On this batch of DC centric superheroes we have an international Batman special, a Jessica Cruz Green Lantern spotlight, a classic Paul Levitz and Mike Grell reprint, Aqualad's new mini-series, a new Black Manta spin-off, and the next installment of the Harley Quinn animated series.
Batman: The World
Stories and art by:
BRIAN AZZARELLO (writer)/ LEE BERMEJO (artist) - USA, MATHIEU GABELLA (writer)/THIERRY MARTIN (artist) – France, PACO ROCA (writer/artist) – Spain, ALESSANDRO BILOTTA (writer)/NICOLA MARI (artist) – Italy, BENJAMIN VON ECKARTSBERG (writer)/THOMAS VON KUMMANT (artist) – Germany, STEPAN KOPRIVA (writer)/MICHAL SUCHANEK (artist) – Czech Republic, TOMASZ KOLODZIEJCZAK (writer)/PIOTR KOWALSKI, BRAD SIMPSON (artists) – Poland, ERTAN ERGIL (writer)/ ETHEM ONUR BILGIC (artist) – Turkey, ALBERTO CHIMAL (writer)/RULO VALDES (artist) – Mexico, CARLOS ESTEFAN (writer)/PEDRO MAURO (artist) – Brazil, INPYO JEON (writer)/JAE-KWANG PARK , KIM JUNG JI (artists) – Korea, XU XIAODONG, LU XIAOTONG (writers)/QIU KUN, YI NAN (artists) – China, Writers: KIRILL KUTUZOV, EGOR PRUTOV (writers)/ NATALIA ZAIDOVA (artist), OKADAYA YUICHI (artist/writer) - Japan
ON SALE 9/14/21
$24.99 US | 160 PAGES | FC | DC
HARDCOVER
DC takes Batman's war on crime worldwide in a new hardcover anthology, Batman: The World. This 160-page book will feature Batman stories by creative teams from across the globe, taking place in their home countries. This original Batman project launches worldwide on Tuesday, September 14, 2021 and the complete anthology will be localized to the following international territories: North America, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, the Czech Republic, Russia, Poland, Turkey, Mexico, Brazil, China, Korea, and Japan. This global collaboration is the first of its kind for DC, so join us for this phenomenon, proving that Batman is a true pop culture icon–and that the call for justice knows no borders.
Why this caught my eye:
It's a fun concept, and a great way to explore different international talents. Anthologies don't usually hold up to well for me but it's always worth a dip and if I enjoy at least half of it I consider it a win.
Unearthed: A Jessica Cruz Story
story by Lilliam Rivera
pencils by Steph C.
ON SALE 9/14/21
$16.99 US | 208 PAGES | FC | DC
Acclaimed author Lilliam Rivera and artist Steph C. reimagine one of DC’s greatest Green Lanterns, Jessica Cruz, to tell a story about immigration, family, and overcoming fear to inspire hope.
Jessica Cruz has done everything right. She's a dedicated student, popular among her classmates, and has a loving family that has done everything they can to give her a better life in the United States. Jessica usually worries for her undocumented parents, but her fears and anxiety escalate as a mayoral candidate with a strong anti-immigration stance runs for office. As the xenophobia in Coast City increases, Jessica begins to debate if it’s worth staying in the U.S. or moving back to her home in Mexico. And despite her attempts to lean on her friends and family, she finds herself constantly visited by visions of Aztec gods, one pulling her toward hope and the other toward anger.
But when her father is detained by I.C.E., Jessica finds herself being pulled into an abyss of anxiety. Despit feeling helpless with her father, Jessica must find her way out of her fears and ultimately become a voice for her community.
Why this caught my eye:
I never felt like DC gave Jessica the push she needed to reach a broader audience, and this feels like a great step towards getting the spotlight on her. I'm so glad they're finally embracing the GN format, especially for YA audiences.
Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes (Tabloid Edition)
story by Paul Levitz
art by Mike Grell
ON SALE 12/14/21
$39.99 US | 80 PAGES | FC | DC
Hardcover
10" x 13 ½"
This tabloid-size masterpiece reprints a classic Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes story at full size for the first time.
Superboy arrives in the future for the wedding of Saturn Girl and Lightning Lad only to find a world totally different from the one he is used to visiting, but the Legionnaires insist it has always been that way. With Superboy unable to convince his teammates that something is wrong, the wedding proceeds as planned, only for the bride and groom to be kidnapped by the Lunarites. Convinced that the altering of history is the real issue, Superboy leads a team of Legionnaires back in time, while the rest of the group attempts to rescue the kidnapped couple.
Can Superboy’s team correct the flow of time and save the future? Includes a two-page pinup of the entire Legion by Mike Grell and an eight-page feature containing information on each of the Legionnaires by Paul Levitz, illustrated by James Sherman and Jack Abel.
Why this caught my eye:
On one hand I'm glad DC is pushing more of these tabloid sized special reprints out. On the other hand, no, because money.
AQUAMAN: THE BECOMING #1
Story by BRANDON THOMAS
Pencils by DIEGO OLORTEGUI
$3.99 US | 32 PAGES | 1 of 6
ON SALE 9/21/21
Jackson Hyde finally has it all. Mentors who support him, a community that loves him, an honest relationship with his mother, a cute new guy in Amnesty Bay who's caught his eye, and access to Aquaman's private training facility in Atlantis. Well, he had it all—until that training facility and half of the Atlantean palace got blown to kingdom come with Jackson in them. Now Jackson stands accused of wrecking the life he worked so hard to build. Aqualad's going to need all of his skills, wit, and cunning just to prove his own innocence, let alone graduate from sidekick to Aquaman!
Why this caught my eye:
So a book about a queer hero of color that embraces legacy storytelling? Uh, yes please? It is just a mini-series but coupled with the YA book starring Jackson that came out a little while ago it's still some progress.
BLACK MANTA #1
Story by Chuck Brown
Pencils and inks by Valentine De Landro
$3.99 US | 32 pages | 1 of 6
ON SALE 9/7/21
Following his appearance in the Aquaman 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular, the scourge of the seas now gets his own series. Black Manta is chasing a rare metal with incredible powers, and he's not the only one who wants to get his hands on it, friend and foe alike! Torrid is a former ally who has escaped hell (literally!) to answer the call of the metal, but can Manta trust her? Hopefully so because he might need her help to fend off Devil Ray, a new competitor for the role of the biggest villain underwater.
Both Aquaman: The Becoming #1 and Black Manta #1 feature a connecting variant cover by superstar artist Francis Manapul!
INTRODUCING NEW HERO TORRID AND VILLAIN DEVIL RAY!
Why this caught my eye:
Manta piques my interest a lot since we have Chuck Brown from Bitterroot teaming with Valentine De Landro from Bitch Planet. That should prove to be a pretty engaging pair.
HARLEY QUINN: THE ANIMATED SERIES—THE EAT. BANG. KILL TOUR #1
Story by Tee Franklin
Pencils and inks by Max Sarin
$3.99 US | 32 pages | 1 of 6 | 17+
ON SALE 9/14/21
Harley and Ivy on the road trip of the century! Following the wedding disaster of the decade, Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy end up on the run from Commissioner Gordon and the GCPD! But as fun as all that sounds, Ivy still worries over leaving Kite Man at the altar…Luckily, Harley's got the perfect scheme to shake her out of her wedding-day blues!
Why this caught my eye:
So besides loving the Harley Quinn series and wanting more of it, this is written by Tee Franklin of Bingo Love (which you should go read) with art by Max Sarin of Giant Days (which you should go read). It's all kind of a perfect confluence.
That's it for this batch, we'll hit indy superhero material next!