Superman Family.

I like the idea of a new Superman Revenge Squad. Should we start guessing at the members.

And have to admit I am interested in seeing if Ian Churchill's art style has changed.



SUPERMAN #20
Written by PETER J. TOMASI and PATRICK GLEASON • Art by PATRICK GLEASON and MICK GRAY • Cover by PATRICK GLEASON • Variant cover by TONY S. DANIEL
“Superman black” part one! A “Superman Reborn Aftermath” tie-in! As the smoke clears the Kents are faced with leaving Hamilton to go back to Metropolis, but someone or something doesn’t want them to leave! Batman and Robin discover something is mysteriously wrong with the son of Superman—he’s losing his powers!


SUPERMAN #21
Written by PETER J. TOMASI and PATRICK GLEASON • Art by DOUG MAHNKE and JAIME MENDOZA • Cover by PATRICK GLEASON • Variant cover by TONY S. DANIEL
“Superman black” part two! A “Superman Reborn Aftermath” tie-in! The Man of Steel is challenged to break his code against killing in front of his son as the mystery surrounding Hamilton deepens.


Superman Black could be referring to the famous regeneration suit from Reign of the Supermen, riffing the return of the one true Superman given the storyline here. I assume the Superman from the Convergence world and the New 52 world will somehow merge making the move to Metropolis appropriate. But will be hard to explain away all the history the two did separately.

I am never one for the 'losing powers' plot in a comic. So we'll see if I like this with Jon.

And just what I need, Superman considering killing someone. Don't dull the shine of Rebirth just yet!! 



SUPERWOMAN #9
Written by K. PERKINS • Art by STEPHEN SEGOVIA and ART THIBERT • Cover by BILLY TAN • Variant cover by RENATO GUEDES

“SUPER WOMEN” part one! In this story tying in to “Superman Reborn Aftermath,” Lois Lane and Lana Lang find themselves reunited at last! Along with the Man of Steel, their reunion is cut short by the return of Cannon and Saber, who arrive to wreak havoc on the newly restored Metropolis. The mantle of Superwoman will be decided in this debut chapter of “Super Women”!

All along I wondered if the Lois who died in Superwoman #1 was going to come back in some way. Here we read that she is reunited with Lana. But maybe that reunification is in death? After all Superman is carving her headstone here.

But really the revelation in this solicit is that former Supergirl scribe K. Perkins is writing the issue. I can't wait to read this! 




NEW SUPER-MAN #10
Written by GENE LUEN YANG • Art and cover by VIKTOR BOGDANOVIC • Variant cover by BERNARD CHANG
“COMING TO AMERICA” part two! Superman meets Super-Man! As the battle with China White and Lex Luthor intensifies, the Man of Steel steps in to settle things once and for all. Can the combined might of three supermen turn the tide? Don’t miss the fate of Central City’s own Avery Ho, repercussions from the “Superman Reborn Aftermath” story in ACTION COMICS, and a new member of the Justice League of China!

I have been enjoying this book a ton so there is a lot in this solicit to make me think I will continue to do so. I am glad Superman is guest starring. I like Lex poking his nose around the Chinese super-hero community. And a Chinese Flash analogue? Sounds like fun!



SUPER SONS #3
Written by PETER J. TOMASI • Art and cover by JORGE JIMENEZ • Variant cover by DUSTIN NGUYEN
“When I Grow Up” part three! It’s Super-Son vs Bat-Son as the exciting new series continues! Kid Amazo is ready to rip the hearts out of the world’s not-so-finest super duo. Face to face with their newest—and first—villain, Jonathan and Damian strike out the only way they know how…at each other!
 

I am hoping that I am going to like this series. The concept seems perfect. And I am going to love watching these two very different kids slowly become besties. And I love the idea of Kid Amazo being the baddie here!
 


TRINITY #8
Written by CULLEN BUNN • Art by EMANUELA LUPACCHINO and RAY McCARTHY • Cover by CLAY MANN • Variant cover by BILL SIENKIEWICZ
A “Superman: Reborn Aftermath” tie-in! In this essential chapter of the “Superman Reborn Aftermath” epic, Kal-El reveals to Batman and Wonder Woman what had happened to him—and how they all may be in danger!
 
Will admit that I haven't been getting Trinity even though everyone tells me it is a very good book. Throwing Mr. Oz on the cover and reading that Superman will 'reveal' his origin to Bruce and Diana made this an obvious 'need to buy' book. Plus Emanuela Lupacchino art! Bonus!  




SUPERGIRL VOL. 3: GHOSTS OF KRYPTON TP
Written by GEOFF JOHNS, KELLEY PUCKETT, KURT BUSIEK and FABIAN NICIEZA
Art by RENATO GUEDES, DREW JOHNSON, RAY SNYDER and LEE FERGUSON
Cover by DREW JOHNSON and RAY SNYDER
A new story begins with a bizarre delivery to Kara’s apartment that quickly has her hopping
dimensions and traveling through deep space! These tales from ACTION COMICS #850 and
SUPERGIRL #23-33 guest star Superman, Batman and the Green Lantern Corps!

DC continues to flood the market with Supergirl trades, I assume to try and grab readers who are enjoying the show. I do wonder about these particular issues which is a troubling time in character's career. The Thomas storyline and its aftermath is a little rough around the edges.

That said, the Drew Johnson art is great. Ron Randall helps on many of these issues and his stuff is solid. And that Johns/Guedes story from Action #850 is wonderful. Hopefully, DC will reprint the Gates/Igle stuff which comes right after.



SUPERGIRL VOL. 1: REIGN OF THE CYBORG SUPERMEN TP
Written by STEVE ORLANDO
Art by BRIAN CHING and EMANUELA LUPACCHINO
Cover by EMANUELA LUPACCHINO
Supergirl moves to National City! As Kara Danvers, high school student, Supergirl must balance her life as a superhero with her new life on Earth. But some demons from her Kryptonian past are coming back to haunt her, and Kara will find herself face to face with her father, the sinister Cyborg Superman! Collects SUPERGIRL: REBIRTH #1 and SUPERGIRL #1-6.
I am hoping the sales for this Rebirth trade are brisk so DC has continued faith in the comic. And I am thrilled the Rebirth special is included. Hopefully there will be a cover gallery in the back given the wonderful variants on all these issues.

Not a bad month!

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Supergirl #8

I need this issue. And I need it NOW.

I've been waiting since the beginning of Rebirth for both cousins meeting. Becoming a family again.

It doesn't help I've been reading back Post-Flashpoint SG issues and I've remembered how much I miss Linda Lang.

Add a potential Kara/Babs friendship, and the beginning of an arc that will hopefully mean the return of the Legion and I'm happy. And the Wild West references make it sound as a crazy, fun arc.

Supergirl Being Super 3

That summary sounds sinister. A part of me hopes that she finds her cousin safe and sound, fully remembers her origins and claims her rightful position as the world's first and greatest hero. But I'm afraid you're right and she'll find Kal dying or dead.

The Superman books sound good. I suppose we're about to definitely say goobdye to the New 52 status quo. I wonder how Clark and Lois will go about explaining their marriage and their ten-year-old kid. Maybe Oz will mindwipe their Daily Planet co-workers? Or there will be a partial reality change like Infinite Crisis partially changed History?

Jonathan must be thinking the hero life is utterly crazy.

Superwoman 9
I'm intrigued about the fate of Lois and Lana.

It's nice to see Perkins back. I hope she has a chance to write Kara again.

Super Sons

Okay, DC. You had a foolproof concept: a book featuring Earth-2's World's Finest. And you ruined it. Please, I beg you, DON'T mess another more SuperBat Family team-up.

Trinity 8

Clark revealing his origin to Bruce and Diana? Interesting. I wonder what he will say about their counterparts.

Funny how Superman: Secret Origins is still canon. That origin story was really well-made. The Man of Steel lovers will disagree, of course. But as far as I'm concerned, it blended neatly the best bits of Silver Age Superboy in with the good parts of the Post-Crisis reboot.

Supergirl trades

I find... weird that DC simultaneously reprints stories of the fifth and seven volumes. Will not people be confused when they see books featuring two completely different Supergirls on the shelves? And of all Supergirl's eras they are reprinting issues narrating an origin that was retconned out literally two issues later?

Oh, well. More Supergirl on the shelves is a good thing.

At least Action Comics #850 was a very good issue. And at that point in time Kara had already left her "jerkass brat" phase behind and was in the path to become a worthy hero.

Addendum: Have you watched the latest DC Super Hero Girls episode?

Anonymous said...

Supergirl #8!! MUST GET!! And HOPEFULLY there's more than just a couple panels of the Supercousins first
meeting, I mean there's GOT to be alot of questions from both. Will have to see how this goes.

Superwoman #9 cover... EERIE! Something tells me I won't be able to get much sleep for awhile after seeing
THAT image. As for the trades of the pre-New 52 Supergirl, it's a bit of a tossup. On one hand, Supergirl's
popularity is nothing short of phenominal, but as you pointed out Anj, it's still right in the spot where
DC didn't know what to do with that character, and handed her to a multitude of writers who were in the same
boat.

Regarding previous anon's comment of Season 3 Episode 1 of DCSHG... CHECK IT OUT! My geek heart literally
exploded at the dialog!

Oh, and something else someone sent me awhile back, but I wanted to share with all Supergirl lovers out there
https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/429738-shes-super


Regards

Anonymous said...

We live in a world where Lena Luthor shows up in a tv show and a cartoon. Mind-boggling.

Anj said...

Yes indeed I have watched DCSHG. Come back here tomorrow!

Anonymous said...

Same bat-time and same bat-channel? :)

Just kidding. I'll be back tomorrow.

Martin Gray said...

Avery Ho of New Superman is one of the people of Central City who gained super speed a few months back in the pages of the Flash.

That Trinity quote about 'what had happened to him' makes it sound for all the world like this New 52 Superman is back and unmerged.

It's funny, I enjoyed Being Super #1 when it came out – but I'm less and less interested in reading further issues - too much teenage stuff, not enough superheroic looniness.

Anonymous said...

BG and SG ought to be besties from the git-go simply because their older male avatars seem to be consistently at each other's throats....I like that contrasts and besides I've always thought the Bronze Age of Comics was unforgivably light on stories highlighting "The World's Finest Lady's Auxiliary"....(yeah I know sexist Imagine the Kara-Babs team's reaction to that headline...WHAM!!)
:)

JF