The April 2020 solicits for DC Comics came out last week and there were a couple of interesting surprises and a 'not surprised' solicit as well. There are plenty of anniversary issues and plenty of dollar facsimile comics as well. Not a bad springtime month.
Here is a link to all the solicits for you to peruse over on Newsarama:
https://www.newsarama.com/48662-dc-comics-april-2020-solicitations.html
And now onto the blog-specific solicits.
SUPERGIRL #41
written by JODY HOUSER
art by RACHAEL STOTT
cover by CARMINE DI GIANDOMENICO
card stock variant cover by DERRICK CHEW
Free of the infection and reeling after the events of Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen, Supergirl crash-lands in an area being devastated by a catastrophic storm. Suffering from a series of hallucinations and memories of her past, Kara struggles to keep her mind clear enough to save the people she swore to her cousin she’d protect. She’s got a lot to prove after endangering Smallville and all its inhabitants. Will she be able to save everyone including herself? Or is this the end for our hero?
Well it looks like we are back to Supergirl, freed of the infection which made her dark and edgy.
That means we have reached the 'redemption' portion of the Supergirl cycle of 'hero-edgy-redemption' plotlines.
As I have said I am a bit tired of this cycle. I also am a bit tired of the endless different looks at Supergirl's Kryptonian memory. Maybe we can settle on something this time?
Looking forward to see what Houser/Stott do away from a crossover.
ACTION COMICS #1022
written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
art and cover by JOHN ROMITA JR. and KLAUS JANSON
variant cover by LUCIO PARRILLO
First, Metropolis was hit with the biggest ground battle in the history of the city and barely survived. On top of that, Leviathan threw down his gauntlet for the entire world to see, and Superman revealed the truth of his identity as Clark Kent. Now the city is in a state of shock—and Clark and Conner Kent need to figure out what’s next for them and the city they protect! Guest-starring Wonder Comics’ Young Justice in a unique crossover!
I am pretty eager to see how Superman responds to seeing this Superboy, especially given the sudden absence of his own son who used the same codename.
Hoping JRJR isn't on this title too long.
SUPERMAN #22
written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
art and cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO
variant cover by BRYAN HITCH
The battle for the United Planets hits a fever pitch as the galactic conqueror Mongul beats some of the rulers of the galaxy to death and then heads for Earth! The only thing standing in his way? Superman! Meanwhile, back on Earth, the truth that Clark Kent is Superman continues to spiral out all over the world, and now the Daily Planet’s competition is gunning for his wife, Lois Lane!
Someone endangering Lois Lane after the reveal?? Impossible! #sarcasm
Maybe the competition is wondering if Lois could be objective or had an unfair advantage. So maybe it isn't a physical danger but an occupational hazard.
All that said, I wonder if this Mongul throwdown will be epic!
BATMAN/SUPERMAN #9
written by JOSHUA WILLIAMSON
art and cover by CLAYTON HENRY
variant cover by MIKE MAYHEW
“Atomic” part one! The Atomic Skull is dead. When Batman and Superman arrive on the scene of his explosive demise, they discover that this villain-turned-would-be hero was one of many people to be the subject of grisly—and sometimes fatal—experiments. But who is pulling the strings of these bizarre and unnecessary surgeries? Whom will they experiment on next? And what does one of Superman’s oldest foes, the Ultra-Humanite, have to do with this deadly mystery?
I hope beyond hope that it isn't STAR Labs again. Let's have them become good guys again.
And the Skull hasn't been seen in a while. The last time he was smitten with Lois and was a hero. So will he really be dead?
LOIS LANE #10
written by GREG RUCKA
art and cover by MIKE PERKINS
variant cover by TULA LOTAY
Armed with new information about the assassin stalking her, Lois goes on the offensive, while Renee struggles with wielding what may be the most powerful weapon of them all: the truth.
Pretty brief solicit here. How will Lois go on the offensive? Reporting on Kiss of Death's prior killings?
I am hopeful Rucka can wrap this up!
SUPERMAN’S PAL JIMMY OLSEN #10
written by MATT FRACTION
art and cover by STEVE LIEBER
variant cover by BEN OLIVER
Jimmy continues his world tour, risking his life for more of your sweet retweets, likes, and faves! Plus, the mastermind behind Jimmy’s assassination is revealed… and the insidious secret he’s willing to kill for will upend everything everywhere forever, assuming by “everything” you mean “everything in the pages of just this comic.” Also...you’ve heard of Arm-Fall-Off-Boy? Get ready to meet the entire Fall-Off-Family. What connection do they have to all this nonsense? Probably not much, but hey, you never know.
Arm Fall Off Boy!
Every Legion fan is giggling right now.
That alone tells you all you need to know about how awesome this book is!
LEGION OF SUPERHEROES #6
written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
art and cover by RYAN SOOK
card stock variant cover by ALEX GARNER
Meet the latest crop of Legionnaires: Gold Lantern! Monster Boy! Doctor Fate! Each a new face in the DC Universe, each with dark secrets, and each with a reason to be part of the Legion’s goal to bring the values of the Age of Heroes to the 31st century. And one of them has a surprising connection to Jon Kent, a.k.a. Superboy. All of this and the tensions between the United Planets and the Legion of Super-Heroes have gone public! The future of the DC Universe continues to unfold!
Given Nabu is immortal, I like seeing a Dr. Fate here. Monster Boy must be the feral/cat-like looking Legionnaire in the group pics. And Gold Lantern ... hmmm ... what emotional spectrum is that ring on?
I have been thrilled with this book so far. So bring it on!
EVENT LEVIATHAN: CHECKMATE #1
written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
art and cover by ALEX MALEEV
variant cover by BRYAN HITCH
From the award-winning creative team behind last year’s Event Leviathan comes the next surprising chapter in DC Comics’ deadliest saga. Leviathan has agents and acolytes all over the world—but what is the secret behind its power? The planet’s last, best hope to infiltrate Leviathan may be this motley collection of spymasters, now teamed up to try to take back the world that was stolen from under us all! Green Arrow, the Question, Talia al Ghul and other unlikely allies converge to tackle Leviathan as members of the new Checkmate—but who is the surprise hero behind this team? Big clues to the future of the DC Universe start here!
Another Event Leviathan comic! A surprise hero behind the team? Maybe another mystery? Another #LeviathanTheory set of posts. And you know how much I loved the Leviathan Theory posts here.
I am going to guess the hero is the Simonson Manhunter, Paul Kirk.
DC DESIGNER SERIES: SUPERGIRL BY MICHAEL TURNER MINI STATUE
based on artwork by MICHAEL TURNER
sculpted by IRENE MATAR
This Designer Series mini statue brings the popular art of Michael Turner to 3-D life. Based on the iconic cover to Superman/Batman #13, this statue is now featured at a 1:10 scale and at an affordable price point. $95.00 US.
Not a bad statue and not a bad price point.
I think I need a new piece for the shrine. So expect to see me get this!
What did I miss?
Interesting that the wannabe hero Atomic Skull is big, it seems at least something of the Superwoman series survived.
ReplyDeleteIs that a female Dr Fate? I loved Inza as fate, so this would give me good memories.
Is the Leviathan Special the one with the debut of the sexiest, most chrming lackey EVER?
Interesting, Anj. You say you will probably get this statue, but I recall you didn't like the recent Kotobukiya bishoujo statue because you thought it was too sexy or sexual (I think). Just wondering what you find different here? Same costume, and the bishoujo one was not posed especially provocatively or anything, IMO.
ReplyDeleteThe solicitation still doesn't read great with Kara's motivation being some sort of commitment to Kal, but at least she is not infected. I'll take it.
ReplyDeleteHallucinating again, gee thats new...
ReplyDeleteJF
Supergirl #41. That's 21 issues since Supergirl had a storyline of her own. And that cover is nothing to write home about. The Derrick Chew variant is better, in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteNow that Kara is no longer infected, let's hope this "redemption" phase doesn't last too long (though I've got a feeling it probably will).
Looking through the solicitations, I see that Catwoman and The Joker are getting 80th anniversary 100 page Super Spectaculars. There is also a hardcover book due out in July (it's up on Amazon) commemorating 75 years of Superboy. Meanwhile, Supergirl's 60th comes and goes, and..............................bupkis.
Having said that, I hope the Superboy volume does well enough to encourage DC to publish more early Superboy stories, maybe in omnibus editions. I understand there has been some legal problems regarding Superboy between DC and Jerry Siegel's heirs. Maybe that's over now.
And maybe someday, we'll get Supergirl's Adventure Comics run, her 70s solo title, and her Superman Family run in some kind of permanent format.
"And maybe someday, we'll get Supergirl's Adventure Comics run, her 70s solo title, and her Superman Family run in some kind of permanent format."
ReplyDeleteI really, really want this. At one point, DC had announced a Supergirl Bronze Age Omnibus Vol. 1, but then they canceled it before publication (as they so often do).
Thanks for comments.
ReplyDeleteYes, the hallucinating Kara trying to figure out how to be a hero is the blue plate special of the redemption arcs. Hopefully it all just ends and we get back to her stories.
Would love to see the Adventure run and her solo 70s series in a book. So many of those stories are bonkers!
Personally, I like that DC is having Supergirl face the fallout of her actions as a villain. I'm no fan of the Infected story arc, but at least they're addressing the fact that the world won't just conveniently forgive the post-infected heroes in the space of a single issue. I wouldn't blame the human race for holding a somewhat cynical view of Kara, considering the number of times she's turned dark.
ReplyDelete"Seriously, folks, I was just infected with a freaky virus that makes you evil and crazy, but I'm totally okay now!"
"Uh-huh. Sure. So, what are we supposed to do when you flip out AGAIN?"
I wonder if that Superman 22 blurb -- "now the Daily Planet’s competition is gunning for his wife, Lois Lane!" -- doesn't indicate that Lois is in danger, but that the competition is trying to hire her away from the Daily Planet.
ReplyDelete