DC Solicitation Sneaks: October 2024
Above-the-Board Recommendation:
DC All-In Special #1
This gets the spot simply because it marks the start of the publisher’s most significant revamp since “Rebirth.” Not only are lots of creative teams changing on multiple books, some of which I’ll talk about below, but there’s a whole new line of comics starting at DC this month. It may have taken DC a couple decades, but it looks like they’re finally doing their own “Ultimate Marvel” line with “Absolute DC.” This special is where it starts, and it comes in the wake of the “Absolute Power” event with the heroes back in control and ready to take on Darkseid as he’s come to play for all of the marbles. Scott Snyder and Joshua Williamson are co-writing this with Daniel Sampere and Wes Craig providing the art. I understand why Snyder and Williamson have been given the job, even if I’ve got… concerns that they’re going to deliver a compelling starting point. That said, there’s reason for optimism here as we’ll see in a sec.
Absolute Batman #1, Absolute Superman #1, Absolute Wonder Woman #1: Naturally these three titles are the first ones out of the gate for the Absolute line and they’ve got killer creative teams attached to all of them. Scott Snyder writing and Nick Dragotta illustrating “Batman,” Jason Aaron writing and Rafa Sandoval illustrating “Superman,” and Kelly Thompson writing and Hayden Sherman illustrating “Wonder Woman.” I’m picking all of these up when they’re collected, because even though Snyder’s work post-”Batman” has been very uneven, he’s shown that he can really do no wrong with the character. So seeing how he and Dragotta give us a take on the Dark Knight rebuilt from the ground up should be interesting. Same goes for Thompson and Sherman’s Diana; though I’ll admit to being most intrigued by Aaron and Sandoval’s Man of Steel. Mainly because the writer’s “extra” sensibilities seem like they’d be a great fit for finding absurd, over-the-top, dramatic and even comical threats for him to face.
Action Comics #1070-1073: It’s taken decades, but Mark Waid is now a regular writer on a “Superman” title! Along with Mariko Tamaki as they’ll be writing their own stories in this now-weekly title. I may be showing my age, but it’s great to see Waid finally get a shot at one of these titles after he was told he’d never have one after his and Grant Morrison’s abortive pitch back in the 90’s. So yeah, I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of threat emerges from the Phantom Zone to threaten Metropolis in the writer’s opening arc.
Detective Comics #1090: Tom Taylor and Mikel Janin taking over this title makes it an easy one for me to start reading again on a regular basis (after it’s collected in softcover). I just wish that the solicitation for this issue, about SOME NEW DARK SECRET ABOUT THE NIGHT BATMAN’S PARENTS DIED, didn’t sound like it was trying to add yet another twist on the character’s origin. Still, maybe they’ll make it an interesting one – I can’t rule it out with this creative team.
Titans #16: While Tom Taylor is leaving this title, John Layman is joining it along with new regular artist Pete Woods. The first volume of Taylor’s run is in my “To Read” pile, but quality notwithstanding, seeing Layman take over is a good incentive to stick around after he leaves. Maybe with this series he’ll finally, FINALLY get some more commercial success after it’s been eluding him in his deserving post-”Chew” creator-owned projects.
Batman & Robin: Year One #1: I know what you’re thinking. Do we need ANOTHER take on the formative years of this legendary comics partnership? Well, as is turning out to be a common thread in this round of solicitations, when it’s coming from a creative team like Mark Waid and Chris Samnee, who gave us one of the best “Daredevil” runs ever, the answer is “Yes.”
Poison Ivy/Swamp Thing: Feral Trees: This is a 48-page one-shot from “Poison Ivy” writer G. Willow Wilson and artist Mike Perkins which sees the two, uh, “ecologically conscious” characters team up. They’ve both been conscripted by the Parliament of Trees to find out what is going on in the Green, and that sounds like as good a reason for a team-up as any. Given that these two characters have environmentally-themed powers and a connection to the Green, it’s surprising that they haven’t teamed up like this before. Or if they have, I must’ve missed it. Having Wilson and Perkins show how they attempt to work together, however, should make for a good time.
DC Horror Presents: Creature Commandos #1: Timed to coincide with the arrival of the new animated series, which heralds the start of James Gunn’s new DC Cinematic Universe. This is a concept that can use all of the promotional synergy it can get as it’s been one of those oddball DCU concepts that creators have a lot of fondness for, but haven’t been able to make work for an ongoing series. Maybe this time will be the charm, as I’m actually interested in this as it’s coming from “Count Crowley” writer and Polka-Dot Man actor David Dastmalchian with the talented Jesus Hervas providing the art.
The Sandman: The Complete Shakespeare Collection: This slight collection is being presented to coincide with the writer’s 350th birthday this year. Shakespeare had a small but pivotal role in “The Sandman” as he wound up being commissioned to write two plays for Dream in exchange for the talent to write stories that would transcend the ages. How’d that go? I’d say you should just buy the entire series of “Sandman” and find out that way (you can thank me later), but if you just want to know that, this volume will have you covered. It collects the writer’s cameo appearance in “Sandman” #13, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” from “Sandman” #19, and “The Tempest” from the title’s final issue #75.
Batman/Santa Claus: Silent Knight: Wherein the Dark Knight teams up with the Jolly Old Elf. Hijinks ensue courtesy of writer Jeff Parker and artists Michele Bandini and Trevor Hairsine. Appropriately, this miniseries, which was serialized during Christmastime last year, is being advance-solicited for November 26, 2024. Why? Because doing a Christmas story in October is just plain dumb. Ask Ben Affleck if you don’t believe me.
Wonder Woman vol. 2: Sacrifice & The Flash vol. 2: Until Time Stand Still: Two to file under the, “I Need to Read the First Volumes” category. Which, coincidentally, I’ve just placed an order for prior to writing this.
Superman vol. 1: Supercorp: I said I’d give Joshua Williamson’s “Superman” a shot after (what I think was) his really well-written showdown with Lex Luthor in the pages of “Action Comics” #1050. That’ll happen in November when the first volume is reprinted in softcover. So keep your eyes peeled for my thoughts then.
Batman by Tom King Book One: King’s run on “Batman” was an inconsistent one, but it was also marked by ambition as the writer tried to do new things with the character. I appreciated that and that’s why his run is still on my shelf. This collection will give you a good idea of what to expect from it as you’ll be getting the first three storylines from the writer’s run, plus the “Night of the Monster Men” crossover, and the “Batman/Elmer Fudd” special. Which Rich Johnston of “Bleeding Cool” swears is actually amazing. He may be right, but I’m not going to re-buy all of the comics I’ve already read here just to find out.
Batman: Murderer Turned Fugitive Omnibus: I can’t remember why I never picked up any of the “Murderer/Fugitive” collections when they were originally being published. I might’ve been between jobs at that point as not picking up a storyline masterminded by the likes of Greg Rucka and Ed Brubaker was a real miss on my part. Now I have the chance to rectify that for the low, low price of $125 for 1152 pages of comics.
…
Maybe I’ll go see how much the paperback editions are going for on Amazon.
Dark Knights of Steel vol. 2: The first volume was some quality “Elseworlds”-style storytelling from writer Tom Taylor and artist Yasmine Putri. While I didn’t like it enough to go right out and pick up the concluding volume in hardcover, you can bet I’ll be getting this softcover edition as soon as it’s out.