written by CHUCK DIXON and SCOTT BEATTY
art and cover by MARCOS MARTIN and ALVARO LOPEZ
Determined to join the ranks of crime-fighters against the wishes of her police-captain father, Barbara Gordon dons a caped costume to become Batgirl, and must overcome Batman’s skepticism while taking on archvillain Killer Moth. Collects BATGIRL: YEAR ONE #1-9.
ON SALE 02.20.19
$34.99 US | 7.0625” x 10.875” | 240 PAGES
FC | ISBN: 978-1-4012-8793-1
This is a pretty great comic, and should be on any Batgirl fan's shelves, if it somehow wasn't already there. I'm not sure what "Deluxe Edition" means exactly, as this looks like a pretty substantial package in terms of price and length, and I know the Batgirl: Year One series wasn't so long that it couldn't have previously been collected with Robin: Year One. I'm also not sure what's going on with the toes of Batgirl's boots in the image above, either.
written by MAIRGHREAD SCOTT
art and cover by PAUL PELLETIER and NORM RAPMUND
...
You can take the Batgirl out of Gotham City, but you can’t take Gotham out of the Batgirl! Politics gets personal as the race for Congress in Gotham City heats up, leading to civil unrest in Barbara’s new neighborhood—as a new villain begins to make themselves known!
ON SALE 01.02.19
$3.99 US | 32 PAGES
FC | RATED T
BATGIRL #31
written by MAIRGHREAD SCOTT
art and cover by PAUL PELLETIER and NORM RAPMUND
...
In this issue, it’s Batgirl for Congress! Plus, masked assassins and awkward exes! Barbara Gordon volunteers to campaign for an up-and-coming reformer candidate who wants to take on the GCPD. That puts Barbara in a tough spot against her father—police commissioner James Gordon. And just when things couldn’t get any more awkward, a former flame reenters Barbara’s life. Personal angst and a masked super-villain hunting a mystery target. It’s gonna be a long day, Babs.
ON SALE 01.30.19
$3.99 US | 32 PAGES
FC | RATED T
Well, that new costume has yet to grow on me...
And I suppose that's kind of ironic, given how closely it resembles the one Marcos Martin and company drew her in during Batgirl: Year One, which you can see was pretty clearly an inspiration for the new one, but I think the cowl vs. domino mask and bat ears makes all the difference there.
These solicits were interesting because they reminded me that Barbara Gordon was, once upon a time, a member of Congress, something I don't think I've seen referenced anywhere in...forever, I'm going to say.
written by TONY ISABELLA
art by EDDY NEWELL, MIKE HUDDLESTON, OCTAVIO CARIELLO and others
cover by EDDIE NEWELL
The world’s a very different place from the one schoolteacher Jefferson Pierce once knew, and Black Lightning isn’t the same hero he was. Older and wiser, Black Lightning resurfaces with a ferocious new look and a dangerous edge in a city desperately needing a hero. Collects Black Lightning #1-13 and a tale from DC Universe Holiday Bash #2.
ON SALE 02.20.19
$19.99 US | 352 PAGES
FC | ISBN: 978-1-4012-8799-3
I'm a little surprised to see this series being reprinted, and also not at all surprised, given the fact that there's now a Black Lightning TV show and there are only so many extant Black Lightning comics. I've only read one issue of the series, which I found in a back issue bin and bought because Eddy Newell drew it; Newell is from, or at least lived for some time, in Ashtabula, Ohio...my home town!
I kind of like that costume, and prefer it to the various skintight spandex one's the character usually wears. Not only does it look like a more modernized version of his original duds, but it actually has a bolt of black lightning integrated into its design. I think that's pretty necessary in a Black Lightning costume in the 21st century, but then, that's just me (I also think his bolts should be of black-colored lighting, or at least be of a purple "black light" color).
I bet if you changed the red of this costume into the more familiar light, electric blue color of other Black Lighting costmues, and maybe smoothed the '90s out of it a bit, that would be a pretty great black Lightning costume. The need for a domino mask would depend on whether or not Jefferson Pierce has a secret identity or not; I lost track.
Oh, and at 350-pages for $20, this seems like a hell of a deal. Sure, you could probably assemble the whole series for less than $20 is you were diligent in searching back-issue bins, but then you'd have to mess around with a bunch of bags and boards.
That is all.
written by PETER J. TOMASI
art by DOUG MAHNKE and JAIME MENDOZA
cover by DOUG MAHNKE
variant cover by BRIAN STELFREEZE
In the catacombs under Paris, Henri Ducard is not going to sit and wait for the death that’s coming for everyone who helped to train Batman…he’s going to wrestle it to the ground and put a bullet between its eyes! Good plan—but what if it just gets right back up? Can even Batman save him then?
ON SALE 01.16.19
$3.99 US | 32 PAGES
FC | RATED T
Damn, that is one scary Batman that Doug Mahnke drew on the cover...!
I'm curious to see how this differs from John Byrne and Jim Aparo's "The Man Deaths of The Batman" arc, which was about someone killing all the people who helped train Batman, as surely Tomasi would have been familiar with that story's existence (Fun fact: That was one of the first trade paperback collections I ever bought, back when those were still weird and rare novelties...it cost me all of $3.95)
Oh, and note who's drawing the variant cover for this issue: Former Shadow of The Bat cover artists Brian Stelfreeze. I look forward to seeing how his Batman has changed in the last 20 years or so.
written by CHUCK DIXON, EVAN DORKIN, PAT McGREAL, FABIAN NICIEZA and others
art by EDUARDO BARRETO, NORM BREYFOGLE, DAVE GIBBONS, KEVIN MAGUIRE and others
cover by BRIAN BOLLAND
In this long-forgotten tale, Mr. Mxyzptlk and Bat-Mite battle across the entire Multiverse, and almost every character you can think of is along for the ride! Plus, when a cosmic storm passes over planet Earth, it brings a mysterious plague that nearly kills the entire male population, and the only two men who survive are Superman and Lex Luthor! Collects Conjurors #1-3, Flashpoint (1999) #1-3, Superman and Batman: World’s Funnest#1, JLA: Created Equal #1-2 and Green Lantern: 1001 Emerald nights #1.
ON SALE 02.20.19 | $34.99 US | 432 PAGES
FC | ISBN: 978-1-4012-8791-7
I was just talking about this the other day, in reference to Norm Breyfogle's work. He drew the Flashpoint miniseries. I've only read about half of these, but I'm going to assume it's worth investing in for the World's Funnest story alone. Between that and Norm Breyfogle drawing The Flash, I think this will be a wise investment, even if the stories I'm unfamiliar with aren't all that great.
written by GRANT MORRISON
art and cover by LIAM SHARP
...
When the Earth goes up for sale on the alien black market, it’s up to the Green Lantern Corps to bust up “The Slave Lords of the Stars” in the latest space saga from Grant Morrison (MULTIVERSITY) and Liam Sharp (WONDER WOMAN)! With the Justice League frozen by Gamma Gong tech, Earth ends up on the auction block, and Volgar Zo hosts a menagerie of the universe’s deadliest despots and criminals: Steppenwolf, Queen Bee, the Dominators and much, much worse. Hal Jordan leads a squad of Lanterns into the fray—and someone’s going to pay the ultimate price before this case gets closed.
ON SALE 01.09.19
$3.99 US | 32 PAGES
FC | RATED T+
I'm at least as interested in the work of Grant Morrison as I am disinterested in Hal Jordan, so I was planning on trade-waiting this series. Of course, that was before I saw that awesome cover by Liam Sharp. Now I'm a little torn. Mention of the Gamma Gong and the promise of Morrison writing the Justice League again only further push me toward not waiting a day longer than I have to.
HEROES IN CRISIS #5
written by TOM KING
art by CLAY MANN
cover by TREVOR HAIRSINE
variant cover by RYAN SOOK
The secrets of the DC Universe are hacked! Sanctuary wasn’t supposed to keep records, but now that the A.I. is compromised, superhero secrets are leaking all over the ’Net. Booster and Harley set aside their differences to focus on who they believe is the real killer (assuming one of them isn’t lying, that is). Meanwhile, Batman and the Flash continue to investigate the mysterious murderer. The answer can be found in Sanctuary…but is it safe to go digging in the crime scene?
ON SALE 01.30.19
The "'Net"....? Who calls the Internet the "'Net"? Is it really that hard to just type two extra syllables, "in" and "ter"? This solicitation seems like it was written in the mid-1990s.
written by TIM SEELEY
art and cover by FREDDIE E. WILLIAMS II
He-Man is beset on all sides—by enemies and allies alike. If he helps Superman use the Nexus, he may save Earth from ever falling to injustice. But Skeletor has a marvelous trick up his sleeve! The battle rages, but who will prevail?
ON SALE 01.02.19
$3.99 US | 6 of 6 | 32 PAGES
FC | RATED T
So it looks like He-Man has stolen Captain Marvel's dumb white costume from back when he was going by "Marvel" and Freddie Freeman had taken up the mantle of "Shazam." Well, I suppose "Shazam!" is a lot easier to say than "By the power of Grayskull, I have the power!"
written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS and DAVID F. WALKER
art and cover by JAMAL CAMPBELL
...
DC’s biggest, newest mystery starts here!
When a fight between Superman and Mongul crashes into a small Northwestern town, Naomi (last name?) begins a quest to uncover the last time a super-powered person visited her home—and how that might tie into her own origins and adoption.
Follow Naomi’s journey on a quest that will take her to the heart of the DC Universe and unfold a universe of ideas and stories that have never been seen before. Join writers Brian Michael Bendis, David Walker and breakout artist Jamal Campbell in Wonder Comics’ massively ambitious new series and star…NAOMI.
ON SALE 01.23.19
$3.99 US | 32 PAGES
FC | RATED T+
Brian Michael Bendis sure seems to be writing a lot of comics now, doesn't he? Like, a lot even for Brian Michael Bendis? This is part of his recently announced personal imprint Wonder Comics, and seems to be the sole book featuring a brand new character. I'm curious about it.
written by JOHN RIDLEY
art and cover by ALEX DOS DIA
Academy Award-winning screenwriter John Ridley (12 Years a Slave, Let It Fall) examines the mythology of the DC Universe in this compelling new miniseries that reframes iconic moments of DC history and charts a previously unexplored sociopolitical thread as seen through the prism of DC Super Heroes who come from traditionally disenfranchised groups.
This unique new series presents its story as prose by Ridley married with beautifully realized color illustrations from a selection of exciting illustrators and comics artists. Alex Dos Diaz provides art for #1, which follows the story of Jefferson Pierce, the man who will one day become Black Lightning, as he makes his way from being a young track star to a teacher and, ultimately, to his role as a hero.
Future issues focus on characters such as Karen and Mal Duncan, Tatsu Yamashiro and Renee Montoya.
Extensively researched and masterfully executed, THE OTHER HISTORY OF THE DC UNIVERSE promises to be an experience unlike any other. You may think you know the history of the DC Universe…but the truth is far more complex. THE OTHER HISTORY OF THE DC UNIVERSE isn’t about saving the world—it’s about having the strength to simply be who you are.
PRESTIGE FORMAT
ON SALE 01.30.19
$7.99 US | 1 of 5 | 64 PAGES
APPROX. 8.5” x 10.875”
The Other History of the DC Universe, huh? The idea of reliving DC history through the points-of-view of heroes of color, or, um, "the prism of DC Super Heroes who come from traditionally disenfranchised groups" is a pretty cool idea. The most immediate problem I see with this, however, is that DC doesn't seem to have a history of the DC Universe at the moment, let alone room for an "other" history. Like, if DC history/continuity weren't so infinitely flexible, this might be a lot more compelling, but since everything seems currently up in the air, I don't know. This might have been a better story to tell pre-Flashpoint, or post-Doomsday Clock.
The second problem? Even though it is Ridley's name that will be selling this project, it appears that there is still some effort being put into using star characters, hence Black Lightning, Detective Renee Montoya, Katana and, um, Bumblebee and Herald (Bumblebee at least has a high-profile among fans of DC Super Hero Girls). These then are all "modern" heroes, of the current generation or so. Would it be more compelling to see the Golden Age or Silver Age through that prism? But then, if Bumblebee and Herald seem obscure-ish, can you imagine DC building issues of a prestige series around the likes of Amazing Man, Flying Fox, Tsunami, Tom Kalmaku and so on.
The big problem, for me though, is that this is illustrated prose, not comics. Ugh. I can't speak for all superhero fans, obviously, but the reason I like superheroes is that they star in comic books, so this sounds pretty unappealing as a read, as curious as I am about the project. I have read and enjoyed the comic book-shaped illustrated prose books I've read before, but those were written by Neil Gaiman and illustrated by either Charles Vess or Yoshitaka Amano, and I don't know how good Alex Dos Dia is, but that single image of Black Lightning shown above doesn't fill me with hope that Dia is on par with Vess or Amano.
written by SHOLLY FISCH
art and cover by DARIO BRIZUELA
Scooby and Shaggy can escape from trouble faster than anyone…except the greatest super-escape artist in the universe, Mister Miracle! But can even Mister Miracle and his super-strong wife Big Barda help the gang—and the Earth—escape an invasion of monsters from Apokolips? And free their teammates from the clutches of the merciless Granny Goodness before Daphne and Velma are transformed into Granny’s latest Female Furies?
ON SALE 01.02.19
$2.99 US | 32 PAGES
FC | RATED E
Is it wrong that I kinda hope that our heroes can't rescue Daphne and Velma from the clutches of the merciless Granny Goodness until after they are transformed into Granny's latest Female Furies...? Because I really want to see what they might look like, and what their Fury names and powers might be.
Oh, and apparently there are two issues of Scooby-Doo Team-Up this month, the other being a Black Lightning issue.
written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
art and cover by PATRICK GLEASON
...
Superboy! Wonder Girl! Robin! Impulse! Amethyst! They’re all united in YOUNG JUSTICE #1, the debut issue of a brand-new series that also introduces new heroes Teen Lantern and Jinny Hex!
When the nightmare dimension known as Gemworld invades Metropolis, these teen heroes reunite to deal with the situation—but they’re shocked to discover the battle may be the key to the return of Conner Kent, a.k.a. Superboy! This mix of fan favorites and new legacy heroes will be the center point for some of the biggest goings-on at DC! As if that weren’t enough, Bendis reunites with all-star artist Patrick Gleason (SUPERMAN, ACTION COMICS, GREEN LANTERN CORPS) to bring the new heroes of DC’s Wonder Comics to life!
ON SALE 01.09.19
$4.99 US | 40 PAGES
FC | RATED T+
Well this was pretty unexpected, given that Flaspoint so hopelessly scrambled all of these characters that I'm not sure how on Earth reuniting Robin Tim Drake, Superman's clone The Kid/Kon-El/Conner Kent and Impulse Bart Allen back together is even possible, even in superhero comics. I'm also not sure that Brian Michael Bendis is the one to do it, but I'm glad the attempt is being made. I assume they will just have to completely ignore teh New 52 Teen Titans and the New 52 Amethyst stories, maybe...? If this works, no one--well, few people--will be as happy as I, as those are some of my favorite characters, and just about everything that's happened to them for, like, decades now has been negative. Hell, Tim Drake's Robin costume is even much, much less terrible than, like, his last eight costumes!
I'm not sure who this "Teen Lantern" character is, but I have to assume it is not this guy--
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