July 2015 Solicitations

There’s quite a bit of chatter going on about DC at the moment. We’re a little more than a month away from their re-launch, and there are plenty of things coming that are worth talking about – new titles, new creative teams, new arcs, “new Batman,” etc. And now that we have the July solicitations, we are treated with a further look into some of these changes and new directions. And considering the final issue of Batman: Endgame is slated for release this Wednesday, the chatter is only going to increase! Add in the hype around the Batman V Superman trailer, and its clear that it’s a good time to be at DC!

For the month of the July, DC will also release Teen Titans Go! themed variant covers. After all of the solicitations, you’ll see I’ve provided the variant cover for each of the books we cover, along with a nice Best Teen Titans Go! Variant Cover poll! Make sure you vote! The winners will be announced in next week’s Upcoming Comics post, and will be included in their quarterly Best Cover poll. Voting on variant covers is something new for us, so if you’re wondering, yes, we will make-up poll for the themed variant covers we missed in January, February, and March of this year.

Alright, if you’re still with me, below you’ll find the solicitations for each issue, as well as the cover art (if DC has released it). You’ll notice that I changed up the format a little to list each title based on its release date. If I’m being completely honest, I’m mainly doing this to help me identify books that have been pulled forward or pushed back when I’m writing the Upcoming Comics posts. As a reminder, I’m not putting the talent credits in this post because there’s already a ton of information here. But you know me… I can’t post anything without adding my two cents, so you’ll see some of my randomness for a few titles. Make sure you give me a piece of your mind in the comments as well! I want to hear what you’re excited about, worried about, your predictions, etc… If you have something to say, I want to know!

July 1^st

 

Bat-Mite #2
Bat-Mite assists Batman on yet another case…whether the Dark Knight needs his help or not. This time, it leads the imp to the diabolical Doctor Trauma, who has terrible plans in store for Hawkman!

 

Batman Arkham Knight #6
Just when Bane gets the upper hand on Batman, a surprising ally joins the fight and changes the tide of battle! But when an explosion leaves everyone under an abandoned part of Arkham City, the Dark Knight must fight his way back to the surface!

I’m really enjoying this title, and hope it continues to deliver quality issues! I’m intrigued by the Arkham Knight character, and look forward to seeing more of him. I’m curious how long it will take before the character crosses over into the main DC Universe continuity.

 

Batman Beyond #2
Thirty-five years in the future, Batman’s gotten himself caught in a P.O.W. camp where the enemy refuses to give up trying to crack the only “data source” he can access – the human mind! And this foe doesn’t care how many people he has to burn through to get there, including original Batgirl Barbara Gordon! To make his great escape, Batman will have to take down both his greatest hero and a traitor to humanity! Featuring the DC Universe debut of Batman Beyond-villain Inque!

I have so many questions pertaining to this book, that I’m not sure how I feel yet. I’m assuming that it picks up following the end of Futures End with Tim Drake as the new Batman Beyond… but I’m not certain. I’m also not sure what the overall tone of the book will be like, or how much it could impact the other titles that are taking place 35 years prior to this. On a positive note: Inque!

 

Detective Comics #42
The all-new Batman tries to find his place in Gotham City! But how can he manage his already uneasy relationship with the GCPD?

The man in the suite has already leaked, so if you saw that, then you might be a little confused as to why his relationship with the GCPD is uneasy… I just hope this is actually worth it…

 

Justice League of America #2
The JLA learns more about the armada of religious zealots that has arrived on Earth – and their stunning ties to Krypton!

There’s going to be quite a few Justice League titles, so I’m curious to see how they all stand up to one another. The strange thing with this title, is that it has the exact same team that makes up Justice League. Will one book end up outshining the other, or will they – fingers crossed – both be equally as good.

 

Midnighter #2
Marina Lucas woke up this morning as a suburban martial-arts instructor…but when God Garden tech unexpectedly falls into her lap, she’ll end the day as the deadliest woman on the planet! That’s bad news for her – and worse for the Midnighter!

I’m not too sure what to expect with this title, mainly because I’m not that familiar with Midnighter outside of his appearances in Grayson. I’m probably going to do a little research on this character before we jump into his story beginning in June.

 

 

July 8^th

Batman #42
More surprises around every corner as the all-new Batman hits the streets of Gotham City!

Hmmm…. Just hmmm…. Here’s the deal, I’m pretty much always satisfied with Scott Snyder, but I just don’t know how I feel about this idea. It just feels uninspired and unoriginal on nearly every level.

 

Batman/ Superman #22
The Superman epic you never expected – “TRUTH” continues! Can Superman accept the truth about his new partner? Featuring the all-new Batman!

We haven’t fully figured out how we’re going to cover the “TRUTH” arc, but it’s clear that Batman will play a decent part in it – as well as the Suicide Squad… I’m not going to lie, I don’t read any of the Superman titles except for this one and Justice League, but I’m pretty excited to read this. Also, notice that DC isn’t showing the full cover… They’re doing this with most of the “TRUTH” covers this month, so there’s got to be something big happening in this arc. 

 

 

Catwoman #42
Everything Selina Kyle accomplished as both crime boss and Catwoman is about to be ruined when Stephanie Brown makes a guest appearance!

I’m a huge fan of Valentine’s work so far, and I can only hope that it gets even better with Selina taking back the mantle of Catwoman. That being said, I’d be ok if Spoiler didn’t show up here… but I guess it makes sense considering the way things played out in Batman Eternal.

 

Earth 2 Society #2
After the shocking assassination of one of Earth-2’s most prominent leaders, humanity’s survivors struggle to believe their world can last. Can even Superman help build a society better than their previous world?

I mean this in the nicest way possible, but could any assassination of an Earth 2 character be shocking at this point? They’ve killed billions of people at this point… just saying.

 

Gotham Academy #8
Classes are suspended for a funeral. So, is it really true that grieving students get all A’s?

It saddens me to see how low this book is in sales considering how good it is! Now that the first arc is out of the way, I really recommend that if you haven’t read this title, pick up issues 1-6 and do a little binge reading to catch up.  You won’t regret it!

 

Harley Quinn #18
The Gang of Harleys rocks on with a super fun appearance by Captain Strong! Yes, that is a real character, we promise!

Yeah… so I thought that was Popeye on the cover… And then I read the solicitation.

 

Injustice: Gods Among Us Year 4 #5
The appointed “Judgment by Combat” continues between erstwhile allies Superman and Wonder Woman. Just when it looks like there might be a winner, all hell breaks loose, and the Amazons get into a full-scale war against The Man of Steel’s army of Super Soldiers.

 

New Suicide Squad #10
What do you get when you take on an unstable breakaway faction from the League of Assassins? Dead Squad members, that’s what!

This book kind of feels like an abusive relationship. I keep hoping that things will get better, but deep down, I know they won’t while under the direction of Sean Ryan.

 

 

Red Hood/ Arsenal #2
How can Red Hood and Arsenal possibly survive an attack of killer mimes? Yeah, you read that right: mimes!

Let’s be honest, this could be really creepy… Think about it, there’s something about silence that is really scary… especially if said silent person is killing people. Do I think Lobdell will deliver? No.

 

July 17^th

 

Black Canary #2
In the wake of their first major fight, Dinah’s realized that her new bandmates are completely unprepared to keep themselves alive in a scrap…so it’s time for a training montage! (Cue the squealing guitars!) Plus: Who is Bo Maeve, and why does she hate Black Canary so much?

Dinah has been the best thing about Batgirl since it’s creative change, so you would think that I’d be extremely excited for this book… but I’m not. I’m concerned that this team is going to try too hard to make Dinah “cool” – as they’ve been doing with Barbara – and miss the mark on the character.

 

Harley Quinn & Powergirl #2
Vartox is a totally creepy and super macho space dictator – though he is terrible fond of Power Girl. Harley and Power Girl are not terribly fond of him. Violence and shenanigans begin in 3…2…1…

Justice League #42
The epic “Darkseid War” event storyline continues with the critically acclaimed team of Geoff Johns and Jason Fabok! As Darkseid and the Anti-Monitor maneuver toward inevitable war, Wonder Woman leads the Justice League against a force that holds the answers on how to stop it – but the price might be Batman’s soul! Meanwhile, Mister Miracle faces off against a mysterious hero who has been fighting in the shadows for decades!

I feel like most of the major Justice League stories haven’t had much impact overall to the world of DC. If this story in particular doesn’t have lasting outcomes, then I’m going to be slightly concerned about the relevance of this title going forward.

 

Robin: Son of Batman #2
The power and legacy of the al Ghuls reaches far and wide, but wait until you meet their greatest rivals! Enter the Dragon’s Head!

I REALLY hope this book gets a chance to focus on the League of Assassins on a regular basis. There’s still so much we don’t know, and there’s so much we could learn not only about them, but Damian as well, if we are given more insight into his rearing.

 

Secret Six #4
How did six deadly assassins end up in suburbia? Still being hunted, Big Shot decides that Gotham City is too hot for them. So he decides they need to lie low in the land of picket fences and freshly cut lawns. What could go wrong?

No, DC did not push back issue 3 again… but that is the same cover. It looks like they’ve scrapped their original plans for the book and are completely changing the directionon what they originally intended to release… Hopefully people haven’t given up on this title due to all of the delays its encountered.

 

 

July 22^nd

 

Batgirl #42
Batgirl can barely hold her own in combat against the new Batman… so what happens when Livewire joins the fight with the intention of taking them both out?

 

Batman ’66 #25
Driven mad by the Clown Prince of Crime’s “Joker Wave,” The Joker’s former prison doctor enters the Caped Crusader’s Rogues Gallery as The Harlequin! Then, a team of Batman’s greatest enemies takes over an advertising agency to create a new public image for themselves. But the agency has a new temp working for them…none other than Barbara Gordon, young daughter of Gotham City’s police commissioner!

Harley Quinn is going to be in Batman ’66!!! Everything about this feels right!

 

 

Gotham by Midnight #7
The responsibilities of the Midnight Shift can take its toll on even the bravest. What trials has Lt. Weaver endured – and has he reached his breaking point?

 

 

Grayson #10
For the first time since FOREVER EVIL, Dick Grayson comes face-to-face with Lex Luthor!

This should be good! I can’t wait to see their conversation. Clearly Lex is one of the few people in the world that knows Dick is still alive. And considering he’s the man who saved him – since they conveniently wrote Bruce so poorly during Forever Evil – I want to know what Dick has to say.

 

Injustice: Gods Among Us Year 4 #6
The Gods now directly enter the fray and order Superman to step down. But Superman simply going into retreat is not something Batman thinks is a good idea, knowing from experience that he’ll regroup and return. Meanwhile, Wonder Woman has been ordered to leave Superman’s side, and that’s not going to sit well with her, to say the least.

Year 3 didn’t feel like the stakes were as high compared to Years 1 and 2, so I’m hoping for the best here!

 

Justice League 3001 #2
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s…Supergirl? Aww, for crying out loud, we were promised that someone would rein these guys in. Supergirl? Really? Trust us…it’s actually pretty cool.

 

 

Justice League: Gods & Monsters – Batman #1
Prequel to the DC Universe movie Justice League: Gods and Monsters!

In this story, Kirk Langstrom has been transformed into a blood-sucking creature of the night, preying on society’s dregs. Will a new friendship allow him to find his lost humanity or turn him into a soulless monster once and for all?

I predict that a lot of people will be excited for this considering it’s a prequel to the upcoming movie, but also because Bruce Timm has writing credits!

 

Teen Titans #10
The hunt is over and the battle begins as Wonder Girl and Power Girl’s new team catches up with the Titans to bring Superboy to justice.

Teen Titans has finally hit its stride, and I can’t wait to see what the creative team brings to the table now. The reintroduction of Superboy was exactly what this book needed!

 

We Are Robin #2
In Gotham City, hundreds of Robins have taken to the streets. But who will be their new leader? And who is the mystery man working behind the scenes?

Alright, this cover looks pretty bad ass. I’m getting more and more excited about this book as we get closer to its release. I’m praying for strong characters and a sense of purpose.

July 29^th

 

Batgirl Annual #3
On her latest mission, Batgirl finds herself mixing it up with Helena Bertinelli of Spyral…but who is the mysterious Spyral agent who seems to be one step ahead of her at every turn without ever showing his face? She’s determined to crack this mystery – but Grayson is just as determined not to get caught! Plus: Batgirl visits Gotham Academy – and there are plenty of surprises in store for her!

Give this to me NOW!!!!

 

 

Batman: Arkham Knight – Genesis #1
Witness the birth of Gotham City’s newest villain, the Arkham Knight, in this stunning new 6-issue miniseries written by Peter J. Tomasi, the man behind the hit series BATMAN: ARKHAM KNIGHT and BATMAN AND ROBIN!

Oh look at that! We’re getting more of exactly what I wanted in a new mini-series! Woo hoo! Hopefully this won’t be one of those instances where you end up wishing you didn’t know about the character, because the idea of who they really are was so much more interesting than the reality…

 

 

Gotham by Midnight Annual 1
Get set for a tale of love and vengeance in this centuries-old mystery for the Midnight Shift – and the Gentlemen Ghost!

 

 

Justice League: Gods & Monsters – Superman #1
Prequel to the DC Universe movie Justice League: Gods and Monsters!

“Truth, justice and the American way” has a very different meaning to a Superman raised by poor immigrant farmers. He’s seen abuse and injustice his whole life – and now he’s ready to let the world know what happens when a Man of Steel gets angry..

 

 

Noteworthy Releases:

Action Comics #42
The Superman epic you never expected – “TRUTH” continues! Who will stand by Clark Kent?

Superman/ Wonder Woman #19
The Superman epic you never expected – “TRUTH” continues! Is there truth in madness? Harley Quinn and the Suicide Squad guest-star!

Superman #42
The Superman epic you never expected – “TRUTH” continues! Has Lois Lane betrayed Superman with the truth?

These are the other three titles and solicitations for the “TRUTH” arc that will be featured in Batman/ Superman.

 

Justice League United #11
The Convergence is over! Now, Alanna Strange, Stargirl and Equinox must assemble brand-new and wildly untraditional teams of heroes and villains to work together and stop another cosmic catastrophe before it happens. In this issue: Mera, Poison Ivy, Swamp Thing and Etrigan!

We haven’t been covering Justice League United, but it looks like we might start now that Poison Ivy has joined the team… Although, I have to ask, didn’t we learn our lesson with this when she was part of the Birds of Prey (which I’m kind of expecting a re-launch of in October… There’s no substance to this claim, just a gut feeling)?

 

Teen Titan Go! Variant Covers:

BATMAN #42 by Dan Hipp

BATMAN/SUPERMAN #22 by Dan Hipp

CATWOMAN #42 by Ben Caldwell

DETECTIVE COMICS #42 by Dan Hipp

GOTHAM ACADEMY #8 by Sean Galloway

GOTHAM BY MIDNIGHT #7 by Sean Galloway

GRAYSON #10 by Sean Galloway

HARLEY QUINN #18 by Ben Caldwell

JUSTICE LEAGUE #42 by Dan Hipp

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #2 by Craig Rousseau

NEW SUICIDE SQUAD #10 by Craig Rousseau

SECRET SIX #4 by Sean Galloway

TEEN TITANS #10 by Ben Caldwell

 

 

 

Best Cover: Q-1 2015 Results

We recently held a poll for the Best Cover: Q-1 2015 and I’m here to deliver the results. Now, before I get into this, I need to clarify a few things. I upset some people by including the winners from the June Joker variant covers in the Q-1 poll, so I want to clarify this before I announce the winners. First, I would like to say that yes, I’m well aware that the Joker variants are covers for June. I’m also aware that June falls into Q-2 rather than Q-1, however, I included them in the Q-1 poll because they were voted on during Q-1. This still didn’t sit well, so what I agreed to do was: 1. Going forward, the winner of the variant cover poll will be represented within the quarter that the cover is actually released (the only exception to this will be our catch-up voting for the January, February, and March themed variants).  2. Since the poll was already posted and people felt that the Joker Variants shouldn’t have been included in the poll, I decided that if either of the Joker variants landed in the top four, they would move on, but I would select another cover that was actually released in Q-1 to ensure four Q-1 covers are represented.

So, with all of that out of the way, here are the covers, in no particular order, that will be represented in the Best Cover of 2015 poll.