June 2019 Solicits

The June solicits for DC Comics came out last week and are available for perusal in the usual places. Here is a link to Newsarama and their coverage: https://www.newsarama.com/44329-dc-comics-june-2019-solicitations.html

It is a wild month filled with hope for the ending of a story, the excitement of the beginning of a story, a story I didn't know about that I will be getting, and a big name story I knew about that I won't be getting. Did you follow all that?

Hopefully this is something of a turning point for the super-books, storming into the summer on a roll.

SUPERGIRL #31
written by MARC ANDREYKO
art by KEVIN MAGUIRE and SEAN PARSONS
cover by YANICK PAQUETTE
variant cover by AMANDA CONNER
The House of El is united in this SUPERMAN/SUPERGIRL crossover! The Superman Family must unite to banish Rogol Zaar once and for all! But little do Supergirl, Superman, Superboy and Jor-El know, Rogol Zaar has brought some friends of his own…from the Phantom Zone! Supergirl not only has to make sure that Rogol Zaar doesn’t unite with his ax at all costs, but also has to deal with how the 10-year-old Superboy is now her age! This is the start of an intergalactic war you don’t want to miss!
ON SALE 06.12.19 

For some time I have been calling for the end of the Supergirl in space storyline. It just hasn't felt like a Supergirl story. The characterization of Kara has seemed off. And I just enjoy her more on Earth, with a supporting cast, learning to be a hero on her adopted world.

So when I saw this solicit, trumpeting a Superman crossover and some resolution to the Rogol Zaar storyline, I smiled. One, I like when the super-family acts like a family. Second, maybe this means Supergirl is back on Earth and will stay on Earth.

Nice Conner cover.

On to the rest of the books.

SUPERMAN #12
written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
art and cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO
variant cover by ADAM HUGHES
The House of El is united in this SUPERMAN/SUPERGIRL crossover! It’s the House of El against everyone as Superman, Jor-El, Supergirl and Superboy face intergalactic attacks from Rogol Zaar, General Zod and an armada of alien warriors and assassins. With the truth behind Krypton’s destruction set to be revealed, a galactic conspiracy threatens to silence Supergirl and Jor-El if Superman can’t live up to his name.
ON SALE 06.12.19 

The truth behind Krypton's destruction is revealed. Zaar arrives with an army to fight the House of El. And, of course, there is some conspiracy.

I assume some damning truth will be revealed. Supergirl and Jor-El will want to reveal it and Superman will consider squelching the info. Let's see.

It will mark the one year mark since Bendis took over so I'm glad the Zaar story is wrapping up.

ACTION COMICS #1012
written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
art by SZYMON KUDRANSKI
cover by JAMAL CAMPBELL
variant cover by BEN OLIVER
Artist Szymon Kudranski joins superstar writer Brian Michael Bendis as the attacks of Leviathan threaten targets across the globe, and the agents of the invisible mafia continue to infect Metropolis in this tie-in to EVENT LEVIATHAN!
ON SALE 06.26.19 

The Leviathan event starts in June. I am happy to hear that it isn't consuming the books entirely. So reading that the Invisible Mafia is still a threat made me happy. I love the cover, the specter of the Red Cloud encircling Superman.

I don't know Kudranski at all. Given the prior artists, I have to assume he is a solid choice.

ADVENTURES OF THE SUPER SONS #11
written by PETER J. TOMASI
art by CARLO BARBERI and MATT SANTORELLI
cover by DAN MORA
Superboy and Robin have been chased through the galaxy by Rex Luthor and his band of murdering minors…and at last the final battle has begun! Using the Dimensional Cube and a brand-new, shiny army of prison planet escapees, Rex has opened the portal to Earth to start his invasion! But Jon and Damian have an army of their own, and when you’re backed by a cybernetic cowboy, an intergalactic ride-share program and several hundred “planeteers,” how could you not put up an epic fight?!
ON SALE 06.05.19 

Looks like Rex Luthor and his gang are going to be the bad guys in the book right up to the finale.

Again, Tomasi has done a great job of linking Silver/Bronze age goodness. So love hearing the Planeteers are part of this. DC's classic sci-fi is due for a reimagination and reinvigoration.

EVENT LEVIATHAN #1
written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
art and cover by ALEX MALEEV
variant cover by KENNETH ROCAFORT
The groundbreaking and always-inventive team of writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Alex Maleev (Jinxworld’s SCARLET, Marvel’s Daredevil) reunite on a mystery thriller that stretches across the DC Universe and touches every character from Batman to Superman to the Question to Talia al Ghul. With startling ease, a newly dangerous and aggressive Leviathan wipes out all its competition and now turns its sights to molding the world into its vision of order. Can the new threat’s growth be stopped...and who’s guiding its new agents of chaos? 
ON SALE 06.12.19 

And then the big introduction of Leviathan happens in June. This seems to be a DCU crossover which seems to revolve around Superman. I am a big fan of Alex Maleev and he and Bendis have been magic in the past.

I am still thinking that Leviathan is the Earth-0 version of some Watchmen character, either Osterman or Veidt. But now, looking at the costume, could it be Dan Dreiberg?

I'm in.

SUPERMAN OF SMALLVILLE TP
written by ART BALTAZAR and FRANCO
art and cover by ART BALTAZAR
Can Superman keep Smallville from going to the dogs?
Acts of awesomeness are happening around town. People are being rescued, runaway tractors stopped, and fires extinguished. This is all in a day’s work for the hero known only as “Superman.” But who is he, really?
Thirteen-year-old Clark Kent knows. He has a super secret—one his parents are constantly worried will get out. Clark promises to be extra careful, but when random objects begin to take flight and disappear, his parents threaten to ground him. Except he’s innocent! If Superman isn’t responsible…who is? Join Clark in this hilarious adventure as he sniffs out the real culprit.
From New York Times bestselling and Eisner Award-winning creators Art Baltazar and Franco comes a fun, whimsical story featuring young Lana Lang, Lex Luthor, and of course, Clark Kent.
ON SALE 08.28.19 

I always love Franco/Baltazar takes on the Superman family. So I will most likely buy this story of a tween Superman. Fun and whimsical? Young Lana? Hilarious? Sounds perfect.

And who is the culprit? Gotta be Krypto!

There is some irony that this is being solicited here. Why?

SUPERMAN YEAR ONE #1
written by FRANK MILLER
art by JOHN ROMITA JR. and DANNY MIKI
cover by JOHN ROMITA JR. and DANNY MIKI
cover by FRANK MILLER
From the burning world of Krypton to the bucolic fields of Kansas, the first chapter of SUPERMAN YEAR ONE tracks Clark Kent’s youth in Kansas, as he comes to terms with his strange powers and struggles to find his place in our world. DC BLACK LABEL is proud to present the definitive origin of Superman as rendered by the legendary comics creators Frank Miller and John Romita Jr.!
PRESTIGE FORMAT
ON SALE 06.19.19
$7.99 US | 1 of 3 | 64 PAGES

Because the month the fun, whimsical early Superman story is being solicited, this 'mature reader' Superman Year One story, by Frank Miller and John Romita Jr. is also solicited. I'm not a fan of Romita's art. I am not a fan of recent Frank Miller work.

Please don't come here looking for reviews. I won't be getting this one.

So the end (maybe) of the Rogol Zaar arc and the beginning of Leviathan. I think June is looking pretty good.

Posted in: Reviews