DC February Solicits

Last week, DC released its solicits for February and I have thoughts. Here is a link to Newsarama's coverage of all the books:  https://www.newsarama.com/42789-dc-comics-february-2019-solicitations.html

Let's just say when I saw the cover for Supergirl #27 I felt a bit deflated.

I have been covering this character for ten and a half years. I have seen her character go dark and get redeemed at least 4 times over that period. Four times ... that I can think of.

It seems like every so often, DC's upper echelon thinks that a 'dark Supergirl' is what is missing in the world. And every single time the take fails ... because THAT'S NOT SUPERGIRL ... and someone has to come in and smooth things over. Sterling Gates, Tony Bedard, Mike Johnson and K. Perkins, even Steve Orlando and Jody Houser all have needed to bring Kara back from the dark and have her embrace Earth as home and swear to defend it.

So, of course, after Orlando and Houser have Supergirl back on the straight and narrow, DC pulls the plug and has Marc Andreyko send Supergirl away from Earth, away from her supporting cast, away from that role of hero, and sent her into space. From the get-go, I was nervous. But Perkins sent her to Crucible and that worked out so I took a breath.

Then I saw the first cover and read the issues. Gritty Kara, wielding a battle axe, on a path of vengeance and swearing she 'isn't Kal' ... I was worried we were back to Dark Supergirl.

I didn't know how good I had it back then.

Because now we have this Supergirl, de-powered, wielding a Liefeldian gun, shooting at some unknown foe while screaming in battle.

THAT'S NOT SUPERGIRL!

Look, you want to read Scarlet, Black Widow, or any of the other gritty female-led books with gun-toting heroes, go ahead! Heck, *I* read some of those books.

But who wants to read a Supergirl book with a powerless teenage girl shooting a gun?

Maybe this will all turn out fine. Maybe it's a stun gun.

But I am not happy. Supergirl shouldn't be powerless. Supergirl shouldn't be mowing people down with a rifle. So I know that Supergirl shouldn't be powerless AND be mowing people down with a rifle.



SUPERGIRL #27
written by MARC ANDREYKO
art by EDUARDO PANSICA and JULIO FERREIRA
cover by YANICK PAQUETTE
variant cover by EMANUELA LUPACCHINO

Caught in the middle of a Vega System civil war, a powerless Supergirl struggles to rescue as many slaves as she can from the brutal hands of the Citadel. Meanwhile, the Omega Men reel from the discovery that their long-dead colleagues—Nimbus, Harpis and Demonia—are mysteriously still alive! Kara, however, suspects there’s more to their grand return than meets the eye…

I read Omega Men back in the day. So I won't mind being re-introduced to Nimbus, Harpis, Demonia, and Tigorr.

And I don't mind Supergirl helping to free oppressed people.

But do it as a Supergirl book.

ACTION COMICS #1008
written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
art and cover by STEVE EPTING
variant cover by ESAD RIBIC

The superstar creative team of writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Steve Epting dig into the DC Universe in this sweeping espionage epic that’s shattering the agencies—and heroes—dedicated to protecting the world! As the D.E.O. falls, only Jimmy Olsen may hold the answers to helping Superman and Lois Lane uncover who’s behind the attacks rocking the DC Universe’s biggest clandestine organizations. And when the Suicide Squad’s Amanda Waller makes a shocking discovery, can she help the trio understand the truth before the balance of power shifts to Leviathan forever?

I grew up reading Jimmy Olsen as 'Mr. Action' in Superman Family. So I like the idea of Jimmy getting enmeshed in the big stories. I like that Jimmy more than a millionaire slacker or a goofy kid.

And this cover, with Checkmate, Argus, and Kobra agents surrounding Jimmy, just sings to me!

Can't wait!

SUPERMAN #8
written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
art by IVAN REIS, JOE PRADO and BRANDON PETERSON
cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO
variant cover by ROB LIEFELD

The epic secrets of Superman continue to unfold! A few months in space with his paternal grandfather Jor-El changed Jon Kent forever. With Jon now seeking help from his father, the Man of Steel must learn about the war his son and father fought together and set right the wrongs his father may have unleashed on other worlds. See what changed Superboy in such radical ways as the Unity Saga continues.

What could make me roll my eyes more than Supergirl wielding a gun?
How about angry teenage Jon sporting the red eyes of rage?

I am going to miss miss miss the happy-go-lucky young Jon wanting to go to the state fair and kidding with Damian at middle school.

The very idea that Clark and Lois would let Jon head into space with lunatic Mr. Oz is a shaky foundation. Can Bendis pull this off? I guess we'll find out.

ADVENTURES OF THE SUPER SONS #7
written by PETER J. TOMASI
art by CARLO BARBERI and MATT SANTORELLI
cover by DAN MORA

Locked in an intergalactic juvenile detention facility, Superboy and Robin meet the youngest...and meanest…Green Lantern ever! Well, sort of a GL. Mostly a GL. Really more of a trainee, but don’t tell the bad guys, okay? Plus, Joker Jr. returns...the clown who may be the boys’ last, best hope to stop the Gang!

Hey look! It's happy go lucky Jon in a fun adventure and hanging out with Damian.

People need to cherish this Super Sons characters while they exist.

So fantastic!

DC ARTISTS ALLEY: WONDER WOMAN, HAWKGIRL, SUPERGIRL AND BATGIRL BY CHRISSIE ZULLO VINYL FIGURES

Chrissie Zullo was discovered via the DC Comics Talent Search a decade ago. Since then Chrissie has worked in all facets of the industry, doing work on interiors, covers and variants for multiple titles and publishers. Created with a dreamlike, fairy-tale aesthetic, her work is modern in both origin (she uses both analog and digital tools in her work) and subject matter (video games, films by Miyazaki and Disney, Star Wars). While her work covers many subjects, an aura of joy and positivity emerges from each piece she creates.
$60.00 US • EACH FIGURE SOLD SEPARATELY

 And it looks like we get another great statue for the collection. At $60, this looks like a fun piece to own with Supergirl and Streaky given the Chrissie Zullo treatment. Love the joy in this. Love the playful Streaky. Love the costume. Love it all.

Also can't help but notice that the Superman titles downshifted to once a month. So fewer reviews here ...

Posted in: Reviews