The DC Comics solicits for April came out last week and I just get the sense that DC is in a sort of transition period for the Super-titles.
I have listened to interviews with Phillip Kennedy Johnson and he doesn't sound like someone who is on a long run on the Superman titles. We are coming out of Future State and it looks like some of the stories there are being touched upon now. And it seems like he is moving away from the Metropolis-centric Bendis feel to these titles.
Also, Supergirl isn't mentioned pretty much anywhere so I think Kara is on a bit of a hiatus.
For those interested, here is a link to all the solicits:
https://www.gamesradar.com/dc-april-2021-solicitations-and-covers-revealed/
On to the super-books.
Action Comics #1030
written by PHILLIP KENNEDY JOHNSON
art by DANIEL SAMPERE
backup story written by
BECKY CLOONAN and MICHAEL W. CONRAD
backup story art by MICHAEL AVON OEMING
cover by MIKEL JANÍN
card stock variant cover by JULIAN TOTINO TEDESCO
"Warworld Rising" starts here! A new chapter in Superman's life begins as the challenges of Dark Nights: Death Metal are causing Clark Kent to feel...a change in his powers. Is it possible the Metropolis Marvel could be losing a step? His struggles in taking down the creatures from the Breach would suggest as much! If he's going to continue to protect the people of Earth, he'll have to adapt—especially with threats like Mongul out there waiting to launch their biggest attacks on the Earth yet. That's right, those are Warworld battleships just outside our orbit, and they are heading straight for us!
Meanwhile, in the Midnighter backup story, the bad boy of the Authority has to figure out what Andrej Trojan is up to in the present if he ever wants to get back to Future State and swap places with the Midnighter of 2021, whom he left stranded on Warworld.
We have had Mongul show up a couple of times back in the Bendis run. When Superman was named the Earth rep for the UP, Mongul showed up. So it is interesting that we are heading back to that ground. Now I don't know anything about Death Metal. So is Superman depowering? Or changing his powers.
I am not a huge Midnighter fan but seeing the name Andrej Trojan, the implied baddie in FS Superman of Metropolis, is a nice hook. I don't know if Future State considered the future or a possible future. But I am glad some of the ideas will be played out in the current books.
Superman #30
written by PHILLIP KENNEDY JOHNSON
art by SCOTT GODLEWSKI
backup story written by SEAN LEWIS
backup story art by SAMI BASRI
cover by JOHN TIMMS
card stock variant cover by INHYUK LEE
Superman has received a signal from distant space. An old friend is in deep trouble, and only the Man of Steel can help him. By the time Superman and his son get there, though, the alien who sent the signal is nowhere to be found, and his people appear to be enthralled by a shamanistic storyteller who warns of an ancient grudge with the malevolent Shadowbreed. This leaves Clark and Jonathan Kent to ponder just who sent them the distress message, but before they can find the answer, they'll discover that an ancient grudge still has very current consequences. Kicking off a new story line, this issue pairs Phillip Kennedy Johnson with his Future State: Superman: House of El collaborator, artist Scott Godlewski!
Meanwhile, in the "Tales of Metropolis" backup story it's...the return of Ambush Bug? Say it ain't so!
There are a lot of nice hooks in this solicit but with them all unknowns, it is hard to know what this will be. Is the 'old friend' someone we know from the DCU? Or someone new? Is the 'ancient grudge' something we know or something new?
I hope Johnson is able to lean into DC history a little bit. I like Godlewski's art so glad he is on board. And an Ambush Bug back-up is something I can get behind.
Batman/Superman #17
written by GENE LUEN YANG
art and cover by IVAN REIS and DANNY MIKI
card stock variant cover by RODOLFO MIGLIARI
ON SALE 4/27/21
In a world where Superman's rocket never reached Earth, the Dark Knight and his sidekick discover a startling rift between dimensions. On the other side? A world where Martha Wayne survived, and Bruce never grew up to be Batman! Not only that, but a strange alien has emerged from the rift who's faster than a locomotive and can leap tall buildings in a single bound...the Superman of Metropolis! When these worlds collide, the architects of this alternate history are revealed, and the only ones who can thwart their deadly experiments are the Batman and Superman of Earth-0! It's a dynamic dual-world adventure!
I didn't really like Yang's run on Superman when his identity was revealed. But I loved his New Super-Man and The Terrifics. So this sounds like a lot of fun more like the stuff I have liked. So bring this on. It reminds me of old Bronze Age tales when the heroes would visit other worlds and see other versions of themselves. Add Ivan Reis on art and this is the book I am most looking forward to!
Superman Red and Blue #2
written by CHUCK BROWN, ROBERT VENDITTI, STEPHANIE PHILLIPS, DAN PANOSIAN, and JASON HOWARD
art by DENYS COWAN, ALITHA MARTINEZ, DAN PANOSIAN, JASON HOWARD, and others
cover by NICOLA SCOTT
variant cover by BRIAN BOLLAND
variant cover by DAVID CHOE
Explore the world of Superman in a way you've never seen before. Five brand-new stories, a visual tour de force, with only the Man of Steel's signature colors. There are tales starring Clark Kent, the original Superman, including a showdown with his most tenacious foe, Lex Luthor—but there is also a great space adventure with Val-Zod, the Superman of Earth-2, going up against an amped-up version of Prometheus. And then there is Cyborg Superman, a warped reflection of the real deal, with a mission as opposite to Superman's as any could be. But no matter how out there the situation gets, it always comes back to the one man and the planet he loves and has sworn to protect—and the people he inspires, young and old.
Giving us stories starring Cyborg Superman and Val-Zod makes me hope that someone will do a story with Supergirl in this series.
Great creators listed. And a Bolland cover? Nice!
Challenge of the Super Sons #1
written by PETER J. TOMASI
art by MAX RAYNOR
cover by JORGE JIMENEZ
variant cover by SIMONE DI MEO
The boys are back! Picking up where the sensational Adventures of the Super Sons left off, the sons of Batman and Superman are back in the spotlight and ready to give evil a good spanking. But are Robin and Superboy in over their heads this time? A mysterious woman from beyond time has appeared to the DCU's favorite sons, and her arrival heralds certain doom (that's a hint, everyone) of things to come! In fact...it seems she's sent the boys on a bogus journey that they've already...returned from? Huh? What did the boys learn when they were whisked away? Why on earth do they have to save the Flash from instant death? Tune in for the first chapter in the most epic odyssey Robin and Superboy have ever been on!
Glad to see the young Sons back in action. Glad Peter Tomasi is writing them. Glad Max Raynor has a gig at DC. His stuff is great.
Wondering if Tomasi is bring them through DC history. Certain Doom and Flash's death? Are they in the Crisis?
Sort of sad that the books I am most worried about are the main Superman books. But I hold out hope!
8 comments:
The Super Sons book, you will love, it’s been a weekly digital treat, a glorious respite from Future State.
What a grim bunch of solicitations. All these extra pages, an entire new comic, and no room for Kara. I so do not care to read a Midnighter story linked to Future State.
I'm telling you guys. We need Power Girl back so she can take the characterization back they've been shoehorning into Supergirl...
I may pick up Supersons, that one looks like it could be a nice enjoyable read. Otherwise, like Supergirl, I’m on a hiatus from DC. I love a lot of these characters but don’t see anything I’d like to spend money on in most of what I’m seeing solicited.
I’d love to see Supergirl back at some point, but I haven’t enjoyed any of the current characterizations or stories since Andreyko or Orlando, so maybe being on the shelf is the best thing for now.
Cant wait to read SuperSons!
My impression with Johnson's tenure on the Superman books is that he'll pull back to only one of the titles once this initial story shakes out. I like that he's said he has no plans to immediately reset the secret identity change, or to de-age Jon. I think immediate re-sets to the status quo within a title after a creative change do nearly as much to damage continuity as line-wide reboots. Let things play out.
Like Mart, I've enjoyed what I've read of Super-Sons so far; he's well ahead of me, though, as I've been letting them build up.
And despite the talent involved -- and despite my love of anthologies! -- I just can't get excited about Superman: Red and Blue. Probably because I haven't seen a single piece of art for it that I've liked. The color scheme seems forced, and isn't easy on the eyes. Maybe I'll like it more when I see the finished product, but for now I'll pass.
I'm excited by the new Batman/Scooby Do Mysteries series with Sholly Fisch and Dario Brizuela returning. I loved Scooby Do Team Up and am looking forward to this follow up.
Kind of disappointed not seeing Legion of Super Heroes listed, especially since Bendis had hinted that Supergirl would be invited to join. As for solo Supergirl stories, in the absence of her own title for now, a series of back up stories in Action Comics seems like the ideal spot for her. I just hope there's a place for her somewhere in 2021.
Meanwhile, looking at the other solicitations, it looks like we're in for more Batman than you can shake a stick at, if that's your idea of a good time.
Super Sons sounds good.
Who the hell is "The Midnighter" and why does he merit a back up slot in Action Comics over Supergirl?? At least she'd be back at the honorable place she started in 1959...but oh no the Mensa Meeting that rules the DCU can't have anything simple can they?
JF
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