The DC solicits for August came out and there are a number of things that stood out to me. You can check out all the books over on Newsarama here:
https://www.newsarama.com/45229-dc-comics-august-2019-solicitations.html
One thing I will say is that I don't have much interest in the Super Sons novels or the Miller/Romita Superman Year One, so no coverage of that here.
For me, this is definitely the summer of Leviathan as I am all in on this plot. For one, it is fresh and new. As a grizzled fan, I love anything that true feels innovative. And this crossover event, a sort of street level, not galactic/universal, feels very new.
As it is the year of the villain, the title logos of the super-books are all getting busted up, an effect I always like. We also get Lois and Jimmy!
Add to that a reset on the Supergirl book and the summer can't get here soon enough.
On to the books.
SUPERGIRL #33
written by MARC ANDREYKO
art by EDUARDO PANSICA and JULIO FERREIRA
cover by EDUARDO PANSICA
card stock variant cover by DERRICK CHEW
After a year in space solving the mystery of Krypton’s demise, Supergirl returns to Earth to discover that everything she knew as Kara Danvers is gone! Plus, the usurper Brainiac-1 has set his sights on the unsuspecting Girl of Steel – and his plans are far from benevolent! ON SALE 08.14.19
So Kara is back home. But all of Kara Danvers is gone?
Is Andreyko erasing the 2 years of stories we got from Steve Orlando and Jody Houser? Seems wrong. I was hoping we'd pick up that continuity. Maybe I am ringing the alarum too early.
I like Brainiac as a villain for Supergirl given she truly lived through the Kandor event.
Let's hope she stays on Earth, isn't a rager, and acts the hero.
ACTION COMICS #1014
written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
art by SZYMON KUDRANSKI
cover by BRANDON PETERSON
variant cover by BEN OLIVER
Lex Luthor comes home to Metropolis in this “Year of the Villain” tie-in issue! What does he have up his sleeve? Some very interesting offers for the woman behind the city’s invisible mafia…offers that no one could refuse! Plus, what is the secret of the Red Cloud? Ask Lex – he knows! Don’t miss this huge chapter in both “Year of the Villain” and EVENT LEVIATHAN!
Luthor steps away from the Legion of Doom and comes back to Metropolis? Yes please.
More Invisible Mafia and Red Cloud? Please sir, may I have more?
Love this cover too! Jumps out at you!
SUPERMAN #14
written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
art and cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO
variant cover by ADAM HUGHES
Lex Luthor is back in Metropolis- – and he’s ready to wreak havoc! First stop, the most dangerous woman in the DC Universe: Lois Lane! Alone, her family a galaxy away, will Lois be tempted by Apex Lex’s offer? What does Lex have that this reporter can’t turn away from? Don’t miss this shocking new twist in the Superman mythos!
Another interesting solicit.
So Superman and 'family' are out in space. Perhaps the Unity Saga is still happening in the summer?
And I can only suppose that the offer is something of a 'universal password', giving Lois unfettered access to all information.
I love when Lex and Lois spar.
EVENT LEVIATHAN #3
written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
art and cover by ALEX MALEEV
variant cover by JAY ANACLETO
From the award-winning team of writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Alex Maleev, it’s DC’s biggest whodunit in years! The world’s greatest detectives – Batman, Green Arrow, Lois Lane, Plastic Man, the Question and Martian Manhunter – have gathered to solve the mystery behind the true identity of Leviathan’s leaders and the destruction of the world’s top intelligence agencies! Red Hood is their leading suspect – and he is on the loose! Plus, the Silencer takes her shot! This mystery will unleash a new evil on the DC Universe!
If Leviathan is Red Hood, I'll eat a bug and post it.
What I like about this solicit is that the main book sounds like a crime novel. We've got a team of great detectives all trying to solve the mystery. Yes, Martian Manhunter and Plas are there. But this feels like a street level yarn. Love it.
I have this figured out. This time I'm right.
LOIS LANE #2
written by GREG RUCKA
art and cover by MIKE PERKINS
variant cover by YASMINE PUTRI
Famed writer and reporter Lois Lane never worries about speaking truth to power – so what’s she hiding from the most powerful man on the planet (and her husband), Superman? Investigating a widening international conspiracy, Lois puts herself in the crosshairs with backup from an unlikely new ally from the streets of Gotham City.
I don't know if this is a side story or if this is linked to Leviathan.
I hope the new ally is Spoiler because that would be cool. A news reporter working with someone named Spoiler? The jokes write themselves.
Plus, I love Steph and would love to see her and Lois interact.
SUPERMAN’S PAL JIMMY OLSEN #2
written by MATT FRACTION
art and cover by STEVE LIEBER
variant cover by BEN OLIVER
Only Jimmy Olsen knows what Superman’s secret superpowers truly are – and now those mysteries will finally be shared with you! And only you. Don’t tell anyone. And Jimmy won’t have any of his pal’s super-abilities to help him get out of his latest jam as he hits the dark and dirty streets of Gotham City!
This looks like a bit of a farce.
I don't think it is pure comedy or satire.
I think it will be in line with the Olsen hijinks of the Silver Age. Silver Age pastiche by James Olsen?
Excellent.
BATMAN/SUPERMAN #1
written by JOSHUA WILLIAMSON
art by DAVID MARQUEZ
Batman cover by DAVID MARQUEZ
Superman cover by DAVID MARQUEZ
variant cover by LEINIL YU
blank variant cover
Up in the sky, in the dark of the night, trust no one – for the Secret Six walk among us. Spinning out of the devastating events of the Batman Who Laughs, Superman and Batman are together once more in an all-new monthly series – and they’re facing a terrifying new threat that could strike from anywhere. The Dark Knight and the Man of Steel must journey into the depths of Gotham City to learn which of their fellow heroes has been transformed into the horrifying horseman of their most dangerous and deranged foe ever. Our heroes will need to fight to survive, but an even more dangerous question lurks in the shadows: Can Superman and Batman even trust each other?
I am not a big fan of The Batman Who Laughs. So the premise that this is our World's Finest duo hunting down corrupted heroes doesn't really grab me.
Adding in a 'can they trust each other' wrinkle for a team-up book also doesn't grab me.
But the creative team does.
Hoping for the best.
SUPERMAN: UP IN THE SKY #2
written by TOM KING
art by ANDY KUBERT and SANDRA HOPE
cover by ANDY KUBERT
Available to comics shops for the first time! En route to Rann, Superman must face an intergalactic pugilist in an epic boxing match, then save an alien family from certain doom – if they can help him first! These stories were originally published in SUPERMAN GIANT #5 and 6.
I think I am in for these.
No Walmart close enough for me to buy these when they first came out.
Like the creative team.
They will be completely new to me.
Not a bad month!
What did I miss?
"One thing I will say is that I don't have much interest in the Super Sons novels or the Miller/Romita Superman Year One, so no coverage of that here."
ReplyDeleteMeh. I don't blame you. Neither Miller nor Romita have earned my trust when it comes to Superman.
On Supergirl's book. First, I do NOT buy she has been one year away. Second, everything she knew as Kara Danvers is gone? Oh, God, it sounds like another "ignore everything" soft reboot.
I'm not opposed to Kara facing Brainiac, but I'd very much rather have someone build her Rogues up.
On the upside, her book isn't being sidelined during an event.
Action and Superman sound intriguing. What may be Luthor offering? And why would Lois consider his offer?
I don't buy Red Hood is Leviathan. They wouldn't reveal the true culprit early on.
"And Jimmy won’t have any of his pal’s super-abilities"
But I want Porcupine Jimmy!
"I am not a big fan of The Batman Who Laughs."
Mr. "Bask in my Edginess" bores me to tears. Also, Superman and Batman can't trust each other? How original. Corrupted/brainwashed heroes? How original.
Talking about lack of creativity... apparently O'Connor's Suicide Squad script had a brainwashed Supergirl as one of the antagonists, but it sounds like a different character is filling a similar role in Gunn's version.
https://thegww.com/exclusive-the-suicide-squad-audition-sample-scene-possibly-reveals-first-plot-details/
WB is SO clueless. It isn't a wonder the DCU was trounced by the MCU. Let's hope the new people in charge of the movies is less tone-deaf.
If you include Batman/Superman, that is basically a continuation of The Batman Who Laughs, and... ugh. The Batman Who Laughs character is going to go more DC-wide... I've been reading it and it doesn't make me happy.
ReplyDeleteIt isn't clear yet how much Event Leviathan will be spilling over into other books vs. self-contained. In August, "Leviathan" only shows up in the solicitation text in the Event book and in Action, but it's a 6-month long title so it may later spill into Batgirl, or Batman or Detective titles.
I'm quite happy we're going to see more of the Red Cloud and Invisible Mafia!
And the Year of the Villain will be underway, which is kind of dragging almost every DC title into the current Justice League/Lex Luthor story space. I think Event Leviathan may touch upon it. DC says the YOTV books can be enjoyed individually. But if this does lead to large changes in the DC Universe, which continues to be whispered about, eventually there's going to some critical "crisis" series, maybe spinning out of Doomsday Clock.
I'm also planning to skip the Superman Year One mini.
T.N.
“Supergirl returns to Earth to discover that everything she knew as Kara Danvers is gone!”
ReplyDeleteTo be fair to Andreyko, from the Year of the Villain one shot and preview for this week’s Action Comics, the DOE has been destroyed as an entity, by Leviathan, which would undoubtably have affected the DOE created Kara Danvers identity.
Once again, a shame that Supergirl is so much at the whim of the main superman titles, but this has ever been the case. Fingers crossed that we have some form of return to the Orlando/Houser set up by the end of Event Leviathan
I'm being dim, no doubt... what makes you fear Andreyko may be ignoring Hauser and Orlando. It says 'gone', but not 'never happened'.
ReplyDeleteI like a lot of what I've seen from Williamson and Marquez but the latest Superman/Batman book will just annoy me, what with suspicion, corruption and the ruddy stupid Batman Who Laughs and his annoying font. Pass.
Otherwise, lots of good stuff here!
Just what we need a soft reboot from the people who have been driving down the book's sales with this meshugginah "Lost in Space" storyline. Its like giving the feature a homeopathic cure.
ReplyDeleteJF
Overall I haven't like this darker grittier take on Supergirl in the comics post DC Rebirth hope it changes soon because DC acts like aside from her CW Supergirl tv series they don't care about the character in the current comics
ReplyDelete