Wednesday, September 26, 2018

December 2018 Solicits




December's solicits have come out and it will be a brief month with few books. DC is taking the last week of December off for new books. The holidays will keep the racks bare. That week's books will be out in January, a 5 Wednesday month to begin with.

Here is a link to Newsarama's coverage:
https://www.newsarama.com/41866-dc-comics-december-2018-solicitations.html

And here are the books which grabbed me!

SUPERGIRL #25
written by MARC ANDREYKO
art by EMANUELA LUPACCHINO, JILL THOMPSON, BRAD WALKER and ANDREW HENNESSY
cover by DOUG MAHNKE and JAIME MENDOZA
variant cover by AMANDA CONNER
It’s a super-sized issue of SUPERGIRL!

Supergirl and Krypto go back to the “scene of the crime”—the ruins of Krypton! With Z’ndr hitchhiking, Supergirl is not only there to find clues on who the killers of Krypton are, but to pay her respects to her dead family and friends for the first time since she left the planet. But a mysterious caretaker whose duty is to protect Krypton’s remnants at all costs attacks and won’t let Kara through! As if that weren’t enough, the Kryptonian powerhouse and her super-powered pooch are stricken with radiation poisoning from the dead planet and must also fight their inner demons!
This anniversary issue also includes two backup stories! First, witness the thoughts and fears of Krypto as he is affected by the radiation poisoning from the wreckage of Krypton. Then, learn more about our new hitchhiker, Z’ndr Khol, as he scavenges a booby-trapped ruin in a remote corner of the galaxy in an off-the- wall space adventure!

A double sized issue only 5 issues into the new run? And is the double size because of the 'anniversary' number of 25?

Either way, Kara heading to the site of Krypton smacks a bit of Silver Age. I am hoping Doug Mahnke's cover showing her cachectic because of Kryptonite poisoning.

Who is Z'ndr (Xander?)? And who is the guardian at the site?

A Krypto a solo story will always be appreciated. And I can't wait to see Brad Walker and Emanuela Lupacchino drawing Supergirl again.



SUPERMAN #6
written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
art and cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO
variant cover by ADAM HUGHES

It’s the moment you never thought you’d see—Superman must team with General Zod to defeat Rogol Zaar or risk banishment for all three in the cold prison of the Phantom Zone forever. Whatever you do, do not skip to the last page—the end of this issue changes the lives of Superman and his family forever as the Unity Saga continues!

Ugh ... Zod and Zaar. Two guys I wouldn't mind seeing less off.

And a family member forever changed?? What will Jon look like?

I hope Bendis pulls this off.



ADVENTURES OF THE SUPER SONS #5
written by PETER J. TOMASI
art by CARLO BARBERI and ART THIBERT
cover by DAN MORA
The Super Sons need a break!! After the space adventures of the past few issues, Jon (Superboy) and Damian (Robin) take what they think is a peaceful diversion to what winds up being a miracle-machine planet (as tends to happen in deep space). There, they get a look at their potential future selves, including a surprising preview of parenthood!

This sounds like a fun read. A Miracle Machine planet! A look at the future? It all sounds so Silver Age. I can't wait.

These guys will be missed.


MARTIAN MANHUNTER #1
written by STEVE ORLANDO
art and cover by RILEY ROSSMO
variant cover by JOSHUA MIDDLETON

No matter what you know about J’onn J’onnz, you’re not prepared for this! The acclaimed team of writer Steve Orlando and artist Riley Rossmo (BATMAN/ THE SHADOW, BATMAN: NIGHT OF THE MONSTER MEN) reteam for a reinvention of the Manhunter from Mars in this twisted, unexpected series. Back on Mars, J’onn was about as corrupt as a law officer can be, and when a reckoning comes for his entire society, he’ll get a second chance he doesn’t want or deserve! One shocking murder, and an unexpected fragment of the Mars he lost, will change his life—and the course of the Earth—forever!

This one grabbed me. That 'corrupt cop' idea that is a bit of a downer. But I have liked what Orlando has done elsewhere. So I guess I'll be checking it out. I am hopeful.


SUPERGIRL VOL. 5: THE HUNT FOR REACTRON TP
written by GREG RUCKA and STERLING GATES
art by PERE PEREZ, JAMAL IGLE, MATT CAMP and others
cover by MICHAEL TURNER

Kara Zor-El at last meets with the man who murdered her father: Reactron! In this volume, Supergirl’s vendetta against Flamebird comes to a boil. Plus, Supergirl encounters Nightwing. Collects Action Comics #881-882, Supergirl #44-50, SUPERGIRL ANNUAL #1 and a story from SUPERMAN SECRET FILES 2009 #1. 

And then the continued reprinting of the Gates/Igle volume is happening. This is a good one, bringing in the New Krypton issues and some origin stuff. That Secret Files story is wonderful. And I have reviewed all of those here! So reread them and then see what a younger Anj thought!

Thankfully nothing crushing to buy around the holidays!

7 comments:

  1. A double-sized Supergirl issue? I've walked into Earth-2 without realizing it? Wow.

    I can't wait to see Lupacchino drawing Kara again. Though Something about that cover bothers me. Maybe Supergirl's waist looks too thin or her limbs too long...

    Superman teaming up with Zod? Maybe that penciled page uploaded by Bendis in instagram featuring the whole Superman family facing Zod came from that issue? I'm intrigued.

    A Miracle Machine planet? Brainy, what have you done now?

    Martian Manhunter... On one side, I'm happy for J'onn, and Orlando has delivered some good stuff. On the another hand... a corrupt cop? Seriously?

    And Sterling Gates' run continues to be reprinted! Hoooorayyyyy! I was waiting for it.

    Talking about Gates' run, I'm sure you have seen Sy-Fy's Supergirl stories for beginners. Somewhat surprised at some choices (Neither Kupperberg run nor Red Daughter of Krypton make it to the list but Reign of Tomorrow and Escape from the Phantom zone do?) but I'm happy to see Gates' run being listed.

    https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/a-pull-list-starter-kit-for-supergirl

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  2. There have been a few big 25th issues of late, eg Batgirl and Titans (that one was excellent).

    I expect Krypto's nightmares will involve Kolli, Brigette and Chelsea snubbing him...

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  3. I had to look up the word "Cachetic" on-line, oh for the days when "advanced kryptonite poisoning" was a signal for the colorist to opt for a green skin tone.

    :)

    JF

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  4. So Doc Shaner is drawing #24 but none of the stories in #25? It sounded on Twitter like he was gearing up to do a run of issues and not just a fill-in book. Actually his Twitter bio still says he’s working on Supergirl, and he tweeted a few days ago that he’s been picking up back issues. Maybe the solicitations are wrong and someone else is drawing #24.

    Probably just be just a coincidence of syllable count, but I wonder if Z’ndr Khol is related to Rogol Zaar?

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  5. OMG Kolli!

    Hoping Shaner is just taking an issue off to get a head start moving forward.

    Does Z'ndr Khol sound rather Tamaranian to anyone else?

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  6. So what's the word on Doc Shaner and Supergirl? I was also wondering about that, so earlier today I contacted him via his "ask me anything" Tumblr page. This was his reply:

    "...I can't say much, except for that this is all planned. I was originally brought in to draw #24 as a one-off, but I will be back soon. It's just not for me to share the details on that. #25 is a super-sized issue and for good reason. A lot of exciting stuff on the way."

    And that's that! I appreciate very much that he was able to get back to me so quickly.

    I hope Krypto is okay. That looks like his cape Supergirl is holding on the cover of issue 25.

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  7. Good research, Prof. And Z’ndr Khol sounds totally Tamaranian, Khol for Kohl.

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