January 2017 Solicits

I have been a bit remiss in covering the January solicits for DC Comics which came out a while ago. Here is a link to Newsarama's coverage of the entire month:
http://ift.tt/A5Ussk31585-dc-comics-january-2017-solicitations.html

There were a couple of surprises in the solicits and I suppose my Christmas money is already spent a bit. But here we go!

SUPERGIRL #5
Written by STEVE ORLANDO
Art and cover by BRIAN CHING
Variant cover by BENGAL
“REIGN OF THE CYBORG SUPERMEN” part five! As National City becomes a war zone, Cyborg Superman’s plan to resurrect Argo City reaches its deadly final phase: rain Argo City itself down upon the earth! Supergirl is all that stands in the way of total destruction—but with the clock ticking and the stakes rising she’ll need more than just brute force. She’ll need the help of…Cat Grant?

'Reign of the Cyborg Superman' is a nice throwback name for this arc. The idea of Argo City falling to Earth has been done before in DCCP #97 so I'll be interested to see if this version of that is as horrific as that one. I do wonder how the heck Cat Grant can help. Some pep talk?

I like the cover a lot. There is Supergirl in a nice dynamic figure, clearly driven. And the surrounding images of the mechanized Argo City citizens is a nice one.

ACTION COMICS #971
Written by DAN JURGENS
Art STEPHEN SEGOVIA and ART THIBERT
Cover by STEPHEN SEGOVIA and ART THIBERT
Variant cover by GARY FRANK
“MEN OF STEEL” part five! The deadly, intergalactic Remnants loom over Superman as he fights to protect Lex Luthor, but can the Man of Steel prove his greatest adversary deserves a fair trial, or will Superman be forced to become judge, jury and executioner?

ACTION COMICS #972
Written by DAN JURGENS
Art STEPHEN SEGOVIA and ART THIBERT
Cover by ART THIBERT
Variant cover by GARY FRANK
“MEN OF STEEL” conclusion! Superman’s found a way to save Lex Luthor’s life, but it may cost the Man of Tomorrow his own future.

For me, this description reminds me of the 'Trial of Superman' storyline that ran in the super-titles in the 90's. The  idea of Lex being 'Superman' and being on a galactic trial is an interesting one. And the concept of Superman defending him is also interesting, especially when you factor in that this is the older Superman who is still learning about this Lex. Would he defend the 'other' Lex as vigorously?

SUPERMAN #14
Written by PETER J. TOMASI and PATRICK GLEASON
Art by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO
Covers by PATRICK GLEASON and MICK GRAY
Variant cover by ANDREW ROBINSON
“MULTIPLICITY” part one! The New Super-Man of China has been taken! The Red Son Superman of Earth-30 has been beaten! And who knows what’s happened to Sunshine Superman! Someone is collecting Supermen across the Multiverse—this looks like a job for our Kal-El as he is joined by Justice Incarnate in this multi-Earth epic!

SUPERMAN #15
Written by PETER J. TOMASI and PATRICK GLEASON
Art by DOUG MAHNKE and JAIME MENDOZA
Cover by PATRICK GLEASON and MICK GRAY
Variant cover by ANDREW ROBINSON
“MULTIPLICITY” part two! Superman and New Super-Man fight alongside an army of Supermen from across the Multiverse against the threat trying to wipe them all out of existence! Plus, Jon and his neighbor Kathy investigate a hidden horror that seems to be growing in their town.

I have to say that the cover for this arc is a great one. Given the recent Multiversity books, the post-Convergence world with multiple worlds, and the idea that Dr. Manhatten messed things up, I guess this is good fodder for this title. I love that New Superman finally gets to meet the original model. And I hope we get some of the other Supermen that Morrison brought into his Superman Beyond series from Final Crisis.

And heck, Ivan Reis is on an issue!

SUPERWOMAN #6
Written by PHIL JIMENEZ
Art by PHIL JIMENEZ and TREVOR SCOTT
Cover by IVAN REIS and TREVOR SCOTT
Variant cover by DREW JOHNSON
“WHO KILLED SUPERWOMAN?” part six! In this penultimate chapter, Lana Lang prepares to grapple with the insane, god-like Lena Luthor as her army of allies launches their assault on the Bizaress swarm! Will the combined might of Steel, Natasha, Maggie Sawyer and the MSCU, Atomic Skull and Lex Luthor be enough to win the day? Plus, the secret origin of Lena Luthor is revealed!

This book has been one of my favorites given the complexity of the story that Jimenez has been giving us. I like that Atomic Skull sounds like he is being rehabilitated in this arc. And the origin of Lena! This all sounds great.

And that cover is brilliant. It looks like an Drew Struzan movie poster!

NEW SUPER-MAN #7
Written by GENE LUEN YANG
Art by BILLY TAN
Cover by VIKTOR BOGDANOVIC
Variant cover by BERNARD CHANG
“TRAINING DAY” part one! To uncover the truth behind his mother’s murder, the New Super-Man must reawaken his full power under the tutelage of the mysterious I-Ching! But as training begins, Kong Kenan’s ego isn’t the only thing taking a beating! Plus, Baixi’s return to his alma mater, the Academy of the Bat, has turned from triumphant to deadly! What shocking betrayal lurks in the shadows of the school that trained the New Bat-Man of China?

An army of Bat-Men in China? Now that is a great idea.

And again, I am dating myself, but I remember I Ching from Denny O'Neil's Superman and Wonder Woman runs from the 70s. He always read a bit like a caricature so I am hoping Yang gives us a decent, modern interpretation.

This is another book I am happy to be reading.

SUPER POWERS #3
Written by ART BALTAZAR and FRANCO
Art and cover by ART BALTAZAR
A peaceful day in Metropolis is interrupted when Brimstone comes to clear a path for Darkseid. This looks like a job for…Supergirl!? Yes, because Superman is out of town visiting his new baby brother! But villainous plots are afoot on New Krypton, too. Is anywhere safe for our superheroes?

And then one of the surprises of the month. 

I was probably going to get Super Powers but I love that this issue is a Supergirl/Martian Manhunter team-up. Shades of the television show! And fighting Brimstone, in a riff on Legends? The cherry on the Sunday.

But who is Superman's baby brother? That makes no sense.  

DCTV: SUPERGIRL—SUPERGIRL AND MARTIAN MANHUNTER ACTION FIGURES
Supergirl joins the CW this fall—and the Girl of Steel and Martian Manhunter have never looked better than they do in these new action figures that come with their own accessories!
Each $28.00 US • On Sale MAY 2017
Allocations May Occur

 
And one more surprise, a new action figure of the television Supergirl. Exchangeable hands! Exchangeable heads! Overall this looks like a really great figure. So my Christmas money is already spent!

What did you all like?

Posted in: Reviews