To look at all the solicits, you can head here:
https://www.gamesradar.com/DC-comics-july-2024-solicitations-covers/
https://www.gamesradar.com/DC-comics-july-2024-solicitations-covers/
The big news, of course, is the DC event called Absolute Power. I'll post the first issue solicit below but the basic gist of the story is that an evil trinity of Amanda Waller, the Brainiac Queen, and Failsafe have teamed up. Somehow they have removed the powers of all the super-heroes. And now they are ready to take over.
I have to say that I am sick of Amanda Waller as a near omnipresent and somehow an incredibly effective super-villain. She is everywhere. And seeing the heroes depowered isn't a great hook for me. I read the books because these characters are powered!
There are a couple of interesting trades coming out, specifically the Superman Elseworld stories collected and the first omnibus of the Superman Triangle era. Sadly, no Supergirl book or mention (at least as far as I could see).
Absolute Power #1
Written by MARK WAID
Art and cover by DAN MORA
Variant covers by JIM LEE, STEPHEN BLISS, PUPPETEER LEE, CHRIS SAMNEE, CHRISSIE ZULLO, and more
THE TRINITY OF EVIL HAS WON.
DC’s epic summer event kicks off with a bang, as the combined might of FAILSAFE and the BRAINIAC QUEEN has at last given Amanda Waller the ability to steal the metahuman abilities of every hero and villain on planet Earth. As chaos erupts in the streets and a massive misinformation campaign sways public opinion to her side, the founder of the Suicide Squad methodically targets each superhero dynasty one at a time, starting with SUPERMAN. But even in this darkest of hours, a resistance is forming…and BATMAN is out for vengeance. It’s a shocking blitzkrieg across the globe that is decades in the making—and will shape the course of the DC Universe for years to come! Brought to you by the superstar talents of MARK WAID and DAN MORA—it all starts here!
Waid and Mora are a fantastic team. Seeing Mora drawing an event incorporating the whole DCU is a big draw. But I just don't think it is going to be enough. And seeing Batman seeking vengeance somehow is a negative draw.
Zod running an alien army?
I don't know the overall aim of this book.
My Adventures With Superman #2
Written by JOSIE CAMPBELL
Art by PABLO M COLLAR
Cover by LI CREE
Variant cover by MEGAN HUANG
After the mysterious android is captured by a covert military group, Superman realizes he can’t just bust through a government facility and take what he wants. No, this looks like a job for mild-mannered journalist Clark Kent!
I thought the animated series was good, not great. I'll probably sample this book. I have liked almost everything Josie Campbell has written so I am guessing this will be fun.
Absolute Power #1
Written by MARK WAID
Art and cover by DAN MORA
Variant covers by JIM LEE, STEPHEN BLISS, PUPPETEER LEE, CHRIS SAMNEE, CHRISSIE ZULLO, and more
THE TRINITY OF EVIL HAS WON.
DC’s epic summer event kicks off with a bang, as the combined might of FAILSAFE and the BRAINIAC QUEEN has at last given Amanda Waller the ability to steal the metahuman abilities of every hero and villain on planet Earth. As chaos erupts in the streets and a massive misinformation campaign sways public opinion to her side, the founder of the Suicide Squad methodically targets each superhero dynasty one at a time, starting with SUPERMAN. But even in this darkest of hours, a resistance is forming…and BATMAN is out for vengeance. It’s a shocking blitzkrieg across the globe that is decades in the making—and will shape the course of the DC Universe for years to come! Brought to you by the superstar talents of MARK WAID and DAN MORA—it all starts here!
Waid and Mora are a fantastic team. Seeing Mora drawing an event incorporating the whole DCU is a big draw. But I just don't think it is going to be enough. And seeing Batman seeking vengeance somehow is a negative draw.
On to the super-titles.
Superman #16
Written by JOSHUA WILLIAMSON
Art and cover by JAMAL CAMPBELL
Variant covers by NATHAN SZERDY, FRANK CHO, and PABLO VILLALOBOS
“ABSOLUTE POWER” TIE-IN AND THE RETURN OF JAMAL CAMPBELL TO THE SUPERMAN SERIES!
Superman is down…but not out. Waller and her forces are winning. While the Fortress of Solitude has become the home base for the survivors, the injured and powerless Superman must go on a dangerous mission into… THE MAGICAL REALM. GUEST-STARRING ZATANNA!
I am pretty interested in seeing Jamal Campbell drawing Zatanna. And the Fortress being a sort of sanctuary makes good sense.
Written by JOSHUA WILLIAMSON
Art and cover by JAMAL CAMPBELL
Variant covers by NATHAN SZERDY, FRANK CHO, and PABLO VILLALOBOS
“ABSOLUTE POWER” TIE-IN AND THE RETURN OF JAMAL CAMPBELL TO THE SUPERMAN SERIES!
Superman is down…but not out. Waller and her forces are winning. While the Fortress of Solitude has become the home base for the survivors, the injured and powerless Superman must go on a dangerous mission into… THE MAGICAL REALM. GUEST-STARRING ZATANNA!
I am pretty interested in seeing Jamal Campbell drawing Zatanna. And the Fortress being a sort of sanctuary makes good sense.
But I guess we have to see how this plays out. I wonder if after House of Brainiac (which has been fantastic so far) this Absolute Power arc will be a let down.
Action Comics #1067
Written by GAIL SIMONE and RAINBOW ROWELL
Art by EDDY BARROWS and CIAN TORMEY
Cover by EDDY BARROWS and DANNY MIKI
SUPERMAN AND THE CHALLENGE FROM THE STARS
SUPERMAN FIGHTS FOR TWO WORLDS! When a massively powerful alien race makes EARTH their ARENA, Superman must stand ALONE against impossible challenges that threaten locations all around the world AND the lives of those he loves! A not-to-be-missed EPIC tale of Superman’s STRENGTH, WIT, and RESOURCEFULNESS in an early stage of his public career!
Plus, New York Times bestselling author RAINBOW ROWELL makes her DC debut and takes on the most powerful woman in Superman’s life…LOIS LANE!
I don't know if I think of Gail Simone as a Superman Star. I did very much enjoy her run on Birds of Prey and Wonder Woman. So I will be interested to see how she handles an early Superman and his story. I'm a big fan of Eddy Barrows but he rarely is able to finish a whole story.
Action Comics #1067
Written by GAIL SIMONE and RAINBOW ROWELL
Art by EDDY BARROWS and CIAN TORMEY
Cover by EDDY BARROWS and DANNY MIKI
SUPERMAN AND THE CHALLENGE FROM THE STARS
SUPERMAN FIGHTS FOR TWO WORLDS! When a massively powerful alien race makes EARTH their ARENA, Superman must stand ALONE against impossible challenges that threaten locations all around the world AND the lives of those he loves! A not-to-be-missed EPIC tale of Superman’s STRENGTH, WIT, and RESOURCEFULNESS in an early stage of his public career!
Plus, New York Times bestselling author RAINBOW ROWELL makes her DC debut and takes on the most powerful woman in Superman’s life…LOIS LANE!
I don't know if I think of Gail Simone as a Superman Star. I did very much enjoy her run on Birds of Prey and Wonder Woman. So I will be interested to see how she handles an early Superman and his story. I'm a big fan of Eddy Barrows but he rarely is able to finish a whole story.
I have been pretty underwhelmed with Rainbow Rowell's She-Hulk book. I hope the Lois story will be more exciting and gripping.
Batman/Superman World’s Finest #29
Written by MARK WAID
Art and cover by DAN MORA
Variant covers by BJÖRN BARENDS and DAVID LAFUENTE
The grand finale to “Impossible” is here, and it…well, it is as insane as you think it would be. First of all, we’ve got this big DOOM-MITE guy over here, check him out…he’s about to eat Batman and Superman! What would that even taste like? Let’s hope our heroes never let him find out, as the Man of Steel and the Dark Knight save the fifth dimension from IMPLOSION or die trying!
Fascinating cover.
Batman/Superman World’s Finest #29
Written by MARK WAID
Art and cover by DAN MORA
Variant covers by BJÖRN BARENDS and DAVID LAFUENTE
The grand finale to “Impossible” is here, and it…well, it is as insane as you think it would be. First of all, we’ve got this big DOOM-MITE guy over here, check him out…he’s about to eat Batman and Superman! What would that even taste like? Let’s hope our heroes never let him find out, as the Man of Steel and the Dark Knight save the fifth dimension from IMPLOSION or die trying!
Fascinating cover.
I hope we get to see unfettered Mora in the wackiness of a 5th dimension.
Power Girl #11
Written by LEAH WILLIAMS
Art by EDUARDO PANSICA and JÚLIO FERREIRA
Cover by YANICK PAQUETTE
Variant covers by TERRY DODSON and INHYUK LEE
Forever alone?! Dating is hard, especially if you’re Metropolis’s breakout hero Power Girl. Will an innocent date with the mysterious Axel be just what Paige needs to get her groove back? Or are there some skeletons in her suitor’s closet waiting to be set free?
I'll never complain about a Yanick Paquette cover.
Written by LEAH WILLIAMS
Art by EDUARDO PANSICA and JÚLIO FERREIRA
Cover by YANICK PAQUETTE
Variant covers by TERRY DODSON and INHYUK LEE
Forever alone?! Dating is hard, especially if you’re Metropolis’s breakout hero Power Girl. Will an innocent date with the mysterious Axel be just what Paige needs to get her groove back? Or are there some skeletons in her suitor’s closet waiting to be set free?
I'll never complain about a Yanick Paquette cover.
So a date issue? After the silent 'cat' issue? And the 2 part 'Ferimbia' story? When will we get a Power Girl adventure story? Or an end to the Bio-Ship story?
I probably won't be collecting this book when this comes out.
Kneel Before Zod #7
Written by JOE CASEY
Art by DAN McDAID
Cover by JASON SHAWN ALEXANDER
Variant cover by LUCIO PARRILLO
As General Zod finally takes full command of his alien legion of super-villains, the Emerald Empress strikes! If Zod can withstand her insidious attack, the cosmic secret of the Eye will finally be revealed! The road to Zod’s ultimate vengeance continues!
As a Legion fan, a 'present day' Emerald Empress is a good way to get me excited.
Written by JOE CASEY
Art by DAN McDAID
Cover by JASON SHAWN ALEXANDER
Variant cover by LUCIO PARRILLO
As General Zod finally takes full command of his alien legion of super-villains, the Emerald Empress strikes! If Zod can withstand her insidious attack, the cosmic secret of the Eye will finally be revealed! The road to Zod’s ultimate vengeance continues!
As a Legion fan, a 'present day' Emerald Empress is a good way to get me excited.
Zod running an alien army?
I don't know the overall aim of this book.
Written by JOSIE CAMPBELL
Art by PABLO M COLLAR
Cover by LI CREE
Variant cover by MEGAN HUANG
After the mysterious android is captured by a covert military group, Superman realizes he can’t just bust through a government facility and take what he wants. No, this looks like a job for mild-mannered journalist Clark Kent!
I thought the animated series was good, not great. I'll probably sample this book. I have liked almost everything Josie Campbell has written so I am guessing this will be fun.
And that's it! What do you all think about Absolute Power? Am I being a curmudgeon for not being excited?
That seems like a pretty cliche "event." Superman loses his powers about every other month so we know by now that even without powers he's going to be brave and so on. And then in the end they'll all get their powers back. Maybe some will be different for a few issues but eventually it'll all go back to status quo. Yawn.
ReplyDeleteDid you read Gail’s short Action run with John Byrne? I really liked it.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate what Mora is trying to do with the Acrion cover, but it doesn’t work for me, there isn’t enough obvious Superman and Batman on there.
Isn't this "DC versus Vampires" all over again? Except this time Supergirl is seemingly way in the background and depowered again...I bet she doesn't even rate as luggage this time.
ReplyDelete:)
JF
At this point, it's obvious Leah Williams is just winging it with Power Girl, forgoing any semblance of a meaningful plotline in favor of even more "day in the life"-style filler. Sure, some is fine, but it shouldn't be most of the book! It's at odds with what anybody expects from a Power Girl (or any superhero) book. After all the filler, quirkiness, unresolved plot lines, inconsistencies, preferential focus on other characters over the protagonist and slice of life over actual heroics (in a superhero comic), what's left? Not Power Girl. This issue will be just as meandering and misguided as the rest of this run.
ReplyDelete