October 2017 Solicits

The Supergirl news and reviews have been coming so fast that it has been a couple of weeks since the DC Solicits were released. And the October solicits look pretty incredible. So sorry for the delay. If you want to look at all the solicits, you can head here:

https://www.newsarama.com/35405-dc-comics-october-2017-solicitations.html

And now here are the books that grabbed me.

SUPERGIRL #14
Written by STEVE ORLANDO
Art and cover by JOSE LUIS
Variant cover by STANLEY “ARTGERM” LAU
Supergirl meets the New Super-Man! To help get her amplified powers under control, Supergirl will need to travel to China and train under I-Ching and Kong Kenan for help. But when an international threat hits the city before her training is complete, is Supergirl ready to save the world?

First off, I love the cover, an homage to Superman #205.

And I really like the idea of the Superman family acting like a family, co-starring in each other's books. A Supergirl with amped up powers? Interesting.

Too bad we don't have Robson Rocha on art. I thought Robson was going to be the regular artist.On to the rest of the book!

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GOTHAM CITY GARAGE #1
Written by JACKSON LANZING and COLLIN KELLY
Art by BRIAN CHING
Cover by RAFAEL ALBUQUERQUE
Variant cover by DAN PANOSIAN
A new series inspired by the DC Collectibles statue line! It’s been decades since Governor Lex Luthor turned Gotham City into a modern utopia, saving his people from the devastation that made the rest of the continent a wasteland. But his city isn’t paradise for everyone. If the Lexes network misfires, and a citizen wakes up and steps out of line, the Bat and his minions are brutal in restoring the status quo. So when young Kara Gordon, whose ridealong tech has never functioned optimally, rushes headlong into the Freescape, she’s shocked to find Gotham City Garage—where new friends might become family, if she lives long enough.

GOTHAM CITY GARAGE #2
Written by JACKSON LANZING and COLLIN KELLY
Art by LYNNE YOSHII
Cover by JENNY FRISON
Gotham City Garage strategist Barda Free is determined not to let the new kid slow them down. But when her team rolls into trouble in Clayface Valley, will Kara be the only thing standing between them and sudden death?

With Bombshells being dropped, maybe I should give another book based on a statue line a shot. This sounds like Akira or Mad Max meets DC Superhero Girls. I am grabbed by the concept of Kara Gordon, Supergirl as Batgirl's sister. That alone makes me intrigued. I have said I'm not a fan of the waist tattoo. But I didn't like the Bombshell Supergirl outfit either. It's all about the story.

ACTION COMICS #989
Written by DAN JURGENS
Art by VIKTOR BOGDANOVIC
Lenticular cover by NICK BRADSHAW
Variant cover by NEIL EDWARDS and JAY LEISTEN
“THE OZ EFFECT” part three! The startling revelation of Mr. Oz’s origin has stopped the Man of Steel dead in his tracks. With Superman distracted by disasters looming around the world, Mr. Oz has the time to confront Lois Lane.

ACTION COMICS #990
Written by DAN JURGENS
Art by VIKTOR BOGDANOVIC
Lenticular cover by NICK BRADSHAW
Variant cover by NEIL EDWARDS and JAY LEISTEN
“THE OZ EFFECT” part four! If Superman refuses to join Mr. Oz’s cause, maybe Superboy will! The mysterious villain hits Superman where it hurts when Oz and Jon join forces. But the stakes are raised when the Last Son of Krypton is forced to choose between his son and saving his adopted home planet.

ACTION COMICS #991

Written by DAN JURGENS
Art by VIKTOR BOGDANOVIC
Lenticular cover by NICK BRADSHAW
Variant cover by NEIL EDWARDS and JAY LEISTEN
“THE OZ EFFECT” part five! After being revealed as [REDACTED], Mr. Oz makes his last moves against the Man of Steel and his family and leaves the Man of Tomorrow wondering what other secrets and lies await him in the future as “The Oz Effect” comes to a close.

We finally learn who Mr. Oz is. I love this cover, an homage to All Star Superman #10. But getting to the end of this story makes me very happy. Who will it be??

SUPERMAN #32
Written by PETER J. TOMASI and PATRICK GLEASON
Art by DOUG MAHNKE and JAIME MENDOZA
Cover by PATRICK GLEASON
Variant cover by JORGE JIMENEZ
“IMPERIUS LEX” part two! As the conflict continues, Superman teams with Lex Luthor to bring peace to a leaderless and warring Apokolips as a new warrior enters the battlefield: Lois Lane, female fury. May Granny Goodness have mercy on all their souls...

SUPERMAN #33
Written by PETER J. TOMASI and PATRICK GLEASON
Art by DOUG MAHNKE and JAIME MENDOZA
Cover by PATRICK GLEASON
Variant cover by JORGE JIMENEZ
“IMPERIUS LEX” part three! Steppenwolf, field general of Apokolips, enlists Superman’s son Jon into his Canine Cavalry to stop Superman from helping Luthor reclaim the throne once held by Darkseid.

Looks like we’ll be picking up the God-Killer storyline from earlier in this title. Lex leading Apokolips is a fascinating turn, even then. And anytime I see Fourth World characters, I’m happy. And Lois as a Fury … well, I’ll have to wait and see.

SUPER SONS #9
Written by PETER J. TOMASI
Art and cover by JORGE JIMENEZ
Variant cover by DUSTIN NGUYEN
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for details. Includes a code for a free digital download of this issue.
“Planet of the Capes” part four! Superboy and Robin were training to become the next Superman and Batman—but they never signed up to be the saviors of the multiverse! Ready or not, the boys have their work cut out for them as the endless alien armies of Yggardis descend upon our young heroes!

Loving this book. The boys being thrust into a Crisis-sized threat is funny. They are so inexperienced. They haven’t gelled as a team. How will they win??

SUPERWOMAN #15
Written by K. PERKINS
Art by STEPHEN SEGOVIA and ART THIBERT
Cover by KEN LASHLEY
Variant cover by RENATO GUEDES
“SUPERMAX” part two! It’s a clash of incredible power as Superwoman and Supergirl struggle to contain the might of Maxima! But with Maxima’s origin revealed, and a startling new villain looming on the horizon, do our heroes actually need to save Maxima...or be saved by her?

Perhaps the solicit I am most interested in. I loved K.Perkins update of Maxima when she was on Supergirl. This looks like a more classic Maxima than the young princess Kara befriended. And, as I said, I love the Superman family starring in each other’s books.

NEW SUPER-MAN #16
Written by GENE LUEN YANG
Art by BRENT PEEPLES and RICHARD FRIEND
Cover by PHILIP TAN
Variant cover by BERNARD CHANG
“Equilibrium” part two! Kenan’s battle with the Suicide Squad ended in disaster, and when the New Super-Man of China comes to, he wakes up in...Gotham City? All-Yang’s plan to corrupt our hero and show him the true nature of China’s destiny stands revealed!

The idea that the evil I Ching might be called ‘All-Yang’ is just about perfect. I am hoping this book sticks around!

DC DESIGNER SERIES BOMBSHELLS BY ANT LUCIA BUMBLEBEE AND SUPERGIRL ACTION FIGURES
Inspired by the art of Ant Lucia, the new DC Designer Series Bombshells Action Figure line continues with Bumblebee and Supergirl, as seen in the hit comic-book series! These action figures capture the spirit of the Bombshells line and come with their own character-specific accessories!

Definitely not for me. I’m not a fan of this costume enough to grab this for the collection. But if you like this outfit, it looks like a great figure.

So a pretty good month!

Review: Action Comics #984

Action Comics #984 came out this week and was another incredible issue, wrapping up the Revenge storyline in a very entertaining and satisfying way. I really feel like this was a big blockbuster movie of an arc. There was tremendous action. There were incredible character moments. There was a reclamation of a supervillain who I was tired of seeing. And best of all, there was the return of some Superman mythos, something that will be fascinating to follow.

Writer Dan Jurgens really weaved a wonderful story as the motivation of the villains completely flipped halfway through the story, keeping me very engaged and on the edge of my seat. I said it last issue and I'll say it again. This is the best General Zod story I have read in about 20 years. I have been bored with Zod prior to this arc where he suddenly became a deadly, strategic, and somewhat sympathetic character.

After seeing Jack Herbert and Viktor Bogdanovic play with all the Superman family, we get Patrick Zircher's take. The art here is stunning. As always, Zircher gives the proceedings a cinematic feel, delivering a well-paced and gorgeous book.

And we get more Mr. Oz ...

On to the book.

Review: DC Comics Bombshells #31

DC Comics Bombshells #31 is the penultimate issue of this title and the penultimate issue of me collecting this title. I have been talking about dropping this title for a while. The series is coming to an end next month. There is a new title coming out shortly thereafter but I think I am out. The stories have become too meandering and too confusing. And the whole thing seems to be weighed down with the messages that Marguerite Bennett is trying to impart and proselytize to the audience.

I have said it before and I'll say it here. Tell me a good story that has a message and I'll be engaged. Have a message you want to say and then construct the story around it and everything just feels forced and I feel preached at.

And it is a shame that I am leaving because the first year of this book was brilliant. The story came first there. And it is also a shame because Supergirl has taken center stage in this last arc.

On to the book.

Review: Super Sons #6

Super Sons #6 came out last week and was just an absolute delight of a book. I have been loving this fast-paced, fun-loving look at the DCU through the eyes of these young heroes since its inception. And I have also loved how the differences between the sons, the down-to-Earth Jon Kent and the cynical assassin Damian Wayne, has been a nice catalyst for the stories. I think we definitely have seen the two boys rub off on each other in a nice way. And, of course, the frenemy aspect of their relationship has been tussle-filled blast.

Writer Peter Tomasi does his typical great job of showcasing the personalities of the two boys, with those differences seeping in at the edges. Throughout this book, Damian has come on as something of a bully, telling Jon he is doing things wrong. And we have seen Jon, at times, try to adopt some of Damian's ways. Here, we see some of that subtle bullying again. At times, I wonder why Jon would hang with Damian, unless he thinks Robin is 'cool and edgy' or is just desperate to share the super-powering side of his life with a peer. My hope, based on the cliffhanger, is that Jon will rub off a bit on Damian for once.

Jorge Jimenez's art has sizzled since issue #1 and that doesn't change here. He so effortlessly shows emotion, warping anatomy slightly to sell the feeling. When Jon is happy, you just see him exploding off the screen with an impossibly huge smile. But it his take on the Titans that grabbed me here. Great stuff.

On to the book!

Supergirl Show SDCC Trailer And News

Last weekend was the San Diego Comic Con and most of the Supergirl news revolved around the upcoming third season of the show. Search YouTube or Twitter and you'll get snippets of the many interviews and panels the cast did.

The big release for me was the sizzle trailer for the third season. That is available on YouTube here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaI6dcoRRQQ

The trailer makes it seem as if the season starts out in a dark place. We hear in a voice over say:

The decision I made, he couldn’t have made that sacrifice. But me, I couldn’t have lived with myself if I hadn’t. I will always make the decision I made. I am not a human. I tried to be but I’m not. Kara Danvers was a mistake.

It is clear that Kara is grieving over losing Mon-El, a decision she made. And her defense is to suppress her emotions, to deny her humanity, and become perhaps a colder, more calculating 'alien'.

And the scenes we see in the preview do a nice job of echoing that.

Perhaps with too many screencaps I break down the trailer.

Review: Superman #27

Last week I gushed about Action Comics #983, claiming it transported me back to a younger age. The brutal fight, the twists and turns, the Superman Family feel of that comic grabbed me. Suddenly I was young Anj again.

This week I got transported back in time again. Reading Superman #27, I felt like that young Anj again. This time it wasn't the epic action or crazy super-heroics that did it. Instead it was the lesson in civics within the issue.

I grew up in a time when comics were a place to learn lessons about good and evil. It was a place where the heroes were immaculate role models. I learned right and wrong from my parents, growing up in a stable, loving home with 'by the book' parents. But comics reinforced those lessons. Do good by people. Follow the law. You have rights but we live in a society; your rights shouldn't supercede anyone else's. This was also a time where the heroes starred in one page public service announcements talking about not running away, keeping the streets clean, and the danger of hitchhiking.

I didn't mind those lessons. I was inspired by them. In comics today, where every hero seems conflicted, where heroes kill, where 'evil is relative', where fighting/flaunting authority is the default, there are few lessons in civics or civility. (I know ... I know ... I'm old.)

This issue shows Superman and Lois taking a vacation, reminding Jon what a great country America is at its core, and teaching him a few lessons along the way. Plotters Patrick Gleason and Peter Tomasi give us a nice throwback sort of a story. And the art by Scott Godlewski is loose enough to keep the book from feeling weighed down by the material.

I loved it.

Statues, Statues, Statues

In their continued effort to make me poor, DC and other companies continue to put out Supergirl merchandise. And in an odd cosmic convergence, a bunch of new statues have all been solicited or revealed within the last few days, many at San Diego Comic Con (and thanks to blog friend Firebird for passing on the photos). I probably won't get all of these. My poor wallet!

The one I would love to get is this Tweeterhead exclusive statue of Supergirl in her Bronze Age costume flying in the clouds with Streaky. Here is the link:https://tweeterhead.com/product/supergirl-and-streaky-maquette/