Wednesday, March 22, 2023

DC Comics June 2023 Solicits

The solicits for DC's comic slate for June came out last week and there are some interesting things listed. That includes a couple of cancelations on the Bat side of things. Tom King will be taking over Wonder Woman so I won't be collecting that book for the first time in many years. 

Here is a link to the books:
https://www.gamesradar.com/dc-comics-june-2023-solicitations-covers/

The Superman books really seem to be firing on all cylinders lately so it looks like I'll have to squirrel away a few more pennies. On to those books.

ActionComics #1056
Written by PHILLIP KENNEDY JOHNSON, DAN JURGENS, and DORADO
Art by RAFA SANDOVAL, LEE WEEKS, and YASMIN FLORES MONTANEZ
Cover by STEVE BEACH
Variant covers by RAFA SANDOVAL and DAVID TALASKI

A shocking new character makes their debut as the thrill-packed “Speeding Bullets” concludes! Superman and Metallo must reluctantly join forces to stop the Cyborg Superman. With Tracy Corben’s life (or at least her humanity) hanging in the balance, the Super-Family fights to keep Metropolis standing. Meanwhile, Lois and the staff of the Daily Planet set out to uncover the mysterious leader—and shocking origin—of Blue Earth!


I'm loving this story so far and the return of Hank Henshaw as the Cyborg is a great move. Is the 'shocking new character' the leader of Blue Earth? Or is it someone we should be making guesses about? Intriguing. Could we see someone like Earth Man in the present?


Superman #5
Written by JOSHUA WILLIAMSON
Art and cover by JAMAL CAMPBELL
Variant covers by JOHN CASSADAY and JORGE FORNES
1:25 variant cover by HAYDEN SHERMAN
1:50 variant cover by MIKEL JANIN
DC Pride variant cover by W. SCOTT FORBES

Silver Banshee is back—and more dangerous than ever! Given a massive power upgrade by Lex Luthor’s archenemies, Silver Banshee’s scream rocks Metropolis, and Superman must stop her from destroying his city while also saving her life. Be ready for the shock ending that stabs this series in its heart!


Silver Banshee as Jimmy's girlfriend is just about as perfect a Silver Age pastiche as you can get. Amazing! Will this be classic Banshee or will we see the New 52 version who was so prominent in the Supergirl book?

And that last sentence? Could the Banshee somehow remember the Kent secret identity and scream 'Clark Kent'? Will she attack Lex?

Batman/Superman World’s Finest #16
Written by MARK WAID
Art and cover by DAN MORA
Variant cover by LEE BERMEJO

Batman and Superman versus machines! A.I. villains and heroes—Shaggy Man, G.I. Robot, Red Tornado, and Chemo among them—have launched a global cyberattack alongside Newmazo’s soldiers. Batman, Superman, Robin, and Metamorpho, the Element Man, are unprepared for the onslaught. With millions of lives on the line, the World’s Finest team must find a way to pull the plug before it’s too late!


Newmazo?? God bless Mark Waid.

I hope that part of the machines include the Metal Men. Because my guess is Dan Mora's Metal Men will look awesome. 

This book keeps on delighting. This sounds appropriately delightful.

Adventures of Superman Jon Kent #4
Written by TOM TAYLOR
Art and cover by CLAYTON HENRY
Variant covers by ZU ORZU and AL BARRIONUEVO

The faces are familiar, but the situation is a nightmare. Jon Kent finds himself on an Earth where his friends and loved ones are at war—a place where his personal heroes fight each other for control of the world. What will he do when he discovers that this world’s version of his father, Clark Kent, is on the verge of becoming a dictator?


I suppose lots of super-titles will eventually get an All-Star Superman #1 cover homage. Nicely done. 

Pitting Jon against evil versions of his father might grow tiresome. But this is a mini-series. 

Hoping this title is a bit crisper than the Son of Kal-El book. 

Steelworks #1
Written by MICHAEL DORN
Art by SAMI BASRI
Cover by CLAY MANN
Variant covers by JON BOGDANOVE and SAMI BASRI

FORGING THE FUTURE!
The Metropolis of the future is here today, but can it survive a terrorist who’s out for revenge against its builder—John Henry Irons, a.k.a. Steel—and his company, Steelworks…and who possesses secrets that could undo everything John has worked so hard to build?
While John’s professional life is firing on all cylinders, his personal life is even better, as his on-again, off-again relationship with Lana Lang might be back on, permanently. Now he must decide whether it’s time to give up being Steel once and for all. But does John even know who he would be without his superhero identity? How does the other Steel—John’s niece, Natasha Irons—feel about his momentous decision? And does any of that matter if Steelworks crumbles around him when he lacks the superpowers to fight back? Writer Michael Dorn (the voice of Steel in Superman: The Animated Series) teams up with artist Sami Basri (Harley Quinn, Catwoman) to bring you the next chapter of Steel’s saga in this not-to-be missed six-issue miniseries!


I have to admit I was not expecting this. 

I don't know if Michael Dorn has writing chops so hope he has a good editor to smooth out any snags. I have like Sami Basri's art on everything I have seen so that's a nice touch. 

Bringing back Lana made me smile. As a Lana fan I can't remember the last time we saw her for a prolonged period if time. 

Drop in a cover by Jon Bogdanove and I am pretty interested.

Superboy The Man of Tomorrow #3
Written by KENNY PORTER
Art and cover by JAHNOY LINDSAY
Variant cover by RICARDO LOPEZ ORTIZ
1:25 variant cover by TOM REILLY

Superboy’s team-up with the Cosmoteers is yielding rocky results. While they’re taking down many of Dominator X’s labs, their team dynamics leave much to be desired. Can this new quartet pull themselves together when Dominator X unleashes his most monstrous creation yet…the hulking Infinity?!


The Cosmoteers? I guess it's better than Ravers.

I hope Dominator X is truly a Dominator. I'll take anything even Legion-adjacent these days!
Superman: Lost #4
Written by CHRISTOPHER PRIEST
Art by CARLO PAGULAYAN and JASON PAZ
Cover by CARLO PAGULAYAN and JASON PAZ
Variant cover by LEE WEEKS
1:25 variant cover by RAFAEL SARMENTO

Can even Superman withstand being pushed past the point of emotional and psychological endurance? Marooned on a comet in uncharted space, the Man of Steel reflects on his humble Smallville origins as crushing emotional fatigue threatens to end his journey back—trauma which results in Lois’s struggle to reconnect with the virtual stranger in her own home.


The first issue of this mini-series really hit home for me. So I am interested to see how Christopher Priest fills in the gap. Superman was gone for 20 years but in the first issue that was one page. Now we get to see this journey. 

I suppose this is a story of hope and determination. I am looking forward to seeing where this all goes.

What did you all think?

3 comments:

Professor Feetlebaum said...

So now it's Wonder Woman's turn to get Tomkinged. How many pages into the first issue will it be before Diana starts cussing like a drunken sailor? I may never know, because I will not be buying the book. DC probably considers Wonder Woman more important than Supergirl or Adam Strange, so maybe King will be more restrained.

The art should be good. King always gets the best artists.

William Ashley Vaughan said...

Looking forward to more of Waid and Mora's wonderful World's Finest book. Just finished the latest issue which is terrific with a priceless Supergirl guest shot. Waid and Mora need to do a Supergirl/Batgirl World's Finest title.

John (somewhere in England) said...

Good suggestion from William Ashley Vaughan. At the moment there is no Supergirl title and no Batgirl title; and Batgirls is coming to an end in June. An opportunity for a new Supergirl/Batgirl(s) series to plug the gap?