May 2016 Solicitations

In case you missed it, this was posted to Twitter by Didio, Lee, and Geoff Johns:

Then DC followed a day later with its May solicitations… and none of the titles have that telling “FINAL ISSUE” notice at the end of the solicitation. I personally call bull. If you read some of the solicits and compare them to their cover (Grayson, Midnighter, Secret Six), it clearly feels like it’s the last issue. I guess we’ll have to wait and see. Then, there’s also this image captured from the upcoming SuperLeague story that is quite telling…

Spoiler

[caption id="attachment_27003" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Super League Are these memories… or three different universes?[/caption]

Apparently, DC is going to provide more info on Rebirth this week. I still feel like it’s a “relaunch” of sorts, but it could also be another event like Forever Evil or Future’s End. We’ll have to hang tight and see…

For the month of the May, DC will also release themed variant covers honoring the New 52. Any book that has managed to make it to issue #52, will receive a reimagining of its New 52 #1 cover. 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 New 52 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.

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). As a reminder, I’m not putting the talent credits in this post because there’s already a ton of information here. Make sure you give me a piece of your mind in the comments! I want to hear what you’re excited about, worried about, your predictions, etc… If you have something to say, I want to know!

May 4^th

Batman Beyond #12
Yeah, that’s who you think it is! Get ready for surprises and revelations as Bruce Wayne welcomes you to the storyline that will change Batman Beyond’s status quo forever!

Batman/ Superman #32
“Super League” continues this month as Kal-El’s bid to strengthen his forces brings him, Batman and Wonder Woman into China and into conflict with the might of that nation’s greatest heroes: the Great 10!

This will be part of the 8 issue Super League event written by Peter J. Tomasi that runs through April and May in Superman, Action Comics, Superman/ Wonder Woman, and Batman/ Superman. We haven’t decided

Detective Comics #52
When devastating secrets are revealed at a Marine Corps base, Batman must decide who to trust from his past if he’s going to solve the mystery.

Injustice: Gods Among Us Year 5 #9
The tragicomic journey of Bizarro takes a dark turn. Guided by the Trickster, every attempt to do something good leads to something far, far worse. Can Superman and the Regime stop him before the scale of his destructive blunders leads to a major disaster?

Midnighter #12
Midnighter, Apollo and the Suicide Squad square off against The Unified—one of Henry Bendix’s most dangerous creations! Is their combined strength enough to stop a being as powerful as Superman and as intelligent as Midnighter?

New Suicide Squad #20
Faced with a certain and ignominious death at the hands of an insane doom cult, the proud assassin Deadshot is forced to perform the most desperate act imaginable: begging Captain Boomerang to save his life.

May 11^th

Batman #52
Echoes from Batman’s past ripple out into Gotham City’s future…

We announced this previously, but James Tynion IV is taking over writing credits. We’ll see how things go.

Batman/ Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #6
The crossover event of the year comes to its thrilling conclusion. The Turtles have one last, desperate shot at going home. But will they take it, knowing what nefarious plans Shredder has for Gotham City? It’s full-on ninja warfare as our heroes go up against the combined forces of the Foot Clan and the League of Assassins. Co-published with IDW.

Bombshells #12
Double shipping in May! In issue #12, the Bombshells face triumph and tragedy as the Battle of Britain concludes. Nereus continues to pound London with his horde of undead, ocean-based Tenebrae. The giant Kraken has been defeated, but now an even bigger and deadlier menace rises up to take its place. Not even the combined might of all the Bombshells looks as if it can prevail, leading one person to make an unprecedented sacrifice.

Catwoman #52
As secrets about the Faceless mask and the history of the False Face Society come to light, Catwoman’s own past comes back to haunt her. And where the False Face Society is involved, Black Mask is never far behind—and with him, a dark secret regarding his connection to Selina’s past. And when it’s revealed, that secret will change Catwoman’s life forever!

Earth 2 Society #12
What role do superheroes play on a new world where society has to rebuild itself from the ground up? Two cities are about to go to war over limited resources and this new Earth-2 is beginning to look as familiar as the old one. Can Captain Steel and Power Girl stop the fighting before it starts?

Gotham Academy #18
As the “Gotham Academy Yearbook” storyline comes to an end, Olive, Maps and the gang wrap up the year with stories that will reveal secrets about the Academy you won’t want to miss!

Harley Quinn & Her Gang of Harleys #2
With Harley missing, the Gang springs into action to find her…but they’re definitely not prepared for the sinister mastermind behind the kidnapping! Who in the world is Harley Sinn?!

Red Hood & Arsenal #12
Arsenal confronts his greatest mistake: the mercenaries known as the Iron Rule! Good thing Red Hood is there to help him—but will Jason’s methods tear down the partnership they’ve been trying so hard to build? Plus, Joker’s Daughter faces her greatest challenge yet: high school!

May 18^th

Dark Knight III: The Master Race #5
Batman and Robin prepare for war with the Master Race, and an ally returns from an unlikely place…

Harley Quinn #28
The improbable Red Tool is coming after Harley…but is this a personal vendetta? And more important—what can she do to stop him when he seems to shrug off everything she throws in his path?

Injustice: Gods Amon Us Year Five #10
Lex Luthor is determined to destroy Bizarro before Superman figures out that Lex created the murderous super-monster in the first place! But he needs an equally powerful being to carry out the deed—and turns to none other than Doomsday!

Justice League #51
It’s a brave new world in the devastation that follows “DARKSEID WAR.”

Poison Ivy: Cycle of Life & Death #5
Trouble is brewing as Poison Ivy’s sporelings discover their powers and spread their wings, causing mayhem across Gotham City! Plus, a murderer-mastermind is revealed in this penultimate chapter of Life and Death!

Robin, Son of Batman #12
Robin, Batman and Talia al Ghul team up on Dinosaur Island! But can Damian’s dream of his family finally coming together survive the rising power of the Lu’un Darga?

Titans Hunt #8
Can the Titans become a team again and defeat the darkness that surrounds them, or has the grotesque Mr. Twister got them too tightly in his grasp? The Hunt is about to end, and Twister is going for the kill.

May 25^th

Batgirl #52
With her friends starting new lives and Burnside changing all around her, it’s time for Batgirl to decide what her next adventure will be—and it just might take her around the world!

Batman ’66 Meets the Man From U.N.C.L.E. #6
Final issue! Trapped at the bottom of the sea, surrounded by the deadliest villains of Gotham City—all led by the most diabolical criminal mastermind of the age! How can Batman, Robin, Batgirl, Napoleon and Illya possibly survive the deepest deathtrap of all? Impossible—unless some of the villains happen to be double agents…

Black Canary #12
Black Canary’s European tour comes to an end as Dinah and her crew bring the fight to the sinister cult that’s taken control of her mother’s legacy! But there’s one more secret about her past that Dinah has yet to learn…

Bombshells #13
Double shipping in May! It’s back to the home front for an adventure with the Batgirls. Batwoman is still away, fighting the good fight on the European front. So it’s up to Kathy, Nell, Bette, Harper and the rest of the gang to see that the streets of Gotham City are safe from both common criminals and international spies!

Grayson #20
With one of his closest allies now his greatest foe, Dick Grayson will have to make his greatest sacrifice to save those he loves.

Justice League 3001 #12
The end of the future may be in sight! Eclipso and the Legion of Death have the Justice League cornered—now, who will live…and who will die?

Justice League of America #11
The conquest of Rao may be over, but the League must pick up the pieces of a rattled populace. It makes them vulnerable to another attack—this time from within their own ranks!

Secret Six #14
It’s a big turning point for the Secret Six and all of their friends are attending the party. It’s Strix versus Shiva! The Six versus the League of Assassins! The return of a beloved DC hero! All this and scrambled eggs too, in this funky, freaky issue.

Suicide Squad’s Most Wanted: Deadshot/ Katana #5
After Will Evans murders his own teammate, Floyd Lawton escapes Belle Reve and takes the fight straight to the impostor! But which Deadshot will survive?

Meanwhile, Katana is proven right as Kobra’s hidden plan is revealed—but no one could have anticipated what will happen when the villain’s plot is overturned. Is the Suicide Squad prepared to deal with a rogue Aurakle?

Teen Titans #20
The Fearsome Five is back! These deadly Teen Titans villains are gunning for Raven as if their lives depended on it. What dark secret drives their mission? It’s one Red Robin doesn’t want the team to learn! A new game-changing epic begins in “All For One.”

We Are Robin #12
The Robins go after Smiley and the Jokers, who have taken their brand of chaos beyond the walls of Middletown High. Can Duke, Riko, Izzy, Dax and Dre take him down before all of Gotham City falls?

Noteworthy Releases:

The Flash #52
The Riddler has seized control of Central City. If The Flash moves, he’ll put everyone he loves in mortal danger. To save the city—and himself—he’ll need help from the unlikeliest of allies.

Starfire #12
Starfire is finally figuring out the world around her as she surrounds herself with her new friends and extended family for a romantic and wild end to her Key West adventure.

Dick is on the cover… so I’m assuming he’ll pop up?

Superman: Lois & Clark #8
Don’t miss the climactic chapter of the epic story of the pre-New 52 Superman! Kal-El’s world is falling apart as Intergang makes its final move against Lois! And the cosmic threat that is Hyathis has come to Earth in search of a power source that will give her dominion over her enemies. Now, the future of an entire planet may rest with Superman’s young son, Jon.