Monday, August 4, 2025

DC Comics Solicits October 2025

The October 2025 DC Comics solicits came out a while back and there is a lot to mull over. If you want to peruse them all, you can head here:
https://aiptcomics.com/2025/07/18/october-2025-dc-comics-solicitations/

The big news is the latest big event - DC K.O - a hero versus hero tournament to find out who can handle the Omega Energy and fight Darkseid. I thought Darkseid was dead? I don't know how a beatdown of a friend can determine who is best to hold the energy? And who decides who fights who? I thought I heard somewhere it is a true bracket style tournament. 

But there is plenty of Supergirl fun this month!

On to the books.

DC K.O. #1
Written by SCOTT SNYDER
Art and acetate cover by JAVI FERNÁNDEZ
Variant covers by JIM LEE, DANIEL WARREN JOHNSON,FRANK CHO, SCOTT KOBLISH, JAE LEE, and MIKE DEL MUNDO
Face-off variant cover by BEN OLIVER
1:25 variant cover by NOOBOVICH
Bracket variant cover by DAN MORA
Darkseid variant cover by MARK SPEARS
Foil variant cover by JAVI FERNÁNDEZ
AEW Cameo variant cover by DAN MORA

The Heart of Apokolips has transformed Earth into a hellscape in preparation for the return of Darkseid! The end of the DC Universe is here!
The Justice League’s only chance to defeat Darkseid is to enter a deadly tournament, an epic and over-the-top battle royale that will surprise you! The World’s Greatest Heroes fight to become the champion to enter the ring against Darkseid, but there’s a catch…the closer you get to the Heart of Apokolips, the more it corrupts you, changes you into something dangerous.
Which DC character has what it takes to make it to the end?
Who is willing to do what it takes to win it all, even if it means taking down their friends and family?
You want to get nuts? Let’s get nuts!


This sort of explains it all. 

Any early guesses who hits the top of the pile? I'm not particularly excited about all this.

But now onto the fun stuff.

SUPERGIRL #6
Written by SOPHIE CAMPBELL
Art and cover by SOPHIE CAMPBELL
Variant covers by STANLEY “ARTGERM” LAU, BEN HARVEY, and PAULINA GANUCHEAU

Supergirl has been twisting and turning each night as she is haunted by visions of her past in her dreams. And with Halloween just around the corner, the town is getting up to all sorts of mischief while our sleepless hero stumbles through her patrols. Can Kara find the cause of her nightmares before her inner demons emerge? Find out as the nefarious Nightflame returns!


Sophie Campbell continues to show that she has a love of Supergirl history as now we get a Nightflame riff! Talk about a callback to one of the naughtiest comics from the 70s, covered by me here:

But I just have to say that has been forever since I thought the creative team on a Supergirl book liked her as a character. Campbell doesn't have to tell me. She is showing me. Incredible!
BATMAN/SUPERMAN: WORLD’S FINEST #44
Written by MARK WAID
Art by LUCAS MEYER
Cover by DAN MORA
Variant covers by JORGE FORNÉS, ADRIÁN GUTIÉRREZ, and LUCAS MEYER

Because you demanded it—the return of the Supergirl/Robin team! Road trip edition! On a covert international mission, Robin partners with the Girl of Steel… who chooses to “liven up” what’s supposed to be a discreet undercover bust!


Since World's Finest #12, the Supergirl/Robin bad date issue, I have been hoping that Mark Waid would revisit the pair. 

And now we finally get it. A road trip with Dick and Kara sounds like fun. Can't wait. 
ACTION COMICS #252
FACSIMILE EDITION
Written by ROBERT BERNSTEIN, OTTO BINDER, and HENRY BOLTINOFF
Art by AL PLASTINO, HENRY BOLTINOFF, and HOWARD SHERMAN
Cover by CURT SWAN
Foil variant cover by CURT SWAN ($6.99 US)
Blank sketch cover ($4.99)

Witness the astounding origin of the Woman of Tomorrow in this classic tale from yesterday—as Supergirl, Kara Zor-El, makes her first appearance! All this and a story revealing the criminal creation of that monstrous mechanical menace, Metallo!


I have to feel that the Supergirl cameo at the end of James Gunn's Superman has led to this explosion of Supergirl material. A facsimile edition of Supergirl's first appearance is a great addition to any Supergirl collection. Just incredible.

And with the movie happening next summer, I can imagine seeing more of these as we approach. Maybe a copy of Action Comics #285
SUPERMAN #31
Written by JOSHUA WILLIAMSON
Art and cover by DAN MORA
Variant covers by DAVID AJA, SEBA FIUMARA, ARIEL OLIVETTI, and JORGE FORNÉS

Superman and his allies have been thrown into a dangerous game to capture the Heart of Apokolips at the center of Earth. But what is the Heart of Apokolips? And how are its origins tied to Krypton?! And why doesn’t Darkseid’s Legion want Superman to find out?!


The Heart of Darkness tied to Krypton? I don't need anymore new wrinkles in Krypton's history. Rogol Zaar blowing it up instead of a natural disaster? No thanks. Evil Jor-El? No thanks.

But I trust Williamson and Mora. And a David Aja variant? Incredible.
SUPERMAN UNLIMITED #6
Written by DAN SLOTT
Art and cover by RAFAEL ALBUQUERQUE
Variant covers by MARK SPEARS, GUILLEM MARCH, TIAGO DA SILVA, and DENYS COWAN

The deadly special forces of the Kobra Kult have infiltrated the Kryptonite Kingdom, and now this sovereign nation’s only hope for survival is the man whose very presence in the kingdom is a death sentence for him: Superman! An unholy alliance is struck, a Kryptonite King is crowned, and the Vipers strike in this epic next installment of Superman Unlimited!


I have a soft spot for Kobra even if I have never really read a great story with him. (Maybe some of the Waid Flash stories?)

A Kryptonite King? What does that mean? 

This series has been an okay read so far. Maybe Kobra will kick it up a notch?
ACTION COMICS #1091
Written by MARK WAID
Art by SKYLAR PATRDIGE
Cover by RYAN SOOK
Variant covers by MICHAEL CHO, JOE QUINONES, and SKYLAR PATRIDGE

Superboy learns what it really means to be a hero when given the choice between life or death for the former hero that has been tormenting him. Will Clark have what it takes to save Smallville and find a cure? Or is the young hero in over his head?


I am curious what the relationship between Clark and Captain Comet will be. Antagonistic? Mentor/mentee? 

What could potentially kill Comet though? 

Glad Superboy is back.
ABSOLUTE SUPERMAN #12
Written by JASON AARON
Art and cover by RAFA SANDOVAL
Variant covers by JAE LEE, KRIS ANKA and MATTIA DE IULIS

No one defies the will of Ra’s al Ghul. If Superman doesn’t accept his place as the Son of the Demon, then Lazarus Corp will rain hell on the people most precious to Kal-El…the people of Smallville. So begins the invasion of Kansas!


This book just keeps getting darker. The solicits keep sounding darker. 

Give me a Superman I can root for please?
ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN: BOOK OF EL #2
Written by PHILLIP KENNEDY JOHNSON
Art and cover by SCOTT GODLEWSKI
Variant covers by RICCARDO FEDERICI, LEIRIX, and SERG ACUÑA

Superman is trapped in a far-flung future, fighting alongside one of his own descendants for an Earth he doesn’t recognize. Here, the House of El has been fractured and lost, exiled from Earth and hunted by its enemies. Can Superman reunite the Els in time to save the universe from his most powerful enemy and find his way back to his own time? Familiar faces return, and a terrifying villain makes his first appearance in Book of El’s explosive second issue!


Looking forward to this a ton, even if it means dusting off the House of El Future State book. Being thrown into the future means we'll probably see the heroes from Future State in this book. Glad we'll get some of the Super-Twins again!
KRYPTO: THE LAST DOG OF KRYPTON #5
Written by RYAN NORTH
Art by MIKE NORTON
Cover by JAE LEE
Variant cover by DAVID TALASKI

Krypto has made his way to Kansas—but there are still so many miles between him and Superboy. When he comes across a home invasion—one that a canine with superpowers might be able to help with—Krypto makes a choice that helps him become the dog he was always meant to be. A long-lost pup finally finds his way back home in this heartwarming finale…and you’ll believe a dog can fly.


I was hoping I would love this book but the second issue was quite off-putting. 

I like Krypto and I am glad we seeing so much of the pooch these days. 

I thought this was a six-issue book. Surprised to see a 5 issue finale.
SUPERMAN RED and BLUE 2025 SPECIAL #1
Written by PAUL DINI, DAN ABNETT, MICHAEL WALSH, and RAINBOW ROWELL
Art by CAITLIN YARSKY, MICHAEL WALSH, CIAN TORMEY and MORE!
Cover by CHRIS SAMNEE
Variant cover by MICHAEL WALSH

The beloved, Eisner-nominated series returns with a special one-shot to put a cap on Superman’s monumental year! Witness visions of the Man of Steel in his signature colors of red and blue brought to you by comics’ finest writers and artists. Paul Dini soars from Gotham to Metropolis for a touching tale. Meanwhile Dan Abnett (Titans) gives a reporter the Superman scoop of the century, Michael Walsh (Exquisite Corpses) makes his DC debut, and Rainbow Rowell (Runaways) revisits Lois and Clark!


This is becoming the autumn of Superman as much as the summer. Lots of good creators in this unexpected special. Interested in reading more of Rainbow Rowell handling Lois and Clark. 

And always happy to see Paul Dini.
SUPERMAN: THE KRYPTONITE SPECTRUM #3
Written by W. MAXWELL PRINCE
Art and cover by MARTÍN MORAZZO
Variant covers by JUAN FERREYRA and NIMIT MALAVIA

Superboy and Captain Marvel ride the rickety roller coaster (literally!) through the many-hued amusement park of motley meteoroids that is the Kryptonite Spectrum!
With Superman now a bit…shorter in the tooth…the Boy of Yesterday must team up with a truly Marvelous friend in a story for the ages…for all ages! What, exactly, is Nostalgia Springs? And what do Toyman and Sivana have to do with it? Find out in this great adventure—chock-full of crayons, Kryptonites, and a cruise through comics chronology!


Still don't know what to think of this book. This might be one I skip.

But that is one busy month!

3 comments:

Martin Gray said...

One thing that strikes me immediately is the use of Woman of Tomorrow rather than Girl of Steel in the Action Comics facsimile copy. Ugh!

DC KO? Zzzzzzz.

I guess the Kryptonite King is the president of the Green K country, didn’t he ask to be called ‘king’ by his lackeys in issue two? I don’t enjoy this Green K business, and the art is hideous.

Book of El and PKJ, hurray!

That Kryptonite Spectrum cover isn’t nearly as clever as it thinks it is, there’s no way having loads of foster parents trumps a dead planet.

The World’s Finest book will be gold, and I’d be all for the Blue and Red book (has Dan Abnett ever done a Superman story?) but I’d much prefer full colour.

Would it surprise you to know that of all the comics here I’m looking forward most to the Supergirl issue? I mean, Nightflame with a cover homage?!

Steve said...

That mini is by Snyder s I'll be skipping it. He honestly has never written a story I enjoy. And Kobra? He became a generic villain to me way back when they killed off his twin way too early.

Jfeer said...

Adventure #421? Campbell is bold, I'll give her that! Riffs like this off of fifty year old comics is why I insist that Starfire and Wanda Five are right around the corner...assuming this book perpetuates and I dearly wish that it does :)