DC November Solicits

It may sound strange but I am having this swell of optimism in my heart about comics and DC Comics in general. Perhaps it is the hazy afterglow of convention season. Perhaps it is because there seems to be a sort of sweep of creativity going through the DC books recently. At the very least, you can say the company is trying new stuff while leaning into their proven commodities.

That feeling only got larger in my heart when I looked at the November solicits, seen here at Newsarama:
https://www.newsarama.com/41452-dc-comics-november-2018-solicitations.html

Maybe it is because one of my favorite artists is doing Supergirl. Maybe it is because a new Shazam book is going to be on the shelf. Maybe it is because Scott Snyder continues to keep the new Justice League book flying at warp 9. Maybe it is G. Willow Wilson is starting on Wonder Woman. Maybe it is one of my all time favorite comic writers back on a monthly?

Maybe it is all of it.

But it starts with seeing Doc Shaner doing November's Supergirl. Not that I don't love Kevin Maguire. But I have been wanting to see Shaner draw Supergirl for a long time. Getting a whole issue of him on Kara (maybe more than one issue?) set the tone!

On to the super-solicits and other stuff that caught my eye.

SUPERGIRL #24
written by MARC ANDREYKO 
art and cover by EVAN “DOC” SHANER
variant cover by AMANDA CONNER

Supergirl goes bar-hopping…in space! Hot on the trail of Rogol Zaar, Supergirl is on the hunt for the Krypton killer’s mysterious cohorts known as the Circle. That quest finds the Maid of Might kicking over rocks at a scuzzy intergalactic dive bar, where she runs into Ambush Bug of all people—not to mention a wretched hive of scum and villains who want to kill her, too. But before Supergirl can track down Krypton’s former location, her suit’s yellow sun energy starts to run out, which is going to leave her gasping in the vacuum of space!

So I was a little underwhelmed with the opening issue of this new direction. But DC sure is doing all it can to at least keep me casually happy. Adding Doc Shaner on art is a great way to start. I even like his rendition of an axe-wielding Supergirl on the cover. Throw in an Amanda Conner playful variant and I have the book's covers favorably.

Ambush Bug has a historical dealing with Supergirl so I like this aspect both in Daring New and in Convergence. We saw him in Man of Steel #2 in an outer space bar where Rogol Zaar first heard about Superman. So nice continuity.

ACTION COMICS #1,005
written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
art and cover by RYAN SOOK
variant cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL

The murderous mystery of the Red Cloud uncovered! Clark Kent draws closer to revealing a secret crime family that has operated for years in Metropolis, but the family’s enforcer—the mysterious Red Cloud—proves she’s a match for even the Man of Steel with an attack that leaves Superman breathless. Don’t miss the last-page shocker as we reveal the true face of the Red Cloud!

I think I am more interested in the Action Comics street level stories Brian Michael Bendis is spinning for Superman. The idea of Superman clashing with arson and mobsters in a meaningful way is innovative and sort of fascinating. As long as Red Cloud isn't Lois or Lana, I'll be happy.

Ryan Sook doing internal art is always a draw.

SUPERMAN #5
written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
art and cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO
variant cover by ADAM HUGHES

What could tempt Kryptonian criminal General Zod to reenter the Phantom Zone after years of imprisonment? As Superman tries to free himself from the Kryptonian jail and fight off the monster who destroyed Krypton, Zod returns to face Rogol Zaar and get vengeance for his dead world and its lost potential.

In direct opposition of Action, is the Zaar and Zod heavy Action Comics. I have been a bit weary of Zod since New Krypton. I am already a little sick of Zaar. So I hope this arc ends pretty quickly.

ADVENTURES OF THE SUPER SONS #4
written by PETER J. TOMASI
art by CARLO BARBERI and ART THIBERT
cover by DAN MORA

Jon Kent learns it’s better to be dead than red…Kryptonite, that is! Traveling the cosmos to get home and escape the intergalactic teen baddies known as the Gang, Superboy and Robin wind up on the so-called “Planet of Mystery.” There, Superboy deals with Red Kryptonite exposure, which throws his powers out of whack, while the planet haunts and taunts them both with nightmare creatures. They’ll need to wrap up this rest stop ASAP though, as the Gang is hot on their tails looking for a pound of flesh—which is a lethal amount when you’re a tween!

I am so happy we get a little more time with the "fun sons". I think Peter Tomasi is trying to have as much fun as possible with them while he can, having them tangential touch as much of the DCU as he can. We saw The Gang is kid versions of an Injustice Gang. Now 'Planet of Mystery'? Perhaps a gag on 'House of Mystery'? Will we see a Kid Cain?

DOOMSDAY CLOCK #8
written by GEOFF JOHNS
art and cover by GARY FRANK
variant cover by GARY FRANK

The critical and commercial hit series by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank continues following the shocking revelations of last issue. As the truth behind Dr. Manhattan’s actions against the DC Universe are revealed, Ozymandias turns to the only being who can stop him: Superman.

Remember when DC said Doomsday Clock was, at its heart, a Superman story?

Well after six issues and many many months, we finally get a mention of the Big Red S.

Will Superman's optimism squelch Manhattan's machinations?

THE GREEN LANTERN #1
written by GRANT MORRISON
art and cover by LIAM SHARP
variant cover by FRANK QUITELY

Superstar writer Grant Morrison (Batman, All-Star Superman) returns to DC alongside red-hot artist Liam Sharp (The Brave AND the Bold, Wonder Woman) to launch a new, ongoing series: THE GREEN LANTERN! In this debut issue, when Earth’s space cop, Hal Jordan, encounters an alien hiding in plain sight, it sets off a chain of events that rocks the Green Lantern Corps—and quite possibly the Multiverse at large—to its very core. There’s an inter-galactic conspiracy afoot, as well as a traitor in the GL Corps’ ranks, so strap in for more mind-bending adventures in this masterpiece in the making.

Okay, it isn't super-related.

But it's freaking Grant Morrison! On Green Lantern! Writing straight up science fiction cop stories! With Liam Sharp art!!

Yeah ... I'm in.

Call me a Morrison fanboy, a  Morrison acolyte, or even a Morrison sycophant! Call me whatever you want. I love his stuff.

What grabbed you?

Posted in: Reviews